independant inspection or not?
Discussion
Hi Guys, I'm new to this forum and thought I would seek some advice as there is clearly a lot of knowledge out there.
I'm seriously thinking of buying a Chimaera and have located one locally(1998 400). The dealer, whilst not a specialist per se does sell a number of these cars and seems to be a reputable guy.
He offers his cars with a three month warranty if you choose not to upgrade this in any way and the car, on the face of it has low miles and is beautiful.
(I have been there a number of times just to sit in it and dribble.....
)
My question is, whether it would be worthwhile getting a specialist to inspect it and do main agents have staff prepared to do this(for a big wedge of cash no doubt!!)
I do know my way around a car but certainly have no previous experience of TVR's.
Grateful for any advice guys as I'm still frightened to spend all that money on a car thats apparently going to leak!!!!!
Cavok
I'm seriously thinking of buying a Chimaera and have located one locally(1998 400). The dealer, whilst not a specialist per se does sell a number of these cars and seems to be a reputable guy.
He offers his cars with a three month warranty if you choose not to upgrade this in any way and the car, on the face of it has low miles and is beautiful.
(I have been there a number of times just to sit in it and dribble.....
) My question is, whether it would be worthwhile getting a specialist to inspect it and do main agents have staff prepared to do this(for a big wedge of cash no doubt!!)
I do know my way around a car but certainly have no previous experience of TVR's.
Grateful for any advice guys as I'm still frightened to spend all that money on a car thats apparently going to leak!!!!!
Cavok
I got a Chim 450 collected by a TVR main dealer from a private address (<10miles) inspected and returned to the owner with a faxed report to me the same day for £100 plus VAT. It made pretty depressing reading and came up with a load of typical TVR faults I frankly might have overlooked or not been experienced enough to detect. Would AA/RAC have picked these up? Difficult to say. I felt the cost was money well spent and having done the maths to rectify the faults decided that I should look elsewhere.
Hutch
Edited to say "Forget the leaks issue - you can easily fix this at a trivial cost with what you can learn on PH or in Steve Heath's Bible - however do use you nose when you sit in a car you're thinking of buying to sniff for mildew caused by leaks. You can fix the leaks but you will never lose the smell of long time damp carpets every time you (or a prospective future buyer) gets inside - particularly on a hot day. The cost of replacement carpets etc is not a trivial expense.
Edited a second time to add that "dribbling" in a TVR is a particularly anti-social habit if it is of a volume that might contribute to the owner believing his anti-leak activities have come unstuck!
>> Edited by hut49 on Thursday 2nd January 20:58
>> Edited by hut49 on Thursday 2nd January 21:01
Hutch
Edited to say "Forget the leaks issue - you can easily fix this at a trivial cost with what you can learn on PH or in Steve Heath's Bible - however do use you nose when you sit in a car you're thinking of buying to sniff for mildew caused by leaks. You can fix the leaks but you will never lose the smell of long time damp carpets every time you (or a prospective future buyer) gets inside - particularly on a hot day. The cost of replacement carpets etc is not a trivial expense.
Edited a second time to add that "dribbling" in a TVR is a particularly anti-social habit if it is of a volume that might contribute to the owner believing his anti-leak activities have come unstuck!
>> Edited by hut49 on Thursday 2nd January 20:58
>> Edited by hut49 on Thursday 2nd January 21:01
A bloke called Rob Ingleby(sp!) i am sure would be more than happy to take a look at the car for a small fee.
He helps people find TVR's using the Knowledge he has gained over the years of TVR ownership and Engineering skills, His website is HERE
If you want his Number drop me a mail through my profile.
Bonne Chance
BB
>> Edited by Ballistic Banana on Thursday 2nd January 21:08
He helps people find TVR's using the Knowledge he has gained over the years of TVR ownership and Engineering skills, His website is HERE
If you want his Number drop me a mail through my profile.
Bonne Chance
BB
>> Edited by Ballistic Banana on Thursday 2nd January 21:08
Your best bet is to have a word with your local TVRCC and check out the dealer's reputation. If he's an unknown quantity then thinking about an independent inspection is a good idea ... and make sure that whoever does the inspection has a good reputation.
However ... relax ... this is a buyer's market. Do not rush this purchase. There are loads of people queuing to sell you their cars, both private deals and through dealers. Take your time and pick a really good one.
However ... relax ... this is a buyer's market. Do not rush this purchase. There are loads of people queuing to sell you their cars, both private deals and through dealers. Take your time and pick a really good one.
