My old chimera for sale .... I want it but do I ??
Discussion
Need a little help here as I've just stumbled across my first ever TVR chimera on a certain auction site and having a bit of a moment !!
I know it probably seems a bit romantic or nostalgic to revisit an era gone by but I had the absolute time of my life in that car ...... I still have a full set of keys and bills for it !!!
It was bought with 14k on the clock by me at the delicate age of 21 some 17 years ago as my first foray in to grown up fast cars !!! .... I went every where in it .... I used it as a daily driver....went All over Europe .... Numerous lemans trips ... My girl friend(now wife) learnt to drive in it and was sold only because of a change in finances (houses ....children ect)
My partner has given me the green light as it can be a fun summer daily and keep me amused
So to my dilemma ...... Car looks pretty good all round and still even has all the leven bits I put on it ...... how ever the milage concerns me in that since I parted company with it all that time ago it's covered less than 15000 miles (this is going off the last photo I have of it so may be even less) ..... the other problem I have is how does a twenty plus year old Tvr behave now .... I run a 911 of similar vintage and to be honest apart from lacking the electrical gadget mod cons its impeccable (but not as fun as the tvr) ... I understand the maintainace will be higher but am I being unrealistic about it being usable not just a weekend toy
So good people of the jury ..... Am I just in the early stages of a mid life desperately trying to relive my youth or would it be cool to own your first proper performance car to bomb about in and maybe hand down ?
I know it probably seems a bit romantic or nostalgic to revisit an era gone by but I had the absolute time of my life in that car ...... I still have a full set of keys and bills for it !!!
It was bought with 14k on the clock by me at the delicate age of 21 some 17 years ago as my first foray in to grown up fast cars !!! .... I went every where in it .... I used it as a daily driver....went All over Europe .... Numerous lemans trips ... My girl friend(now wife) learnt to drive in it and was sold only because of a change in finances (houses ....children ect)
My partner has given me the green light as it can be a fun summer daily and keep me amused
So to my dilemma ...... Car looks pretty good all round and still even has all the leven bits I put on it ...... how ever the milage concerns me in that since I parted company with it all that time ago it's covered less than 15000 miles (this is going off the last photo I have of it so may be even less) ..... the other problem I have is how does a twenty plus year old Tvr behave now .... I run a 911 of similar vintage and to be honest apart from lacking the electrical gadget mod cons its impeccable (but not as fun as the tvr) ... I understand the maintainace will be higher but am I being unrealistic about it being usable not just a weekend toy
So good people of the jury ..... Am I just in the early stages of a mid life desperately trying to relive my youth or would it be cool to own your first proper performance car to bomb about in and maybe hand down ?
ClassiChimi said:
Romance lives 
great story and heart warming.
How much fun would it be to go and test drive it first,, a proper drive,, 30-40 mins at least,
You might remember the firm ride and not like it, it might not excite you the same way it did,,,,
Or you might feel like your on the bosom and happy as a pig in s
t,, 
It was a long time ago and cars have moved on,,
It'll be older and more likely things are failing here and there but it will still be the same car,,
Ownership of a 10+ year old vehicle is more akin to owning a classic car for maintenance and the need to keep on top of them so it has to be a hobby or your happy to pay a good Tvr man to do the work,, either way you'll have the odd ups and downs but that's the same with any car.
If you really enjoy owning a Tvr again then there's a list of very good mods that can be done to transform your aging Tvr into a car of modern day standards.
Reliability usually comes down to inherent faults, immobiliser and the aging Lucus CUX ignition system are but two that cause huge frustration to many owners,,
Remove those issues and upgrade your starter cable etc and you should have a healthy car for years to come.
Outriggers and chassis rusting is now a problem as age catches up with some of these cars but even that can be resolved and there's plenty of Tvr men offering to replace etc.
For me I'd enjoy taking a drive up there and checking it out, if it's what you want then buy it, or not,, nothing ventured nothing gained. Good luck.
