TVR, Lotus or old M3/Z3 ?

TVR, Lotus or old M3/Z3 ?

Author
Discussion

geresey

Original Poster:

388 posts

122 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
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Downsizing from a 996tt...looking for something cheaper, 10-15k, prefer convertible, manual and still quick. Approx 5k miles pa. Want something that will retain value and not cost a fortune in maintenance.

Any recommendations from you guys? Quite like the look of the chimaera

N7GTX

7,825 posts

142 months

Thursday 18th June 2015
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This seems okay for the money if you are thinking Chimaera.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

But there are 32 ads on PH alone so plenty of choice.

If you like German stuff then you will get a very good low mileage E46 for that sort of money. An altogether different driving experience. Have had 3 M3 E46s and on my second TVR and you cannot compare them.

But, make sure you have a good long drive of a Chimaera and satisfy yourself it is for you before committing the cash. Bset advice I can give is to locate the local TVR club meeting and go along. Most owners will show you around their car and take you for a drive too.


Rib

2,548 posts

188 months

Friday 19th June 2015
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the speed 6 is very similar I feel to the bmw 6, loves to rev and only coes alive when you do. T cars are much more like a go kart than the earlier chims etc. youve chosen 3 totally different types of car though so fully depends on what you want, Ive had an e36 too and loved it aswell as my chim and tamora. Go drive some and see what you prefer

mk1fan

10,509 posts

224 months

Friday 19th June 2015
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Based on the OP - a TVR is not for you.

900T-R

20,404 posts

256 months

Friday 19th June 2015
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Nah, Chimaera will fit the bill nicely as long as you're not OCD over non-essentials. For the performance and thrills/feelgood factor, the running costs for a sorted one are typically quite low as the bits underneath are mostly mass market items and the thing is light on its feet so easy on brakes, tyres etc.

geresey

Original Poster:

388 posts

122 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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Thanks for the replies. Finding it difficult to find anything available to try near me (Bournemouth)

GTRene

16,376 posts

223 months

Wednesday 24th June 2015
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TVR Chimaera is lovely.

But maybe in your case a M roadster (Z3) is also very good, owned one myself,
great fun, feels pretty fast, also playable and prices go up for the M, so be fast.

if you can get your hands on for the money, see if you can get a S54 M roadster, much rarer so
even better to hold its value.

GTRene

16,376 posts

223 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
there are some cheaper, but this one looks good for the price and miles and age.
if you can get that one for 15k then take it.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...

twold

178 posts

129 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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I almost did exactly the same thing ,996 turbo to Chimaera,but due to back problem and seating etc HHC talked me out of it and I found an extra £5k and bought a Tuscan.In my opinion pretty much just as quick (excluding corners..)as the 996t,and in 12000 miles no major expenses or failures,and easily twice the fun of the Porsche.

TV8

3,118 posts

174 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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I don't know the car or the owner, but if I was in the market, a Cornwall postcode would in the satnav this weekend.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

ChilliWhizz

11,990 posts

160 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
mk1fan said:
Based on the OP - a TVR is not for you.
Why do you say that?

Andy JB

1,319 posts

218 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
quotequote all
TV8 said:
I don't know the car or the owner, but if I was in the market, a Cornwall postcode would in the satnav this weekend.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
...but does make me wonder why its for sale!!! Also 3k over OP budget.

A 5 litre Chimaera would satisfy your requirement - a good one for this budget well maintained and original with room for some tinkering & upgrades. Much more fun than a 996 & not so much of a downsize/grade either in reality.

bababoom

351 posts

117 months

Thursday 25th June 2015
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I've had a M3 and now have a Chimaera.
If you want a car you can use every day go for the M3.
If you want a weekend toy go for the TVR.

Don't expect the build quality of the BMW in the TVR same as you shouldn't expect the noise and grin factor of the TVR in the BMW.

The TVR is like a posh kit car that you can fix with a Halfords socket set. (Chimaera anyway)
M3 is a quality build German car that will cost a bomb should it need any dealer work.
I was lucky enough to have BMW extended warrantee witch without it would have seen my M3 scrapped in repair bills.

Both are nice cars but its like comparing chalk and cheese.

mk1fan

10,509 posts

224 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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TV8 said:
I don't know the car or the owner, but if I was in the market, a Cornwall postcode would in the satnav this weekend.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
A similar spec Chim is still for sale. 5.2 John Earles engine rather than a 5.4 V8Development one. Under £15k

mk1fan

10,509 posts

224 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
ChilliWhizz said:
Why do you say that?
Buying a TVR expecting it to be cheap to maintain is a bit like going to a vegan dinner party expecting steak.

domV8

1,375 posts

180 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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geresey said:
Thanks for the replies. Finding it difficult to find anything available to try near me (Bournemouth)
I'm Bournemouth-based, message me smile

ChilliWhizz

11,990 posts

160 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
mk1fan said:
ChilliWhizz said:
Why do you say that?
Buying a TVR expecting it to be cheap to maintain is a bit like going to a vegan dinner party expecting steak.
To be fair to the guy, he said 'not cost a fortune to maintain', which, all things being equal, a Chimaera doesn't compared to a 996tt...

900T-R

20,404 posts

256 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
mk1fan said:
Buying a TVR expecting it to be cheap to maintain is a bit like going to a vegan dinner party expecting steak.
Um, as exotic sports cars go RV8-engined TVRs are almost ludicrously cheap to maintain by virtue of them being simple, light (price a set of tyres or brakes against, say, a Z3M or Porker) and having mostly mass-market oily bits underneath. Engines will go forever save for a camshaft replacement somewhere down the line, no hugely labour-intensive rust restorations - just lift the body and put new chassis outriggers on there every 15-20 years. smile

Yes they have niggles. Yes you might have to stick bits back on that have fallen off. But expensive to maintain? Only if you're completely helpless and an unscrupulous garagist 'sees you coming', I suppose.


mk1fan

10,509 posts

224 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
ChilliWhizz said:
To be fair to the guy, he said 'not cost a fortune to maintain', which, all things being equal, a Chimaera doesn't compared to a 996tt...
True. They also said downsizing suggesting (to me) the need for minimising potential outlays.

mk1fan

10,509 posts

224 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
900T-R said:
Engines will go forever save for a camshaft replacement somewhere down the line, no hugely labour-intensive rust restorations - just lift the body and put new chassis outriggers on there every 15-20 years. smile

Yes they have niggles. Yes you might have to stick bits back on that have fallen off. But expensive to maintain? Only if you're completely helpless and an unscrupulous garagist 'sees you coming', I suppose.
Well, that's a very rose tinted glasses view of the RV8. Plus the camshaft change is an engine out job. A body lift is hardly a 1/2 hour job. Whilst chasing the rust on say an MGB can be a huge task, rust isn't a 'expected' issue with the other cars mentioned. So, in the context of modern sports cars, this is a huge liability on a TVR.

Whilst it maybe common/reasonably expected that a TVR owner is prepared or capable of undertaking their own repairs this isn't the case for 'normal' drivers.

OP,

TVRs are great cars. Every drive is an event. They have their faults - which can be fixed - and if you enjoy tinkering then they are a great choice. If you're not a tinkerer then you need to rely on those garages that know the cars. Whilst the parts are all pretty common they are put together in a unique and non uniform manner. TVRs don't like being left in the garage, they like being used.

Whichever TVR you consider, check the chassis.