DIY running costs of a Rv8 - Griff or Chimaera

[alexcurtis]

Hi

I have run a Westfield for the last 5 years and now looking to change to a TVR, we are looking at either a Griffith or a Chimaera. I intend to maintain the TVR myself as I have done with the Westfield and all of my other cars, my question therefore is after doing numerous searches on this I can not find what I think is a realistic answer to the above question? I have read in my research that people say budget £1k per year to maintain/run the car which if I am doing any/all of the work myself seems very expensive?(not including any mods/up grades)When parts are not that expensive either???

To help answer the above our situation is that we have £15k to buy either a good mid range TVR Griffith 500 or a top end Chimaera probably a 450, that has been well looked after and checked over properly ( may get professionally checked). So we should have a good condition, well maintained car? The car will be used as a second car and will be garaged.

Any help, advice thoughts from you DIY’ers out there would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Alex

[chris52]

Just general maintanence/service work will not cost you much at all, the problem is you will be buying a 10 year old plus car. So when you get it on the ramps to do the service you tend to want to go a little further and before you know it you have list of replacement/upgraded parts that you want to fit.

[Alexdaredevilz]

Just normal stuff really, oil,filter pads e.t.c

I do all my work my self, probably only cost £200 a year max, if your good with a spanner and nothing goes wrong

But- if you are a tinkerer like myself you will end up putting another 0 on that sum doing mods and upgrades

Ive not had the car long my self, and im constantly doing some thing do it to make it better/faster or fixing stupid little things that i cant live with

Alex

[Harrytsg]

it doesn't help with the question of cost, but there are some useful links (well I found them useful) below.

http://www.shpub.co.uk/tvrbooks/ChimpGuide.pdf
http://www.chimaerapages.com/resources_buyers.php
http://www.rv8r.co.uk/

[tonys]

It isn't really going to be significantly more than the Westfield if you're happy to do the basics. Some things will be more expensive if repairs are needed (diff, possily gearbox, exhaust etc), but at the end of the day it's still a fairly basic car, like the Westy, compared to some more modern stuff (but definitely none the worse for that).
As an example,if your view is that you would be happy to stick on a new set of silicon hoses (say £150) if you were replacing/recoring the radiator, then it's not going to be an issue to concern yourself about.
Access is not be quite as good without the removeable bonnet & nosecone, but it's still a lot better than a lot of others.
As always, for me the expensive bit is always the 'hourly rate' and oil charged by the half litre etc.
Go for it. (My other half thought the TVR was 'practical', as it had doors, a boot and a proper roof.)

[alexcurtis]

thats great thank you, i expect it to be more than the westy which is circa £50 but £1k is a bit rich!!! Yes i am more than happy to spanner, especially when there is no pressure to get the car running again for monday am!

So to help me a little further if possible is a 500 more tempermental/harder to maintain than the 450? The point of the car is more of a GT to be driven at 7/10 not 10/10, I have a 2 stroke 115cc kart for that!!!

Thanks again and the links look to be great

alex