Service History
Discussion
I am thinking about going to look at a Chimaera, and it has the following service history:-
Service History:
17/01/2000 – PDI @ TVR
29/02/2000 – TVR @ 1,552 miles
11/09/2000 – TVR @ 5,682 miles
09/01/2006 – Worthings @ 14,995 miles
02/02/2007 – Worthings @ 16,335 miles
04/03/2008 – Worthings @ 17,304 miles
26/03/2009 – Worthings @ 18,158 miles
27/05/2010 – Worthings @ 18,545 miles
16/05/2011 – Fenhurst TVR @ 18,960 miles
15/05/2013 – Taylor TVR @ 21,875 miles
28/08/2013 – Taylor TVR @ 22,543 miles
14/05/2014 – Taylor TVR @ 22,924 miles
12/05/2015 – Taylor TVR @ 23,891 miles
15/05/2017 – Taylor TVR @ 25,140 miles
22/05/2019 – Python Racing @ 29,003 miles
28/10/2020 – Central TVR @ 30,274 miles
2021 - Outriggers Checked and Full Chassis Inspection by TVR Specialist
Now, on first impressions, it looks good, and the final inspection of chassis/outriggers etc was done by Powers Performance.
Then I noticed the lack of service between 2000 and 2006. Now, normally I would just walk away from a car that hadn’t had at least an oil change for over 5 years, but everything else seems to stack up.
So, two questions:-
Would this put you off, and
Was Worthing’s a previous TVR dealer?
Thanks.
Service History:
17/01/2000 – PDI @ TVR
29/02/2000 – TVR @ 1,552 miles
11/09/2000 – TVR @ 5,682 miles
09/01/2006 – Worthings @ 14,995 miles
02/02/2007 – Worthings @ 16,335 miles
04/03/2008 – Worthings @ 17,304 miles
26/03/2009 – Worthings @ 18,158 miles
27/05/2010 – Worthings @ 18,545 miles
16/05/2011 – Fenhurst TVR @ 18,960 miles
15/05/2013 – Taylor TVR @ 21,875 miles
28/08/2013 – Taylor TVR @ 22,543 miles
14/05/2014 – Taylor TVR @ 22,924 miles
12/05/2015 – Taylor TVR @ 23,891 miles
15/05/2017 – Taylor TVR @ 25,140 miles
22/05/2019 – Python Racing @ 29,003 miles
28/10/2020 – Central TVR @ 30,274 miles
2021 - Outriggers Checked and Full Chassis Inspection by TVR Specialist
Now, on first impressions, it looks good, and the final inspection of chassis/outriggers etc was done by Powers Performance.
Then I noticed the lack of service between 2000 and 2006. Now, normally I would just walk away from a car that hadn’t had at least an oil change for over 5 years, but everything else seems to stack up.
So, two questions:-
Would this put you off, and
Was Worthing’s a previous TVR dealer?
Thanks.
You've had loads of TVR's so I'm guessing you know that finding a car that meets your standards on servicing/condition is now virtually impossible.
I'd say go and look at it and if you need to try and convince yourself that it's ok then it has only missed 1 oil change going on miles covered, but only you could decide.
The only other thing I'd say, which again you will know, nobody can really give a chassis a clean bill of health from an inspection, yes people have endoscopes etc but I'm not convinced it's 100% perfect.
I'd say go and look at it and if you need to try and convince yourself that it's ok then it has only missed 1 oil change going on miles covered, but only you could decide.
The only other thing I'd say, which again you will know, nobody can really give a chassis a clean bill of health from an inspection, yes people have endoscopes etc but I'm not convinced it's 100% perfect.
ray von said:
You've had loads of TVR's so I'm guessing you know that finding a car that meets your standards on servicing/condition is now virtually impossible.
I'd say go and look at it and if you need to try and convince yourself that it's ok then it has only missed 1 oil change going on miles covered, but only you could decide.
The only other thing I'd say, which again you will know, nobody can really give a chassis a clean bill of health from an inspection, yes people have endoscopes etc but I'm not convinced it's 100% perfect.
Yes, had 14 TVR’s over the last 24 years, and after selling my Tuscan last Feb, there just seems to be something missing in my lifeI'd say go and look at it and if you need to try and convince yourself that it's ok then it has only missed 1 oil change going on miles covered, but only you could decide.
The only other thing I'd say, which again you will know, nobody can really give a chassis a clean bill of health from an inspection, yes people have endoscopes etc but I'm not convinced it's 100% perfect.
The one model that I never owned was a Chimeara, and have seen what looks like a real nice one down near Andover,
As you say, need to go take a look and make a judgement.
These dam cars just get in your blood
S6 ROR said:
Yes, had 14 TVR’s over the last 24 years, and after selling my Tuscan last Feb, there just seems to be something missing in my life
The one model that I never owned was a Chimeara, and have seen what looks like a real nice one down near Andover,
As you say, need to go take a look and make a judgement.
These dam cars just get in your blood
The one model that I never owned was a Chimeara, and have seen what looks like a real nice one down near Andover,
As you say, need to go take a look and make a judgement.
These dam cars just get in your blood
It's a nightmare I've all but given up, a mixture of not finding a one that meets my high standards and being tight I don’t think that bit of missing history means a great deal in the scheme of things on a Tvr but people think it’s all important.
