TR7 daily driver?

overandunder · Postby **overandunder** » 17 Nov 2009 21:53

I've always been attracted by the work of Harris Mann, and the lines of the TR7 in particular.

I have never owned or driven a classic Triumph but would like to find a TR7 to work on and improve, and use it as a commuter - ultimately replacing my current eurobox altogether. I would appreciate comments on how practical/reliable the 7 is when used as a daily driver (including mpg)?

The other car I'm considering is a Spitfire 1500, so anyone with comments/experience of both would also be welcome.

Thanks

Workshop Help · Postby **Workshop Help** » 17 Nov 2009 22:27

Oh no, you should heed the holy words of the TV show 'Top Gear' and purge thyself of any British Leyland product in general and Triumph in particular from your mind. Please, let that 6'5" smart alec be thine automotive life-guide and patronage only those marques that pleases His delicate sense of style and taste. A TR7 from British Leylands Triumph is too far below the threshold of decency for anyone to acknowledge much less consider.

Have you not paid attention to 30+ years of journalistic roarings about this vehicle. The coupe roof is too low and gives you a headache everytime you try to squeeze thru the door. The engine is anemic on those rare occsaions it's not blowing it's head gasket. The gearbox was designed to specifically grind and howl. The whole interior is a tribute to those overfed Americans need for extra room for their broad ends. As for the electrical system, there are more gremlins in there than a Hollywood special effects factory could make in a year. Need I go on?

May I suggest a vehicle more in keeping with your stated desires. A 1981 Chevrolet Chevette station wagon. A 1977 yellow AMC Pacer. Any year Ford Pinto. All fine representaives of a greater bygone era. As for the works of Harris Mann, have you considered his pride & joy masterpiece,'The Watering Can'?

Mildred Hargis

PeterTR7V8 · Postby **PeterTR7V8** » 18 Nov 2009 00:13

Mildred! Get down!

O&U any old car will test your resolve when it comes to reliability but what you will find is that the more you use it then the more reliable it will become because you will fix everything. Then you will get annoyed at fixing things twice so you will start fixing things properly and eventually end up with a very reliable car. If you use the car as a daily driver then this process will take less time. [:)] After 2-3 years as a weekend car I reckon mine is at the point where I expect it to work properly whenever I want to use it.

The TR7 is no worse than most cars & the usual things that need fixing aren't very difficult to remedy. The size & design of the TR7 will make it a more practical car than a Spitfire but many of the mechanicals are of a very similar vintage. The pop up headlights seem to be the most common failure. Check this thread to find out what TR7 lovers don't love about the car http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8983. The main thing when buying any car is to get one that isn't rusty.

Fuel efficiency of the standard TR7 2L is pretty good but with the V8 you have to pay a lot extra for the additional enjoyment. Its so worth it though! This thread covers the MPG issue http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/topic.a ... C_ID=10212.

Never say die. At least not while you're still breathing.

silverseven · Postby **silverseven** » 18 Nov 2009 01:07

"""1981 Chevrolet Chevette station wagon"""'

[?][?][?][?][?]

Ok I've seen a Vega/Astra wagon before, but never a 'vette/Acadian wago as of yet .....

Ron.

Workshop Help · Postby **Workshop Help** » 18 Nov 2009 02:11

Whassamotta Pete? In New Zealand, did they outlaw sarcasm in exchange for legalizing brothels?

Mildred Hargis

MickeyR · Postby **MickeyR** » 18 Nov 2009 02:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by silverseven

"""1981 Chevrolet Chevette station wagon"""'

[?][?][?][?][?]

Ok I've seen a Vega/Astra wagon before, but never a 'vette/Acadian wago as of yet .....

Ron.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

 I think I saw some when I was in Ecuador - maybe built down that way?

MickeyR · Postby **MickeyR** » 18 Nov 2009 02:26

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by MickeyR

[quote]Originally posted by silverseven

"""1981 Chevrolet Chevette station wagon"""'

[?][?][?][?][?]

