Newbie FAQ: Realistic Running Costs
Discussion
Hello,
I'm looking to get myself a fun car as I don't get to use my motorbikes anymore.
TVR Chimaeras are in my price range - for initial purchase cost (£7000) - but I need to have a realistic idea of the amount I'd spend on servicing etc a year. I'll be doing about 8000 miles a year. Commuting 2 to 3 days a week (15miles each way in fairly well flowing traffic)what are considered normal costs?
I've failed with the search function, anyone point me to a website that lists this or care to share their experiences?
Thank you.
I'm looking to get myself a fun car as I don't get to use my motorbikes anymore.
TVR Chimaeras are in my price range - for initial purchase cost (£7000) - but I need to have a realistic idea of the amount I'd spend on servicing etc a year. I'll be doing about 8000 miles a year. Commuting 2 to 3 days a week (15miles each way in fairly well flowing traffic)what are considered normal costs?
I've failed with the search function, anyone point me to a website that lists this or care to share their experiences?
Thank you.
From what I've gathered in my short time here, running costs are an unknown quantity mate. If you do a lot of the little menial jobs yourself, then you'll save lots of money, if you throw it at a TVR specialist for even the slightest task, then it'll no doubt cost you more.
Some people also seem to have better luck with their Chims than others. Some seem to have no faults whatsoever, others seem to be plagued with them.
I think if you hold out for a good one and don't just buy the first one you see, then you'll have a better experience than if you go out and buy a ropey one. I looked at 2 yesterday, one was what I'd say was just ok, after the seller said it was mint. The other had some serious issues. On face value it looked ok with just some minor cosmetic issues, underneath though was a different story. Chassis was in a very bad way, the car wasn't priced cheap either, it was up for £10800, considerably higher that what you're looking at spending. Morale of this story, be careful, and hold out for a good one.
Though the holding out part is not very easy, I have the cash burning a hole in my pocket and really badly want one.
Happy hunting.
Some people also seem to have better luck with their Chims than others. Some seem to have no faults whatsoever, others seem to be plagued with them.
I think if you hold out for a good one and don't just buy the first one you see, then you'll have a better experience than if you go out and buy a ropey one. I looked at 2 yesterday, one was what I'd say was just ok, after the seller said it was mint. The other had some serious issues. On face value it looked ok with just some minor cosmetic issues, underneath though was a different story. Chassis was in a very bad way, the car wasn't priced cheap either, it was up for £10800, considerably higher that what you're looking at spending. Morale of this story, be careful, and hold out for a good one.
Though the holding out part is not very easy, I have the cash burning a hole in my pocket and really badly want one.
Happy hunting.
Obviously depends on condition of car you buy and how good you are as a mechanic. I've owned my Chimaera for just over a year and have spent around £1000 on servicing and bits and bobs (magnecor leads etc)' I've averaged about 20 miles to the gallon and insurance is around 3-400.
In the current market you should be able to get a good one for around £7k.
In the current market you should be able to get a good one for around £7k.
A thread here on realistic mpg... Servicing much depends on what condition what you buy is in from what I can tell on here, but is not too bad on a well maintained car.
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I thought it might be a "piece of string" sort of question.
Not sure whether to do my normal trick of spending so long researching the issue that I put myself off and never buy the car or just to jump in with both feet forward and both eyes closed!
Currently let 2 nice bikes rot in the garage why driving my cheap "DIY" car to work as my GF works in the office block next to mine so we share lifts... seems a waste to let the bikes go to waste when I could get a decent car and get to enjoy that all the time.
Can you share basic info like how much a set of good tyres cost and how often you replace them?
Also, how often do they need to be serviced and how much does this cost from a tvr specialist?
Also, I understand that the S series used a lot of parts from other cars and this could save shed loads of money when things went wrong. Is this true of the Chim or is she mainly bespoke?
Thank you.
Not sure whether to do my normal trick of spending so long researching the issue that I put myself off and never buy the car or just to jump in with both feet forward and both eyes closed!
Currently let 2 nice bikes rot in the garage why driving my cheap "DIY" car to work as my GF works in the office block next to mine so we share lifts... seems a waste to let the bikes go to waste when I could get a decent car and get to enjoy that all the time.
Can you share basic info like how much a set of good tyres cost and how often you replace them?
Also, how often do they need to be serviced and how much does this cost from a tvr specialist?
Also, I understand that the S series used a lot of parts from other cars and this could save shed loads of money when things went wrong. Is this true of the Chim or is she mainly bespoke?
Thank you.
AndyDRZ said:
Can you share basic info like how much a set of good tyres cost and how often you replace them?
Just put a set of SP9000ZR DUNLOPS for the fronts 15' cost me £73.60 each all in!!!!!!!makes such a difference to the car with handling grip much better
Edited by MADMAX2 on Sunday 7th September 21:15
It all depends on the car you buy in the first instance... I was fortunate enough to buy one which had been well cared for and didn't need much to bring it up to spec...
Insurance can be very reasonable if you use it as a second car... a few hundred pounds with specialists like Hagerty.
Road Tax is a good deal by modern standards... and will be even better when the new laws come into force.
Servicing can also be reasonable £300 - £500 all in if you find a good independent... as with all makes of car, main dealers are more expensive, at least double this.
Basically, if you look after it and tend to it properly, it will look after you.
But, all of this is incidental, as they are excellent cars to own and well worth the maintenance costs... all you really need is some bloody decent driving weather!!
Insurance can be very reasonable if you use it as a second car... a few hundred pounds with specialists like Hagerty.
Road Tax is a good deal by modern standards... and will be even better when the new laws come into force.
Servicing can also be reasonable £300 - £500 all in if you find a good independent... as with all makes of car, main dealers are more expensive, at least double this.
Basically, if you look after it and tend to it properly, it will look after you.
But, all of this is incidental, as they are excellent cars to own and well worth the maintenance costs... all you really need is some bloody decent driving weather!!
Edited by Red V8 on Monday 8th September 09:12
AndyDRZ said:
I realise now that I shouldn't have asked for realistic running costs - I should have said "Tell me what I want to hear so I can have no excuse not to buy one"
TVR Moneypits example I think is a little extreme but is a very good indication of what can happen if you buy a cheap 'bargain' or buy with your heart rather than head.
PS - mines up in the classifieds at the moment
First year of ownership (9000 miles):
Servicing / repairs = £2500
Tax = £180
Insurance = £470
Fuel = £2000-£2500 (to depressing to work it out exactly!)
The maintenance costs have been a combination of TVR specialist and my own efforts depending on the task in question. Setting aside £1500-£2000 for annual servicing/repairs is probably a realistic starting point. It may be a fraction of that if you're fortunate but it pays to stack your chips up a bit, sooner or later or later you will be needing them!
Andy
Servicing / repairs = £2500
Tax = £180
Insurance = £470
Fuel = £2000-£2500 (to depressing to work it out exactly!)
The maintenance costs have been a combination of TVR specialist and my own efforts depending on the task in question. Setting aside £1500-£2000 for annual servicing/repairs is probably a realistic starting point. It may be a fraction of that if you're fortunate but it pays to stack your chips up a bit, sooner or later or later you will be needing them!
Andy
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