To keep or not to keep?

To keep or not to keep?

Author
Discussion

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Monday 20th January 2020
quotequote all
Well, as far as the car is concerned I think I have made a decision to let this go, probably in spring.

It's been a great time, an interesting journey and an interest that has generated many friends but circumstances have changed and I need an easier life for now.

The question isn't whether to keep the car but what is the consensus of opinion regarding the rollbar and the non-standard reupholstered Elise seats?

I can easily remove the rollbar and fit the excellent condition cream leather seats which will give the car a pretty much fairly standard if not slightly enhanced look and my guess is that this would appeal to more potential buyers.

My thoughts are that if I leave the rollbar and the more, "hugging "Elise" seats fitted it would appeal to a much smaller demograph.

So, leave alone and give a more, "sporting " look and appearance, ultimately for more spirited driving. Alternatively remove the rollbar and refit the standard seats for a very nice looking car.

Just to refresh peoples memories, this is probably the fastest NA chimaera, (said in a Clarkson voice) "in the world ".

If it is going back to the more standard look, this miserable winter is the time to do it!

Your thoughts?

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Monday 20th January 2020
quotequote all
At least a six-year-old photograph taken from the advert when I bought the car.



How it is now.


phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Monday 20th January 2020
quotequote all
GinG15 said:
seat looks nice...rollbar looks ugly.

i would remove both for the sales advert....and would not mention anything in the advert about those items...even not as options.

why?

potential buyers may get dis-attracted, because they may think "modified for sportier driving....mabye track use...maybe the owner was driving like a fool, reving the engine..maybe the car is also modified in other areas.....etc..."

advertize it original....remove all the pics here in the thread....and sell the parts seperately / afterwards.....
That is in line with my thinking at the mo........

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Monday 20th January 2020
quotequote all
TV8 said:
Happy to list it on Facebook for you Peter if you want?

Ps, my silver car is faster than your silver one smile
I will let you know about Facefish.

No it is not!

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Monday 20th January 2020
quotequote all
Regarding insurance. I am with classicline. I declared all the modifications, engine, brakes, wheels, everything. Premium went up by 30 quid

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Monday 20th January 2020
quotequote all
I haven't kept anything. The car it seems will go looking standard but otherwise stay the same.

The engine on its own would be in between 12-15k.......

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Monday 20th January 2020
quotequote all
roseytvr said:
Hi Peter
I have the same dilemma with my Griff. I am currently considering stripping out the mods and returning it to standard as I have kept all of the parts. The value of a standard car plus individual sale of modded parts would be significantly higher than selling the modded car in my view. How much of the original car of you got? Wheels, brakes, suspension, engine etc?
Assuming you get say a grand for the seats and roll bar would it reduce the value of the car by a grand? I doubt it so in my opinion take them out and sell them separately.
Good luck mate
It is a sad day when we sell these cars let alone having to practically break them up to recover a proportion of our hard earned.

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Monday 20th January 2020
quotequote all
Classic Chim said:
What goes into an engine like yours if it’s not to long a list to detail.
5.5,,, that must mean all the bottom end. Stage 4 heads I believe smile
This is just the engine...........

Top hated large journal block.
Cross bolted Special stroker crank,
Cat steel H beam forged rods
ARP head bolts
Forged Diamond pistons
Total Seal gapless rings
H404 camshaft plus hydraulic lifters
Yella Terra roller rockers
JE billet outrigger posts
ACT Triple plenum & 45mm trumpet base
Plenum opened out to 95mm inlet
100mm induction hose
100mm K&N Hiflow filter
Stage 4 ported heads 10.5 :1 Comp
Ported and polished inlet manifold
30lb Accell Injectors
JE alternator bracket
P38 coil pack
Accel 8mm leads
McLeod 10.5" twin plate clutch (rated to 800 horses)
Forged lightweight alloy flywheel
ACT big bore manifolds
ACT full set black silicon hoses
34 row Oil cooler with therostatic sandwich plate take off
Fully decatted
Emerald ECU

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Tuesday 21st January 2020
quotequote all
Dougal9887 said:
And if we're busy breaking your car for you I'm in the market for your roll bar rofl
Dougal
Ah.......no! The car will not be dismantled even though it may fetch more that way.

It is a brilliant properly sorted car and would be sacrilege to dismantle it.

