Qs from a potential owner

[numlock]

I am currently toying with the idea of buying an early (read cheap!) Chimaera and have a few questions to pose. I have test driven both a 4.0 and a 5.0 HC, I found the 4.0 not really quick enough over my current car to justify either the initial expenditure or the running costs. The 5.0 HC was, however, awesome! This has thrown me a bit because I'm not gonna buy a 4.0 and 5.0s are out of my budget. the 4.3 is a rare beast as far as I can tell (was there such a thing as a "big valve" 4.3?) but looking at it's power output in comparison to the 4.0 and the 5.0, I would guess that it should do the business as far as I'm concerned....has anybody driven one who can give an opinion? 4.5s are going to be too new for my wallet I'm afraid.

Next question. TVR main dealer servicing costs seem to range from £450 (6K) to £650 (24K) for something I would happily do myself in an afternoon. The only complex bit as far as I can tell is fault code reading and I'm pretty confident I can get hold of the equipment to do that as well. I'm aware that it may be detramental to resale not to continue a dealer service history, but if I was to buy a higher mileage 93 car and run as a daily driver for say 3 years how detramental does anybody reckon it would be, given the car's fast impending "classic" status. I'm a professional engineer by trade, and have run a Ginetta as a daily driver for the past 4 years so I'm reasonably mechanically adept, PS I don't trust anybody in the automotive trade as far as I can throw them, no matter how much it costs (no offence to anyone though, I know there are good people out there). Alternatively I could go to an independant dealer for servicing, any idea of the likely costs?

Any chance of a buyers guide on PistonHeads?

Any opinions welcome......

>>> Edited by numlock on Thursday 28th February 16:19

>>> Edited by numlock on Thursday 28th February 16:20

[squirrelz]

If you're buying an early car, you're definitely better off going to an independent for servicing.

Main dealers are about £350 for 6k and £500 for 12k and quite often more than that, whereas independents are more like £250 and £350 respectively.

Whereabouts are you based?

[richb]

quote:TVR main dealer servicing costs seem to range from £450 (6K) to £650 (24K) for something I would happily do myself in an afternoon. The only complex bit as far as I can tell is fault code reading and I'm pretty confident I can get hold of the equipment to do that as well.

I thought the same thing; after all it's only plugs and oil yep? But this thread has been done here before and apparently there are a myriad of things to be done on a TVR that probably go un-checked on your average saloon. I expect someone will point you in the direction of a list of service items on the V8 cars for each service interval. Rich...

[yum]

First step is to buy Steve Heath's book.

Wouldn't worry too much about a franchised service history, as you are looking at a relatively cheap car. when you sell it it may be 12 years old with 100k on the clock, so does a FTVRSH really make a significant difference in £ notes? probably not. You'll save more by going independent, DIY or perhaps a combination of both. Either way, best to keep a detailed record of what you do anyway.

You will find service lists on one or two of the dealer websites.

There are lots of independents, depends where you are in the country.

R

>> Edited by yum on Thursday 28th February 17:03

[paul]

One thing to remember (and has been said many times before) the combination of being handbuilt and then looked after in such a wide variance of care means that there can be massive differences between 2 supposedly similar cars. My 1st Chimaera (400) didn't feel 'fast enough' especially when I took a mate's newer 400 out for a comparison and a rolling road confirmed my suspicion... Maybe the 4L you tried was less well 'sorted'?

[ATG]

By the sounds of it your DIY servicing will be better than the "professional" service. i'd have thought the amount you save by doing the work yourself and catching problems before they get too big would easily offset the potential loss of value from a lack of dealer stamps in the log book. If you want something of an on-going project, a TVR will vertainly give you a lot of satisfying little jobs to do ... hem, hem...

[MikeyT]

Think you should set up doing Chim servicing. How much then?

[beano1197]

OK, so you're looking for good value from the car and good value for the servicing.

A decent independent need not cost the amount you're quoting and they'll know there stuff.

TVRs can be run as an everyday/only car - I'm on a mission to prove it. As for a useful survey, I have, and so have many others, popped details onto Pistonheads to share the knowledge. If you take a look at my details the servicing (well known independent guy on his own) is only surpassed by my magpie habit for shiny Leven Technology bits!! So nearer the £200 for servicing - once your paying to put any car on the road you have cost, so TVRs are incredible value all round!!

JFDI

[shpub]

quote:
By the sounds of it your DIY servicing will be better than the "professional" service. i'd have thought the amount you save by doing the work yourself and catching problems before they get too big would easily offset the potential loss of value from a lack of dealer stamps in the log book. If you want something of an on-going project, a TVR will vertainly give you a lot of satisfying little jobs to do ... hem, hem...

The problem with DIY servicing is that TVRs require a lot of visual inspection and the servicing if done correctly should take the best part of a day. If it doesn't then it may not done correctly and problems which are easy to sort in early stages are missed.

In addition, you only see one car and because you don't get the breath of experience from seeing hundreds of cars in a year, it can be difficult to be aware of new potential problems or changes. As a result, most DIY servicing in my experience is a big red flag for any potential buyer. I am not saying that there are no good DIY servicers out there - there are - but to me it is a big reason to be extra cautious or walk away. In the end it is all about risk assessment and management. If there is not a set of recognised stamps in the book, my advice is be very very very careful. To quote Clint "Do you feel lucky?"

I also get very weary of cheap servicing. £200 for a service might cover labout but there are at least 150-200 pounds worth of consumables depending on the service. Again, warning bells go off in my head when I hear this.

I budget around £750 a service and that means that I have a nest egg should anything be needed like new pads and disks for example or a clutch. I find you get a big bill one time in three.

And no while I could do my own servicing, I don't because of the amount of time it takes and I like someone else looking at the car who may see things that I have missed when I have been working on it. Most of my workshop time is spent working on the 520 anyway which is a lot more fun!

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[numlock]

I've got to say I am somewhat surprised by your replies. I was expecting everyone to say "you can't possibly consider DIY servicing". Steve made some valid points with regard to the thoroughness of a "cheap" service, as with all things you get what you pay for I guess.

Another quick question....I noticed that the passenger footwell was somewhat cramped due to the position of the battery. Is it possible to relocate it to the boot and regain some footwell room. Obviously you would have to use some pretty chunky cables for the starter motor. But on the plus side you get a bit more weight on the rear and it would be easier to jump start. Just a thought!

[richb]

quote:Another quick question....I noticed that the passenger footwell was somewhat cramped due to the position of the battery.

I guess that as I drive the car from the drivers side I have never given it any consideration. How tall is you wife/girlfriend/passenger?

[rthierry]

numlock,

damp footwell are a common issue which can be easily solved by re-sealing a few hole beneath the dashboard - you can refer to Steve's bible for more info. As far as removing the battery, I don't know really... would look rather messy in the boot. I know that Leven Technology sell a kit that which basically consist of installed plugs connected to the battery towards the front of the engine bay, thus making it easy to jump start the car if needed.

Cheers