99 Speed Six - a good buy?

99 Speed Six - a good buy?

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STEVE_HALL99

Original Poster:

23 posts

271 months

Sunday 9th February 2003
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I'm going to look at a 99 S6 Cerbie later, is it a good buy?

Its a 99 in Midnight met blue with cream leather, CD, Aircon, etc... BUT 39,000miles. Apparently no engine work, so I'm thinking this is a good thing - ie its obviously been reliable so far, so why shouldn't that continue!

Priced at £21k, I think a little strong for the milage so I'll try a knock a bit off... What should I check for / what do you think?

gazzab

21,232 posts

289 months

Sunday 9th February 2003
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Sounds ok to me. You could get a 4.5 v8 for the same money, mileage and year though.

STEVE_HALL99

Original Poster:

23 posts

271 months

Sunday 9th February 2003
quotequote all

gazzab said: Sounds ok to me. You could get a 4.5 v8 for the same money, mileage and year though.


Hi Gazza,

Yeah, trying to decide whether S6 / 4.5 / 4.2 is the best option. I reckon that I can knock a couple of K of the price if I 'flash the cash' and if this is a good S6, there's nothing to say a 4.5 is better / faster....

joospeed

4,473 posts

285 months

Sunday 9th February 2003
quotequote all
where are you getting it from?

STEVE_HALL99

Original Poster:

23 posts

271 months

Sunday 9th February 2003
quotequote all
Private, with 1 years balance of Sytners Platinum warranty, which makes it a good deal to me if I can bargain to say £19.5k ?

trackdemon

12,318 posts

268 months

Tuesday 11th February 2003
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Sorry, just thought I'd pop this up the list.... opinions anyone? Planning to go see it either tonight or Thursday...

gazzab

21,232 posts

289 months

Tuesday 11th February 2003
quotequote all
If it all works, it is totally clean etc then 19K ish would be a good price. I am sure he will be excited to see a potential buyer and so I would make an offer you are happy with and aleave it at that.
You might want an independent check over of the chassis and engine though.

trackdemon

12,318 posts

268 months

Friday 14th February 2003
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Well I went to look at this car last night. Shed!
The engine rattled like ballbearings in a washing machine (I know they all do this when cold, but it was still doing it when hot), even though the owner claimed the tappets had been done at its recent service. Drove down the road, and he thrashed it to 7k rpm from cold (another BIG no-no), felt like there was a fair sized flat spot from 4-5k rpm. Got it to my garage and had a look up close - interior was very clean, bodywork fairly good apart from the inevitable stone chips up front. Had a look at the chassis, and the front of the chassis rails (just behind the wheels) were pretty heavily corroded, as were the jacking points. Wheel's were badly scuffed. Clonky diff when on/off throttle, nasty axle tramp in 3rd. Had a listen to the engine when warm, top end sounded like marbles being poured into a food mixer. Rear carbon trim de-laquering. Not good.
Basically I told him I wouldn't buy it on the state of the chassis alone (I reckon another year or 2 and you're looking at needing a new one), he suggested that a dealer had offered £19k. I doubt this very much, £14k trade more like.
Ach well, maybe next one!

gazzab

21,232 posts

289 months

Friday 14th February 2003
quotequote all
7k rpm from cold. Amazing !!!! In my AJP I dont go to 3k until 5 mins into journey, then over 3K once about 15-20 mins into journey (oil pressure dropped slightly and engine warm), I wouldnt go to high revs until over 20 mins into journey. My engine doesnt burn any oil whatsoever (even on 0w).
Thrashing is the one thing you just dont do on a TVR engine when cold (or even a normal engine).
I wouldnt give him more than 10K for it!

trackdemon

12,318 posts

268 months

Friday 14th February 2003
quotequote all
Exactly, then there's the small issue of a chassis that'll need replacing in a couple of years, a diff on its way out, fuel pump about to go, diff mounts shagged (clonk clonk) etc...

Beano500

20,854 posts

282 months

Friday 14th February 2003
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trackdemon said: he thrashed it to 7k rpm from cold (another BIG no-no),


A whopping, resounding, definitive

Even if he did do it every day of it's life, you'd have thought that he would have presented it a bit better if he wanted to sell it.

What a shame - it sounded so good on paper.