Tempted by an SEAC

[Painey]

Hi,

I'm considering changing cars again soon and must admit I've always liked the SEAC's. I used to own a Griff 500 which was fantastic, except when it went wrong of course which wasn't that often but enough to give my wallet a good kicking. Are the SEAC's that much different in terms of running costs? I had my old car serviced at "a well known TVR specialist in Crawley" who cost a fortune so would I be able to get basic jobs done by a local mechanic??

My concern is based around the fact that I'm getting married next year so I don't want to commit to something that could potentially be a money pit, even though any car could potentially be that. I've currently got a modified S2000 which is brilliant fun but I miss the noise, performance and general theater of a V8 TVR. It's just that the Honda costs peanuts to run. I obviously would not expect the same reliability but I'm only doing around 2k miles a year.

I've been looking at the 450 SEAC in the classifieds by the way. Anyone know anything about it?

Any help much appreciated, cheers - Chris

Edited to say I've just been reading the thread a few pages back about the 450SEAC in the classifieds. Did think it was a bit overpriced!

Edited by Painey on Wednesday 12th March 13:35

[rev-erend]

Ahh.. the marriage thing - suppose you could buy it and own it for a year.. before the wedding ring starts to tighten.

Price - hard to say without seeing each car - but a car is always worth what someone wants to pay for it on the day.

Just make sure you check the out riggers when buying.

[combine]

No , not if marriage is iminent , you may be divorced shortly after , very loud , bad , cars that women hate , also you will spend a lot of time fettling any wedge in the garage .

[cirks]

combine said:

No , not if marriage is iminent , you may be divorced shortly after , very loud , bad , cars that women hate , also you will spend a lot of time fettling any wedge in the garage .

Apart from the divorce bit - that is all so true! Bought the 450 in 97, proposed 98, married 99 and had nothing but moans about it (the car and me being a husband ;-)) for the past 11 years. That's not counting the small mortgage that the car has cost in that time. At least, despite not having a pre-nup, we are in agreement that the Wedge goes to a friend if I either keel-over or we split!

[eesbad]

cirks said:

the Wedge goes to a friend if I either keel-over or we split!

I'd like to apply for the post of 'your friend'

[Painey]

combine said:

very loud , bad , cars that women hate

That's why I tempted to get one!!

[cuneus]

Why did the Griff end up costing so much ?

As Rev says the chassis if poor is going to cost. The other potential major expense is a respray. If you can avoid these the other bits are reasonable

[cirks]

eesbad said:

cirks said:

the Wedge goes to a friend if I either keel-over or we split!

I'd like to apply for the post of 'your friend'

I'm open to bribery and corruption

[JR]

Painey said:

Edited to say I've just been reading the thread a few pages back about the 450SEAC in the classifieds. Did think it was a bit overpriced!

That's an interesting point. Is it this one? http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/404029.htm

I don't know the car but Tim vouching for it carries a fair bit of weight. If 1) the engine is in the spirit of SE AC engines (with a high bhp/cc and easy revving result) and 2) the body and chassis are good, both 1) and 2) seem likely, then is it over priced?

This car appears to have good provenacne and aramid construction. If you bought a standard SE AC (however you define that) it would cost a considerable amount to change it to this spec. It could be the fastest road worthy SE AC (may be only Jeff's racer is faster.)

Just a thought :-)

[cuneus]

Jonathan

I think he meant this one http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/385843.htm

[JR]

cuneus said:

Jonathan

I think he meant this one http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/385843.htm

I see. Looks OK. I have a simplistic approach to buying cars which has served me well over the years. No matter what they ask, if you like the car then offer what you think it's worth. He's a dealer so will be realistic and he's going to get what the market will stand.

For example I can't see this http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/413618.htm fetching more than £10,000 but good luck to him; the asking price wouldn't put me off if I wanted the car.

[eesbad]

JR said:

It could be the fastest road worthy SE AC (may be only Jeff's racer is faster.)

Until Rev's is ready, I suspect...

[rev-erend]

eesbad said:

JR said:

It could be the fastest road worthy SE AC (may be only Jeff's racer is faster.)

Until Rev's is ready, I suspect...

[JR]

eesbad said:

JR said:

It could be the fastest road worthy SE AC (may be only Jeff's racer is faster.)

