Discussion
After years of raising kids I am finally free to indulge myself a little.
I was looking at old 911's but I'm better now!
I have been looking a various Chims all in nice condition but I'd just like a little advice.
How do the 4 litre Chimaeras stand up to high mileages?
ie 80K+ Do the just run & run or is there a point as with aircooled 911's where they are going to need work regardless?
I was looking at old 911's but I'm better now!
I have been looking a various Chims all in nice condition but I'd just like a little advice.
How do the 4 litre Chimaeras stand up to high mileages?
ie 80K+ Do the just run & run or is there a point as with aircooled 911's where they are going to need work regardless?
I'm touching wood as I type this. (Bloody hell that came out wrong!)
Mine's done 74k but had ALL engine electrics replaced at 65k (costing £2700) to cure a stalling problem.
She drives brilliantly, no problems at all. Her outriggers will probably need replacing next service (about £500) and I was told this is a pretty common thing that needs to be done on a car of her mileage.
Front discs have started to corrode too but they're pretty cheap (£100 parts and a phone call to my brother
)
She also has a tiny leak from her sump gasket, but we're talking tiny.
Apart from that, Peninsular told me they can't envisage any problems in the near future...as an aside, my V8 Disco has done 130-odd k and it's still great (slightly different I know
)
Not sure if that's what you were asking really. But at least I got some typing practice in
Mine's done 74k but had ALL engine electrics replaced at 65k (costing £2700) to cure a stalling problem.
She drives brilliantly, no problems at all. Her outriggers will probably need replacing next service (about £500) and I was told this is a pretty common thing that needs to be done on a car of her mileage.
Front discs have started to corrode too but they're pretty cheap (£100 parts and a phone call to my brother
) She also has a tiny leak from her sump gasket, but we're talking tiny.
Apart from that, Peninsular told me they can't envisage any problems in the near future...as an aside, my V8 Disco has done 130-odd k and it's still great (slightly different I know
) Not sure if that's what you were asking really. But at least I got some typing practice in
My S has 95k on it, goes like stink
On the other hand, a friend of mine has a beautiful chim that came in for nitrons fitting, I looked at the chassis and told him I wouldn't do it, the top tubes under the manifolds had all-but collapsed, that car is now having a full chassis at the factory - when they inspected further it was not worth saving it!! It had also not long previously had an MOT - at a main dealer I think.. doh!!
On the other hand, a friend of mine has a beautiful chim that came in for nitrons fitting, I looked at the chassis and told him I wouldn't do it, the top tubes under the manifolds had all-but collapsed, that car is now having a full chassis at the factory - when they inspected further it was not worth saving it!! It had also not long previously had an MOT - at a main dealer I think.. doh!!
Markh, just going well.
I will have you know that she is going f******* fantasic, so well that I was able to keep a new M3 at bay while he hit the rev limiter in top gear, the TT was to far behind to see at the point so.
Put on the miles and enjoy that V8 on full GO GO mode.
Ah the joys of TVR driving. All done in safety at the correct place for that speed. Public roads not used.
We were over the 155MPH mark on the Chimaera. Oh yes I did have a tail wind and the roof was up.
Colin L
I will have you know that she is going f******* fantasic, so well that I was able to keep a new M3 at bay while he hit the rev limiter in top gear, the TT was to far behind to see at the point so.
Put on the miles and enjoy that V8 on full GO GO mode.
Ah the joys of TVR driving. All done in safety at the correct place for that speed. Public roads not used.
We were over the 155MPH mark on the Chimaera. Oh yes I did have a tail wind and the roof was up.
Colin L
joospeed said:
.........
On the other hand, a friend of mine has a beautiful chim that came in for nitrons fitting, I looked at the chassis and told him I wouldn't do it, the top tubes under the manifolds had all-but collapsed, that car is now having a full chassis at the factory - when they inspected further it was not worth saving it!! It had also not long previously had an MOT - at a main dealer I think.. doh!!
Jools out of interest what sort of figure are you looking at for a chassis from the factory
. When I was looking at S's basket cases were on the agenda and the chassis was less than £2K from the factory. Which I thought was pretty good but the killer is the fitting costs, there always is a wallet killer somewhere in TVR ownership
. Unless you do the change over yourself that is. Harry
Hi all,
New to the TVR scene and new to PistonHeads so hello to all. Just purchased a TVR with 104k on the clock and it's mint so with the proper care and servicing I can't see why they shouldn't go on and on and after all the engine is very well proven. Go for a TVR, you won't regret it!!!
