My old chimera for sale .... I want it but do I ??

My old chimera for sale .... I want it but do I ??

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Discussion

MesserXJR

Original Poster:

24 posts

103 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Need a little help here as I've just stumbled across my first ever TVR chimera on a certain auction site and having a bit of a moment !!

I know it probably seems a bit romantic or nostalgic to revisit an era gone by but I had the absolute time of my life in that car ...... I still have a full set of keys and bills for it !!!

It was bought with 14k on the clock by me at the delicate age of 21 some 17 years ago as my first foray in to grown up fast cars !!! .... I went every where in it .... I used it as a daily driver....went All over Europe .... Numerous lemans trips ... My girl friend(now wife) learnt to drive in it and was sold only because of a change in finances (houses ....children ect)

My partner has given me the green light as it can be a fun summer daily and keep me amused

So to my dilemma ...... Car looks pretty good all round and still even has all the leven bits I put on it ...... how ever the milage concerns me in that since I parted company with it all that time ago it's covered less than 15000 miles (this is going off the last photo I have of it so may be even less) ..... the other problem I have is how does a twenty plus year old Tvr behave now .... I run a 911 of similar vintage and to be honest apart from lacking the electrical gadget mod cons its impeccable (but not as fun as the tvr) ... I understand the maintainace will be higher but am I being unrealistic about it being usable not just a weekend toy

So good people of the jury ..... Am I just in the early stages of a mid life desperately trying to relive my youth or would it be cool to own your first proper performance car to bomb about in and maybe hand down ?



RFC1

1,107 posts

196 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
If you can afford it without worrying about spending some love money on it then get it. smile

HTH

Sandy

TV8

3,118 posts

174 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
buy it and if its a mistake, sell it! Even if it costs you a few £s, at least you will know...

Regret what you have done, not what you havent!!!

MesserXJR

Original Poster:

24 posts

103 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
TV8 said:
Regret what you have done, not what you havent!!!
Hmmm words to live by I think ! ....... The other bit I didn't mention is that I'm in rye on the East Sussex Coast and it's in Yorkshire ! .... Baptism of Fire for the journey back !

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
TV8 said:
buy it and if its a mistake, sell it! Even if it costs you a few £s, at least you will know...

Regret what you have done, not what you havent!!!
This.....
(Despite coming from a man who likes Triumph Stags)
getmecoat

If you have lost your nerve, hire a trailer......
So long as you have a vehicle with a tow bar, and a suitable licence, it will cost you £60 to hire a trailer.

ClassiChimi

12,424 posts

148 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
Romance lives hehe great story and heart warming.
How much fun would it be to go and test drive it first,, a proper drive,, 30-40 mins at least,
You might remember the firm ride and not like it, it might not excite you the same way it did,,,,
Or you might feel like your on the bosom and happy as a pig in st,, wink
It was a long time ago and cars have moved on,,
It'll be older and more likely things are failing here and there but it will still be the same car,,

Ownership of a 10+ year old vehicle is more akin to owning a classic car for maintenance and the need to keep on top of them so it has to be a hobby or your happy to pay a good Tvr man to do the work,, either way you'll have the odd ups and downs but that's the same with any car.
If you really enjoy owning a Tvr again then there's a list of very good mods that can be done to transform your aging Tvr into a car of modern day standards.
Reliability usually comes down to inherent faults, immobiliser and the aging Lucus CUX ignition system are but two that cause huge frustration to many owners,,
Remove those issues and upgrade your starter cable etc and you should have a healthy car for years to come.

Outriggers and chassis rusting is now a problem as age catches up with some of these cars but even that can be resolved and there's plenty of Tvr men offering to replace etc.
For me I'd enjoy taking a drive up there and checking it out, if it's what you want then buy it, or not,, nothing ventured nothing gained. Good luck.

