End of a Beautiful Relationship
Discussion
Took the S for an M.o.T. this morning, and it failed on fairly severe corrosion around the passenger seatbelt mounting.
The obvious solution is to get the outriggers replaced, and I'm currently waiting for a call back from Top Cats to talk prices. In the meantime, I was wondering whether anyone who's had this job done recently can give me an idea of price and any other details (thanks to Rob for the information already provided). I have been back through all the previous postings, but thought I'd see what else I could find out.
So, to the reason for the title of this posting. Unfortunately we don't have the spare £1500 pounds (that I'm expecting the job to cost), so I'm going to have to get the work done and then sell the S to cover the cost. The S is my everyday car so I don't have the option of taking the time to remove the body myself or laying the car up for a while etc.
Words cannot express just how gutted I'm feeling today!
The obvious solution is to get the outriggers replaced, and I'm currently waiting for a call back from Top Cats to talk prices. In the meantime, I was wondering whether anyone who's had this job done recently can give me an idea of price and any other details (thanks to Rob for the information already provided). I have been back through all the previous postings, but thought I'd see what else I could find out.
So, to the reason for the title of this posting. Unfortunately we don't have the spare £1500 pounds (that I'm expecting the job to cost), so I'm going to have to get the work done and then sell the S to cover the cost. The S is my everyday car so I don't have the option of taking the time to remove the body myself or laying the car up for a while etc.
Words cannot express just how gutted I'm feeling today!
Podie said:I'll try, but I can't promise anything!
C'mon mate, be positive. I don't hear a fat lady singing just yet!
funbobby said:I've just phoned them again, but apparently Warren's not back yet. The woman I spoke to did mention that they were currently working on yours.
sorry you might have to get rid of it richard,have you heard back from warren yet? my car has proberly put them of doing another one!! i did get a cheaper quote of about £800 for the job from company in milton keynes but plumped for top cats because of there good reputation.
Was the £800 quote from another TVR specialist or from a general motor repair shop?I know exactly how you feel. Took my new baby in for a service four weeks after buying it and was told the same thing.
If you do not have the money now, just replace the seatbelt mounts, it can be done relatively cheaply.
I had them both replaced, both outriggers replced and the tubing connecting them to the main chassis for 1500. I've had the car back 3 weeks now
Give David Geralds a call, if I remember rightly they would have done the mounts on their own for about 300 quid.
I thought I would have to sell mine in order to cover the bill, I have'nt and I'm not regretting it.
Good luck and deepest sympathies.
Other option is to remove the body yourself (if you have the room) and then just pay a welder to do the tubing. Will take a while, but surely better than selling the car. There is a thread on here listing how to do it.
If you do not have the money now, just replace the seatbelt mounts, it can be done relatively cheaply.
I had them both replaced, both outriggers replced and the tubing connecting them to the main chassis for 1500. I've had the car back 3 weeks now
Give David Geralds a call, if I remember rightly they would have done the mounts on their own for about 300 quid.
I thought I would have to sell mine in order to cover the bill, I have'nt and I'm not regretting it.
Good luck and deepest sympathies.
Other option is to remove the body yourself (if you have the room) and then just pay a welder to do the tubing. Will take a while, but surely better than selling the car. There is a thread on here listing how to do it.
RichardR said:
Thanks for the tip about David Geralds Lurch. My understanding was that the body would have to be lifted anyway even just to do the seatbelt mountings, so the cost wouldn't be much different. 
I'll give them a ring and see what they say.
Depends on who you ask. One specialist reckoned 3k for the work to be done, and the body had to come off completely! I am sure DG's said the mounts could be done without body up, but give them a ring, they were v helpful.
Thanks Rob. I found the link to Moore Racing so I'll give them a ring as well.
Edited to say that I just spoke to Richard at Moore Racing and he sounded like a top guy. Arranged to send a few digital photos over the weekend for an initial assessment, but he reckoned that I'd be looking around the £1K plus VAT area.
>> Edited by RichardR on Friday 27th June 16:32
Edited to say that I just spoke to Richard at Moore Racing and he sounded like a top guy. Arranged to send a few digital photos over the weekend for an initial assessment, but he reckoned that I'd be looking around the £1K plus VAT area.
>> Edited by RichardR on Friday 27th June 16:32
lurch said:I took a run down to Station Hill Garage at lunchtime and they said they'd only do a full body off chassis restoration or replacement for about £8K!
Depends on who you ask. One specialist reckoned 3k for the work to be done, and the body had to come off completely! I am sure DG's said the mounts could be done without body up, but give them a ring, they were v helpful.
RichardR said:
So, to the reason for the title of this posting. Unfortunately we don't have the spare £1500 pounds (that I'm expecting the job to cost), so I'm going to have to get the work done and then sell the S to cover the cost. The S is my everyday car so I don't have the option of taking the time to remove the body myself or laying the car up for a while etc.
Words cannot express just how gutted I'm feeling today!
Not a big advocate of debt myself being a Motley Fool, but is there no way you can spread the cost into a loan or absorb it into a mortgage or something ? Or you could buy a crap car for a few hundred quid to tie you over till you've sorted it out ?
Maximum sympathy
WG
Unfortunately our monthly budget is a finely balanced thing and we just don't have leeway for any extra outgoing for a loan etc.
Over the last year we've had a second addition to the family and my wife's given up work. That in conjunction with a £900 tax bill and a complete lack of pay rises or bonuses means we couldn't exactly be described as rolling in it!
I guess we may find some way to cover the cost, but I'm buggered if I can see what it could be!
Over the last year we've had a second addition to the family and my wife's given up work. That in conjunction with a £900 tax bill and a complete lack of pay rises or bonuses means we couldn't exactly be described as rolling in it!
I guess we may find some way to cover the cost, but I'm buggered if I can see what it could be!
Richard from your original post you say that it's failed on the passenger seatbelt mounting point, which I assume to be exactly that, the vertical plate in the wheel arch 
.
If so, I know that the outriggers may probably need changing at some point in the near future but if they are sound, can you not get a replacement plate grafted on to get you through the immediate MOT duirng this lean time and get the rest of the car sorted at your own pace/time.
Harry
. If so, I know that the outriggers may probably need changing at some point in the near future but if they are sound, can you not get a replacement plate grafted on to get you through the immediate MOT duirng this lean time and get the rest of the car sorted at your own pace/time
. Harry
Nooo.. Thats just not nice.. Such a beautiful car, hate to see it have to go.. Got to be something that can be done..
A banger for 6 months wouldn't be too difficult to get hold of, (younger brother seems to have an almost endless supply which I thnk he'd yet to pay more then £60 for). Its the cash to do the repair I guess. IIRC, its a time consuming rather than difficult job to lift the body, couple of mates for a weekend or two should see it lifted and the chssis can then be rolled out to be treated, same again to replace. That'll cut it down a fair bit..
Got to be a way... :fingerscrossed:
A banger for 6 months wouldn't be too difficult to get hold of, (younger brother seems to have an almost endless supply which I thnk he'd yet to pay more then £60 for). Its the cash to do the repair I guess. IIRC, its a time consuming rather than difficult job to lift the body, couple of mates for a weekend or two should see it lifted and the chssis can then be rolled out to be treated, same again to replace. That'll cut it down a fair bit..
Got to be a way... :fingerscrossed:
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