Chimaera values - all over the place?

[DaveCWK]

Hi all,

I've been thinking about getting a Chimaera for a few years now! I've been doing some research into prices and am having a hard time working out what sort of budget I need for a decent everyday useable car. Does anyone here had any long term sale/value data? I've been looking on ebay at completed sales (a good indicator for what cars are actually selling for?):

This one for example looks ok to me from the description and just sold for £3800! Maybe it's the wrong colour:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/tvr-chimaera-/1610927264...

This one again looks good, but only bid up to £3400 and didn't sell:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-TVR-CHIMAERA-4-0-Lt...

Whereas this one sold for £6k:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1993-TVR-4-0L-CHIMAERA-N...

There are plenty others advertised in the classifieds around the £8k mark.

Can I realistically get a good car for between £5-6k?

Edited by DaveCWK on Tuesday 3rd September 18:20

[s p a c e m a n]

The red one looks like hard work from here, but I would have thought it should have gone for £500 more. The turquoise one probably did sell, just for cash outside of ebay before the auction ended and the 3rd one looks top end of its price, someone wanted it.

You can get a good reliable car for £5-6kish, you wont get anything pretty or perfect though. If that is your price bracket then buy on what you are most able to fix, I bought a mechanically solid but tatty looking one because I can get it painted for cost price but welding or engine changes are difficult for me.

[JFReturns]

Spend £5k and you could easily spend the same again getting it right. Better to up your budget a few thousand more and get a cared for example, they are out there.

[s p a c e m a n]

Yeah but you could spend £5k and then spend another £5k getting the car just how you want it rather than having to compromise by spending £10k on a car that is close to what you want.

The downside is that there is always something else that you want to do to it and it will soon be another £5k

[METHS]

Me being the cynical bd that I am, you could spend 10k and get a "dud".


Don't think auctions suit the type of car. A buyer will often search for "the right one" rather than taking a punt at an auction. An auction relies on many people competing for the car. How many people are looking for a chim (especially when they may want a particular colour/interior/engine/mileage) all at the one time? not many!

I went the auction route, it was ropey but it meant I could afford to get it the way I wanted.


A good description listing all the common "quirky" areas goes a long way. If someone is buying, they will have done a lot of research.

Edited by METHS on Tuesday 3rd September 21:58

[keith2.2]

I initially intended to spend 6-7 and ended up spending 11...oops...

[TV8]

I know of a very well sorted car available for a little bit more than you are looking to spend.

It's going to be gone by Sunday, I think, so don't hang around

[TROOPER88]

TV8 said:

I know of a very well sorted car available for a little bit more than you are looking to spend.

It's going to be gone by Sunday, I think, so don't hang around

Is it this one??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321198702475?ssPageName=...

[phazed]

No.

[pwd95]

TROOPER88 said:

Is it this one??

I think he's talking about this one...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

[TROOPER88]

pwd95 said:

I think he's talking about this one...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

Is it a 'better' car than the red one?

12k spent in the last year on a refurbishment....

[TV8]

Hi Wyn, how's things?

It's on the bay as well. I just need to get home for viewings. A bit sad to see it go and hopefully bigger is better!

[pwd95]

Hi Graham, very good sir. That 5.3 looks interesting, would love to have a ride in that at some stage. Considering my options for next year at the mo.... continuous process for me I suppose, . Very seriously looking at the turbo option again.

To OP...
Values do seem to be a bit odd at the mo. The most important thing is to make sure the condition is right otherwise you'll be spending out.

[Julesprivate]

You can in fact get a good, tidy and reliable Chim in the £6k bracket. I certainly did..

OK so it's a Cat D but if that doesn't bother you then I'd say it's perfectly achievable. Mine looked almost as good as new when I bought it last October, and well worth the "risk" of such a low mileage car too..