Ok I've seen a Vega/Astra wagon before, but never a 'vette/Acadian wago as of yet .....

Ron.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

 I think I saw some when I was in Ecuador - maybe built down that way? 
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

 Yep. 

http://chevette88.blogspot.com/2008/03/ ... maraj.html

jclay (RIP 2018) · Postby **jclay (RIP 2018)** » 18 Nov 2009 02:41

I have used mine for a daily driver for years, but . . .

I spent about two years getting it ready for this abuse. Even then the goal was not for the 7 to be a daily driver. It was forced into service by another driver that really was in too big a hurry and took out my van.

jclay

[url="http://web.mac.com/jclaythompson/iWeb/Site/Welcome.html"]My Triumph Site[/url], [url="http://web.mac.com/jclaythompson/iWeb/Technical/Intro.html"]Technical Stuff[/url], [url="http://homepage.mac.com/WebObjects/FileSharing.woa/53/wo/HJMTK8gsojtwKleP.1/0.2.1.2.26.31.97.0.35.0.1.1.1?user=jclaythompson&fpath=Triumph_Articles&templatefn=FileSharing4.html"]Download Page[/url]

PeterTR7V8 · Postby **PeterTR7V8** » 18 Nov 2009 04:14

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Mildred

Whassamotta Pete? In New Zealand, did they outlaw sarcasm in exchange for legalizing brothels?

Mildred Hargis
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Welcome to New Vada. I didn't legalise the damn things anymore than you shot JFK although anyone who drives around at 11 mph doesn't get too much sympathy from me. [:D] Our sarcasm comes with less fixings, in fact we've boiled it down to 2 words that fit most situations. A TR7 as a daily driver - Yeah Right!.

Hey O&U, I think a big factor in whether you are up for this challenge may be your age. I used my GT6 as a daily driver for several years when I was younger but as I approach my 2nd childhood I find the TR7 more 'convenient'. The other thing about the diminutive Spitfire & GT6 cars is that no-one sees you in traffic.

Never say die. At least not while you're still breathing.

Wayne S · Postby **Wayne S** » 18 Nov 2009 08:36

Were you drinking something strange the other night Mildred?On the happy pills perhaps??? [;)]

overandunder - in comparison to the Spitfire as an every day car the TR7 is streets ahead. It has a heater that works for a start and they are a lot less draughty in the winter.

I have used my TR7's for everyday transport for the last 5 years and both have been great fun and on the whole reliable. I have covered 50,000 miles across both of mine in that time!!!

The trick is to buy a really good one to start with, the best you can afford rather than starting off with a list! You will have to be prepared for the fact that if in use everyday its going to need A LOT of maintainence and TLC to keep it reliable.

Practically, it has a big boot for a 2 seater sports car, its comfy and frugal on fuel and easily slots into modern day traffic without feeling slow. It feels bigger on the road than a Spitfire so you wont be intimidated as much by lorries!!

The upgrades to consider for everyday motoring are:

Halogen headlamps

Brake upgrades - green stuff pads and EBC rotors at the very least. Preferable 4 pot caliper upgrades.

Electronic ignition - the distributor is difficult to get too and for everydy use points wear fast.

Electric fan - the viscous just aint up to the job in daily commuter traffic.

Take it from someone who has done it - the TR7 is probably one of the most practical classic cars you can get for everyday use!

