To TR4A Or Not to TR4A?

[RoyH]

Greetings. My first posting.

 

I have been toying with the idea for a while of owning a Triumph Sports car and initially had a hankering over a TR2. Much as I like the car, I’ve decided that a TR4A would better suit my needs of a summer car with the ability to take Mrs H on a sunny drive, top down, perhaps for a week-end away.

 

I’m therefore looking for a sports cruiser type car which is good looking, nice to drive and nostalgic without necessarily being too noisy ( ie that SWMBO could travel in and enjoy without too much complaint). So … is this the TR4A?

 

And, if it is…..

 

Will it live outside under a car cover, or is that asking too much? I’m running out of space with my car collection and have another car in the garage that I cant consign to living outside.

 

And even more ….

 

Is it a car for a hands off owner type? Or is that a non-starter with a classic?

[88V8]

Hello and welcome.

 

As the very hands-on owner of a TR6, I am not quite equipped to answer your question, but you are right in thinking that the windy window TRs are more likely to meet the approval of OH than the sidescreen models.

 

In my own TR Group, we have some pretty much hands-off owners, it depends whether you have a deep pocket and a competent TR specialist near you. The average run of the mill garage is not somewhere to take a classic car.

 

I hope you can make it to our International Meet at Malvern this weekend, where you can no doubt see some cars for sale, and receive the answers to all your questions and more.

Details are on the Home page of the TR Register website.

 

Ivor

[TR4AIRS]

If I was living in southern California, I wouldn't mind leaving my car on the doorstep. But on our side of the pond, it would really hurt to see my car standing in the wind and rain every single day.

 

How about an SLK or a Z4 with a metal roof?

[SuzanneH]

Greetings. My first posting.

 

( ie that SWMBO could travel in and enjoy without too much complaint). So … is this the TR4A?

 

 

 

 

Hello Roy

 

Thought you may appreciate a female poit of view:

 

As a passenger with long hair, in my youth, in a TR4A convertible back in the early seventies I disliked the way my hair used to get blown forward and I know ladies these days who complain it is windy and cold in a TR4A convertible. I would recommend a Surry top for your good ladies comfort, they are more expensive but warm and comfy and no problems with hair being blown forward.

 

Good luck in your search

 

Sue

Edited July 22, 2010 by SuzanneH

[randall977]

I currently keep my TR4 under a Tyvek cover and it's fine - in fact it has the advantage that the car doesn't sweat like it does in an unheated garage. Long term however I do plan to built a port as covers tend to break down with time. The TR4 is a VERY practical car - some say the most practical classic out there (and it looks very cool as well)...however if you're not practical it is probably irrelevant! Don't fancy a more basic but prettier TR4 then?

[RogerH]

Hi Roy,

the TR4A is a good car to drive and have fun in.

Regarding the 'hands off' approach, this is quite normal.

A fair few people do not do their own maintennance.

However the most important thing (even with modern cars) is to listen to it and note any odd noises etc. and get them sort asap.

 

Like all cars - check oil, tyres and water, monitor the ammeter, how is the steering, oh! and put petrol in now and then.

 

Take out classic car insurance with recovery (UK & Europe)

Join the TR REG and attend your local group meetings.

 

Your face will hurt after a few days of ownership due to the silly smile that will be permanently fixed to it.

 

Roger

[RoyH]

Some very encouraging posts here, thank you.

 

I appreciate that keeping a car of this nature under an outside cover is not ideal. As a temporary measure it’s probably okay.

 

The car I have sitting in my garage is an entirely different beast; a Caterham R500! Great though it is to drive, my wife won’t come in the car, which is a bit of a waste.

 

I will definitely look in more detail at the TR4, TR4A and, if I buy one, will need to consider either renting dry storage in my village or selling the Caterham and putting the TR in the garage.

 

Following a bit of research I have discovered a local specialist called Moordale Motors who are in Potters Bar. I know nothing about them, but it’s a good place to start and is within easy driving distance from me.

[RogerH]

Hi Roy,

if you are in the Potters Bar area why not contact the North London Group (Howard Pryor - Group Leader) as they will/may know

of suitable garages in the area.

 

If you are going to keep it under a cover try and assemble a tent type structure to keep the cover off the car for extended periods.

Otherwise no reason why it shouldn't last a long time - well vented etc.

 

Roger

[dykins]

How about an SLK or a Z4 with a metal roof?

