S2000 to Chimaera - Should I do it?

S2000 to Chimaera - Should I do it?

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Discussion

CTML

Original Poster:

15 posts

156 months

Thursday 23rd April 2015
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Posting here means I've half made my mind up really, but was wondering if anyone else has made this switch before? I've never had an issue with the Honda; starts every time, VTEC always spot on whereas I feel the main thing holding me back with the TVR is reliability and maintenance.

My main concern is that 6 months of the year it will be parked on the streets of London so it really has to be watertight, and I won't have my tools with me to fix anything if it does give up on me. I'm not too bothered about winter as it'll be garaged at my parent's like I did with the Honda.

I'd love to have a chat in person with any Chimaera owners in central London also, just to see if this is really doable.

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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Stay with the Honda or buy a Z4 or Boxster.

TVRs don't like living outside and I wouldn't leave mine outside either.

What do you want from a car? Mine would leave all the above for dead but I wouldn't want it as a daily.

I'm in Dorking and work mostly in the Wandsworth area if you want a chat.

TVRJAS

2,391 posts

128 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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How to shatter someone's dreams in such few words laugh

As for leaving outside I'm afraid I can't comment as the three TVR's I've had have all been garaged and my personal view is I think they benefit from this privilege.

Power drainage is a common fault and the usage of a trickle charger plugged in while sitting in the garage can ease a lot of headaches.

As for reliability it may be that I've been lucky but I've not had a breakdown or needed recovery in any of my TVR's S2,V8S or my latest Chimaera now owned almost 22 months.

It's all down to luck of the car you choose,I had a 309gti that broke down/recovered 7-8 times in 2 years but I'm sure there was many happy pug gti owners.But if mine does happen to let me down at some stage I will except that it's almost 18 years old and things can go wrong. But getting it serviced and looked over every 6k or 12 months and things they advise replacing at this time should prevent break down.. (That's how I do it anyway)

Take a look at my Full blog in my profile(Garage section) where I've added every single cost in my ownership.Costly compared to a normal car yes Worth it?...OHyesyesyes




Milky400

1,960 posts

177 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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Had a chimaera for 4 years and it only broke down once in that time (starter motor) in that time I went through 4 volvo's and all but the oldest Volvo let me down, and two in a big way (cracked cylinder head). Current Tuscan, touch wood has been superb also. TVR's reliability has been the ongoing joke for many many years and it's the first thing people say when the hear you have one. Guess it's like skoda I a sense.

If maintained well they we be as reliable as any other hand built car with the performance these have. But, as with all cars you can end up with a bad egg and of course it's this bad egg that you all hear about.

As for storing outside, mine have always been garaged, so cannot really comment. You do say during the salty winter months it will be stored as you parents. Mine sits off the road from October through to April, on charge and with a small electric dehumidifier running to keep the inside dry.

It may not be a reliable as the jap mobile, but far far more entertaining and pleasing to drive. If used daily the maintainace costs will be higher than the S, but if you can afford this and put up with the odd wired goings on these sometimes have. Then do it. You I'll only regret not doing it when you time comes to meet the big man

Dr Mike Oxgreen

4,101 posts

164 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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Mine lives outside and doesn't suffer reliability problems.

All cars would probably prefer to live in a well-ventilated garage, but to say that TVRs don't like living outside is greatly overstating it in my view. They're not much different from any other car in that respect.

gemini

11,352 posts

263 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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I went from a Chimaera to a S2 then a Boxster S.
I wouldn't have a Chimaera sitting outside!

QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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Is your S2000 your summer evening and weekend car, or your daily driver?
IMHO, the heavy clutch is a pain in the left foot in anything other than Sunday traffic.
And you will need a Leven half cover to keep it watertight. Chims left out (like mine) get very wet inside if not protected.

Reliable? Mine was the only car in my fleet over Christmas that was running - the Luxury German Marques were both non-runners. It's barn door engineering, so reliable if used regularly.

ch427

8,858 posts

232 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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I dont like driving mine around town or in traffic but it transforms when you get it out on the open roads.
As said there will be a huge difference between it and the S2000, maintenance being the major one.
I would take a look at one and have a test drive see how you feel after that.

gruffalo

7,509 posts

225 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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I leave mine outside but mine isn't a Chim, no ill effects.

domV8

1,375 posts

180 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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Kept mine outside for 5 years now with no problems - doesn't leak, doesn't require a battery charger.

