Discussion
I've had a Chim 500HC for 2 years and loved (almost) every minute of it. The friendliness of other owners, the reaction of members of the fairer sex and of course the power of the car itself have all been, well, breathtaking. Having been well and truly bitten by the bug I cannot imagine owning a sportscar other than TVR, working all along on the premise that I'd be heading for a Tuscan S by next summer. However a change of circumstance has meant that I'm forced to confront that most dreaded of TVR experiences - selling it. The last 2 years have proven to me that most of the perceptions of TVR are exaggerated - the car has been very reliable (only a faulty water pump) and usable (commuting and a 1800 mile jaunt in 5 days to Germany) The one thing I was not prepared for was how hard it would be to sell - I’ve advertised on Pistonheads, Exchange & Mart and Autotrader with 3 responses in 2 months. I understand the fact that selling a specialist sportscar in the run up to Christmas in the early days of a possible recession is not the best idea in the world but 3 interested people.... (excluding the 8 advertising canvassers, the very pleasant lady who tried to sell me a subscription to a magazine on selling cars – maybe I should subscribe, and the muppet who thought I’d want to part exchange it for a TT. A f***ing TT) Incidentally 2 of the genuine responses were from Pistonheads – thanks PetrolTed.
My point is… well I don’t have one – it does say ‘whinge’ in the header – I don’t need a point, but its very frustrating to end (attempt to end) my ownership of the car on a low note.
My point is… well I don’t have one – it does say ‘whinge’ in the header – I don’t need a point, but its very frustrating to end (attempt to end) my ownership of the car on a low note.
Ben, I'm with you on this one.......
Most of us have bought TVRs for their performance, sound, looks, etc. not their residuals. But when the time comes to buy another it's very frustrating to learn how much your car's depreciated! It just makes the next car even more expensive!
I bought a used Chimarea on 02/99 and am due to get my new Tamora next Feb. I've put the chimaera in Sprint for 3 months with no replies! (Yes, it was advertised cheap!). I'll start advertising it in earnest in Jan, ie. Top Marques and PistonHeads, but don't really expect to sell it! This means I'll be forced to take the meagre price that my dealer's offering!
And what makes it worse is that like you I've used the car daily with absolutely no problems!
Cheers...... Andrew
Most of us have bought TVRs for their performance, sound, looks, etc. not their residuals. But when the time comes to buy another it's very frustrating to learn how much your car's depreciated! It just makes the next car even more expensive!
I bought a used Chimarea on 02/99 and am due to get my new Tamora next Feb. I've put the chimaera in Sprint for 3 months with no replies! (Yes, it was advertised cheap!). I'll start advertising it in earnest in Jan, ie. Top Marques and PistonHeads, but don't really expect to sell it! This means I'll be forced to take the meagre price that my dealer's offering!
And what makes it worse is that like you I've used the car daily with absolutely no problems!
Cheers...... Andrew
Agree with the general sentiment but as a bloke still to buy his first TVR, I'm sadly for you, looking at it from another perspective.
I'm constantly looking at the ads on PHeads, Autotrader, Top Marques, Adrian Blyth's website etc, and just judging prices generally. I'm doing this until I buy my Chim which will probably be about Mar/April time (and also when I've sold the Mustang).
The factors are: Sports car, so limited market anyway, TVR (so even less of a market) And by that I mean your normal sports car buyer ie MX5, MGF etc would expect to run it every day and before I get flamed for saying you can't run one every day, I am looking from it from my perspective and I cetainly won't be running mine every day because I cannot afford to buy it, run it, then trade it in in another couple of years, I'm buying this for the next ten years or so, so can't run it every day otherwise it will be knackered within five (if I'm lucky). Sept 11 atrocities affecting confidence in the future, Winter (comes once a year).
I don't think TVR residuals are brillaint but that's life. If depreciation is a worry, buy something else.
It's us s/hand buyers who are glad there are guys out there rich enough to be able to afford them and suffer the depreciation when new, cos I certainly can't, it's gonna nearly break the bank just to buy, service and run the thing in the first place.
But I've still gotta have one. I've just given up a 30 a day habit to get me nearer to my dream, which incidentally, will pay for my annual insurance and servicing costs – and if I'm gonna do that – I'm bloody serious OK.
The buyers are out there, but you've got to be realistic guys, you're not going to get top dollar at the moment.
Mike
TVR owner one day soon
Edited by MikeyT on Thursday 13th December 12:14
I'm constantly looking at the ads on PHeads, Autotrader, Top Marques, Adrian Blyth's website etc, and just judging prices generally. I'm doing this until I buy my Chim which will probably be about Mar/April time (and also when I've sold the Mustang).
The factors are: Sports car, so limited market anyway, TVR (so even less of a market) And by that I mean your normal sports car buyer ie MX5, MGF etc would expect to run it every day and before I get flamed for saying you can't run one every day, I am looking from it from my perspective and I cetainly won't be running mine every day because I cannot afford to buy it, run it, then trade it in in another couple of years, I'm buying this for the next ten years or so, so can't run it every day otherwise it will be knackered within five (if I'm lucky). Sept 11 atrocities affecting confidence in the future, Winter (comes once a year).
I don't think TVR residuals are brillaint but that's life. If depreciation is a worry, buy something else.
It's us s/hand buyers who are glad there are guys out there rich enough to be able to afford them and suffer the depreciation when new, cos I certainly can't, it's gonna nearly break the bank just to buy, service and run the thing in the first place.
But I've still gotta have one. I've just given up a 30 a day habit to get me nearer to my dream, which incidentally, will pay for my annual insurance and servicing costs – and if I'm gonna do that – I'm bloody serious OK.
The buyers are out there, but you've got to be realistic guys, you're not going to get top dollar at the moment.
Mike
TVR owner one day soon
Edited by MikeyT on Thursday 13th December 12:14
quote:
But I've still gotta have one. I've just given up a 30 a day habit to get me nearer to my dream, which incidentally, will pay for my annual insurance and servicing costs – and if I'm gonna do that – I'm bloody serious OK.
Blimey! Now thats what I call commitment!
I bow down to your PetrolHeadedness (?!?) Mike
Matt.
quote:
Most of us have bought TVRs for their performance, sound, looks, etc. not their residuals.
Absolutely, I bought the car knowing full well the cost of ownership – insurance, fuel and depreciation – being prepared for it doesn’t make the reality any easier to take.
Having spent the morning calling around most of the dealers in the South of England the main feeling I have got is one of absolute antipathy. I understand that demand from us punters pushes supply but I'd at least expect the dealers to be helpful - notable exceptions here were Simon at Fernhurst and Paul at Mole Valley, the latter a man imbued with the TVR spirit, helpful and interested with a free dose of sympathy thrown in.
To be honest this experience has shaken my desire of TVRs to the core, it might sound overly melodramatic but at the moment, for the first time since I was bitten by the bug 10 years ago, I can't see myself owning another. I hope the phase will pass but at the end of the day however much the emotional pull of a TVR when that relates (as it does now) to being lumbered with a tangible asset that isn’t tangible, it creates one hell of a doubt in your mind over buying another.
So its off to Fernhurst tomorrow am to get what I can for it. If anyone wants a 96P 500HC with 29k on the clock for £15k you have till then or the dealer gets it.
Ben
quote:
The buyers are out there, but you've got to be realistic guys, you're not going to get top dollar at the moment.
Not in my experience they're not. As for the asking price, I've never asked for 'top dollar' all I want is a fair price. As I'm not going to get that I'll take literally anything. £15k for a 5 year old, 350 bhp, 0-60 in 4 seconds sportscar is a steal. How much more realistic can I get?
Just to add insult to injury - I think it also depends on the type of Tiv you're trying to sell (of the new ones!). There are a lot more Chims produced hence for sale. I had a griff 500 and sold it quite quickly (thro pistonheads!). I now have a 4.5 cerby for the next 18months and envisage selling quite easily because I chose the 4.5. Not sure what I'll have next though!
Mikey T...wish I had met someone like you when I sold my Pre Cat Griff..it was pristine...and I let it go for a song as I was impatient for my 4.5 Cerbie....oh well....it was a snip for the dealer at 9k !!!! And now Henley have it up for 15k....I'm a mug and that's a pisstake but life goes on and the Cerbie is FANNYtastic....
quote:
Mikey T...wish I had met someone like you when I sold my Pre Cat Griff..it was pristine...and I let it go for a song as I was impatient for my 4.5 Cerbie....oh well....it was a snip for the dealer at 9k !!!! And now Henley have it up for 15k....I'm a mug and that's a pisstake but life goes on and the Cerbie is FANNYtastic....
Fraser – 9k? That's terrible.
Did you have it on the site here for sale? Must have broken your heart to trade it in for that.
Mind you, I bet it soon mended itself when you blasted off in the Cerb ...
TVR owner one day soon
Yep...Had it on here for 13k then 12k then got impatient as I found there Cerbie I wanted in Halcyon Atlantis which is pretty rare and it was a sorted car so I thought b*ll*cks do it.....I like making on the spot decisions....and so far I have no regrets....whoever buys my old Griff is a lucky sod as it is bulletproof and in great nick...however, whoever buys it now could have had it3k cheaper in October...oh well....its only money and there are no pockets in a shroud....
The truth is you have to compeat on price.
I advertised mine on Piston heads and ixm and autotrader and had about three responses per day.
Make sure you have a good picture and discribe the car well.
I sold mine in three weeks, so it can be done with out to much trouble. I am still getting 1-2 emails per week asking if it is still around.
:-)
SamN
I advertised mine on Piston heads and ixm and autotrader and had about three responses per day.
Make sure you have a good picture and discribe the car well.
I sold mine in three weeks, so it can be done with out to much trouble. I am still getting 1-2 emails per week asking if it is still around.
:-)
SamN
Unfortunately its a buyers market especially at this time of the year. I bought mine Oct 2000 through Auto Trader web site. At the time prices were coming down and I was able to negotiate the price down by 2K. It might have been different though in the spring or summer. Best of luck its sounds a great buy for someone!
Unfortunately for my impatience I had about six enquiries the week after I part exed it doh!!!! But who knows the Cerbie could well have been sold by then and it was exactly what i was looking for...nice light 3 grey interior and a stunning green/blue flip flop colour with on 14k on the clock.....and I have not stopped grinning since I bought it...so I would say I have recovered from the initial pain of letting it go so cheap...did anyone else feel a twang of guilt letting their first TVR go given the amount of pleasure it introduced us to in the marque??? Sounds a bit gay but I did...still feel guilty seeing it on their website now sitting in a showroom when it is just dying to be roared around in by a new owner.....if anyone is looking for a pre cat Griff look at HH website and there she is.....bloody loud chipped by Mark Adams in Cobalt blue with 73k...be nice to know that she goes to a decent owner so let me know if any of you lot buy it !!
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