Not sold in a day..
Discussion
Bugger..
well having had some interim conversations with the bloke buying the car (after the handshake, deposit and agreement to purchase), including a txt at 10pm the night before, he duly arrived to collect it on Saturday morning.
Whilst I was returning to the car, I heard the familiar click of the bonnet catch, which I thought slightly odd, then some long faces and staring into the bonnet as there is some play in the steering setup. Described accurately by me beforehand as..
"about 1" of travel at the wheel edge, but you don't notice any problems when driving"
Our man wasn't too convinced, but having declined to drive it when he came to look at it originally (I just drove him round for about 25 mins) I thrust the keys at him and sent him off in it. He returned, saying I was quite right, and that it was absolutely fine when on the move.
Then having asked him if he was sure he still wanted it to which he said he was sure he did, we filled in the V5, exchanged money and service history, and the car disappeared over the horizon.
Fifteen minutes later I get a phonecall.. the car has dumped all its coolant !! blimey I thought, bottom hose must have split or something, but as they were only 5 miles from my house I went out to help out, taking a paltry two litre bottle of water with me and an open mind.
On arrival I discovered that the car had been queuing in traffic at roadworks and the fan had not come on, then it had overheated. I therefore put a paperclip across the otter switch connectors to cool the car a bit, and pointed out that the otter switch spade connections were bone dry, and just needed some WD40. Having cooled the car a bit, I got the cap off, and added about 1 ltr of water to fill it back up (not the 12 litres the car holds of course), put some WD40 on the otter connectors, and duly started the car up so I could demonstrate that this was the minor/common problem that had caused the steam. The car duly got to temperature, fans came on, car cooled, all was well.
The buyer, then just kept repeating, "I'm not happy".. and going on about "..too many concerns" (whatever they were.. his wife said earlier that he'd been worrying about the purchase it for the whole drive over to get the car).
After I'd got the "we can do this the easy way or the hard way" routine from him, and the "if you had any confidence in the car, you'd take it back", I agreed to take the car back and to be honest I think it was a very smart decision or I'd have had the new purchaser on the phone every couple of weeks when minor problems occurred to the car.
I just don't get it though.. the guy is specifically looking for a 10 yr old Chimaera, in flawless condition for the 10 - 11k mark. And whilst mine is pretty much that, any 10 yr old chimaera is going to have the occasional minor embarrassment, like dry connections on the otter switch.. Suffice to say, I think he'd be better off buying something different, and with a bombproof warranty, or he's going to end up disappointed, and once I've got a duplicate V5 sorted out, the car will be up for sale again.
Cheers
Matt.
well having had some interim conversations with the bloke buying the car (after the handshake, deposit and agreement to purchase), including a txt at 10pm the night before, he duly arrived to collect it on Saturday morning.
Whilst I was returning to the car, I heard the familiar click of the bonnet catch, which I thought slightly odd, then some long faces and staring into the bonnet as there is some play in the steering setup. Described accurately by me beforehand as..
"about 1" of travel at the wheel edge, but you don't notice any problems when driving"
Our man wasn't too convinced, but having declined to drive it when he came to look at it originally (I just drove him round for about 25 mins) I thrust the keys at him and sent him off in it. He returned, saying I was quite right, and that it was absolutely fine when on the move.
Then having asked him if he was sure he still wanted it to which he said he was sure he did, we filled in the V5, exchanged money and service history, and the car disappeared over the horizon.
Fifteen minutes later I get a phonecall.. the car has dumped all its coolant !! blimey I thought, bottom hose must have split or something, but as they were only 5 miles from my house I went out to help out, taking a paltry two litre bottle of water with me and an open mind.
On arrival I discovered that the car had been queuing in traffic at roadworks and the fan had not come on, then it had overheated. I therefore put a paperclip across the otter switch connectors to cool the car a bit, and pointed out that the otter switch spade connections were bone dry, and just needed some WD40. Having cooled the car a bit, I got the cap off, and added about 1 ltr of water to fill it back up (not the 12 litres the car holds of course), put some WD40 on the otter connectors, and duly started the car up so I could demonstrate that this was the minor/common problem that had caused the steam. The car duly got to temperature, fans came on, car cooled, all was well.
