Me again... 19 Year old going for a Chim...
Discussion
I posted a while back that I was determined to get a Chim as my next car once I have my 1 years NCB, that is now only 3 months away and I still have not stopped browsing the classifieds everyday.
In my last post I said I was getting quoted around £2600, I then realised I had my dad selected as the main driver all this time...
BUT, after playing around a bit more I have managed to be quoted £2100 only thing being it is Third Party Fire And Theft.. If I was to do comprehensive I would have to fork out £6000. Personally I would be fine paying the £2100 and have it on Third Party insurance, but that's probably just because I'm too obsessed with TVR's to really care/think about the consequences.
My question to you is, is this really a sensible option? I am an extremely careful driver, I have to be as I have a black box fitted to my car but even if I was not to have the box fitted I know my limits and would only really put my foot down if conditions were right (if that makes sense.).
Getting a Chim would mean it would be my daily driver and be used on my 2 mile commute to work!
Would I be better getting a low mileage (say around 20,000) or a higher mileage Chim? I have heard that in some cases its better to get one that has been used a bit more as you know it has been maintained and has not sat for long periods of time.
Am I insane..?
In my last post I said I was getting quoted around £2600, I then realised I had my dad selected as the main driver all this time...
BUT, after playing around a bit more I have managed to be quoted £2100 only thing being it is Third Party Fire And Theft.. If I was to do comprehensive I would have to fork out £6000. Personally I would be fine paying the £2100 and have it on Third Party insurance, but that's probably just because I'm too obsessed with TVR's to really care/think about the consequences.
My question to you is, is this really a sensible option? I am an extremely careful driver, I have to be as I have a black box fitted to my car but even if I was not to have the box fitted I know my limits and would only really put my foot down if conditions were right (if that makes sense.).
Getting a Chim would mean it would be my daily driver and be used on my 2 mile commute to work!
Would I be better getting a low mileage (say around 20,000) or a higher mileage Chim? I have heard that in some cases its better to get one that has been used a bit more as you know it has been maintained and has not sat for long periods of time.
Am I insane..?
scruggs said:
You don't say if your fully comp quote was on limited mileage per year. I agree with others that a two mile commute is not ideal for a Chim. Have you thought of an old banger for the commute and keep the Chim for weekends, then get a quote for a limited mileage per annum quote for the Chim.
I have considered both options of using a chim as a weekend toy or using my current 2.2 TID Saab to tow it to track days but I simply cannot convince my parents to let me have 2 cars on the drive, they want be to have one car and one car only.I know a 2 miles commute is not ideal for any car but there is an alternate route I sometimes take which is a very nice drive and add's about 8 miles onto my usual journey, still not a lot but then come any days I have off I would be out most of the day whizzing about.
I did think of a benefit of only having a 2 miles commute, that being it's a route I know like the back of my hand and should help with slowly getting used to the car and hopefully see me through another year of driving rather trouble free.
A900ss said:
Best of luck but please don't do a 2 mile commute in a Chim. Please buy a bicycle for the commute. It might even lower your insurance if you just do SD&P rather than SD&P plus commuting.
A V8 (or any car) will not be warmed up in this time and you will be doing more bad than good.
I just tried a quote on just 2000 miles a year on just SD&P and for some reason it was £800 more than SD&P + Commuting?!A V8 (or any car) will not be warmed up in this time and you will be doing more bad than good.
Edited by A900ss on Wednesday 16th April 21:02
Milky400 said:
Why are you driving to work? 2 miles is an easy cycle, or when weather is bad a good walk with a brolly. As said above the car will soon be dead if you're only driving I that short distance, even your 8 mile trek isn't good. Get a bike, and wait a couple of years then think again.
At 19 years old, don't waste every penny you have on a car, been there and done that and i do regret it somewhat. Admit it as a good few years ago but just my opinion
Whatever you choose to do, enjoy it, I have recently discovered how short life can be.....
