Damn those HPI checks!

[Tafford]

Following a complete lack of interest in my cerb which is for sale I've now discovered something that definitely isn't helping. Another PHeader told me that it was declared a CAT C write off approx 3 weeks before I bought it which I thought a bit strange as there was no sign of any damage. Anyway, I've gone into this with the HPI company - it turns out that because my previous car (Chimaera) had been written off in 2008 and I kept the personal plate M20 TVR which I then transferred to the cerb this CAT C loss has wrongly followed the plate. It now shows up on any HPI check that a potential buyer may do on the cerb. The situation is made worse because for some unknown reason my car has the later style number plate which makes anyone who's done any research suspsicious anyaway. The HPI company confirm the cerb has never been written off. I've got the insurance company trying to amend this on the HPI / MIAFTA database but as usual the wheels grind exceedingly slowly....

So if you keep a personal plate from a written off car and then use it be very careful! GRRRR!

[Gazzab]

Sloping rear plate was first seen in 2000 ish on chim and then cerbs. A 97 will have had a newer rear fitted to have that unless it was made for a foreign market (maybe?).

[swallet]

Gazzab said:

Sloping rear plate was first seen in 2000 ish on chim and then cerbs. A 97 will have had a newer rear fitted to have that unless it was made for a foreign market (maybe?).

I don't think that's right - not for Chimaeras at least - the sloping rear number plate came in with the facelift rear end along with new rear light clusters - 1998 IIRC.

[Gazzab]

swallet said:

Gazzab said:

Sloping rear plate was first seen in 2000 ish on chim and then cerbs. A 97 will have had a newer rear fitted to have that unless it was made for a foreign market (maybe?).

I don't think that's right - not for Chimaeras at least - the sloping rear number plate came in with the facelift rear end along with new rear light clusters - 1998 IIRC.

Doh yes u r right. 99ish was the rear plate for chims and 00 ish for cerbs

[mbrown5]

Gazzab said:

swallet said:

Gazzab said:

Sloping rear plate was first seen in 2000 ish on chim and then cerbs. A 97 will have had a newer rear fitted to have that unless it was made for a foreign market (maybe?).

I don't think that's right - not for Chimaeras at least - the sloping rear number plate came in with the facelift rear end along with new rear light clusters - 1998 IIRC.

Doh yes u r right. 99ish was the rear plate for chims and 00 ish for cerbs

I still don't think that's right, as Swallet said it was '98 for Chimaeras, Cerbs got the updated rear lights in 2000 but didn't get the sloping plate until 2002 I think.

[Gazzab]

I had a nearly new chim back in 98. Mine was flat and I know it was soon after mine. I thought it was 99.

[Gazzab]

Anyway the point is/was (and why I used 'ish') that a 97 cerb wouldn't have had a sloping plate.

[Tafford]

Well it would seem that for whatever reason my 1997 has got a sloping plate. As it's never been written off and there's no sign of any damage or repairs I have no reason to believe it wasn't fitted at the factory. Anyway I'm not particularly bothered about that - I'm more concerned that potential buyers have been put off by incorrect hpi checks.

[m60ddy]

Another question which probably won't have an answer but might aid the rear number plate debate. The oil dipstick is at the front of the engine. As a 1997 4.2 should it not be on the top?

[scotty_d]

Gazzab said:

I had a nearly new chim back in 98. Mine was flat and I know it was soon after mine. I thought it was 99.

97/98 for Chims at least they started to used the slop number plate on the Landy rear pod lights it seems to be a mix and match over these 2 years from what i have seen. Mine was a 98 with the later rear end. I have seen a few 97's with it as well.

[Tafford]

Matt - re the dipstick position - the car has had a later engine fitted which is why the dipstick is at the front. The original engine had it at the rear as you say.

[Tacchino]

Posts like this scare the out of me.

What happens if you now HPI the original car that actually had the incident.
Does this now come up as HPI clear?

If it does then surely this is a potential means for the unscrupulous owner to mask a cars accident history.
This could be a can of worms for anyone with a car that's had a plate transfer!

[PuffsBack]

Getting this stuff changed is a nightmare, my Cerbera comes back with finance outstanding on a car that now wears a previous private plate it once had ie. nothing to do with the Cerbera. It clearly states its nothing to do with the car and relates to a Jaguar XKR so why bother mentioning it. Was a shock when I HPI'd the car and it did not come back clean, if I had a done a 'cheap' text HPI I would not have had the full picture and walked away.

Also mine comes back with a mileage descrepency - the first MOT was apparently done at 88853 miles despite the MOT document and the receipt for the the MOT and service (and also verified by Bespoke Performance who did the MOT, well as TVR Centre anyway) clearly stating 8853. Can I find a Monkey with enough brains to correct this! No chance. I mean the car is a Speed 6 FFS, it won't do 88853 miles

Again if I had done a cheap HPI and not had the full picture I might have walked away from a prefectly good car

[Demondad]

Tacchino said:

Posts like this scare the out of me.

What happens if you now HPI the original car that actually had the incident.
Does this now come up as HPI clear?

If it does then surely this is a potential means for the unscrupulous owner to mask a cars accident history.
This could be a can of worms for anyone with a car that's had a plate transfer!

This actually happened to me. When I bought a (forgive me) espace it was HPI clear. When I came to tax it the DVLA told me the car was declared scrapped and therefore not roadworthy. The garage refused any knowledge. I was advised to go down small claims route but I decided it was not worth it and I had to right off £2000!!! Beware DO NOT TRUST HPI CHECKS. (or the DVLA, as they will not help either)

[Tacchino]

PuffsBack said:

I mean the car is a Speed 6 FFS, it won't do 88853 miles

I wouldn't worry too much about that.
I'd guess most potential TVR buyers have been on Pistonheads .... they'll also know that a Speed 6 can't last that long