>I am wondering if this is the best place to get info and questions for
>TR6's.
"The List" is unquestionably the _best_ place to get information of any kind
about Triumphs. It's an electronic club where Triumpisti hang out and
freely exchange ideas and experiences. I've owned a Triumph for over 25
years and have belonged to many clubs. I've never had such access to
information and advice as I have since I became a "subscribed SOLer".
>I am also looking for opinions on whether the TR6 is a car that could
>be used everyday.
They certainly were used daily when they were new. I don't know about
others on the list, but I remember when you could buy a TR6 from the local
BL dealer, and most of the buyers were just average Joes who couldn't afford
to buy a "fair weather toy", but who had to use it for daily transportation
also. I think it's only recently, when the cost of buying one has fallen to
a point where they are relatively "cheap" that we have thought of them as
only good for seasonal driving. Compared to a TR3, my TR6 is a pleasure to
drive in bad weather -- roll-up windows, a top that actually keeps water
out, a heater worthy of the name "heater", defrosters that actually work,
and on and on... Yes, you could actually drive a TR6 everyday as long as
you don't neglect the maintenance.
>I've always liked the tr6 and have been thinking about purchasing one
>now that I think I could afford it. Also, how much maintenance will it
>take. I've seen plenty of cars that are rebuilt top to bottom and am
>not sure if that's good or bad. Does a rebuilt engine perform as well
>or better than original?
There's no one-line answer to your question. A properly rebuilt engine will
perform at least as well as the original. A poorly rebuilt one, of course,
will be a source of constant aggravation. As far as maintenance is
concerned, that also depends on condition. The more miles a car has on it
without major refurbishment, the more general maintenance it will require.
The cars you see that have been restored will probably not need as much
daily attention as a car that has been driven for the last 25 or so years.
My advice is to look for a car that has been well cared for. It's worth a
few extra $$$ to get one that is in good shape rather than sink a lot of $$$
into something that will continue to soak up both your time and money.
There is no escape from the law that says "you get what you pay for".
>I've heard that the carburetors are so touchy that they need to be
>adjusted very often, is it true and can I do it by myself? (Yes, I am
>handy). Also I've heard the rears sagged. True or false, does it
>cause damage? how can you prevent it?
Actually, the carburetors were supposed to be "non-adjustable" from the
factory (read: "you need another special tool"). There are surprisingly few
moving parts on a Z-S carburetor, so once it is "dialed in", there's not
much to go wrong. British cars have been accused of having "touchy"
carburetors for years now, and I think you're just hearing this old
chestnut. Again, it's just a matter of looking after things before they
become a problem. The carbs do require a periodic shot of oil into the
dampers, but that's about it (although that's more than a Rochester or
Holley requires -- maybe that's where this "touchy carburetor" thing comes
from). And, finally, yes, the tails can squat under acceleration. There
are stiffer springs available to stop this if it is a bother to you, but I
doubt that many (any?) driver even knows that his TR6 is "squatting" when it
happens. It causes no damage, but does effect the geometry of the car, and
is undesirable in a car used for competition.
I just want to add that if you do take the plunge and buy a TR6, remember to
keep it maintained and don't be afraid to invest a few $$$ in parts from
time to time. Try not to defer maintenance on something that is beginning
to fail, you will only make the repair more costly if you do. Treat it
well, TR's are like real estate -- they aren't making any more. ;-)
Thanks,
Steve
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