It's official: the purple beastie has to go :(

[Marshy]

Made the decision a week or so ago, but cast it in stone with adverts in Auto Trader, Top Marques and the Pistonheads classifieds.

Bluntly, there's just not enough money kicking around in my field (at least not as a freelancer) and my outgoings are just starting to scare me as my income drops from where it was a couple of years back (when I bought the Chimaera).

I think I've pegged the thing at a resonable price level, so will see if I get any takers.

Funnily enough, I'm going to be in approximately the same boat as CarZee, having about 6-7k to spend on something a bit more mundane, at least until that lottery win comes through.

I need some practicality for a time, so am thinking along the lines of a BMW 328i touring or an Impreza Turbo estate. Early examples of these are on auto trader for the right sort of money. Currently, the BMW is ahead, because I fancy a slice of straight six refinement and BMW solidity. And if I manage to save up (Ha! Me? Save?) about three grand, I *will* strap a supercharger onto it, consequences bedamned.

But, dammit, I'd rather not have to sell up in the first place. Bugger, feck, ar$e, w@nk. Oh well. I guess two years of cheshire cat grinning will keep me going for a bit anyway.

[sparks]

Sorry to hear that things are tight. If it is any consolation, there are many people (especially in specialist areas) that are having to tighten their belts.

My plans of getting my first tiv went down the pan when work dried up. Even worse I am now in Saudi, with my family still in the U.K, just to pay the bills.

If I win the lottery in the near future, I will give you a call.

Sparks

[pbrettle]

Oh no - big shame. Still, once things pick up again you can get another one. You are still intending to return to the TVR fold again arent you?

Cheers,

Paul

[nubbin]

Tough luck, Marshy - get the Beemer - my 13 year old 525i is still a great car to drive, and only cost me £3000. FSH as well!! Mind you, the flat four noise of the Impreza really might make you think of your V8 - best 4 cylinder noise going, IMHO. I hope the gods of good fortune smile on you soon. PS it wasn't you who nicked my stereo was it?!!

[philshort]

Sorry situation Marshy, you must be gutted. Could end up there myself; having to take a permie job due to lack of suitable contract work. Massive drop in income inevitably, so things are going to be tight. I'm sure you won't be the only one - no consolation I know.

[MikeyT]

Marshy, sorry to here about your plight. Six months ago, and I'd have been down to yours to make you an offer – I'm sure it'll go quick when the weather dries up a bit.

Hope the work situation picks up soon.

Mike

[dr chuff]

Me too. You have my sympathies Marshy. I sold my Chimaera 500 about 5 weeks ago, partly due to work drying up (IT Contractor) and I really miss it.

Fortunately Luca Brazzi (in Tuscan section) is giving me some therapy with his Tuscan SP6!

I'm sticking with my wife's Clio for the time, so I can get a TVR (pref Tuscan) when I get a job.

Roll on,

Dr C

[luca brazzi]

quote:
Fortunately Luca Brazzi (in Tuscan section) is giving me some therapy with his Tuscan SP6!

Thanks for the plug mate.
LB
Pray for good weather tomorrow DrC

[Marshy]

Thanks all. Yeah, I'm mildly gutted, but quite looking forward to freeing up some income and driving something different for a while. But I am definitely intending to return to something with a rediculous V8 in it whenever I can manage it.

I'm justing hoping it'll sell quickly - I've managed to convince myself that I'm in the mood for something different for a time, and need to capitalise on that mood while it lasts! And besides, though it doesn't seem like it, I've had it nearly 2 years and have done over 20k miles in it. It's not as bad as buying one, then having to get rid a couple of months later. *That* would indeed suck.

[jeremyc]

quote:Fortunately Luca Brazzi (in Tuscan section) is giving me some therapy with his Tuscan SP6!

I'm just up the road from you I think dr chuff.

Anytime you fancy a run out in a real TVR give me a shout off line (email through my profile). I'm always looking for good excuses to stop work .

[bjwoods]

Hi

If you have payed for the TVR (no loan left?)
why not keep it and go in for bangereconomics.

Keep the TVR, and get some disposable motoring.

If you look VERY carefully, ads/autotrader etc you can find very runable cars, for a grand or less.

My neighbour has for an example, a 95 mondeo, his ex company car, 70k miles, nicely anonymous dark blue, good condition over all. (£1100)

You could get something like this, easily do 50-60k miles with just independant servicing, and minimal cost.

I know it's a boring car, but you would still have the TVR.

I'm in a very similar position, made redundant, gave back company car (last year!) nightmare job market.

I've had my Griff 500 from new (98S), it's perfect, less than 12 k miles, so there is no way I'm selling it.

B

[pjg]

For all you IT lot... keep an eye out for Blue Oval ads soon. Rumour has it that they'll be looking for IT bods in specialised areas.... might be worth a nose from Thursday / Friday on if you get my drift.

[Marshy]

bjw, unfortunately I do have finance on it. In an ideal world I'd keep the thing for ever. Unfortunately, the world not being ideal, I really ought to sell it *now* before the miles do disasterous things to its value and I recover nothing meaningful out of the deal. Currently, if it sells for the price I want (which makes it a cheap 500 for its age) I get enough cash back out to buy something quite reasonable for the time being.

pjg: where should one be looking for these ads?

Cheers, C.

[pjg]

Marshy - official line is that the jobs will be advertised in the national press... sounds to me like the broadsheets, although I'd flick through the IT journals too.

[Phil Dicky]

You're not on your own having to sell your TVR, my old 450SE had to go for different financial reasons (ex wife). Three years down the line and I'm back on track should have another in a few months. There always light at the end of the tunnel.

[manek]

Marshy

Same thing here -- I'm pretty certain I'm going to have to sell the TVR and maybe get another when the economy revives.

[davidd]

Sorry to hear that Marshy, I'm sort of considering getting shot of the Griff but I think the used TVR market is probably pretty dire at the mo. P plate 96 54K miles, lots of history. Cosmos blue 1/2 leather PAS lots of life in the tyres CD auto changer. What do you lot think it's worth?

Then what do I buy? I'm sort of thinking alog the lines of a quick Audi Avant (S4 thingy or whatever) or a scooby, maybe a Saab turbo..

Anyway Marshy give me a bell next time you fancy lunch.

D.

[manek]

Interesting list.

I'm considering a 10-12 year-old 911, or a Peugeot 406 coupe (3.0 V6), or an Alfa 156 Veloce. Or maybe a two-litre Alfa 147.

Just can't a Beemer being a replacement for a TVR -- but then you could say that about a Peugeot!

[davidd]

It is tricky and to be honest I'll hang onto it if I can although with a kid on the way it is getting difficult to justify keeping it.
Here is a thought what about a BMW Z coupe, do they have rear seats?