Discussion
Hi people,
I currently have a 2001 MGF which i have found very reliable... i have now decided to get rid of it and go for a TVR Chimp....
I know that and hand build car is bound to have problems... I am currently looking at a 94 with 60k on it... my question is simply, how unreliable are they... I live in scotland and this will be my only car... will i get wet...
Cheers people...
I currently have a 2001 MGF which i have found very reliable... i have now decided to get rid of it and go for a TVR Chimp....
I know that and hand build car is bound to have problems... I am currently looking at a 94 with 60k on it... my question is simply, how unreliable are they... I live in scotland and this will be my only car... will i get wet...
Cheers people...
I drove a '97 4.0L Chimaera as my everyday car for 3 years with no problems. It had 42K miles when I sold it so I can't talk much about a '94 car with 60K miles, depends on the condition and service history I guess?
Cheers.... Andrew
PS. Please don't refer to the Chimaera as a Chimp!
Cheers.... Andrew
PS. Please don't refer to the Chimaera as a Chimp!
quote:
I currently have a 2001 MGF which i have found very reliable... i have now decided to get rid of it and go for a TVR Chimp....
I know that a hand build car is bound to have problems... I am currently looking at a 94 with 60k on it... my question is simply, how unreliable are they... I live in scotland and this will be my only car... will i get wet...
Hi Dan,
Chimaeras are probably the most reliable of all the TVRs out there, but on an 8 year old performance car it's all down to the individual car. Before you buy it, get it checked out by a specialist - someone like Noel Flannery at V8 sports & classics (016208 44800) - he's based south of Edinburgh, but will travel...
You really need to see a list of receipts & service history too, to show that the car has been cared for.
Also, join the TVR car club & come along to a meet & chat to owners - also go out for a spin in a few cars, so you get a feel for how they should go. If you've never been in a TVR before, even a crap one seems quick....
The West of Scotland meet is this Sunday, although I think many folk are at Le Mans, so it may be pretty empty. The Central Scotland meet is Sat 6th July & is likely to have a better turnout.
cheers,
Craig
P.S. what sort of price are you looking to pay for this Chimaera?
I had two MGFs before taking the plunge. Both MGFs where a nightmare - new engine, welding work, electric failures 
.
The Chimaera is nothing to be scared of. Besides the cost of the fuel and a little higher servicing costs the experience has been better than the MGFs.
I have had my April 1998 Chimaera for over two years and it now has over 60K on the clock and is running very well.
IMHO I would go for post 1998 facelift cars as they are more "sorted". They have better cooling systems and seem more robust to me. Plus they look more modern because of different bonnet and boot lines and they have the newer rear light cluster. I think one like mine would now cost less than £15K.
Best of luck. Get out of that hairdresser's car!
>> Edited by JohnnyS on Saturday 15th June 07:56
. The Chimaera is nothing to be scared of. Besides the cost of the fuel and a little higher servicing costs the experience has been better than the MGFs.
I have had my April 1998 Chimaera for over two years and it now has over 60K on the clock and is running very well.
IMHO I would go for post 1998 facelift cars as they are more "sorted". They have better cooling systems and seem more robust to me. Plus they look more modern because of different bonnet and boot lines and they have the newer rear light cluster. I think one like mine would now cost less than £15K.
Best of luck. Get out of that hairdresser's car!
>> Edited by JohnnyS on Saturday 15th June 07:56
do it.
I have 94 chimaera on 45,000. No major problems with reliability and goes well, and I don't hold back on the throttle.
History is the key. Suggest that you don't buy the only one you see. the most recent car you can afford is the best advice, but remember to leave cash for running it.
I would suggest getting one with the button release under the mirrorrather than the pushbutton & key in the wing, which are a pain.
Welcome to the fold!
I have 94 chimaera on 45,000. No major problems with reliability and goes well, and I don't hold back on the throttle.
History is the key. Suggest that you don't buy the only one you see. the most recent car you can afford is the best advice, but remember to leave cash for running it.
I would suggest getting one with the button release under the mirrorrather than the pushbutton & key in the wing, which are a pain.
Welcome to the fold!
Dan,
My 4.3 Chim is a 93, it had 42.5K on the clock when I bought it and has now done 50K. No regrets at all, in fact I was thinking about changing it for a later one but am not sure if there is any point as it is going so well. Someone on here once advised that you should allow about £1,000 a year to cover servicing costs, tyres and repairs. I have had the car about 18 months and have spent about 2K. £200 was for two front tyres because I hadn't noticed the traking was out, so this will probably work out about right. Hope to see you at Powmill.
Regards,
Steve.
My 4.3 Chim is a 93, it had 42.5K on the clock when I bought it and has now done 50K. No regrets at all, in fact I was thinking about changing it for a later one but am not sure if there is any point as it is going so well. Someone on here once advised that you should allow about £1,000 a year to cover servicing costs, tyres and repairs. I have had the car about 18 months and have spent about 2K. £200 was for two front tyres because I hadn't noticed the traking was out, so this will probably work out about right. Hope to see you at Powmill.
