Looking for 1st TVR
Discussion
Hi all,
I've had an Alfa Spider Twin Spark for a couple of years, but now looking to get a TVR - a childhood dream of mine.
I have a couple of questions though, which I hope you might entertain me with (reasonably) sensible answers!
1. Should I spend £500 on hiring a Chimaera for a weekend before buying one?
2. Is £10k a big enough budget for a Chim in decent working order (w/ PAS, 1998-onwards, FSH)?
3. What are the main things to look out for when looking around?
4. Anyone in London fancy showing their one off to me one evening/weekend?!
Cheers all, and all the best for 2013!
Jon
I've had an Alfa Spider Twin Spark for a couple of years, but now looking to get a TVR - a childhood dream of mine.
I have a couple of questions though, which I hope you might entertain me with (reasonably) sensible answers!
1. Should I spend £500 on hiring a Chimaera for a weekend before buying one?
2. Is £10k a big enough budget for a Chim in decent working order (w/ PAS, 1998-onwards, FSH)?
3. What are the main things to look out for when looking around?
4. Anyone in London fancy showing their one off to me one evening/weekend?!
Cheers all, and all the best for 2013!
Jon
Hi jon, The main things to look for are; Chassis and outriggers for rust( if you can find one thats had refurb it would be more peace of mind). mechanicals like oil pressue etc and make sure all the electrics work. If you can find one with full history thats a plus point. Price would depend on model, i would have thought that on your budget you should be able to get a sorted 400, and a 500 that may need some tlc.
This is the time to buy but please go into it with your eyes wide open, i would hate for you to buy the first one you look at cos' "it looks really nice" and you spend the first 6 Months underneath it or forking out for others to repair. There is a detailed buyers guide on the Chimaera pages i believe.
Im sure others will be along shortly to help you more and point you in the right direction.
If you can find an owner to go with you to look at them then thats a bit more knowledge and another pair of eyes.
Good luck, and you will enjoy it, i promise.
hth
Jamie
This is the time to buy but please go into it with your eyes wide open, i would hate for you to buy the first one you look at cos' "it looks really nice" and you spend the first 6 Months underneath it or forking out for others to repair. There is a detailed buyers guide on the Chimaera pages i believe.
Im sure others will be along shortly to help you more and point you in the right direction.
If you can find an owner to go with you to look at them then thats a bit more knowledge and another pair of eyes.
Good luck, and you will enjoy it, i promise.
hth
Jamie
I knew from the first drive that I wanted one so get out there and view as many as possible, you will be able to tell which cars are spot on and those that are not.
I brought mine for £9K from a specialist and it didnt need for much so £10K will buy you a good one.
Do it, I took mine out for a 20min blast at lunch and it never fails to put a smile on my face.
I brought mine for £9K from a specialist and it didnt need for much so £10K will buy you a good one.
Do it, I took mine out for a 20min blast at lunch and it never fails to put a smile on my face.
John im in Tottenham for work and stansted for home, would be happy to meet up some time over the weekend weather permitting.
just to keep you going , here a couple of You tubes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsKvGnfypVQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZnJGT_QUZg
just to keep you going , here a couple of You tubes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsKvGnfypVQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZnJGT_QUZg
Once you've identified a car that's a good candidate, I would strongly recommend getting an independent inspection. The trouble with these cars is that the problems can be difficult to spot: outrigger rot being a good example because they tend to rot on the top where you can't see. An experienced person stands a better chance of spotting this sort of thing, although it's still no guarantee.
I used Rob Ingleby. He gave the car I was looking at a glowing report, apart from - you guessed it - outrigger issues. I negotiated with the seller, and we settled on a price that took into account the doubts over the outriggers. I could have just used the price drop to fund an outrigger replacement, but I decided to spend a little extra and had a full body-off chassis restoration done. Sure enough the outriggers were fairly bad and would have disintegrated in a few years' time.
Chassis rot is fixable on these cars, especially because it's a body-and-chassis design rather than a monocoque. So if you find the perfect car that needs some chassis work, don't necessarily walk away until you've tried negotiating with the seller, as I did.