Until Rev's is ready, I suspect...

Or the 660! I've heard a lot about the heads that the rev is trying to use (all good) but it's frustrating that re-engineering, development and high quality work take so long. Keep going rev.

[Painey]

cuneus said:

I think he meant this one http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/385843.htm

Yeah that's the one. Sounds good, what with low mileage etc etc and is a 450 but the comments in the other thread about the interior with it's dodgy carbon effect doesn't sound great. I'm in two minds about it.

As for my old Griff, nothing major went wrong with it but just a few minor niggles that when taken to the garage in Crawley (who I'm not allowed to name but you can probably work it out) just ended up costing me loads. Water pump gasket failed, that was about £500. Ball joints replacing, another few hundred notes, full waxoyl of the chassis for peace of mind etc etc. It did need a respray after 3 years of ownership as well but that was partly thanks to driving flat out down the runway at Bruntinghorpe on a VMAX day. Which coincidentally a white SEAC was at as well!

Edited by Painey on Thursday 13th March 14:21

[rev-erend]

Painey said:

cuneus said:

I think he meant this one http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/385843.htm

Yeah that's the one. Sounds good, what with low mileage etc etc and is a 450 but the comments in the other thread about the interior with it's dodgy carbon effect doesn't sound great. I'm in two minds about it.

As for my old Griff, nothing major went wrong with it but just a few minor niggles that when taken to the garage in Crawley (who I'm not allowed to name but you can probably work it out) just ended up costing me loads. Water pump gasket failed, that was about £500. Ball joints replacing, another few hundred notes, full waxoyl of the chassis for peace of mind etc etc. It did need a respray after 3 years of ownership as well but that was partly thanks to driving flat out down the runway at Bruntinghorpe on a VMAX day. Which coincidentally a white SEAC was at as well!

Edited by Painey on Thursday 13th March 14:21

So - you saw GavinR at VMAX.. intend to do it myself one day when the SEAC is finished..

Would love to mit the majical 165mph - as that's supposed to be the max speed for a SEAC - although I suspect a non std engine would really be needed

[Painey]

rev-erend said:

Painey said:

cuneus said:

I think he meant this one http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/385843.htm

Yeah that's the one. Sounds good, what with low mileage etc etc and is a 450 but the comments in the other thread about the interior with it's dodgy carbon effect doesn't sound great. I'm in two minds about it.

As for my old Griff, nothing major went wrong with it but just a few minor niggles that when taken to the garage in Crawley (who I'm not allowed to name but you can probably work it out) just ended up costing me loads. Water pump gasket failed, that was about £500. Ball joints replacing, another few hundred notes, full waxoyl of the chassis for peace of mind etc etc. It did need a respray after 3 years of ownership as well but that was partly thanks to driving flat out down the runway at Bruntinghorpe on a VMAX day. Which coincidentally a white SEAC was at as well!

Edited by Painey on Thursday 13th March 14:21

So - you saw GavinR at VMAX.. intend to do it myself one day when the SEAC is finished..

Would love to mit the majical 165mph - as that's supposed to be the max speed for a SEAC - although I suspect a non std engine would really be needed

Yeah that was him, I'd forgotten his name. Had a lot of fun that day and due to their being a slight tailwind I had the speedo hovering between 175-180, verified on their speed gun at 164. Have to admit that I wasn't driving that particular time, a friend was behind the wheel leaving an F355 behind in the process. Great fun.

[rev-erend]

So - are you going to see any of the SEAC's that are for sale ?

[Painey]

rev-erend said:

So - are you going to see any of the SEAC's that are for sale ?

Not sure. Like I say, I'm tempted but I guess I need to look at them a little closer beforehand. Do a bit more homework I guess you could say. My main issue is running costs though, no TVR's going to be cheap but I don't want to go back to the costs I incurred with the griff in the last year of owning it.

Edited by Painey on Thursday 13th March 16:43

[JR]

Painey said:

My main issue is running costs though, no TVR's going to be cheap but I don't want to go back to the costs I incurred with the griff in the last year of owning it.

I wouldn't expect more than about a £1,000 pa for 2,000 miles pa. BTW ball joints for a Wedge are easy and Ford.