Chassis condition - what is acceptable??
Chassis condition - what is acceptable??
Author
Discussion

MJW1977

Original Poster:

146 posts

232 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
Sorry to start a new thread on an old topic but I have not really found one that answers my query. Exactly how good (or bad) should the chassis on a 99 42k mile chimaera be? The one I am very close to buying is at an independant in Swindon. I had it on the ramp and I would describe it as having obviously been flaking.

The dealer has replaced the front wishbones which were thin and cleaned and waxoiled the underneath. There is no evidence of holes etc and everything feels solid but you can see where it has flaked.

Does this sound normal (or acceptable) for this age of car and should I be unduly worried - I have read the numerous horror stories in these forums!! They say that it was inspected during the wishbone replacement and the rest is sound, but I gather that outrigger insepction/treatment is difficult and expensive...

Once again thanks for any comment/advice, its been invaluable

Waynester

6,532 posts

280 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
Sounds normal/acceptable to me. The important thing is the condition of the metal underneath. Is it clean of rust or maybe has just surface rust, huge lumps of rusting metal falling off i would say is unacceptable.
The powder coating was never the strongest protection in the world, 8 years and a trillion stone chips later....
As long as the metal is good it can be treated/painted and preserved.

Hut49

3,544 posts

292 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
MJW1977 said:
Exactly how good (or bad) should the chassis on a 99 42k mile chimaera be?
I think it's almost impossible to make any general comments on this question as it depends so much on (1) the prep of the original parts during construction (how much moisture was on and in the tubes when they were assembled and powder coated); (2) conditions in which the vehicle has been driven over the past 8 years; (3) how much routine preventative maintenance of the chassis and known vulnerabilities has been carried out. Maybe the fact that it has already had the wishbones replaced might be a pointer to concern on all 3 counts - or maybe it has no significance. It's almost impossible to make any linkage.

Does the car have any detail in the service history to point to chassis prep and treatment?

For what its worth, my '99 450 (26,500 miles) chassis has been regularly cleaned, prepared and treated. It hasn't needed to have wishbones replaced and AFAIK the next owner (see PH advert Ref 198593) will not have to be unduly concerned about the chassis (provided they are as diligent as I have been).

Edited by Hut49 on Monday 9th July 08:25

MJW1977

Original Poster:

146 posts

232 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
Waynester said:
Sounds normal/acceptable to me. The important thing is the condition of the metal underneath. Is it clean of rust or maybe has just surface rust, huge lumps of rusting metal falling off i would say is unacceptable.
The powder coating was never the strongest protection in the world, 8 years and a trillion stone chips later....
As long as the metal is good it can be treated/painted and preserved.
There is no rust evident, you can just see where it has been scrapped back and been waxoiled over. I guess a TVR main dealer would not sell a car that was headed for big trouble. They've agreed a 6 mth warranty so I thnik I would have a case if problems arose...

chim666

2,337 posts

295 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
MJW1977 said:
I guess a TVR main dealer would not sell a car that was headed for big trouble. They've agreed a 6 mth warranty so I thnik I would have a case if problems arose...
You say this dealer's in Swindon. Which dealer would that be?

MJW1977

Original Poster:

146 posts

232 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
chim666 said:
MJW1977 said:
I guess a TVR main dealer would not sell a car that was headed for big trouble. They've agreed a 6 mth warranty so I thnik I would have a case if problems arose...
You say this dealer's in Swindon. Which dealer would that be?
David Hendry. Actually its in Malmesbury

chim666

2,337 posts

295 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
MJW1977 said:
chim666 said:
MJW1977 said:
I guess a TVR main dealer would not sell a car that was headed for big trouble. They've agreed a 6 mth warranty so I thnik I would have a case if problems arose...
You say this dealer's in Swindon. Which dealer would that be?
David Hendry. Actually its in Malmesbury
YHM (well, you will have in a minute!)

Slacey

1,113 posts

244 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
If you can, take some pics and post them here - it will be much easier to give an opinion.

MJW1977

Original Poster:

146 posts

232 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
chim666 said:
MJW1977 said:
chim666 said:
MJW1977 said:
I guess a TVR main dealer would not sell a car that was headed for big trouble. They've agreed a 6 mth warranty so I thnik I would have a case if problems arose...
You say this dealer's in Swindon. Which dealer would that be?
David Hendry. Actually its in Malmesbury
YHM (well, you will have in a minute!)
Sorry Im a newbie, whats YHM mean?!!

chim666

2,337 posts

295 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
MJW1977 said:
Sorry Im a newbie, whats YHM mean?!!
You Have Mail

odyssey2200

18,650 posts

239 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
chim666 said:
MJW1977 said:
chim666 said:
MJW1977 said:
I guess a TVR main dealer would not sell a car that was headed for big trouble. They've agreed a 6 mth warranty so I thnik I would have a case if problems arose...
You say this dealer's in Swindon. Which dealer would that be?
David Hendry. Actually its in Malmesbury
YHM (well, you will have in a minute!)
YHM??

OK I give up whats YHM?

MJW1977

Original Poster:

146 posts

232 months

Monday 9th July 2007
quotequote all
chim666 said:
MJW1977 said:
Sorry Im a newbie, whats YHM mean?!!
You Have Mail
Thanks, got your mail and just replied.

BTW this is the car in question:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/149911.htm