Vixen/Taimar cost of ownership?
Discussion
Hi all,
Am considering buying an older TVR in the near future. Belgium law states that cars older than 25 years can be registered as tax-friendly oldtimers, and I'm looking for a car with tons of character, lots of fun, but that's a decent investment as well. My end-game is a Tuscan Speed6, but still need a couple of years before going down that route as the cost of ownership doesn't make sense for me at this point in time.
Am looking at a couple of cars, mainly interested in a 3000-series or Taimar, but also found this: http://www.kapaza.be/nl/tvr/tvr-vixen-1600-9245120...
Let's say the engine & chassis are in ok condition, and just need to replace rubbers & fluids (and a busted headlight), how much would it cost to get this car on the road? Not very handy myself, so would need to have it garaged.
Generally speaking, what's the impression of Taimar ownership (would prefer this over a Vixen)? Assume keeping it running is +- affordable. Would be getting rid of my 2008 Ford Fiesta ST so hope it can give me more driving fun instead :-)
Grts, Pieter
Am considering buying an older TVR in the near future. Belgium law states that cars older than 25 years can be registered as tax-friendly oldtimers, and I'm looking for a car with tons of character, lots of fun, but that's a decent investment as well. My end-game is a Tuscan Speed6, but still need a couple of years before going down that route as the cost of ownership doesn't make sense for me at this point in time.
Am looking at a couple of cars, mainly interested in a 3000-series or Taimar, but also found this: http://www.kapaza.be/nl/tvr/tvr-vixen-1600-9245120...
Let's say the engine & chassis are in ok condition, and just need to replace rubbers & fluids (and a busted headlight), how much would it cost to get this car on the road? Not very handy myself, so would need to have it garaged.
Generally speaking, what's the impression of Taimar ownership (would prefer this over a Vixen)? Assume keeping it running is +- affordable. Would be getting rid of my 2008 Ford Fiesta ST so hope it can give me more driving fun instead :-)
Grts, Pieter
Hi Pieter,
Not sure from your post if you're planning to use the car as a daily driver? If so how many miles a year would you do?
If you are then I'd say on an objective basis it probably won't be that cheap - unless you can do most of the day to day maintenance. These cars do need pretty constant attention to keep on top of things. May not be anything major but they do need regular checking and attention paying to fluids etc.
As a day to day driver then the Taimar with the opening hatch makes more sense than a Vixen/M. You can do the shopping in an M (I know) but it's a bit of a faff.
Compared to a modern car then things we now take for granted - easy demisting, interior heating and cooling, lighting etc. aren't in the same league.
I'd suggest buying a car that's been restored and has been used regularly on the road. A project will take at least twice as long as you expect and cost three times as much!
So objectively - other than it may appreciate (if you ignore running costs which offset this) I don't think it makes much sense.
Subjectively - I'd buy one tomorrow because it's so much more fun!
Hope this helps,
Gary
Not sure from your post if you're planning to use the car as a daily driver? If so how many miles a year would you do?
If you are then I'd say on an objective basis it probably won't be that cheap - unless you can do most of the day to day maintenance. These cars do need pretty constant attention to keep on top of things. May not be anything major but they do need regular checking and attention paying to fluids etc.
As a day to day driver then the Taimar with the opening hatch makes more sense than a Vixen/M. You can do the shopping in an M (I know) but it's a bit of a faff.
Compared to a modern car then things we now take for granted - easy demisting, interior heating and cooling, lighting etc. aren't in the same league.
I'd suggest buying a car that's been restored and has been used regularly on the road. A project will take at least twice as long as you expect and cost three times as much!
So objectively - other than it may appreciate (if you ignore running costs which offset this) I don't think it makes much sense.
Subjectively - I'd buy one tomorrow because it's so much more fun!
Hope this helps,
Gary
Edited by GadgeS3C on Tuesday 10th March 11:51
To clarify a bit why I'm looking for this ...
Not planning on using it as a daily driver :-) Am expecting a boring lease car for that instead. So that would make me sell the Fiesta ST, but I would need something tax-friendly (so over 25 years old) and fun to drive instead, but only for weekend or evening drives.
Not planning on using it as a daily driver :-) Am expecting a boring lease car for that instead. So that would make me sell the Fiesta ST, but I would need something tax-friendly (so over 25 years old) and fun to drive instead, but only for weekend or evening drives.
Aha - ignore my doom and gloom and buy one then!
Even so - I'd try and find the best car you can for your budget. A project could easily cost you €1,000s - impossible to say how much but the chassis is always the main thing to consider. If you can't do it yourself labour rates for body removal make things painful.
Less important to have a hatch so opens up more choice.
The best advice I can give is connect with some other owners local to you and ask for advice. TVR owners are a friendly bunch! Look at some cars, see if you can get a drive. That make help select which model you want. Might also help locate some cars to buy.
One other thought - 25 years old is getting into the TVR S1/S2 models - launched in 1988. Similar appearance to the 3000S. Great cars and very undervalued at the moment.
Even so - I'd try and find the best car you can for your budget. A project could easily cost you €1,000s - impossible to say how much but the chassis is always the main thing to consider. If you can't do it yourself labour rates for body removal make things painful.
Less important to have a hatch so opens up more choice.
The best advice I can give is connect with some other owners local to you and ask for advice. TVR owners are a friendly bunch! Look at some cars, see if you can get a drive. That make help select which model you want. Might also help locate some cars to buy.
One other thought - 25 years old is getting into the TVR S1/S2 models - launched in 1988. Similar appearance to the 3000S. Great cars and very undervalued at the moment.
maybe this could be something for you, it seems to have new electric cables and in Belgium>
http://www.2dehands.be/autos/overige-merken/overig...
http://www.2dehands.be/autos/overige-merken/overig...
Ideally would be looking for RHD for obvious budget reasons. LHD seems to be 30-40% more expensive which does not make sense for me at the moment. Would ideally limit spending to the residual value of my Fiesta ST, but budget is stretchable. Not afraid of spending some money on small restaurations/fixes afterwards either, obviously would be good for resale value when I'm ready for a Tuscan.
Grts, Pieter
Grts, Pieter
Restoring a car for investment is not a good idea. So as has been said try buy one that has already been done. The Vixens are very rare and a good car that is fully restored will set you back over £20k, £10-£15k will get you an original car that will need work.
The Taimar or later M will be the cheapest buy a fairly good one being around £10k a full restoration would cost in the region of £10 to £15k doing the majority of the work yourself so if your not up to that sort of task an already restored car would be the way to go. Early M's do fetch a premium as they have the side and bonnet vents which are appealing and in the UK the road tax is free for cars over 40years old so this also makes them more desirable.
LHD Tvr's are extremely rare and do fetch a big premium sometimes as much as double a RHD but they will also hold that value well so your initial layout should be safe.
Hope this helps
Chris
The Taimar or later M will be the cheapest buy a fairly good one being around £10k a full restoration would cost in the region of £10 to £15k doing the majority of the work yourself so if your not up to that sort of task an already restored car would be the way to go. Early M's do fetch a premium as they have the side and bonnet vents which are appealing and in the UK the road tax is free for cars over 40years old so this also makes them more desirable.
LHD Tvr's are extremely rare and do fetch a big premium sometimes as much as double a RHD but they will also hold that value well so your initial layout should be safe.
Hope this helps
Chris
PieterLOL said:
Am looking at a couple of cars, mainly interested in a 3000-series or Taimar, but also found this: http://www.kapaza.be/nl/tvr/tvr-vixen-1600-9245120...
Grts, Pieter
Just in case you hadn't noticed, that car in the add isn't a Vixen, its a 1600M.Grts, Pieter
Paul
Gary (gadges3c) is spot on here. I bought a project for £3.5 k and indeed have spent much more on it at £8.5 k all in so far and the vinyl roof still looks tatty as do the bumpers. Interior is just about passable. The heater works in summer when you don't need it & have to shut all vents off as it gets too hot even with sunroof open...and in the winter same vents pump out cold air, with his mentioned demisting problems being very true - and annoying . Having said that it is pretty good to drive and i have enjoyed elements of tarting it up so to speak. And the body wont rust
But if I was buying an M series now I would look at the just under £10k ones on Pistonheads..that yellow Taimar in an Essex dealers has been on for 18 months now -surely they would take an offer it looks a damn fine machine?
But if I was buying an M series now I would look at the just under £10k ones on Pistonheads..that yellow Taimar in an Essex dealers has been on for 18 months now -surely they would take an offer it looks a damn fine machine?
stockpie said:
Gary (gadges3c) is spot on here. I bought a project for £3.5 k and indeed have spent much more on it at £8.5 k all in so far and the vinyl roof still looks tatty as do the bumpers. Interior is just about passable. The heater works in summer when you don't need it & have to shut all vents off as it gets too hot even with sunroof open...and in the winter same vents pump out cold air, with his mentioned demisting problems being very true - and annoying . Having said that it is pretty good to drive and i have enjoyed elements of tarting it up so to speak. And the body wont rust
But if I was buying an M series now I would look at the just under £10k ones on Pistonheads..that yellow Taimar in an Essex dealers has been on for 18 months now -surely they would take an offer it looks a damn fine machine?
Details though when you listen to how it sounds Chris!But if I was buying an M series now I would look at the just under £10k ones on Pistonheads..that yellow Taimar in an Essex dealers has been on for 18 months now -surely they would take an offer it looks a damn fine machine?
Gladly meet up, have sent you an email Frank.
General consensus seems to be: buy a restored/good condition car. Well noted on that, I was very much planning to do so. Don't really mind about minor and cosmetic issues, but definitely need a good chassis + mechanics + electrics so it's a drivable machine from day one.
General consensus seems to be: buy a restored/good condition car. Well noted on that, I was very much planning to do so. Don't really mind about minor and cosmetic issues, but definitely need a good chassis + mechanics + electrics so it's a drivable machine from day one.
Edited by PieterLOL on Wednesday 11th March 07:28
Gassing Station | TVR Classics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff