3K pa running costs???
Discussion
I'm considering part-exing my 93 Chimaera for a 4.5 cerb, but all the research I've done on this forum says you need to be prepared to spend 3k a year on maintenance, However few of the threads say what they spend this money on? I understand clutches dont last long but what are the other things that need attention?
Also would a well used and well looked after car, ie 40k +miles, have most of these niggles ironed out and therefore cost less each year to run?
Thanks in advance, hope you guys are just as helpful as the ones on the chimaera forums.
Also would a well used and well looked after car, ie 40k +miles, have most of these niggles ironed out and therefore cost less each year to run?
Thanks in advance, hope you guys are just as helpful as the ones on the chimaera forums.
From what i understand most of the people who own these cars spend the monies at indie's for servicing, new clutches, clutch upgrades (to later spec), break pads, fix elastical problems engine setup, throttle pots etc. etc. So I presume it depends on what type of person you are, if you are spanner handed then the costs come down quite a lot or if not then 3k pa is about average.
Editet to remove insults
Editet to remove insults
Edited by headcase on Sunday 13th August 15:27
I do most of the work on mine myself, so servicing etc is a lot cheaper and as mine has all the upgrades on that I require, turns out to be pretty reasonable to run.
Most expensive part in my servicing bills is the oil. Brake pads can be bought at a place in Sunderland reasonably cheap, filters are off the shelf from Land Rover and spark plugs from Boldon Motorshop by the box full (leaves 2 spare, so I've now got enough to do half an engine
)
Fuel is pretty costly - you'll go through a LOT of that, but you'll smile while it burns.
Other things like clutches/clutch seals etc tend to get paid for by warranty companies which is handy.
I've got nothing on this afternoon if you want to pop over and I'll show you some bit's and pieces to look out for.
Most expensive part in my servicing bills is the oil. Brake pads can be bought at a place in Sunderland reasonably cheap, filters are off the shelf from Land Rover and spark plugs from Boldon Motorshop by the box full (leaves 2 spare, so I've now got enough to do half an engine
) Fuel is pretty costly - you'll go through a LOT of that, but you'll smile while it burns.
Other things like clutches/clutch seals etc tend to get paid for by warranty companies which is handy.
I've got nothing on this afternoon if you want to pop over and I'll show you some bit's and pieces to look out for.
I've spent about that if I remember.
BUT
Shocks were gone - upgraded.
Brakes were shot - Upgraded.
Good things come with the expense and kinda make it Ok in a strange way! Especially when making the car better turns out to be cheaper than going the standard route.
Servicing 1600 in two years. Not too bad.
I went in knowing about the 3k PA cost and I would consider mine to have been very reliable.
Bascially my costs weren't always forced upon me. So if youve got 3k, you will get rid of it!
BUT
Shocks were gone - upgraded.
Brakes were shot - Upgraded.
Good things come with the expense and kinda make it Ok in a strange way! Especially when making the car better turns out to be cheaper than going the standard route.
Servicing 1600 in two years. Not too bad.
I went in knowing about the 3k PA cost and I would consider mine to have been very reliable.
Bascially my costs weren't always forced upon me. So if youve got 3k, you will get rid of it!
byff said:
I do most of the work on mine myself, so servicing etc is a lot cheaper and as mine has all the upgrades on that I require, turns out to be pretty reasonable to run.
Most expensive part in my servicing bills is the oil. Brake pads can be bought at a place in Sunderland reasonably cheap, filters are off the shelf from Land Rover and spark plugs from Boldon Motorshop by the box full (leaves 2 spare, so I've now got enough to do half an engine)
Fuel is pretty costly - you'll go through a LOT of that, but you'll smile while it burns.
Other things like clutches/clutch seals etc tend to get paid for by warranty companies which is handy.
I've got nothing on this afternoon if you want to pop over and I'll show you some bit's and pieces to look out for.
Most expensive part in my servicing bills is the oil. Brake pads can be bought at a place in Sunderland reasonably cheap, filters are off the shelf from Land Rover and spark plugs from Boldon Motorshop by the box full (leaves 2 spare, so I've now got enough to do half an engine
) Fuel is pretty costly - you'll go through a LOT of that, but you'll smile while it burns.
Other things like clutches/clutch seals etc tend to get paid for by warranty companies which is handy.
I've got nothing on this afternoon if you want to pop over and I'll show you some bit's and pieces to look out for.
I really like your motor, if you've not shifted it by the time my servicing fund has been built up then we might be having words!
Sadly I suspect that it won't hang about too long.
Slightly hijacking this thread, but, looking around on the internet there seem to be a number of warranties you can buy to deal with unexpected clutch problems etc. Warranty Works (for example) offers a 3 year package with an individual claim limit of £2500 for £2600 (I presume in total) which would help a great deal if something went bang, or am I missing something?
Cheers
Reggie
PS Thanks to this list for putting me in touch with a local Cerb owner. I'm sure he'll give me a reality check!
Cheers
Reggie
PS Thanks to this list for putting me in touch with a local Cerb owner. I'm sure he'll give me a reality check!
Don't know who goes through what, but my warranty is by the AA.
If it breaks down, it gets recovered to H.H.C. and gets fixed with a claim limit of £500 and three claims/year. It was £1000 last year, but sadly, they've stopped that plan now. All for the grand price of £59 (it was £99 for the £1000 claim limit)
If it breaks down, it gets recovered to H.H.C. and gets fixed with a claim limit of £500 and three claims/year. It was £1000 last year, but sadly, they've stopped that plan now. All for the grand price of £59 (it was £99 for the £1000 claim limit)
mackempete said:
Byff, sorry i just got back in. Thanks for the offer though mate. Are you in sunderland or newcastle? I'll have a look into warrenties before I take the plunge. Just need to find a 4.5 at a dealers so i can part-ex mine.
I'm from Sunderland, but seem to spend my life in Newcastle. You should pop into the NorthEast forums and say hello
Despite wanting a 4.5, the offer still stands regarding the chin wag and I'll try and pass on as much info as I can
Hi again Pete
Just updated my profile to include what I've spent over the last few years
To be fair a lot of it is upgrades, I also don't drive it as often as I should and therefore I suppose I'm awaiting problems that many have already experienced on these forums?? But that said I think 2.5k/3k a year is about right if you said that included insurance etc. also allowing for that good year when you get change from £1100 for a service
......but with all that said, with all those figures jotted up I wouldn't change one huge silly grinning mile of my ownership 
Just updated my profile to include what I've spent over the last few years
To be fair a lot of it is upgrades, I also don't drive it as often as I should and therefore I suppose I'm awaiting problems that many have already experienced on these forums?? But that said I think 2.5k/3k a year is about right if you said that included insurance etc. also allowing for that good year when you get change from £1100 for a service
......but with all that said, with all those figures jotted up I wouldn't change one huge silly grinning mile of my ownership Hi Pete,
Depending on your mileage if you do a reasonable amount that will require 2 services a year. That's 2K without problems. You'll probably do a set of tyres. 320 - 800 quid and maybe a set of pads depending on how hard you are on her. That's not including waxoyling, paint chip resprays etc.
The figures soon mount up !
Depending on your mileage if you do a reasonable amount that will require 2 services a year. That's 2K without problems. You'll probably do a set of tyres. 320 - 800 quid and maybe a set of pads depending on how hard you are on her. That's not including waxoyling, paint chip resprays etc.
The figures soon mount up !
Problem is when you don't spend it your £3K ‘budget’; you start looking for things to spend it on !!!!!! So it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Probably spent most of the £3K 'budget' last year (new clutch, front engine oil seal, rear bushes, steering rack ball joint). As the bill wasn't high enough, I then blew I a further £1300K and got the lights done. This year, haven't spent a cent. MOT due next month so we will see, if I get through that without anything major. If I get a clean bill of health, may get Nitrons.
So you see, even when you don't spend your budget, the temptation is always there to upgrade something.
Probably spent most of the £3K 'budget' last year (new clutch, front engine oil seal, rear bushes, steering rack ball joint). As the bill wasn't high enough, I then blew I a further £1300K and got the lights done. This year, haven't spent a cent. MOT due next month so we will see, if I get through that without anything major. If I get a clean bill of health, may get Nitrons.
So you see, even when you don't spend your budget, the temptation is always there to upgrade something.
Thanks for all the info. I've put aside £4-5k on top of the purchase price for "bits and bobs" 
I'd like a light conversion out of that too though.
I've got Rob Ingleby checking out a car for me in the morning. Its a 98 4.5 in indigo violet. Its done 49K but it had an engine rebuild at tvr engineering at 41K. Hopefully if its been looked after, as the history file suggests, then most of the niggles will have been ironed out. Fingers crossed anyway. The rebuild was carried out last October, will it have been rebuilt to a higher spec than the original engine, as with the speed 6 rebuilds?
I'd like a light conversion out of that too though. I've got Rob Ingleby checking out a car for me in the morning. Its a 98 4.5 in indigo violet. Its done 49K but it had an engine rebuild at tvr engineering at 41K. Hopefully if its been looked after, as the history file suggests, then most of the niggles will have been ironed out. Fingers crossed anyway. The rebuild was carried out last October, will it have been rebuilt to a higher spec than the original engine, as with the speed 6 rebuilds?
Forums | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff