RE: PH Fleet: Lexus LS400/TVR Chimaera 400

[tali1]

Skyedriver said:

Miss the Chimaera too
M945NOP where are you now?
Since I used you as a daily driver for 3 years I suspect you are now off the road due tocorroded chassis
Don't think I could afford the fuel anymore at 19 mpg
Enjoyed the time, sad to think I cannot anymore

19mpg? my 20 year short run average is 22.5mpg from an average of ......99bhp
Although if you are doing long runs and big miles and only getting 19mpg then that does take its toll.

[neilbauer]

The Chim looks and sounds lovely

[ItsaTVR]

jbi said:

Better in every conceivable way than the rover V8 apart from physical dimensions and exhaust note. I'm not sure it would fit under the bonnet.

Have you not noticed the caning Lotus gets even now for continuing to put toyota engines in the Evora?
{And before you say "it's Lexus not Toyota", have alook under the nose of a Tundra(that's their big pick-up truck in the US, don't know if you have it in GB). By Gammit, that does look familiar...}

Or how frequently TVR owners are called on to defend their choice of converting to Corvette power? (Better in every conceivable way than the Rover V8, INCLUDING dimensions!)

I'm not slagging the Lexus motors, I'm just sayin'...

[cheddar]

Garlick said:

Too shiny to go on the dirty roads

Mmmm, what's that?

[900T-R]

ItsaTVR said:

Or how frequently TVR owners are called on to defend their choice of converting to Corvette power? (Better in every conceivable way than the Rover V8, INCLUDING dimensions!)

The point that seems to be roundly missed every time is that you can install a 'better' engine and end up with a worse car overall...

If you have got to have the 'best' of anything on your TVR, start with suspension (cue the cries of 'but I only use my car on the road and for the occasional track day'... another 'missing the point' moment).

Just sayin'.

[suffolk009]

Went into the garage for the first time since September. Took the jump pack and load of other stuff I thought I'd be needing. Sat in the midget and turned the key. The battery was fine, turned the engine over just long enough to get some fuel back into the twin SUs and... it stated.

Unbelievable. Brilliant. And this from a car that is thity years old. The sun was shining, so I went for a drive.

[Johnboy Mac]

MUDGUTZ said:

I am still really pleased with my 1997 LS400, it's coming up to 156,000 miles and drives really well.

When I have had a long day at work and am quite tired, it takes me up the M1 to home so easily. My previous barge (1995 BMW 525) was good for that journey but this is a lot better. I couldn't hope for a better car for the money. These cars are very under-rated as a Luxo-Barge.

I paid £884 for it 7 months and 9000 miles ago, have sold the registration for £500 and spent £2800 on:

MOT
All the plugs, HT leads, Distributor Caps and Rotor Arms replaced
A good service, including all the filters, oil change, etc.
4 Pirelli tyres, 4 wheel tracking, etc.
Changed the Transmission Fluid
A few other bits to keep it running well.

I get around 27 MPG

Edited by MUDGUTZ on Monday 27th February 18:22

It sounds like a good one. As for comparing the BM & the Lexus, chalk & cheese. I've owned both too and the LS is in a different league. 27mpg too, nothing wrong with that.

[Garlick]

Johnboy Mac said:

MUDGUTZ said:

I get around 27 MPG

27mpg too, nothing wrong with that.

I don't often see MPG that high, but my slow commute coupled with that fact that 90% of my driving is in London will see to that. I'm high teens, low twenties more often than not.

[Johnboy Mac]

Garlick said:

I don't often see MPG that high, but my slow commute coupled with that fact that 90% of my driving is in London will see to that. I'm high teens, low twenties more often than not.

I think I mentioned it to you before Garlick, I was getting something like 16-18mpg around the city & maybe 26mpg on a run, which I found very acceptable. Great cars, that there is no doubt regardless of the mpg, but all the better when you find that you can pass everything on the road including petrol stations.

[Garlick]

Johnboy Mac said:

I think I mentioned it to you before Garlick, I was getting something like 16-18mpg around the city & maybe 26mpg on a run, which I found very acceptable. Great cars, that there is no doubt regardless of the mpg, but all the better when you find that you can pass everything on the road including petrol stations.

Quite agree sir

[Garlick]

[redacted]

[Garlick]

cheddar said:

Garlick said:

Too shiny to go on the dirty roads

Mmmm, what's that?

It's a Cooper bikes framed fixie that I have added a few bits to over time. Now currently residing in the dining room as a work of art rather than a functional bicycle.

[slippery]

The Lexus is without doubt the bargain barge of choice for those that want to minimise risk. I do wonder if a few months of faultless motoring would probably tempt me to live a little dangerously, so I understand where you're coming from Garlick. As for your comments re a Monaro, I have just left a VXR8 (not the same I know, but similar in many ways) and have to say that in no way will the Monaro feel as special, unless it is endowed with a few choice mods, exhaust at the minimum. Find one with a Wortec exhaust, TVS 2300 supercharger, a decent cam, map and cold air intake and you would love it though.

[angusc43]

Great write up.

Also amused to see you're looking at yet another V8.

London can never have enough V8's :-)

[BlackPrince]

Garlick said:

Too shiny to go on the dirty roads

Fvcking hell that is GORGEOUS!
Oh and I don't know what you look like Garlick but I take it its roughly like this :

Edited by BlackPrince on Tuesday 28th February 13:49

[Garlick]

Yep, just like that!

[walm]

Garlick said:

cheddar said:

Garlick said:

Too shiny to go on the dirty roads

Mmmm, what's that?

It's a Cooper bikes framed fixie that I have added a few bits to over time. Now currently residing in the dining room as a work of art rather than a functional bicycle.

Indeed a work of art! Love that spoke lacing.
(If you do take it out, you might want to check your chain tension though!)

Chimaera sound:

[Garlick]

walm said:

(If you do take it out, you might want to check your chain tension though!)

I promise you this is now nice and tight. This pic was just after I'd fitted the new tyres and was desperate to get a picture

[Robatr0n]

It's a lovely example you have there Paul, sounds utterly fantastic in the flesh!

As for the battery, thankfully ours has been relocated to the boot which is a real blessing as it made replacing the battery a piece of cake and hooking it up to the charger is painless too.

[slarnge]

Who owns the Shed next to the Audi ??