TVR...please tell me this is a bad idea...

[rockits]

......TVR TUSCAN 2000/PRIVATE REG,4.0 SPEED 6, 29000 MILES,SERVICE HISTORY,CAT D | eBay

A TVR has been on my list for some time & over the last few months I have been doing some research.

Seems like a Chimaera 400/450/500 would be an all round good/best option. I'm not ready yet so wasn't actively looking other than keeping an eye on the market. However this popped up from a guy in Enfield 15 mins down the road from me.

He does TVR inspections as a service and seems to have a good name in TVR circles after a bit of Googling.

I never normally look at CAT cars and it seems a bad idea to me so can anyone put me off the idea please. Or is it worth a look?

 

[Deleted member 113659]

Please buy it. Love TVR's

 

[Lennox]

I would want to see evidence of the repair and get a full inspection done on it but dang she's pretty!!!!

 

[stwat]

Have the chassis inspected as they are known to rust quite badly.

 

[BTB 500]

Love TVRs but I was never brave enough to buy one ... I got my R129 instead of a Chimaera 5.0. Would have to be a V8 model for me I'm afraid.

 

[lisa110rry]

Is it bright yellow? Google Quantity surveyor drink driving TVR for an idiot who (briefly) worked for my company.

 

[Gollom]

That is sooooo pretty!

 

[lisa110rry]

'My prettyyyyyyyy'

 

[rockits]

I knew it was a bad idea to ask a load of petrolheads whether to buy a crazy CAT D TVR!

I discovered today what 400bhp in the wet with no traction control, stability control or ABS is like. Scary. My blue Maser has a speed sensor fault at the mo!

In a car with 50% less weight and the same power....double scary!!

 

[grober]

ITS A BAD IDEA! pictures of typical chassis rust follow.

Cerbera Chassis Restoration

 

[rockits]

Am I right in thinking the Tuscan's had better chassis protection day one so suffer from classic chassis rot & outriggers issues less than Chimaera's etc. ?

 

[Chrishazle]

I thought for many years that a TVR would be my dream toy - until I eventually test drove a Chimera. before we got out of the parking area behind the showroom (with me in the passenger seat) I knew that if SWMBO was in the passenger seat she'd get out at the first opportunity and refuse to get back in, the suspension wa so hard. Then I got behind the wheel, fantastic while you're stick stirring, and fabulous soundtrack, but then we got onto a straight road and "cruise" mode - and I found that, thanks to the bell housing intrusion into the driver's footwell, there was nowhere for my left foot to rest - and very quickly my left thigh was screaming at me. Got back into my 968 coupe having swiftly decided that TVR was not for me, so before you get too enthusiastic go for a decent test drive!

 

[grober]

Am I right in thinking the Tuscan's had better chassis protection day one so suffer from classic chassis rot & outriggers issues less than Chimaera's etc. ?

POSSIBLY?

[YOUTUBE]x8fNUFo-vcA[/YOUTUBE]

 

[DavidL]

Might be worth checking the vin with TVR Power or Racing Green, Str8 to see if they have done an engine rebuild. Most sp6 engines seem to need one and they aren't cheap.
As long as you're prepared to take less when you sell even though your running costs will be the same, then hell why not.

 

[The.Busker]

I have a 4.0 Chimaera sitting next to the Benz in my garage. She has provided some awesome moments and is the total opposite of my E Class. Demands 100% concentration at all times but the noise (I have a sports exhaust) and the acceleration still puts a massive smile on my face. So far in two years and about 3000miles she has never let me down. Both cars compliment each other. HOWEVER I would buy with extreme care - as others have said get the car completely inspected especially the chassis. My car came from Fernhurst and is mint. Use people like them and Str8six for advice - the TVR Club and forum is a great source of info too. Be careful too - TVRs can become very addictive! Enjoy.

 

[Bill513]

Wheeler dealers did a good review on a TVR a while ago ! It looked good when they'd finished ! and replaced the rusty chassis ...Id love one but wooden trust me self with the power unleash the beast in ya and buy it ....enjoy ! ;-)

 

[DSB SL AMG]

Get it bought love TVR's, not for the faint hearted...agree with full specialist pre-sale inspection report for piece of mind.

 

[rockits]

Thanks all. Just had a good half hour chat with the seller on the phone. Nice honest/genuine guy and has been working with TVR's for 20 years. He buys/sells/finds/inspects them for a living. This car came from a local chap who hadn't used it much for a few years.

He has good relations with Bespoke Performance in Ware & use them for work he doesn't have facilities to do.

Going to see it as it is only 20 mins down the road from me in Enfield where I used to live. On old mate lives in the same road & his folks still live there!

 

[rockits]

Might be worth checking the vin with TVR Power or Racing Green, Str8 to see if they have done an engine rebuild. Most sp6 engines seem to need one and they aren't cheap.
As long as you're prepared to take less when you sell even though your running costs will be the same, then hell why not.

Spoke to the guy to run through everything. He has tried to find records with TVR Power but they have no record of a rebuild. He is convinced it has been done as in his 20 years of knowledge/experience he is sure that a Speed 6 engine straight out of the factory on an early car would not have survived this long without one.

There is a factory recall sticker on the engine so it may have been done at the factory but there are no records that can be tracked back after the factory closed down. Apparently it doesn't smoke at all which is rare.

From Googling around and what I know the Speed 6 engine issues nearly bankrupted TVR at the time as it affected so many/all of them. Seems unlikely a rebuild hasn't been done.

The are lots of surface scratches on the paint due to someone scratching it all in April this year. A quick blow over would help but a respray may be needed over a few years. I will need to see how bad it is.

The issue is some later and more expensive cars are not necessarily any better and even after engine rebuilds engine's have been known to go again if the rebuild was poor. At least with this car it is cheap for an honest reason. It is CAT D in 2004 due to rear damage but apparently no chassis damage but all glass fibre/cosmetics. No guarantees that a later more expensive car will prove any more reliable. At least the money will be there in a war chest if needed at the price of the car day one.

I'll go and see it to see what I think. I might drive it and hate it!

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Go and buy it Dean, it's your duty to.

I remember the first time I heard a TVR Cerbera, what a noise, it was turning right at a junction I was stood at and he didn't need much more encouragement than me giving him a daft grin and nodding. He shot off like a scolded cat, I can still see it and hear the sound in my mind.