Mines my daily driver - and that seems to be the key...


MPoxon

5,329 posts

172 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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I went from a Civic Type R to an S2000 then on to a Griff 500. The S2000 is a very good car indeed and I used mine as a daily. The Griff I use as a second car, I wouldn't want to use it everyday although I know some that do. I have driven mine in the snow once.... never again so bought myself a £200 daily hack for the winter. Mine also lives outside and does not leak, so long as the seals are sorted and the roof fabsiled you should be OK.

I think only you can answer the question, it really depends how much you want the car and how much you are prepared to put up with. I knew a guy who used to drive to work in a radical, he used to have to take the front of the car off to get into the office carpark to get over the speed bump, despite this he was happy as larry even in the winter... I would love a radical but there is no way I would put up with it as a daily.... strokes for folks I suppose.

You are doing the right thing by finding out as much as possible before taking the plunge. I would go to your local TVRCC meet and have a chat with some of the owners. Take Peter (Phazed) up on his offer of a chat, nice guy and very knowledgeable when it comes to TVRs.

Chuffmeister

3,597 posts

136 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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I'd take heed from Peter's advice. There are a mix of things that can go wrong, some of which are a simple fix, providing you have your own tools and a drive. No tools, on street parking in London isn't ideal. Again, the amount of money you spend and the example you purchase will have a large say it its reliability!

ph1l5

5,024 posts

201 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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I would say don't do it. We don't buy TVRs for their reliability/fuel costs/water tightness. I used my Chimaera every day for 3 years and she never had a problem. It was parked outside in the snow/rain/sun. I decided to give her a rest for 6 months as I found driving it wasn't the occasion it used to be. I have got her out for the first time yesterday and instantly fall in love again. You drive a TVR for the thrill 30 mph can feel like 300 mph, every trip is an event, people stop and ask you all about them, people want to sit in them, take photos. The police are usually very nice to us. But there will come a day when the car will try and kill you. But that's why we love them.

CTML

Original Poster:

15 posts

156 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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Thanks for all your replies, seems to be a mixed bag about leaving the car outside!

To answer some questions, the car will be used as an evening/weekend car and I have a trickle charger that can be used to revive the battery but other than that i won't have the tools to fix most issues. What I'd probably get annoyed about is if i'm running late, get into the car to find it won't start but you are right in saying there will inevitably be one bad egg out of many...

For those who leave the car outside with a cover on - my worry is that it'll get nicked, what are people's thoughts?

QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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Don't use a full cover. That will get nicked, or will flap about in the wind, and may damage the paint.
What you need comes up for sale on Classifieds from time to time, or start a thread asking if anyone has one they are not using.
It's a Leven half cover.
Made of a heavy waterproof leather cloth, it just goes over the roof and windows and fastens with rucksack straps around the wingmirrors. But the clever bit is it has a 6 inch long tail at the back that you shut into the boot lid, and a shorter one at the front that shuts into the bonnet. That one also stops water from getting into the cabin via the windscreen washer pipes.
I will pop outside and take some photos shortly so you and anyone else can see what it's like.
One of the best £50s I spent on the car.

keith2.2

1,100 posts

194 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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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.




QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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Cover in place


rear flap showing


wing mirror strap showing


bonnet flap showing


flaps and straps all secured




QBee

20,904 posts

143 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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When I bought mine I had been looking at Boxster, SLK, S2K and Z4, and by chance saw a Chim, had a test drive and bought it.
It is very reliable, but not the cheapest car to own as I keep modifying it. hehe

BUT, I have made more friends and had more fun through TVR ownership than anything else I have done for fun in the last 40 years. For that reason i will never sell my Chim.
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.

JimTC

270 posts

216 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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Tricky decision I am sure.

Personally, I don't think it's that enjoyable to drive a Chimaera around congested cities and towns - lots of clutch action, wide turning circle and, of course, the state of our roads.

That said, my 400 was a lot easier than my current 500.

No doubt, being outside the car will deteriorate faster than if it's cosseted in a garage.

In your situation I would go for a S2000.


coco79

390 posts

173 months

Friday 24th April 2015
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May as well do things properly and go for a Tuscan biggrin