Info required for winter project
Discussion
Hi Folks,
My first post so be gentle with me. I am looking to buy a Chim this winter and have a total budget of around 18000 and would ideally like a 500. This budget includes a provision for a headlight and lcd tail light conversion, some re-trim work, paint and some new wheels and tyres. So I guess I will have around 12-13k to spend on the car. I need some information about the various models of Chim, with engine/g-box details etc and wondered if anyone can reccommend any good web sites or books.
I intend to join the TVR owners club as well, but I am so excited about the prospect, I need something to start getting my teeth into as I have already startied looking at cars.
About 6 years ago I had a an N plate 4.0 chim which had the door buttons on behind the door and standard back lights, I have read on here about Mk II's that have mirror door locks etc and this is the kind of spec info I am looking to find out about.
Sorry for being such a novice but I am here to learn and want to take my time to get the right car as it's taken me ages to save up.
Any comments / advice greatly appreciated.
My first post so be gentle with me. I am looking to buy a Chim this winter and have a total budget of around 18000 and would ideally like a 500. This budget includes a provision for a headlight and lcd tail light conversion, some re-trim work, paint and some new wheels and tyres. So I guess I will have around 12-13k to spend on the car. I need some information about the various models of Chim, with engine/g-box details etc and wondered if anyone can reccommend any good web sites or books.
I intend to join the TVR owners club as well, but I am so excited about the prospect, I need something to start getting my teeth into as I have already startied looking at cars.
About 6 years ago I had a an N plate 4.0 chim which had the door buttons on behind the door and standard back lights, I have read on here about Mk II's that have mirror door locks etc and this is the kind of spec info I am looking to find out about.
Sorry for being such a novice but I am here to learn and want to take my time to get the right car as it's taken me ages to save up.
Any comments / advice greatly appreciated.
Hi Glenn. There's usually a few threads around in the forum about which car to buy: try having a search for them. Basically they start with 'condition, condition, condition', followed by a debate about which engine. Opinions are usually 'get the 500' (from the 500 owners) and 'get the 400' from the 400 owners, unsurprisingly. The general consensus is drive a few of each and pick the one you like the most. For some reason, even though the weather has been pretty good, it looks like a buyer's market out there. And as you've already owned one, you're probably already clued up about what you're looking for.
www.tvrbooks.co.uk... buyers' guide FAQs and lots of other info. Home of the bible as well.
Definitely join the TVRCC www.tvrcc.com and get along to the local meeting - you will find a mine of information ready to be tapped - all for the price of a pint or two.
Nick
Nick
Fowey said:
My first post so be gentle with me. I am looking to buy a Chim this winter and have a total budget of around 18000 and would ideally like a 500. This budget includes a provision for a headlight and lcd tail light conversion, some re-trim work, paint and some new wheels and tyres. So I guess I will have around 12-13k to spend on the car. I need some information about the various models of Chim, with engine/g-box details etc and wondered if anyone can reccommend any good web sites or books.
Hi, and welcome to PH
I've read your post several times, and just can't help thinking that you've got this arse about face...
Why spend 12-13k on a car, do all the work to be left with a car which is basically worth 12-13k...? Realistically the light conversions appeal to some but not all - the same with the wheels... so you end up "losing" 5k...
Surely it would be better to buy a decent, solid, reliable car that's going to give you a smile on your face for about 16-17k and have a bit of spare cash just in case...?
Listen to the wise words of Podie...
Buy the newest, best put together, nicest, lowest mileage car (condition, condition, condition - as said) you can get for your budget - saving a K or two back for any initial problems.
If you buy from a dealer - look hard at what warranty cover is offered. TVRs are quite capable of being utter sheds and a good warranty insures against the worst. Having said that we have run ours for three years "out of warranty" and its only cost a small fortune to run - instead of a big one!
If continually fettled (NEVER let anything that goes wrong stay wrong - get it fixed and keep the car in "tip top"
a Chim can be perfectly reliable enough - and they do give you a LOT of fun and satisfaction.
Enjoy whatever you finally choose. Once bought - do not look back and stop scouring the ads - you'll only torture yourself.
Buy the newest, best put together, nicest, lowest mileage car (condition, condition, condition - as said) you can get for your budget - saving a K or two back for any initial problems.
If you buy from a dealer - look hard at what warranty cover is offered. TVRs are quite capable of being utter sheds and a good warranty insures against the worst. Having said that we have run ours for three years "out of warranty" and its only cost a small fortune to run - instead of a big one!
If continually fettled (NEVER let anything that goes wrong stay wrong - get it fixed and keep the car in "tip top"
a Chim can be perfectly reliable enough - and they do give you a LOT of fun and satisfaction. Enjoy whatever you finally choose. Once bought - do not look back and stop scouring the ads - you'll only torture yourself.
jimothy said:
lowest mileage car
No!
Buy a high mileage. The general consensus (it seems) is the more a car's driven, the less likely that it'll have problems. These cars love to be driven and sulk and break down if left.
let the flames begin
I think Don means "sensible mileage".
IMHO a car should do around 5-6k a year minimum, any less than that and it's bordering on underused... and you risk things like seal breaking down.
Thanks everyone for the replies, I am joining TVRCC today and ordering the Steve Heath book so thanks for that advice shpub and harrow chim.
I am not sure why I want a 500, I guess its just because I like the idea of all that power or maybe its just an ego thing, anyway whatever it is a 500 is at the forefront of my mind.
Podie and Don you may be right and I have had your thoughts as well, but for me I want to have something very personal and different and I really like the speed 12 conversion done by TVR Bodyshops, Bristol www.tvrbodyshop.co.uk {put an example pic in my profile) I also have my own particular colour and therefore thought that if I had the light conversion done I might as well paint the car the colour of my choice and as my best friend is a top class paint sprayer and his boss will let us use all of his facilities over weekend I can get a fantastic job done for the cost of paint and mats. With regard to wheels I am not that keen on the standard wheels personally and really like the idea of making my chim even more individual by choosing something I really like. I have also looked at the cost of re-trimming and u can get two seats totally retrimmed for £375+ VAT. The master plan as it stands is buy a chim DEC Jan, remove engine and ancillaries for any refurb work and cleaning etc, trailer car down to Bristol for all conversion work and maybe interiior trim work if required, whilst I deal with the engine this end, should take about 10 weeks, paint the car in March and refit engine and fit new wheels, then spend all summer grinning.
Ideally I would like to buy a late model chim and do all this but sadly I dont have that much cash.
I could go for something like this and have lots of money left for any other issues apart from my master plan www.pistonheads.com/sales/42951.htm
Or something like this which fits the budget almost as planned www.pistonheads.com/sales/45673.htm
Or this and keep things standard as Podie suggests and go for something like this www.pistonheads.com/sales/34389.htm
Only time will tell, let me read up a little first and I will keep you all posted, only one thing is certain, I will be grinning wildly, whistling through the lincolnshire wolds to the sweet sound of that V8 exhaust note next May.
Good to meet you all.
I am not sure why I want a 500, I guess its just because I like the idea of all that power or maybe its just an ego thing, anyway whatever it is a 500 is at the forefront of my mind.
Podie and Don you may be right and I have had your thoughts as well, but for me I want to have something very personal and different and I really like the speed 12 conversion done by TVR Bodyshops, Bristol www.tvrbodyshop.co.uk {put an example pic in my profile) I also have my own particular colour and therefore thought that if I had the light conversion done I might as well paint the car the colour of my choice and as my best friend is a top class paint sprayer and his boss will let us use all of his facilities over weekend I can get a fantastic job done for the cost of paint and mats. With regard to wheels I am not that keen on the standard wheels personally and really like the idea of making my chim even more individual by choosing something I really like. I have also looked at the cost of re-trimming and u can get two seats totally retrimmed for £375+ VAT. The master plan as it stands is buy a chim DEC Jan, remove engine and ancillaries for any refurb work and cleaning etc, trailer car down to Bristol for all conversion work and maybe interiior trim work if required, whilst I deal with the engine this end, should take about 10 weeks, paint the car in March and refit engine and fit new wheels, then spend all summer grinning.
Ideally I would like to buy a late model chim and do all this but sadly I dont have that much cash.
I could go for something like this and have lots of money left for any other issues apart from my master plan www.pistonheads.com/sales/42951.htm
Or something like this which fits the budget almost as planned www.pistonheads.com/sales/45673.htm
Or this and keep things standard as Podie suggests and go for something like this www.pistonheads.com/sales/34389.htm
Only time will tell, let me read up a little first and I will keep you all posted, only one thing is certain, I will be grinning wildly, whistling through the lincolnshire wolds to the sweet sound of that V8 exhaust note next May.
Good to meet you all.
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