New to TVR
New to TVR
Author
Discussion

durg

Original Poster:

3 posts

256 months

Tuesday 31st May 2005
quotequote all
Hi Guys - I'm thinking of getting into the TVR family with a Chimaera and was after a few pointers on ownership. Looking to spend around 12-15k and was wondering if anyone could let me know more on the joys and pitfalls of ownership! Things like - what can I expect to get for that much - ease of servicing - can you do it yourself or is it always a specialist job? I've got lots of experience in all things car maintenance related and really enjoy a challenge :read:

tvrbob

11,197 posts

284 months

Tuesday 31st May 2005
quotequote all
Keep a £1k float so, up to £14k. You should get a good 97 for that but don't concern yourself with age. A well maintained ten yr old is far better than a thrashed five yr old and will hold value better. Don't worry about mileage, low is actually bad with most cars and even worse so for TVR's. Servicing is really a dealer or specialist job. I'm sure you could do it yourself as can I but miss one stamp in the book and you will have cost yourself more in resale value than you'd save in service cost. This subject is covered a lot here so I'd advise you to use the search function and you'll get hours of reading.

Podie

46,649 posts

304 months

Tuesday 31st May 2005
quotequote all
Get yourself to a TVRCC meet and have a nose about... know it's a bit of a trek, but the next Essex one is June 12th... happy to go through the joys of ownership with you then. Another good bet is to search the forum for similar posts - yuo can learn a lot from nosing about on here...

As for the servicing.. there are different schools of thought here, and different people swear by different garages... bit of a can of worms to be honest. Personally, it's a specialist car, so I get a specialist to service it... I pays my money and I takes my choice. Leven service mine, and although not the cheapest around I am 100% happy with the work they do on the car.

Podie

46,649 posts

304 months

Tuesday 31st May 2005
quotequote all
tvrbob said:
Lots of sensible stuff.


Float is a good plan... take your time, look at private and dealers... get a specialist to look at it pre-purchase - plenty of people around the country who can help; Joospeed, APM, Leven, David Batty...

Do some research first... jumping in with both feet isn't adviseable...

M@H

11,298 posts

301 months

Tuesday 31st May 2005
quotequote all
..and DON'T buy the first one you see...

For the first drive, the heart really IS ruling the head (and the wallet).
Matt.

>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 31st May 14:10

Podie

46,649 posts

304 months

Tuesday 31st May 2005
quotequote all
M@H said:
..and DON'T buy the first one you see...

For the first drive, the heart really IS ruling the head (and the wallet).
Matt.

>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 31st May 14:10


If it looks slightly dodgy.. or you're not sure... walk away... don't let them start it!!

hughesie2

12,790 posts

311 months

Tuesday 31st May 2005
quotequote all
Podie said:
Get yourself to a TVRCC meet and have a nose about... know it's a bit of a trek, but the next Essex one is June 12th...


TVRCC Middlesex is this Friday at the Ace, if mines back from Austec i'd be more than happy to have a chat with you but we are a friendly bunch all the same..

wizzpig

2,039 posts

257 months

Thursday 2nd June 2005
quotequote all
Podie said:
If it looks slightly dodgy.. or you're not sure... walk away... don't let them start it!!




If you let them start it, it's all over....

Should get a nice one for that outlay. Side affects are a permanent, Bonnie Langford style grin for the first few months! But you will not regret getting one.





>> Edited by wizzpig on Friday 3rd June 13:53

cosmoschick

7,977 posts

278 months

Thursday 2nd June 2005
quotequote all
M@H said:
..and DON'T buy the first one you see...


Oops

But he was (and is still) perfect!

peterc

386 posts

298 months

Friday 3rd June 2005
quotequote all
Join the TVRCC and atend your local meets. Buy a copy of Steve Heath's "Bible" from the club and read it thoroughly before you venture out to buy.

gaston

21,189 posts

275 months

Sunday 5th June 2005
quotequote all
Buy the very best car you can afford. It's always a mistake to buy a cheaper one which "needs a bit of fettling". Not worth the cost and aggravation.

rooster

2,241 posts

266 months

Monday 6th June 2005
quotequote all
cosmoschick said:

M@H said:
..and DON'T buy the first one you see...



Oops

But he was (and is still) perfect!

snap, Rooster is a star!

Hedgehog

35 posts

291 months

Monday 6th June 2005
quotequote all
Probably the nearest TVR specialist for you would be:

Tower View Race Services (London's Largest Independent TVR Service Centre)
67 Waterloo Road
London NW2 7TS
Tel: 020 8452 6922
www.t-v-r-services.co.uk

Highly respected, knowledgeable and trusted company.
Nice guys too - Contact either Mark or Dave.
Good luck.