Would you buy a cat D tvr
Discussion
Hi all ive been reading through some of the old threads on tvr.s over the past few weeks with a view to buy either a chimaera or a boxster.
Heart say tvr head says boxster.
Anyway ive been to see a 99 model chimaera today with 52k on the clock.
Its a nice car need a bit of paint work on one wing but no other damage.
Only thing was the car was classed as a cat d in 2006 now this don't really bother me to much but would it bother others when coming to sell?
How much less are they worth?
Ive also done a mot history check and from what im reading its only done 400 miles in the past 7 years.
witch has me thinking has the speedo been working all the time.
Thanks for reading look forward to some options on this
Steve
Heart say tvr head says boxster.
Anyway ive been to see a 99 model chimaera today with 52k on the clock.
Its a nice car need a bit of paint work on one wing but no other damage.
Only thing was the car was classed as a cat d in 2006 now this don't really bother me to much but would it bother others when coming to sell?
How much less are they worth?
Ive also done a mot history check and from what im reading its only done 400 miles in the past 7 years.
witch has me thinking has the speedo been working all the time.
Thanks for reading look forward to some options on this
Steve
Would have to be VERY cheap. Cat d, high miles, possible excessive periods of lack of use all would have me running away unless I wanted a project. They can really hurt your pocket, especially if you buy it then find chassis rot or a bodged crash repair later on. You either need to start looking at good examples or stick with a boxster, a decent 3.2s can be had for about £6k, whereas that kind of money will likely buy you a poor Chim.
One thing we all have in common on the TVR forum is that we all love and have a passion for TVR's,but that does not mean we all have the same views and have the same personal taste.
So depending on how many replies you get you will get mixed views and opinions on buying a cat D.
As for the car not covering many miles this of course can start the alarm bells ringing,but it's quite amazing how many TVR's across the range get so little use and is all perfectly genuine why it has covered so little miles. Many owners just like to wash them polish them
The last owner of mine of seven years had only covered 900 miles in that time,which when I bought it looked at the situation as a positive,but now have come to realize the general census appears to be a more used TVR has fewer faults.Not that mine has caused me any problems other than an expensive manifold gasket replacement but that could of happened on any 17 yr old car.
I presume you have looked in the classifieds? There is a company that is selling at least 4 damaged cars and look at the price compared to what you have looked at.
A similar car to the one you have mentioned sold private being a very good clean example could have a price of £9,000-£12000(if it's a 400) you will see a TVR dealer closer to £15-16,000. The classifieds are a bit of a headache because you can see some private going for as little as £6K and the very next advert same car same sort of mileage and is 9K.
When you have looked at a few in the flesh and get to know these cars you will start to see why there is a difference between the prices. The one I personally bought was £3k more than the previous car I looked at but was just a much cleaner car(much much better condition seats,unmarked wood fascia, full leven bits) I won't bore you with a bigger list,you just notice things the more cars you look at
Not sure of your budget,but you really have to ask why? why would you buy a cat D when there are plenty of undamaged cars available and still going very cheap. Don't rush into it would be my advise.
So depending on how many replies you get you will get mixed views and opinions on buying a cat D.
As for the car not covering many miles this of course can start the alarm bells ringing,but it's quite amazing how many TVR's across the range get so little use and is all perfectly genuine why it has covered so little miles. Many owners just like to wash them polish them
The last owner of mine of seven years had only covered 900 miles in that time,which when I bought it looked at the situation as a positive,but now have come to realize the general census appears to be a more used TVR has fewer faults.Not that mine has caused me any problems other than an expensive manifold gasket replacement but that could of happened on any 17 yr old car.
I presume you have looked in the classifieds? There is a company that is selling at least 4 damaged cars and look at the price compared to what you have looked at.
A similar car to the one you have mentioned sold private being a very good clean example could have a price of £9,000-£12000(if it's a 400) you will see a TVR dealer closer to £15-16,000. The classifieds are a bit of a headache because you can see some private going for as little as £6K and the very next advert same car same sort of mileage and is 9K.
When you have looked at a few in the flesh and get to know these cars you will start to see why there is a difference between the prices. The one I personally bought was £3k more than the previous car I looked at but was just a much cleaner car(much much better condition seats,unmarked wood fascia, full leven bits) I won't bore you with a bigger list,you just notice things the more cars you look at
Not sure of your budget,but you really have to ask why? why would you buy a cat D when there are plenty of undamaged cars available and still going very cheap. Don't rush into it would be my advise.
Some good advice there thanks.
The main reason im looking at this car is the price.
But i suppose the price reflects that it a cat car.
To be honest my first impressions when i seen it was it looked a bit unloved and to walk away but then the seller started it up and all them thoughts were gone
Its had 6 owners to witch i thought is quite a few.
This is the car on ebay.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181437306760?_trksid=p20...
The main reason im looking at this car is the price.
But i suppose the price reflects that it a cat car.
To be honest my first impressions when i seen it was it looked a bit unloved and to walk away but then the seller started it up and all them thoughts were gone
Its had 6 owners to witch i thought is quite a few.
This is the car on ebay.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181437306760?_trksid=p20...
Sounds like the seller doesn't know anything about TVR's - 'I keep being asked about rear triggers on the car they are in good condition and have been wax oiled'! But that could be to your advantage of course. I'd definitely get someone that knows TVR's to take a look at those 'triggers' before buying though.
