Discussion
I have had it with trying to sell my chimaera privatly, there are just so many muppets arround who just waste people's time or is this just me who's getting all of them ???? What am I ranting about well I will explain :
A little while ago I decided to sell my 98R 4.OL 32k in Halcyon Atlantis Chimaera to buy a slightly newer 5.0L and with about 6 / 8 thousand pounds of I went happy as larry (who ever larry is)
After visiting two local dealers I had been offered £17,500 part ex or £16,500 cash happy with £17,500 (but not over joyed) the main problem is that the dealer has had no decent 5.0L for some time, although they have tried and been very helpfull. So I decided to sell mine privatly was up for about £18,000 ish with warranty oh what a mistake !!!!
Now I have sold many cars in the past (admitably not a TVR) BMW 740i sold to second caller within two weeks, Ferrari sold to 3rd caller within 3 days etc etc now I know you get some time wasters and I am prepared for a few but I must have had at least 10 in the last 3 months :
1st offered me £13,000 for the car after I had explained my dealer would give me £16,500 cash !!!!!
2nd Offered £14,500 as it needed so much work (front end respray, two wishbones (debatable) and some stitching on the rear screen £145 from Peninsular
3rd Brought "THE EXPERT" who you guessed it didn't know a thing about TVR'S not even how to open the doors on a phase two car !!!!!
Since then its been specialist checked 4 times all with the same results (front end respray, two wishbones (debatable) and some stitching on the rear screen (total about £1000 if I am generous, in has in its benifit new Discs,pads,wheels,tyres, full TVR warranty etc etc etc.
No its not perfect (faults listed) other wise it would be £36,000 i.e. brand new the paint is immaculate, the interior is unmarked its had more Autogleam rubbed over it and more love than anything I have ever owned in the past including the 348, but why oh why are their so many wasters,idiots,muppets and complete dreamers who want to come and see it ???
I guess in the end what will happen is that it will go to a dealer for circa £17,000 they will spend £1000 on it amd then someone will buy it for about £23,000 which is what the dealers have said thay will sell it for (at least their honest)
My only question is this normal or is this just a one off answers on a post card (or on the forum)
Someone make me feel better please
A little while ago I decided to sell my 98R 4.OL 32k in Halcyon Atlantis Chimaera to buy a slightly newer 5.0L and with about 6 / 8 thousand pounds of I went happy as larry (who ever larry is)
After visiting two local dealers I had been offered £17,500 part ex or £16,500 cash happy with £17,500 (but not over joyed) the main problem is that the dealer has had no decent 5.0L for some time, although they have tried and been very helpfull. So I decided to sell mine privatly was up for about £18,000 ish with warranty oh what a mistake !!!!
Now I have sold many cars in the past (admitably not a TVR) BMW 740i sold to second caller within two weeks, Ferrari sold to 3rd caller within 3 days etc etc now I know you get some time wasters and I am prepared for a few but I must have had at least 10 in the last 3 months :
1st offered me £13,000 for the car after I had explained my dealer would give me £16,500 cash !!!!!
2nd Offered £14,500 as it needed so much work (front end respray, two wishbones (debatable) and some stitching on the rear screen £145 from Peninsular
3rd Brought "THE EXPERT" who you guessed it didn't know a thing about TVR'S not even how to open the doors on a phase two car !!!!!
Since then its been specialist checked 4 times all with the same results (front end respray, two wishbones (debatable) and some stitching on the rear screen (total about £1000 if I am generous, in has in its benifit new Discs,pads,wheels,tyres, full TVR warranty etc etc etc.
No its not perfect (faults listed) other wise it would be £36,000 i.e. brand new the paint is immaculate, the interior is unmarked its had more Autogleam rubbed over it and more love than anything I have ever owned in the past including the 348, but why oh why are their so many wasters,idiots,muppets and complete dreamers who want to come and see it ???
