Jim Green

Well ........... after leaving the Cosworth scene about 18 months ago after 16 years, and Staffi now being the owner of my old cossie, I bought the BMW M5 which is about as close to the perfect performance saloon as you can get, and a car I'll never regret buying, but it just doesn't have that "extreme" acceleration. I was really missing that adrenalin rush you get from a car like a big bhp Cossie. After selling the Cosworth (430bhp) everything seemed slow (Acceleration), even the M5.

So I've taken the plunge and purchased a new toy that's always been one of my dream cars since I saw the first one in real life............even knowing that it's not the most reliable car in the world, but then again what extreme performance car is that's still relatively affordable. Not being frightened of getting my hands dirty, and having built plenty of engines in the past and from a mechanical background, I thought what the hell, if it goes wrong I'll just have to start getting dirty again.......So here is my latest toy.

Late (Dec 2002) TVR Tuscan, with a "Red Rose" engine fitted from new (380bhp), with just 19k on the clock, weighs in at 1100kg with a full tank of petrol. 0 - 60 = 3.8 seconds, 0 - 100 = 8.1 seconds, Max Speed = 180 +. Engine is the 4.0 Straight Six, dry sumped, fully adjustable suspension (Camber/Caster/Toe In/Toe Out etc), T5 Gearbox, HydraTrack LSD, AP Brakes, Adjustable Coil Over Shocks............And an exhaust sound to die for.

I picked it up from Park Lane London on thursday (The only dry day for god knows how long) and had a fantastic drive back to Porsmouth. Absolutely love it. I'm sure that little bits and pieces will go wrong/fall off over time, just like they do on all TVR's..........but when it's running right, it makes it all worth while. This has always been one of my dream cars, as was the Cosworth. I don't see myself getting rid of this one for a very long time. To say it's entertaining is a HUGE understatement.





Will post some decent pics soon, as these are from the sellers ad, and don't do it justice.

danneth

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Truely awesome cars, I just hope yours proves reliable, as many dont.

Proper automotive porn though, im VERY jealous

JLStretton

not for me like, looks dodgy but not only that its to small for a bloke my size lol

oh and i carnt afford one, sound nice though

Allyc85

Stunning car mate. Yesterday I saw one of these on test driver near Exeter and the noise it made was soooo goood!!

Dan16v

iTrader: (1)

11kg?! typo or truth?

Dan F

How smart does that look,wait i'll tell you-VERY SMART!
Have you had much chance to have a play in it yet?

Dan

Big Ow

awesome car, nice low mileage too
will hopefully be a TVR owner in the next couple of years!
Nice to see more people turning to tvr's. Let us know how you get on with it - would be nice if TVR started getting some positive feedback about reliability!

i hope you'r not serious, lol

Coldo

Love these!!

Enjoy yourself mate.

Rab

Love it!!!!

Get AA membership though

Dan16v

iTrader: (1)

im not being serious at all, my uncle has one in a cherry red sort of colour, awesome machines, and the sound

Charlie Chalk

iTrader: (1)

Friend of mine has one in Red, Sounds awesome now with a new exhaust Really nice car, took me for a spin when he first got it, and then took it on track!! Loved it!

Picture taken of facebook...

SS1

iTrader: (3)

SWORDFISH

Munch

nice motor


enjoy it

Jim Green

Unfortunately I've only driven it from London - Portsmouth, and it's been sat in the garage since then as it's been pissing down for the last two days. Already started to mint it up, but basically it's NEVER been out in the rain since new. The Chassis & Underside are like the day it left the factory. Sold by the TVR Center in London when it was new, and always serviced at the same place. It was serviced by them 400 miles ago, and has an engineers report stating that there is no engine problems, and no measurable wear on the camshafts, valve guides or finger followers. These are the problem areas normally associated with the Speed 6 Engine, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that mine will be one of the reliable ones.

As with any car like this, the reliability issues are always blown out of proportion, and the odd issue that people like us would just put a pair of overalls on, and sort out, the people who bought these cars when they were new were never willing to do, and just put them back into the dealerships to be sorted..............then complained like f-ck about them not being reliable. For people like us, they're one hell of a car if you enjoy abit of tinkering to keep them in tip top condition mechanically.

Chip

iTrader: (3)

I know someone who had 3 engines in 30K miles, so im not really sure thats blowing things out of proportion, and I dont mean I heard about it on a forum, i mean a real person that I was chatting to as recently as today at combe.

People blow things up a bit, but dealers dont half play the same things down!

danneth

and i have a mate who has a piccy of one of these on his road looks nice...



but its sat there on fire

Dan16v

iTrader: (1)

My uncle (paul) red one hasnt seen the road for months, the weather is far too bad, he said there is no point in driving them in the wet due to traction issues but then again he also said if you hit the loud pedal in the dry it just spins and can be quite a handful, a very fun car to own but also one you have to keep on your toes with

Enjoy the ownership mate, if you look after it properly it shouldn't present you with many if any problems

Rax

iTrader: (1)

if i could afford an m5 or a tvr 4kn ace,i have owned a few 3 and 5 series bms but can you beat the kick up the arse a cos gives ya . . . .? no,in my opinion nothing gives you the same as that little 2 litre cosworth motor.wheelspin wheelspin got hijacked . my misses says it shit looking,couldn't pull no decent birds in that

Jim Green

Know what you mean Chip, but theres a few important factors to consider.

How was the engine treated by it's previous owners, Was it warmed up correctly, and as quoted in the Owners Manual, if it wasn't then this will explain the reasons why so many re-builds, and of course who was it that did the rebuilds.............and did they carry out the modifications to prevent the same problems happening.

TVR power now have a 3yr warranty on their rebuilds, due to them making the modifications needed to make this a very reliable engine, as do Racing Green, and Dulford Performance. The engine reliablily problems all stem from TVR not building the top end of the engine (Cams, Finger Followers, valves & valve guides) to Allan Mellings specifications and using cheaper material than he specified in the design. As of 2003, TVR had so many warranty claims against them that they paid the extra and had the items produced to the correct spec, so most of the 2003 cars onward have suffered very few problems. For the 2000 - 2002 cars, they can be troublesome, but once rebuilt correctly should be good for 40k without any problems which is about the same as a 400bhp cossie engine.

It's a petrol heads car, and if your not a petrol head................then go buy a Nissan Micra.

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Jim, in this case, there were no previous owners, he bought it new.

But he did really rag the shit out of it.

I hope yours is fine, and im sure you will look after it to increase its chances of being so

Jim Green

I'll be keeping my fingers cross, and workshop ready.....LOL.

As it has a build date of Dec 2002, TVR Center tell me it should have had the later parts fitted......Still keeping my fingers crossed though. And I'm only the second owner, so hoping the original owner treated it correctly.

dave cos4x4

iTrader: (5)

very nice Jim, an awesome sounding car aswell.

Jim Green

RAB : AA Membership.................I'm buying a recovery truck......LOL.

Stu @ M Developments

iTrader: (12)

Excellent car, you will love it mate. Did you chop the M5 in? Hope not.

Jim Green

STU : You would say that.........Your from Blackpool.

Did you chop the M5 in? Hope not. Errrrrrrr.................Not Exactly.

Sold the M5 on Pistonheads about three weeks ago.........for VERY good money (Full Asking Price) and still showing on their web site, so you can see what I got for it.

Then bought the Tuscan privately (Fourth one I viewed). So i'll still hang on to the Pug Diesel......Just incase I need a reliable car.......LOL !!!

Stu @ M Developments

iTrader: (12)

Shame mate, hope you enjoy the TVR though, i just hoped you had a nice realiable M for when she wont start or the engine blows up.*




*Joke mate, love them.

Jim Green

Will be treating it with Mechanical Respect and keeping my fingers crossed. Should be a few Speed Six Engines that came out of the back doors of TVR in your area.........LOL.

They always said that more bits came out the back door of TVR, than the front...........

indycos

iTrader: (2)

looks great, cant wait for some proper pics after you have buftied it to your M5 spec

first one i ever had a proper look at, had been left outside in the rain whilst the owner went on holiday. he returned to find it filled with puddles, mould, and many electrical faults

not that that means they are shit, theyre fucking awesome just obviously not a type of car that likes getting, or being wet

the rear window is cool

bigchez

badass mate! faster than a cos with style. you must have loved the fast ones. Does it kick like a cos when the turbo is spoooled (I know its na, just a comparison!) gotta love the rapidos power delivery of the yb. Its over half the rev range, but when it hits its worth the wait!

Mr Brannen

Oh no,fuckin awesome car

Stu @ M Developments

iTrader: (12)

Sadly its very true. Fooking shame.

fezzajsy

iTrader: (9)

nice ride

Stoo

Very nice, I like the colour as most of the ones I've seen are that purply green colour so silver makes a nice change. Have fun..! When it stops raining

Graceland

One of the drivers where I work has just bought one of these, absolutely stunning machine, one of the last ones to roll off the line with nearly all the gremlins fixed and the supposedly stronger version of the speed-6 engine - can't wait for him to bring it over for a perusal

pee vee

Amazing. Escos nige off here had one like the red one above.

nicest car ever inside, and amazin looking.... however

scarey as hell to be in, in the damp lol !!

Porkie

iTrader: (1)

I love em.... have massive urge to get one for years and years.....the amount of times I had to call Renton or Sean to talk me out of buying one when I am browsing Pistonheads!!

I find them so appealing but I know just couldn't deal with niggly relability and ENORMOUS paranoia about that engine blowing up on me even in a toy... especially as I have the mechanical skills of a paraplegic camel

One of my mates just bought one that had a rebuild from TVRpower with the 3 year warrenty and he lets me use it whenever I want!

UberCool looking cars and the interior is funky and comfy and looks amazing from 20ft away

They sound the nuts, look the nuts, 'exciting' to say the least handling and AMAZING straightline performance for the money!

classy in silver too

enjoy!

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Porkie, buy one with a blown engine, and fit a reliable v8 to it (well, get somone else to, lol), problem solved, perfect track toy

MENIS

love it very good choice of car