Thinking about a Chim
Discussion
Hello All,
Not ventured into these parts before. I've just sold my M5 and my 540i is about to go too. Before that I had a decatted very noisy little Elise. The Chim as always been on my radar, I looked at ones at Fernhurst and Racing Green before buying the Lotus, I was just nervous about running costs. I now realise that actually the M5 would have cost more to run than a good Chim and with summer around the corner I'm on the hunt. Ideally I will be looking to get two cars, so my budget for the Chim is around £9k or less. The rest to go on a daily. That said I may end up using the Chim as daily for a while.
I'm not looking for a list of buyers tips, searched enough to find those, my main question though is with my budget what am I hoping for? There doesn't seem to be a lot in the classifieds at the moment either, so where should I look? Also should I consider earlier cars with higher mileage or will they be trouble?
Thanks.
Not ventured into these parts before. I've just sold my M5 and my 540i is about to go too. Before that I had a decatted very noisy little Elise. The Chim as always been on my radar, I looked at ones at Fernhurst and Racing Green before buying the Lotus, I was just nervous about running costs. I now realise that actually the M5 would have cost more to run than a good Chim and with summer around the corner I'm on the hunt. Ideally I will be looking to get two cars, so my budget for the Chim is around £9k or less. The rest to go on a daily. That said I may end up using the Chim as daily for a while.
I'm not looking for a list of buyers tips, searched enough to find those, my main question though is with my budget what am I hoping for? There doesn't seem to be a lot in the classifieds at the moment either, so where should I look? Also should I consider earlier cars with higher mileage or will they be trouble?
Thanks.
This will always spark some debate as there are a few that have found some real bargains and vice versa.
I think the general consensus is 'buy now, don't pay later', in that you are better to increase your budget and purchase a good example, rather than a poor example requiring time, money and labour. There is of course always the odd exception.
At this time of year, there may be a few bargains knocking about, but you'll have to look hard and travel far for them. Prices are on the increase generally, even more so because of the approaching summer. There are also more purchasing poor examples for rebuild projects, so I wouldn't get you hopes up for trouble free car at £9k.
I would look at spending more and finding something with a refurbed chassis, recent cam and a good engine. Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about the usual service history over five years ago, unless it is something important, but concentrate on how well the car has been looked after, its overall condition and how it drives.
The other thing is to drive a few and decide on which engine you prefer. Fernhursts is a good place to get an overall feel of the cars.
As for running costs, is you're handy with the spanners, then there is always somebody on here with the answer. I see you're in Surrey, so there will be a few owners not far from you, such as Phazed, that are super helpful and know their stuff.
I think the general consensus is 'buy now, don't pay later', in that you are better to increase your budget and purchase a good example, rather than a poor example requiring time, money and labour. There is of course always the odd exception.
At this time of year, there may be a few bargains knocking about, but you'll have to look hard and travel far for them. Prices are on the increase generally, even more so because of the approaching summer. There are also more purchasing poor examples for rebuild projects, so I wouldn't get you hopes up for trouble free car at £9k.
I would look at spending more and finding something with a refurbed chassis, recent cam and a good engine. Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about the usual service history over five years ago, unless it is something important, but concentrate on how well the car has been looked after, its overall condition and how it drives.
The other thing is to drive a few and decide on which engine you prefer. Fernhursts is a good place to get an overall feel of the cars.
As for running costs, is you're handy with the spanners, then there is always somebody on here with the answer. I see you're in Surrey, so there will be a few owners not far from you, such as Phazed, that are super helpful and know their stuff.
Edited by Chuffmeister on Thursday 5th March 15:22
I know this car very well.... I'm not the seller but did own it once...
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/231477030487?_mwBanner=1&a...
http://www.caricle.co.uk/detail/Used-1996-TVR-Chim...
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/231477030487?_mwBanner=1&a...
http://www.caricle.co.uk/detail/Used-1996-TVR-Chim...
Mine was £9500 last May, it's a 450 with 60k, I've spent about 3k on it since then, a huge service, outriggers and lots of bits and bobs. I've also spent half the winter under it scraping old powdercoat off it and repainting it.
There will be those that say a body off lift is essential to guarantee chassis', I disagree, until it fails an mot as it's broken in half somewhere then it's better off tarted up and left in my opinion.
Buy one and enjoy it, it's an event every time you get in.
There will be those that say a body off lift is essential to guarantee chassis', I disagree, until it fails an mot as it's broken in half somewhere then it's better off tarted up and left in my opinion.
Buy one and enjoy it, it's an event every time you get in.
shake n bake said:
Mine was £9500 last May, it's a 450 with 60k, I've spent about 3k on it since then, a huge service, outriggers and lots of bits and bobs. I've also spent half the winter under it scraping old powdercoat off it and repainting it.
There will be those that say a body off lift is essential to guarantee chassis', I disagree, until it fails an mot as it's broken in half somewhere then it's better off tarted up and left in my opinion.
Buy one and enjoy it, it's an event every time you get in.
I think the main concern of all cars approaching 20 years old is safety; dampners, wishbone bushes, seatbelt anchor points, brakes, and steering the list is endless. There will be those that say a body off lift is essential to guarantee chassis', I disagree, until it fails an mot as it's broken in half somewhere then it's better off tarted up and left in my opinion.
Buy one and enjoy it, it's an event every time you get in.
Edited by portzi on Thursday 5th March 21:37
Paid £8995 for mine from TopCats with 39K on the clock but was over 2yrs ago.
Look at as many as you can and drive them all. I see you are in Surrey, worth a trip to the TVRCC Berks meet at Bracknell every first Tursday of the month. Lots of Chim owners there. I'm in Reading, happy to take you out in mine.
Look at as many as you can and drive them all. I see you are in Surrey, worth a trip to the TVRCC Berks meet at Bracknell every first Tursday of the month. Lots of Chim owners there. I'm in Reading, happy to take you out in mine.
If you don't need more than 2 seats and you're not doing high mileage every week, why bother with another car. Spend all your money on the Chimaera, get a good one and spend the rest on getting it sorted.
I've used one as a daily drive for around 14 years. The boot is massive for a sportscar, it's a convertible, sounds awesome, looks great and will put a smile on your face even when it's lashing down with rain (as long as your easy with the right foot!).
I've used one as a daily drive for around 14 years. The boot is massive for a sportscar, it's a convertible, sounds awesome, looks great and will put a smile on your face even when it's lashing down with rain (as long as your easy with the right foot!).
I was going to say or for old boys that dont like changing gear 
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff