Are my budgets reasonable?
Discussion
As long a China doesn't invade Taiwan in the next couple of years (because my workplace savings plan is based on my employers share price), I'll be in the market for my first TVR :-) I'm looking for a sorted Tuscan, maybe a Griff if I can't realistically stretch to a Tuscan, later models, convertible or targa with air con. I'm thinking of going private as a dealer won't care after 3 months so why pay the premium, better to have some budget on fixing whatever comes up, but only go with something that has been well looked after and fully documented history.
If I've got a budget of £40k, buy at a max of £33k do I have enough left over to get the chassis & wishbones protected in two component epoxy marine paint, assuming the chassis is in reasonable condition. Would I have a bit left over to make sure other areas are sorted, in particular the more common water ingress points?
The second question is after insurance, MOT & servicing including covering consumables like tyres & brakes, would saving £100pm be enough to cover ongoing maintenance?
If I went mad and decided to repaint to a Reflex or Spectraflair colour, am I looking at about £9K? That'd be a hard sell to get past the missus!
cheers
If I've got a budget of £40k, buy at a max of £33k do I have enough left over to get the chassis & wishbones protected in two component epoxy marine paint, assuming the chassis is in reasonable condition. Would I have a bit left over to make sure other areas are sorted, in particular the more common water ingress points?
The second question is after insurance, MOT & servicing including covering consumables like tyres & brakes, would saving £100pm be enough to cover ongoing maintenance?
If I went mad and decided to repaint to a Reflex or Spectraflair colour, am I looking at about £9K? That'd be a hard sell to get past the missus!
cheers
Edited by OchAye74 on Thursday 30th May 20:55
OchAye74 said:
If I've got a budget of £40k, buy at a max of £33k do I have enough left over to get the chassis & wishbones protected in two component epoxy marine paint, assuming the chassis is in reasonable condition.
Have you considered that your budget would buy a beautiful 4.7 Aston Martin V8 Vantage?
The chassis is aluminium.
Interesting that a number of present Aston Martin owners, have originally been TVR enthusiasts. I suppose there is a similar theme of being big engine, British sports cars.
For your budget you'd likely do better getting a car that has already had the work (chassis, paint, etc) done than buying one and then doing those things yourself.
You'd need to double your monthly budget as you won't get much change from a grand for an annual service and you'll have consumables too.
You'd need to double your monthly budget as you won't get much change from a grand for an annual service and you'll have consumables too.
Jon39 said:
Have you considered that your budget would buy a beautiful 4.7 Aston Martin V8 Vantage?
The chassis is aluminium.
Interesting that a number of present Aston Martin owners, have originally been TVR enthusiasts. I suppose there is a similar theme of being big engine, British sports cars.
Jon39 said:
Have you considered that your budget would buy a beautiful 4.7 Aston Martin V8 Vantage?
The chassis is aluminium.
Interesting that a number of present Aston Martin owners, have originally been TVR enthusiasts. I suppose there is a similar theme of being big engine, British sports cars.
If you're looking at a Griff then don't discount the Chim. When I bought mine in 2021 they were about £5 cheaper for a Chim than a Griff (looking at 500's).
I came from an MX5 to one too (actually kept the MX5) and they are very different beasts unsurprisingly.
The Griffs at the top of the tree look like they are becoming more collectors pieces rather than being used regularly.
I think you need to allow £2k a year for running costs even if it doesn't actually take that every year.
Good luck with whatever you go for and we expect pictures
I came from an MX5 to one too (actually kept the MX5) and they are very different beasts unsurprisingly.
The Griffs at the top of the tree look like they are becoming more collectors pieces rather than being used regularly.
I think you need to allow £2k a year for running costs even if it doesn't actually take that every year.
Good luck with whatever you go for and we expect pictures
porterpainter said:
For your budget you'd likely do better getting a car that has already had the work (chassis, paint, etc) done than buying one and then doing those things yourself.
You'd need to double your monthly budget as you won't get much change from a grand for an annual service and you'll have consumables too.
I read it as 100 pm on top of routine servicing, which I'd say would be reasonable, especially if you can do some of the smaller stuff yourself.You'd need to double your monthly budget as you won't get much change from a grand for an annual service and you'll have consumables too.
Jon39 said:
Have you considered that your budget would buy a beautiful 4.7 Aston Martin V8 Vantage?
The chassis is aluminium.
Interesting that a number of present Aston Martin owners, have originally been TVR enthusiasts. I suppose there is a similar theme of being big engine, British sports cars.
BritishTvr450 said:
If your retiring but still young at heart a TVR is just the ticket.
It’s like having a young beautiful women in tow, so if your also happily married you have the best of both worlds…. Tell me if I’m wrong
OchAye74 said:
One of my favourite things about having a convertible is asking the wife "Top off?" every time it's vaguely sunny
Haha. It’s the law round these parts to get your top off as often as possible so I’m sure the missus will be pleased to hear that. In fact if you get seen with roof on in anything but a blizzard by another owner he’ll complain about it…..
