To keep or not to keep?
Discussion
Well, as far as the car is concerned I think I have made a decision to let this go, probably in spring.
It's been a great time, an interesting journey and an interest that has generated many friends but circumstances have changed and I need an easier life for now.
The question isn't whether to keep the car but what is the consensus of opinion regarding the rollbar and the non-standard reupholstered Elise seats?
I can easily remove the rollbar and fit the excellent condition cream leather seats which will give the car a pretty much fairly standard if not slightly enhanced look and my guess is that this would appeal to more potential buyers.
My thoughts are that if I leave the rollbar and the more, "hugging "Elise" seats fitted it would appeal to a much smaller demograph.
So, leave alone and give a more, "sporting " look and appearance, ultimately for more spirited driving. Alternatively remove the rollbar and refit the standard seats for a very nice looking car.
Just to refresh peoples memories, this is probably the fastest NA chimaera, (said in a Clarkson voice) "in the world ".
If it is going back to the more standard look, this miserable winter is the time to do it!
Your thoughts?
It's been a great time, an interesting journey and an interest that has generated many friends but circumstances have changed and I need an easier life for now.
The question isn't whether to keep the car but what is the consensus of opinion regarding the rollbar and the non-standard reupholstered Elise seats?
I can easily remove the rollbar and fit the excellent condition cream leather seats which will give the car a pretty much fairly standard if not slightly enhanced look and my guess is that this would appeal to more potential buyers.
My thoughts are that if I leave the rollbar and the more, "hugging "Elise" seats fitted it would appeal to a much smaller demograph.
So, leave alone and give a more, "sporting " look and appearance, ultimately for more spirited driving. Alternatively remove the rollbar and refit the standard seats for a very nice looking car.
Just to refresh peoples memories, this is probably the fastest NA chimaera, (said in a Clarkson voice) "in the world ".
If it is going back to the more standard look, this miserable winter is the time to do it!
Your thoughts?
seat looks nice...rollbar looks ugly.
i would remove both for the sales advert....and would not mention anything in the advert about those items...even not as options.
why?
potential buyers may get dis-attracted, because they may think "modified for sportier driving....mabye track use...maybe the owner was driving like a fool, reving the engine..maybe the car is also modified in other areas.....etc..."
advertize it original....remove all the pics here in the thread....and sell the parts seperately / afterwards.....
i would remove both for the sales advert....and would not mention anything in the advert about those items...even not as options.
why?
potential buyers may get dis-attracted, because they may think "modified for sportier driving....mabye track use...maybe the owner was driving like a fool, reving the engine..maybe the car is also modified in other areas.....etc..."
advertize it original....remove all the pics here in the thread....and sell the parts seperately / afterwards.....
GinG15 said:
seat looks nice...rollbar looks ugly.
i would remove both for the sales advert....and would not mention anything in the advert about those items...even not as options.
why?
potential buyers may get dis-attracted, because they may think "modified for sportier driving....mabye track use...maybe the owner was driving like a fool, reving the engine..maybe the car is also modified in other areas.....etc..."
advertize it original....remove all the pics here in the thread....and sell the parts seperately / afterwards.....
That is in line with my thinking at the mo........i would remove both for the sales advert....and would not mention anything in the advert about those items...even not as options.
why?
potential buyers may get dis-attracted, because they may think "modified for sportier driving....mabye track use...maybe the owner was driving like a fool, reving the engine..maybe the car is also modified in other areas.....etc..."
advertize it original....remove all the pics here in the thread....and sell the parts seperately / afterwards.....
Hi Peter,
Sorry to hear you're selling but I do understand your reasons, in very different ways to achieve rather different goals you and I have both altered our Chimaeras from original spec, we did so becuase we know they are one of the few cars you can actually genuinely make better than factory spec and in the knowlege it's not always the best approach to turn a profit or achieve a quick sale, but because we werent looking to sell at the time this was never a concern.
