I want one !!

[stu247]

Hello Guys and Gals !
First time posting here, have been spying on you lot for a month or so

I've finally decided that a Chim is the car for me and hopefully in Jan / Feb I will be in a position to purchase one. Have around 10 - 10.5K to spend and hoping to get a 94 4.0L for that sort of cash.
Only one problem, I live in N.Ireland so am probably going to have to travel to get one...

Will be getting the 'Bible' shortly for some bedtime reading.

Anyone know of any insurance companies who would insure the Chim as classic for reasonable money ? the car will just be used on dry weekends...

Cheers.
Stu.

[kenny320]

Depends what you call reasonable money. I got a quote from direct line for doing 5000 miles a year in one. I'm 25, in Glasgow and the quote was for £890, which I thought was pretty good.

I would get one if I could. I'll just have to make do with borrowing my friend's chim

[M@H]

Hi Stu,

A lot of companies will consider a classic policy on cars over either 10 or 12 years old. If you do a Forum Search for insurance you will get a very comprehensive result on who's insuring what for how much and with whom. I'm intrigued why you have defined 1994 as your model of choice.. if price is your guide then you can get better condition earlier cars, or worse condition later cars, year is fairly academic in the price bracket you are looking in. (of course that depends on Gearbox preferences etc)

Cheers
Matt

>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 9th December 11:48

[shnozz]

I'm 25 with full NCB mirrored onto that policy limited to 5k miles p.a. Mine is £562 with A Mannings including TVRCC trackdays.

I was always made to believe car insurance in Ireland was silly money though

[stu247]

Hi matt,
I was using the 10yrs old rule for classic insurance to arrive at a 94 model (buying one nxt year). I'm from the old school...later the better but I know that does not really count as far as TVR's are concerned. Engine / transmission wise I'm not that fussed although the later box seems to be preferred option, I would be more concerned in the condition of the bodywork..esp the chassis (which to be honest, scares me a bit).
Cheers.
Stu.

[M@H]

29, 6 yrs NCB, Unlimited Mileage Policy, All trackdays covered £475.. Sunninghill.

Matt.


>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 9th December 12:00

[M@H]

stu247 said:

Hi matt, I was using the 10yrs old rule for classic insurance to arrive at a 94 model (buying one nxt year). I'm from the old school...later the better but I know that does not really count as far as TVR's are concerned. Engine / transmission wise I'm not that fussed although the later box seems to be preferred option, I would be more concerned in the condition of the bodywork..esp the chassis (which to be honest, scares me a bit). Cheers. Stu.

Hi Stu.. good points all, although later the better is often not the case.. My only advice would be buy on condition and condition. A well looked after 93 will have a better chassis than an ignored 96 for example. As long as you buy with your eyes and brain and not your heart, you should be OK.. As for the gearbox thing.. well I ahve the SD1 box and theres nothing wrong with it, so don't be too put off.

Cheers
Matt.


>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 9th December 12:04

[stu247]

Yeah, insurance over here can be a bit crazy.. it's all those undesirables stealing motors to run about the estates in and finally setting fire to them to keep their wee hands warm !! bless em...
500 quid sounds a bit more reasonable...I'm 33 married with two kids and driving a Volvo everyday !! a model citizen of course !!

[shnozz]

stu247 said:

Hi matt, I was using the 10yrs old rule for classic insurance to arrive at a 94 model (buying one nxt year). I'm from the old school...later the better but I know that does not really count as far as TVR's are concerned. Engine / transmission wise I'm not that fussed although the later box seems to be preferred option, I would be more concerned in the condition of the bodywork..esp the chassis (which to be honest, scares me a bit). Cheers. Stu.

I was amazed by the difference between chassis on various cars, regardless of age. I agree its something to be scared of and with that outlook you should be cautious enough to ensure you buy a good one. Some 97/98 cars I looked at were worse than some of the 93/94 cars. I bought on the strength of condition and looked at 93 cars through to 98. I ended up buying a 93 that only had 30k on the clock and had the most immaculate chassis and bodywork I saw throughout my search.

