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hi, ive just been to view a 93 l 430, was pretty much mint all round, the thing im worried about is the price, he wants 8 grand for it and there are others quite a bit cheaper than that. it is in really good nick and im very tempted but dont want to pay well over the odds. any advice?
phildingle said:
hi, ive just been to view a 93 l 430, was pretty much mint all round, the thing im worried about is the price, he wants 8 grand for it and there are others quite a bit cheaper than that. it is in really good nick and im very tempted but dont want to pay well over the odds. any advice?
I would not consider that expensive 
especially if its a right beauty they are rare now and the engine is considered as a sweet size for the RV8 
Had mine for sale over the last 2/3 weeks for around £6k not one single view!!
These 4.3's are almost as powerfull & as quick as standard 500's (around 260 bhp) people don't realise how strong they are.
ETA £8k is about right for a minter IMHO as long as you like the colour.
These 4.3's are almost as powerfull & as quick as standard 500's (around 260 bhp) people don't realise how strong they are.
ETA £8k is about right for a minter IMHO as long as you like the colour.
Edited by pwd95 on Sunday 19th June 21:16
hi, ive a 94 430, i love it to bits, i did pay a little bit too much for it a couple of years ago not realising that the outriggers were shot, the car has had 9 owners in its 17 years & hasnt got much history with it either. none of that mattered to me after i had driven it! i do think that they are very underated, if you added up how much it would cost to build an engine to the spec they have as 'standard' i think people would realise how much of a bargain they are at the moment. 
I'm following the various adverts and find it hard to get a handle on the prices, but my gut feeling isn't that £8k is dear, unless it turns out to be a heap. Trouble is it's hard to tell for a few photos and a description, though some do at least put more effort into it with lists of parts and services done. I've seen some quite expensive cars with only two lines of text that tell me virtually nothing...unless they were very close by I probably wouldn't rush to even call them, let alone bother going to look.
With these cars condition is very much the key I reckon, from my research so far; if it needs new outrigers, camshaft hasn't been done recently (or has a low mileage from new) and the interior looks tired then I'd be looking elsewhere for £8k. I'm sure there are other items that fall into this same catagory, but I'm still learning. I feel that there's little point paying too much for a rough example and then spending thousands on it getting it sorted IMHO when for a fraction more you could get a properly sorted example. However this is only theory at the moment and I have a feeling that once I'm seriously looking, the first one I see in a nice colour on a sunny day will be mine.
EDIT: Just to add that I'm expecting to have to pay over £10K for one that just needs a polish and occasional tinkering...maybe more for a 500 of one comes up.
With these cars condition is very much the key I reckon, from my research so far; if it needs new outrigers, camshaft hasn't been done recently (or has a low mileage from new) and the interior looks tired then I'd be looking elsewhere for £8k. I'm sure there are other items that fall into this same catagory, but I'm still learning.
I feel that there's little point paying too much for a rough example and then spending thousands on it getting it sorted IMHO when for a fraction more you could get a properly sorted example. However this is only theory at the moment and I have a feeling that once I'm seriously looking, the first one I see in a nice colour on a sunny day will be mine. EDIT: Just to add that I'm expecting to have to pay over £10K for one that just needs a polish and occasional tinkering...maybe more for a 500 of one comes up.
t it's all about getting off your arse and looking at the genuine article 
IMHO pictures can blur the truth with the right lighting & location etc.Yes I'm sure you're right, but I wouldn't want to waste sellers time until I'm a genuine buyer myself. However, if someone can't be arsed to put more than a few lines in an advert, then why should I be bothered to drive 200-300 miles to view it?
There's a lovely advert on PH at the moment showing a Blue Chimaera in a field of yellow maize flowers, which does make it look very atractive, but I've no idea if the car is any good.
There's a lovely advert on PH at the moment showing a Blue Chimaera in a field of yellow maize flowers, which does make it look very atractive, but I've no idea if the car is any good.
When I was looking last year £8k would have definitely been the upper end for a 430, but not unreasonable if it was a really smart one. And a really well cared for 430 would be a fantastic car to own. They're definitely the bargain of the Chimaera range IMHO and probably the one I'd go for if I went through the process again.
Just see as many cars as possible. Even if they're not quite what you're looking for head out and get an idea of what condition should tally to what price and take it from there. If, for the sake of argument, that one belched smoke and you put your fingers through the outriggers, while the £6k examples had clean chassis and lovingly tended engines then you'd know something was up.
And it is worth checking. Frequently the seller's own opinion of their TVR's worth exceeds (or sometimes substantially undercuts) the market value. Hence the comment above. I think £8k would be fair for a very smart 430, but you don't know if it truly is until you go and look at it.
Just see as many cars as possible. Even if they're not quite what you're looking for head out and get an idea of what condition should tally to what price and take it from there. If, for the sake of argument, that one belched smoke and you put your fingers through the outriggers, while the £6k examples had clean chassis and lovingly tended engines then you'd know something was up.
