Exporting and running a TVR Chimaera in Austria

[m4rk]

Hi,

I've just landed a permanent job in Villach, Austria and I'd really like to take my 1994 5L TVR Chimaera with me. The place looks the biz for TVR driving Has anyone got any experience of the procedures, costs, tips, contacts, web links. And while I'm here does anyone one know of a good agent/dealer who can help out if/when it breaks or needs a service

I have a nice UK plate which I'd like to keep hold of. Is this possible even though I'm living abroad ?

Austria looks like excellent TVR country but there don't seem to be many TVR's there.

If you want to contact me privately you can do so via my guestbook on my web site. Entering a password against your post will make it private i.e. for your and my eyes only.

www.markandlinda.co.uk

You can also see pictures of the car on the site too. Follow the 'Holidays and trips' link.

Thanks,

m4rk

ps If I can't take it with me then it's for sale

[tattoodrob]

hello im not 100 per cent sure but here goes....if u r living there on a long term permanant basis then u will have to register it there which wil mean losing reg,it will need to pass there local equiv to mot as they would not recognise our mot....not sure about laws but some countries are more stringent than ours!!u would have to get insured by local insurance company as uk wont recognise car...also u will have to declare car exported at dvla.best thing to do is take it as if on long holiday,check with insurance on what u can do (unless u r gonna live there a long time).as to parts etc i think u will struggle as im sure only a fanatic few will have even heard of tvr cars .im driving mine to germany but not on long term basis bu will still struggle if i break down etc.good luck

[m4rk]

I never done much maintenance myself but it looks that's going to change if I succeed in exporting the car.

What do people recommend for service books? The bible gets mentioned a lot. Am I right in assuming 'the bible' refers to Steve Heath's 'TVR Grifiith and Chimaera', book 19.60 at Amazon?

[Mark.S]

A friend moved to Austria a while ago and I'm sure he mentioned there road tax regime being a tad harsh?

Based on either litres or HP, and either way it was very costly to run anything with any clout.

[tattoodrob]

m4rk said:

I never done much maintenance myself but it looks that's going to change if I succeed in exporting the car. What do people recommend for service books? The bible gets mentioned a lot. Am I right in assuming 'the bible' refers to Steve Heath's 'TVR Grifiith and Chimaera', book 19.60 at Amazon?

i believe that there is a second version,more info from s.heath,and this is the only place to get any info me thinks,and yes this is the bible every1 talks about!!!from newboy rob!!

[Nuggs]

You're probably better off going through the TVRCC for a copy of the bible. AFAIK Amazon can take ages to get hold of copies. Mine only took a few days from the Club.

Whatever you do, make sure it's the second edition you go for

[m4rk]

Nuggs,

Thanks for the tip. Cancelled amazon order and will re-order through TVRCC. I assume this will be 2nd edition.

>> Edited by m4rk on Monday 28th February 21:28

[Nuggs]

m4rk said:

I assume this will be 2nd edition

OH, if you're buying through the TVRCC

[reichejh]

Mark

There is a TVR Dealer in the Munich area (Starnberg Lake), I drove by there a couple of times in the past. This should be not too far away from anywhere in Austria to get your Chim serviced/looked after. I'm sure they can also tell you more about what's needed to run your car in Austria, given the regimes are similar to Germany. As you are moving over there, I assume your German is fine? Otherwise I'm more than happy to call up the dealer and inquire on your behalf. Just let me know!

[m4rk]

reichejh,

Danker.

I may take you up on your offer. My German skills are ammount to a few words ie zero so it's going to be an interesting move for a while!!!!

[m4rk]

nuggs,

It seems your tip saved me from buying an inferior book. Thanks. TVRCC book is 33 quid and 2nd edition. I asked about the price difference between them and Amazon and TVRCC think Amazon must be selling the first edition . I can't tell which edition it is from the Amazon site.

>> Edited by m4rk on Tuesday 1st March 10:31

ooops sorry nuggs about the spelling

>> Edited by m4rk on Tuesday 1st March 17:46

[aerospoke]

Hello m4rk

The dealer in Starnberg is no official TVR-dealer anymore and also is not too helpfull anyway. The people to talk to are TVR Sportscars Harald Gehrke in Hagen. They are currently the only official TVR-service in Germany and very helpfull. Unfortunately they are nowhere near Austria but they do know what has to be done to your car if you want to register it in Germany. Their phonenumber is: [phone]. You might also try in Italy. There is a TVR dealer in northern ITaly who advertises either in mobile.de or in Automarkt at freenet.de. Hope this helps!

Cheers Jens

[m4rk]

areospoke,

Yes, thanks, it helps; all info helps, even if it just to know that I do at least have some options if get I stuck with a poorly car or a broken widget.

Austria is a very long way from TVR, Blackpool where the car has been serviced since the day it was built.

[Nuggs]

m4rk said:

neggs, It seems your tip saved me from buying an inferior book.

Glad to hear I've been useful for a change! Good luck with the move - let us know how you get on running a Tiv in Europe.

Who eez theez 'Neggs'?

[tvrinbfg]

Juergen Sauter always seemed helpful and polite to me? You can contact him via

[e-mail]

I have two customers in Austrian, one an ex-pat; and they have both left their cars on UK plates, using them out there in the summer and keeping them back here in the winter.

[aerospoke]

Hello again!

The dealer in italy is called UK Garage and is located in Milan which is not too far from austria depending on where in austria you are.

cheers Jens

[paulsmith]

Hi Mark,
My girlfriend is Austrian, so if you have any questions that may help you, mail me directly. I am actually driving to Austria in May and asked similar questions. Also in the back of the TVR monthly mag, there is the representative of the tvr club there that will be able to answer few of your questions..Cheers

[ajcerb]

Milan would be handy (ish) for Villach in the Sud Tirol. Have not been to that town for a long time - last time was Inter railing round Europe but that area is beautiful and perfect TVR country in the Spring and Summer I would have thought. You will have a ball. Just watch it if you drink any of their Stroh Inlander Rum, it's rocket fuel. Have fun.

[m4rk]

Thanks Guys and Girls for your advise and offers of support. It doesn't seem so scary now.

[jonnyb]

In the back of Sprint there is an address for the TVRCC in Austria, and a phone nunmber. Maybe worth a call.