Stored car and servicing
Discussion
I maybe in a position to view a car this weekend with a patchy service record. One owner 2003 s6 car, 9k miles, serviced to 2008 but then effectively stored for 6 years covering 1600 miles. Throughout that time only the oil was changed each year.
Given how fragile the s6 engines are should I run a mile? Or is lack of official servicing common for cars in storage?
I'm keen to view so perhaps a chat with Powers or str8six is the best option?
Thanks
Given how fragile the s6 engines are should I run a mile? Or is lack of official servicing common for cars in storage?
I'm keen to view so perhaps a chat with Powers or str8six is the best option?
Thanks
A service history says very little about the condition of a car. Neither is it a guarantee reliability. Use it as a bargaining point.
The proof is if it drives, stops and steers properly. The main thing is that the tappets haven't been adjusted since 2008? Oil changed once a year on an idle car is enough (IMO!!). Ive seen worse!
Check for the engine being rebuilt and a valid reason why it has laid unused. Does it have problems? Bring someone who "knows" the cars to look at it.
The proof is if it drives, stops and steers properly. The main thing is that the tappets haven't been adjusted since 2008? Oil changed once a year on an idle car is enough (IMO!!). Ive seen worse!
Check for the engine being rebuilt and a valid reason why it has laid unused. Does it have problems? Bring someone who "knows" the cars to look at it.
Edited by MethylatedSpirit on Thursday 6th November 23:19
A few questions regarding general condition should be answered this weekend with a visit, although i'm not mechanically minded so would definitely need somebody to take a closer look at the engine, chassis and other sensitive areas.
The owner told me he has technically traded in through a px deal (non-TVR), so he is continuing through the private market before handing over the keys late next week. That leaves little time to inspect but potential wiggle room for cash given his trade-in value will be (20-30%?) or a good x % lower than advertised.
The owner told me he has technically traded in through a px deal (non-TVR), so he is continuing through the private market before handing over the keys late next week. That leaves little time to inspect but potential wiggle room for cash given his trade-in value will be (20-30%?) or a good x % lower than advertised.
I’d ask the mods to close and delete this thread if I were you and keep stum! Dealers are all after 9000 mile, one owner stock and I suspect the seller will get a better price selling his car to a TVR garage rather than a mainstream dealer. Alternatively, maybe the seller knows something about the car, which is why he is going non-TVR/the private route; so do get the engine checked.
I was in a similar position last year when buying mine not from a specialist but a garage that has sold hundreds over their years,not a SP6 but a RV8 which was being sold as FSH.
Regards to the service book yes it had been fully stamped as per mileage intervals but not by the year, the garage had sold the car to the previous owner serviced by them in July 2006 with mileage 44,629.
The owner then returned the car back to them in June 2013 with mileage 45,820 and during his 7 years ownership never had it serviced because of doing so little mileage per year thought he only had to service it via the 6k intervals
When I viewed the car it was faultless in every way except this gap of 7 years 1200 miles without a recorded service and only a oil change and inspection done by the garage prior to them putting it back up for sale.
They explained all this to me and said they could of quite easily have put a stamp in the book and said that it had been fully serviced,but in their opinion it didn't need it but changed the oil as a precaution but knew this was not sufficient to stamp the book.
The moral of the story is I went ahead and purchased the car,as driving ability it drove superb,no shunting problems started every time it's been fantastic. I have since had a service and couldn't notice any difference in driving after the service was carried out prior to me buying with a 7 year gap.
PS
I did put a new battery on as it was 9 years old and could notice a big difference when started up,it just sounded like it had a lot more umph and life (As it should do).
No regrets this end but I did do a search on the garage to see if anything untoward came up from previous history (Nothing did)
Regards to the service book yes it had been fully stamped as per mileage intervals but not by the year, the garage had sold the car to the previous owner serviced by them in July 2006 with mileage 44,629.
The owner then returned the car back to them in June 2013 with mileage 45,820 and during his 7 years ownership never had it serviced because of doing so little mileage per year thought he only had to service it via the 6k intervals
When I viewed the car it was faultless in every way except this gap of 7 years 1200 miles without a recorded service and only a oil change and inspection done by the garage prior to them putting it back up for sale.
They explained all this to me and said they could of quite easily have put a stamp in the book and said that it had been fully serviced,but in their opinion it didn't need it but changed the oil as a precaution but knew this was not sufficient to stamp the book.
The moral of the story is I went ahead and purchased the car,as driving ability it drove superb,no shunting problems started every time it's been fantastic. I have since had a service and couldn't notice any difference in driving after the service was carried out prior to me buying with a 7 year gap.
PS
I did put a new battery on as it was 9 years old and could notice a big difference when started up,it just sounded like it had a lot more umph and life (As it should do).
No regrets this end but I did do a search on the garage to see if anything untoward came up from previous history (Nothing did)
Edited by TVRJAS on Friday 7th November 12:28
I viewed the car today. IMO good condition overall, needs a little tlc, rear tyres, headlamp cracked and definitely 12k service. I didn't like the bison interior though but it hasn't warn harshly. Nice bloke selling but wanted a strong number. He's trading up and the (non TVR) garage has offered him a good px I wasn't prepared to beat.
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