sanity check please!

[S-Express]

Keep the S2. Buy a sorted E30 BMW with a slippy diff. Learn rear steer. Job done.

i got that one sorted - 240bhp 600 kg rwd with a slipper - had it 10 years and reguarley track it - built it myself and will never sell.
maybe the cerb is a tad too similar - except that it has 4 seats!

[S-Express]

Top write up - gives a good insight into the 'dark side' of owning a TVR :mischeif:

I haven't been on here in ages so I was quite surprised to see a topic I can add some useful input to.

I sold my 80 2.8 quattro to buy a 98 TVR Cerbera 4.5. It's a fantastic car for how fast it goes and it gets quite a lot of attention (although mainly from small children!). I had it running for a year and the only problem I had in that time was the alternator failed in Northampton but that was a Land Rover part so I can't fault TVR too much for that. I've never really found it an easy car to drive it's good on an empty road but while there are other cars around I was always a little concerned. To give you an idea I was once driving in a straight line at no more than 3/4 throttle at 70mph in 3rd gear when suddenly I found myself going sideways with no warning.

The other thing to keep in mind is that the build quality is nothing like an Audi, things are held together with glue and velcro. There are many poor designs which makes working on it really difficult. A 4.5 is the one to get and that's not just beacuse it's the fastest but they are the most reliable, although a later 4.2 should be just as good. A clutch will last about 20k miles because there is no stop and the fingers on the pressure plate get over stressed and break but the slave cylinder seals only last about the same time anyway. A 4.5LW actually weighs more than an early 4.5 but has a different interior and a few other cosmetic changes.

By far the biggest problem and the reason mine has not been on the road for the last year are the chassis. Until around 2003 the powder coat on them was very poor and simply fell off. My chassis looked solid and had receipts for treatment but I hit my passenger side outrigger with a hammer to test how strong it was and a hole appeared. The body has to come off to repair it and I haven't got round to doing that yet as I have had other projects to do first.

The cars are very cheap to buy for what you get but you can expect it to cost you £3000 a year on avaerage to keep it on the road.

I don't mean to put you off as they really are great cars but you need a lot of money and a degree of patience to keep one going.

Hope this is of some help,

Matt

[Rikki Kitto]

Oh dear, what are you thinking? poor old s2 imagine how it would feel if it found out about this mad notion. How many cars do you know that give the pleasure of the s2 and practicality? Exactly, now stop this nonsense and go out for a spin.

[Acidburn]

I had in that time was the alternator failed in Northampton but that was a Land Rover part so I can't fault TVR too much for that.
Matt

Glad you've still got it as I remember speaking to you after you got rid of your saloon

was it here in northampton you was going to by any chance?

http://www.powersbodyshop.com/

remember seeing the bodys sitting in the yard when I was at vrs over the road

The other itch I have to scratch is a Maserati quattroporte - in my dreams maybe but the noise and poise of one of those is just delicious.

I'd also like to own any porsche or alfa romeo just so I can say btdt even if it was for a week for each just to see what they are like.

[80Quattro]

I was on my way to Cambridge via Northampton and the engine wouldn't restart. There was enough to crank it but the ECU needs at least 11v or something and it wasn't getting that so it wouldn't fire. I had to wait 2 hours for the RAC to jump start it as even though I had jump leads on me everyone I asked just looked scared and walked off.

I was meant to be getting that saloon back as the friend I sold it to has gone abroad but the Police have still got it. It's been almost a year now, I went to see it in May to confirm a few things. This is how it was looking then.

[GazzaG60]

people like us buy cars with the heart. if you want one go for it.

im a bit the same. the s2 is a car i bought to extra hp. not because it looks good as it doesn't, the chassis is soggy to name 2 things a corrado is far better at.

i was looking for a skyline r32 gtr at the time buy bang for buck tuning is where my hobby is at really.

[Acidburn]

not good to see, I seriously hope you get it back as so much time/money went into that and it is well worth saving. Reckon you will get it back this side of christmas?

[80Quattro]

I haven't had any news since they told me the case should be going to trial in August. I need to contact them and see what's going on.

In the interest of this thread here are a couple of pictures of my Cerb



It's a bit upsetting to see it like that is it's sat on axle stands for a year now after I started to make a bit of an effort to remove the body. I'm going to finish my Mini over the winter then I'll get the Cerb sorted in the spring. I'd love to be able to drive it again.

[andy10v]

i was looking for a skyline r32 gtr at the time buy bang for buck tuning is where my hobby is at really.

Why did you get the s2 in the end? Just curious as an r32 gtr is something I have always fancied in a way, though they are rather in your face, lack subtlety.

[T2Andy]

Having worked for tvr sheffield for 4 yrs i wouldnt have any tvr at any price !!
sound nice though

[Robatron]

Generally speaking, an S2 is going to be more reliable than a TVR but you always have to go in to car ownership with your eyes wide open. Buy a dog of a car and it won't matter what marque it is, it'll cost you a fortune.

I've been hooked on TVRs after a friend threw me the keys to his supercharged 450 Chimaera (430bhp). Since then, he also leant me his Tuscan Mk1 for a friends wedding and the car was absolutely fantastic (For those of you who have added me on facebook, you would have no doubt seen the car on there).

Anyway, thanks to my friend I found myself searching the PH classifieds practically everyday until I stumbled upon a very familiar looking and well sorted Chimaera that was owned by another friend which he decided to put up for sale due to personal reasons and as a result, was a bargain. I went to see the car and ended up driving home in a lovely 4.0 V8 Chimaera.

TVRs have two major downfalls and those are Electrics and Chassis. Fortunately my TVR only has electric windows and according to my hammer and screw driver test, the chassis is very sound indeed. The rover V8 is an absolute peach of an engine and this particular specimen is in rude health. TVR claimed some pretty impressive BHP figures but their cars very very rarely made these figures. Mine made 230bhp and 280ft/lbs of torque (240bhp 'book' figure) which isn't bad considering it weighs a shade over a 1000kg.

So at present I have the S2 for rainy days and the TVR for sunny days. A perfect combination!

If anyone's interested, I'll bring the TVR out for a meet at some point in the future?

[Acidburn]

If anyone's interested, I'll bring the TVR out for a meet at some point in the future?

I'd be very interested in seeing what it goes like, never been in one before

[Robatron]

No problem. If there's another MRC meet coming up in the future, I'll try and come along.

The power delivery is obviously very different but it has a nice wadge of power over 4,000rpm.

I've attached a photo of the Chim that I took with the iPhone so it's not the best shot in the world. Needs a bloody good clean but it's a joy to drive.

[Azman]

Saw one down my mates garage the other day, they had to break into it as the door release button decided to stop working.

KEEP THE S2