I'm younge with an opportunity of an S3 reasonably priced
Discussion
I drive a 3 series BMW and have bought a TR7 late year in near mint condition as a second fun car and will be selling due to wanting something more lively and fun! I never contemplated TVR as being a car for me due to their supercar status, and I can't really spend alot on a car to be honest, though I do have decent job and still live at home but kind of reluctant to take out a loan.
However, my dads work mate has this TVR he wants to get rid of. It's a 1990 TVR S3 with about 90k miles and a daily runner for this guy who drives to work and back ect. Turns out he wants a Chimaera to replace it and can't be bothered to advertise properly and said he wants £3500 for it. Now, there must be something wrong with it right??? I have not seen any of these on the net sell for £3500. I've seen a pic or two my dad took on his phone and it looks okay. It has a sports exhaust. Chassis and body fine apparently to my dads work mate. To me this sounds like a great opportunity. What do you think? I can upload a couple pics of it... Of course I will view the car and give it a good go over before even contemplating buying. Thanks anyway, my first post here so woohoo
However, my dads work mate has this TVR he wants to get rid of. It's a 1990 TVR S3 with about 90k miles and a daily runner for this guy who drives to work and back ect. Turns out he wants a Chimaera to replace it and can't be bothered to advertise properly and said he wants £3500 for it. Now, there must be something wrong with it right??? I have not seen any of these on the net sell for £3500. I've seen a pic or two my dad took on his phone and it looks okay. It has a sports exhaust. Chassis and body fine apparently to my dads work mate. To me this sounds like a great opportunity. What do you think? I can upload a couple pics of it... Of course I will view the car and give it a good go over before even contemplating buying. Thanks anyway, my first post here so woohoo
I'm sure I won't be the last person to say this but
CHECK THE CHASSIS!!!
Tinworm will cost you a fair bit unless you happen to be handy with a welding torch.
Whats the history like? Who is it looked after by? Someone who knows what they're doing or just a bloke in a shed who can service Ford V6 engines?
Like you say, for that sort of money, you'd be right to assume that something is amiss, or perhaps you have simply stumbled on a good car that the owner is desperate to part with ASAP.
Go here http://tvrsseries.com/ and check out the buyers guide. Then get yourself underneath the prospective purchase and do some digging around with a screwdriver and make sure there are no nasties lurking.
CHECK THE CHASSIS!!!Tinworm will cost you a fair bit unless you happen to be handy with a welding torch.
Whats the history like? Who is it looked after by? Someone who knows what they're doing or just a bloke in a shed who can service Ford V6 engines?
Like you say, for that sort of money, you'd be right to assume that something is amiss, or perhaps you have simply stumbled on a good car that the owner is desperate to part with ASAP.
Go here http://tvrsseries.com/ and check out the buyers guide. Then get yourself underneath the prospective purchase and do some digging around with a screwdriver and make sure there are no nasties lurking.
Edited by dougc on Friday 22 February 22:47
It might be worth asking if he minds if you take it for an MOT at your expense - could be the best £50 you ever spent if it is iffy. May not pass but the failure sheet would give you a good idea of how good it is.
Bear in mind that the chassis on the S can rot - don't let it put you off just bear in mind thats its pretty likely to need repairs at some point.
Insurance - http://www.hagertyinsurance.co.uk insure it with limited mileage as a second car and you'll be looking at well under £200 - yes you read that right. Even if you're a youngster.
Chris
Bear in mind that the chassis on the S can rot - don't let it put you off just bear in mind thats its pretty likely to need repairs at some point.
Insurance - http://www.hagertyinsurance.co.uk insure it with limited mileage as a second car and you'll be looking at well under £200 - yes you read that right. Even if you're a youngster.
Chris
Edited by Barkychoc on Friday 22 February 23:08
Thank you very much, that's bril, I'll most definatly check that out! How do you post images on this forum? It had a new hood 3 years ago, it's going for an MOT soon and he is just not bothered at all, as long as he gets 3500 for it! Of course I'll check her over. I was thinking about keeping my TR7 for the summer but now the headlights are malfunctioning and the whole care is becoming a bit of a nightmare and I want something a bit more reliable! How reliable are these cars? I'm beginning to really like these cars and i haven't even seen one up close yet!
Mines been faultlesss in the 3 years or so I've owned it. Just one or two minor electrical glitches. Mechanically its sound as are most. The main problem you'll find is wear on components. Bushes and the like but if you know one end of a spanner from the other you can do most jobs yourself.
I'm just taking a break from fitting new front suspension and drop links at the moment. Never done it before but its all a learning curve and actually much easier than I had first thought.
I'm just taking a break from fitting new front suspension and drop links at the moment. Never done it before but its all a learning curve and actually much easier than I had first thought.
Orophin said:
I drive a 3 series BMW and have bought a TR7 late year in near mint condition as a second fun car and will be selling due to wanting something more lively and fun! I never contemplated TVR as being a car for me due to their supercar status, and I can't really spend alot on a car to be honest, though I do have decent job and still live at home but kind of reluctant to take out a loan.