Creating the Chimaera we wanted for our own specific needs was our goal, however when it comes time to sell such cars the challenge becomes convincing the buyer a properly enhanced TVR is notthing to be afraid of. For example I know mine will scare many away, crazy as it seems to me my lovely driving 50mpg LPG TVR is probably worth more and will sell faster if I remove the LPG system entirely and put the car back to petrol only, this despite it driving on petrol (and gas) just as it is. The word LPG scares people simply because they don't understand it, ironically they don't understand the Lucas 14CUX any better but because thats the original engine management system they seem to think its the safer bet which we all know it isnt because its dificult to map and critical components like the stepper motor and airflow meter are becoming hard to source.
In the same way as it'll probably be better for me to remove my LPG system (easily done in a day) and put the car back to petrol only, I'd say your car will definitely sell faster with the original seats reinstated and the roll bar removed. Your engine is also on the top end of normally aspirated RV8 power output with some very non-standard looking components adorning the enginne bay, and believe it or not this may actually reduce your target market.
A TVR is definitely seen as a higher than normal risk car purchase because of their poor reliability reputation so buyers tend to be even more cautious when it comes to so called 'modifications'.... even if they genuinely enhace the driving experience. As existing owners we all love talking about turbos, superchargers and aftermarket ECUs and most of us would love a bit more power too, but when it comes to opening their wallets it's surprising how concervitive new buyers become about all this stuff. The new buyer tends to have the misguided belief a standard Chimaera is a lower risk proposition than one like yours thats been skillfullly enhanced, I guess its the fear of high insurance premiums, the reliability of non standard components and the future potential lack of proffesional support with elements such as an after market ECU.
To counter this, when writing the advert for your car I would have all these buyer concerns in the forefront of your mind, try to structure the advertisment in such a way as to mitigate as many of these buyer fears as possible. Avoid using the word modified at all costs, I would use language that aknowleges these cars while being a brilliant design did require patience and undertanding when new, cover the fact that TVR often left the final durability testing and de-bugging to the first few owner. All this should then lead nicely into how you've resolved all these snagging issues on your car, explain that your Chimaera has been extensively developed and improved over many years to create the car TVR should have built, then go on to talk about how you've completed extensive durability testing to ensure total relaibility and dependability.
As we all know the new car build standards at TVR werent always the highest so the reality is an absolutely standard original Chimaera is unlikely to offer the best reliability, drivability, and trouble free ownership experience. The challenge is convincing your buyer of this and that your car is actually a far better/safer proposition becuase of all the improvents you've lavished on it, so to help sweeten and close the deal it's always worth listing what you've spent to get the car to where it is now.
Because lets face it everyone loves to feel they're striking a bargain, good luck with your sale mate
Sorry to hear you're selling but I do understand your reasons, in very different ways to achieve rather different goals you and I have both altered our Chimaeras from original spec, we did so becuase we know they are one of the few cars you can actually genuinely make better than factory spec and in the knowlege it's not always the best approach to turn a profit or achieve a quick sale, but because we werent looking to sell at the time this was never a concern.
Creating the Chimaera we wanted for our own specific needs was our goal, however when it comes time to sell such cars the challenge becomes convincing the buyer a properly enhanced TVR is notthing to be afraid of. For example I know mine will scare many away, crazy as it seems to me my lovely driving 50mpg LPG TVR is probably worth more and will sell faster if I remove the LPG system entirely and put the car back to petrol only, this despite it driving on petrol (and gas) just as it is. The word LPG scares people simply because they don't understand it, ironically they don't understand the Lucas 14CUX any better but because thats the original engine management system they seem to think its the safer bet which we all know it isnt because its dificult to map and critical components like the stepper motor and airflow meter are becoming hard to source.
