ok daft question
Discussion
after a visit to Harrogate Horseless Carragies the other week we've been considering a chimaera...
but theres 2 within budget... but not sure which one would be best to go for
a 93 in BRG, 47,000miles for £11k and a 97 in silver, 39,000miles for £15k
but not sure which would be best to go for... yes the 97 is the facelift model, and slightly tider interior, but its pushing the budget a little.
edited to add... would be needed for a daily commute of 80 miles of mostly motorway
>> Edited by lord summerisle on Monday 5th December 12:24
but theres 2 within budget... but not sure which one would be best to go for
a 93 in BRG, 47,000miles for £11k and a 97 in silver, 39,000miles for £15k
but not sure which would be best to go for... yes the 97 is the facelift model, and slightly tider interior, but its pushing the budget a little.
edited to add... would be needed for a daily commute of 80 miles of mostly motorway
>> Edited by lord summerisle on Monday 5th December 12:24
It's age that kills cars rather than mileage. Therefore, always go for the younger version, get a good report on the sort of maintenance items that are likely in the near future, couple of bob salted away to meet that plus a bit for unforeseen.
But, check out history. A car, especially a TVR, which has seen relatively low mileage may throw up a few "TVR foibles" when you start using it regularly. Although overall you'll get the best out of it by regular use.
Also can you negotiate the price down a bit, get a warranty included, or a deal to service it for free first time as you're getting to pay a premium for a dealer car?
But, check out history. A car, especially a TVR, which has seen relatively low mileage may throw up a few "TVR foibles" when you start using it regularly. Although overall you'll get the best out of it by regular use.
Also can you negotiate the price down a bit, get a warranty included, or a deal to service it for free first time as you're getting to pay a premium for a dealer car?
aye, tis an idea....
dealer so far seems desperate to make a sale... so far been offered £1000 off the sticker price and first service free... extended warrenty...
dunno how much that should swing it for us... but yeah seens similare aged cars privatly for 2-3K less.
was more wondering of the differences between the 93 and 97 was worth the difference in price
dealer so far seems desperate to make a sale... so far been offered £1000 off the sticker price and first service free... extended warrenty...
dunno how much that should swing it for us... but yeah seens similare aged cars privatly for 2-3K less.
was more wondering of the differences between the 93 and 97 was worth the difference in price
Difficult to say without seeing the cars. The difference,£4K can be easily spent on putting things right, that's not to say that the more expensive car is going to have nothing wrong with it. You have presumably searched the forum and read all about what to look for and where? Make sure EVERYTHING works, get dirty so to speak (go under the car to have a look)etc. Best of luck and join the ranks soon!
lord summerisle said:
aye, tis an idea....
dealer so far seems desperate to make a sale... so far been offered £1000 off the sticker price and first service free... extended warrenty...
dunno how much that should swing it for us... but yeah seens similare aged cars privatly for 2-3K less.
was more wondering of the differences between the 93 and 97 was worth the difference in price
A 93 with that sort of mileage (and in that colour) could be had for around £8k now. The 97 for about £10500 - £11k I would guess.
beano500 said:In my experience neither age nor mileage are a reliable indicator of condition. Actually having a good look at them is the only way to go. Failing that, the state of the current owners fingernails is as good a pointer as any, though this doesn't help with cars from a dealer.
It's age that kills cars rather than mileage. ...
Edited to add: a 97 car is just as likely to need a new chassis as a 93 one. 8 years is plenty of time for a chassis to rot out if not properly protected and maintained. Just supposing there is an advantage to "regularly used" cars over low mileage examples (dry seals is one usually trotted out, but time and tide wait for no seal), it can be lost in spectacular fashion by constant exposure of an unprotected chassis to salted roads.
>> Edited by victormeldrew on Monday 5th December 13:22
If you can get a grand off and the dealer is giving you the next service free and a warranty, the 97 makes sense..... It has enough mileage to have been sorted of any gremlins and the peace of mind of having a warranty makes it, it my opinion, a good choice.
However. It depends wether you are a driver or a polisher. If you enjoy polishing your p&j then the british racing green will be far more satisfying, if you spend more time driving it then the silver would be more practical !!!
However. It depends wether you are a driver or a polisher. If you enjoy polishing your p&j then the british racing green will be far more satisfying, if you spend more time driving it then the silver would be more practical !!!
Be brave and bid for this one www.barons-auctions.com/lots/K444CCH.htm
victormeldrew said:
It's age that kills cars rather than mileage. ...
I would agree with that entirely. I looked at chims between 93 - 98 when I bought mine. I bought on condition alone and ended up with a 1993. Not only was the bodywork and interior the best out of the bunch, the chassis was the cleanest too.
TVR chassis' are terrible. They rust in a matter of months and a reliable source informed me that the materials used to be stored outside so hardly giving metal a fighting chance from the outset. Since they are problematic from the day they leave the factory, its solely down to the previous keepers how well the chassis lasts. If anything, a more recent car may have been neglected in the belief it should be fine without protection since its not an old car.
Most TVRs benefit from a few years of owner tinkership and maintenance. Hence I would buy on condition alone.
mg511 said:
Be brave and bid for this one www.barons-auctions.com/lots/K444CCH.htm
barons said:
including a recent £2,300 service
ouch.
Lord Summerisle, I too had a look at the 93L Chimaera thats on for £10995. You are right, they do seem desperate to do a deal!
I wasn't too keen on it as there was an annoying tick from the dashboard area, the bonnet was rubbing the front wing on the passenger side and there was something not right with the immobiliser the previous owner had fitted!
The sales guy wants to show me the Silver 97P as well although I haven't looked at it yet. I guess he has told you there is someone else interested etc etc - they certainly like high pressure sales tactics!
My main issue is getting a reasonable quote for insurance on a 4.0L - any recommended insurers? ( I have tried Adrian Flux & A,Manning but with them you need to have owned a high performance car before.)
I wasn't too keen on it as there was an annoying tick from the dashboard area, the bonnet was rubbing the front wing on the passenger side and there was something not right with the immobiliser the previous owner had fitted!
The sales guy wants to show me the Silver 97P as well although I haven't looked at it yet. I guess he has told you there is someone else interested etc etc - they certainly like high pressure sales tactics!
My main issue is getting a reasonable quote for insurance on a 4.0L - any recommended insurers? ( I have tried Adrian Flux & A,Manning but with them you need to have owned a high performance car before.)
I didn't bother with age or milage when looking for my TVR, the main reason I picked Miss Daisy was the condition of the chassis ie PERFECT. Just so happened to be a 99 model and has been a dream to own so far.
Plus I have a fantastic looker-afterer in Ian @ Middlewich, so that makes life a lot easier when I call crying cos of some strange noise, that turns out to be nothing.
And ignore what people say about buying the first one you see, Miss Daisy was the only one I saw and I bought her on-sight. It was pure instinct, you will just *know* which one is right for you.
I use mine as an every day car, at one point for over 2 months, I was doing a daily commute from Litchfield to Manchester and never had any issues, in fact not even sat in traffic jams through the roadworks, bothered me or her.
Good luck
Claire
>> Edited by Gaffer on Monday 5th December 23:23
>> Edited by Gaffer on Monday 5th December 23:25
Plus I have a fantastic looker-afterer in Ian @ Middlewich, so that makes life a lot easier when I call crying cos of some strange noise, that turns out to be nothing.
And ignore what people say about buying the first one you see, Miss Daisy was the only one I saw and I bought her on-sight. It was pure instinct, you will just *know* which one is right for you.
I use mine as an every day car, at one point for over 2 months, I was doing a daily commute from Litchfield to Manchester and never had any issues, in fact not even sat in traffic jams through the roadworks, bothered me or her.
Good luck
Claire
>> Edited by Gaffer on Monday 5th December 23:23
>> Edited by Gaffer on Monday 5th December 23:25
NICK G said:
Lord Summerisle, I too had a look at the 93L Chimaera thats on for £10995. You are right, they do seem desperate to do a deal!
I wasn't too keen on it as there was an annoying tick from the dashboard area, the bonnet was rubbing the front wing on the passenger side and there was something not right with the immobiliser the previous owner had fitted!
The sales guy wants to show me the Silver 97P as well although I haven't looked at it yet. I guess he has told you there is someone else interested etc etc - they certainly like high pressure sales tactics!
My main issue is getting a reasonable quote for insurance on a 4.0L - any recommended insurers? ( I have tried Adrian Flux & A,Manning but with them you need to have owned a high performance car before.)
Ahh... cheers for that... i do remember the loose alarm wiring on the 93 one. He hasnt done that 'there's someone else interested' line yet... just offered more money off so far.
As for insurance, talked to A Manning yesterday, said most of the specialists require 5000 miles in a simliar performance car in the last 2 years to qualify - he recommended folk like direct line et al. others on here in a different thread recommended MSM insurance if you dont want to do any trackdays - MSM did me a decent quote on a Caterham (differnet beast i know
) good luck.
for me, dont think a Chim is practical yet... since we'd be pushing our budget just to own... with nowt left for servicing/repairs (and at 25k a year thats a lot of servicing)
shnozz said:
I wasn't too keen on it as there was an annoying tick from the dashboard area,
they all do that sir.
Ahh, obvious it was my first test drive in a TVR then (have always wanted one, will get one soon)!!
Interestingly the sales guy said he would get the 'ticking' sorted if I bought it....hmmmm.
www.barons-auctions.com/lots/K444CCH.htm
Those colours are nice- Red interior, and Silver. I have been to these auctions before. That TVR will scare most classic buyers off (to new). So I would imagine a £7,000 bid might take it home. You can always proxy bid, or telephone (I did it once, very strange thing to do).
>> Edited by justinbaker on Tuesday 6th December 16:23
Those colours are nice- Red interior, and Silver. I have been to these auctions before. That TVR will scare most classic buyers off (to new). So I would imagine a £7,000 bid might take it home. You can always proxy bid, or telephone (I did it once, very strange thing to do).
>> Edited by justinbaker on Tuesday 6th December 16:23
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