36 replies to this topic

[rob999]

Joe, Like it's already been mentioned just pick a well maintained well look after example and it should be fine...and get an inspection done by Jason at Str8six or someone similar. I would not hesitate in getting one as I think they are something special. Yes they cost more to maintain I believe but VX's are bargains in that respect. Some of them have rather 'odd' workmanship Question is...do you want to mod your next car?? Get one with the red rose engine If you decide to get one I will be very jealous

[JohnTurbo]

My choice was a t350 with some finance, or the vx cash. I don't regret my decision.

[J4EY D]

Get one with the red rose engine

[badgerade]

I looked at a TVR before deciding on the VX... It came down to how I was going to use the car, which for me was a daily drive. The running costs etc on the TVR came out way too high for the milage I do now (which isn't that much tbh). There's a decent guide here: http://www.evo.co.uk...heckpoints.html although it's from a couple of years ago I doubt much has changed?

[tommobot]

A good freind of mine has one, lovely, lovely car. Sounds epic aswell. He's done about 7,000 miles in it without any major trouble, although there was a knocking noise coming from the engine. Think it turned out to be somthing with the air-con is all sorted now. Think it was a rather expensive job to repair, but he has a parts and labour warranty (I think £300 a year) that covered a large ammount of the cost. I would love one, but wouldn't have the pockets for the bills.

Just to keep in mind, whenever I gone out for a bit of a hoon with him we've always had to fill up at same point, but his fill costs him £60, against my £30!

[N17VES]

I've been tempted myself so many times! I cant imagine they will loose much money, but after doing some research it seems they do cost a lot to run. They are quite quick, but your vx would probably of been about the same performance to be honest. There more of a weekend car, certainly not a track car or a daily drive. Honda elise is the way forward (with a s1 exige body kit)

[Dealmaster]

Having owned both a Tuscan and Tamora, I can confirm that you need deep pockets, plenty of patience and a second car as back-up. If you cant do all 3, then please reconsider. When they're good....they're amazing......but more often than not the continual nags and issues drive you around the bend. I had endless issues with the Tuscan, even simple things such as spare parts seemed to take an ice age to arrive, and even then the wrong parts where usually sent....causing more delays. The Tamora was slightly easier to live with, but even then the garage bills where very high. If you study Autotrader and Pistonheads you will see the same TVR's week in and week out. They just don't sell very easily - very cheap Speed 6's sell (circa 10k -12k) but god knows what your buying into. Just be prepared not to sell your TVR on very quickly if you decide to take the plunge than realise you've made a costly mistake. The Cerbera's seem to sell pretty well and by all counts the 4.2 / 4.5 AJP variants (not Speed 6) seem to be very popular. Likewise the Griffith and Chims are far more reliable and easier to live with than the Speed 6 powered newer models. If you go onto the TVR forum via Pistonheads there are a few guys converting their Speed 6 Tuscans and Saggys to run LS power - far more reliable engine and cheaper to maintain long term. Just want to give you my personal feedback as an ex TVR owner and driver. Not some secondhand crap from a guy down the pub or my mates big brother says.....

[VXT Tim]

I had a tvr itch for the best part of 10 years. A good mate has had 3 with mixed fortunes which ultimately made the itch go away. Not 30 seconds ago a Tuscan drove past me, itch is back but will soon go, I hope

[theotherjonnymac]

I have no personal experience of a TVR but was tempted in the past. By chance I sold a load of tennis balls to a chap near me that is a mechanic for TVR at a specialist garage that was a dealer and now sells second hand ones and does after sales etc. He said that they have always made more money from the servicing and repairs than they did from actually selling them and they were the No1 dealer in the UK for sales about 10yrs ago. Nuff said

Edited by theotherjonnymac, 11 September 2010 - 07:00 PM.

[Tail slide]

I'm fortunate to run both a VX220 SC mildly tweaked for road & trackdays, and a T350C that I've had from new. Both are exhilerating in very different ways - VX is still choice for B-roads. And both upset owners of Fezzas and Porkers on the road & track. Which is nice. I ran the T350 as standard everyday car + trips to 'ring etc for 28k miles with very few faults. Then progressively added more serious mods inc. special 4.2 S6 engine, quaife box & diff, aero mods... now has TVR record at most sprint venues, faster than F430 and Carrera Gt through gears (80-100mph 2.1 secs in 3rd) and GT3RS as well around a track on R888's. The TVR gets more attention, the interior's much more luxurious, and with 430bhp/380lbft the acceleration is epic even lugging around 1100kg. As standard they are as rapid as a std. VX Tubby but less cornering grip obviously, on other hand the tail doesn't come round to play when you come off the throttle like the VX, only when you're on it. There have been little niggles but like any others out there most were when new & fixed under warranty (alternator, rad, alarm) and only a failed 100A fuse ever stopped me completing a trip, as I didn't know where it was to fix or bypass (under engine not in fuse box!). For track & road use the lightweight VX is much cheaper on tyres/brakes etc, and of course more economical. I love them both.

[rob999]

Sounds like a lovely garage to have (well replacing the S/C with a Tubby obviously!!)

[Tail slide]

Sounds like a lovely garage to have

(well replacing the S/C with a Tubby obviously!!)

Well I'm happy with it, took lots of research & garage late-nights to get here.

I've had several TVR's so T350 was no-brainer. But easily could have made expensive mistake with an Exige after test drives, rather than VX.

I'm sure I'd have loved a modified Tubby too but I do like the instant response and balance in corners of the SC engine, esp now with recent light fly/clutch & lsd.

[rob999]

Ever been out in a Sagaris? Able to compare the 350 against it?

[Tail slide]

Ever been out in a Sagaris? Able to compare the 350 against it?

Yes had a fairly long test drive, and run with them on trackdays - v.similar handling but slightly less 'pointy', and same general driving experience, the 4L engine has more mid-range torque but loses the manic V-tec like top end rush to 7800rpm.

It was similar enough for me not to change to one, they do look more dramatic which can be good or bad, and are slightly more relaxed on bumpy roads with better bilstein dampers, but this can easily be sorted on T350's with Nitrons & geo change.

Good forum for them here ; http://www.pistonhea...0&f=7&mid=27421

Edited by Tail slide, 12 September 2010 - 08:21 PM.

[moneyhunster]

What excellent info! I stumbled across the T350 only a few weeks back and have been looking at them on eBay. Really like the look, surprisingly small looking. What's the deal with the red Rose engine. I bought my vxt as a crashed repair project and really enjoyed repairing it, is this something I could easily do with a t350? One on eBay now for 15k

[jazzyjeff]

I bought my vxt as a crashed repair project and really enjoyed repairing it,

Hi - out of interest, when did you buy your VXT and what was the damage (in either sense of the word)? It could be my old car

JJ

[moneyhunster]

I bought my vxt as a crashed repair project and really enjoyed repairing it,

Hi - out of interest, when did you buy your VXT and what was the damage (in either sense of the word)? It could be my old car

JJ

I bought it in oct/nov with front end damage, looked like a square on bump on the front, windscreen was also cracked.
It was Nath's car before the guy I bought it off. He decided not to rebuild it so I bought it from him. Best thing I've done.

I'm doing Zoobeef's car next, looking forward to his too.