Discussion
I bought my Chimaera from a dealer in April 2014. I'd seen a couple of privately advertised ones but they did not live up to expectations. The dealer who advertised the car I bought sold all types of cars Mercedes BMW Porches to name but a few and just happened to have this 1996 33,000 miles starmist blue Chimaera for sale. It was in good order and has since covered 4,500 miles without any problems. It may have been a little more expensive than buying privately but hey it's a nice car. Good luck with your search
Not sure exactly what you are looking for? 400/430/450/500? Low mileage original example (mine) or a modified/all well-known issues fixed (10k + example)? If you are seriously in the market, now is a good time to find a desperate buyer, but may not be what you want??
Also, if colour choice is a major consideration, then you may be looking for some time!!
Also, if colour choice is a major consideration, then you may be looking for some time!!
Chinski said:
I guess that if I can get to this time next year and then replace the out riggers etc I would be happy. I think I would like to get the best my budget can allow.
Best bet is to do a search in the classifieds, first by dealer option then by private option and compare what your budget will get you in both. If you find anything you like the look of post a link in here and anyone who knows the car or knows of a better one available in same budget range will reply with some advice 
We're generally a friendly bunch in here
The "facelift" happened about 1996/97-ish, bit it isn't clear-cut: some cars around that era have a mixture of features, and I dare say you'll see the odd 1998 car with some older features.
From memory, and probably an incomplete list:
Very late cars, between about 2002-2003-ish, had clear plastic fairings over the headlights and the seats are from the Cerbera. I think by this stage they were only making the 450.
The change from Rover gearbox to Borg-Warner T5 happened very early (about 1994?). I don't think I've ever seen one with the Rover box, which has reverse gear to the left and forward.
The weaker outriggers that you mention are simply due to very high production levels in about 1998/99, resulting in chassis being stored in less-than-ideal ways. Also, this was about the time when TVR reputedly bought the powder-coating equipment and started doing it in-house. It took a year or two for them to get the technique right, so the powder-coating of cars around 1998/99 is generally poorer than earlier cars.
To be honest, the changes are all quite subtle and not worth basing a decision on.
From memory, and probably an incomplete list:
- Revised rear light clusters. Earlier ones are from a Fiesta turned upside down* but later ones are a bespoke part.
- Revised boot lid hinges. Later ones allow the lid to open near vertically.
- Slight change to the "lip" of the boot lid. Slightly more pronounced on later cars.
- Earlier cars had a honeycomb rear reg plate that was illuminated through the plate from behind. Later cars have a more conventional arrangement with little lights above the plate, and the plate is angled upwards slightly.
- Revised door opening mechanism. Newer cars have the little buttons under the mirrors instead of metal buttons just behind the doors.
- Very slight change to the rear "lip" of the bonnet. Slightly more up-turned on later cars.
- Different wipers. Earlier cars had the wiper motor in the corner under the bonnet; later cars have the motor inside the cabin above the driver's knees. Also, the later cars have a peculiarly asymmetric wiping pattern where the driver's wiper wipes a lot more of the screen than the passenger one does. I believe later wipers also park a little bit lower.
- er...
- bound to be lots of stuff I've missed.
Very late cars, between about 2002-2003-ish, had clear plastic fairings over the headlights and the seats are from the Cerbera. I think by this stage they were only making the 450.
The change from Rover gearbox to Borg-Warner T5 happened very early (about 1994?). I don't think I've ever seen one with the Rover box, which has reverse gear to the left and forward.
The weaker outriggers that you mention are simply due to very high production levels in about 1998/99, resulting in chassis being stored in less-than-ideal ways. Also, this was about the time when TVR reputedly bought the powder-coating equipment and started doing it in-house. It took a year or two for them to get the technique right, so the powder-coating of cars around 1998/99 is generally poorer than earlier cars.
To be honest, the changes are all quite subtle and not worth basing a decision on.
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Saturday 15th November 07:45
For what it's worth, I bought my '99 450 from a private seller advertising on PistonHeads. I wouldn't limit yourself to only buying from a dealer, unless you totally lack confidence in assessing a car and want the reassurance of a warranty.
I got mine inspected by Rob Ingleby, who gave it a good thumbs-up apart from concerns about outrigger corrosion. Knowing that outriggers are entirely repairable, and the fact that the seller was willing to organise for the car to be taken to Willow Sportscars for a body-off, I struck a deal and went ahead. Once the body was off it was clear Rob was right: the outriggers were in surprisingly poor shape but the rest of the chassis was good. I decided to spend the additional money and go for a complete strip-down, shot blast, zinc prime and powder coat - so hopefully it should last a good few years.
I got mine inspected by Rob Ingleby, who gave it a good thumbs-up apart from concerns about outrigger corrosion. Knowing that outriggers are entirely repairable, and the fact that the seller was willing to organise for the car to be taken to Willow Sportscars for a body-off, I struck a deal and went ahead. Once the body was off it was clear Rob was right: the outriggers were in surprisingly poor shape but the rest of the chassis was good. I decided to spend the additional money and go for a complete strip-down, shot blast, zinc prime and powder coat - so hopefully it should last a good few years.
Sardonicus said:
The rear Fiesta lights are not turned upside down
It is possible to correct someone without being an arse about it. Was the "rolling eyes" smiley really necessary?Anyway, are you saying they didn't turn Fiestas upside down? I is disappoint.
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Sunday 16th November 09:56
I bought my 450 from a dealer in August 2010.
In March 2011 the engine needed a full rebuild! (loose liner)
Be warned, just because you're buying from a dealer doesn't mean that you're covered if anything goes wrong.
It cost me 5 grand for the engine rebuild at TVR Power.
For the total cost of the car and the engine rebuild I could have bought a really nice car from the bloke who lives in the Windmill (you know who I mean!).
The outriggers on mine had been done BUT!!! without a body lift so the outriggers cannot be painted on the weld hence, now are rusty as buggery.
My only advice is take your time and look at the car, not the person selling it.
There'll be some really good cars being sold privately and some time bombs being sold by the dealers (and visa-versa).
I'm sure most dealers won't sell on a car when they know that it is about to blow up but the point is how do they react when it does!
In March 2011 the engine needed a full rebuild! (loose liner)
Be warned, just because you're buying from a dealer doesn't mean that you're covered if anything goes wrong.
It cost me 5 grand for the engine rebuild at TVR Power.
For the total cost of the car and the engine rebuild I could have bought a really nice car from the bloke who lives in the Windmill (you know who I mean!).
The outriggers on mine had been done BUT!!! without a body lift so the outriggers cannot be painted on the weld hence, now are rusty as buggery.
My only advice is take your time and look at the car, not the person selling it.
There'll be some really good cars being sold privately and some time bombs being sold by the dealers (and visa-versa).
I'm sure most dealers won't sell on a car when they know that it is about to blow up but the point is how do they react when it does!
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
It is possible to correct someone without being an arse about it. Was the "rolling eyes" smiley really necessary?
Anyway, are you saying they didn't turn Fiestas upside down? I is disappoint.
Because if your going to talk the talk at least make sure it's accurate, we read enough BS on PH's already.Anyway, are you saying they didn't turn Fiestas upside down? I is disappoint.
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Sunday 16th November 09:56
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