S2000 to Chimaera - Should I do it?
Discussion
QBee said:
You are welcome to come along to the track day at Snetterton on Wednesday as my guest (just rock up and look for the TVRs in the pits, you already know what mine looks like) and join 11 of us having fun together.
Thanks for the offer, but unfortunately I work fairly long hours so won't be able to nip out. To be honest, the car i've always had in mind to replace the S2000 was a BMW Z3M Coupe but since the 'investors' got wind of the car, prices have shot up in the last year. The Chim was the next best car on my list as I had boxsters and Z4 in my mind when I bought the S2000, which didn't excite me in the slightest - it seems that these days £10k does not buy you much!
Incidently, the Chim I was chasing after was sold this morning as I couldn't get it inspected by a specialist this week. Ho hum, maybe it was meant to be...
keith2.2 said:
I went from an S2K to a Chim.
The Chim was more of an occasion. I say this because it was both an occasion to drive, and it only worked occasionally.
The chim would leave the S2k for dead in a straight line, but the extra sophistication in the chassis of the S2K really showed - the Chim wouldn't know which way the S had gone in the twisties (the chim was on nitrons, the S2K on entry-level coilovers).
Knowing what I know now - would I make the same change again?
No. I wouldn't. I loved them both, but the S is the one I consider "the best car I've ever owned". Having the TVR was an experience, and I'm glad I've owned one...it just lacked a certain something for me.
Funny you say this because I genuinely thought I'd keep the S2000 forever, but I recently had a ride in a 911 turbo and ever since i've been craving more speed" The Chim was more of an occasion. I say this because it was both an occasion to drive, and it only worked occasionally.
The chim would leave the S2k for dead in a straight line, but the extra sophistication in the chassis of the S2K really showed - the Chim wouldn't know which way the S had gone in the twisties (the chim was on nitrons, the S2K on entry-level coilovers).
Knowing what I know now - would I make the same change again?
No. I wouldn't. I loved them both, but the S is the one I consider "the best car I've ever owned". Having the TVR was an experience, and I'm glad I've owned one...it just lacked a certain something for me.
Hi,
I live in London and I have a Chimaera 500, it is my 3rd vehicle: I commute on my Vespa and we have a family car. I am lucky enough to have a garage and the Chimaera is always garaged. I had the Chimaera for 5 years now and during my 3st years of governorship was being used often and regularly: 6 – 10 times month: evening drives and weekend drives.
Now we are 3 (my son is 2 in 2 weeks) the Chimaera does not get used often, but I still use it regularly (all year around), but only once – or twice a months and sometimes she does not get used for 6 weeks at the time or so… As I said, she sleeps in a garage and I have a battery brain fitted: http://www.batterybrain.co.uk/ and I have not had an issue in 5 years of ownership.
Before this I had a Chimaera 450 for 9 months, still in London and without a garage. She used to sleep under a good quality cover and lead with Anderson connector to jump start her when she suffered from battery drain (I have not discovered battery brain at the time).
I can comment on doping a swap between an S2000 and a Chimaera, but what is sure is that you can use a Chimaera in London, especially if you can get her in a garage for the winter: get a good cover and a battery brain.
MY TVR is a keeper, I became a father almost a year ago in May and the TVR was being used less and less and in the autumn I went to a Porsche specialist to look at a 911 964: I want a sports car I could take my mrs and baby out at weekend, and decided against it as I know that I would miss the TVR… So I have decided to keep the Chimaera and save and when the money permits (currently all spare cash is being sucked in doing up our house, but watch this space) I’ll buy a sporty classic / future classic, but will keep the TVR as I LOVE IT.
Anyway, feel free to drop me a mail / call if you wish to discuss TVR in London…. There are a few of us owning Blackpool’s finest in town…
Frenchie
I live in London and I have a Chimaera 500, it is my 3rd vehicle: I commute on my Vespa and we have a family car. I am lucky enough to have a garage and the Chimaera is always garaged. I had the Chimaera for 5 years now and during my 3st years of governorship was being used often and regularly: 6 – 10 times month: evening drives and weekend drives.
Now we are 3 (my son is 2 in 2 weeks) the Chimaera does not get used often, but I still use it regularly (all year around), but only once – or twice a months and sometimes she does not get used for 6 weeks at the time or so… As I said, she sleeps in a garage and I have a battery brain fitted: http://www.batterybrain.co.uk/ and I have not had an issue in 5 years of ownership.
Before this I had a Chimaera 450 for 9 months, still in London and without a garage. She used to sleep under a good quality cover and lead with Anderson connector to jump start her when she suffered from battery drain (I have not discovered battery brain at the time).
I can comment on doping a swap between an S2000 and a Chimaera, but what is sure is that you can use a Chimaera in London, especially if you can get her in a garage for the winter: get a good cover and a battery brain.
MY TVR is a keeper, I became a father almost a year ago in May and the TVR was being used less and less and in the autumn I went to a Porsche specialist to look at a 911 964: I want a sports car I could take my mrs and baby out at weekend, and decided against it as I know that I would miss the TVR… So I have decided to keep the Chimaera and save and when the money permits (currently all spare cash is being sucked in doing up our house, but watch this space) I’ll buy a sporty classic / future classic, but will keep the TVR as I LOVE IT.
Anyway, feel free to drop me a mail / call if you wish to discuss TVR in London…. There are a few of us owning Blackpool’s finest in town…
Frenchie
I ran a Stag as a fun car for years and bought a Chimaera without a lot of thought and a lot of implulse! It lived outside all year around, for a couple of years, until I sold the Stag. The car was fine outside but was definitely happier in the garage electrically - mine was a very early one on the original alarm.
If you want to drive one, before buying, make sure it is a good one. A bad one or a car that is not properly set-up will negatively influence your thoughts.
You will not know for sure if they are for you until you have experienced one - both the enjoyable and frustrating aspects of ownership!
The is a good article that Jeremy Clarkson wrote about the early Griff and a trip across Europe. He wanted to hate the car and ended up loving it, despite the car letting him down.
Not sure where you are in London? I am in Hayes near Bromley if you want to see what a good one is like.
If you want to drive one, before buying, make sure it is a good one. A bad one or a car that is not properly set-up will negatively influence your thoughts.
You will not know for sure if they are for you until you have experienced one - both the enjoyable and frustrating aspects of ownership!
The is a good article that Jeremy Clarkson wrote about the early Griff and a trip across Europe. He wanted to hate the car and ended up loving it, despite the car letting him down.
Not sure where you are in London? I am in Hayes near Bromley if you want to see what a good one is like.
For a daily I'd have an as late as possible Boxster S with all the options.
It'll just about do everything and is as safe as houses, ( should have seen me brake at speed when a load of cattle strayed across the road in the New Forest, it would have been like giant skittles in the chim
).
It'll just about do everything and is as safe as houses, ( should have seen me brake at speed when a load of cattle strayed across the road in the New Forest, it would have been like giant skittles in the chim
).
I used my chimaera as a daily and street parked it in London for a while. It was absolutely fine, was never subject to 'unwanted' attention (in fact the locals soon took to it, even the noise of it at 7 in the morning) ,totally reliable and fine even in stop start traffic. I would say it was all the better for being used every day.
I wouldn't hesitate if I were you but I would recommend (as others have said):
Buy the best you can.
Get a Leven half cover (although it should be possible to have a waterproof car without one).
Power steering is ESSENTIAL for London (my Griff doesn't have it and is an absolute 'kin brute round town)
Have a fan override switch fitted.
Part from that, you'll be fine. Every drive will be an occasion!
Good luck!
I wouldn't hesitate if I were you but I would recommend (as others have said):
Buy the best you can.
Get a Leven half cover (although it should be possible to have a waterproof car without one).
Power steering is ESSENTIAL for London (my Griff doesn't have it and is an absolute 'kin brute round town)
Have a fan override switch fitted.
Part from that, you'll be fine. Every drive will be an occasion!
Good luck!
I went from S2000 to Chimaera 400. Owned the Honda 4 months, then the TVR for 6 years. The Chimaera lived outside all that time, without a car cover, and it's fair to say it did deteriorate cosmetically. It was completely waterproof (initially) as the previous owner had all the usual entry points through the front sikaflexed. Even in the rain it was bone dry inside, and only started to leak when the hood stitching began to go on the velcro flaps at the side.
I drove mine a lot, and used it as my only car for the whole of 2014. It never failed to start, although the starter solenoid was occasionally bolshy. I didn't have PAS. It is very heavy without, and isn't exactly pointy on the road. It's a bit of a job to manhandle through roundabouts, and won't feel as direct to steer as your S2000. It's got a honking amount of torque though, and I found it much more fun to drive than the Honda.
You have to pay attention and drive it 100% of the time, as it will bite you if you hoof the throttle too early with any lock on in the wet. It's also easy to lock the rear wheels if you change down without rev-matching. No ABS. I found the S2000 more benign to drive in the wet as it would let you use quite large throttle inputs as long as the revs were low, coming off roundabouts etc.
You either 'get' TVRs or you don't. If you're only using it occasionally they'll often only hold a charge for a few weeks, you'll have to demist it with a chamois if it's even slightly damp inside, your passenger will complain of a wet arse when they get in it. The apocalyptic noise, performance, rarity make it worth it. TVRs have a very positive image as well, probably less likely to get vandalised in the street than your S2k.
I drove mine a lot, and used it as my only car for the whole of 2014. It never failed to start, although the starter solenoid was occasionally bolshy. I didn't have PAS. It is very heavy without, and isn't exactly pointy on the road. It's a bit of a job to manhandle through roundabouts, and won't feel as direct to steer as your S2000. It's got a honking amount of torque though, and I found it much more fun to drive than the Honda.
You have to pay attention and drive it 100% of the time, as it will bite you if you hoof the throttle too early with any lock on in the wet. It's also easy to lock the rear wheels if you change down without rev-matching. No ABS. I found the S2000 more benign to drive in the wet as it would let you use quite large throttle inputs as long as the revs were low, coming off roundabouts etc.
You either 'get' TVRs or you don't. If you're only using it occasionally they'll often only hold a charge for a few weeks, you'll have to demist it with a chamois if it's even slightly damp inside, your passenger will complain of a wet arse when they get in it. The apocalyptic noise, performance, rarity make it worth it. TVRs have a very positive image as well, probably less likely to get vandalised in the street than your S2k.
Hi,
I went from an S2000 to a Griffith, I found whilst a great car I just couldn't rev the S2000 to 9000rpm it just seem cruel to me not being of the play station generation. Also, did not like the lack of torque on the S2000 The Griff with it's low rev torque I find is more suited to my driving or even like of driving style
My S2000 like many S2000's leaked, the Griff sits outside on my drive with a half cover and although I have only had it a year have had no problems over winter.
Nick
I went from an S2000 to a Griffith, I found whilst a great car I just couldn't rev the S2000 to 9000rpm it just seem cruel to me not being of the play station generation. Also, did not like the lack of torque on the S2000 The Griff with it's low rev torque I find is more suited to my driving or even like of driving style
My S2000 like many S2000's leaked, the Griff sits outside on my drive with a half cover and although I have only had it a year have had no problems over winter.
Nick
phazed said:
For a daily I'd have an as late as possible Boxster S with all the options.
It'll just about do everything and is as safe as houses, ( should have seen me brake at speed when a load of cattle strayed across the road in the New Forest, it would have been like giant skittles in the chim).
Always fancied a 911. Some nice 3.8 Carrera's for about 18k. You still can't beat the early wide bodied turbo's for retro looks as far as Porsche's go. TBH, TVR's are the only other raw classic car for reasonable money and still look modern. They've matured particularly well IMO. Is it wasn't for the chassis then it would be a lot easier to live with.It'll just about do everything and is as safe as houses, ( should have seen me brake at speed when a load of cattle strayed across the road in the New Forest, it would have been like giant skittles in the chim
).I saw a new Alfa 4C the other day. Lovely, but you know it will be more unreliable than the TVR! However, looking at the pod headlights of the Alfa, you can certainly see some TVR influence.
Edited by Chuffmeister on Saturday 25th April 08:33
Chuffmeister said:
Always fancied a 911. Some nice 3.8 Carrera's for about 18k. You still can't beat the early wide bodied turbo's for retro looks as far as Porsche's go. TBH, TVR's are the only other raw classic car for reasonable money and still look modern. They've matured particularly well IMO. Is it wasn't for the chassis then it would be a lot easier to live with.
I saw a new Alfa 4C the other day. Lovely, but you know it will be more unreliable than the TVR! However, looking at the pod headlights of the Alfa, you can certainly see some TVR influence.
911s always get knocked on here but they are conservative beautiful imho.I saw a new Alfa 4C the other day. Lovely, but you know it will be more unreliable than the TVR! However, looking at the pod headlights of the Alfa, you can certainly see some TVR influence.
Edited by Chuffmeister on Saturday 25th April 08:33
I suggested the Boxster as affordable ish open top motoring.
Who wouldn't like the proper hood that can be raised or lowered up to 40mph!
Thanks for all your replies guys,
I'm going to look at a Chimaera tomorrow, from my understanding the car has been sitting in a garage for 10 years and used sparingly. Apart from the usual outriggers, roof and electronics to check, I'm worried that the engine has been standing for too long and will require a rebuild, what signs of engine failure should I check?
I'm going to look at a Chimaera tomorrow, from my understanding the car has been sitting in a garage for 10 years and used sparingly. Apart from the usual outriggers, roof and electronics to check, I'm worried that the engine has been standing for too long and will require a rebuild, what signs of engine failure should I check?
Hi,
Big Col at TVR South West Taunton should be able to help you if you need any help or advice. Just noticed on his web site he does a pre buy inspection for £99. He also has some customer cars advertised on his web site which may be of interest.
http://colin4cars.moonfruit.com/#/for-sale/4565847...
Nick
Big Col at TVR South West Taunton should be able to help you if you need any help or advice. Just noticed on his web site he does a pre buy inspection for £99. He also has some customer cars advertised on his web site which may be of interest.
http://colin4cars.moonfruit.com/#/for-sale/4565847...
Nick
Edited by Nick Brough on Saturday 25th April 15:54
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