Cheers
New to the TVR scene and new to PistonHeads so hello to all. Just purchased a TVR with 104k on the clock and it's mint so with the proper care and servicing I can't see why they shouldn't go on and on and after all the engine is very well proven. Go for a TVR, you won't regret it!!!
Cheers
I agree with the high mileage thing that they should run and run with the correct servicing and some TLC, however if you are thinking about buying, then you really shouldn't have to worry about this issue as there are more low mileage cars around in the market at the moment than you can shake a stick at.
Cheers
Matt.
Cheers
Matt.
As far as the engine is concerned my 4.0 '95 Chim is on 88000 miles and hasn't had any problems what-so-ever since I bought it a year ago when it had 65000 on the clock.
I've had a few other bits wear out, but nothing serious, such as diff bearings, 2 UJ's, steering rack reconditioned.
It's such a big engine for such a light car that it's never really under that much strain i think.
I reckon that the only reason we see so many low mileage older TVR's is that half the people that own them only do a couple of thousand miles a year and the rest of the time they're kept in a warm and cosy garage.
I intend to have my Chim well into the 100k's and beyond.
I've had a few other bits wear out, but nothing serious, such as diff bearings, 2 UJ's, steering rack reconditioned.
It's such a big engine for such a light car that it's never really under that much strain i think.
I reckon that the only reason we see so many low mileage older TVR's is that half the people that own them only do a couple of thousand miles a year and the rest of the time they're kept in a warm and cosy garage.
I intend to have my Chim well into the 100k's and beyond.
Thanks for the info. I thought they should be ok but it never hurts to ask.
Early cars in good nick with highish miles seem to be down to around £9k now so I thought I'd dip my toe in the water. Of course if one of you wants to sell me a late mint 4.5 for £9k feel free to contact me. I won't hold my breath though!
One more question. How long are they? I have been told 3.5m by one person & just over 4.1 by another.
Early cars in good nick with highish miles seem to be down to around £9k now so I thought I'd dip my toe in the water. Of course if one of you wants to sell me a late mint 4.5 for £9k feel free to contact me. I won't hold my breath though!
One more question. How long are they? I have been told 3.5m by one person & just over 4.1 by another.
Hi Pete. Just done the same thing. Time to stop bein' sensible and think of the kids and go for a bit of self indulgence. Bought a T reg Chim. Lovin' it!!! Few teething problems - minor leak etc but worth the time sorting it. No regrets. You must get the Steve Heath book "The TVR Griffith and Chimaera". Will answer all your questions (almost!).Cost £28
My N reg Chim has done 115k miles, 12k of them in the last year since I bought it. In that time it has been into garage only for MOT and wheel balancing. I have done all the servicing myself (and strictly in accordance with the schedule in 'the Bible') and fixed the few minor things that needed doing: Wiper motor, window runners, cleaned up and replaced the starter motor, headlight bulbs etc. Also had the hood restitched by an expert. There are also still a few minor non-urgent items on the list to get fixed sometime: the whiny diff is the only seriously expensive one and that can wait.
The guy who had the car before me did have the clutch and prop-shaft replaced by a main dealer (at mind-blowing cost) in the very high 90k's but I have the full service history from about 30K miles all the other things done were routine maintenance.
I could not have afforded the car without doing all the work myself and the things that needed doing were well within expectations.
Honestly, the car's a bit tatty and could do with a respray and new carpets, but what the hell, it's still my pride and joy and I expect it to be doing 12k miles a year for many years yet.
If you want to have a look and you're in Surrey, get in touch via the profile, but it's not for sale!
The guy who had the car before me did have the clutch and prop-shaft replaced by a main dealer (at mind-blowing cost) in the very high 90k's but I have the full service history from about 30K miles all the other things done were routine maintenance.
I could not have afforded the car without doing all the work myself and the things that needed doing were well within expectations.
Honestly, the car's a bit tatty and could do with a respray and new carpets, but what the hell, it's still my pride and joy and I expect it to be doing 12k miles a year for many years yet.
If you want to have a look and you're in Surrey, get in touch via the profile, but it's not for sale!
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff