Will 15k get me a reliable TVR?
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm considering a TVR for my next car and have 15k to spend. I've heard that more modern versions have solved many of the reliability problems associated with TVR.
Will my 15k get me a fast fun car that is'nt going to cost me a fortune at every service? Ofcourse, I don't mind service/fuel/insurance costs, but don't want to be forking out for parts at every service or even between..
Which type(s) of TVR should I be looking at? Are higher mileage cars necessarily going to cost me more to run?
Thanks for any advice I get!
I'm considering a TVR for my next car and have 15k to spend. I've heard that more modern versions have solved many of the reliability problems associated with TVR.
Will my 15k get me a fast fun car that is'nt going to cost me a fortune at every service? Ofcourse, I don't mind service/fuel/insurance costs, but don't want to be forking out for parts at every service or even between..
Which type(s) of TVR should I be looking at? Are higher mileage cars necessarily going to cost me more to run?
Thanks for any advice I get!
Being realisic, for 15k you'll get a 6 year old Chimaera with average miles.
Any 6 year old car will require new parts, especially a hand built car like a TVR.
The usual advice is to spend 2k less than you can afford, and save the rest for unexpected maintenance.
I'd also reckon on 1k per year to service a Chimaera at an independant specialist.
D
>> Edited by _DeeJay_ on Sunday 10th April 13:29
Any 6 year old car will require new parts, especially a hand built car like a TVR.
The usual advice is to spend 2k less than you can afford, and save the rest for unexpected maintenance.
I'd also reckon on 1k per year to service a Chimaera at an independant specialist.
D
>> Edited by _DeeJay_ on Sunday 10th April 13:29
that's assuming it needs extra work done. 
I've got used to Cerbera servicing, so I may have exaggerated a bit!
I figured on 1.5 services a yr for a well used car + tyres.
If it's cheaper, then great!!
edited to add: then I suppose you should consider the green fees too (or medalian polishing if you decide on a Griff)
>> Edited by _DeeJay_ on Sunday 10th April 14:10
I figured on 1.5 services a yr for a well used car + tyres.
If it's cheaper, then great!!
edited to add: then I suppose you should consider the green fees too (or medalian polishing if you decide on a Griff)
>> Edited by _DeeJay_ on Sunday 10th April 14:10
Excuse the plug, but...mine is up for £13750 or offers.
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=38247&s=3
In 7 years of ownership it has only cost me about £500 for "repairs" Routine servicing inc MOT cost £350 last year with a good indie. The big cost can be upgrades, if you get carried away! (headlight conversion £1500 etc) Insurance on a limited milage basis just came in at £340, so all in all, it costs a lot less to run than my every day car, a 7 year old Saab.
Jon H
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=38247&s=3
In 7 years of ownership it has only cost me about £500 for "repairs" Routine servicing inc MOT cost £350 last year with a good indie. The big cost can be upgrades, if you get carried away! (headlight conversion £1500 etc) Insurance on a limited milage basis just came in at £340, so all in all, it costs a lot less to run than my every day car, a 7 year old Saab.
Jon H
Jay, 15k should get you a nice Chimaera, and there are probably good Griffs around for that price too (they tend to be a bit pricier since they are fewer). It seems to be common wisdom on here to budget approx £1k a year for servicing a RV8 car assuming about 6k miles a year.
I wouldn't worry about the mileage if I were you - in fact if anything higher mileage is often a sign that the car has been well used and is therefore probably rather healthy - yet bizarrely people view it as a bad thing when purchasing so the high milers are cheaper.
It will be fun and fast. Do it! Do it! I haven't regretted it once.
Apart from the times I broke down.
I wouldn't worry about the mileage if I were you - in fact if anything higher mileage is often a sign that the car has been well used and is therefore probably rather healthy - yet bizarrely people view it as a bad thing when purchasing so the high milers are cheaper.
It will be fun and fast. Do it! Do it! I haven't regretted it once.
Apart from the times I broke down.
The fountain is leaking a little actually!I sent a questionaire to 15 Chimaera owners asking, among other things, what had gone wrong with their cars. The average ownership was a bit over 15,000 miles which came up in a bit over 3 years. All but three reported no repairs other than consumables - which includes pads, discs, exhaust, etc.
Of those that did experience problems, one had persistant and irritating, mainly electrical, faults, another had bought a car with no service history apart from an occasional trip to a corner shop. He had lots of not quite so little problems and one big one, the engine needed rebuilding.