Regards,
Steve.
As another former MGF owner, I'd go along with the above. My MGF was very reliable for the 18 months I had it but the Chimaera is in a different league altogether. I've only had it for 3 months so I can't really comment on reliability yet - so far so good though, and it did a 2000-mile round trip to Italy without the slightest hint of a problem. It's just passed the 50,000 mile mark. Only expenditure to date has been on Mobil 1 (the 15W/50 motorsport version), using about 1 litre per 1000 miles, and petrol.
Craig's covered all the main points, so I'd say go for it, if you find a good'un you won't regret it!
Alex.
Craig's covered all the main points, so I'd say go for it, if you find a good'un you won't regret it!
Alex.
Dan,
As this is to be your only car and is needed everyday, i would think very carefully before buying a Chimaera. I went from a Porsche 968 sport to a 4.0 93 K Chimaera, again to be used as an everyday car and after months of non starting, electrical problems, flat batteries etc have had to trade it in. Whilst the TVR looked gorgeous and sounded like a dream, it is no good if it is sat in my garage and i am on the bus!!!
Prehaps the newer cars are better but your budget seems to suggest that you will be looking at an older 94-95 car and as such IMO reliability isnt good.
Fine as a second car but bloody annoying as your only everyday motor.
Cheers
As this is to be your only car and is needed everyday, i would think very carefully before buying a Chimaera. I went from a Porsche 968 sport to a 4.0 93 K Chimaera, again to be used as an everyday car and after months of non starting, electrical problems, flat batteries etc have had to trade it in. Whilst the TVR looked gorgeous and sounded like a dream, it is no good if it is sat in my garage and i am on the bus!!!
Prehaps the newer cars are better but your budget seems to suggest that you will be looking at an older 94-95 car and as such IMO reliability isnt good.
Fine as a second car but bloody annoying as your only everyday motor.
Cheers
quote:
Hmmm, that was one of my fears....
ill definatly get along to the central... Look out for a guy in a Hair dressers car...
B*gger, I've just been informed I'm going to a wedding that day, so won't be at the central meet. However if you find yourself over Edinburgh way needing to go for a blast some evening, then email me direct & I'll see what I can do.... (maybe Neil Menzies can come out to play in his Chimaera too
) Oh, in terms of reliability, my year 2000 Chimarea has been more reliable than my year 2000 Subaru P1 (both cars from new)
Chimaera has never let me down yet; Subaru has needed a rebuilt gearbox, because a bolt hadn't been put on correctly. It's now got to go back to the garage again, because one of the side windows needs re-gluing in.
Don't get me wrong, I love my Subaru, but I'm glad I've got my TVR as a day to day car, for when the Subaru breaks down....
>> Edited by craigalsop on Monday 17th June 11:15
i've had my 96 4.0hc about 8 months as an everyday car. i do not have a second car so reliability was a key issue to me as well. ive had no problems at all so far, and it is so fun to drive. trust me you can feel really p**sed of, lower then a rattlesnakes belly etc. but as soon as you get in and turn the key, everything evaporates and you just can't help but have this big grin. my only advice from my own experiences of looking around for a good few months - buy from a reputable dealer - it's a little more than private, but they've ensured that they've picked up a car with a good thorough service history and they have a reputation to protect. good luck.
Thanks of the offer Craig... thats awful good of you...
well.. even if i do get a car with a few issues, i think it will still be worth it... Yip im prepaired to do it...
I just need to find the right car now. I will deffinatly get it checked out first though. And i think ill dip into a good bit of my savings, who need a holiday anyway.
well.. even if i do get a car with a few issues, i think it will still be worth it... Yip im prepaired to do it...
I just need to find the right car now. I will deffinatly get it checked out first though. And i think ill dip into a good bit of my savings, who need a holiday anyway.
I also live in Scotland and had the same dilema as you. I bought a Honda S2000 for the following reasons:
1. Reliability
2. Cost of ownership - Main dealer TVR servicing is £1000+ per year (based on 12000 miles)
3. Only one dealer in Scotland (Logik in Dunfermline) - I've heard mixed reports about them. There is one authorised servicing centre - Dreadnought in Callendar)
4. There is only one specialist (noelV8) North of the border (that I know of)
5. I'm not one that can be bothered with the potential niggles - electrical, leaky roofs, rusty chassis stone chips, etc etc.
My advice is get Steve Heaths book on the Griff and Chim, buy a car with reasonable mileage and an excellent service history and do not buy the first one you drive.
1. Reliability
2. Cost of ownership - Main dealer TVR servicing is £1000+ per year (based on 12000 miles)
3. Only one dealer in Scotland (Logik in Dunfermline) - I've heard mixed reports about them. There is one authorised servicing centre - Dreadnought in Callendar)
4. There is only one specialist (noelV8) North of the border (that I know of)
5. I'm not one that can be bothered with the potential niggles - electrical, leaky roofs, rusty chassis stone chips, etc etc.
My advice is get Steve Heaths book on the Griff and Chim, buy a car with reasonable mileage and an excellent service history and do not buy the first one you drive.
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