In the same way as it'll probably be better for me to remove my LPG system (easily done in a day) and put the car back to petrol only, I'd say your car will definitely sell faster with the original seats reinstated and the roll bar removed. Your engine is also on the top end of normally aspirated RV8 power output with some very non-standard looking components adorning the enginne bay, and believe it or not this may actually reduce your target market.
A TVR is definitely seen as a higher than normal risk car purchase because of their poor reliability reputation so buyers tend to be even more cautious when it comes to so called 'modifications'.... even if they genuinely enhace the driving experience. As existing owners we all love talking about turbos, superchargers and aftermarket ECUs and most of us would love a bit more power too, but when it comes to opening their wallets it's surprising how concervitive new buyers become about all this stuff. The new buyer tends to have the misguided belief a standard Chimaera is a lower risk proposition than one like yours thats been skillfullly enhanced, I guess its the fear of high insurance premiums, the reliability of non standard components and the future potential lack of proffesional support with elements such as an after market ECU.
To counter this, when writing the advert for your car I would have all these buyer concerns in the forefront of your mind, try to structure the advertisment in such a way as to mitigate as many of these buyer fears as possible. Avoid using the word modified at all costs, I would use language that aknowleges these cars while being a brilliant design did require patience and undertanding when new, cover the fact that TVR often left the final durability testing and de-bugging to the first few owner. All this should then lead nicely into how you've resolved all these snagging issues on your car, explain that your Chimaera has been extensively developed and improved over many years to create the car TVR should have built, then go on to talk about how you've completed extensive durability testing to ensure total relaibility and dependability.
As we all know the new car build standards at TVR werent always the highest so the reality is an absolutely standard original Chimaera is unlikely to offer the best reliability, drivability, and trouble free ownership experience. The challenge is convincing your buyer of this and that your car is actually a far better/safer proposition becuase of all the improvents you've lavished on it, so to help sweeten and close the deal it's always worth listing what you've spent to get the car to where it is now.
Because lets face it everyone loves to feel they're striking a bargain, good luck with your sale mate
Edited by ChimpOnGas on Monday 20th January 14:44
It all depends on where the buyer is located for modifications. There is a post-code risk table. Peter and Anthony (Qbee) live in zone A classifications and I believe they have never had any problems getting insurance. I live in zone D+ (BR2) and I did have problems with modifications. In the land of Porsche Forums, I have seen the same regarding modifications and Peter needs to sell to someone who either doesn't worry about such things or someone who lives outside the M25 and ideally not in a dodgy town centre.
Happy to list it on Facebook for you Peter if you want?
Ps, my silver car is faster than your silver one
Happy to list it on Facebook for you Peter if you want?
Ps, my silver car is faster than your silver one
Tyre Smoke said:
Is there a single Chimaera thread that you don't ruin with your self praise about your car running on LPG?
Its a discussion about selling a modified TVR, in such discussions its only natural to refence one's own modified TVR, I've thought long and hard about what I'll do when I'm in Peter's possition and it comes time to sell, I came to the conclusion dispite it making the car way nicer to drive and infinitely cheaper to run removing the LPG tanks will likely make it easier to sell.At the end of the day its just a discussion and everyone can and should air their point of view without fear of critisism, the real lesson here to those that dont know already is you'll be a lucky man to recover any investment made in improving a TVR beyond the original factory spec, and it may even make it harder to sell dispite the fact the car will almost certaily be way better than a bone stock Chimaera.
My ultimate point being buyers typically feel more comfortable with standard factory spec, so in my opinion Peter should reinstate his original seats dispite the Lotus seats being way more supportive, and he should remove the roll bar dispite it making the car safer in an accident. I feel this diectly answers the OP's question way better than just chiming in to snipe at someone who is merely trying offer a friend a relevant and constructive response to his post.
TV8 said:
It all depends on where the buyer is located for modifications. There is a post-code risk table. Peter and Anthony (Qbee) live in zone A classifications and I believe they have never had any problems getting insurance. I live in zone D+ (BR2) and I did have problems with modifications. In the land of Porsche Forums, I have seen the same regarding modifications and Peter needs to sell to someone who either doesn't worry about such things or someone who lives outside the M25 and ideally not in a dodgy town centre.