 

TR4AIRS

The original poster is called Roy, and not Sebastian - so I would assume that he's not after a nancy boy's car

 

Regards

 

Peter

[Kiwifrog]

Having owned both a TR4 and a 4A my preference is for the cart springed 4, beter handling and more chuckable, however having said that the 4A is a great car and has the advantage of a proper soft top rather than a bit of Vniyl folded up in the boot which by the time you have got it on you are soaked.

 

Cheers

 

Alan

[vivdownunder]

For a hands off owner, I'd suggest an early TR4 with SU carbies, rather than a later one with Strombergs.

 

A TR4A is also good, but its independent rear suspension can present some challenges, unless overhauled by an expert. If deciding on a TR4A, later models went back to SU carbies.

 

I'd go for a fully rebuilt car with photographic history. But before buying, check if your local garage is confident in their ability to maintain a TR for you.

 

Next, go for a decent drive before committing, as there's no point in deciding you don't like the feel of a car after purchasing it. Consider Sue's excellent advice and check if your partner will travel happily in the TR.

 

If any particular car is too noisy, another muffler is an easy fix.

 

Security is a consideration when keeping a car under a cover. People with access are prone to take a peep to see what it is.

 

Regards,

 

Viv.

[Ashley James]

There was an absolutely superb red TR4 for sale in the Trade Show at Malvern yesterday. It was £14K and probably worth every penny and that's what you need to aim for - a really good example of either, so subsequent bills don't exceed what a good one might have cost. I'm just learning this with my TR3A!

 

Ash

[PJM]

Moordale motors are well known in Triumph circles generally and although I have never used them myself I have only heard good things about them from other Clubs associated with Triumph (NFI)

[Alec Pringle]

Hi Roy,

 

attempting to keep any TR under a car cover of any sort will prove to be an expensive error. Don't even think about going there, a TR requires a proper garage or forget the whole idea.

 

TR4 is the preferred choice for a pure driver's car, but if passenger comfort and sociable cruising weekends are the priority, then the 4A wins hands down, preferably with a Surrey. You can't have it both ways !

 

Cheers,

 

Alec

[Ade-TR4]

I drove my Dad to Malvern and back on Saturday, I chose an "all A-roads" route from Saddleworth to the show ground (approx 300miles round trip) and my Dad couldn't believe the difference in handling/ chuckability of my 4 compared to his (very nice) TR6.

He did comment that the ride was much more "choppy" though, and on balance I think he prefers his comfy IRS suspension to my cart-sprung one. Me, I love the taught feeling the TR4 has compared to the (standard) IRS rear-end.

 

I would seriously suggest a thorough back-to-back test drive in the TR4 and TR4a-IRS; make sure they are decent examples of both. There are other differences: Metal-dash in the TR4, no chrome side trim, later 4-pot engine in the 4a etc etc etc, but the main difference is the rear suspension.

 

When you finally decide, buy the best car you can afford. Especially if you're not going to be maintaining it yourself. The best TR4/ 4as are changing hands at approaching £20k.

 

It is probably worth buying from one of the TR specialists, if there is one near you, as most of them offer warranty/ follow-up on cars purchased through them.

 

What a fantastic dilema you have!

 

Cheers

Adey

PS: I wouldn't leave my TR4 outside under a cover as a long-term solution, even if you put a gun to my head!

[CJG]

If you have sufficient headroom in your garage (and given that the Caterham is pretty low) you might be able to get away with a "Doppelparker" - I'm not sure what these are called in English, or whether they are allowed in the UK, but they are reasonably common here. Basically, they let you "stack" your cars in the garage (the Caterham will have to go on top - I hope it doesn't leak oil!). They start at about €3-4K, plus installation.

 

Regards,

 

CJG

[4Mal]

I fully endorse Adeys commenst. Buy a 4!!

Your wife may appreciate the benefits of a surrey top as well. My wife wasn't over the moon about long trips with the soft top down, but she is likes them now we have the Surrey set up as well.

[Ade-TR4]

Yours is hardly a, ahem, standard TR4 Mal...

 

Roy wants to takes his wife for a nice drive in the country, not bend space-time!

 

Ade

[Badfrog]

I fully endorse Adeys commenst. Buy a 4!!

Your wife may appreciate the benefits of a surrey top as well. My wife wasn't over the moon about long trips with the soft top down, but she is likes them now we have the Surrey set up as well.

 

 

I'll go for a 4 of course, with a good telescopic rear suspension kit. Concerning SWMBO, can you believe she not only requests a hood of any sorts, but a windshield too?

Makes rather solitary drives in the wet. Then I have to take her to West Indies to get even......

 

I'll get me wallet....

 

Badfrog