I guess in the end what will happen is that it will go to a dealer for circa £17,000 they will spend £1000 on it amd then someone will buy it for about £23,000 which is what the dealers have said thay will sell it for (at least their honest)
My only question is this normal or is this just a one off answers on a post card (or on the forum)
Someone make me feel better please
Tom Lyden has a similar story. I was one of his 'visitors' but not sure I go in his book of 'timewasters' as I was honest with him that I was looking at another car the following day, which I duly bought.
I guess new buyers who are not familiar with TVR's are scared to death of buying privately and horrified at dealer prices......
I only wish they'd do what I did and leave the tire kicking/trying out/geting to know the car to the dealers forecourt. Most dealers if you are straight with them are happy to allow the odd test drive anyway....
I guess new buyers who are not familiar with TVR's are scared to death of buying privately and horrified at dealer prices......
I only wish they'd do what I did and leave the tire kicking/trying out/geting to know the car to the dealers forecourt. Most dealers if you are straight with them are happy to allow the odd test drive anyway....
Powelly, you were not one of those "Tire kickers" you were quite honest and at least told me what you were up to... Some of the muppets i've had... bloddy hell..
I'm thinking of giving the car to a speacialist dealer.. The money I'm asking for the car...now it has been fully sorted .. I think is well cheap...its prob because of this I've had so many muppets...
Anyway got luck...
I'm thinking of giving the car to a speacialist dealer.. The money I'm asking for the car...now it has been fully sorted .. I think is well cheap...its prob because of this I've had so many muppets...
Anyway got luck...
Casio I am a TVR specialist as many on here will know and have been involved with TVR's since the mid 60's. In the last 3 or 4 years the type of people who buy or aspire to buy TVR's has changed considerably and now attracts many of the wrong type of people. A TVR is an enthusiasts car but there seem to be fewer and fewer genuine enthusiasts around. People look at a 4 or 5 year old TVR in much the same way as a similar aged BMW or Mercedes. If they want a boring euroblob why dont they go look at them and stop trying to aspire to driving a real car.
On monday evening for instance I had the unfortunate pleasure of a couple looking at a Griffith I have for sale(no stone chips or rusty wishbones etc..)After a period of trying to find something wrong with the car and failing a test drive was requested so off we went. I drove the man around for 20 minutes on varied roads and returned. He then decided that he would like to drive the car so off we went again this time for 30 mins. He was absolutely delighted with the car and could still not fault it.He then decided that it may be better if his wife drove the car to make sure she could reach the pedals and to ensure the steering was not too heavy so off we went again. No problem reaching the pedals or steering, but major problems with driving skills. I survived and we arrived back in one piece miraculously.
They then decided they were not too sure on the colour of the carpets so I spend 15 mins on phone to my trimmer to get firm price to change carpets. This price was very reasonable and they were happy.
Further 20 mins dicussing insurance and me giving them names and numbers of insurance specialists and a third cup of coffee. After just a shade over 3 hours they seemed happy that this was the car for them and would check on insurance in the morning and ring me.
9.20 in the morning I receive a call to say that they had chatted on the way home and decided that perhaps they should sell their ageing rot box before buying another car unless of course I wanted to buy it. He hadn't even bothered to phone for insurance.
This may sound like a severe time waster but I can assure you they are only about average, so good luck with the sale of your car and dont feel persecuted it happens all too frequently now.
Or maybe I am just too nice to people.
If you are the people above and are reading this please dont come back EVER!
On monday evening for instance I had the unfortunate pleasure of a couple looking at a Griffith I have for sale(no stone chips or rusty wishbones etc..)After a period of trying to find something wrong with the car and failing a test drive was requested so off we went. I drove the man around for 20 minutes on varied roads and returned. He then decided that he would like to drive the car so off we went again this time for 30 mins. He was absolutely delighted with the car and could still not fault it.He then decided that it may be better if his wife drove the car to make sure she could reach the pedals and to ensure the steering was not too heavy so off we went again. No problem reaching the pedals or steering, but major problems with driving skills. I survived and we arrived back in one piece miraculously.