MesserXJR

Original Poster:

24 posts

103 months

Thursday 5th May 2016
quotequote all
ClassiChimi said:
Romance lives hehe great story and heart warming.
How much fun would it be to go and test drive it first,, a proper drive,, 30-40 mins at least,
You might remember the firm ride and not like it, it might not excite you the same way it did,,,,
Or you might feel like your on the bosom and happy as a pig in st,, wink
It was a long time ago and cars have moved on,,
It'll be older and more likely things are failing here and there but it will still be the same car,,

Ownership of a 10+ year old vehicle is more akin to owning a classic car for maintenance and the need to keep on top of them so it has to be a hobby or your happy to pay a good Tvr man to do the work,, either way you'll have the odd ups and downs but that's the same with any car.
If you really enjoy owning a Tvr again then there's a list of very good mods that can be done to transform your aging Tvr into a car of modern day standards.
Reliability usually comes down to inherent faults, immobiliser and the aging Lucus CUX ignition system are but two that cause huge frustration to many owners,,
Remove those issues and upgrade your starter cable etc and you should have a healthy car for years to come.

Outriggers and chassis rusting is now a problem as age catches up with some of these cars but even that can be resolved and there's plenty of Tvr men offering to replace etc.
For me I'd enjoy taking a drive up there and checking it out, if it's what you want then buy it, or not,, nothing ventured nothing gained. Good luck.
I think that's where I'm at as well .... a drive and a good look round it .... I've requested the service records from the seller too

Would you be concerned about a mileage discrepancy ? Or is it a given with this sort of car at this age ..... Just not sure how It can't have done galactic milage ..... My porsche is a weekender and that still sees a good 4-5k a year

Also if there is a big difference should I let the cat out of the bag ? ....... Feel like a kid again , especially as the other halfs just told me to calm down and go to sleep bounce

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
You'd be amazed how few miles many people do in them - put away for 7-8 months and only brought out for car shows in the summer months.
I know of one guy who loves his car so much he has only done 20,000 miles in 15 years. I have done 31,000 in 4 years.
Don't panic, examine the MOTs and the service records, and the bills and see how much he has loved it.

TV8

3,118 posts

174 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
QBee said:
TV8 said:
buy it and if its a mistake, sell it! Even if it costs you a few £s, at least you will know...

Regret what you have done, not what you havent!!!
This.....
(Despite coming from a man who likes Triumph Stags)
getmecoat
I nearly bought that back despite the protests of SWMBO... Had the current owner been up-front it about something it have would have happened! In fact, I have just discussed this post with mrsB and she has got all nostalgic about Alfasuds!

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
TV8 said:
I nearly bought that back despite the protests of SWMBO... Had the current owner been up-front it about something it have would have happened! In fact, I have just discussed this post with mrsB and she has got all nostalgic about Alfasuds!
Sorry, OP, heading slightly off topic here....
A W reg 1.3 Alfasud was my first proper company car, chosen by me in 1981. The year they got on top of the rust problem. I had two more after that, both rust-buckets, including a 1.5 (the sportier model). Great noise, for the time, but dire handling! Push on a bit and have to brake at all suddenly, and the car turned into an excited Spaniel, wagging its tail more and more violently until you ended up ........ wherever.
My only ever accident with a Reliant Robin (just clipped him mid-wag) was in my second one, but the abiding memory is coming around a corner, 28 mph, wide road, artic reversing into a yard. I was going to have to stop. eek
Pressed to muddle pedal, the spaniel woke up, and the bemused trucker watched as over the course of the next 150 yards (we had them in those days) I tried to control more and more violent wags at 20 mph until I ended up stationery, completely sideways 3 yards from his front wheel.
Makes a TVR seem like a total pussy cat in comparison.... hehe

SMB

1,513 posts

265 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
MesserXJR said:
Hmmm words to live by I think ! ....... The other bit I didn't mention is that I'm in rye on the East Sussex Coast and it's in Yorkshire ! .... Baptism of Fire for the journey back !
You only live once, if you can afford it and go in with eyes open expecting some work req'd , bid the right price for you and when collecting just make sure your breakdown recovery is upto date.. At the end of the they are relatively simple cars . Then enjoy making new memories.!

