Servicing Quandry

[Marty V8]

This has probably been done to death already but...

I am pretty handy with a set of spanners and especially a big hammer. I manaeged to totally rebuilt my last car - an AC Cobra kit car, so working on the Grif, which is essentially the next step along the evolutionary path holds no terrors for me. I have almost continually been doing various bits and pieces to my Griff since I bought it a year ago.

My problem is that the car has done 6500 miles in the last year and therefore needs a 6000 mile service. The car was MOT'd less than a month ago and is therefore road legal.

Apart from dropping the engine oil out and renewing the filter, I have done/checked most if not all of the service items since I got the car, and it has been back to the dealer a couple of times for warranty work which would also include parts of the service schedule as well. I therefore feel a bit aggrieved at the prospect of being charged a lot of money by a TVR specialist to have a 6k service bill.

My local MOT and garage man would be more than able to do the job to the service schedule and put his garage stamp in the book, but is this likely to affect long term resale values as its not a recognised TVR specialist?

[Derek Smith]

Ther is no doubt that a full service history book is a major asset when it comes to selling your car.

I'm not sure if there is any difference between a specialist and what is called a main dealer but many people highlight FMDSH in adverts.

Further, the premium sales companies of demand a full MD or specialist service history before they take it on.

If you are, as you say, handy with spanners then you must balance the money you will save with the cost and reassurance of taking it to a specialist. Some specialists do a 'fixed price' service which, of course, is subject to anything they find.

The older a car gets the less in price the FMDSH represents. Some idiots might take that in preference to condition but it might be a long wait. If, as I've seen written, a FMDSH is worth 10% on the price then if your car is worth £20,000 you are looking at a fair old bit of dosh. If it's worth £8000 then you are looking at two or three services.

I would suggest, though, that you save little by taking the car to a non-specialist. Those who work on TVRs regularly know what they are looking for and will know what sequence to do the various jobs in. And will know what is likely to need looking at for mileage and age.

But as you say in the title, it is a quandry. There is no simple answer. It what suits you best.

[BliarOut]

I keep a spreadsheet of the work I've done. I take more care than a dealer as it's my P&J.

[Marty V8]

Quinny said:

Personally I wouldn't touch a car with a Full TVR Service History

Is there a typo in there or is that deliberate? If so why not?

[Marty V8]

BliarOut said:

I keep a spreadsheet of the work I've done. I take more care than a dealer as it's my P&J.

In total agreement with you there on both points. I can show a file full of receipts and photos of the work I have done. Work which is over and above what you get for your money at a Dealer. Trouble is getting someone else to believe you and buy into it when its time to sell it on.

Edited by Marty V8 on Thursday 22 July 00:27

[Yellabelly]

Marty, my experience has been that using a 'highly respected' TVR indie cost me a lot of money, was poorly serviced (previous thread whinge about cracked brake hose being left and not reported so an MOT fail, temp gauge not working, steering gaiter not re-tywrapped and now looks like the nervous handling at the front is too much toe-in with the excessive wear that's now showing!!!) so I would avoid using such 'experts' like the proverbial bl--dy plague.

Anyone who gets on their high horse and insists they will ONLY use the 'specialists' has more money than sense. In future I will use a small local garage for any work I don't do myself, at least I can trust him and not have to endure the crap spouted to me by the 'expert' before he took me to the cleaners.


Expert! Definition: yeah, X an unkown quantity - Spurt, a drip under pressure

And relax...1....2....3.....exhale..........!

YB

[Derek Smith]

As an aside, my Chim failed the MoT on a poor rear calliper. I allowed them to replace it as, after all, what could go wrong? But, to give them their due, they managed to mess it up.

[JKY]

If you are genuinely handy with the spanners then do it yourself.

I have always serviced my own cars, modern Volkkswagens and Audis included. I have never had a problem with re-sale and know the job has been done properly.

No disrespect to TVR dealers/indies but it makes me shudder to think of others working on my Griff, I know how long it takes to do some jobs and know that at a garage short cuts will be made and/or it will cost a fortune. Not because they are all bad, but necessity and reality of business dictate that.
I can do it myself, at my own pace and with 100pct care, and I know it will be done properly. If a prospective buyer will not accept then there are plenty that will.

[Barreti]

I agree with JKY. Anyone buying my Griff will get a car in better condition and better looked after than any which has a FSH.

I recently looked under the bonnet of a TVR with a FSH and wouldn't have driven it to the petrol station with any confidence we would get there.
Look under my bonnet, or under the car or in the cabin for that matter, and you can tell my car is loved and well maintained.

If a prospective buyer can't see that and appreciate it I wouldn't sell it to them because they are obviously too stupid to own it in the first place.

If you are good with spanners, have a love of tinkering and will therefore maintain above and beyond a regular visit to a garage, and have a local garage you trust to do the stuff you can't, then you are the sort of guy I would be looking for if I was looking for a TVR.

Edited by Barreti on Thursday 22 July 10:17

[ESDavey]

I always get an annual service done by Racing Green. They give the car a good check over & have spotted cracked fuel hoses, early corrosion of wishbone, etc. You pay good money but I think its worth it.

As we all dont have (blue) garage lifts, it can be difficult to really check all bits.

I do other things like rad, sump gasket, etc. so still need the spanners !

