Discussion
Thinking of buying my first Chimaera but cant help noticing the prices plumeting!
Is it worth hanging onto the winter will they plumet more? What to buy 4.0 4.5 5.0 which is likely to plumet the most? Is colour an issue i.e Yellow seems to plumet even more? Thanks for your help as i have limited funds then maybe yellow is the answer does it really matter?
Is it worth hanging onto the winter will they plumet more? What to buy 4.0 4.5 5.0 which is likely to plumet the most? Is colour an issue i.e Yellow seems to plumet even more? Thanks for your help as i have limited funds then maybe yellow is the answer does it really matter?
said:
PH said:
Thinking of buying my first Chimaera but cant help noticing the prices plumeting!
Is it worth hanging onto the winter will they plumet more? What to buy 4.0 4.5 5.0 which is likely to plumet the most? Is colour an issue i.e Yellow seems to plumet even more? Thanks for your help as i have limited funds then maybe yellow is the answer does it really matter?
If your funds are too limited, don't bother buying one at all because it may well end in tears. Although the older Chims and Griffs represent tremendous value for money you cannot run them on a shoestring.
TVRs are high performance cars and things can and do go wrong. Compared to 'normal' cars they can be expensive to run and fix. 22-25mpg on premium grade fuel 6000mile service intervals and group 20+ insurance.
You also need to keep a contingency fund for those unexpected repairs. You will probably never need it, but if you have't got one when things go wrong your TVR ownership experience will leave a sour taste.
See this
thread
Although many owners have thousands of miles of happy trouble free motoring there are some who through no fault of their own don't.
No matter how carefully you buy there's no guarantee what your experience will be, but you need to be extra careful if you're going shopping in the bargain basement.
Listen to the sound advise on here if this is the car you have decided on (and believe me you won't be dissapointed!!!) then just do it.
As for colour when I bought mine I searched for ages for what I thought was the right colour (blue or green) and bought yellow in the end and I have too be honest it's the best thing I did. I only ever get complimentary remarks on the colour and after all the car is not exactely a shy retiring mode of transport so why not underline line it with a colour to match.(and yellow ones are faster)
End of the day down to personnal choice but don't restrict yourself to colour as condition and history is far more important and whatever colour you go for will put a smile on your face forever.
As for colour when I bought mine I searched for ages for what I thought was the right colour (blue or green) and bought yellow in the end and I have too be honest it's the best thing I did. I only ever get complimentary remarks on the colour and after all the car is not exactely a shy retiring mode of transport so why not underline line it with a colour to match.(and yellow ones are faster)
End of the day down to personnal choice but don't restrict yourself to colour as condition and history is far more important and whatever colour you go for will put a smile on your face forever.
Prices are fluctuating a bit but this is normal. The price of fuel probably has some effect. There are 130 or so Chims for sale on PH and you might think that oversupply is the reason prices are not as firm as they used to be, although I'd strongly disagree with the adjective plummeting. However, there's around 60 Griffs for sale. The norm is that they make a third of Chims yet here they are approaching 50%, and prices are steady with some independants saying that they are rising, albeit slowly.
There is a ready and rapid market for top quality cars. If you are looking for a bargain then don't expect to buy the best.
It would appear that, given identical condition and mileage, Griffs have retained their value better than Chims but supply does not appear to be the reason.
Historically, Autumn has been the best time to buy an open sports car. There're normally still a few around and the prices do tend to drop with the temperature. It's not excessive though.
Don't forget that one or two sellers will be selling for reasons of cash flow and this can mean accepting a best offer. Don't read too much into this.
I've been doing some research on Griffs and generally speaking depreciation is very good. I don't want to give anything away - join the Club and read the article - but before believing what people say about some other, foreign, sports cars, see the prices of Griffs in comparison to original purchase price.
I've not done it for Chims so can't give an opinion there. Compared to saloon cars of the same period and value, Griffs are almost an investment.
One thing is true, though. There is never a better time to buy a car than now. Whenever that is.
Derek
Derek
There is a ready and rapid market for top quality cars. If you are looking for a bargain then don't expect to buy the best.
It would appear that, given identical condition and mileage, Griffs have retained their value better than Chims but supply does not appear to be the reason.
Historically, Autumn has been the best time to buy an open sports car. There're normally still a few around and the prices do tend to drop with the temperature. It's not excessive though.
Don't forget that one or two sellers will be selling for reasons of cash flow and this can mean accepting a best offer. Don't read too much into this.
I've been doing some research on Griffs and generally speaking depreciation is very good. I don't want to give anything away - join the Club and read the article - but before believing what people say about some other, foreign, sports cars, see the prices of Griffs in comparison to original purchase price.
I've not done it for Chims so can't give an opinion there. Compared to saloon cars of the same period and value, Griffs are almost an investment.
One thing is true, though. There is never a better time to buy a car than now. Whenever that is.
Derek
Derek
PH said:
What to buy 4.0 4.5 5.0 which is likely to plumet the most?
This is not a good time to sell any car, but us having to pay £5.00 a gallon for petrol it is not going to help residuals of anything with a dirty great inefficient(for today) V8 in it.
If money no object get the 5.0(faster), if you want to reduce costs a bit get a 4.0(cheaper to run).
As someone has already said even the 4.0 is not cheap to run, that is why there are now so many dogs out there, buyer beware.
I would concur with the general sentiments being expressed here.. although there are some other potentail contributors.
The cost of the early Tuscan's has fallen - I recently saw a pretty good Tuscan go for 18k... that's 15% more than I paid for my Chimaera. Needless to say that pushes the other models further down. Interestingly though, they will reach a plateau - like the S series has (I guess the wedges have too, but I don't know them as well).
Owners appear to attach a slightly higher value to the Griff in comparison with the "common" Chimaera... however, when I was looking for a V8 car I consdiered both. I generally took the view that I got more for my money with the Chimaera, which is essentially the same car (bodywork excepted).
I should also point out that of the cars around the 10k mark I looked at, they were all pretty ropey. In fact, many cars up to my 18k budget were pretty poor overall - including main dealer cars. Just because they are shiny on the top does not make them a good car. There are of course exceptions to the rule, but I have yet to see a bargain car...
The cost of the early Tuscan's has fallen - I recently saw a pretty good Tuscan go for 18k... that's 15% more than I paid for my Chimaera. Needless to say that pushes the other models further down. Interestingly though, they will reach a plateau - like the S series has (I guess the wedges have too, but I don't know them as well).
Owners appear to attach a slightly higher value to the Griff in comparison with the "common" Chimaera... however, when I was looking for a V8 car I consdiered both. I generally took the view that I got more for my money with the Chimaera, which is essentially the same car (bodywork excepted).
I should also point out that of the cars around the 10k mark I looked at, they were all pretty ropey. In fact, many cars up to my 18k budget were pretty poor overall - including main dealer cars. Just because they are shiny on the top does not make them a good car. There are of course exceptions to the rule, but I have yet to see a bargain car...
Nuggs said:
I have yet to see a bargain car...
Agreed. I suspect short term 'bargains' rapidly turn into medium/long-term nightmares (with a few exceptions, as I'm sure I'll soon be told...).
I know someone who bought a 10k Chimaera... it has now cost him more to get it to useable spec, than I paid for mine... he might as well have bought a 15k sorted car.
As stated, there will always be an exception to the rule though.
I would agree with Podie. When I searched out the V8 (I went Griff BTW) I preferred the Griff but for the money I would have gotten a beter Chim, until the ACT Griff came along which was a very good price. I was intending to buy a Chim from a PHer. Generally the Chims are better value for money. I did look at a few "budget" cars and one CAT D repaired. They were all pretty bad the CAT D being of the same standard but around £3K cheaper. I would have bought a CAT D but a higher priced one. I also saw a very cheap Griff Sub £9K and TBH I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.
But as someone else said, these cars are more expensive to run than your ususal Eurobox. I have taken the Griff off the road owing to financial situation (Uncertain job secuerity and crazy insurance). But the exhaust manifold is blowing and I don't have time to fix it at the moment, and with winter impending, I'm going to be doing a lot of touching up on the car (possible Front respray and wheel refurb). Somthing will go wrong however small, and it could be expensive. My S3 was extremely reliable, but the exhaust and down pipes did go (not surprising on a 13 year old car) and they were considerably more expensive than a eurobox system.
But as someone else said, these cars are more expensive to run than your ususal Eurobox. I have taken the Griff off the road owing to financial situation (Uncertain job secuerity and crazy insurance). But the exhaust manifold is blowing and I don't have time to fix it at the moment, and with winter impending, I'm going to be doing a lot of touching up on the car (possible Front respray and wheel refurb). Somthing will go wrong however small, and it could be expensive. My S3 was extremely reliable, but the exhaust and down pipes did go (not surprising on a 13 year old car) and they were considerably more expensive than a eurobox system.
dadamsv8 said:
Listen to the sound advise on here if this is the car you have decided on (and believe me you won't be dissapointed!!!) then just do it.
As for colour when I bought mine I searched for ages for what I thought was the right colour (blue or green) and bought yellow in the end and I have too be honest it's the best thing I did. I only ever get complimentary remarks on the colour and after all the car is not exactely a shy retiring mode of transport so why not underline line it with a colour to match.(and yellow ones are faster)
End of the day down to personnal choice but don't restrict yourself to colour as condition and history is far more important and whatever colour you go for will put a smile on your face forever.
I agree with dadamsv8, we searched for a red or green chim and looked at about thirty cars until we saw the "yellow one", which we bought there and then. Buy the best you can afford and enjoy the ride.
aliged said:
I'd strongly suggest that you get yourself a Porsche Boxster and enjoy a much more capable car for not a lot more money......and a gaurantee of 300% less hassle.
(You ain't seen me, Right?)
>> Edited by aliged on Thursday 15th September 13:09
But where is the soul.. .. ..
slikk said:
I'd strongly suggest that you get yourself a Porsche Boxster and enjoy a much more capable car for not a lot more money......and a gaurantee of 300% less hassle.
(You ain't seen me, Right?)
>> Edited by aliged on Thursday 15th September 13:09
But where is the soul.. .. ..
...as opposed to the 'soul-destroying'?
<I say good man, here's my cloakroom ticket>
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