TV8

3,118 posts

174 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
I always,found the Sud handled well. A bit of under steer and great brakes. Not sure what model years I had but both were bad on rust. The first1.5 was so low geared. I had it set- up and the carb re jetted on a rolling road. The engine spent its life with the Rev counter fully clockwise and I did lots of silly and fun things in it. We called it the "aqua Sud" due to a random water leak. Rubbish electrics and a great noise. I was going to get a sensible car and put a deposit on a boring box then popped out with my mate and bought another one on impulse! Happy days indeed!

nawarne

3,088 posts

259 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
SMB said:
MesserXJR said:
Hmmm words to live by I think ! ....... The other bit I didn't mention is that I'm in rye on the East Sussex Coast and it's in Yorkshire ! .... Baptism of Fire for the journey back !
You only live once, if you can afford it and go in with eyes open expecting some work req'd , bid the right price for you and when collecting just make sure your breakdown recovery is upto date.. At the end of the they are relatively simple cars . Then enjoy making new memories.!
I'd agree....Look at it this way, take the wife/partner for a weekend in Yorkshire incorporating a viewing of the car. Be sensible, remove the pinky spectacles, check the MOTs and service stuff and see if it all makes sense and that the car has been loved....You could always ask to meet the owner at a respected TVR garage to get a professional opinion too (this might take some organising).

It's a chance to scratch the itch and have a nice weekend away - what's not to like?

Nick

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
You could also see who has been servicing it, quite likely RT in Sheffield, and give them a call for an opinion. A strong positive would be good.

Byker28i

58,855 posts

216 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
Unless theres a very good reason not to, then buy it biggrin

ClassiChimi

12,424 posts

148 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
MesserXJR said:
I think that's where I'm at as well .... a drive and a good look round it .... I've requested the service records from the seller too

Would you be concerned about a mileage discrepancy ? Or is it a given with this sort of car at this age ..... Just not sure how It can't have done galactic milage ..... My porsche is a weekender and that still sees a good 4-5k a year

Also if there is a big difference should I let the cat out of the bag ? ....... Feel like a kid again , especially as the other halfs just told me to calm down and go to sleep bounce
Hahahahah,, right lets get down to business,,,,
Outriggers check! Take old clothes and a coat, get down and dirty, use a small hammer or mallet to tap riggers, start at the corners and hear that solid tap sound,, follow the riggers and listen for rust!!!
£1500 to replace riggers so it's important.
Oil leaks of any description.
Cooling is working well and tempos don't go above 90 or there abouts.

You then have this great site where everyone shares information and helps each other stay on the road.

Keep us informed. thumbup

MesserXJR

Original Poster:

24 posts

103 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
Well just got the history breakdown through and it dosent help my concerns I guess ...... Couple of 5 and 6 year gaps between services and after I sold it, it seems it covered about 500 miles in 5 years ??

Am I alone in thinking that dosent amount to full service history ? I have mine done annually regardless of milage



happy days !!

SMB

1,513 posts

265 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
MesserXJR said:
Well just got the history breakdown through and it dosent help my concerns I guess ...... Couple of 5 and 6 year gaps between services and after I sold it, it seems it covered about 500 miles in 5 years ??

Am I alone in thinking that dosent amount to full service history ? I have mine done annually regardless of milage



happy days !!
you tend to find that as cars have got older, gaps appear, you need to buy on current condition, and price as such, many people seem to leave for years and go by mileage, especially if not used, you only have to look on the facebook grous to see people proudly saying, waking my car up after winter (I keep mine going through the winter and nice winters days). It may not be a fsh, but do the mot's, service dates tie up? assuming everything is still good on the car, budget for a full service and fluids change in the price.

N7GTX

7,823 posts

142 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
Remember the odometers are not always reliable. May be something as simple as that.

As you've now become an old softy since owning it, driving new cars around, it has power steering for southern owners...biggrin

Edited by N7GTX on Friday 6th May 15:12

T4NGO

384 posts

235 months

Friday 6th May 2016
quotequote all
I'm all for running in with you heart and say go get it. But, I remember as a kid, Knight Rider, Airwolf etc. Utterly amazing programs. Watch them now and you realise what complete and utter XXXX they are lol. My point being sometimes things are better left in the memory. And then I'd go get it anyway lol