The buyer, then just kept repeating, "I'm not happy".. and going on about "..too many concerns" (whatever they were.. his wife said earlier that he'd been worrying about the purchase it for the whole drive over to get the car).
After I'd got the "we can do this the easy way or the hard way" routine from him, and the "if you had any confidence in the car, you'd take it back", I agreed to take the car back and to be honest I think it was a very smart decision or I'd have had the new purchaser on the phone every couple of weeks when minor problems occurred to the car.
I just don't get it though.. the guy is specifically looking for a 10 yr old Chimaera, in flawless condition for the 10 - 11k mark. And whilst mine is pretty much that, any 10 yr old chimaera is going to have the occasional minor embarrassment, like dry connections on the otter switch.. Suffice to say, I think he'd be better off buying something different, and with a bombproof warranty, or he's going to end up disappointed, and once I've got a duplicate V5 sorted out, the car will be up for sale again.
Cheers
Matt.
Half of me says bad luck, then the other half says, well at least you got the car back! 
(hint: keep it!). Seems to me that the person in question may not have gone into the whole TVR ownership thing with their eyes open.
These are old cars... what do people expect? I've had people comment that the seats in the S look a bit worn! Well, it's 13 bloody years old! What do you expect?
Obviously wasn't meant to be mate. Lets just say if I had the cash, I'd be knocking on your door...
Well the fact is that people buy TVRs when they don't really want one, only the image. I think the same was true of the bloke who bought my Chimaera. Much as I tried to hint that he would have to put in a lot more to the car than he was planning and amid exhortations to buy Steve Heath's book presto pronto, his response was 'but it's just a Land Rover with a fancy body, it'll be fine' (ah, the 'don't worry your pretty little head about it, us blokes know what we're doing' syndrome
).
Within a week he was on the phone saying why didn't it pop and bang like I'd made it do on the test drive - had I changed anything so it wouldn't do it any more? Then calls about unreliability because a door solenoid had gone bla bla bla....
Anyway, inevitably enough, two months later I heard on the grapevine that he was trying to sell it because it was too much trouble.
So you're probably better off having the car back. It's quite disappointing to hear that a car you've loved had gone to someone who either won't or can't care for it.
). Within a week he was on the phone saying why didn't it pop and bang like I'd made it do on the test drive - had I changed anything so it wouldn't do it any more?
Then calls about unreliability because a door solenoid had gone bla bla bla.... Anyway, inevitably enough, two months later I heard on the grapevine that he was trying to sell it because it was too much trouble.
So you're probably better off having the car back. It's quite disappointing to hear that a car you've loved had gone to someone who either won't or can't care for it.
Plotloss said:
Do these people not get the concept of 'Sold as seen'
Your word is your bond in my mind.
yeah well, he even had a receipt from me with Sold as Seen written on it, but to be honest I'd just have had a load of abuse and hassle from him I reckon, and as I know the cars fine and I wasn't pulling a fast one I was ok with having it back. I think I'd rather it went to someone who knows a bit more about Chimaeras and knows what they're letting themselves in for really.
He was on his mobile phone to someone, going on about engine damage when I got the keys back off him.. jeez, if every Chimaera that overheated knackered the engine there would be none left by now
Oh well
People should go into these purchases with their eyes open, I know I did, and have been rewarded with 5k's worth of 
motoring, not that they have been trouble free, but alot, lot better than I expected.
TVR's need TLC, and IMO you need to be prepared to put in the effort.
I think you did the right thing taking the car back, as the hassle is just not worth it.
I would have thought this had put you of selling privately, still you can enjoy the car for a bit longer.
(Never have liked selling cars privately for this same reason)
Good Luck!
motoring, not that they have been trouble free, but alot, lot better than I expected. TVR's need TLC, and IMO you need to be prepared to put in the effort.
I think you did the right thing taking the car back, as the hassle is just not worth it.
I would have thought this had put you of selling privately, still you can enjoy the car for a bit longer.
(Never have liked selling cars privately for this same reason)
Good Luck!
I'm not convinced. You sold it to him, exhanged money and he left. Your obligations ended there. He then overheated the engine (which could have caused damage) because he wasn't watching the temperature gauge. Whether the otter switch was faulty before or after he drove it away is irrelevant as it was sold as seen (as all non-dealer sales are).
