What's the furthest you've ever driven?
Discussion
I'm thinking of taking the Chim to Italy next year (uncle has a villa there so sponging a cheap holiday!)
It would be a 2500 mile round trip. What do you think? She's a 94 with 72k on her...if we were talking about my disco I wouldn't hesitate but just wondered what Chims were like on very extended runs?
Bloody hell, just typing this is putting me off
It would be a 2500 mile round trip. What do you think? She's a 94 with 72k on her...if we were talking about my disco I wouldn't hesitate but just wondered what Chims were like on very extended runs?
Bloody hell, just typing this is putting me off
I do wonder sometimes.
Is it that these cars aren't driven?
At the end of the day it's a tried and tested Buick/Rover V8 and a tubular space frame chassis, it's a simple as it gets.
Get the car serviced, take the obligatory socket set and spares, put it on Eurotunnel and enjoy it, you bought it to drive - remember?
I'm planning a trip to Bologna in Italy for the International Children's Book Fair next Easter in mine. I can't wait to experience those Swiss roads and drive through that beautiful scenery in a car that must make the Swiss Eco Warriors turn white.
Take lots of photos m8 and I look forward to seeing them on here.
Tim
Is it that these cars aren't driven?
At the end of the day it's a tried and tested Buick/Rover V8 and a tubular space frame chassis, it's a simple as it gets.
Get the car serviced, take the obligatory socket set and spares, put it on Eurotunnel and enjoy it, you bought it to drive - remember?
I'm planning a trip to Bologna in Italy for the International Children's Book Fair next Easter in mine. I can't wait to experience those Swiss roads and drive through that beautiful scenery in a car that must make the Swiss Eco Warriors turn white.
Take lots of photos m8 and I look forward to seeing them on here.
Tim
Just do it, you know it makes sense.
tvrred and I took our two chims (plus partners of course!) on a tour of France in August; well over 2000 mile round trip in 16 days, and very extreme temperatures. Absolutely fantasic trip.
The only problem we encountered was a broken headlight glass, for which we blamed a stone not TVR.
We did take a few spares just in case (poly-belt, throttle cable, bulbs and fuses) - didn't need any of them.
tvrred and I took our two chims (plus partners of course!) on a tour of France in August; well over 2000 mile round trip in 16 days, and very extreme temperatures. Absolutely fantasic trip.
The only problem we encountered was a broken headlight glass, for which we blamed a stone not TVR.
We did take a few spares just in case (poly-belt, throttle cable, bulbs and fuses) - didn't need any of them.
Went to Scotland for a week in August (during the very hot period). Did about 1650 miles with only two problems - reverse got difficult a couple of times (think it was due to the heat) and the heating direction wheel became disconnected from its cable (told the missus not to touch it!). First problem not happened again since and fixed cable myself.
Go for it!!
Go for it!!
Drove mine through France in June of this year. Received lots of looks and pointed fingers. Only did about 1000 miles, but had no problems. Just sounded a bit more ‘tappety’ than usual on the really hot days, suppose it was the oil getting really hot and thin. If yours has done 70k+ miles, then surely that alone should be enough to convince you, that yours is a good runner. Just take your RAC card, and don’t worry.
jj
jj
drum4it2 said:
I can't wait to experience those Swiss roads and drive through that beautiful scenery in a car that must make the Swiss Eco Warriors turn white.
Tim
are you sure they'll let you in? they have armed border guards you know!
PMSL!
Does my reputation proceded me?
Tim
Had a fantastic trip to the south of France from Belgium earlier this year - just about when we had that heat wave!! With a boot full of luggage, taking the roof off was out of the question, so it was pretty warm inside the cabin. About 750 miles in 10 hours each way, pretty simple really, just take your credit card for the fuel!!
I took no spares, but did have my trusty tool kit and socket set. My Chim (early P -96) 500 was fine - temperatures got a bit hot inside, gear knob, door opener, handbrake lever (all aluminium) all warmed up nicely!! She ran fine though, threw some oil in when we got there and some more when I got back but nothing out of the ordinary.