They then decided they were not too sure on the colour of the carpets so I spend 15 mins on phone to my trimmer to get firm price to change carpets. This price was very reasonable and they were happy.
Further 20 mins dicussing insurance and me giving them names and numbers of insurance specialists and a third cup of coffee. After just a shade over 3 hours they seemed happy that this was the car for them and would check on insurance in the morning and ring me.
9.20 in the morning I receive a call to say that they had chatted on the way home and decided that perhaps they should sell their ageing rot box before buying another car unless of course I wanted to buy it. He hadn't even bothered to phone for insurance.
This may sound like a severe time waster but I can assure you they are only about average, so good luck with the sale of your car and dont feel persecuted it happens all too frequently now.
Or maybe I am just too nice to people.
If you are the people above and are reading this please dont come back EVER!
Listen as far as TVR's go there are always prats who will waste your time.Well especially with TVR's. First they assume that due to bad talk(how many times have you heard - 'oh only 10k miles - how many of the back of a flatbed' hahaha)tw
ts people assume they can get a bargain cos we are all dying to get out of the trade(err..wrong!) They also think that well it is the winter months so I can get it cheaper (marginally maybe but 1000's cheaper - be lucky)
and thirdly (unfortunately) when we are selling older TVR's (mine was a 92 pre cat Griff) we are moving into diad territory - ie/ Mr sooped up Jap Crap mobile who can borrow up to £15k all of a sudden and fancies something exotic,but don't want to spend the money(usually want a free ride)
.These are the worst! when I was trying to sell mine last year I saw one decent guy who was put off by my mileage(70k) - fair enough which is why the car was only up for 12k - the rest were pondlife.
One memorable chap who had obviously recieved a blow to the back of the head with a rockhammer
that morning offered me 7k.Err hello car was pristine FSH all docs, racing pads and brakes & Mark Adams ECU
. Well he and his mate could only come up with - exhaust sounds blown (err-pre cat matey !!)
tyres are worn (err brand new two weeks ago there is the reciept donkey)
ts people assume they can get a bargain cos we are all dying to get out of the trade(err..wrong!) They also think that well it is the winter months so I can get it cheaper (marginally maybe but 1000's cheaper - be lucky) and thirdly (unfortunately) when we are selling older TVR's (mine was a 92 pre cat Griff) we are moving into diad territory - ie/ Mr sooped up Jap Crap mobile who can borrow up to £15k all of a sudden and fancies something exotic,but don't want to spend the money(usually want a free ride).These are the worst! when I was trying to sell mine last year I saw one decent guy who was put off by my mileage(70k) - fair enough which is why the car was only up for 12k - the rest were pondlife. One memorable chap who had obviously recieved a blow to the back of the head with a rockhammer that morning offered me 7k.Err hello car was pristine FSH all docs, racing pads and brakes & Mark Adams ECU. Well he and his mate could only come up with - exhaust sounds blown (err-pre cat matey !!) tyres are worn (err brand new two weeks ago there is the reciept donkey)radio is crap (err.a)who cares its a TVR b) I did hence £1.5k receipts for closure Kenwood and 12 stack CD with 8 speakers & 400W !!!!)
and oh, I don't like Blue!!! Well why did you get out of your cave then!!!The advert said 'BLUE' the picture was , stone me, BLUE 
I gave up before I ended up doing time for manslaughter and told him in no uncertain terms tp ps off and buy a MX5 then go down to Elite and buy new wheels and an exhaust with a 6" bore.
I then found THE cerbie for me and so traded it in at a dealers (got a little shafted but it was the best Cerb I had ever seen or driven)& I have never looked back. END OF
My advice save your nerves
if a dealer has the car you want P/Ex it and get on with your life - by the time you sell it privately what you want has gone 
and /or you are doing time for running some berk over repeatedly who asks 'where is the dump valve maate??'(Oh yes they did !!!!)
Happy As a Pig in Poo
Never selling my Cerb
Happy Motoring
and oh, I don't like Blue!!! Well why did you get out of your cave then!!!The advert said 'BLUE' the picture was , stone me, BLUE I gave up before I ended up doing time for manslaughter and told him in no uncertain terms tp ps off and buy a MX5 then go down to Elite and buy new wheels and an exhaust with a 6" bore. I then found THE cerbie for me and so traded it in at a dealers (got a little shafted but it was the best Cerb I had ever seen or driven)& I have never looked back. END OF My advice save your nerves if a dealer has the car you want P/Ex it and get on with your life - by the time you sell it privately what you want has gone and /or you are doing time for running some berk over repeatedly who asks 'where is the dump valve maate??'(Oh yes they did !!!!) Happy As a Pig in Poo
Never selling my Cerb
Happy Motoring
Oh, I am starting to feel better allready !!!!!!! If I could find the one I want at a dealear then I will save my nerves and p/x as I really really can't stand any more muppets and so called specialists (don't get me wrong their are some very very good specialists out their who I use and know) its the ones who happen to be mates of mates and can't find the door opener's that are driving me mad and like wise if anyones looked at buying my car and offered me Cr** money for it Don't phone, don't write do do anything just go and buy a MX girlie mobile !!!!!!
If any intended purchasers of TVR's fall into my categories above or own an MX5 - tough.Live with it.At least with an MX5 you can still have the wind in your hair (obviously only heading down a 1/3 hill)- only joking!!
Just evoked all that annoyance I had last year and I could not stop writing !!
And if the berk I described above is reading this - someone else obviously left this logged on - and licking your finger and wiping it over the top right hand corner of the screen does not turn the page for your guidance.
Just evoked all that annoyance I had last year and I could not stop writing !!
And if the berk I described above is reading this - someone else obviously left this logged on - and licking your finger and wiping it over the top right hand corner of the screen does not turn the page for your guidance.
failing all that just burn it and claim on the insurance..... 
oh god, I'm going to get flamed, I can feel it.... Casio, oops nearly called you by your correct name 
. There are lots of people out there aspiring to be TVR owners – most have the money (like the guys on here) and some don't (like the guys on here) .
But as someone has said, s/hand Chims are in the 'easily affordable with a sizeable loan' category.
And some people are going to try it on, no doubt.
Keep perserveing and you'll get a buyer at YOUR price. Look, if Chuck sold his (and to Dex at that!) yours will go. I'd have been interested myself but for me it was just a bit out of the budget.
You know when you're waiting for someopne to come and view, and a car turns up outside. You hear the doors being slammed and you take a peak through the curtain? For me, I either think, 'yeah, he looks sound' or 'Jesus, a bloody know-it-all twat who's just gonna tyre-kcik for a couple of hours. Thing is, you can't always take thwe chance ad boot 'em out – you have to stick with it. Best of luck in getting a sale which I'm sure you'll do!
Mike
. There are lots of people out there aspiring to be TVR owners – most have the money (like the guys on here) and some don't (like the guys on here) . But as someone has said, s/hand Chims are in the 'easily affordable with a sizeable loan' category.
And some people are going to try it on, no doubt.
Keep perserveing and you'll get a buyer at YOUR price. Look, if Chuck sold his (and to Dex at that!) yours will go. I'd have been interested myself but for me it was just a bit out of the budget.
You know when you're waiting for someopne to come and view, and a car turns up outside. You hear the doors being slammed and you take a peak through the curtain? For me, I either think, 'yeah, he looks sound' or 'Jesus, a bloody know-it-all twat who's just gonna tyre-kcik for a couple of hours. Thing is, you can't always take thwe chance ad boot 'em out – you have to stick with it. Best of luck in getting a sale which I'm sure you'll do!
Mike
I have experienced some people that would deserve the title of "Professional Timewaster".
I have had all types, including those who go to the trouble of taking directions to my house and then just not turning up - why oh why people just don't tell you that it's not the car for them I do not know ! Those who come along and tell me "well you're asking way too much for it mate" - it says the f+*cking price on the advert, if they think it's too expensive for them why do they come and view it in the first place !
I think my biggest problem with it is that it's my private time these people are wasting - I'm not a dealer so I don't get paid to 'entertain' these people.
I don't expect anyone to buy the first one they see, but it would be nice for people to be honest about their situation.
Rant over...
I have had all types, including those who go to the trouble of taking directions to my house and then just not turning up - why oh why people just don't tell you that it's not the car for them I do not know ! Those who come along and tell me "well you're asking way too much for it mate" - it says the f+*cking price on the advert, if they think it's too expensive for them why do they come and view it in the first place !
I think my biggest problem with it is that it's my private time these people are wasting - I'm not a dealer so I don't get paid to 'entertain' these people.
I don't expect anyone to buy the first one they see, but it would be nice for people to be honest about their situation.
Rant over...
I agree with all of the stuff below.. but you have to admit that the sellers of some vehicles (NOT meaning anyone here or associated with this website) are muppets/optimistic also...
With regards pricing on older/more unusual cars, I for one, expect to pay less than the asking price, as I always (from experience) assume the people are asking too much money. And the fact that people accept offers below their asking price only goes to perpetuate this opinion.
As mitigation I list:
Porsche 914 asking price £3200, paid £2450.
TVR S2 asking price £7000, paid £4600.
Ford Puma(from dealer) asking price £12,000, paid £10,500
If everyone asked a realistic price for their cars and stuck to it, there would be a lot less time-wasters looking for a bargain..
(I like to think that I have a good idea of what something is worth b4 I go, therefore I wouldn't have taken the pi$$ with your car like the others Casio)
Cheers
Matt.
With regards pricing on older/more unusual cars, I for one, expect to pay less than the asking price, as I always (from experience) assume the people are asking too much money. And the fact that people accept offers below their asking price only goes to perpetuate this opinion.
As mitigation I list:
Porsche 914 asking price £3200, paid £2450.
TVR S2 asking price £7000, paid £4600.
Ford Puma(from dealer) asking price £12,000, paid £10,500
If everyone asked a realistic price for their cars and stuck to it, there would be a lot less time-wasters looking for a bargain..
(I like to think that I have a good idea of what something is worth b4 I go, therefore I wouldn't have taken the pi$$ with your car like the others Casio)
Cheers
Matt.
Agreed - I parted with my Griff for 9k to the dealer who had the Cerb I wanted - so I was realistic car I really wanted vs caccola price for mine oh well.....but it does cheese you off when you see them put it up for £15k. However they never sold it and now it is £13k and still not sold so it serves them right I suppose - it was their gamble and it has not paid off. Shame cos it is a beautiful example and it would prob have sold at this price six months ago if they had not been so greedy.I am happy anyway now with this beast.
People are always going to try to get the price down a bit – human nature, buyer/seller thing.
But I wouldn't have the b*ll*cks to take the pi55 price-wise with someone's pride and joy – not the way I was brought up I'm afraid – too much respect for them and their situation.
Got my GPZ600 on the internet at present – some guy offered 55% of the asking price, along with a sob story to boot – sorry mate, suffice to say the second word was '.... off'
As long as you're all sure it's not the car that is detracting buyers of course – get a mate round to give an unbiased opinion of condition, history etc. YOU KNOW it's a good 'un but trying to get 'mr private buyer' convinced is a difficult job. Me? I bought through a franchised dealer because they were asking the virtually private sale money for the car. In fact they admitted it was underpriced (after we'd shaken hands on the deal of course)
But I wouldn't have the b*ll*cks to take the pi55 price-wise with someone's pride and joy – not the way I was brought up I'm afraid – too much respect for them and their situation.
Got my GPZ600 on the internet at present – some guy offered 55% of the asking price, along with a sob story to boot – sorry mate, suffice to say the second word was '.... off'
As long as you're all sure it's not the car that is detracting buyers of course – get a mate round to give an unbiased opinion of condition, history etc. YOU KNOW it's a good 'un but trying to get 'mr private buyer' convinced is a difficult job. Me? I bought through a franchised dealer because they were asking the virtually private sale money for the car. In fact they admitted it was underpriced (after we'd shaken hands on the deal of course
)quote:
But I wouldn't have the b*ll*cks to take the pi55 price-wise with someone's pride and joy – not the way I was brought up I'm afraid – too much respect for them and their situation.
Yeah but how do you know they aren't taking the piss themselves...?? ..and as for their situation, it is one of someone wanting to sell something, not a childrens charity auction
quote:
Yeah but how do you know they aren't taking the piss themselves...?? ..and as for their situation, it is one of someone wanting to sell something, not a childrens charity auction
Think I'm intelligent enough to know if they're taking the pi55 pricewise otherwise I wouldn't even be there in the first place
Also, by' their situation' I mean you can tell if they will shift a bit on the price just from general chit chat – didn't mean I had sympathy for them
>> Edited by MikeyT on Thursday 14th March 15:28
Casio,
I guess one of these is me then....
I can't put my finger on which prospective buyer I am, inasmuch as although I didn't make you an offer yesterday, I did pick out the faults you attributed to buyer 2, and I also brought along a TVR expert to have it checked out as did buyer 3 Although I don't think he had the door opening trouble you mention.
I will try and address the second part, and hopefully make you feel a little better.
I was indeed a genuine buyer, and have a had a look at a few similar cars over the last couple of weeks. Yesterday after covering some 400 miles looking at cars, my wife and I settled on a similar car from Brooklands in Exeter. It's being delivered this Saturday.
The car I bought was around the same age, a little more expensive, a slightly different colour and trim. I am sure you would agree that buying a TVR is an emotional decision, and I'm afraid yours just wasn't the one for us at that time. I do wish you well in your efforts to sell your car, your chances can only improve along with the weather.
I guess one of these is me then....
quote:
1st offered me £13,000 for the car after I had explained my dealer would give me £16,500 cash !!!!!
2nd Offered £14,500 as it needed so much work (front end respray, two wishbones (debatable) and some stitching on the rear screen £145 from Peninsular
3rd Brought "THE EXPERT" who you guessed it didn't know a thing about TVR'S not even how to open the doors on a phase two car !!!!!
My only question is this normal or is this just a one off answers on a post card (or on the forum)
Someone make me feel better please
I can't put my finger on which prospective buyer I am, inasmuch as although I didn't make you an offer yesterday, I did pick out the faults you attributed to buyer 2, and I also brought along a TVR expert to have it checked out as did buyer 3 Although I don't think he had the door opening trouble you mention.
I will try and address the second part, and hopefully make you feel a little better.
I was indeed a genuine buyer, and have a had a look at a few similar cars over the last couple of weeks. Yesterday after covering some 400 miles looking at cars, my wife and I settled on a similar car from Brooklands in Exeter. It's being delivered this Saturday.
The car I bought was around the same age, a little more expensive, a slightly different colour and trim. I am sure you would agree that buying a TVR is an emotional decision, and I'm afraid yours just wasn't the one for us at that time. I do wish you well in your efforts to sell your car, your chances can only improve along with the weather.
quote:
Mikey,
As the Mrs is now sick of her FZR400 and the weather is still not good enough to warrant her taking the 996 out of the acres of plastic its stored under, what age and how much is your GPZ600 up for?
Matt.
Matt, it's an old 'un (1986) , genuine 13,000 miles from new and up for only £900! Wouldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding tho'
quote:
quote:
Yeah but how do you know they aren't taking the piss themselves...?? ..and as for their situation, it is one of someone wanting to sell something, not a childrens charity auction
Think I'm intelligent enough to know if they're taking the pi55 pricewise otherwise I wouldn't even be there in the first place
Hey Mikey I wasn't meaning it like that.. I just meant that when you get somewhere to look at a car, whether it's immaculate or not, they might be being optimistic with the price which you wouldn't know till you got there.. therefore there is this room for manouvre on price which propogates the "myth" that everyone asks for more than they expect to get for their cars...
Matt.
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