The last was one about 5 years old with a total of, I seem to remember, 12,500 or so miles. The chap himself used it for a trip to the French Mediterranean coast each year and the very occasional weekend away. He had had new heads twice (4 in total), new camshaft - maybe twice I think, and lots of little electrical problems, including a new battery more frequently than annually, and brake problems. He'd also had problems with a previous Porsche, but not quite so much, although costs were higher.
My advice, therefore, is to go for one with a FSH - main dealer or specialist, don't pay a premium for high mileage and use it regularly.
Whilst anyone might buy a dog, if you get a Chimaera, going by the above, the odds are against it.
Derek
Of those that did experience problems, one had persistant and irritating, mainly electrical, faults, another had bought a car with no service history apart from an occasional trip to a corner shop. He had lots of not quite so little problems and one big one, the engine needed rebuilding.
The last was one about 5 years old with a total of, I seem to remember, 12,500 or so miles. The chap himself used it for a trip to the French Mediterranean coast each year and the very occasional weekend away. He had had new heads twice (4 in total), new camshaft - maybe twice I think, and lots of little electrical problems, including a new battery more frequently than annually, and brake problems. He'd also had problems with a previous Porsche, but not quite so much, although costs were higher.
My advice, therefore, is to go for one with a FSH - main dealer or specialist, don't pay a premium for high mileage and use it regularly.
Whilst anyone might buy a dog, if you get a Chimaera, going by the above, the odds are against it.
Derek
2 Smokin Barrels said:
15K will get you a more reliable TVR than 40K
(heads for the hills)
I was about to post that!
Could well be true!
For 15K you will get a nice Chimaera - buy the right one and it will be as reliable as TVRs get.
Budget 2-3K a year for servicing and repairs. Fix anything that goes wrong at the next service or immediately - NEVER leave anything. Look after the car and it will look after you.
Paid the high end of £15k for my 450, then spend around £1500 having EVERYTHING done mechanically that looked even remotely suspect or questionable... including some slightly OTT things such as having the sump re-sealed as it had a small leak.
The payoff..? 7000 miles in 7 months, and not a single problem. It's my only car, a daily driver and lives outside.
The payoff..? 7000 miles in 7 months, and not a single problem. It's my only car, a daily driver and lives outside.
Podie said:
Paid the high end of £15k for my 450, then spend around £1500 having EVERYTHING done mechanically that looked even remotely suspect or questionable... including some slightly OTT things such as having the sump re-sealed as it had a small leak.
The payoff..? 7000 miles in 7 months, and not a single problem. It's my only car, a daily driver and lives outside.
Now you've said it. Tick, tick, tick.
Derek Smith said:
Podie said:
Paid the high end of £15k for my 450, then spend around £1500 having EVERYTHING done mechanically that looked even remotely suspect or questionable... including some slightly OTT things such as having the sump re-sealed as it had a small leak.
The payoff..? 7000 miles in 7 months, and not a single problem. It's my only car, a daily driver and lives outside.
Now you've said it. Tick, tick, tick.
Well it's good to see the editor of the club magazine giving such positive encouragement about the cars. >> Edited by Podie on Monday 11th April 08:35
There's a fair amount of cynicism on here but my experience has been nothing but good, so I agree with Jon h (amongst others) - extra £££ in maintenance costs will be needed for car's with upgrades & mod's.
In 2 years of ownership my 6 year old Chim 450 has only cost me a routine service, an MOT and an Accumate to keep the battery in tip-top condition. That plus around £300 on custom made covers (indoor & out). I'm having a new siren fitted this week (£132) and that's it.
As for servicing:
Spot on.
Basically it all boils down to the car you buy. There are good ones and there are not so good ones.
Oh yeah - and mine does not leak either! Watch out for that, as many do.
In 2 years of ownership my 6 year old Chim 450 has only cost me a routine service, an MOT and an Accumate to keep the battery in tip-top condition. That plus around £300 on custom made covers (indoor & out). I'm having a new siren fitted this week (£132) and that's it.
As for servicing:
parrot of doom said:
Servicing is about £250 for 6k, £400-£500 for 12k innit?
Spot on. Basically it all boils down to the car you buy. There are good ones and there are not so good ones.
Oh yeah - and mine does not leak either! Watch out for that, as many do.
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