Real running costs

[badyaker]

Hi folks. Apologies in advance for an intruder from the German side.

I've decided life's too short to spend more than a few years in the same car especially when I only have the means to run one toy/project at a time. A Griff is still somewhat beyond my means, and the first thing I'll need is a house with a driveway and preferably a garage so for now I'm doing homework and tempting myself. Sure you've all been there.

What should I be budgeting to keep a 500 on the road, say 5k a year of mainly weekend summer miles?

I'm a bit of a modifier but I think I'd be out of my depth with a Griffith at least for the first year or so while I learn the ropes!

[5.0ltr]

5k! I have never spent anything close to that in any one year. Prob £500 on service and odd things, £290 insurance, and fuel for 6K miles.

[Argent]

I have owned TIV's for fifteen years now and my current is a late 500 which is a keeper. They are reliable and I have never spent more than £1k a year on any of them, often less, for proper servicing and sorting out any bits and bobs. Always buy on condition. My first Griff was a 400 which was fifteen years old but always looked after and a top car, of course there will always be things to be replaced like batteries, hoses etc, which are really consumables when you think of the age factor Also you will want to upgrade things! All in all the Eurobox costs more to run if you use main dealers. BTW you can keep a Griff outside with a Leven cover.

HTH

A.

[Alexdaredevilz]

It's the upgrading and fuel costs that add up

[macdeb]

'Bit of a modifier' That is where the money goes and PH is a bad place for your wallet. If you keep as is and in good order there is not much to detract from the above comments. Sure you will enjoy it.

[Simon says]

Agree with the last 2 posts maintenance running costs are not bad

[badyaker]

Thanks gents, that's comforting. I must spend over £500 a year keeping the TT on the road when tyres are taken into account so it doesn't sound as if I'll be in unfamiliar ground unless I rack up the miles ...

I did mean 5000 miles, not £s per year up there!

Consumables I can get a feel for, tyres, batteries, oil changes etc, I was really after the service items that would be a new experience on coming to a TVR or I guess any genuine performance car - like cams, engine out stuff etc. What can go wrong, what's the worst that can happen?

[5.0ltr]

badyaker said:

Thanks gents, that's comforting. I must spend over £500 a year keeping the TT on the road when tyres are taken into account so it doesn't sound as if I'll be in unfamiliar ground unless I rack up the miles ...

I did mean 5000 miles, not £s per year up there!

Consumables I can get a feel for, tyres, batteries, oil changes etc, I was really after the service items that would be a new experience on coming to a TVR or I guess any genuine performance car - like cams, engine out stuff etc. What can go wrong, what's the worst that can happen?

They are generally pretty good on tyres being a light car. Still on the same battery it came with 5.5years ago. Oil change at 6k, can be done by a competant diyer or about £350 for the full service at a garage. Cam wear can be a consideration for some at 40k or so, others are fine. Engines pretty strong overall, we all obsess about outriggers but worst case is app £1500 and you are good for another 10 years. T5 gearbox is robust, clutch is normal for wear. Buy the best you can and just enjoy one of the greatest cars out there, getting rare now and still makes me smile when I open the garage.

[Exige S]

I searched for 3 months and saw a lot of rubbish before I bought a pretty spotless, low mileage '97 500 early this year. So far I've spent about £500 on upgrades including hoses/pipes, leads, heat shields, paint , stainless bolts, powder coating, new light lenses etc which I needn't have done, and about £200 on having the fuel lines changed, just for peace of mind (most are perished at this age).

Things to budget for are items like leather/roof treatments, POR-15, underseal, a low profile jack, etc. If you don't have them already, add in some tools and these costs will mount quickly.

It's been totally reliable so far, and didn't let the previous owner down once in 9 years.

The specialist that services it said it was "mint" and the outriggers are spot on and the cam was in great condition. These are the two big bills you might be presented with as both are not easy to check before you buy the car.

Fuel is the killer. I'm averaging 18mpg.

Be patient and find a good one, you'll love it.

[dumbfunk]

There's 10 years worth of zero-compromise maintenance costs and upgrades in my profile.
It's £2k a year to do it right. If you spend less then you're winning (but hold on to it for next year! )

http://pistonheads.com/members/showcar.asp?carId=2...


ETA:

Should add that I fixed everything as soon as it was discovered and always upgraded to a better version whenever possible (e.g. bushes to poly, drop links to rose joint). Also, looking back it's clear that I didn't always get the best value when I strayed away from my favoured servicing specialists. Find somebody you trust and half the battle is won.

Edited by dumbfunk on Tuesday 14th August 11:46

[Mr MoJo]

Not much more to add than has already been said, but if you click on my car in my profile you'll find a pretty accurate record of what mines cost since I bought it. May be of some help

[Hoover.]

,,,,. depends if you blow the engine up, shag the gear box, damage the body work by leaving spare wheel loose in boot, put on new shocks/polybushes, carpets/dash/roof and refurb the wheels and have remap... not that I have

[badyaker]

Really thanks for all the info guys. Your blogs are a great source of info, just what was after really as it gives an idea of the sorts of things that can go wrong and how much it'll cost to sort out. Doesn't look as bad as people say really - of course I'm well aware of the stereotype that dictates a TVR will break down all the time and cost a fortune but your blogs seem to suggest otherwise. Perhaps it's a case of vigilance and "proactive maintenance".
I'll keep nosing around this section, probably have a good look over a few and generally edge myself ever closer to the divorce courts