Looking for 1st TVR

[Chilliman]

jonrudling said:

Hi again,

Does this belong to anyone on here?
S361 EGJ
http://www.classiccarsforsale.co.uk/classic-car-pa...

Cheers
Jon

Jon, looks stunning... clearly a top notch example, but, if you shop around, you'll get a good 450 for that money at the moment...

Chilli

[semaj]

Definitely a big thumbs up for Rob Ingleby.

He helped me lots in finding a good Chimaera.

I eventually found a really nice 400 which he then inspected and found to be in great condition.

This was later confirmed at the first service with David Gerald.


One other comment re checking for outrigger rust - Ferhurst tell me that they use an endescope type device for looking into areas not normally visible.

[macca]

That would seem to be a well sorted car. Yes, its 450 money but you may struggle to get a 450 with all that work done for the same price - looks like he'll take the best offer too. Personally, I would not go for a 400 simply because the 450 or 500 would eventually beckon (got a 500 now and had a 450 years ago). However, all said and done, first TVR... maybe something to cut your teeth on?

[jonrudling]

Ha... yes, the desire for the 450 or a 500 I'm sure would eventually come along. However, my insurance quotes on the 400 are approaching £1700!!

[Chilliman]

jonrudling said:

Ha... yes, the desire for the 450 or a 500 I'm sure would eventually come along. However, my insurance quotes on the 400 are approaching £1700!!

Are you still at skool Jon?

[Quietlybonkers]

Chilliman said:

jonrudling said:

Ha... yes, the desire for the 450 or a 500 I'm sure would eventually come along. However, my insurance quotes on the 400 are approaching £1700!!

Are you still at skool Jon?

Jon, you need to find one of the classic/sports car insurers to get a sensible quote. Mannings, Adrian Flux, are two and there are quite a few others. Premiums are generally £250 to £600, even for younger drivers. If you already have bans, or 9 points, or three accidents in the last six weeks, you might struggle, but if your record is clean or close to it you should be able to get a sensible quote fom one of the specialists.

[rigga]

Agreed generally insurance on these as a second car isn't too bad as long as your insurable in the first place, good place to start is here

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[jonrudling]

Chilliman said:

Are you still at skool Jon?

Ha.. nope.. just live in Central London (E1W - so slightly East London! )

Have had a few cars now, but went about 5 years without a car (because London transport is so reliable, right?!).. then got the Alfa: First year insurance @ £1600... now at £700!
I'm 29 this month, with 3 points (SP30) from 2011, no criminal record, live with the missus, but guess my Essex heritage might push premiums up!

[Quietlybonkers]

jonrudling said:

Chilliman said:

Are you still at skool Jon?

Ha.. nope.. just live in Central London (E1W - so slightly East London! )

Have had a few cars now, but went about 5 years without a car (because London transport is so reliable, right?!).. then got the Alfa: First year insurance @ £1600... now at £700!
I'm 29 this month, with 3 points (SP30) from 2011, no criminal record, live with the missus, but guess my Essex heritage might push premiums up!

Classic policies don't need a no claims discount - makes all the difference. Are you planning on keeping your Chimaera in a garage? I really needs to be under cover in winter. Garage will reduce the toe rag element of your premium.

[TA14]

jonrudling said:

Ha... yes, the desire for the 450 or a 500 I'm sure would eventually come along. However, my insurance quotes on the 400 are approaching £1700!!

The 450 and 500 premiums may not be any different.

[prettyboyben]

Hi Jon, one more offer of a trip in a chim. Mines a 400 and I'm in islington. By the way, I'm 31 and pay just under 400 quid for insurance so I think shopping round would be very wise!

[quattrophenia]

jonrudling said:

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

Hi Jon, I haven't gone through everyone elses answers so appologies if I repeat myself.

1. You may struggle to hire a Chim these days. I always wanted a Chim and to be honest knew it was the car for me, but just to confirm it I did see a Chim for hire over in Ruthin in north Wales for around £200 with unlimited miles (need I say more). Neadless to say the only thing the test confirmed was that I needed a Chim within the next few months as apposed to years!!

2. 10K is a good budget and will give you options for either a 400/430/450 or even a 500 if your lucky. The TVR experience can be had with any engine option and the 400 I hired was brilliant. So buy on condition (numerous buyers guides on here to save me repeating them).

3. You are on the right track with this one if you achive your 4th question. Meet a few owners who will tell you how it is. If you ask dealers or private sellers they may just tell you what you want to hear. Get a car on the ramps if you can and get someone to point out the areas of the chassis that will cause you problems. Go into ownership with an open mind, these cars will need servicing correctly and as some are approaching 20 years old now even good cars will need some TLC. (See 'my garage' for my Chim experiences over the last 3 years). I looked at it on a practical level. I knew I had to scratch the itch of ownership. I bought the best one I could find/afford and if things didn't work out after a year or 2 I was prepared to cut my losses and sell up. Ownership has actually been a dream so far and almost all the money I have spent on bits for the car (£1500 over 3 years) has been on cosmetic improvements and piece of mind as opposed to mechanical failures.

4. I'm in Cheshire I'm afraid but you wont have a problem meeting up with an owner in the south east, just make sure you do meet a few owners. Information really is power (so are dirty great rover Vee8's) as they say.

There are a lot of cars out there at the moment and prices are fairly good, it's a buyers market so stick to your guns and haggle a bit.

[edo]

£10k should be enough.

Go and see the boys at Fernhurst (and if you do, pop in and see my Chim 500 I am 5 mins from them).

I'm sure they will let you have an extended test drive. well worth the travel to see them they probably have the biggest collection of cars so you can work out what you want.

Tell Simon or Drew I sent you.

http://www.fernhurst-tvr.co.uk/ (My car is the Red one on their front page!)

Ed

[chris1972]

edo said:

£10k should be enough.

Go and see the boys at Fernhurst (and if you do, pop in and see my Chim 500 I am 5 mins from them).

I'm sure they will let you have an extended test drive. well worth the travel to see them they probably have the biggest collection of cars so you can work out what you want.

Tell Simon or Drew I sent you.

http://www.fernhurst-tvr.co.uk/ (My car is the Red one on their front page!)

Ed

+1. They are pretty upfront and very helpful. I bought my 500 off them last month. It is a good place to start for your first one as there are lots to compare against.

[s p a c e m a n]

I'm in East London with 6 points from an MS90 and only a years no claims. Leaving a chim on the road got me quotes on the internet of around £1k, phoned one up and on a classic policy with unlimited mileage it was £800ish. You shouldnt struggle if you shop around

[chris1972]

s p a c e m a n said:

I'm in East London with 6 points from an MS90 and only a years no claims. Leaving a chim on the road got me quotes on the internet of around £1k, phoned one up and on a classic policy with unlimited mileage it was £800ish. You shouldnt struggle if you shop around

MS90, we can't prove who it is, so we'll double the points to compensate. Bs.

[s p a c e m a n]

They're only doubling the points if you would have got 3. If you happened to forget that you wasn't on a private race track just ending up with 6 is a bonus, so I hear.

[ronvug]

hi jon , i bought my 400 chim from racing green at ash vale gu125qd ,could of spent the day there looking at all those grear cars , anyway really helpfull guys and they have been around for a while now ( racing green that is ) anyway good luck mate you wont regret getting one

[jonrudling]

OK - despite the snow and the cold weather, I am hoping to go view a car on Wednesday 30th.
Am very tempted on this one, as previous owners seem pretty sound.
However, this would be the first one I see.... so do I scrap around to try and view some before then? Or say "bugger it" and assess on the day?

I've got a list of things to look at/check for. The only things that worry me are:
- The battery (how best to check that it is in order? Take a multi-meter? What reading am I looking for?)
- The number of keys and fobs that should be present
- Fit of the hood... i suspect pouring a bucket of water over the top would be a faux-pas in the forecourt?!

Cheers for your continued help all... (my birthday on the 26th... so am very keen on 'treating myself'!)

JR

[edo]

If it is on the original alarm, it WILL need replacing at some point. It's crap, wired wrong, badly setup etc etc.

Chassis, Chassis, Outriggers, Chassis. Spend as long under the car as looking at the shiny bits.

Paint. Many have had paint, make sure the paint doesnt have micro-blisters, and matches panel to panel.

Carpets. Most carpets fade - so red becomes pink etc. Check for saggy seats and worrn leather.

Check ALL electrics work. Take of roof panel and check condition of edges - they get battered going in and out of the car.