What to do, what to do?!!
What to do, what to do?!!
Author
Discussion

Johnniem

Original Poster:

2,753 posts

252 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
quotequote all
Yes, I am fretting and I need to know what the TVR massive think. Here's the deal...I have a 1998 450 Chimaera which I have owned (and loved) since 2007 (almost a full 5 years). It was bought with 55k miles on it and I have added a further 28k to give a worthy 83k now. Mechanically it has had everything it needed, and stuff it didn't; suffice to say that it has never let me down and is mechanically as good as it can get.

Three things of importance here; 1) my darling wife is not enamoured by the car and we therefore don't use the Tiv often to go very far (I use it to hoon either by myself or to Europe with pals once a year), 2) The paintwork ain't great as there is a good splattering of stone chip action on the front end and finally, 3) the interior is rubbish and really needs a total refurb to make it a decent car. So that's the facts.

1) How much does the Tiv massive think that high mileage is a major issue? I think we have been there before and my point would be that being a rV8 with plenty of use over a period of 14 years shows how reliable it has been. It continues to be reliable and as such is a good buy.

2) Should I keep and not bother with refurbishing the interior as I am not trying to impress I just love driving it?

3) Should I keep and do the work but be prepared to enhance the value by much less than is spent on it?

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Orrabest.

Biggles101

195 posts

190 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
quotequote all
You WILL miss it if you sell! Does it have to go for any other reason than "the Wife"?? Has the wife given you the ultimatum of sell it or else!!
Otherwise KEEP IT, Drive it and ENJOY. Whether you upgrade the interior depends on you. If it doesn't bother you then leave well alone.
Anyone on here will no doubt be biased towards keeping it. getmecoat

Mark.

11,104 posts

305 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
quotequote all
Biggles101 said:
You WILL miss it if you sell! Does it have to go for any other reason than "the Wife"?? Has the wife given you the ultimatum of sell it or else!!
Otherwise KEEP IT, Drive it and ENJOY. Whether you upgrade the interior depends on you. If it doesn't bother you then leave well alone.
Anyone on here will no doubt be biased towards keeping it. getmecoat
+1 to this.

And at only 83k miles you might as well continue to keep running it in. yes

Don1

16,780 posts

237 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
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Keep it man.

Gazzab

21,633 posts

311 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
quotequote all
ditch it but keep the car.

Jammy Dodger

2,449 posts

184 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
quotequote all
the upholstery always gets tatty over time.

Not much you can do about it short of chopping it in for a younger model every 5 years.

The car on the other hand you can get retrimmed..

Laser Sag

2,860 posts

272 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
quotequote all
Gazzab said:
ditch it but keep the car.
biglaugh

Johnniem

Original Poster:

2,753 posts

252 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
quotequote all
Gazzab said:
ditch it but keep the car.
LMFAO!!!! Stops to think.........evilhehe

esso

1,849 posts

246 months

Tuesday 13th March 2012
quotequote all
You would regret it if you sold it....do you need to sell it? Are you happy with it as it is?....if not spend some money on it to get it how you want it....and drive it....its what they are made for!

mikeinsheffield

1,038 posts

214 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
quotequote all
Ask yourself:
Does she give me pleasure?
Has she been faithful and reliable to me?
Does she give you a warm happy feeling deep inside?
Should you really be treating her a little better than that?
Do you feel guilty about tempting thoughts about others?




If you like driving it, and don't really have to sell it - then doing some work to remidy the perceived faults with it may help to rekindle your love affair even more. If you are doing about 5k miles per year then at least it's getting used (and I bet a lot more than a lot of TVR.... but please no flames from the high milage daily drivers please).

If you spend a bit on a retrim (and get it done properly by the likes of D&C in Blackpool for example) then it may make you feel better about sitting in the car and more "pride of ownership". See how much a front end respray would cost to tidy it up a bit (no need to go concours if you're more interested in just driving it for fun)......

After all, if you sold it, what else would you get to replace it that would give you the same grin factor?

Edited by mikeinsheffield on Wednesday 14th March 17:22

Zanshin

56 posts

176 months

Wednesday 14th March 2012
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Ditch the one that gives you the most amount of grief and keet the one that puts the biggest smile on your face !driving Job done!

Johnniem

Original Poster:

2,753 posts

252 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
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Zanshin said:
Ditch the one that gives you the most amount of grief and keet the one that puts the biggest smile on your face !driving Job done!
Are you referring to the fast one with the soft curves who can slam hard into reverse when required? It's a hard call for sheer riding pleasure!

Johnniem

Original Poster:

2,753 posts

252 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
Spoke to Dave at D&C trim in Blackpool and it looks like a deal. It's a keeper. In fact, I have decided to keep both, I mean, where can one get ride like that at the tender age of 51?!!!

Zanshin

56 posts

176 months

Thursday 15th March 2012
quotequote all
Johnniem said:
Spoke to Dave at D&C trim in Blackpool and it looks like a deal. It's a keeper. In fact, I have decided to keep both, I mean, where can one get ride like that at the tender age of 51?!!!
hehe

Good on you matey!!
I guess two rides are better than one (so to speak!!) beer
Will we be seeing you at Chatsworth??