Thanks for your kind advice Hut49, I'm going for a test drive tomorrow and if that really does it for me then I'll see if the TVR Centre Barnet can sort out an inspection.
There does seem to be lots of good advice here re. such things as leaks etc.
Will attempt to reduce dribbling forthwith...
Regards Cav..
Thanks to you other Guys too, unfortunately my typings not very good!! I'm now off to the pub to contemplate my purchase....
>> Edited by cavok on Thursday 2nd January 21:15
There does seem to be lots of good advice here re. such things as leaks etc.
Will attempt to reduce dribbling forthwith...
Regards Cav..
Thanks to you other Guys too, unfortunately my typings not very good!! I'm now off to the pub to contemplate my purchase....
>> Edited by cavok on Thursday 2nd January 21:15
Cavok, I'd seriously think about your purchase if you're going to be put off by little niggles. These are definitely not BMWs (thank god!), but the feeling you get when you're roaring around is absolutely amazing.
Had a great experience this evening. My mate Tim has just been dumped by his French girlfriend. He came round for a ride in my Griff cos he was bored. Driving along in the rain and dark, we pass a car on the hard shoulder. Tim shouted - "Wasn't that another Griff?" - we span around at the next roundabout and headed back the other way - sure enough it was a purple Griff - he had seen us and had set off, so we followed him and flashed the lights. He pulls into a pub carpark and we have a chat - turns out he's bought the car today and driving it for the first time. Really nice guy!
TVRs are cool!
Had a great experience this evening. My mate Tim has just been dumped by his French girlfriend. He came round for a ride in my Griff cos he was bored. Driving along in the rain and dark, we pass a car on the hard shoulder. Tim shouted - "Wasn't that another Griff?" - we span around at the next roundabout and headed back the other way - sure enough it was a purple Griff - he had seen us and had set off, so we followed him and flashed the lights. He pulls into a pub carpark and we have a chat - turns out he's bought the car today and driving it for the first time. Really nice guy!
TVRs are cool!
I bought mine at the end of the summer. I looked at 12 which taught me loads, but the AA went to look at it and did not add anything to what I knew.
Having recently taken it to a specialist for a service, they were able to talk sense to a mechanical neanderthal like myself and tell me so much more. I would go for the specialist.
But it's worth it
Having recently taken it to a specialist for a service, they were able to talk sense to a mechanical neanderthal like myself and tell me so much more. I would go for the specialist.
But it's worth it
Like ANY car in the world, you can hit upon a perfect one or a duff one . . but a specialist's report would be sensible to note major points (of course look at Service History, bills, mileage usage, etc) short of stripping the engine down!
I bought my 98 4L in Feb last year, and except for the Meta alarm going cuckoo, I've had 10K glorious miles in it . . .it really is a wonderful motor
After your purchaase you'll get most the help/advise you EVER need from this Forum and there are plenty of TVRs in Herts.
It's true - it should be a buyer's market at the moment!
I bought my 98 4L in Feb last year, and except for the Meta alarm going cuckoo, I've had 10K glorious miles in it . . .it really is a wonderful motor
After your purchaase you'll get most the help/advise you EVER need from this Forum and there are plenty of TVRs in Herts.
It's true - it should be a buyer's market at the moment!
Yes get it inspected. It is all too easy to fall into rose tinted glasses syndrome!
There is a Chimaera buyers guide on my website that will give you the basics of whats what.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
There is a Chimaera buyers guide on my website that will give you the basics of whats what.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
Having looked back at my purchase while adding my car details today, I'd say an inspection is mandatory. Looking that the cost of my first service and the amount of extra work required, I reckon I must have had said glasses on. Get an inspection and find yourself a good independent for servicing, that'll keep your costs under control. Do I regret spending this much money on the car - never in a million years!
Cheers
Steve.
Cheers
Steve.
By the sounds of it, you are thinking a about buying a car from Adrian Blyth, which many Phers have done - including me.
Adrian's car are already checked by David Batty, who is a very respected independent (PH Award for service 2002). David batty is only a couple of miles from Adrian Blyth's showroom - up the A3, and I know several people have asked him to pcheck a car before purchasing it.
Personally, I didn't bother. The 3 months waranty offered by Adrian is enough, to identify some niggles you may have missed during a bried test drive.
Adrian's car are already checked by David Batty, who is a very respected independent (PH Award for service 2002). David batty is only a couple of miles from Adrian Blyth's showroom - up the A3, and I know several people have asked him to pcheck a car before purchasing it.
Personally, I didn't bother. The 3 months waranty offered by Adrian is enough, to identify some niggles you may have missed during a bried test drive.
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