TVR have sports suspension and a series of bumps can unsettle the car and result in quite a lot of up and down movement.
Enjoy your search and do try a few cars before committing.
It’s a well known fact many owners buy the first one they see or try out.
My advice is don’t drive any you are looking at until you have established its condition and it ticks all the boxes you desire because often as soon as you drive one your hooked and can’t bare to walk away……
Not all the best cars are for sale and often been in the hands of one owner for years but if a genuine buyer shows interest via pages like these they then often come out the woodwork and offer up cars you otherwise would never get to see.
Chassis condition is critical on all models simply due to age so personally I’d only buy one with a full chassis restoration complete or recent photographic evidence of what’s known as a partial “ body lift” which is the only way to get at and photograph the tops of various tubes which can be very corroded and only exposed by such a lift. Most older cars will now be showing signs of this rot unless it’s never seen rain! Highly unlikely.
Knowing what I know now and because many of the Rover based cars such as the Griff/ Chimaera have had later Ecu installed, this is a game changer for these older cars and that too would be high on my priority list.
Some say cars that are fully original are more desirable for a collector but for an owner wishing to travel extensively or just use the car as regularly as possible later Ecu are very desirable and becoming more so by the day.
Powers Performance (MBE) and Kits and Classics (EMERALD) are imho the most reliable at doing these Ecu installs on TVR mapping the system and have the greatest cudos with other owners. A known mod that is very desirable going forward as parts for the older control system are becoming increasingly unreliable due to poor quality manufacture.
The new Ecu offer better control over both fuelling and ignition matters and removing many of the older parts known to fail. Job done.
A reliable car can be had and this is possibly the single most effective way to gain that on the Griff/Chim models.
Personally I think the later cars running speed six engines are just fantastic but are more expensive and not easily maintained at home.
In truth any catastrophic failure on any of the cars will be expensive so buying a highly sorted car is absolutely the most expensive way to get into TVR but could save you a fortune over time.
Amore cars and James Agger by definition and by their experience know all this and can be helpfull in finding you a particular car as they too have TVR friends who might sell a car if a serious buyer shows interest.
That extra premium can be worth it.
Both companies rely on reputation to survive in this small community so tend to honour warrantees and make sure the cars they warrantee are genuine.
The days of dealers telling you 20 year old riggers are sound without evidence is surely over.. those dealers no longer exist.
Finally if you are not that hands on or clued up about TVR a few experts are known to do vehicle checks for prospective owners. They can and will travel to inspect cars for you. This can be useful if buying privately.
Just ask on here when your ready and someone will give you details.
TVR take the greatest skill to drive.
TVR feel fantastic to drive.
TVR which is a sorted car is a fantastic car.
TVR are deadly
TVR driven gently and with finesse are easy to drive and massively enjoyable at cruising speeds
TVR are fast
TVR have the greatest sound track only rivalled by E Type Jaguar on the pipe.
I could list faults but all cars have those.
After 20 or 30 years cars are either half fked or highly maintained and better than new.
Your clearly after the later at your price point.
Good luck and I’m sure if your chips come in you’ll surely find that TVR and fall in love again
Edited by BritishTvr450 on Sunday 2nd June 08:37
Note;- Tuscans will have some form of side & roll protection, a Chim or Griff won't,
As others have said, in your budget, look for cars that have had chassis work done, incl photographic record. For early speed 6s (up to 2003 - others will correct me), a rebuild by Powers or other reputable firm is desirable.
Check when the alarm was installed, & if it has any age related issues. I had mine replaced immediately I got my Chim at around 15 years old as preventative maintenance, the installer found a couple of other items that needed doing at the same time.
Within your budget, you should be able to get a very good one of whatever you chose.
As others have said, in your budget, look for cars that have had chassis work done, incl photographic record. For early speed 6s (up to 2003 - others will correct me), a rebuild by Powers or other reputable firm is desirable.
Check when the alarm was installed, & if it has any age related issues. I had mine replaced immediately I got my Chim at around 15 years old as preventative maintenance, the installer found a couple of other items that needed doing at the same time.
Within your budget, you should be able to get a very good one of whatever you chose.
PrinceRupert said:
You'll easily get a well sorted Tuscan sub 30k. You don't need to worry too much about the chassis on a Tuscan, they don't rot like the olders ones. Buy a decent one with an engine rebuild in the file and you'll be fine. I'd budget 2k a year maintenance.
Have a look at the “for love of Tuscan Project build” on the last page. That might not be typical but shows the later chassis can suffer.
They rot exactly as the older ones.
I’d accept later cars are generally used less liberally in bad weather and often looked after to a higher standard especially from new as the older cars where used as a daily far more at the time due to the far larger production and sales numbers.
Tvr success throughout the nineties was built on the relative simplicity and reliability of the Griffith and Chimaera models and many are now well over 100,000 miles and some far beyond that which inevitably has led to more chassis issues but all Tvr have basically the same chassis and I’d never assume any cars chassis is perfect unless it’s documented to prove it.
At the price range OchEye is considering in sure any seller will be happy to have chassis inspected.
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff