What to look for when buying a second hand car
Discussion
You could always have a look here. But if you don't know your way around TVRs, get an independent specialist (or an enthusiast!) to have a look at any car before you buy it. Cerbs can be very expensive to run if you pick the wrong one...
Good luck! Hope you find the car of your dreams.
>> Edited by SGirl on Thursday 5th June 15:40
Good luck! Hope you find the car of your dreams.
>> Edited by SGirl on Thursday 5th June 15:40
SGirl said: if you don't know your way around TVRs, get an independent specialist (or an enthusiast!) to have a look at any car before you buy it. Good luck! Hope you find the car of your dreams.
>> Edited by SGirl on Thursday 5th June 15:40
Must agree iin the process of buying a TVR at the mo,and won't contemplate parting with any cash until a specilist has checked it over
It might seem a waste of money but what price piece of mind
TOBY1975 said: You mention history, It has just had a full sevice MOT etc etc. owever it did miss its previous 2 services which is reflected in the price. is that a massive issue given that anything missed in the previous services would have been picked up and accounted for in the recent service.
The trouble is that it's usually a sign that the car has been neglected for some period of it's life. Which is never a good thing with TVR's. Why buy one with a suspect past when there are so many great one's with impeckable history? Unless it's very very cheap and you are prepared to spend the money you save on the car when it's needed.
Cheers, Steve
Grey 4.2 Cerbie
My Cerbera had sat on someones drive for nearly a year, in the year prior to that it had only done a few hundered miles. However it had been serviced each year. Befire I got it it was inspected and we found that basically it needed a good service and using!
The fact is that if I had not known the car from new (best mates car) and not got it very cheap I would not have bothered as the risks were to high.
Saying all that I have just had a service and Offord have found nothing at all wrong with it so it just goes to show
D.
The fact is that if I had not known the car from new (best mates car) and not got it very cheap I would not have bothered as the risks were to high.
Saying all that I have just had a service and Offord have found nothing at all wrong with it so it just goes to show
D.
Missing services are not always bad, but you are increasing your risk and it will aftect re-sale. You should get the car checked by a specialist and it is possible to get some history from the factory.
I looked at 5 Cerberas before I bought mine, so there are plenty out there.
The car I bought has one missing service (a 6K one), but it was looked after by an enthusiast during this time. I had it checked over by APM before I purchased and it got a relatively clean bill of health.
Look for other clues of running a car on the cheap such as differing tyre brands front and rear etc. etc. This will help put the missing services into context.
I looked at 5 Cerberas before I bought mine, so there are plenty out there.
The car I bought has one missing service (a 6K one), but it was looked after by an enthusiast during this time. I had it checked over by APM before I purchased and it got a relatively clean bill of health.
Look for other clues of running a car on the cheap such as differing tyre brands front and rear etc. etc. This will help put the missing services into context.
WELL,,,,
I went to see this Cerbera last night, beautiful car but not convinced. missed the 99 and 2000 service which september to september tell me that it missed 3 years of care. Also, current owner only had it 3 months and owner before that 5 months, before that was the non-service period. Makes me ask questions !!!! Thanks for all your comments, I think I wil look longer and harder but if any one knows of a Cerbera for sale, please let me know hartleytoby@hotmail.com. Also, if anyone knows any good online sites that people advertise other than autotrader, please let me know. THANKS
I went to see this Cerbera last night, beautiful car but not convinced. missed the 99 and 2000 service which september to september tell me that it missed 3 years of care. Also, current owner only had it 3 months and owner before that 5 months, before that was the non-service period. Makes me ask questions !!!! Thanks for all your comments, I think I wil look longer and harder but if any one knows of a Cerbera for sale, please let me know hartleytoby@hotmail.com. Also, if anyone knows any good online sites that people advertise other than autotrader, please let me know. THANKS
16.5K is not much less than you would pay for a 100% car of that age.
What a minefield re owner changes and servicing.
Even the best mechanic cant tell what is going to go with an engine unless it is reasonably obvious. so dont think a check over would put my mind at rest.
I would offer £8K (assuming that the chassis, interior and body is ok). That would leave some financial comfort if engine was a problem.
What a minefield re owner changes and servicing.
Even the best mechanic cant tell what is going to go with an engine unless it is reasonably obvious. so dont think a check over would put my mind at rest.
I would offer £8K (assuming that the chassis, interior and body is ok). That would leave some financial comfort if engine was a problem.
The number of previous owners, and how long they each kept it for, is a big thing to look at. If I was buying a second hand Cerbie, I'd either want it to be from the first owner, or for the current owner to have owned it for 1.5 to 2 years.
A car that's for sale after 3 months smacks of "it's got a problem, so I suggest you sell it on before it goes big style".
Just my opinion.
James
A car that's for sale after 3 months smacks of "it's got a problem, so I suggest you sell it on before it goes big style".
Just my opinion.
James
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