Chassis is good, outriggers renewed, upgraded brakes, five stud hubs and Cerb wheels, new differential, totally rebuilt gearbox, tubular Wishbones, Subaru power steering, the list is endless! And it still has only 50 K on the clock from memory, maybe less! Items like the gearbox and differential being rebuilt and replaced were purely down to having too much time and money! There wasn’t anything really wrong with them, the opportunity was just there.

I am leaning towards putting in the standard seats and removing the rollbar.

If so, the rollbar is already spoken for! Good try though.

Anyone for a set of reupholstered Elise seats with the TVR logo on each?

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020
quotequote all
Let's not talk about cost, (and time!).

Kind words Alun and I'll be sad to see it go. I will miss the outright exhilarating performance

Imagine on the autobahn doing 70 in top gear, floor the throttle and it seems like only a matter of a handful of seconds when 150 comes up on the Speedo. On the other hand, you can be extremely lazy and it will pull cleanly, (and briskly) from 1000 rpm in fifth gear. That's a 0 to 60 of less than 3.5 seconds, what car can do all this, look as good and have the individuality and rarity of a TVR.


phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020
quotequote all
TwinKam said:
Repeat that last para to yourself nightly, Peter, and you'll end up keeping it wink
I know, I know. You know the score Rik. Life never standstill, complications arise and sometimes you need to simplify your life. Actually Rck, this car would be perfect for you while you rebuild your cerb...........

For the uninitiated, I have a Porsche Boxster S which is a piece of cake to live with, ticks most of the boxes and is a tad on the boring side. That said, my wife loves it and if all goes to plan we hope to tour Spain and Portugal this year, fingers crossed!

I don't have to sell the chim, it could sit in the garage and come out on the odd occasion but that wouldn't do it justice and would mean the usual tax, insurance, MOT, yearly maintenance et cetera et cetera. I hope the next owner will appreciate it for what it is and make full use of its performance and presence, (without killing himself!).

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020
quotequote all
Penelope Stopit said:
Loan it out for track days?
Wow! There is lateral thinking for you! The answer is a definite no before people start PMing me.

Don't get this car wrong. It can be an intercontinental missile, cruising at speed, eating at the miles, a B road hustller or be quite happy as my wife will confirm, pootling around country lanes at tourist speed.

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020
quotequote all
Mine is 10kg heavier, I'll give you that wink

Have you considered driver weight............




phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020
quotequote all
baconsarney said:
QBee said:
Feels like the end of an era......one when "our gang" of 10 or so Chim and Griff owners organised to meet up at track days and had some great fun and chat....and even drove a few miles on track sometimes.

I will miss it.
Nothing to miss A.... me and beastie will be back this year after a long absence... in simple terms Peter has gone Pork... totally understand that.... no reason not to track.... we can show the pork boys how quick we are wink
smile

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Wednesday 22nd January 2020
quotequote all
Okay, the old lady is going and has been replaced by this.



Image quality reduced to load due to silly PH restrictions!

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Thursday 23rd January 2020
quotequote all
mart 63 said:
phazed said:
Okay, the old lady is going and has been replaced by this.



Image quality reduced to load due to silly PH restrictions!
Are you changing your name back to haircut Mike boxedin
Very good!

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Thursday 23rd January 2020
quotequote all
And a tarts boudoir interior smile no wonder my wife loves it



RS 60 edition.

Leccy roof, a/c, adjustable suspension, switchable exhaust,traction off, heated seats, the list goes on and on and even blue tooth phone and a tv ffs!

Right, back to proper cars wink

Think I'll move the tiv out the garage, clean it and have a think.

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Thursday 23rd January 2020
quotequote all
What is that?

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Thursday 23rd January 2020
quotequote all
lancepar said:
LS7 500bhp

smokin
In a ?

phazed

Original Poster:

21,844 posts

204 months

Thursday 23rd January 2020
quotequote all
trev4 said:
I saw a LS Boxster at Emerald last year, apparently it's far cheaper than having to put a new Porsche engine into it.
So if you break it Peter you have options. wink
I think we need a track day with Anthony to see how the new toy compares.
Absolutely. Graham would quite like to do Snetterton because it suits his car wink

I will have a look at their diary.

Coincidentally I have already bought a spare set of wheels shod with triple 8s for the Porsche!

Bet you didn't see that one coming Graham!