And it is worth checking. Frequently the seller's own opinion of their TVR's worth exceeds (or sometimes substantially undercuts) the market value. Hence the comment above. I think £8k would be fair for a very smart 430, but you don't know if it truly is until you go and look at it.
My first Tiv was a non PAS 94 cat 4.3, L430 AGV, bought privately in Aug 2008 for £8k, with fsh, 2 owners and only 16k miles. Ran it for 2000 miles and sold (sired twins) it to a TVR specialist for over £7k (couldn't face tyrekickers and test pilots by private sale). He resold it for about £10k.
I think prices have firmed up since 2008, so doesn't sound expensive to me.
Wish I'd kept it because it did indeed feel pretty much as quick as the 500 i've now bought (couldn't stay away for long) which has cost me over twice as much to buy and improve.
I think prices have firmed up since 2008, so doesn't sound expensive to me.
Wish I'd kept it because it did indeed feel pretty much as quick as the 500 i've now bought (couldn't stay away for long) which has cost me over twice as much to buy and improve.
Personally I'd go for a car that has had all the oily bits done and the stuff you can't see. New outriggers, restored chassis, wishbones, shocks, reconditioned diff, new alarm etc etc. You can work on the cosmetic stuff at your own pace. Although if your just after some summer fun then maybe looks are eveything As a long term prospect I'd definitely focus on the things you can't see rather than the things you can though.
As a long term prospect I'd definitely focus on the things you can't see rather than the things you can though.finestjammy said:
Personally I'd go for a car that has had all the oily bits done and the stuff you can't see. New outriggers, restored chassis, wishbones, shocks, reconditioned diff, new alarm etc etc. You can work on the cosmetic stuff at your own pace. Although if your just after some summer fun then maybe looks are eveything As a long term prospect I'd definitely focus on the things you can't see rather than the things you can though.
+1 As a long term prospect I'd definitely focus on the things you can't see rather than the things you can though.and to add that once they're cosmetically "perfect", the tendency is to worry so much about picking up a stone chip etc. as to possible detract (a little bit) from the pleasure of driving it
A friend of mine just bought a very very tidy 430 a month ago (new hood, ally rad, new carpets, FSH very well maintained etc etc) for £6.5k - I wouldn't think my facelift 400 is worth 8k in the current market to be honest.
We have another thread running on here about a 500 that wont sell for 9k !
Cheers,
Matt.
We have another thread running on here about a 500 that wont sell for 9k !
Cheers,
Matt.
weird the wide spread of prices isn't it ?
there are a couple of dealers trying to control the stock and therefore the prices. If they're successful in driving prices up, I won't complain
Matt - Passed through Bosbury at 3pm ish friday, BTW. Nice village. On my way to check out The Downs vs The Elms for our twins.....
there are a couple of dealers trying to control the stock and therefore the prices. If they're successful in driving prices up, I won't complain
Matt - Passed through Bosbury at 3pm ish friday, BTW. Nice village. On my way to check out The Downs vs The Elms for our twins.....
Jammie Dodger said:
Matt - Passed through Bosbury at 3pm ish friday, BTW. Nice village. On my way to check out The Downs vs The Elms for our twins.....
Thanks - we like it Were you in the TVR? (we heard something interesting drive by about then) if you spotted an Aston and a Chimaera in an oak framed open garage in the middle of the village thats our place.Cheers,
Matt.
Re Prices; screen price vs selling price seem to be somewhat variable at the moment on quite a few brands - seemingly you can haggle a couple of grand off a £teen thousand i6 DB7 at the moment.
certainly was - I had one eye open for your cars but obviously should have have looked right when instead looked left or vice versa 8I
er... DB7 for £teens, when my chim owes me £20k & rising ?
console myself that I did want a convertible and didnt want a Boxster 3.2
We're torn between staying South Hfs/Monmouthshire for Haberdashers (selective, academic excellence) vs NW Hfs/SW Worcs. for The Downs..
Get more house for your money up there I think..
Back on topic, as long as the OP follows condition and trusted advice, thorough inspection and patience, he'll prob. find a good car at the price
er... DB7 for £teens, when my chim owes me £20k & rising ?
console myself that I did want a convertible and didnt want a Boxster 3.2
We're torn between staying South Hfs/Monmouthshire for Haberdashers (selective, academic excellence) vs NW Hfs/SW Worcs. for The Downs..
Get more house for your money up there I think..
Back on topic, as long as the OP follows condition and trusted advice, thorough inspection and patience, he'll prob. find a good car at the price
Jammie Dodger said:
er... DB7 for £teens, when my chim owes me £20k & rising ?
I woudn't worry, its only the early i6 ones that have slipped that far and they are way less exciting to drive than a Chim. You've got to have Vantage on the back of a DB7 really 
..and 420 bhp 
PS: on the school front do you know Lucton ? http://www.luctonschool.org/
Edited by M@H on Monday 20th June 12:48
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