Buying a car that has been off the road for yonks!
Discussion
Hi guys,
First post, please go easy!
Long time lurker but haven't until recently been in a position where I could sensibly afford a TVR, that has recently changed so signed up and am firmly in the market.
Willing to wait for the right model, however one has recently been added to the classifieds which has been "unused for 10 years" and apparently recommissioned for sale.
I'm awaiting a response from the dealer as to what exactly has been done to it to recommission it, but in all likelihood I'll end up going to see it shortly.
Main questions are what should I be looking for on a MK1 of 2002 vintage that has been seemingly stood for a decade? Obvious things I can think of likely to perish would be seals etc, not all that easy to see if they are shot, is there anything else I should be looking for? How do these cars react to being stood for extended periods?
10 years seems like an awful long time... Thanks in advance for any input.
First post, please go easy!
Long time lurker but haven't until recently been in a position where I could sensibly afford a TVR, that has recently changed so signed up and am firmly in the market. Willing to wait for the right model, however one has recently been added to the classifieds which has been "unused for 10 years" and apparently recommissioned for sale.
I'm awaiting a response from the dealer as to what exactly has been done to it to recommission it, but in all likelihood I'll end up going to see it shortly.
Main questions are what should I be looking for on a MK1 of 2002 vintage that has been seemingly stood for a decade? Obvious things I can think of likely to perish would be seals etc, not all that easy to see if they are shot, is there anything else I should be looking for? How do these cars react to being stood for extended periods?
10 years seems like an awful long time... Thanks in advance for any input.
I saw this one, looked good.
But depending on what has been done to "re-commission" it there a chance it might need a lot spending on it.
Obvious things like brake hoses, coolant hoses, oil cooler hoses etc. Bushes etc
Main thing is that it may never have had a rebuild with so few miles on, being an early car it would most likely have the cheap internals so I would budget for a rebuild if this hasn't been done.
Maybe though all of this would have been done... Only one way to find out.
But depending on what has been done to "re-commission" it there a chance it might need a lot spending on it.
Obvious things like brake hoses, coolant hoses, oil cooler hoses etc. Bushes etc
Main thing is that it may never have had a rebuild with so few miles on, being an early car it would most likely have the cheap internals so I would budget for a rebuild if this hasn't been done.
Maybe though all of this would have been done... Only one way to find out.
Yep it's top money alright, owing to the virtually nothing mileage I suppose. It's approaching the top end of my budget though and to be honest I can't make my mind up on it.
There's a chance it's a timewarp pristine beautiful example, there's also a chance it'll be a shed with things going wrong from day 1. I'm afraid I won't know enough about what I'm looking at to make an informed judgement as to which it'd be without actually owning it for a while.
Not sure if I'm brave enough, would dearly love one in that colour, but think I'd prefer one that had been loved and wanted for nothing rather than a previously abandoned one, regardless of mileage.
I will probably pay this one a visit, but for now the search goes on. Thanks for your input.
There's a chance it's a timewarp pristine beautiful example, there's also a chance it'll be a shed with things going wrong from day 1. I'm afraid I won't know enough about what I'm looking at to make an informed judgement as to which it'd be without actually owning it for a while.
Not sure if I'm brave enough, would dearly love one in that colour, but think I'd prefer one that had been loved and wanted for nothing rather than a previously abandoned one, regardless of mileage.
I will probably pay this one a visit, but for now the search goes on. Thanks for your input.
They're not a TVR 'expert' so I'd be asking the questions of where and what has been done to 're-commission' it, hopefully it doesn't have the original tyres on it for example... and how it'd been stored.
My other suggestion would be to get a recognised TVR Indie to have a look at it for you or to go with you. If they don't agree to that suggestion I'd walk away.
There are several in the NW diue to its proximity to Blackpool, but I'd personally recommend Paul or Heath from X-Works. They used to be the TVR factory service guys and are well respected. http://www.xworksservice.co.uk/home
My other suggestion would be to get a recognised TVR Indie to have a look at it for you or to go with you. If they don't agree to that suggestion I'd walk away.
There are several in the NW diue to its proximity to Blackpool, but I'd personally recommend Paul or Heath from X-Works. They used to be the TVR factory service guys and are well respected. http://www.xworksservice.co.uk/home
V8 GRF said:
They're not a TVR 'expert' so I'd be asking the questions of where and what has been done to 're-commission' it, hopefully it doesn't have the original tyres on it for example... and how it'd been stored.
My other suggestion would be to get a recognised TVR Indie to have a look at it for you or to go with you. If they don't agree to that suggestion I'd walk away.
There are several in the NW diue to its proximity to Blackpool, but I'd personally recommend Paul or Heath from X-Works. They used to be the TVR factory service guys and are well respected. http://www.xworksservice.co.uk/home
Agree with Dave. My other suggestion would be to get a recognised TVR Indie to have a look at it for you or to go with you. If they don't agree to that suggestion I'd walk away.
There are several in the NW diue to its proximity to Blackpool, but I'd personally recommend Paul or Heath from X-Works. They used to be the TVR factory service guys and are well respected. http://www.xworksservice.co.uk/home
Any TVR (car for that matter) benefits from regular use. My opinion is that after 6 months you'd be getting oil leaks from brittle seals, electrical niggles from oxidised connectors etc.
Definitely worth getting a competent TVR mechanic to come with you....Even if it was a couple of hundred quid, you'd have the benefit of a professional looking at the car.
Nick
With a car that has been standing for that long you are likely to see lots of leaks spring up as you start to use it. Rubber seals and hoses etc become brittle and stiff without regular use and will leak when you start to use them, think, clutch master and slave cylinders, calliper seals, brake line unions, fuel line unions, possibly diff seals and various gaskets.
How do I know? When I bought my G33 it has done 5k miles in 12 years, and had been standing for 2, all of those things listed above plus some I cant remember were a problem.
I now tend to buy higher mileage sports cars and have fewer issues, my Tuscan had 52k when I bought it
How do I know? When I bought my G33 it has done 5k miles in 12 years, and had been standing for 2, all of those things listed above plus some I cant remember were a problem.
I now tend to buy higher mileage sports cars and have fewer issues, my Tuscan had 52k when I bought it
I agree, these cars like to be driven and are better for it. Beware the garage queen that has been rested constantly with long periods of standing. Tyres, brakes, suspension and engine can suffer.
On whether to buy any car, go in with your eyes wide open, expect the worst and be pleasantly surprised. These cars are hand built sports cars but relatively simple, there are fixes for most of the problems but don't expect Audi type experiences (both good and bad!) There is a good bunch of people on here with experience and some good suppliers.
On whether to buy any car, go in with your eyes wide open, expect the worst and be pleasantly surprised. These cars are hand built sports cars but relatively simple, there are fixes for most of the problems but don't expect Audi type experiences (both good and bad!) There is a good bunch of people on here with experience and some good suppliers.
Some friendly advice since I have bought one...with 6500 miles on it 2000registered. My work list is mainly electrical and suspension work. Replacing all the bushes and shocks, exhaust since the welds are perishing. Fuel lines and oil lines... The brakes are ok but need refurbishment since the wheels have not been off for years.... It sat for 5yrs doing 500miles in that time...
So be prepared for some tlc and most of this you can do yourself so the cost is not that great....nice to know prices are climbing for the Tuscans they will only go up..
So be prepared for some tlc and most of this you can do yourself so the cost is not that great....nice to know prices are climbing for the Tuscans they will only go up..
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