Ebay... RUN AWAY
The scratches on the rear are a trade mark of the car when putting the roof in the boot.
Unless a car has been recently painted almost every one has these marks (Mine included) although that does seem excessive and probably the last owner was Steve Wonder.
As said Steve we are all different but for me I would carry on looking. The car is a 400 model and you may well find a non CAT D for not a lot more from a desperate seller.
Only today at our TVR club meeting was a member selling a 98 R 38,000 miles for £7K... It's not a garage queen car but cheap too cheap in my opinion for that car.
The scratches on the rear are a trade mark of the car when putting the roof in the boot.
Unless a car has been recently painted almost every one has these marks (Mine included) although that does seem excessive and probably the last owner was Steve Wonder.
As said Steve we are all different but for me I would carry on looking. The car is a 400 model and you may well find a non CAT D for not a lot more from a desperate seller.
Only today at our TVR club meeting was a member selling a 98 R 38,000 miles for £7K... It's not a garage queen car but cheap too cheap in my opinion for that car.
Englishman said:
Sounds like the seller doesn't know anything about TVR's - 'I keep being asked about rear triggers on the car they are in good condition and have been wax oiled'! But that could be to your advantage of course. I'd definitely get someone that knows TVR's to take a look at those 'triggers' before buying though.
Noticed that also 
Not a good signSeller more or less told me he don't know much about it.
The car is being kept at fforst garage a tvr indy.
I had a look over it today and going back for a look underneath on the ramps tomorrow at fforest garage.
But reading between the lines the owner and the owner of the car are mates so it would be interesting to see if there are any faults if the garage owner will try and pull the wool over my eyes to help sell his mates car or keep his name and be honest about any faults if there are any.
The car is being kept at fforst garage a tvr indy.
I had a look over it today and going back for a look underneath on the ramps tomorrow at fforest garage.
But reading between the lines the owner and the owner of the car are mates so it would be interesting to see if there are any faults if the garage owner will try and pull the wool over my eyes to help sell his mates car or keep his name and be honest about any faults if there are any.
TVRJAS said:
Ebay... RUN AWAY
The scratches on the rear are a trade mark of the car when putting the roof in the boot.
Unless a car has been recently painted almost every one has these marks (Mine included) although that does seem excessive and probably the last owner was Steve Wonder.
As said Steve we are all different but for me I would carry on looking. The car is a 400 model and you may well find a non CAT D for not a lot more from a desperate seller.
Only today at our TVR club meeting was a member selling a 98 R 38,000 miles for £7K... It's not a garage queen car but cheap too cheap in my opinion for that car.
Do you have any more imfo on this car?The scratches on the rear are a trade mark of the car when putting the roof in the boot.
Unless a car has been recently painted almost every one has these marks (Mine included) although that does seem excessive and probably the last owner was Steve Wonder.
As said Steve we are all different but for me I would carry on looking. The car is a 400 model and you may well find a non CAT D for not a lot more from a desperate seller.
Only today at our TVR club meeting was a member selling a 98 R 38,000 miles for £7K... It's not a garage queen car but cheap too cheap in my opinion for that car.
bababoom said:
Do you have any more imfo on this car?
Some pics have been posted today from the meeting.
I can try and put a request on the TVR club site to find out who's it is and go from there if your interested.
What part of the country you from Steve?
I only noticed the for sale sign when I was looking round the car park... He was eating inside the pub so don't actually know who's it is.
Edited by TVRJAS on Sunday 15th June 21:23
bababoom said:
Im in south wales near abergavenny.
I cant send pm,s yet i have to wait 24 hours
TVRJAS If you can find out more details i can pm you tomorrow about it.
Cheers
I will do a bit of Sherlock Holmes for you but it might take longer to get response as not everyone like myself and others spend hrs and hrs everyday on Piston heads or car sites I cant send pm,s yet i have to wait 24 hours
TVRJAS If you can find out more details i can pm you tomorrow about it.
Cheers
Some have busy lives and only login in every now and then... But I will get the ball rolling tomorrow and see what happens.Could be a CAT C as far as we know
I tried buying this car last year (when it was on gumtree without the Cat D being disclosed.....) and spoke to the 'ebayer' last week to tell him to put Cat D in the advert which he was unaware of 
He said he was selling for a friend of a friend which always makes me wary - also the mileage was 52k AT LEAST 8 YEARS AGO ! (and FFOREST Garage did recent MOT's...) so what is the true mileage now...
If the chassis is good what would you pay for a Cat D with unknown mileage and no/v.little history because it was 'lost'....
I think if you are buying as a keeper or a track car then OK but otherwise the starting price is too high.
I bought a CAT D Chim last year for £1100 which had a fantastic chassis and engine (partly because the vendor lied (which I hate) and I knocked him down a bit....).
CAVEAT EMPTOR
He said he was selling for a friend of a friend which always makes me wary - also the mileage was 52k AT LEAST 8 YEARS AGO ! (and FFOREST Garage did recent MOT's...) so what is the true mileage now...
If the chassis is good what would you pay for a Cat D with unknown mileage and no/v.little history because it was 'lost'....
I think if you are buying as a keeper or a track car then OK but otherwise the starting price is too high.
I bought a CAT D Chim last year for £1100 which had a fantastic chassis and engine (partly because the vendor lied (which I hate) and I knocked him down a bit....).
CAVEAT EMPTOR
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