I think you went beyond the call of duty even to go and help him out with the overheating problem (although I would probably have done the same). I wouldn't have taken the car back, especially if he had said "we can do this the easy way or the hard way". My response would have included "hard way", "car" and "where the sun doesn't shine".
I hope the severe overheating has not caused any damage and that you can sell it to someone else. You're obviously just a nicer person than I am
Ian A.
I think you went beyond the call of duty even to go and help him out with the overheating problem (although I would probably have done the same). I wouldn't have taken the car back, especially if he had said "we can do this the easy way or the hard way". My response would have included "hard way", "car" and "where the sun doesn't shine".
I hope the severe overheating has not caused any damage and that you can sell it to someone else. You're obviously just a nicer person than I am
Ian A.
IPAddis said:
I think you went beyond the call of duty even to go and help him out with the overheating problem (although I would probably have done the same). I wouldn't have taken the car back, especially if he had said "we can do this the easy way or the hard way". My response would have included "hard way", "car" and "where the sun doesn't shine".
Well that option was mine I suppose, but at the end of the day I want someone to be happy with the car and enjoy it, and as he said to me at the time "I might regret this"..I'm sure he will.. Its his loss in the great scheme of things and someone else will get a very very tidy car.
IPAddis said:
I hope the severe overheating has not caused any damage and that you can sell it to someone else. You're obviously just a nicer person than I am
Ian A.
The overheating wasn't that severe, it only lost about a litre of water and there were no odd "hot" smells anywhere to be found. It was just having a spat as it was a bit warm..
As for the nicer person.. I dunno.. The buyer did provide me with a tank of Optimax (having just filled the car up) and I kept the small deposit he'd paid, so its not all a dead loss.
I agree, sold as seen case, he should have drove it, had inspected or whatever to convince himself. Good of you to take it back though, I'm impressed with your morals and thoughts.Unfortunate about the overheating as in fairness its a minor thing and easily rectified If your switched on about these things. Sounds like he does not deserve such a fine automobile. Good luck in the future sale of your little toy.
rude girl said:
Within a week he was on the phone saying why didn't it pop and bang like I'd made it do on the test drive - had I changed anything so it wouldn't do it any more?
Hmm.. the early signs were there for me too.. on opening the bonnet to look at the steering I got: "someones wiped off the Rocker Cover since I saw it".. suffice to say, unless the elves that live under the bonnet had been spring cleaning, no-one had been near it.
Matt.
M@H said:
Within a week he was on the phone saying why didn't it pop and bang like I'd made it do on the test drive - had I changed anything so it wouldn't do it any more?
Hmm.. the early signs were there for me too.. on opening the bonnet to look at the steering I got: "someones wiped off the Rocker Cover since I saw it".. suffice to say, unless the elves that live under the bonnet had been spring cleaning, no-one had been near it.
Matt.
When they've finished, can you send 'em round please... got a flat that needs doing..
IPAddis said:
I'm not convinced. You sold it to him, exhanged money and he left. Your obligations ended there. He then overheated the engine (which could have caused damage) because he wasn't watching the temperature gauge. Whether the otter switch was faulty before or after he drove it away is irrelevant as it was sold as seen (as all non-dealer sales are).
I think you went beyond the call of duty even to go and help him out with the overheating problem (although I would probably have done the same). I wouldn't have taken the car back, especially if he had said "we can do this the easy way or the hard way". My response would have included "hard way", "car" and "where the sun doesn't shine".
I hope the severe overheating has not caused any damage and that you can sell it to someone else. You're obviously just a nicer person than I am
Ian A.
I agree, whilst one always likes to be charitable, tough sh1t ! I think it was a very honouranble move on your behalf but not one I think I would have made.
Interesting hearing of your experience. To be honest I've always been put off both buying privately and selling privately due to these issues.
That said. When its finally time for the Chimaera to go we'll probably have to sell it privately or accept a disgraceful trade-in.
I think I'd be tempted to ask prospective purchasers if they'd owned a TVR before...
That said. When its finally time for the Chimaera to go we'll probably have to sell it privately or accept a disgraceful trade-in.
I think I'd be tempted to ask prospective purchasers if they'd owned a TVR before...
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff