Age or mileage?

[dicky2007]

What would you say is more important when purchasing my first chim.

Would you go for a 96 with 38k like this:

http://pistonheads.com/sales/88558.ht

or a 98 model with 62k like this one :

http://pistonheads.com/sales/71436.ht

Any advice would be great. Also can anyone tell me exactly what the differences are in the facelift model?

Thanks.

[Rum Runner]

I have to say both of those don't rock my boat.Remember also there are some good pre -facelift cars about which demand less money but can be mint. This looks quite good www.pistonheads.com/sales/120296.htm. Shame you just missed mine www.pistonheads.com/sales/144067.htm. But I don't think the new owner will be read to sell for a while .
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=374720&f=8&h=0

Edited by Rum Runner on Wednesday 4th April 21:56

[dicky2007]

Rum Runner said:

I have to say both of those don't rock my boat.

Any reason why rum runner?

Also they were just examples to illustrate the point age or mileage, any thoughts or suggestions?

[Bomber Denton]

I prefer the 96 car myself.

[dicky2007]

Rum Runner said:

I have to say both of those don't rock my boat.Remember also there are some good pre -facelift cars about which demand less money but can be mint. This looks quite good www.pistonheads.com/sales/120296.htm. Shame you just missed mine www.pistonheads.com/sales/144067.htm. But I don't think the new owner will be read to sell for a while .
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=374720&f=8&h=0

Edited by Rum Runner on Wednesday 4th April 21:56

Ok thanks, but without being a pain why would you say that one is better than the 96 i suggested they both look very similar with roughly the same sort of miles, what makes it better is what i'm trying to understand?

[tvrbob]

There's loads of debate on these pages about the pros & cons of low mileage TVR's. Without wanting to restart the debate I would simply say low mileage isn't necessarily a good thing. Having said that neither of the examples above are particularly low mileage.

[simonb9]

Personally I always try and buy the most recent car but thats personal preference. Just bought a 98 500 with 40K on the clock, good condition (not a minter) but a wad of receipts (5K pounds worth over the last 2 1/2 years) so 'most' servicable items have recently been replaced. The rest is (hopefully) elbow grease to bring it up to scratch (just spent 2 days under the car ensuring the outriggers are sound and protected for a while !!).

[nig-gtv]

Hard to say without seeing them both, but I would say that the '98 model would be my choice of the two. Sounds like it has good history and low number of owners.... and a good price for an S reg. You certainly shouldnt be concerned about a 60k Chim 400. Having owned both a pre-facelift ('94) and a facelift (current '98) I have to say that in my opinion the facelift is worthwhile.... the rear lights look far better, the door openers are a nice touch (although granted - not necessary!), and the cooling on the later models is better due to revised air intake. Although my 1994 model was a great car, my current facelift car just generally feels more solid, plus numerous small things... like the interior is better (less vinyl and the dials/knobs etc are a nicer design).

At the end of the day buy on neither mileage nor age - buy on condition!

Edited by nig-gtv on Wednesday 4th April 22:32

[Bomber Denton]

nig-gtv said:

Hard to say without seeing them both, but I would say that the '98 model would be my choice of the two. Sounds like it has good history and low number of owners.... and a good price for an S reg. You certainly shouldnt be concerned about a 60k Chim 400. Having owned both a pre-facelift ('94) and a facelift (current '98) I have to say that in my opinion the facelift is worthwhile.... the rear lights look far better, the door openers are a nice touch (although granted - not necessary!), and the cooling on the later models is better due to revised air intake. Although my 1994 model was a great car, my current facelift car just generally feels more solid, plus numerous small things... like the interior is better (less vinyl and the dials/knobs etc are a nicer design).

At the end of the day buy on neither mileage nor age - buy on condition!

Edited by nig-gtv on Wednesday 4th April 22:32

The only difference between the two is the rear light/plate set-up.

Another point to add is photos mean naff all, see the cars in person to get an accurate idea.

[nig-gtv]

Bomber Denton said:

nig-gtv said:

Hard to say without seeing them both, but I would say that the '98 model would be my choice of the two. Sounds like it has good history and low number of owners.... and a good price for an S reg. You certainly shouldnt be concerned about a 60k Chim 400.

Having owned both a pre-facelift ('94) and a facelift (current '98) I have to say that in my opinion the facelift is worthwhile.... the rear lights look far better, the door openers are a nice touch (although granted - not necessary!), and the cooling on the later models is better due to revised air intake. Although my 1994 model was a great car, my current facelift car just generally feels more solid, plus numerous small things... like the interior is better (less vinyl and the dials/knobs etc are a nicer design).

At the end of the day buy on neither mileage nor age - buy on condition!

The only difference between the two is the rear light/plate set-up.

Sorry, maybe should have been clearer - I said I would probably choose the '98 model over the '96 model, but as there are several other cars suggested in the post I was then giving my experience of the pre-facelift vs facelift models as part of the general discussion re age/mileage

Bomber Denton said:

Another point to add is photos mean naff all, see the cars in person to get an accurate idea.

I think you are repeating a point, not adding a point!

Edited by nig-gtv on Thursday 5th April 07:45

[snorky]

AGE OR MILEAGE? - neither - CONDITION.

[Cider Andy]

dicky2007 said:

Also can anyone tell me exactly what the differences are in the facelift model?

To attempt to answer your question about the differences between the original and facelift cars,
here are a few pictures taken from cars for sale on this site.

Original rear end. Note the rubber strip along the 'bumper', the flush fitting number plate
and the Fiesta lamp clusters.



This later rear end no longer has the rubber strip, but retains the other features.



Later still, this car has the TVR lamp clusters, but still has the flush fitting backlit number plate.



Whereas this one has the final rear end, with recessed, angled number plate.



This car has an original front end, with grille.



This has the later front end. The grille is now open, with a bar across the opening moulded into the tub.



Not all of the modifications appeared in strict chronological order. Also there were other more subtle changes made. I think the original cars had a door opening button mounted atop the 'B' pillar with a lock barrel. The lock barrel was deleted later. Finally the door opening button became electric, the button being mounted in the mirror housing.

The lighting switchgear and heater fan switch were also updated along the way.

Orignal cars with the Rover LT77 gearbox had the gear lever and internal door opener in one recess. When the T5 gearbox was fitted, the gear lever was in a separate recess to the door opener.

There are also, I think, three versions of the bootlid hinges, two visible from outside, the final ones not visible. And the very latest cars had enclosed headlamps and different seats.

There were also a number of mechanical and electrical changes not normally visible, one example being the removal of the wiper motor from the engine bay to a position under the dashboard.

[Podie]

snorky said:

AGE OR MILEAGE? - neither - CONDITION.

As M@H once said, condition, condition, condition

I've seen ropey low milers, and immaculate high milers...

[nig-gtv]

Nice picture-illustrated story Cider Andy!

[Don]

Age or Mileage?

Its the same for cars as it is for girlfriends - condition,condition,condition!

[nig-gtv]

Don said:

Age or Mileage?

Its the same for cars as it is for girlfriends - condition,condition,condition!

In my experience age in this context low age and mileage almost guarantee good condition. Watch out for ropey high milers with many previous owners!

Edited by nig-gtv on Thursday 5th April 11:04