Edited by ESDavey on Thursday 22 July 17:45

[Marty V8]

Thanks for all the posts and the advice. I was beginning to waver, but I think I'll leave the main dealer out of the servicing. I'll get my local garage man to change the oil and filter and check the other fluids - gearbox and diff and get his stamp in the book, and then look after the rest of it myself. Best of both worlds.

Cheers

Marty

[Bluebottle]

I'm with Quinny/Barretti etc...It does however depend on whether you are a short or long term owner as people do look for meaningless stamps in a book when it comes to resale value.
For me tho, a big pile of reciepts and a lot of DIY counts for a hell of a lot more than stamps in a book that don't tell you anything, least of all whether any actual work has been done to the car other than an oil change once a year.

[Yellabelly]

Quinny said:

Funnily enough, this thread has prompted me to update my Portfolio....

I always used to laminate any important receipts and docs like MOT's etc...

But for the last few years, I've updated my spreadsheet on the computer, but not bothered to print it off, and all the receipts have just been chucked in the folder to sort out later...



Well I won't be doing that again... Its taken me 5 hours to update, sort and laminate all the damn paperwork

I'm going to make a point from now on to do it twice a year

^^^^^^^Quinny = Nerdy geek type, Are you intending selling it?, No!!

then stop fiddling about with meaningless bits of paper, you've just wasted 5 hours good driving time!

[MPoxon]

Quinny said:

When I got my first Griff, back in 98, My wife kindly bought me one of those proper Leather bound TVR Portfolio folders The one with a brass plate on the front

Now in 2010 I could do with another one The original is full to bursting with receipts, photos, and documentation, of every service, upgrade and modification...

Its also all backed up on DVD....

I am in the process of scanning all my receipts in and backing up on the computer funinaly enough. There was me thinking that it was just me who did that!

I have recently sorted out my reciepts portfollio and have even put in dividers and a contents page for different sections like Servicing, upgrades, MOTs etc. Sorry I am very sad and must have mild OCD. That leather TVR portfolio sounds lush Quinny. May I ask where you got that from?

Matthew

[MPoxon]

Quinny said:

Hi Matt,

It actually came from the TVR club (Wife got it me for Xmas 1 year)

Not sure if they still do them but according to the logo on the inside it came from here

http://www.classicfolios.com/handover.html


It is nice (if you like that sort of thing) Real leather, with a velvet lining inside...
Still smells of leather all these years later..

Looks Blue in the pic, but is actually JET black

How sad is this post

WOW!! That makes my Tesco ring binder look insufficent. I have to have one of those.

Many thanks for posting the pics up Quinny - much appreciated.

On a seperate note Andy - I will buy you a beer at the Growl to say thanks for your all help / advice.

Matthew

[Bluebottle]

Quinny, You're barsteward...I was was quite happy with my over filled blue office smart pocketed transfer folder....now my OCD has kicked in and i NEEEEED and leather tvr folder
oh and I copy all my tvr reciepts for the folder when do my book keeping each month and its damn huge folder now

[MPoxon]

As per Quinny's previous post the TVRCC still sell these:

http://www.tvrcc-shop.co.uk/acatalog/TVRCC_Catalog...

I know what I will be buying come pay day

[Yellabelly]

^^^^^^^^

MPoxon said:

As per Quinny's previous post the TVRCC still sell these:

http://www.tvrcc-shop.co.uk/acatalog/TVRCC_Catalog...

I know what I will be buying come pay day

Blind as well as daft!

I was out in the griff yesterday.....left the roof at home......had the cap with me.....p-ssed it down......so I had a 10 mile drive home in the rain....absolutely soaked!

Oh yes, I only live three miles from work but took the scenic route home as I always do...creature of habit!

Re the Owners handbook, I have a black one with 'TVR Owners Handbook! and the Logo embossed into the front cover! Is that the same as the Club are selling?

PS, Quinny that is just too much organisation........but bloody impressive

YB

Edited by Yellabelly on Saturday 24th July 00:11

[MPoxon]

Quinny said:

I can see a few of those getting sold now though eh??

I think you shoud ask for commission Quinny. That is 2 definatley sold. Perhaps a few more from the lurking none posting PH'ers

Yellabelly said:

I was out in the griff yesterday.....left the roof at home......had the cap with me.....p-ssed it down......so I had a 10 mile drive home in the rain....absolutely soaked

Appoligies to the OP for the post hijack again.

Yellabelly did you say you have a shower cap for your Griff? I offen leave my roof at home as I cannot be bothered with the debarcle of fitting it in the boot. I have been caught out a couple of times and it is always a worry not having the roof in the boot if it decides to really piss down. What is the story with your shower cap?

[Yellabelly]

MPoxon said:

Quinny said:

I can see a few of those getting sold now though eh??

I think you shoud ask for commission Quinny. That is 2 definatley sold. Perhaps a few more from the lurking none posting PH'ers

Yellabelly said:

I was out in the griff yesterday.....left the roof at home......had the cap with me.....p-ssed it down......so I had a 10 mile drive home in the rain....absolutely soaked

Appoligies to the OP for the post hijack again.

Yellabelly did you say you have a shower cap for your Griff? I offen leave my roof at home as I cannot be bothered with the debarcle of fitting it in the boot. I have been caught out a couple of times and it is always a worry not having the roof in the boot if it decides to really piss down. What is the story with your shower cap?

Matt, try the Leven technology thread Hoods Covers, garage Covers etc...£150 for the Griff

http://www.leventechnology.co.uk/index.htm

YB