DISCLAIMER: I've now bought a Peugeot 306 for daily driving because I can't bear driving it on the mucky, muddy salted roads in the winter anymore and picking up chips and rust bubbles [:(] 

2.0 Litre DHC Grinnall
Red 4.0 Litre V8 DHC Grinnall (with huuuuuge arches...!)

stevie_a · Postby **stevie_a** » 18 Nov 2009 09:45

I must agree with Wayne

Especially the upgrades and first get one that is in good condition

I drove my last TR7 for 6 years as a daily

I returned about 29 to 35 mpg on my 2.0L when i drove it ad a daily

--------------------------------------------------------------

If it's not broke don't fix it.

windy one · Postby **windy one** » 18 Nov 2009 16:18

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Wayne S

the TR7 is probably one of the most practical classic cars you can get for everyday use!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Totally agree. When I first wanted to get into LBC's I was looking to get a spit. Untill I remembered while looking thru a Brit Car graveyard, that Triumph had once made the 7's and 8's. My first wedge back in like 1995 was a1980 Spider, and I drove it almost everyday for 4 or 5 years (untill I came accross a TR8 I couldnt pass up [;)]) Never let me down, that Spider. Mostly stock and original, with only upgraded shocks/springs/struts. Only two major (?) repairs I had to make in those 4 or so years of commuting; fuel pump went south, and stater solinoid went bad. Otherwise drove it happily with only regular maintinence. Really.

On the same note, I am currently finishing up my latest TR7 project too also be my next daily driver. Almost done, just waiting on my new windshield [:p].

Johnny

stevie_a · Postby **stevie_a** » 18 Nov 2009 17:09

overandunder you don't say where about in the world you are?

--------------------------------------------------------------

If it's not broke don't fix it.

FI Spyder · Postby **FI Spyder** » 18 Nov 2009 18:58

A lot of banter for someones first post. Yes, the TR7 can be a daily driver. A number on this forum use it for that. I remember reading a blog some time back of a TR7 in LA driven dailey. The owner overhauled the transmission at 180,000 miles and rather than overhaul the engine at 190,000 miles he installed the Buick 215 (same engine as the Rover 3.5 liter found in the TR8). He drove it another 40,000 miles only replacing a broken valve spring with Rover spring stating they had the rep of being better/stronger. The date of the blog was 1995.

That said the TR7 is a 30+ year old car and will surely will require a lot of preventive maintenance initially. Most Mechanics don't know how to work on them so if you plan on doing your own maintenance forget the idea.

That said it will not drive like a new car (bland) and that may be a good thing or a bad thing depending on where you stand. (Good in my books but that's just me). I'd rather drive 200 miles in my TR7 than 50 miles in my Spitfires. Spitfires are short haul cars where as TR7 are comfy on the long haul.

Once you clean and grease (dielectric) all the connections you've just eleminated most of the problems of a TR7. Gas tanks can rust through due to condensation/rain exposure. Rubber (hoses, belts, bushes, hydraulic and oil seals) deteriorate and need to be replaced. This is all preventative and you can drive it until it gives a problem, then fix it but that's surely not what you want from a daily driver.

While driving a TR7 will get you looks and compliments (or derision) that no tricked up Civic will, a newer econobox is the path of least resistance.

TR7 Spider - 1978 Spifire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra

overandunder · Postby **overandunder** » 18 Nov 2009 19:47

Wow - thanks to all for the responses. I suppose I was asking 'how long is a piece of string' in that almost any car can be used daily if you have enough determination/wealth/masochistic tendencies!

As for the 'naff '70's BL cr@p' type comments it's water off a ducks back, having grown up in a family that ran Austins, (including a '78 Princess and an '82 Mk2) Morris's, Wolseley's and the odd Rover - but sadly never a Triumph. Dad nearly bought a mint 2500 Pi once but it was not to be.

I have a very practical (i.e dull) diesel estate, but am sorely tempted to sell on, buy a 'good' 7 and have a bit of cash leftover. I would miss the practicality of being able to carry tons of junk (only occasionally though). I don't have the budget (or space) to do both.

Spannering doesn't scare me as I have always serviced my own cars (though I have to say this has been less so with current 'computer knows everything' diesel estate). In fact, the chance to have a car that requires regular maintenance is, in a strange way, part of the appeal.

Sorry for not filling in the profile I live near Portsmouth, Hants. Any owners local ?

Thanks again

Anonymous

TR7 daily driver?

TR7 daily driver?

Who is online