Bought, and current mileage

[Medic-one]

Now we've bought the house and paid for the wedding i can slowly start to look at getting my first chim, and i was just curious at what sort of mileage you guys bought yours, and at what mileage they're now.

Some on my Jap cars i bought with high milage, including a Celica GT i bought at 125.000 and sold with profit at 132.000 but obviously it's a bit different with chimaera's.

And from what milage should i start walking away from them ?

[swallet]

I would not discount any chimaera based on mileage. Buy purely on condition and history.

There are many members on here with cars happily runnng over 120k. If the car has been regularly serviced and well looked after it will likely be in a better state than a low mileage example which has been in storage for years. These cars do benefit from being regularly driven.
The market will always place a premium on low mileage but this is missplaced IMHO.

That said camshaft wear can be an issue and the consensus seems to be that around 50-60k is when symptoms of wear most commonly raise their head (again some owners happily see over 100k on the original cam). Factor in £1500 to replace.

In summary I would look for a car that looks in good condition and has been well cared for with a full service folder. A sound chassis and good engine are the priorities so if these have been professionally rebuilt/restored by a recognised expert then these will attract a premium but gives piece of mind.

Alternatively buy at the bottom end and be prepared to spend money bringing it up to your spec

[ChilliWhizz]

Medic-one said:

Now we've bought the house and paid for the wedding i can slowly start to look at getting my first chim, and i was just curious at what sort of mileage you guys bought yours, and at what mileage they're now.

Some on my Jap cars i bought with high milage, including a Celica GT i bought at 125.000 and sold with profit at 132.000 but obviously it's a bit different with chimaera's.

And from what milage should i start walking away from them ?

Bought mine in 2010 with 32k on the clock, now has 46k on the clock.

Mileage should not be a reason to walk away! What you need to look at is condition, and, ideally, history. Many TVR's are like Triggers Broom Also, the lower the mileage, the less use the car has had. This is not always a good thing..... I'd strongly recommend you employ the services of an expert when it comes time to look... particularly if you're looking at high mileage cars because your budget is a bit on the low side... although that said, if you're not buying from a known and reputable specialist and know little about the cars then I'd use a specialist regardless of the cars age, mileage, and apparent condition...

Good luck,

Chilli

ETA: sorry swallet, you posted while I was scribbling

[pb450]

Agree with all the good advice above on mileage. The higer the mileage, the more it's been used. As long as it's been looked after during the journey there. These cars do not respond well to lack of use.

My mate sold his Chimaera recently after 7 years ownership with 93k on the clock. A well looked after car and ran as sweet as a nut!

Single word advice: CHASSIS.

[900T-R]

Bought: 106,100 miles
Now: 142,600 miles

Car's a bit Triggers Broom though, if still 'matching numbers'...

[A900ss]

I bought mine at 78,000

Engine rebuild at 78,200

Now on 83,500

1997 450

[Sharpeee]

Bought mine with 114k on clock, although engine, shocks, wheels, windscreen, hood all done less than 8k and it had a respray so all good. If u want one to sit in the garage buy one that has done that most of its life, if you want to drive it buy one that's been driven

[Andy JB]

Just be careful of the high mileage feedback - while theres an element of frequent use truth, this doesn't mean to say a properly looked after low miler will be problematic.

Indeed its not just the engine whcih clocks up the miles but all the other components wear ie diffs gearboxes suspension bushes etc none of which are cheap to replace.

A lower mileage car is realistically a better option considering build quality & car age etc so long as its received regular maintenance and regular use even if mileage hasn't been high its more likley the way to go IMO

[MPoxon]

Hi Karim,

Pop along to the Essex PH meet if you are about tomorrow evening, would be good to catch up and always happy to talk TVRs!

For the record I bought mine with 22k on the clock now has 46k. I was sucked into the low mileage idea but in reality, you need to buy on the merit of each individual car. I would rather buy a 90k car which has been meticulously maintained and parts replaced as necessary than an 20k minter which is still on all original components.

Matthew

[bobs4c]

As has been said, good service history is important. Bought mine at 31K, now 100+K (original cam)

Bob

[QBee]

If I were changing mine I would most definitely be buying from someone on here who is trading down to an Aston, Griff or Tuscan, and who I know will have looked after the car properly.
After going to S Club Heaven last year, I am convinced that some of those guys keep the car in the bedroom . No, no problems with the wife.....well, they wouldn't have one, would they?
As already said, choose on merit and ask on here if we know the car and owner. Or wait for one of the good guys to be about to put their P&J (and their car) up for sale.

[Medic-one]

Thanks for the replies so far guys.

MPoxon said:

Pop along to the Essex PH meet if you are about tomorrow evening, would be good to catch up and always happy to talk TVRs!

Cheers Matt, we're planning on coming tomorrow, though in the shopping trolley as GT is still of the road, but at least i can show the misses around a nice TVR then

[900T-R]

Andy JB said:

Just be careful of the high mileage feedback - while theres an element of frequent use truth, this doesn't mean to say a properly looked after low miler will be problematic.

Indeed its not just the engine whcih clocks up the miles but all the other components wear ie diffs gearboxes suspension bushes etc none of which are cheap to replace.

A lower mileage car is realistically a better option considering build quality & car age etc so long as its received regular maintenance and regular use even if mileage hasn't been high its more likley the way to go IMO

Let's look at this logically.

I use my car every weekend or every other weekend when it's not at my preferred TVR whisperer for work. Which is already on the outer end of the 'regularly' envelope.

Still I have never done less than 6,000 miles per annum.

It takes at least 15 minutes but more likely half an hour for everything to reach its operating temperature.

The newest cars are already 11 years old.

I'd say that Chimaeras with less than 50,000 miles on the clock either haven't been used 'regularly', at least not for all of their lives, or have been used for short trips (and there's a fair chance the driver won't resist the temptation of letting the noise rip at some point even whenthe car never reaches its operating temperature).

The mechanicals of these cars are generally hard wearing.

What they don't like, however, is being left to sit for long periods of time.

Thus I'd expect as much if not more stuff that will need attention with cars that have covered much less than 5,000 miles annually, than 'high mileage' ones. Worn stuff is relatively straightforward to replace or rebuild, but gremlins from lack of use are often a lot harder to track down and rectify...

Given the age bracket the cars are in right now, I'd look for cars that have had major mechanical and chassis work already carried out, regardless of overall mileage covered.

[fausTVR]

Bought in 2010 at 14,700, now reading 27ish. Have to say it's not been a trial with a low miler, still tight as a drum. I will join in with all that big miles talk when I get there, why not?

[Oggs]

Bought in 2003 mileage 28k now 70k.