I used Rob Ingleby. He gave the car I was looking at a glowing report, apart from - you guessed it - outrigger issues. I negotiated with the seller, and we settled on a price that took into account the doubts over the outriggers. I could have just used the price drop to fund an outrigger replacement, but I decided to spend a little extra and had a full body-off chassis restoration done. Sure enough the outriggers were fairly bad and would have disintegrated in a few years' time.
Chassis rot is fixable on these cars, especially because it's a body-and-chassis design rather than a monocoque. So if you find the perfect car that needs some chassis work, don't necessarily walk away until you've tried negotiating with the seller, as I did.
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
Once you've identified a car that's a good candidate, I would strongly recommend getting an independent inspection. The trouble with these cars is that the problems can be difficult to spot: outrigger rot being a good example because they tend to rot on the top where you can't see. An experienced person stands a better chance of spotting this sort of thing, although it's still no guarantee.
I used Rob Ingleby. He gave the car I was looking at a glowing report, apart from - you guessed it - outrigger issues. I negotiated with the seller, and we settled on a price that took into account the doubts over the outriggers. I could have just used the price drop to fund an outrigger replacement, but I decided to spend a little extra and had a full body-off chassis restoration done. Sure enough the outriggers were fairly bad and would have disintegrated in a few years' time.
Chassis rot is fixable on these cars, especially because it's a body-and-chassis design rather than a monocoque. So if you find the perfect car that needs some chassis work, don't necessarily walk away until you've tried negotiating with the seller, as I did.
I used Rob on a car that was on ebay and looked spot on until he gave me his report. It was money well spent and allowed me to decide which car to buy (not the ebay one) I used Rob Ingleby. He gave the car I was looking at a glowing report, apart from - you guessed it - outrigger issues. I negotiated with the seller, and we settled on a price that took into account the doubts over the outriggers. I could have just used the price drop to fund an outrigger replacement, but I decided to spend a little extra and had a full body-off chassis restoration done. Sure enough the outriggers were fairly bad and would have disintegrated in a few years' time.
Chassis rot is fixable on these cars, especially because it's a body-and-chassis design rather than a monocoque. So if you find the perfect car that needs some chassis work, don't necessarily walk away until you've tried negotiating with the seller, as I did.
+1 for Rob Ingleby. (He inspected my car, so I bought with eyes wide open.) Best advice on here is for the independant check, by a country mile. The resulting report will act as a good negotiating tool with the vendor and will almost certainly save you money, in excess of the cost of the report.
Rob is a super nice guy and does a very thorough job. You won't be diappointed. If you're completeley clueless but want the best car available for the price he also does his 'full finding service' up and down the country. Probably the best service of its type. I was sorely tempted myeself as it was my first TVR but found my 'dream car' myself in the end and had it inspected. (I went with a friend who already had a similar car so here's another good bit of advice) Rob knows what he's talking about!
Rob is a super nice guy and does a very thorough job. You won't be diappointed. If you're completeley clueless but want the best car available for the price he also does his 'full finding service' up and down the country. Probably the best service of its type. I was sorely tempted myeself as it was my first TVR but found my 'dream car' myself in the end and had it inspected. (I went with a friend who already had a similar car so here's another good bit of advice) Rob knows what he's talking about!
Definitely worth giving James Agger a call. I bought my second Chim from him and it was just hugely better all round than the first one. I sold it for £10k
http://www.flickr.com/photos/binaryimage/sets/7215...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/binaryimage/sets/7215...
Jon
All said above.....just be aware that the chassis problems can cost £4000+ to fix, the engines are pretty reliable, but there will be niggles, so it is important to get a well sorted one. Buying privately can be fraught, but buying from another Pistonheads member can make it an easier process.
As said above, find yourself a TVR specialist before you start and enlist their help in choosing a good one. I have stood under a car on a ramp with my specialist. All looked fine to me, but he showed me where the (invisible to me) rust was on top of the outriggers - he had the car in for a full outrigger replacement
Try to get a car with a reasonable mileage - under 50,000 if you can. Be wary of cars with less than 20,000 miles only - they won't have been used and that's not good for them. Good service history and a thick wad of invoices is good as always, especially if it has been looked after by a TVR expert.