Happy to list it on Facebook for you Peter if you want?
Ps, my silver car is faster than your silver one
Good points.Happy to list it on Facebook for you Peter if you want?
Ps, my silver car is faster than your silver one
As a gesture of generosity and to help Peter's car sell faster I'm prepared to swap my 100% original plenum for his tripple throttle ACT
Come on Peter, you know it makes sense
I agree with most it seems to return it back to as close to stock as possible. It will open up your biggest market which is already small for a TVR. The more chances you give yourself the better.
You may find someone who wants and values some or all of the mods but it will be a needle in a haystack scenario. More likely to find a standard buyer who is looking for a stock car. Then sell the mods separately.
When I initially spoke to my insurance company about Mac's old car they wouldn't insure it so I was going to have to get a separate policy at a fair additional cost. Funnily enough the new insurance company (Footman James) will insure modified cars no problem.
Just shrinking your potential marketplace with the mods IMHO.
You may find someone who wants and values some or all of the mods but it will be a needle in a haystack scenario. More likely to find a standard buyer who is looking for a stock car. Then sell the mods separately.
When I initially spoke to my insurance company about Mac's old car they wouldn't insure it so I was going to have to get a separate policy at a fair additional cost. Funnily enough the new insurance company (Footman James) will insure modified cars no problem.
Just shrinking your potential marketplace with the mods IMHO.
ChimpOnGas said:
Tyre Smoke said:
Is there a single Chimaera thread that you don't ruin with your self praise about your car running on LPG?
Its a discussion about selling a modified TVR, in such discussions its only natural to refence one's own modified TVR, I've thought long and hard about what I'll do when I'm in Peter's possition and it comes time to sell, I came to the conclusion dispite it making the car way nicer to drive and infinitely cheaper to run removing the LPG tanks will likely make it easier to sell.At the end of the day its just a discussion and everyone can and should air their point of view without fear of critisism, the real lesson here to those that dont know already is you'll be a lucky man to recover any investment made in improving a TVR beyond the original factory spec, and it may even make it harder to sell dispite the fact the car will almost certaily be way better than a bone stock Chimaera.
My ultimate point being buyers typically feel more comfortable with standard factory spec, so in my opinion Peter should reinstate his original seats dispite the Lotus seats being way more supportive, and he should remove the roll bar dispite it making the car safer in an accident. I feel this diectly answers the OP's question way better than just chiming in to snipe at someone who is merely trying offer a friend a relevant and constructive response to his post.
The OP wanted to know whether to keep or remove the seats and roll bar. He's not considering an LPG conversion. If he was you could bore us all with your windbaggery.
You offered very little other than how clever you were to fit LPG.
Tyre Smoke said:
ChimpOnGas said:
Tyre Smoke said:
Is there a single Chimaera thread that you don't ruin with your self praise about your car running on LPG?
I've put my comments in bold for the benefit of the blind who have still to add value to the op's post 
First response...
ChimpOnGas said:
I'd say your car will definitely sell faster with the original seats reinstated and the roll bar removed. Your engine is also on the top end of normally aspirated RV8 power output with some very non-standard looking components adorning the enginne bay, and believe it or not this may actually reduce your target market.
Second response...ChimpOnGas said:
My ultimate point being buyers typically feel more comfortable with standard factory spec, so in my opinion Peter should reinstate his original seats dispite the Lotus seats being way more supportive, and he should remove the roll bar dispite it making the car safer in an accident.
You're not though. You're boring.The OP wanted to know whether to keep or remove the seats and roll bar. He's not considering an LPG conversion. If he was you could bore us all with your windbaggery.
