Why so hard to find a decent Chimaera ??
Discussion
Saw a couple of reasonably priced 4.5 Chimaeras for sale at a dealer. Phoned to ask if they were both still for sale, they said yes and were both currently in their showroom. Drove to see them and got there a couple of hours later, surprise, surprise, one had been sold and removed to the workshop as they had taken a deposit (must have removed umpteen cars from their showroom and forecourt in a small space of time and prepared a vehicle to put in its place very quickly) so that left only one. Looked so, so, from the outside with a few stone chips on the front as expected (with a few more that they hadn't even attempted to touch up). Popped the bonnet and again looked OK'ish but a bit grubby here and there (could easily have been wiped clean with an hours work) but saw that the front springs were as rusty as f*ck). Got on my hands and knees and looked at the outside chassis rails and saw paint flaking off as clearly no underseal or waxoil had been applied for some time.
Can't help but feel I was told porkies in the first instance that they were both still for sale and the one that was left clearly had not been prepared for sale (other than a wash & go) or even properly looked at from the underside or mechanically.
I admit that it wasn't a main dealer or a well known independant TVR dealer but nevertheless it was a dealer who sold far more exotic machinery.
Just really, really, f*cked me off as I did a 180 mile round trip, wasted 4-5 hours of my time on a saturday, 25 quid on petrol, to look at a car that shouldn't have been sitting in a showroom without some more work and preparation spent on it.
As I said earlier, ''I saw a couple of reasonably priced TVRs for sale'', should have seen it coming (I know) and I suppose I should have given them a wide berth.
Feel so much better for getting that off my chest, I was going to phone my mum and tell her all about it but she only would have told me to get a wife instead..........
Regards,
Disgruntled from Worthing.
Can't help but feel I was told porkies in the first instance that they were both still for sale and the one that was left clearly had not been prepared for sale (other than a wash & go) or even properly looked at from the underside or mechanically.
I admit that it wasn't a main dealer or a well known independant TVR dealer but nevertheless it was a dealer who sold far more exotic machinery.
Just really, really, f*cked me off as I did a 180 mile round trip, wasted 4-5 hours of my time on a saturday, 25 quid on petrol, to look at a car that shouldn't have been sitting in a showroom without some more work and preparation spent on it.
As I said earlier, ''I saw a couple of reasonably priced TVRs for sale'', should have seen it coming (I know) and I suppose I should have given them a wide berth.
Feel so much better for getting that off my chest, I was going to phone my mum and tell her all about it but she only would have told me to get a wife instead..........
Regards,
Disgruntled from Worthing.
Ribol said:
Looked at a lot of "immaculate" cars before I found a decent one myself(X reg), that was 4 years ago.
Can't see how it can be getting any easier to find a decent car 4 years on - what sort of age of car are you looking for?
Can't see how it can be getting any easier to find a decent car 4 years on - what sort of age of car are you looking for?
They were 2000 cars, but am looking for 98 onwards. Preferably a 4.5 or 5.0, not too worried about mileage (as long as it has been well maintained and serviced).
My advice would be to find a decent one and pay what it costs to get it.
Whilst it might sound like I am being very generous with your money, I'm not. You are far better off in the long run paying more for a decent car than less for a dog. The numbers of owners is also a bit of clue(yes, there are exceptions), troublesome cars tend to change hands more often as people get fed up with them.
Whilst it might sound like I am being very generous with your money, I'm not. You are far better off in the long run paying more for a decent car than less for a dog. The numbers of owners is also a bit of clue(yes, there are exceptions), troublesome cars tend to change hands more often as people get fed up with them.
simon, i wish i had a pound for every time i heard a story like yours.there all minters when there trying to sell em,i dident suffer to much when looking,but my brother recently purchased a chim,needless to say he was getting the hump with it all,waisted journeys etc,got one in the finish though,paid for it mind.good luck.
What some people call "excellent" condition isn't what others would.
I have been there and done that (your OP story) many many times..Hell, I have driven 4 hours to find the b****rd sold the car to a local who had phoned up that morning, arrived and driven off in the time it had taken me to get there. He sold it even though I had called and told him I was leaving. Nearly knocked him out....
But on the flipside, we have always sold our cars quickly, because we only buy them in stunning condition.
