1st TVR, any advise

[ben.sas]

Hi , New member here.

After the last 3 years of saving, i have got up to 10K to spend on a chim.

I think i'm look at an early ninety's car due to money, but is it worth waiting till winter to get a deal? Which model!

What sort of common faults, if any, do i need to look out for whilst purchasing?

Does anyone know of a cheap-ish insurer, the best i've had is £550 fully comp?

THANKS ALL.

[tvrbob]

£550 for insurance is about right.

Now for the advice you probably don't want to hear. If it has taken you 3 years to save £10k I would be concerned that you would be unable to afford the cost of ownership. These cars cost between £1k and £5k more per year than normal cars to keep on the road. I will admit there are more £1k years but you can't predict when a £5k year will hit and the older the car the more likely it becomes.

Buy one and enjoy but be ready for the pain too.


>> Edited by tvrbob on Saturday 8th October 08:36

[dodgyviper]

ben.sas said:

Hi , New member here. After the last 3 years of saving, i have got up to 10K to spend on a chim. I think i'm look at an early ninety's car due to money, but is it worth waiting till winter to get a deal? Which model! Prices are deflated at the moment so wouldn't hope for any drastic reductions What sort of common faults, if any, do i need to look out for whilst purchasing? Contact rob Ingleby (PHer)- for a finders fee he'll source you a spot on car and probably get it discounted by at least the amount of his fee anyway. Does anyone know of a cheap-ish insurer, the best i've had is £550 fully comp? That's good that is THANKS ALL.

a) Condition condition condition

b) Don't worry too much about high mileage - these cars like to be used regularly.

c) Test drive as many as possible before choosing - you'll want to buy the first one you see - DON'T!!

d) Go to your local TVRCC meet (or PH equivalent) and talk to current owners.

e) You will need money aside to take care of small/big niggles.


Ben - where are you based - more than happy to show you over mine if you're in the North West

>> Edited by dodgyviper on Saturday 8th October 11:57

[ben.sas]

Thankyou very much for the offer, unfortunately i'm based in cornwall. Could not get any further away really.

My intensions are to use it as a weekend toy. The cost involved in running the car is of no worry. As my second car will be my run around, and i am an experienced DIYer on the fix it side of things.

I'm very tight with my dosh, so its the fact i'll have to part with the money which will hurt the most, but hey, i need a treat!

I must remind myself not to buy the first one i see, and test a few out. I know that there is a chance that excitement may override logic and sense. I have enlisted a good friend to remind me, CONSTANTLY!

I do keep thinking that maybe i should opt for the S-Series instead, but it just isn't the same.

i',m very greatful for the any advice anyone wants to give me, who better than owners themselves to give the best advice.

[anonymous-user]

TVR's are expensive to run!!

My last service included, new shocks, (new lower wishbone as one of the shocks wouldn't come off) and a new starter motor to cure a hot start problem.
That was around £1,300.

I've done about 800 miles and the thing will still not start when hot so is going back for some more mods.

I've previously spent £800 through a main dealer on a service, plus about £400 iirc to replace rocker gaskets. I still have an oil leak which is coming from the valley gasket. About a £200 job to do. The aircon keeps running out of gas, It needs a complete overhaul I think. It only lasts about 6 months before depressurising. Got fed up with it and haven't had it gassed for about a year as I get other things sorted on it. Before I got the car it had a new steering rack (about 48k).

It broke down on the way to Brands Hatch the other week, stalled as it got hot and wouldn't idle. The bloody thing would not start again Cue bonnet up and pushing off a packed roundabout.

The buying a TVR is the cheap part, the keeping it running is the main expense. Despite what anyone tells you, things will go wrong!!

I use mine as a weekend car and must have spent at least 5k in the last 3 years on Insurance, servicing and repairs. I have only done about 6-7k in it aswell!!

Other than that they sound great and go well. You just have to decide whether it is worth the expense.

[softtop]

[quote=dodgyviper]

c) Test drive as many as possible before choosing - you'll want to buy the first one you see - DON'T!!

I did, but before putting the deposit down looked at two more in two days. If you know what you want and know what you are looking for, just do it!

[david beer]

Supraman, iam sure you were in on the "hot start" thread, they should of just fitted a relay, £4 tops.

>> Edited by david beer on Sunday 9th October 07:44

[poorpeet]

I bought a cheap one. You are welcome to come round and have a look & a chat. (I run mine on a shoe string) I'm in the south east.

Pete

[cosmoschick]

My Pug 206 has cost me more in 4 months than my Chimaera has over 12 months!

Approximate expenses, apart from insurance/servicing, for the Tiv has been as follows:-

Two new boots - £80 each
Battery - £80
HT leads - £80

Probably could have spent more if I wanted to, but that's all I needed to spend. I'm going to buy a dizzy cap and a coil, but that's out of the next 12 months' budget!

Not bad, really.

[david beer]

My Griff, would of cost me 2k per year, average, if i had fallen for the estimates. Thats my story and my 1 yr old Griff with completely shot bushes is still just fine, 4 yrs on.!! I have only spent money on things which were needed,well apart from Taraka,ACT,Bosch,Magnacor,MA chip. £4.5k .

[M@H]

ben.sas said:

I do keep thinking that maybe i should opt for the S-Series instead, but it just isn't the same.

Not the same, but not a bad car at all. A bit "rustic" compared the the Chimaera bit if you're really on a budget then it might be the way to go. If you're buying a Chim for £10k, you really ought to have £2k in the bank for the "just in case" fund.

How about a V8S

[zagamuffin]

Whatever it costs to run at least it won't be as bad as my mate's Cerbera. He's spent £24,000 on maintenance alone in the last four years, the car has also depreciated by around £20,000 too. Now that's expensive!

[Cavey]

zagamuffin said:

Whatever it costs to run at least it won't be as bad as my mate's Cerbera. He's spent £24,000 on maintenance alone in the last four years, the car has also depreciated by around £20,000 too. Now that's expensive!

That must be one for Norris McWhirter, surely

[v8nrg]

My advice would be:
1) get one that has been used regularly.
2) Buy on condition, not mileage; these engines are good for lots of miles.
3) Buy a blue one (they’re quicker).

4) Buy this one: Nice Chimaera

[parrot of doom]

v8nrg said:

My advice would be: 1) get one that has been used regularly. 2) Buy on condition, not mileage; these engines are good for lots of miles. 3) Buy a blue one (they’re quicker). 4) Buy this one: Nice Chimaera

Nah you don't want that, you want this (nice car btw)

www.pistonheads.com/sales/49184.htm