Hi Folks, I'm a potential ffrr owner. I'm in the trade and have just taken in a lovely '57 tdv8 that's got me a tad wet. It's got a full history with a very recent owner being a LR master tech who loved the brand. Also, I had the pleasure of selling these cars when new, and at that time I could never imagine owning one, so this is driving my desire.

The issue in my head is this; as a RRC owner as well as a TVR Chimaera, I really value longevity in my car's, that's to say, providing I keep on top of my maintenance there's no reason I couldn't economically keep these cars for the rest of my days......just I'm a whole lot less confident about the L322.

In reality I'm not looking for a lifer, but I'd like to think there's a more than reasonable chance I could run this tdv8 for the next 7-10 years.

What are you're thoughts?


Adrian

possibly if you've deep pockets to keep it from getting poorly

Preventative maintenance will help you in the long-term, as will choosing the right one which you may appear to have done.

Be pragmatic about things and really immerse yourself in the joy of driving these wonderful cars. Si. <This is my name.

I eat rat poison.

A man ain't truly been insulted until he stands buck naked in front of a woman and she didn't even notice. Or care.

Will benefit from being regularly used too, 'tis difficult when you have a fleet  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

To out your mind at rest, Mine is 12 yrs old with 187,000 miles and original gearbox, engine, running gear etc. I have had it for 5 yrs and never had anything major wrong except water pumps x2 and a radiator. Little niggles from time to time but it had a good upbringing with 2 previous owners (from this forum) who knew what they were doing and looked after it. I have it serviced regularly, keep in eye on the components and I hope to get it to over 200,000 before upgrading to a newer version.

Only prob is my other half loves It so much she doesn't want me to change it!

Thanks for the replies. I suppose I'm maybe over thinking it, it's just when you're surrounded by cars it's the broken ones you get to hear about! lol

Mine's 14 years old. Getting quite rusty though. I'm hoping it will get through another year or two.

The biggest problem with a long life for these cars is the price. TVR's will always command a price so it's worth maintaining them. RR's keep depreciating. It's hard to justify spending £££'s on an old car that's not worth much.

Buy a good one. Look after it properly. Enjoy it. I plan to keep my 56 plate 116k TDV8 3.6 for another 10 years or so and I don't think that is unreasonable.

Buy it, service it to death, remove/block/map out the EGR valves and it'll last you a long time... I'm old school, can set up a pair of twin SU's by ear but I have no bother with this later stuff, once you get into it it's just nuts and bolts and a shed load more wire...!!!

Buy an IID tool and you're as clever as the main dealers (probably more so....)  Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
-Click here for Thread-
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click here for Project Fatty off roader-

As I mentioned, I'm in the trade and work at a decent garage and my mrs works for one of those stealers specialising in breakdowns....so I'm hoping with all this around me a 'should' be able to keep it in good stead.
It's on the ramps as we speak having a look over before Press Hard on the necessary paper work to allow it to be mine!

Excellent news and congrats.

Coming from a LR Tech, he probably changed the gearbox oil and filter as well as the oil in the trans and diffs..... first things I had done on buying my TDV8 because although LR say sealed for life, they are ZF 'boxes and ZF recommend servicing.

Use good recommended oils, check all the hoses regularly (some replace with silicone as the OEM can deteriorate internally) and use decent quality fuel. Lots of info in the WIKI section on here and as you say, it's easy to form an opinion based on the broken ones we here about about many do stellar mileages with no major problems.

OK....bought it. I couldn't say no as it's in unbelievable condition. Looks nothing like its 9 years and 78k miles.

Seems like I've got myself another enthusiasts car.....lots of researching!

Welcome  All my spelling errorz are belong to me!

2024 RR Velar
2021 AM new Vantage

Read the WIKI, (link below fullfatrr.com above to the right)

Then download Rave workshop manual for it and do some bedtime reading, it's just nuts and bolts and a shed load more wire...!!!

Oh, and buy a BT IID tool (link in my signature) they are the premium fault reader and CCF editor....

Then get used to the big grin you get while driving it.... Pete
__________________________________________________
2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
-Click here for Thread-
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
-Click here for Project Fatty off roader-

How would the BT IID tool be better than garage diagnostics? I hope that doesn't sound flippant, as not meant to be, but I've access to our own equipment here, has it anything in particular that that suits 'our' cars.....see what I did there 'our' - in the club now! lol