Pre sale inspections - Who to use, Herts/Essex?

[timja]

Currently on the look out for a Chimera, does anyone know of a company in Herts/Essex area that would come and view a car to check for common faults?

Or would i need to take to a TVR garage for them to inspect. Mainly to check to usual expensive problems that can happen (chassis, outriggers and wishbones etc).

Or are there any knowledgeable people that fancy a trip out in exchange for a few pints?!

[dadamsv8]

Rob Ingleby www.findasportscar.co.uk/

Really good guy knows his stuff

[timja]

Thanks, shall give him a ring - any others people can recommend. Also, what sort of cost should i expect? Guessing about £100-£150 ish?

[paulg390]

Not TVR specialists, but you could do worse that try Will at Motorvation in Sarratt, Herts, 01923 268555. www.Motorvation.cc. He's rubbish at emails so phone him... Does two levels of inspection so price will vary depending on what level you want (think its anything from 150 - 300), and of course where the car is.... He looks after my Griff and Wedge and a couple of others as well, as well as loads of old Jags, Porsches' Ferraris, etc..

[chim666]

timja said:

Thanks, shall give him a ring - any others people can recommend. Also, what sort of cost should i expect? Guessing about £100-£150 ish?

Rob'll charge about £500 for finding you the car, with the inspection and an HPI check...and he even haggled a few hundred quid off for me when I bought mine!

[nikman]

Rob quoted me something like £260 for inspection only - not the full finder service - as I'd found a Chim I was about to make an offer on. However, due to peculiar behaviour by the dealer (yes, a recognised TVR main dealer!) I abandoned that particular car so never accepted Rob's proposal. In the end I fell for a '98 450 posted right here in the PH classifieds. The seller was in Herts and so am I - about 20 minutes away. I asked him to bring it to The TVR Centre in Arkley (Barnet) and Martin and the boys spent two hours looking over it, under it and a test drive. They gave me a schedule of items needing attention which provided the basis with which to buy the car. They seemed very thorough indeed - very detailed stuff and highlighted a few things I couldn't have discovered on my own no matter how long I'd spent looking! I'm thrilled with my new Chim and thrilled with the friendly helpful service from The TVR Centre. Oh, the cost of this inspection... £150.00 (+ VAT).

Good luck with your purchase and I'd always be pleased to give you an opinion if you're close to the Herts borders. Nick.

[timja]

Thanks guys, Rob quoted me £230. May be easier to take it to somewhere a bit more local though. I popped into The TVR Centre the other week, and they quoted me £150 also and seemed quite helpful.

A car i am going to look at later was bought from Castle TVR 10 months ago and has a couple of months warranty left, so hopefully 10 months ago they would have given it a good check - but guess lots of things could have happened after another 7000 miles! - but hopefully it is generally sound!