I think that's where I'm at as well .... a drive and a good look round it .... I've requested the service records from the seller too great story and heart warming. How much fun would it be to go and test drive it first,, a proper drive,, 30-40 mins at least,
You might remember the firm ride and not like it, it might not excite you the same way it did,,,,
Or you might feel like your on the bosom and happy as a pig in s
t,, It was a long time ago and cars have moved on,,
It'll be older and more likely things are failing here and there but it will still be the same car,,
Ownership of a 10+ year old vehicle is more akin to owning a classic car for maintenance and the need to keep on top of them so it has to be a hobby or your happy to pay a good Tvr man to do the work,, either way you'll have the odd ups and downs but that's the same with any car.
If you really enjoy owning a Tvr again then there's a list of very good mods that can be done to transform your aging Tvr into a car of modern day standards.
Reliability usually comes down to inherent faults, immobiliser and the aging Lucus CUX ignition system are but two that cause huge frustration to many owners,,
Remove those issues and upgrade your starter cable etc and you should have a healthy car for years to come.
Outriggers and chassis rusting is now a problem as age catches up with some of these cars but even that can be resolved and there's plenty of Tvr men offering to replace etc.
For me I'd enjoy taking a drive up there and checking it out, if it's what you want then buy it, or not,, nothing ventured nothing gained. Good luck.
Would you be concerned about a mileage discrepancy ? Or is it a given with this sort of car at this age ..... Just not sure how It can't have done galactic milage ..... My porsche is a weekender and that still sees a good 4-5k a year
Also if there is a big difference should I let the cat out of the bag ? ....... Feel like a kid again , especially as the other halfs just told me to calm down and go to sleep
Well just got the history breakdown through and it dosent help my concerns I guess ...... Couple of 5 and 6 year gaps between services and after I sold it, it seems it covered about 500 miles in 5 years ??
Am I alone in thinking that dosent amount to full service history ? I have mine done annually regardless of milage
happy days !!
Am I alone in thinking that dosent amount to full service history ? I have mine done annually regardless of milage
happy days !!
N7GTX said:
As you've now become an old softy since owning it, driving new cars around, it has power steering for southern owners...
Edited by N7GTX on Friday 6th May 15:12
.... Funny you should say that ... The other half used to phone me from the car some mornings because she couldn't let the handbrake down it was too tough !! Well I've taken the advice on board and decided that it's best looked at .... In the process of re arranging the work diary but looks like it might be a fortnight before I can get up there to view it
Thought about the blind purchase but doesn't sit right ... Can suffer it on a shed price van but have to be a little more sensible
Found loads of old paper work , warranty booklets and bits in the loft plus some interesting pics !
chimyellow said:
But what happens if it sells before you get the chance to look at it.....
You have history with it and have the green light from the financial controller....
If it really comes to the worst the you can do any work over a period of time....
We discussed selling when my financial controller was pregnant, but decided to keep the it as my daily drive. Best decision that we could have made and now the kids love the car too.
DO IT... DO IT... DO IT
The last bit is what's bouncing round my head ..... but really can't get up there any earlier and it has posed another little problem , do I get rid of my current daily driver .... Not a Tvr but rather a nice tool that I've personalised to my needs .... Very difficult this .... If I keep the daily , between me and the other half we would end up with 6 cars .... A little extreme by any chalk !! You have history with it and have the green light from the financial controller....
If it really comes to the worst the you can do any work over a period of time....
We discussed selling when my financial controller was pregnant, but decided to keep the it as my daily drive. Best decision that we could have made and now the kids love the car too.
DO IT... DO IT... DO IT
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
Too Late OP, I bought it.
Read it and weep and tell the OH !
Well if that's the case fates decided ! Haven't been able to get on here let alone get up to view it ! Read it and weep and tell the OH !
Really hope you enjoy it !!
Not sure about the read it and weep though ..... Do I now post my old pics ??? Or is that classed as revenge porn
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