And at this time of year it is useful to check for damp carpets, especially behind the seats, if the car has been left outside - it can tell you a fair bit about how good the seals are.
A good 400 is better than a rough 500 or 450. On road use you will be unlikely to use all the power of even a 400.
All said above.....just be aware that the chassis problems can cost £4000+ to fix, the engines are pretty reliable, but there will be niggles, so it is important to get a well sorted one. Buying privately can be fraught, but buying from another Pistonheads member can make it an easier process.
As said above, find yourself a TVR specialist before you start and enlist their help in choosing a good one. I have stood under a car on a ramp with my specialist. All looked fine to me, but he showed me where the (invisible to me) rust was on top of the outriggers - he had the car in for a full outrigger replacement
Try to get a car with a reasonable mileage - under 50,000 if you can. Be wary of cars with less than 20,000 miles only - they won't have been used and that's not good for them. Good service history and a thick wad of invoices is good as always, especially if it has been looked after by a TVR expert.
And at this time of year it is useful to check for damp carpets, especially behind the seats, if the car has been left outside - it can tell you a fair bit about how good the seals are.
A good 400 is better than a rough 500 or 450. On road use you will be unlikely to use all the power of even a 400.
Chimaeraman said:
Worth having a look at Bespoke Performance in Ware, Herts. They are basically The TVR Centre who for many years were Barnet based. Bought mine there in April last year - they are not cheap but they only sell fully sorted cars with FSH and you get a warranty.
+1 for Bespoke. You couldn't meet a nicer bunch, and they've been in the business a long time.
AA cover with homestart & Parts and garage cover has been very good to me.
Basically, if it breaks down, they will tow me to the specialist TVR garage, and pay up-to £465 of the bill. Already paid for an alternator. And the local AA guy knows me by name. Well worth it.
He asked why I have bought the three most unreliable cars possible.
Basically, if it breaks down, they will tow me to the specialist TVR garage, and pay up-to £465 of the bill. Already paid for an alternator. And the local AA guy knows me by name. Well worth it.
He asked why I have bought the three most unreliable cars possible.
Thanks guys. This is all very encouraging indeed, and a great testament to the PH forums!
I am very keen to get out to have a look at a few 'specimen'! However, my Alfa is heading into the garage on Tuesday for some work (I changed the spark plugs due to some 'kangarooing' with the engine... and now it is much worse! - I think my Alfa knows I'm coveting another marque!).
So, hopefully I'll be back with wheels in 2 weeks, and have plans to get to Fernhursts and possibly Kerridges.
@ miniman - thanks for the info and the pictures...
@ lestershaw and TV8 - gents, extremely kind of you both. I'll drop you a PM/email about potential dates/times.
I am very keen to get out to have a look at a few 'specimen'! However, my Alfa is heading into the garage on Tuesday for some work (I changed the spark plugs due to some 'kangarooing' with the engine... and now it is much worse! - I think my Alfa knows I'm coveting another marque!).
So, hopefully I'll be back with wheels in 2 weeks, and have plans to get to Fernhursts and possibly Kerridges.
@ miniman - thanks for the info and the pictures...
@ lestershaw and TV8 - gents, extremely kind of you both. I'll drop you a PM/email about potential dates/times.
Hi again,
Does this belong to anyone on here?
S361 EGJ
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
Cheers
Jon
Does this belong to anyone on here?
S361 EGJ
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...
Cheers
Jon
Quietlybonkers said:
Jon
All said above.....just be aware that the chassis problems can cost £4000+ to fix
Really? !! ......unless the complete chassis is scrap which is unlikely, then costs are far lower, outriggers can be replaced body off for £1700 at several independents and those generally are the common bits that need attention, if you are wanting to do a complete chassis refurb then obviously costs are higher, but if you look at are a car that needs more than outrigger attention id look elsewhere unless it's very cheap, and you prefer working on it more than driving.-All said above.....just be aware that the chassis problems can cost £4000+ to fix
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