I did look in the price bracket you have suggested and was a little dissapointed so upped my limits. But a good search during winter months when prices have dropped, and compromising in terms of maybe mileage etc, you may well find something that fits the bill.

[stu247]

I've bought a load of cars over the years and do tend to be the cautious type ! although with something like a TVR its very hard to let your head make the decisions !!
My major issue is my locale...there are very few chim's in Northern Ireland even less for sale..Im going to have to do the majority of ground work via e-mail / photo's etc before hand before traveling over...otherwise it will cost me a fortune in air fares etc.
That may even mean doing a deal before I physically see a car...not ideal i know !!


Stu.

[shnozz]

stu247 said:

I've bought a load of cars over the years and do tend to be the cautious type ! although with something like a TVR its very hard to let your head make the decisions !! My major issue is my locale...there are very few chim's in Northern Ireland even less for sale..Im going to have to do the majority of ground work via e-mail / photo's etc before hand before traveling over...otherwise it will cost me a fortune in air fares etc. That may even mean doing a deal before I physically see a car...not ideal i know !! Stu.

that being the case I would strongly advise having the vehicle inspected somehow before you agree to buy or come over. Ask the seller who their local dealership is, telephone them and see if they will inspect the car for you for an hourly rate and have a word with them after the have seen it. It shouldnt take more than an hour or so to have a good look around the car and so you are talking £50 - £75. Well worth it.

[M@H]

I'll inspect something for you in my area for you if you like

[M@H]

mungo said:

Best bet Stu, is to short list ones you would like to see then arrange a day out in an area, say the North West where you have appointments to see a minimum of 4 to 6 cars... If none of them come up to scratch, go home and restart the search

Problem with that is though, that Chimaera's are a bit far flung, especially if you have a tight budget criteria.. I'll wager you couldn't find 6 decent chim's under 11k within 75 miles of each other.

Cheers,
Matt.


>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 9th December 13:05

[stu247]

Decisions decisions.....as you say, I will just have to draw up a shortlist and take it from there. The problem is, as Matt says, they tend to be all over the show.!!

Will just have to see what happens.
I will let you know how I progress.....thanks for the help so far guys !!

[M@H]

mungo said:

Should be a few condensed in a big city like Manchester or Liverpool - Plenty of flush people round these places in flash cars - Round this area (Southampton / Portsmouth) there are hundreds of Chims, not sure it's the same up North though? Another good area for hunting TVR's all condensed into one area is surely the High Wycombe area! Loads of flash motors round there!

The Problem is the price criteria though... there are 130 odd Chimaeras for sale here in the Classifieds section, yet only 10 of them are under £11k..

Cheers
Matt.


>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 9th December 13:52

[shnozz]

mungo said:

Round this area (Southampton / Portsmouth) there are hundreds of Chims,

Really?? I rarely see any Tivs on the road around these parts and even at regional TVR meets I wouldnt consider there was very many.

[stu247]

It's not going to be easy by the looks of it !! I'm going to have a tough time of it unless santa brings me one for crimbo...

Oh the joys of living in Northern Ireland !!

[stu247]

mungo said:

You'll find one in the end Stu - Your biggest problem is the pure fact that you want to be in one NOW

Very true..... my sexy volvo will just have to do for now...

[M@H]

stu247 said:

It's not going to be easy by the looks of it !! I'm going to have a tough time of it unless santa brings me one for crimbo...

I could drop one round at the weekend if you like...

[.Mark]

shnozz said:

Really?? I rarely see any Tivs on the road around these parts and even at regional TVR meets I wouldnt consider there was very many.

That's because they are out-dated, old, slow golf trollies.
I suspect if you pop round to the nearest Seat dealer you'll find loads there about to go out to auction.