I have been there and done that (your OP story) many many times..Hell, I have driven 4 hours to find the b****rd sold the car to a local who had phoned up that morning, arrived and driven off in the time it had taken me to get there. He sold it even though I had called and told him I was leaving. Nearly knocked him out....
But on the flipside, we have always sold our cars quickly, because we only buy them in stunning condition.
Jasandjules,the problem with that is not every one is not as honest as yourself,they just use the standard car salesman,s.....oh you dont see many like this,its my baby,no expense spared crap,half the time they no its rubbish they just want you to travel with the intention you dont want to go home carless/empty handed,and that knocking £200 of the price will solve everything,it dont.
No, I do appreciate that. In fact, we sold an MR2 which wasn't in as good condition as we would have liked because we are honest. The guy who bought it said he had found a better one but the guy didn't point out a few minor defects before he looked, whereas we pointed out every one we could think of before he came to view, so he preferred to buy from us.
And as I said, I have been to some real dogs (including a BMW with, I kid you not, about a 2ft slash across the back seat) which I have been told are "immaculate" etc..
I don't know why people do this, I wished I could understand their idea. Unless they think you will just go "oh, I'll buy it anyways"... Nowadays I ask for e-mailed pics as well, try to mitigate the risk of it being a dog.
And as I said, I have been to some real dogs (including a BMW with, I kid you not, about a 2ft slash across the back seat) which I have been told are "immaculate" etc..
I don't know why people do this, I wished I could understand their idea. Unless they think you will just go "oh, I'll buy it anyways"... Nowadays I ask for e-mailed pics as well, try to mitigate the risk of it being a dog.
Anyone who describes a 6 year old car as 'mint' or 'immaculate' is most probably a liar. OK, maybe these terms as used as relative to other 6 year old cars - but more often than not, they're the first words that come to the unimaginitive seller's mind. I agree, travelling along way to see cars which fall short of their decription is deeply frustrating.
However - wouldn't you rather see the car you're buying before the oil leaks have been wiped up, the crazed GRP blown over and the rust covered with a hasty layer of waxoyl? I would.
Dealers offer their cars unprepped because if they put noey into a car and then have it sitting around, it's costing them. But it works in your favour too. Better to see a car warts and all then agree pre-sale rectification, than be beguiled by a clean and shiny dog. IMHO.
However - wouldn't you rather see the car you're buying before the oil leaks have been wiped up, the crazed GRP blown over and the rust covered with a hasty layer of waxoyl? I would.
Dealers offer their cars unprepped because if they put noey into a car and then have it sitting around, it's costing them. But it works in your favour too. Better to see a car warts and all then agree pre-sale rectification, than be beguiled by a clean and shiny dog. IMHO.
When I first saw our Chim, it was in the 'just taken in' condition, which was fine as I could see all that it had to offer without it being cleaned up first and meant that we culd see if anything major was up with it. Worked well as after a few bits were sorted and then it was put in showroom condition, we bought it and 5 years later still have her.
HH.
HH.
simonb9 said:
Can't help but feel I was told porkies in the first instance
I have a simple maxim when it comes to buying cars; "Everyone's lying to you." I pay no attention to anything the vendor says - just look at the paperwork and the condition of the car. The only exception to the "everyone's lying" rule is the engineer you employ to do an inspection. You're paying him, so he works for you.
theaxe said:
It's also annoying when you're trying to sell a decent Chimaera. Everyone expects to be able to be able to pay £8500 for it...
This is my experience also as a seller. However, when will people realise that you get what you pay for and you have to pay top money for top cars.
zumbruk said:
I have a simple maxim when it comes to buying cars; "Everyone's lying to you." I pay no attention to anything the vendor says - just look at the paperwork and the condition of the car. The only exception to the "everyone's lying" rule is the engineer you employ to do an inspection. You're paying him, so he works for you.
Spot on - a good car speaks to you through it's condition and the in wad of bills the seller should have that.
theaxe said:
It's also annoying when you're trying to sell a decent Chimaera. Everyone expects to be able to be able to pay £8500 for it...
lol, I got a call from a guy the other day in response to my autotrader add saying that in this market he would do me a favour & give me £7.5k cash for mine. He actually sounded offended when I told him I was in no rush to sell & his offer was a bit lower than I had in mind.
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