You offered very little other than how clever you were to fit LPG.
phazed said:
GinG15 said:
seat looks nice...rollbar looks ugly.
i would remove both for the sales advert....and would not mention anything in the advert about those items...even not as options.
why?
potential buyers may get dis-attracted, because they may think "modified for sportier driving....mabye track use...maybe the owner was driving like a fool, reving the engine..maybe the car is also modified in other areas.....etc..."
advertize it original....remove all the pics here in the thread....and sell the parts seperately / afterwards.....
That is in line with my thinking at the mo........i would remove both for the sales advert....and would not mention anything in the advert about those items...even not as options.
why?
potential buyers may get dis-attracted, because they may think "modified for sportier driving....mabye track use...maybe the owner was driving like a fool, reving the engine..maybe the car is also modified in other areas.....etc..."
advertize it original....remove all the pics here in the thread....and sell the parts seperately / afterwards.....
rockits said:
I agree with most it seems to return it back to as close to stock as possible. It will open up your biggest market which is already small for a TVR. The more chances you give yourself the better.
You may find someone who wants and values some or all of the mods but it will be a needle in a haystack scenario. More likely to find a standard buyer who is looking for a stock car. Then sell the mods separately.
When I initially spoke to my insurance company about Mac's old car they wouldn't insure it so I was going to have to get a separate policy at a fair additional cost. Funnily enough the new insurance company (Footman James) will insure modified cars no problem.
Just shrinking your potential marketplace with the mods IMHO.
You may find someone who wants and values some or all of the mods but it will be a needle in a haystack scenario. More likely to find a standard buyer who is looking for a stock car. Then sell the mods separately.
When I initially spoke to my insurance company about Mac's old car they wouldn't insure it so I was going to have to get a separate policy at a fair additional cost. Funnily enough the new insurance company (Footman James) will insure modified cars no problem.
Just shrinking your potential marketplace with the mods IMHO.
Hi Peter
I have the same dilemma with my Griff. I am currently considering stripping out the mods and returning it to standard as I have kept all of the parts. The value of a standard car plus individual sale of modded parts would be significantly higher than selling the modded car in my view. How much of the original car of you got? Wheels, brakes, suspension, engine etc?
Assuming you get say a grand for the seats and roll bar would it reduce the value of the car by a grand? I doubt it so in my opinion take them out and sell them separately.
Good luck mate
I have the same dilemma with my Griff. I am currently considering stripping out the mods and returning it to standard as I have kept all of the parts. The value of a standard car plus individual sale of modded parts would be significantly higher than selling the modded car in my view. How much of the original car of you got? Wheels, brakes, suspension, engine etc?
Assuming you get say a grand for the seats and roll bar would it reduce the value of the car by a grand? I doubt it so in my opinion take them out and sell them separately.
Good luck mate
roseytvr said:
Hi Peter
I have the same dilemma with my Griff. I am currently considering stripping out the mods and returning it to standard as I have kept all of the parts. The value of a standard car plus individual sale of modded parts would be significantly higher than selling the modded car in my view. How much of the original car of you got? Wheels, brakes, suspension, engine etc?
Assuming you get say a grand for the seats and roll bar would it reduce the value of the car by a grand? I doubt it so in my opinion take them out and sell them separately.
Good luck mate
Evening bud, are you removing throttle bodies? I have the same dilemma with my Griff. I am currently considering stripping out the mods and returning it to standard as I have kept all of the parts. The value of a standard car plus individual sale of modded parts would be significantly higher than selling the modded car in my view. How much of the original car of you got? Wheels, brakes, suspension, engine etc?
Assuming you get say a grand for the seats and roll bar would it reduce the value of the car by a grand? I doubt it so in my opinion take them out and sell them separately.
Good luck mate
That’s a beaut of a car, it’s a sad state of affairs when people can’t see the value in what are the best cars out there,,, they want standard, what the flying feck is that.
Anyway yeah probably best to stick the cux back in there
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