TVR-FIRST TIME BUYER.
Discussion
HI, I'm looking at buying a chimaera and would appreciate some advice.
can i buy a decent 95/96 400 for £8000, if not what prices do good condition cars start at.
i'll only be covering 4000 miles a year mostly on the weekend, what would the running costs be like.
as this might be my only car, what are they like in the winter.
can i buy a decent 95/96 400 for £8000, if not what prices do good condition cars start at.
i'll only be covering 4000 miles a year mostly on the weekend, what would the running costs be like.
as this might be my only car, what are they like in the winter.
Welcome to the asylum If you go to the 'This Forum' drop down menu at the top of the page and select 'FAQs', there's lots of good advice there.
As far as I'm aware, a budget of £8k won't give you a huge range of choice. Just remember to go in with your eyes open and buy on condition (particularly the chassis).
Good luck
C2996 said:
HI, I'm looking at buying a chimaera and would appreciate some advice.
can i buy a decent 95/96 400 for £8000, if not what prices do good condition cars start at.
I think you'll be hard pressed to find a decent 95/96 for that budget - a decent one of that vintage should be around 11-13 IMHO. You do get what you pay for and the reason you may see some around that price is because thats all their worth ie/ they need a lot of work or are very tatty. You may be lucky and find a desperate seller of a decent car looking to get shot at a low price but I doubt it.
For 8k you may find a good 93 model but if it were me I'd rather look at an S series and know I'm getting to pick from from a good selection rather than bottom of the barrel.
Sounds like good advice to me...
IMHO take the advice above, try an S for size, but what ever you do go into it with your eyes and wallet wide open.
Whatever you get will always tempt you with those *little* mods (engine, suspension etc) as well as the usual disks/pads etc, and the odd problem.
In a year's time £12K should give you a great range of quality Chim's, but similarly the S is a cracking car which served me well.
Whatever you get will always tempt you with those *little* mods (engine, suspension etc) as well as the usual disks/pads etc, and the odd problem.
In a year's time £12K should give you a great range of quality Chim's, but similarly the S is a cracking car which served me well.
What about a wedge, 8k will get you a nice 400se or a better than new 350i. Still has the V8 but it sounds even better without the cats. You will probably get classic insurance as well. Plus most of these cars are now owned by enthusiasts so are generally very well maintained and looked after.
Saying that, there is a few cheapish ones in the classifieds, this must be worth a look for the money...
www.pistonheads.com/sales/78772.htm
>> Edited by gf350 on Tuesday 23 May 13:47
Saying that, there is a few cheapish ones in the classifieds, this must be worth a look for the money...
www.pistonheads.com/sales/78772.htm
>> Edited by gf350 on Tuesday 23 May 13:47
Hmmmmmm..... £8k, you'll be hard pressed to find any 95/96 car out there for that money. £8k may get you an ok 93 model, but they don't crop up all that often. You may get a nicely repaired CAT D for that sort of money, which I wouldn't be put off prom buying. The old agdage "You get what you pay for" is especially appropriate for TVRs. So if you only want to spend £8K be prepared to get £8Ks worth of car and believe me you want a car in good condition. Parts are generally eaisly available, but not exactly cheap. Some of the Ford sourced bits are reasonable but anything that isn't mass produced ie TVR modified can be pricey.
Personally on your budget I would look at an S Series, and have afew thousand left over, or try looking at a V8S, but they tend to fetch quite high prices due to rarity. I would rather have a great condition S (V6 or V8) rather than a ropey Chim. I did almost switch my S3 for a not so good Chim, but it was not just the cosmetics that were not so good. My Griff is nowhere as good cosmetically as my S3, it's not even 50%, but mechanically and structrally it's absolutely 100% (as was the S3), but the engine is so sorted it's unbelieveable.
Unless I knew the History of the car and the owner, I would be slightly wary of any non CAT damaged car for around £8k.
Personally on your budget I would look at an S Series, and have afew thousand left over, or try looking at a V8S, but they tend to fetch quite high prices due to rarity. I would rather have a great condition S (V6 or V8) rather than a ropey Chim. I did almost switch my S3 for a not so good Chim, but it was not just the cosmetics that were not so good. My Griff is nowhere as good cosmetically as my S3, it's not even 50%, but mechanically and structrally it's absolutely 100% (as was the S3), but the engine is so sorted it's unbelieveable.
Unless I knew the History of the car and the owner, I would be slightly wary of any non CAT damaged car for around £8k.
My ex Chimaera has been on the classifieds for about a month now. It's there along with a few others around that price. Sometimes a seller is just desperate to get rid of something so will offer a car up at cheap money for a sale. Ther's loads of choice out there - take your time and don't jump in.
You pays your money and takes your choice.
Happy hunting.
You pays your money and takes your choice.
Happy hunting.
I looked at some at this price and it was a nightmare ,I am sure there is the odd good one , but you would be better to try a push the boundaries on the money front . If you start with the attitude of oh i can sort this the that ,it all the mount up to the same as buying a good car. For example i bought my very tidy 95 4.0hc for £9600, and i was brought up in the trade so that makes me very very fussy. I spent hundreds of pounds on fuel looking a dogs, so you have to consider that cost as well.I also looked at 9 S series cars and could not find a complete car , i.e good body / Chassis/ Interior / mechanicals.Although I know where there is good one but thats £10,000. Maybe hangout until Sept for a better deal on a Chim.
Best of luck, it all worth it in the end !!.
>> Edited by Rum Runner on Tuesday 23 May 22:27
Best of luck, it all worth it in the end !!.
>> Edited by Rum Runner on Tuesday 23 May 22:27
I had an S3 for 18 months before the Chim. Although Chim is more refined than S, former was a great experience. It was only the calling of a V8 that tempted me off the S, but loved every minute of it.
For £7k I had 18months trouble free motoring, and considerably cheaper bills than the Chim. Much rarer and gets just as much admiration, and you can get to the battery! (although electrical drains were never a problem in the S).
When I swapped over, I sold the S for............... £7k - 10,000 miles for free!
IMHO - don't discount the S for a year - it will give you big
and good intro to TVRs with less scary moments.
For £7k I had 18months trouble free motoring, and considerably cheaper bills than the Chim. Much rarer and gets just as much admiration, and you can get to the battery! (although electrical drains were never a problem in the S).
When I swapped over, I sold the S for............... £7k - 10,000 miles for free!
IMHO - don't discount the S for a year - it will give you big
and good intro to TVRs with less scary moments. 
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