I think I’d ask the seller how this cars chassis was inspected. Was the body lifted to do these checks.
If it was a visual inspection alone without lifting body then regard that info as subjective at best IMO. There is simply no way to check the inside corners where the body sits without lifting it in my mind unless you drill holes and put a camera inside the tubes which is highly unlikely and now just creates a weak spot for water and other stuff to get in there and corrode them from the inside out.
The rot is where the body sits right next to the inner sections of tube in all 4 corners The evidence suggests the body and trapped road crud rubs in these areas which accelerates the rate of corrosion considerably compared to the steel an inch either side of these points 4 points.
I was told on a number of occasions my riggers were ok by a TVR service centre. They had holes in all 4 corners but so well hidden only a screwdriver wedged between body and tubes could detect the soft or indeed no metal at all. All my rot was at these points on what otherwise looked like a fairly solid set of outriggers from below!
My advice is find out how the dealer inspected the outriggers. Is there any photographic evidence etc!
I’m not for one second suggesting any dealer would give you duff information and inspecting a Tvr chassis is very difficult for anyone without doing a partial body lift imho.
If there is a comprehensive way to check outriggers without lifting body maybe someone could share it with the rest of us lol.
The screwdriver technique works but a bit brutal but then so is buying a car with rotting riggers.
I sincerely hope you come back with nice pictures or some assurances as I hate to cast aspersions as the car genuinely sounds good from service records and very low mileage use.
Buying a Tvr is an overall package. A low mileage car with good mechanics makes sense even if at a later date you need to replace riggers. It’s when you buy a tired car in other areas this all gets very expensive to rebuild.
I just want to know how these dealers actually inspect them and this one specifically then I’ll shut up
I think I’d ask the seller how this cars chassis was inspected. Was the body lifted to do these checks.
If it was a visual inspection alone without lifting body then regard that info as subjective at best IMO. There is simply no way to check the inside corners where the body sits without lifting it in my mind unless you drill holes and put a camera inside the tubes which is highly unlikely and now just creates a weak spot for water and other stuff to get in there and corrode them from the inside out.
The rot is where the body sits right next to the inner sections of tube in all 4 corners The evidence suggests the body and trapped road crud rubs in these areas which accelerates the rate of corrosion considerably compared to the steel an inch either side of these points 4 points.
I was told on a number of occasions my riggers were ok by a TVR service centre. They had holes in all 4 corners but so well hidden only a screwdriver wedged between body and tubes could detect the soft or indeed no metal at all. All my rot was at these points on what otherwise looked like a fairly solid set of outriggers from below!
My advice is find out how the dealer inspected the outriggers. Is there any photographic evidence etc!
I’m not for one second suggesting any dealer would give you duff information and inspecting a Tvr chassis is very difficult for anyone without doing a partial body lift imho.
If there is a comprehensive way to check outriggers without lifting body maybe someone could share it with the rest of us lol.
The screwdriver technique works but a bit brutal but then so is buying a car with rotting riggers.
I sincerely hope you come back with nice pictures or some assurances as I hate to cast aspersions as the car genuinely sounds good from service records and very low mileage use.
Buying a Tvr is an overall package. A low mileage car with good mechanics makes sense even if at a later date you need to replace riggers. It’s when you buy a tired car in other areas this all gets very expensive to rebuild.
I just want to know how these dealers actually inspect them and this one specifically then I’ll shut up
Like you, I'm a serial TVR owner who has given up giving up TVR's!
I also like to see a regularly stamped up service book when buying a car, as it gives you at least some some sense of how well it has been looked after. I've never heard of Worthing's, but the services since 2011 were all carried out by some of the most respected garages in the TVR world, so the history before that is largely irrelevant I'd suggest. Personally I'd start by calling the most recent ones to see if they remember the car and what they thought of it. I certainly wouldn't be put off this one on the face of it.
I also like to see a regularly stamped up service book when buying a car, as it gives you at least some some sense of how well it has been looked after. I've never heard of Worthing's, but the services since 2011 were all carried out by some of the most respected garages in the TVR world, so the history before that is largely irrelevant I'd suggest. Personally I'd start by calling the most recent ones to see if they remember the car and what they thought of it. I certainly wouldn't be put off this one on the face of it.
For a perfectionist, this is not an ideal service history.
But I’d not dismiss a good car otherwise, as I doubt very much that the car has suffered mechanically by doing 10k on the same oil.
And it’s a good bargaining point.
As the Op has owned many TVRs, I’m sure they can tell the ones that have been looked after versus the ones that haven’t in about 10secs.
But I’d not dismiss a good car otherwise, as I doubt very much that the car has suffered mechanically by doing 10k on the same oil.
And it’s a good bargaining point.
As the Op has owned many TVRs, I’m sure they can tell the ones that have been looked after versus the ones that haven’t in about 10secs.
Who serviced a car or an apparent service history gap 15-20 years ago surely doesn't matter now. It's been serviced by mechanics who are respected in the TVR community for the last 10 odd years. It has an engine that was designed in the 1950s. Whatever the pros and cons, a low mileage car is always popular.
S6 ROR said:
Then I noticed the lack of service between 2000 and 2006. Now, normally I would just walk away from a car that hadn’t had at least an oil change for over 5 years,
Do you know that it hasn't had an oil change? It's easy to pop into Halfords et al and get an oil and filter change between services.
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