When is it time to let go?

[whiplash]

I'm about to purchase a new set of carpets for the Chim due to water ingress and have her serviced but apart from the odd 10 minute drive I hardly use the car.

I have had a new clutch, new starter motor, new leads, plugs, oil and just recoated the roof with Fabsil and gave her a clean at the weekend took her for a spin as we had excellent weather yesterday and yes it was great………….

Don't get me wrong, if you want a real drivers car you can't go wrong with a TVR but I think it may be time to let someone else take the rains.

I work in London and use the train from Monday to Friday and at the weekend the misses prefers we use the Audi as (these are her words) "it's more Comfortable ".

I did try to take the car to work but traffic is appalling and the cost of the congestion charge, parking and fuel make it crippling on the wallet.

I don't know why I have become so attached to this car and why I can't let go but I know it's for the best………………………………………..

Edited by whiplash on Monday 30th October 12:58

[-JUT-]

Funnily enough I'm probably in a similar boat to you - I commute into London by train as I work in the city and driving a car in just isn't feasible, even a smart car (god forbid) unless your office has its own parking (which mine doesn't). The car only usually sees use at the weekends and any driving I need to do for work, or outside work & involving going somewhere scabby or carrying stuff/more than one passenger, is done in a Vauxhall Omega which cost me peanuts. Probably doing less than 1,000 miles a year in the TVR at this rate.

But I still don't want to sell it. I've tried the "compromise car" situation, getting something quick but semi-sensible that I can use for work; I ended up selling it to buy the TVR. The bottom line is that the compromise car is never as much fun to drive and you end up wanting something that offers more enjoyment for the weekends. But the closer you get to a car you'll enjoy driving nearly as much as the TVR, the more costly it gets using it at other times.

The closest practical cars that I can think of that would get close to the TVR driving enjoyment in, are things like Scooby turbos, Lancers, M3's etc - and all of these cars cost just as much money to buy a decent one, and will cost you as much in insurance, fuel etc and still probably won't be comfortable enough to keep some passengers happy ;-) - and even then, they won't have the grin factor that a TVR has or draw the same kind of attention.

[hut49]

whiplash said:

I'm about to purchase a new set of carpets for the Chim due to water ingress and ........ I think it may be time to let someone else take the rains

I see your point

[that daddy]

That must be hard,but i see your dilemma,i think you just have to do whats right at the end of the day.most of us use these as second cars so......

[snorky]

just don't come on here complaining about it when you have sold it.....

[Fire99]

I think you'll miss it. You'll be surprised just how much character these cars have.
If i haven't driven mine for a week it still surprises me how much a sense of occasion it feels when i start driving..

Alot of my friends have scoobies and yes they are very fast but they feel like a very normal saloon but with loads of poke.. (sound good though with the flat 4)

To be fair whatever you do isnt the end of the world.. if you sell and want another i'm sure you'll find another nice one on here or through the club.

In my eyes there are very few cars that feel the same as the TVR.. (not for reasonable cash anyway)

My 5p is, if you leave, dont be a passenger in one or you will be straight back on the classifieds looking for another...

(you dont realise what you have until its gone )

[Nick P]

I did the same thing last year and sold mine in about May.....i lasted 517 days, 7 hours, 35 minutes and 24 seconds (approximately), before i went and bought another one as i was pining to death without one

[Chauch]

I have tried a couple of times to offload the fun car for financial reasons and stick with my "sensible" company cars .

I find no better justification than the smile and feeling of escape when I turn the key in the TVR and I really missed that when I have gone through my sensible periods. If you have the sensible car covered with the Audi and have the option, I would perosnally keep it.

[funkyol]

Lend it to me, i'll happily drive it around for you, and let you know what it's like on a weekly basis, but you retain the ownership. Problem solved.

[peter miller]

I have twice changed for something different, first time an S2000 which lasted 6 weeks and then a Boxster which I actually kept for a year, now I am back to square one with another Chimaera, be it a slightly larger 450.I am afraid that as good as these other cars are, miles ahead in build quality, refinement reliability etc,each time I knew I had made a mistake.

[whiplash]

So basically what you are all confirming is if I do part with her I will never forgive myself.

I guess she stays part of the family then.

I love this car and hate it at the same time but I have never owned a car that when you get to your destination you wish you had taken the longer route.

RIGHT THAT'S IT, SHE STAYS. I'm going to get her back to mint condition and take her to the south of France next year.

Thanks guys.

[jonnyb]

whiplash said:

RIGHT THAT'S IT, SHE STAYS. I'm going to get her back to mint condition and take her to the south of France next year.

You know it makes sense!!

[Fire99]

Wehey!!!! And there was much rejoicing!

[TVRmuppet]

The simple solution is get out of the rat race and live in the glorious south west. I did this 4 years ago. Best thing I ever did. Started a business and now earn 4 times as much and work half the time. Londons great for a while, I did 20 years.
I think I will go and take the dog to the beach in the TVR in a minute as its very sunny.

[ads]

Well done, and a good decision.

I keep thinking I would like to get a newer one, but don't want to sell the one I have because it has been a very good car. So then I think I'll just go and buy another one and have two!

Then I realise I cannot afford two, so I'll stay with the one that I have got. Maybe one day I will have more than one TVR in the garage!

[M@H]

HAving used mine for a whole 2 weeks this year (job and extending family) I wonder the same thing.. however having been through the loss of a Chimaera before and lasting ...ooo.. 8 weeks before buying another TVR I realise its not a decision to make lightly. What with the seeming demise of TVR it has actually prompted me to hang on to the ole' girl for a bit longer too ..lets see what next year brings (other than even more family!).

Edited by M@H on Tuesday 31st October 12:53

[Podie]

M@H said:

HAving used mine for a whole 2 weeks this year (job and extending family) <snip> ..lets see what next year brings (other than even more family!).

Blimey... how big is the family going to be?!!?

[M@H]

Podie said:

M@H said:

HAving used mine for a whole 2 weeks this year (job and extending family) <snip> ..lets see what next year brings (other than even more family!).

Blimey... how big is the family going to be?!!?

Just the two kids will do, 2nd one due 22nd January... then there will be a <snip> on the cards for me next year too

Edited by M@H on Tuesday 31st October 13:18

[Podie]

M@H said:

Podie said:

M@H said:

HAving used mine for a whole 2 weeks this year (job and extending family) <snip> ..lets see what next year brings (other than even more family!).

Blimey... how big is the family going to be?!!?

Just the two kids will do, 2nd one due 22nd January... then there will be a <snip> on the cards for me next year too

Edited by M@H on Tuesday 31st October 13:18

Go to www.yell.com and type in "Chemist"... they might be able to help...

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

whiplash said:

and at the weekend the misses prefers we use the Audi as (these are her words) "it's more Comfortable ".

I should change your wife