All in all I had a fantastic trip, the friendly people in Nice admired the Tiv (ignored the Fezza's and Porkers) and it didn't even miss a beat - oh yeah - and I had it serviced AFTER the trip, not before, so I knew she'd be fine for the next 6000 miles.
If you want more info, mail me off line.
I took no spares, but did have my trusty tool kit and socket set. My Chim (early P -96) 500 was fine - temperatures got a bit hot inside, gear knob, door opener, handbrake lever (all aluminium) all warmed up nicely!! She ran fine though, threw some oil in when we got there and some more when I got back but nothing out of the ordinary.
All in all I had a fantastic trip, the friendly people in Nice admired the Tiv (ignored the Fezza's and Porkers) and it didn't even miss a beat - oh yeah - and I had it serviced AFTER the trip, not before, so I knew she'd be fine for the next 6000 miles.
If you want more info, mail me off line.
TT Tim said:
. I can't wait to experience those Swiss roads and drive through that beautiful scenery in a car that must make the Swiss Eco Warriors turn white.
Take lots of photos m8 and I look forward to seeing them on here.
Tim
If you need help finding some especially nice routes throughout the Swiss alps please do not hesitate to contact me. I've enjoyed some really good times in my chim this summer by taking the long way home. By the way: I wouldn't worry to much about Swiss Eco Warriors... too many Ferraris, Porsches, Lambos and even some TVR's on the road..
I bought my Chim in March this year and then in June / July did just over 3000 miles across France, Switzerland and Italy (drove down and right into Rome, which I wouldn't recommend - everywhere else was great though). The car was faultless - no overheats and really comfortable. Our last stay was in Cannes - I was intending to break the journey back to England, but in the end got in the car on the Thursday morning at 8.30AM and caught the 9.15 PM eurotunnel to Ashford.
About 850 miles (if my memory serves me) in a day.
I would not hesitate, just prepare sensibly and go for it !
Go for it. Just get the car checked over before you leave and take your space saver (try getting a new tyre in deepest France on a sunday afternoon).
We've taken the Chimaera on many trips into mainland Europe. The Alps are great and you don't need to worry about the speed cameras abroad
Best trip was to Lake Maggiore in Italy, razzed all over the Southern Alps for a week while down there and drove around Milan without any problems (lots of heat soak through the clutch pedal was my worst problem - it got hot to touch in my thin soled trainers). Didn't even need to top up the oil or water on that journey.
I do recommend something like AA 5 star cover though. If something does break you'll need it.
Oh, and don't take you radar detector with you - the French Police get VERY upset if they find you have one.
We've taken the Chimaera on many trips into mainland Europe. The Alps are great and you don't need to worry about the speed cameras abroad
Best trip was to Lake Maggiore in Italy, razzed all over the Southern Alps for a week while down there and drove around Milan without any problems (lots of heat soak through the clutch pedal was my worst problem - it got hot to touch in my thin soled trainers). Didn't even need to top up the oil or water on that journey.
I do recommend something like AA 5 star cover though. If something does break you'll need it.
Oh, and don't take you radar detector with you - the French Police get VERY upset if they find you have one.
Trefor said:
I do recommend something like AA 5 star cover though. If something does break you'll need it.
Trefor beat me to it! I would definitely recommend taking out some sort of breakdown/recovery cover (I'm with the AA), if only for peace of mind, then you can stop worrying and hesitating and GO FOR IT
Lake Maggiore...
I would not like to have to leave my Chimaera stranded anywhere full of luggage so good breakdown cover is more than a comfort.
2200 miles around Scotland in a 5.0 Chimaera during two weeks last September, without a hiccup. Except one nigth it p*ssed down and I had to wipe the drivers seat dry before sitting on it. Serviced a month later and no 'extras' required.
2200 miles around Scotland in a 5.0 Chimaera during two weeks last September, without a hiccup. Except one nigth it p*ssed down and I had to wipe the drivers seat dry before sitting on it. Serviced a month later and no 'extras' required.
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