DIY servicing vs. FTVRSH
Discussion
Hi all,
Just wondering what the consensus is on DIY servicing in terms of service history record.
Before I bought my Chim I several people / articles said only buy cars with FTVRSH. I run my car almost everyday and am eating up the miles... My plan might be to do the minor (6k) service myself and take the car into a specialist for the big 12k service.
When I bought the car last summer I put it straight in for a big service at 50k miles. Now 56k is about to appear on my clock and i'm planning to do the service my self.
It's not as if the car had an immaculate history prior to me owning it, but just wondered what peoples thoughts n opinions were? In my experience, as a buyer, I look for a car that was been well looked after and a stamp in the service book doesn't guarentee that. But a folder full of receipts and history does.
Cheers,
Pete.
1995 Chimaera 4.0
Just wondering what the consensus is on DIY servicing in terms of service history record.
Before I bought my Chim I several people / articles said only buy cars with FTVRSH. I run my car almost everyday and am eating up the miles... My plan might be to do the minor (6k) service myself and take the car into a specialist for the big 12k service.
When I bought the car last summer I put it straight in for a big service at 50k miles. Now 56k is about to appear on my clock and i'm planning to do the service my self.
It's not as if the car had an immaculate history prior to me owning it, but just wondered what peoples thoughts n opinions were? In my experience, as a buyer, I look for a car that was been well looked after and a stamp in the service book doesn't guarentee that. But a folder full of receipts and history does.
Cheers,
Pete.
1995 Chimaera 4.0
Timing.... 
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=13&t=351492
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=13&t=351492
Edited by Podie on Friday 2nd February 13:24
For me its the quality of the servicing, not who did it. Just because it may have a TVR dealer stamp in the book doesnt mean i would assume the car had been serviced well. (No disrespect to TVR dealers but i wouldn't just assume off hand)
You do have to consider residuals as early Chims are not fetching huge money.
However i dont think the price is the issue.
If there are no recent stamps, regardless if maintained by a TVR speicalist or not, then the buyer will have to take alot as said by yourself.
If you could prove the work had been done well i dont think it would affect the price too badly but i think it would significantly narrow the number of people willing to buy the car. (Even if their fears are unfounded.)
You do have to consider residuals as early Chims are not fetching huge money.
However i dont think the price is the issue.
If there are no recent stamps, regardless if maintained by a TVR speicalist or not, then the buyer will have to take alot as said by yourself.
If you could prove the work had been done well i dont think it would affect the price too badly but i think it would significantly narrow the number of people willing to buy the car. (Even if their fears are unfounded.)
I get mine serviced by a local guy who happens to race Fezzas and Loti, is a really nice guy and total petrolhead. It bothers me not that my service history is not TVR, nor even full. I've done 6,000 miles in the last 9 years, and some years it's been just a few hundred miles between one "annual service" and the next. No way would I be paying £600+ for a TVR annual service that the car just doesn't need.
Take this year; I just fitted a fully rebuilt engine, and lots of other stuff replaced at the same time. I had the car MoT'd and that's its lot, no service this year. Tsk.
FTVRSH is just a boxed ticked for lazy folk who can't be bothered to look at the cars properly, and a guarantee of nothing IMHO.
Take this year; I just fitted a fully rebuilt engine, and lots of other stuff replaced at the same time. I had the car MoT'd and that's its lot, no service this year. Tsk.
FTVRSH is just a boxed ticked for lazy folk who can't be bothered to look at the cars properly, and a guarantee of nothing IMHO.
my chim is a 94 4ltr....there is now way i would take it to a TVR dealership for a service....8 of them and i could buy another Chim.
If i had a newer one, tuscan or cerb (S6) then i might think about dealers...i have heard of someone being charged £1200 to have all discs and pads changed...by a TVR dealers....!!!!!!!!
Just do it yourself and keep all receipts and if possible...photograph your work.
If i had a newer one, tuscan or cerb (S6) then i might think about dealers...i have heard of someone being charged £1200 to have all discs and pads changed...by a TVR dealers....!!!!!!!!
Just do it yourself and keep all receipts and if possible...photograph your work.
Do it yourself. Keep a log of the work done & receipts for the stuff you have used/fitted.
You will get to know your car better and, in my case at least, enjoy doing it.
You also know what oil ect has been put in.
As for resale, on an old one like mine I doubt it'd make much difference as long as the buyer can see it's been maintained & you have the receipts ect to back it up.
You will get to know your car better and, in my case at least, enjoy doing it.
You also know what oil ect has been put in.
As for resale, on an old one like mine I doubt it'd make much difference as long as the buyer can see it's been maintained & you have the receipts ect to back it up.
I do repairs myself but still book it into a TVR specialist for it's annual £700 'oil change'. I kid myself that it will help when I come to sell, but how much will £13,000+ worth of invoices affect the resale price of a high mileage Chimeara? Not much I suspect.
If you do your own servicing you could produce your own 'invoice' saying exactly what you did and when (brake fluid, fuel filter etc) and staple to parts reciept to it. What about the full four wheel alignment, can you do that youself? IMO that's a very important part of a service although I know some specialists don't always bother.
If you do your own servicing you could produce your own 'invoice' saying exactly what you did and when (brake fluid, fuel filter etc) and staple to parts reciept to it. What about the full four wheel alignment, can you do that youself? IMO that's a very important part of a service although I know some specialists don't always bother.
lets face it, its all down to common sense and probably whether you are a competent mechanic or have a good garage that you trust.
If we were talking about a 30k+ Tuscan 2 or Sag then i would be strongly suggesting a good TVR dealer or Independant.
Chims (and griffs for that matter) are blessed with generally simple mechanics and a huge base of knowledge. And when you're seeing values of cars go below 10k i doubt many can justify £700+ service costs.
If we were talking about a 30k+ Tuscan 2 or Sag then i would be strongly suggesting a good TVR dealer or Independant.
Chims (and griffs for that matter) are blessed with generally simple mechanics and a huge base of knowledge. And when you're seeing values of cars go below 10k i doubt many can justify £700+ service costs.
Fire99 said:
lets face it, its all down to common sense and probably whether you are a competent mechanic or have a good garage that you trust.
If we were talking about a 30k+ Tuscan 2 or Sag then i would be strongly suggesting a good TVR dealer or Independant.
Chims (and griffs for that matter) are blessed with generally simple mechanics and a huge base of knowledge. And when you're seeing values of cars go below 10k i doubt many can justify £700+ service costs.
If we were talking about a 30k+ Tuscan 2 or Sag then i would be strongly suggesting a good TVR dealer or Independant.
Chims (and griffs for that matter) are blessed with generally simple mechanics and a huge base of knowledge. And when you're seeing values of cars go below 10k i doubt many can justify £700+ service costs.
If I was in the market for an older chimaera I would probably ignore the cars that were self serviced and look first at those with full SH (indie is great though). So by doing this you are losing at least one possible future purchaser BUT if you save enough dosh you can sell the car more cheaply?
gazzab said:
If I was in the market for an older chimaera I would probably ignore the cars that were self serviced and look first at those with full SH (indie is great though). So by doing this you are losing at least one possible future purchaser BUT if you save enough dosh you can sell the car more cheaply?
So if that person had upgraded, poly bushed, adjustable suspension, brakes(braided hoses,discs,pads) loved & cared for the chassis etc etc etc .....
seasider said:
gazzab said:
If I was in the market for an older chimaera I would probably ignore the cars that were self serviced and look first at those with full SH (indie is great though). So by doing this you are losing at least one possible future purchaser BUT if you save enough dosh you can sell the car more cheaply?
So if that person had upgraded, poly bushed, adjustable suspension, brakes(braided hoses,discs,pads) loved & cared for the chassis etc etc etc .....
Even so buy a car with a FSH
having a car with full service history does not mean it has had a full service every time it went in...
Whats the guarantee that the work has been done...?
It would take me half hour max to make a receipt that said i had changed the cam or done some major work on a car....all you need is a pc printer and very basic pc skills.
At the end of the day the more you can do on your own car the more you will know the job has been done.
You can pay £700 for a service but unless you are watching them for the day it takes to do a service how would you know if they changed the oil???
Not trying to throw spanners in the works or disagree with people opinions...just playin devils advocate!
Whats the guarantee that the work has been done...?
It would take me half hour max to make a receipt that said i had changed the cam or done some major work on a car....all you need is a pc printer and very basic pc skills.
At the end of the day the more you can do on your own car the more you will know the job has been done.
You can pay £700 for a service but unless you are watching them for the day it takes to do a service how would you know if they changed the oil???
Not trying to throw spanners in the works or disagree with people opinions...just playin devils advocate!
I am not saying this is true for TVR dealers but I seen so many other cars, and bought other cars with so called dealer service history and all the stamps in the book etc. Then when you go to do a job yourself i.e gearbox oil change diff/ other service requirements that are listed at say 12,000mile you find the paint has not even been cracked off and the car has done 40,000miles.This is not uncommon , i shifted spanners at a large main dealers years ago , when the lads are on bonus for time allocated to a job...........
I keep a maintenance list with things done and receipts , as this is how it works on big boats as dealers can be 6000miles away. There depreciation if no log is kept huge £.
I think when you look through the pistons forums there are a considerable number of very knowledgeable people and true enthusiasts and there car is there P&J ,so buying a DIY serviced from one of those would not concern me . I would be more concerned with a young apprentice having a bad day using a 14mm where he should be using 13mm. So when I get he car back all the heads are butchered. We have all done stupid things but if you do it, you know about it, and its not covered up. So if its your P&J you will probably want it right and sort it out.
I keep a maintenance list with things done and receipts , as this is how it works on big boats as dealers can be 6000miles away. There depreciation if no log is kept huge £.
I think when you look through the pistons forums there are a considerable number of very knowledgeable people and true enthusiasts and there car is there P&J ,so buying a DIY serviced from one of those would not concern me . I would be more concerned with a young apprentice having a bad day using a 14mm where he should be using 13mm. So when I get he car back all the heads are butchered. We have all done stupid things but if you do it, you know about it, and its not covered up. So if its your P&J you will probably want it right and sort it out.
Edited by Rum Runner on Friday 2nd February 21:58
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