Viewing a car tomorrow - it's like coming home!

[bertie]

I'm goint to view a Chimaera 500 tomorrow!

Some time ago I had 6 TVRs over an 11 year period so it feel like coming home.

When I had mine at the time they were all from new so now they are all getting on a bit what are the things to lok out for?

So far I've got...

Chassis outriggers.
Cooling fans
Check the electrics

Any other top tips or advice gratefully received!

[Ropps]

Hi bertie,

If you get to put on car on a ramp then give the car a real good poke with a screw driver, out rigs like you said plus the suspension arms,Clutch and gearbox. Full tvr history and serviced every 6,000 miles then it should be a good one.
Enjoy.

[bertie]

Chassis has apparently been blasted and treated but it clearly the no.1 thing to check.

Anything engine wise to look out for?
Are the 500s as reliable as the rest?

[Ropps]

Hope this helps.

Check the history, make sure it's been serviced every 6,000 miles or less by TVR or a specialist, see if it has had it's 36k service as this is bigger than usual as both the gearbox and diff oils are changed at this point Mobil 1 fluids so can add an extra 100 to the service.

Get it on the ramp check the chassis, outriggers and wishbones, get a screwdriver and have a poke through any crud that might be there. This model should have the white chassis, expect a bit of the coating to have flaked off but not too much. Check for evidence of regular Waxoyling, ask when the chassis was last treated.

Check the hood seals, ask when the hood was last weatherproofed.

Check behind carpet in boot for any obvious accident damage, check all panel gaps etc.

Pull the carpet out in the passenger footwell check the battery and electrics for any obvious signs of water ingress. Check all electrics mirrors etc.

Check the windscreen for delamination.

If the vehicle has PAS the system should be dry, a light groaning from the system on full lock is to be expected.

The diff/sump/gearbox casings can weep a little oil from them as long as this is not excessive nothing to worry about.

Check for wear/play in wishbone and diff bushes.

Select fifth gear bofore going into reverse, this realigns the gears and stops them grating.

Check the engine for any excess rattles etc, it is quite common for these to produce a fair bit of condensation from the exhaust but not smoke.
Let the engine run until the fans cut in.

Try and get the details of the previous owner and speak to them - ask them for an honest appraisal of the car.

[bertie]

Thanks for the tips, I'll try to remember them and not go into 11 year old school boy mode when it starts up

Someone mentioned concerns about the 5 litres not being as robust as the 4 and 4.5s, is there any truth in that??

[Ropps]

I hear that the 5 litre is a little tougher to maintain, whilst the 4 and 4.5 are straight forward. But the 5.0 litre is a different beast in comparison|! is it worth the little more in up keep?! maybe, as long as you have a few quid to do so!!

let me know how you get on,

cheers

Sandro (ropps)

bertie said:

Thanks for the tips, I'll try to remember them and not go into 11 year old school boy mode when it starts up

Someone mentioned concerns about the 5 litres not being as robust as the 4 and 4.5s, is there any truth in that??

[TOV!E]

Hi, i have owned the 4lt, and the 5lt, and all i can say is that the 5ltr is miles quicker, and in 4 years never had a problem,(40.000) miles of hard driving...

[TVR Beaver]

and never mind the 'TVR or a specialist garage'... I've tried a few myself.. but now I service my own car... I've seen some very poor work from so called 'specialists'...
Check they have reciepts for oil changes ever year.. filters... I do my Gear Box and Diff every 2 years (6000 miles)... and the other service items..... I pride myself in taking time over servicing the car when it's off the road in winter... and not just 4 hours (or what ever) once a year... and back on the road...

Don't be put off if he's done it himself.. so long as he know what's what

[Ropps]

tvr beaver, i dont doubt you would do a better job than many specialists as its your pride and joy! im just saying the resell value of the car being services by the owner might put people off. for example 2 chim's same age same year same spec etc etc, 1 serviced by tvr/specialists and 1 serviced by the owner, 9 times out of 10 people will go for the TVR stamp for risidual/resell value..

TVR Beaver said:

and never mind the 'TVR or a specialist garage'... I've tried a few myself.. but now I service my own car... I've seen some very poor work from so called 'specialists'...
Check they have reciepts for oil changes ever year.. filters... I do my Gear Box and Diff every 2 years (6000 miles)... and the other service items..... I pride myself in taking time over servicing the car when it's off the road in winter... and not just 4 hours (or what ever) once a year... and back on the road...

Don't be put off if he's done it himself.. so long as he know what's what

[v8kev]

i agree with beaver i source my own parts and if i cant fit something i know a man that can at least i know there done keep all receipts most important its quite easy to change plugs oil filters pads discs etc its those hidden bushes you cant see are the problem by the way do many sellers let you prod away with a screwdriver underneath or give you the name and address and phone no of the previous owner when contamplating a purchase because i certainly would,nt

Edited by v8kev on Monday 19th March 16:51

[hdandy]

Interesting, I've been wandering whether to pay for a stamp or whether to just service mine myself

I'd feel happier doing it myself, at least I'd know hows its done.

But mine has a full service book of stamps, so i'm reluctant to not keep it up.

I would guess buyers would judge on my explanation of how I have gone about this and whether I sound like I know what I'm talking about???

Although to be fair, I don't have any intention of selling!

[v8kev]

the car i just bought has had a recent 12000 mile service by a tvr specialist in the midlands the bill was £350 and for that it was oil/filter set of plug leads dist cap and the magnecor leads were removed and replaced with black lucas ones why ? i wonder, no gear oil no air filter no rear axle oil no anti freeze etc etc i could have saved £250 doing it my way i do think its time we tvr owners fought back after paying extortanat servicing prices

Edited by v8kev on Monday 19th March 17:02

Edited by v8kev on Monday 19th March 17:03

[TVR Beaver]

My car was the same... stamp for every year and had covered 42K when I got it...I also got all the bill's and OMG.. some of them were huge.....
So checking it out, I found all the bleed nipples had never been opened... rear brakes binding, what looked like original diff and box oil (also not listed on any bill's)... and a few other bit's that made me think that a great job had not been done!
got to say some places I'm sure are top quality on servicing... but in the 4 years I've had the car... I now have a A4 box file full of reciepts for the things I've done... And I'm sure explaining this to a buyer (plus the condition of the car) would actualy add to the value in some respects....
.
end of the day.. you've got to make you're mind up on what's in front of you... but if I ever sold mine, I'd advertise it as having a 'full service history'... because it has...

[v8kev]

fair play to ya its down in black and white on the receipts that makes more sense than a stamp in a service book show me the bills anytime