15,000 miles vs 45,000 miles = how much?

[SonicHedgeHog]

The search for a Griff continues. Two cars are on my radar at the moment. They are basically the same age, similar colours inside and out and have a full TVR service history. One car has 45,000 miles and the other 15,000 and this is reflected in the condition of the seats and a few minor blemishes in the paintwork. Both cars are 10 years old. All other things being equal, how much more is the lower mileage car worth?

Is it simply the case that there are virtually no 15,000 mile Griffs left and the owner can charge whatever they like?

[Paxo1]

I would always go on condition rather than mileage, having owned a good few TVR's over the years both new and old, as a general 'rule of thumb' with TVR's i would personally prefer the griff with the higher mileage providing servicing etc is followed. If the car has spent most of its life stood in a garage the bonus is there is a good chance the chassis may be in better condition, but there is also a good chance you will have mechanical/electrical/water ingress problems if you buy it.If the condition of both appear similar (IMO) buy the higher mileage one

[_DeeJay_]

SonicHedgeHog said:

The search for a Griff continues. Two cars are on my radar at the moment. They are basically the same age, similar colours inside and out and have a full TVR service history. One car has 45,000 miles and the other 15,000 and this is reflected in the condition of the seats and a few minor blemishes in the paintwork. Both cars are 10 years old. All other things being equal, how much more is the lower mileage car worth?

Is it simply the case that there are virtually no 15,000 mile Griffs left and the owner can charge whatever they like?

I'd say 2k. As has been mentioned, there are lots of reasons that you don't want an underused car. However, if the lower mileage example's condition reflects the mileage then it'll be worth the extra cash to someone who wants a minter.

Edited by _DeeJay_ on Sunday 8th February 15:52

[Podie]

Paxo1 said:

I would always go on condition rather than mileage,..e

What's so wrong with the 15000 mile car that they didn't want to drive it..?

[SonicHedgeHog]

_DeeJay_ said:

SonicHedgeHog said:

The search for a Griff continues. Two cars are on my radar at the moment. They are basically the same age, similar colours inside and out and have a full TVR service history. One car has 45,000 miles and the other 15,000 and this is reflected in the condition of the seats and a few minor blemishes in the paintwork. Both cars are 10 years old. All other things being equal, how much more is the lower mileage car worth?

Is it simply the case that there are virtually no 15,000 mile Griffs left and the owner can charge whatever they like?

I'd say 2k. As has been mentioned, there are lots of reasons that you don't want an underused car. However, if the lower mileage example's condition reflects the mileage then it'll be worth the extra cash to someone who wants a minter.

Edited by _DeeJay_ on Sunday 8th February 15:52

The bodywork is in very good nick on the low mileage car. I would have have guessed 3 grand so your estimate was in line with my thinking. Unfortunately we're both WAY out. In fact, if we added your two to my three we'd still be coming up short.

I appreciate what everyone was been saying about the importance of using a car, but I'm a little concerned about residual values on the higher mileage one if I add quite a few myself. I'm not trying to get a deprecation proof car because that's not what cars are all about, but it doesn't hurt to think about the financial side of things when making a purchase.

Incidentally, both cars have a solid chassis, come with a warranty and (I think and need to check) FTVRSH. Really have to stop myself buying the first one that tickles my fancy.

[ray_von]

Go for the £15k one, out of them two, £21k is far too much. For not much more than that you could have mine

[Guillotine]

45K isn't high for a 10 year old Tiv.

5K pa is the normal in the first 5years and 2-3 after that.

Chassis condition would be my first concern.
History after that

Visuals are cheap and easy nowadays.

Roof recover £400
Respray £1k
Leather and carpets are also cheap to refurb nowadays.

Personally I'd prefer a car with a bit of use. Particularly if it can be seen that it was loved...as these seem to be.

[_DeeJay_]

ray_von said:

Go for the £15k one, out of them two, £21k is far too much. For not much more than that you could have mine

I'm pretty sure it won't sell at that.

OP: Why not decide which you want, then offer what you consider a realistic price?

There can't be that many people to spend 18k on a 10 year old car, especially considering the financial climate. If you like both, then I'd just be honest with the dealers and see which gives you the better deal....

Edited to add: I've just looked at the classifieds and there's no wonder you're confused by the pricing. Even at the same garage as your expensive car there are a few others that look far more attractively priced. Mind you, I'd buy the grey car with the horrible exhaust and blood red interior, so what do I know

Edited by _DeeJay_ on Sunday 8th February 18:15

[SonicHedgeHog]

_DeeJay_ said:

ray_von said:

Go for the £15k one, out of them two, £21k is far too much. For not much more than that you could have mine

I'm pretty sure it won't sell at that.

OP: Why not decide which you want, then offer what you consider a realistic price?

There can't be that many people to spend 18k on a 10 year old car, especially considering the financial climate. If you like both, then I'd just be honest with the dealers and see which gives you the better deal....

Edited to add: I've just looked at the classifieds and there's no wonder you're confused by the pricing. Even at the same garage as your expensive car there are a few others that look far more attractively priced. Mind you, I'd buy the grey car with the horrible exhaust and blood red interior, so what do I know

Edited by _DeeJay_ on Sunday 8th February 18:15

DeeJay, you little tinker! You're not supposed to look in the classifieds and work out which cars I'm talking about. Honestly, some people are just too clever for their own good.

Anyway, now we all know what I'm talking about and may as well add a little more detail. I actually prefer the cheaper car. It's a great colour and a fair price for it's age and mileage. The warranty also helps. Interestingly, I've found an old advert for the car from May 2008 with an asking price of £18995 (4k more) and with only 2,000 miles less on the clock than it has now. The car is a little untidy inside (door speaker missing its grill, that kind of thing), but it does give me confidence that a well respected garage is prepared to sell it twice within a year. Seems someone bought it and probably only used it when the sun came out.

Anyone got any more thoughts?

[RichB]

Podie said:

Paxo1 said:

I would always go on condition rather than mileage,..e

What's so wrong with the 15000 mile car that they didn't want to drive it..?

Perhaps time? I bought mine new in march '99 so next month it will be 10. It has 24,700 miles on it and I've enjoyed every mile of it, track day, trips to Le Mans, weekends out etc. But... I also have an Aston I enjoy driving, I also have a glider that I fly at weekends and 10 years ago I also ahd kids that did stuff at weekends,. There's an awful lot of assumption in the "low-mileage os wrong" briagade. I could play Devil's advocate and suggest it's only owners of high mielage TVRs that trot out this mantra...

[Podie]

RichB said:

Podie said:

Paxo1 said:

I would always go on condition rather than mileage,..e

What's so wrong with the 15000 mile car that they didn't want to drive it..?

Perhaps time? I bought mine new in march '99 so next month it will be 10. It has 24,700 miles on it and I've enjoyed every mile of it, track day, trips to Le Mans, weekends out etc. But... I also have an Aston I enjoy driving, I also have a glider that I fly at weekends and 10 years ago I also ahd kids that did stuff at weekends,. There's an awful lot of assumption in the "low-mileage os wrong" briagade. I could play Devil's advocate and suggest it's only owners of high mielage TVRs that trot out this mantra...

You could try that tact, but then our 95 Griff has around 50k on it.

[RichB]

And your '95 with 50k on it and my '99 with 25k on it are probably equally loved, so I don't get your point?

Edited by RichB on Sunday 8th February 19:39

[_DeeJay_]

Wasn't me guv - I was 'standing on the shoulders of giants'/less lazy people who had worked out the cars in question!

So, for extra things to think about, I suppose the condition of cams, shocks and clutch would have to be taken into account on a higher mileage car.

[George 500]

On the basis that those guys are very nice to deal with would also be worth asking if you can try both. It does appear that there i a quite a difference in how the cars drive/how much hp they chuck out.

Having chatted to them before Christmas they did explain that there is a market out there for very low mileage Griffs from the money no object brigade (start of genuine classic status?) at £20k plus.

If you are worried about residuals it stands to reason that 20k on a 45k mile car is going to have less of an effect than 20k on a 15k mile car (at that point the low mileage premium will have been destroyed).

Also I'm with you- the 45k mile one is in a nicer colour scheme

[SonicHedgeHog]

George 500 said:

If you are worried about residuals it stands to reason that 20k on a 45k mile car is going to have less of an effect than 20k on a 15k mile car (at that point the low mileage premium will have been destroyed).

That is a very good point. The residuals will only be there if I don't drive it and frankly that aint gonna happen.

I see you have just sold your bonkers Griff. Do you think you'll be back in a TVR any time soon?

[George 500]

SonicHedgeHog said:

I see you have just sold your bonkers Griff. Do you think you'll be back in a TVR any time soon?

No no! I have just BOUGHT my bonjkers Griff... Had six months without and got bored of gibbering every time one passed by

[SonicHedgeHog]

Well done that man...I wonder what the old owner is going to do now? Giving up that car is going to leave quite a big whole to fill.

[George 500]

He is going Fun Cup racing (those spaceframe central seat beetle shaped jobs). His wife said one or t'other.

I also think that having spent £40k+ (including over £10k on the engine) he knew he needed to get rid of it when he started seriously considering a supercharger. The man didn't know when to stop!