Buying a Chimeara advice please - 2001 or 1999?

[chezgilo]

Being new to the forum i hope i can get away with two questions today!

I am about to purchase a Chimaera. I have seen one that seems a 'very happy' car, and about to view another. They are both blue with same interiors, great condition, 4.5ltr, 30,000miles. The only diference is the one I've seen locally is a 1999, and the other is a 2001. The 2001 is £3000 more, and has the faired in headlights.

I would be seriously stretching my budget to a max for the 2001, and it is located in Lancashire which is a damn long way from Guildford, Surrey. Would it be worth me going all the way up to view it? Would it be worth it in the long run for resale? Or reliability?

I realise it's a tricky one to answer. Just in a bit of a dilema. I will spend the extra £3000 if the fact that it's 2 years younger makes that much difference.

Thanks

Gilo

[zippee]

Buy the 99 and put the extra 3k aside in the rare case something goes wrong and enjoy it. Part of the purchase of any TVR is staying within your comfort zone financially, I could have stretched and bought a Cerb but would not have been able to afford any extra running costs or repairs.

[Plotloss]

No difference in the engine or most of the body but if its a post update 2001 it will have the enclosed lights, cerb seats, stainless steel everything etc etc.

[theaxe]

I agree, stick with the '99 and spend the difference on making it perfect!

[225]

You do get 16"" alloys all round, cerb seats, different lights, more chrome bits, clear indicators and different suspension but 3K is a lot of cash. If its really stretching your budget I would get the 99 and keep the 3k for goodies and the unforseen, however I'm hoping the post 2001s do hold their value better which was I stretched things myself to get mine. I was torn between a slightly older 500 and and my 450 but the updates sold it for me, my bank account still hasn't forgiven me

[chezgilo]

Having read the first reply it was decision made, but the thought of those lovely faired-in headlights is making it very very difficult. I've had a quote for doing the work to the '99 model and it's not worth it.

Maybe I should just forget i ever saw the ad. It does mean a massive trip up to Lancashire after all. Although it does have the better seats, and the uprated suspension, and is visibly newer...

[225]

Massive trip up but great drive down!

[Cider Andy]

Train to Stansted, plane to Blackpool (£0.79 with Ryanair!), train to wherever in Lancashire, buy car, drive home. Sorted.

[Rum Runner]

Its not that far when buying a Tvr , i went up and down the country.As i live right at the end of North Wales these days its a distance to anywhere never mind :- Dover, Exeter , Birmingham , Silverstone , Peterborough , Manchester , Chester , London x2 , you name it , many place's until I found a complete mint all rounder and for the right dosh , so go have a look its worth travelling to find something good, worth it in the long run.
Happy hunting

[chezgilo]

Well I thought you should all know that I've just spoken to the owner and I'm going to see it on Friday. What am I doing? !