However, my dads work mate has this TVR he wants to get rid of. It's a 1990 TVR S3 with about 90k miles and a daily runner for this guy who drives to work and back ect. Turns out he wants a Chimaera to replace it and can't be bothered to advertise properly and said he wants £3500 for it. Now, there must be something wrong with it right??? I have not seen any of these on the net sell for £3500. I've seen a pic or two my dad took on his phone and it looks okay. It has a sports exhaust. Chassis and body fine apparently to my dads work mate. To me this sounds like a great opportunity. What do you think? I can upload a couple pics of it... Of course I will view the car and give it a good go over before even contemplating buying. Thanks anyway, my first post here so woohoo
Lukas, YHM.However, my dads work mate has this TVR he wants to get rid of. It's a 1990 TVR S3 with about 90k miles and a daily runner for this guy who drives to work and back ect. Turns out he wants a Chimaera to replace it and can't be bothered to advertise properly and said he wants £3500 for it. Now, there must be something wrong with it right??? I have not seen any of these on the net sell for £3500. I've seen a pic or two my dad took on his phone and it looks okay. It has a sports exhaust. Chassis and body fine apparently to my dads work mate. To me this sounds like a great opportunity. What do you think? I can upload a couple pics of it... Of course I will view the car and give it a good go over before even contemplating buying. Thanks anyway, my first post here so woohoo
The only thing I spotted it that the front bumper trims are plain black whereas the rear ones have the chrome insert.
May have had a replacement bonnet or something, if the car is sound I wouldn't worry about it too much. (The S3 should have chrome inserts front and rear).
Also - I'll say it now - if you buy it you need to treat the car's power with respect especially in the wet and on roundabouts / tight bends - otherwise in the words of Jememy Clarkson 'one day it will bite your head off!'
Power isn't ridiculous by todays standards but the back end is very light - you do need to be careful.
Point and squirt - slow through bends fast on the straights is the safest way.
Dad talk over.
Get the car, and get yourself to S Club Heaven in June.
Chris
May have had a replacement bonnet or something, if the car is sound I wouldn't worry about it too much. (The S3 should have chrome inserts front and rear).
Also - I'll say it now - if you buy it you need to treat the car's power with respect especially in the wet and on roundabouts / tight bends - otherwise in the words of Jememy Clarkson 'one day it will bite your head off!'
Power isn't ridiculous by todays standards but the back end is very light - you do need to be careful.
Point and squirt - slow through bends fast on the straights is the safest way.
Dad talk over.
Get the car, and get yourself to S Club Heaven in June.
Chris
Barkychoc said:
The only thing I spotted it that the front bumper trims are plain black whereas the rear ones have the chrome insert.
May have had a replacement bonnet or something, if the car is sound I wouldn't worry about it too much. (The S3 should have chrome inserts front and rear).
That's intresting because he said it has an S3C front on it because this is one of the later S3's before they began the S3C production.May have had a replacement bonnet or something, if the car is sound I wouldn't worry about it too much. (The S3 should have chrome inserts front and rear).
Orophin said:
Barkychoc said:
The only thing I spotted it that the front bumper trims are plain black whereas the rear ones have the chrome insert.
May have had a replacement bonnet or something, if the car is sound I wouldn't worry about it too much. (The S3 should have chrome inserts front and rear).
That's intresting because he said it has an S3C front on it because this is one of the later S3's before they began the S3C production.May have had a replacement bonnet or something, if the car is sound I wouldn't worry about it too much. (The S3 should have chrome inserts front and rear).
You are right - only S1 had no chrome strip. If the bonnet is in decent condition it wouldn't put me off.
Just thought - does the bonnet have round spot / fog lamps under the headlamps? (Look on my profile).
If so it is a later bonnet - maybe they just fitted the wrong trims.
It might take a bit of finding but you will be able to replace the trims - somewhere like woolies trim - look at the S Series Links page at the top of this forum.
Chris
Just thought - does the bonnet have round spot / fog lamps under the headlamps? (Look on my profile).
If so it is a later bonnet - maybe they just fitted the wrong trims.
It might take a bit of finding but you will be able to replace the trims - somewhere like woolies trim - look at the S Series Links page at the top of this forum.
Chris
Edited by Barkychoc on Thursday 28th February 22:41
Personally, I wouldn't get too hung up on whether the front's got the chrome strips or not. The only worry would be whether it means the car's been involved in an accident. An HPI check should clear that one. As has been said before check the chassis, but now I would look for signs of accident damage at the front as well as the normal oxides.
Having said all that, it looks like a bargain.
Having said all that, it looks like a bargain.
Hello and welcome,
I'm pretty new round here too. Just to let you know, I bought and outstanding (not mint) S1.5 for a shade over £3500 and I'm delighted with it...it does happen as long as you go into it with your eyes open, you'll have a lot of fun. If it gets through the mot - it's gotta be worth £3.5k of anyone's money. I believe the chrome trim can be added for very little money after a trip to Halfords
I'm pretty new round here too. Just to let you know, I bought and outstanding (not mint) S1.5 for a shade over £3500 and I'm delighted with it...it does happen as long as you go into it with your eyes open, you'll have a lot of fun. If it gets through the mot - it's gotta be worth £3.5k of anyone's money. I believe the chrome trim can be added for very little money after a trip to Halfords
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