RE: PH Fleet: TVR Chimaera and Mazda MX-5

[V8Bart]

Come on Garlick, you now have an underground car park and a TVR, GET THE BLOODY CAT's BACK OUT!!!!!!!

[Garlick]

V8RX7 said:

It should only take 20 mins to change one so why you'd wait a month rather than pop to the nearest garage or get the Veloce manual and DIY.

As said the process took a month due to house move taking most of my spare time, being away with work and really (really) needing an adult to show me what to do when it comes to brakes. For once life came ahead of car time, simple as that really. Glad it's sorted now though.

[blartbox]

When you buy a used car, even one with service history, you don't always know when the brake fluid was last changed. It absorbs water like you wouldn't believe, & this can make the caliper pistons seize. The other prob with horrid horrid horrid sliding caliper brakes is seizure of the sliding pins. The standard brakes on an MX5 are easily up to the job (it's light & slow) so if they feel inadequate there is something wrong.

[canucklehead]

why do Brits always call bicycles 'pushbikes'? pushing a bike is the last thing you would do with it - considering it is a far more reliable form of transport than most of our beloved internal-combustion-powered vehicles, it would be more appropriate to call cars 'pushcars' - as M. Garlick would apparently be able to attest.

[Chilliman]

It's becoz you push down on the pedals

[macdeb]

FourPotRover said:

So the consumer advice is to buy a TVR Chimera, rather than an MX-5 for reliability.

Hmm, right.

I'm on my 4th TVR in 13 years [present one for 8 of 'em] Toured France and Italy in 'em and was faultless. Not like my mates 'Honda' that broke down twice on one trip. He was going on beforehand about the TVR letting us down at the side of the road spoiling the holiday etc, and he'd had a 'Gold 5 star service' before the trip.
PS; Clarksons a tt!

[Jaged]

I have to agree the fallacy of the just because it is Japanese it will live for ever attitude.

I had my Cerbera for 3 1/2 years, many times to France and back and it never missed a beat.

People at work who tend to but new or very new cars have had far more trouble, including siezed brake caliper on an Honda CRV of all things!

But to be fair, that MX5 is not bad for money and well done on the DIY G!

Perhaps start a photo thread "Show us your Dirty Hands" for PH'ers getting stuck into their motors!

[billzeebub]

This fleet article precedes my monthly delve into the TVR classifieds. Hopefully much more Chimaera related prose this coming year with the more accessible parking accommodation

[HorneyMX5]

Good job on mx5 fixing, James does like to get his hands dirty.

[canucklehead]

Chilliman said:

It's becoz you push down on the pedals

oh. duh me!

[Mork of Ork]

canucklehead said:

why do Brits always call bicycles 'pushbikes'? pushing a bike is the last thing you would do with it - considering it is a far more reliable form of transport than most of our beloved internal-combustion-powered vehicles, it would be more appropriate to call cars 'pushcars' - as M. Garlick would apparently be able to attest.

I think they are called 'pushbikes' because the pedals drive the rear wheel and you are pushed along by it rather than as on the old penny farthings for example where the pedals drove the front wheel and you were pulled along by it.

I guess that means that a RWD car is a 'pushcar' and a FWD car is a 'pullcar'?

[2hondadave]

Chilliman said:

It's becoz you push down on the pedals

Not if you're doing it right

[only1ian]

you'll be wanting to get this then:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/l...

[tomoleeds]

Think the problem is more the age of the cars,they are both old. A lot of "p" reg cars will be scrap now. It is 15 years old after all.

[Eighteeteewhy]

tomoleeds said:

Think the problem is more the age of the cars,they are both old. A lot of "p" reg cars will be scrap now. It is 15 years old after all.

[900T-R]

tomoleeds said:

Think the problem is more the age of the cars,they are both old. A lot of "p" reg cars will be scrap now.

Which has nowt to do with the cars' usefulness in itself, only with the low intrinsic value of most mass market cars of that age and the skimping on maintenance that results from it.

Any car that is being loved and maintained accordingly might outlive you.

[0a]

I still don't get the thinking behind two sporty soft tops that are both impractical and not that comfortable. I'd be flogging the Mazda and looking at old mercs in the bargain basement thread!

[Rob Crowther]

Had my 97 Chimera for 7 years and was singularly the most reliable (apart from outriggers) car I have owned. Far better than VW, BMW, Porsche, Audi etc.....sounded fantastic, would have another at a the drop of a hat

[alex464]

Hi,
I was amazed to find that you found an auto-electrician to remove your old alarm and immobiliser for only £45! I have the same problem on my 1994 MB (retro-fitted immobiliser and only one rather flaky looking key left...)

Can you enlighten me as to where this very reasonable man can be found?

Cheers,

Alex

[Chilliman]

0a said:

I still don't get the thinking behind two sporty soft tops that are both impractical and not that comfortable. I'd be flogging the Mazda and looking at old mercs in the bargain basement thread!

Chimaera is one of the most comfortable cars I've owned to be honest... and that includes jags, mercs beemers... and the boot is surprisingly large.. add the space behind the seats and there's plenty of room and comfort for a two week trip round Europland