Which one of these looks best?
Which one of these looks best?
Author
Discussion

L33

Original Poster:

3,469 posts

254 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
I'm after a new TVR and these 2 have caught my eye:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AWESOME-5-0-TVR-CHIMAERA-TAR...

Or this one:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

Which one would be best? I have not yet seen either of them but intend to.

Any pointers very much appreciated.

Cheers,
Lee.
thumbup

Ballistic Banana

14,706 posts

297 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
The second one is one of Ians at Sportmotives. Highly recommended by many an owner and is really passionate about his TVRs and no doubt that one would be well sorted.
BB

T_Pot

2,542 posts

227 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
The first one for me mate.

As nice as the black one is, the silver one looks a very well looked after car.
It appears to be a good genuine honest car.

With the black one, you have no way of knowing what it looked like before the paint job, and for me that says a lot about the car. if the body s not looked after, chances are underside hasnt either.

but thats just my view.

V8 Devil

3,556 posts

263 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
It depends what you want from the car. The first one will have the power that you may find lacking in the 4.0, even though it is still a quick car.
I would struggle to live with the interior of the first car but could quite happily live with power. With the second car I would trust that it has been done to a very high standard and think it looks the Mutts Nuts. If those were the only two I was choosing from then probably the second car.
What budget are you looking at, Offords have a stunning looking Rolex blue 5.0 with only 15000 on the clock for £16495. That would be my choice!
Good luck!

Edited by V8 Devil on Thursday 20th December 18:56

Ballistic Banana

14,706 posts

297 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
T_Pot said:
The first one for me mate.

As nice as the black one is, the silver one looks a very well looked after car.
It appears to be a good genuine honest car.

With the black one, you have no way of knowing what it looked like before the paint job, and for me that says a lot about the car. if the body s not looked after, chances are underside hasnt either.

but thats just my view.
I would say that if Sportmotive say it has an "excellent chassis" then it has.
You say about the bodywork condition before the respray. These cars have always suffered from a peppering at the front end of which mine is at the moment. When i can i shall have a full respray which imho would keep the whole car matched, As it can be difficult to match just the front end. I hope that wouldnt reflect that i hadnt looked after the car, ok theres a few chips marks elsewhere but that doesnt mean it has been looked after..IMHO.

BB

ps I havet knocked the other car it looks a good buy also just giving my opinions on Sportmotive and his work

AntonyJ

5,254 posts

311 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
T_Pot said:
With the black one, you have no way of knowing what it looked like before the paint job, and for me that says a lot about the car. if the body s not looked after, chances are underside hasnt either.

but thats just my view.
Ian has before and after pics of this Chimaera.
They would be freely available to any potential buyer,I am sure.

The owner of this car is very particular and any problems would have been attended too.

spend

12,581 posts

281 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
A car with 5.0, Taraka & spider + brake upgrade is very desirable. I know which one I would choose wink

Dave

T_Pot

2,542 posts

227 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
Sorry, that may have read like i was questioning the black car, i wasnt.

i dont know the people who are selling t or who did the work, as TVR are all new to me.


L33

Original Poster:

3,469 posts

254 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
Thanks for your opinions so far folks. You appear to have highlighted the dilema I am having.

Do I go for something which looks fantastic, ticks most of the right boxes and should be more or less straight but at the end of the day is "just" a 4.0

Or, Do I go for the bog standard looking firebreathing monster with upgraded brakes, and suspension? This car is also a 1 owner car with every single piece of paperwork from new. I just don't get excited with how it looks.

Providing both engines are set up correctly, what sort of peformance difference is there likely to be? I don't do trackdays etc - I will just use the car for FUN.

scratchchin

Al 450

1,390 posts

251 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
First one for me, it would be slightly galling to have passed up on all that extra performance but then again depends what you want out of the car. Are you a poseur?

I think that black one is Argoose's car, he had a lot done but a Taraka 500!! You know it makes sense...

Ballistic Banana

14,706 posts

297 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
Personally i would take a look at the Griffith you were asking about wink

BBhehe

spend

12,581 posts

281 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
Ballistic Banana said:
Personally i would take a look at the Griffith you were asking about wink

BBhehe
That of course would be a highly suitable car if you are bent, bald, fat or ugly (but normally all 4 would describe a Gayriff owner). I would not be a bigot and pick on you if you decide to be 'one of them' yikes

Dave

Bomber Denton

8,762 posts

298 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
I would go for the first one and chip him enough for a re-trim wink

blaineuk

2,615 posts

277 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
buy them both and swap the bodies.thumbup

jonjo

139 posts

226 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
L33

I think the silver 500 was the one bought off ebay for 8K a month or so ago - the dealer who bought it is now trying to make a good profit.

It was the subject of a topic by nig-gtv a while back - check it out.

jonjo

L33

Original Poster:

3,469 posts

254 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
jonjo said:
L33

I think the silver 500 was the one bought off ebay for 8K a month or so ago - the dealer who bought it is now trying to make a good profit.

It was the subject of a topic by nig-gtv a while back - check it out.

jonjo
Thannks for the heads-up.
Topic found:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Wonder why the reserve was not met?
I know the dealer has a lot of room to bring down his price though...
Cheers,
L33.
thumbup

nig-gtv

518 posts

265 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
L33 said:
jonjo said:
L33

I think the silver 500 was the one bought off ebay for 8K a month or so ago - the dealer who bought it is now trying to make a good profit.

It was the subject of a topic by nig-gtv a while back - check it out.

jonjo
Thannks for the heads-up.
Topic found:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Wonder why the reserve was not met?
I know the dealer has a lot of room to bring down his price though...
Cheers,
L33.
thumbup
It didnt have a reserve, so the bloke selling it now paid a hell of a lot less for it, and immediately readvertised. As you say, gives you a bit of room for negotiation! Incidentally, he's still advertising on here as private when he's clearly trade. Looks a nice car though... the only thing I didnt like was the colour of the interior - doesnt quite go with silver somehow.

Edited by nig-gtv on Thursday 20th December 23:12


Edited by nig-gtv on Thursday 20th December 23:15

TVR keith

1,914 posts

252 months

Friday 21st December 2007
quotequote all
Tvr's do seem to suffer stone chips more than a metal bodied car.
In my expeience of cars in general the darker the car the more the stone chips stand out, as does dirt. Have found silver to be a good colour on cars that do high mileage/ get lots of stone chips/ don't get washed too often. Had a black 3 series once and it needed washing almost every day, stone chips showed as little white marks all over the front.
Depends on whether you are planning to drive it a lot (I do!) or preserve it in your garage as many do as a museum piece.
May be a point to consider, but as has been said many times, buy on condition above all else.

Zippee

14,144 posts

264 months

Friday 21st December 2007
quotequote all
I don't know either car but if I had to choose I'd opt for the silver one - 500 with Taraka upgrade, 5 stud spiders, brake upgrade etc... Makes an already quick car even better. The 400 you WILL get used to quickly and wish you'd purchased the 500 - I love my 400 to bits but want more power.
Also - if you can get a good enough deal on the 500 then spend the rest on the light conversion. Can't remember prices but I know sportmotive offer it to any owner.

WOO5IE

967 posts

227 months

Friday 21st December 2007
quotequote all
It's got to be the 1st one. Its newer, one owner and seems a lot more for the money.

I agree the interior needs attention i.e. colur change. It would be maybe worth asking one of the breakers for some different colour trim. They may even part exchange with the existing as it is in good nick.


Trevor