Should I have bought another TVR?

Have i bought a lemon or is this normal ??!! I bought a 2003 C4 cab with 26k on clock from Paragon in lovely condition. First hot day and I get the following in one day!! 1) glue on tape holding rear quarter panels of interior roof line melting leaving a lovely sticky residue all over rear seats. 2) ABS fails, PSM fails been told by Paragon needs new ABS system at a cost of 1700 quid fortunately under warranty. 3) Amp for sound package stereo packs up until day gets cooler. Often cuts out in hot weather. 4 ) I fill up with 30 quid fuel and it still registers empty unless I fill it to the brim. Plus since I have owned the car its gear change is notchy until warm and Im told this is normal on 996! I owned a TVR before this car and had less problems with it! It amazes me that people paying a premium for this kind of car are prepared to put up with "oh its just a 996 thing" . To drive it is pure heaven but these issues are really worrying and I wonder what other people think of the quality of there cars? I suppose it could be worse and I could have bought a 997 with a ticking time bomb for an engine! Want reliability buy a TVR!! :nooo: :nooo: :nooo: :x

I thought it was only the early 996's that had engine problem's :?: Never heard anyone moan so much in one go. Not saying your wrong to, but it does sound like the Curse of the Gypsy Woman :roll: Im a thinkin a Moderator is gonna shift this thread in a mo :cop:

Don't know about 1.) 2.) are you sure it needs a new ABS system - this was a common issue on 996 and usually fixed with a new brake pedal switch or MAF sensor. 3.) don't know, but doesn't sound right 4.) Normal: If the light is on you need to put in nearly half a tank to clear it Rest assured these would have been n*tsh*t in comparison to the potential for a TVR to go wrong in my experience! At least it starts and it's driveable... :grin:

Your becoming more amusing with age Wattie :grin:

I should add that if you only just bought it I would argue that it was not really in 'lovely condition' was it? :?: IIRC my brake pedal switch failed in very hot weather (car had been standing all day in the sun) so I wonder if this has something to do with all these issues? Glue melting? audio wire insulation breaking down? PSM/ABS light (these always come on together if there is a fault with either, as they are all part of the same system). In comparison, my TVR suffered from fuel starvation regularly, sometimes wouldn't start, the soft top leaked like a sieve in wet weather, the door handle fell off twice, the driveshaft broke at 13,000 miles from new and it creaked, rattled and groaned on anything less smooth than a racetrack. Don't forget you are driving a 6 year-old car and some electrical switches and components will probably be the same as Ford will have used on a Mondeo or Opel on an Astra, etc.

Yeah they thought it would be the MAF sensor but it made no difference so its going in Tuesday. Dont get me wrong , Im loving the car and enjoyed meeting some great people through this forum but Im dismayed at the amount of problems. Im sure the love will return from Tuesday but after saving long and hard for my dream car its kinda burst the bubble a bit :roll:

996 = Lemon Sell it and buy a 993

I was confused at first - you've posted this on the 993 forum but when I realised that you had these problems on a 996 it all made sense.

Mine turned out to be a brake pedal switch - fixed at Porsche Stuttgart for the princely sum of about €30:00 - including labour! Moved to 996 forum

DOH! Sorry about that!! Its all the stress :grin:

Thanks mate, to be fair you have helped me put things in perspective. My TVR only played up on the days I wanted to take it for a drive :grin: I expect these are only teething problems and Paragon have been superb and are getting it all sorted under warranty. Like I said just a bit disapointing and a tad embarrassing, envious friends dug me out and wound me up but after your counciling all is calm :cloud9:

Understand your frustration Russ I'll let the experts on this site give you the advice on the issues you've experienced, however for the last 3yrs (until I moved to a 997 ) I'd been taking my 996 C4 to Paragon for it's yearly service and for any other issues. Whilst I didn't buy the 996 from them, IMO they were 1st class in dealing with any issues she had and were always up front in the costs and options open to me. I'm sure when you take her back to them they'll sort things out under the warrenty. Needless to say once those issues are fixed, I'm sure you'll be loving the C4 (maybe even more this summer being a Cab 8) ). MJ

Re: Understand your frustration Thanks mate, thats great feedback and I have to say they have been very helpful. They have the car on Tuesday and have had to wait for a new ABS system to arrive from the Fatherland. Got to admit driving it with no PSM-ABS has actually made me enjoy the car more. Before I was scared to turn the PSM off for fear of killing it but even with the PSM off I have been amazed by the way she grips! Hope the courtesy car is nothing too minging! :grin:

It could be worse....I had a 996 for years without any major grief - moved to a 997 S & my engine went bang & needed replacing...and yep Porsche did nothing to help me - apart from relieving me of £7k

OUCH!! All of a sudden I feel fortunate