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v64motion
Original Poster
70 posts
88 months
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Hi all, I am and have been for many years a huge TVR fan and now thinking of getting and using a Chim for use as a daily, am I mad or not and would any of you recommend it? My commute is about 18 miles a day plus trips at weekends which generally local but there will be motorway runs occasionally when the weather is just so which will involve the Hindhead Tunnel on the A3  I am toying between the Tiv and a Mk3 MX5, the MX5 because it is newer and dare I say it 'reliable', unlikely to catapult you into a ditch and the Tiv because..... well it's a Tiv and I have always wanted one apart from the noise. I know it the Tiv will drink fuel but my current 'small' car doesn't return much better than 30mpg. But I am more concerned about any runious bills and things breaking, although from what I read on here they are not as unreliable as people would have you believe. Any thoughts and advice gratefully received! 
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samdale
1,909 posts
53 months
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I seem to be in a very similar situation to you. I have a 15 mile round trip to work down country roads plus the odd little trip. I bought an MR2 as an MX5 really doesn't appeal but my salary is due a rather substantial increase next year so with any luck I'll be able to upgrade. Hope you don't mind me piggybacking on your thread  I don't know why but I quite like the idea of a 450. Other than reading that the 500 is a bit of a handful compared to the others I haven't really heard opinions comparing the 400 to the 450. Is a 450 worth it over a 400? Both of these seem my cup of tea. http://beta.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...http://beta.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...Should the relative "high" mileage of the second one be anything to worry about, or do they cope alright with the miles? I also share the OP's slight worries with regard to reliability so would be nice to hear some opinions 
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Harrytsg
920 posts
31 months
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I use mine daily, about 25 miles as a round trip.
If you dont do it now it may be less realistic in the upcoming years, with fuel tax increasing at every opportunity.
But being less pessimistic, and if you do it right now you get to enjoy the sunshine and burn your forehead!
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potato muncher
530 posts
84 months
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I use mine as many days I can even though work is just over 2 miles away, I tend to go a longer way though. No fun there then.
I only keep the Citroen C3 for Family reasons and have to use it now and again.
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ybt1982
1,382 posts
69 months
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I was in a similar situation a few months back. Stand out word in that statement is 'was' I did it, by far the best thing I've ever done, do it. You won't regret it 
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OleVix
393 posts
17 months
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If you havent had a TVR before, the 400 will be plenty fast I bet... I would also recommend PAS and standard exhaust to keep the noise down. If you are taller than me (190+cm) I wouldnt recommend the Chimp at all...
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Chimaeraman
119 posts
13 months
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Hindhead tunnel - enough said - you have to get a Chim just to welly it through there - the noise will be AWESOME
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AJV8
421 posts
15 months
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I recently sold my Mk2 Mx5 and got the chim, just do it !!! I have to say i have a pretty heavy right foot and never really got good mpg's in the 5. The first few tanks lets jus stay the fuel economy "wasn't great" but now that i've got over the fact i've got a TVR i've slowed down a bit with fuel economy in mind. I only go about 4 miles into work and with a trip into london every week i manage a tank a week....which is roughly what i used to get in the mx5.
From what i've heard, and what i've experienced so far they become more reliable the more that they're used. Obviously you have the quirky TVR electrics issues but the RV8 is pretty damn reliable as long as everything is kept an eye on.
I'd highly recommend just diving in with 2 feet. It's great fun !!!!!!!
AJ
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Chas88
527 posts
35 months
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I had a mk3 MX-5 and switched to a Chim as my only car at the time doing a 40 mile a day round trip. Both cars were equally reliable always starting first time. Didn't need anything doing on the Chim other than consumables like brake pads etc. Drove it in the rain plenty of times including motorway journeys and as long as you are sensible then it behaves just fine. Mine never leaked either and over the winter the fans were nice and hot so fine to use all year round in my opinion. Also it's much more of an event to drive than the MX-5 and gets much more attention. Get one!
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JonyTVR
1,409 posts
58 months
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with regards to what car to get, I wouldn't let mileage be a big turn off, if it has a high mileage, usually that will men its been used plenty and probably been fairly reliable, if its barely been used then thrown into daily use then you probably will have problems, swings and roundabouts, just buy on condition!
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900T-R
18,560 posts
126 months
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The Chim is probably the best TVR model to use daily, it's very useable, easy to drive as long as you take it easy when the going gets slippery and not as nervous/twitchy as the later models, while the simplicity liberal use of off-the shelf parts underneath, and good aftermarket support means you're unlikely to find many problems in that regard. I'd have two small reservations a) - used as a daily in heavy urban/commuter traffic, the relative lack of side impact protection would likely reside in the back of my mind all the time (of course, if you normally use a pushbike, scooter, motorbike of G-Wizz as a commuter tool your perspective on this will be rather different  ) - and b) you want a properly sorted one because any issues will seriously detract from your enjoyment when you need to go to work and there's no back up alternative to using the TVR. You might want to have a snotter in the household, or at least give yourself a few weeks/months to sort any quirks that come up with the 'new' car before selling your current steed if possible.
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samdale
1,909 posts
53 months
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OleVix said: If you havent had a TVR before, the 400 will be plenty fast I bet... But with similar figures, so would upgrading from my current N/A MR2 to a turbo one. Obviously I wouldn't compare a turbo 2 to a chim. I much prefer the idea of the 'event' of driving a TVR. My problem is that the 400 does have very similar power, 0-60, and even torque. Not sure it will be quite special enough. If I buy one I'll be keeping it for a long time so it needs to a decent step up. If the performance difference between 400 and 450 is negligible then a 400 it is. If the difference is chalk and cheese I think I'd get the 450. Would be interested in hearing from anyone who has driven/owned both.
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Tyre Tread
6,317 posts
85 months
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900T-R said: The Chim is probably the best TVR model to use daily, it's very useable, easy to drive as long as you take it easy when the going gets slippery and not as nervous/twitchy as the later models, while the simplicity liberal use of off-the shelf parts underneath, and good aftermarket support means you're unlikely to find many problems in that regard. I'd have two small reservations a) - used as a daily in heavy urban/commuter traffic, the relative lack of side impact protection would likely reside in the back of my mind all the time (of course, if you normally use a pushbike, scooter, motorbike of G-Wizz as a commuter tool your perspective on this will be rather different ) - and b) you want a properly sorted one because any issues will seriously detract from your enjoyment when you need to go to work and there's no back up alternative to using the TVR. You might want to have a snotter in the household, or at least give yourself a few weeks/months to sort any quirks that come up with the 'new' car before selling your current steed if possible. CAn I just add that the Chim's relatively heavy clutch can be a bind in traffic for some people. Not me of course as I'm a well built, goatee'd Company Director.
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AJV8
421 posts
15 months
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Tyre Tread said: CAn I just add that the Chim's relatively heavy clutch can be a bind in traffic for some people.
Not me of course as I'm a well built, goatee'd Company Director. I'd have to second that, the clutch is pretty heavy. I've had a few occasions of travelling into London sitting in endless traffic and ending up with a fairly sore left foot on arrival at destination. Evidently i'm not as well built as you Alan 
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JonyTVR
1,409 posts
58 months
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you total wimps! I a skinny little 9st spare rib and never find the clutch a problem, yes its heavy but not THAT heavy :P (and yes I have been stuck in traffic with it, worst being parked on the M6 car park in the blistering sun trying to catch some shade off the lorrys, still burnt.......)
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edo
12,562 posts
134 months
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My wife commuted daily about 15 miles in her 450 Chim.
They are better for daily use.
Welcome to come see our 500 nr Hindhead after it arrives Thursday.
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2 sMoKiN bArReLs
16,305 posts
104 months
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...I did 30,000 miles per annum in mine for several years. Was a bit pricey having a service every ten weeks
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REM2112
116 posts
60 months
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Mine was our daily driver for about 8 years until the Little Darlings arrived. Buy one.
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Pozzy
114 posts
33 months
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I've used a 400 as a 28-mile daily for 6 months now, and it's more than capable of doing it - the fuel bills are no worse than for a Focus ST (24mpg approx)and it's quick enough (for a daily). It could always do with being a touch quicker, but that's the same with anything after getting used to it! I personally would resent going back to a 'normal' car as it just has none of the character or the head-turning potential of the TVR (mine has a sleeved exhaust and it's not an issue with noise - I found the standard one a bit quiet for my liking).
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v64motion
Original Poster
70 posts
88 months
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Thanks for all your replies, much appreciated.
What I can't believe is the variation in prices and especially when you look at some of the dealers, I am sure they are peddling some of the vest best examples but I they all seem to be around £12-15k which is a bit rich for me, I was hoping for nearer £5-7k and expect a bit of welding at some point.
Also been looking at insurance, any tips there? The mainstream insurers don't seem to like them much and ask quite a premium.
I am a bit cautious generally so buying an older car seems a bit counter intuitive, but I am looking for something with character and isn't one of these hateful eco boxes and the more I think about it the more it seems a no brainer....
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