S3 on e-bay

[vert]

Just seen this advertised today. Seems cheap to me. Any body got any info or background?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2484394855&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Thanks

[shnozz]

usual caveats apply re ebay purchases but from what you can see it would appear a good buy up to around the £4k mark I would think. Its a nice looking 1993 with low mileage. the stolen/recovered mallarky means its been re-registered. Not sure if that may mean on a Q plate?

[kentishS2]

shnozz said:

usual caveats apply re ebay purchases but from what you can see it would appear a good buy up to around the £4k mark I would think. Its a nice looking 1993 with low mileage. the stolen/recovered mallarky means its been re-registered. Not sure if that may mean on a Q plate?

Hi Phil,

Yes, does sound good, one to watch I think.

I would think it should still have the original plate for an un-complicated theft and recovered undamaged vehicle.

I don't think it is a common practice for DVLA to issue a new reg number for a simple theft, I could well be wrong but there may be a little more to it than this. I think a Q plate is usually assigned following a damage/repaired theft where an engine may have been replaced or body rebuilt from a donor etc. If it does have a Q plate it would be worth any buyer getting a history check.

[shnozz]

yeah good point. AFAIK a Q plate only gets assigned when the date of maunfacture is unknown. so I guess it would only be if the service history was lost and the vehicle stolen/recovered that would apply. A Q plate was the only reason I could think of why the reserve would be that low. OK, so its stolen recovered but that was 10 years ago and one would assume any damage done at that time would long since been repaired. looks good nick and very low mileage and a late example.

Hmmm - track day Nos special

>> Edited by shnozz on Monday 12th July 10:51

[Hoover33]

looking at it one of the bidders is called Tony and looking at his history he appears to source and buy cars for people.... anyone here know him.

[wwesty]

[redacted]

[shnozz]

wwesty said:

Looking at the photo of the rear end it lloks like the plate starts with L...or E....?? Definitely not a Q though.

well if its described as a 1993 that would be an L unless its a private plate on an E..

I thought all the L plates would be S4's.

[doddze]

looking at the bonnet I would say it would be 1991 or before..... my S3 is sept 91 and has the bonnett with the side vents rather than bulge..... unless bonnett changed...

[V8Smith]

I would also say its a pre 1991 as its got the S1/2 style wing mirrors too??? A 1993 car would surely have the newer mirrors?? Something not quite right there!

Mike

[Hoover33]

Well hopefully going to look at on Wednesday with my mate who wants a cheap one. Only tyre kicking I think, but you never know if the price is right

[RichardR]

doddze said:

looking at the bonnet I would say it would be 1991 or before..... my S3 is sept 91 and has the bonnett with the side vents rather than bulge..... unless bonnett changed...

I think the bonnet bulge was the default style for all the S3s, right up 'til the time the S4 came in.

V8Smith said:

I would also say its a pre 1991 as its got the S1/2 style wing mirrors too??? A 1993 car would surely have the newer mirrors?? Something not quite right there!

Although you do see some S3s with the bunny ear mirrors, I think you're right about '93 being a bit late to see them fitted.

Hoover33 said:

Well hopefully going to look at on Wednesday with my mate who wants a cheap one. Only tyre kicking I think, but you never know if the price is right

£3,600 seems very cheap, especially bearing in mind the £2,500 starting price and the lack of reserve! I'd look very carefully at the chassis and at the history. Might be worth taking the chassis and engine numbers as well as seeing if TVR can tell you anything about it.

Nice colour though!

[V8Smith]

RichardR said:

I think the bonnet bulge was the default style for all the S3s, right up 'til the time the S4 came in.

You are right Richard, but the car is being advertised as a 1993 S3C which has the later Chim style bonnet, ala Podie??? There are a few bits that dont quite add up on this car if anyone is interested I would check the history with a fine tooth comb and if there are any gaps walk away! Sounds to me like it could be a car made up from bits of different S cars!! Which would hint at a few accidents!

All IMHO.

Mike

[pies]

Well the only thing i see which is "wrong" is the lack of historySorry but wrong bulge mirrors etc dont really matter

Just do a HPi if thats clear its a cheap TVR

all IMHO

[kentishS2]

V8Smith said:

RichardR said: I think the bonnet bulge was the default style for all the S3s, right up 'til the time the S4 came in. You are right Richard, but the car is being advertised as a 1993 S3C which has the later Chim style bonnet, ala Podie??? There are a few bits that dont quite add up on this car if anyone is interested I would check the history with a fine tooth comb and if there are any gaps walk away! Sounds to me like it could be a car made up from bits of different S cars!! Which would hint at a few accidents! All IMHO. Mike

Yes that's right Mike and it's more than likely the reason why it has been assigned another registration number. Some DVLA inspectors will go down the road of assigning a Q plate regardless but if there is evidence of the major component of the car being a given year then some may assign a suitable age related plate.

[Hoover33]

Hmmmm this car is not ringing true..... my mate has asked lots of questions via email, and to be honest not very forth coming with answers. Basically told as advertised, available for veiwing only Sat morning.
No history, only the log book.

We are staying clear

[hobson]

I have a mate who swears by ebay for 'bargain' cars, but then he's quite clued up mechanically.

I was only looking the other day and thinking what a big difference in OWNERS mentality.

I've viewed a few cars via PH and found all the people I've dealt with to be real Gents and honest.

On ebay there seems an underlying aggression and subdefuge in there language.

One ad. read 'No tyre kickers or you'll have trouble getting home'

Now I know people get messed around with bids and not buying but please, would you really buy a car from someone who says things like that?

[V8Smith]

I sent a mail to the seller asking a few questions, just in case it was a genuine bargain and received no reply at all! Maybe he didnt like the questions I asked, I think he is looking for someone that knows nothing about Tivs! says it all really!

Mike

[kentishS2]

hobson said:

I have a mate who swears by ebay for 'bargain' cars, but then he's quite clued up mechanically. I was only looking the other day and thinking what a big difference in OWNERS mentality. I've viewed a few cars via PH and found all the people I've dealt with to be real Gents and honest. On ebay there seems an underlying aggression and subdefuge in there language. One ad. read 'No tyre kickers or you'll have trouble getting home' Now I know people get messed around with bids and not buying but please, would you really buy a car from someone who says things like that?

I can understand sellers getting p*ssed off with people who bid and never send payment as the seller has to pay the commision twice, that would certainly make me angry if I was selling a 4 grand car!

But yes I do agree that this particular example is ....uhhhmm perhaps a little blunt!

When I've sold on e-bay I have just made it clear that I would pursue any final bids including all legal costs incurred. Any e-bay bidder is entering into a legally binding contract under the terms & conditions they agreed to when signing up for an e-bay account and also to the sellers conditions prior to placing a bid.

[V8Smith]

kentishS2 said:

I can understand sellers getting p*ssed off with people who bid and never send payment as the seller has to pay the commision twice, that would certainly make me angry if I was selling a 4 grand car!

If a buyer doesnt pay they dont have to pay commission twice, Ebay allow a second advert free of charge! Same as if it didnt sell!

Mike

[kentishS2]

It's not always been that way Mike, I've had to pay for selling twice in the past.

I guess if you choose the option to "re-list" now it will disregard the previous winning bid for that same item. That's much better.