I would cycle, but I just would not feel safe doing so, 70% of my route is a windy, rather narrow National speed limit road with no foot paths what so ever, I have lost count the amount of times I have seen cyclists nearly being knocked off as there not seen till the last second around corners. Also a lot of tractors and horses.. D:At 19 years old, don't waste every penny you have on a car, been there and done that and i do regret it somewhat. Admit it as a good few years ago but just my opinion
Whatever you choose to do, enjoy it, I have recently discovered how short life can be.....
I have to say I am not your normal 19 year old, or even a normal teenager, never been drunk, all my friends and family describe me as very old fashioned.. I have no need to speed or race around on public roads, actually when I see a young guy in say, a corsa, driving it like its a racing car, it really annoys me and kind of makes me laugh.
I mean heck the first car I test drove, which was going to be my first car was a Rover 75 in lime green.. I do not get on with many people my age as it is, most of the people I am friendly with now are 25 +, probably because I work in a garden centre! (Full time which is also strange for someone my age, but I absolutely love working)
I mean heck the first car I test drove, which was going to be my first car was a Rover 75 in lime green.. I do not get on with many people my age as it is, most of the people I am friendly with now are 25 +, probably because I work in a garden centre! (Full time which is also strange for someone my age, but I absolutely love working)
MethylatedSpirit said:
Rightio, I'm about your age (albeit 22) and got my chimaera at 21. It's doable at a young age but...
Lets not kid ourselves, it can only be a second car. The car I had was garaged for 10 years, inside was bone dry, but the first time I drove it in the wet I was peering down the 1 inch gap of mist created by the heaters. You will hate driving it in the wet.
Don't do a 2 mile commute in a TVR
Insurance wise, go to compare the market, add both parents as named drivers, parked on street, and set date as one month in advance (gives you cheaper quote but you can take it straight away, makes sense!). Don't declare mods online but phone them up once you get the quote and declare them there. Admiral will be cheapest and will give you a multicar discount on top if you call them.
I know you've got the rose tinted glasses, everything will be fine n' all that. But these cars require maintenance; you need to be able to change the oil and do other basic tasks to keep running costs reasonable.
I'll be honest here, my finances are a bit tighter this year. I sold my chimaera for a house deposit but now have a TVR Tasmin; they're cheaper to buy and 50-75% cheaper to insure. They qualify for classic insurance with admiral. (I pay just under £400 full comp, 7k agreed value for the wedge
)
Insurance went down massively for me when i turned 21. Maybe you should get a mx-5 'till then?
And we arrive back to reality with a thump
Edit: A black box in a TVR? Really? Think about it. In a TVR? Is that what you want?
Of course not! I mentioned I have a black box on my current first car as without it I would not of been able to afford it.Lets not kid ourselves, it can only be a second car. The car I had was garaged for 10 years, inside was bone dry, but the first time I drove it in the wet I was peering down the 1 inch gap of mist created by the heaters. You will hate driving it in the wet.
Don't do a 2 mile commute in a TVR
Insurance wise, go to compare the market, add both parents as named drivers, parked on street, and set date as one month in advance (gives you cheaper quote but you can take it straight away, makes sense!). Don't declare mods online but phone them up once you get the quote and declare them there. Admiral will be cheapest and will give you a multicar discount on top if you call them.
I know you've got the rose tinted glasses, everything will be fine n' all that. But these cars require maintenance; you need to be able to change the oil and do other basic tasks to keep running costs reasonable.
I'll be honest here, my finances are a bit tighter this year. I sold my chimaera for a house deposit but now have a TVR Tasmin; they're cheaper to buy and 50-75% cheaper to insure. They qualify for classic insurance with admiral. (I pay just under £400 full comp, 7k agreed value for the wedge
)Insurance went down massively for me when i turned 21. Maybe you should get a mx-5 'till then?
And we arrive back to reality with a thump
Edit: A black box in a TVR? Really? Think about it. In a TVR? Is that what you want?
Edited by MethylatedSpirit on Thursday 17th April 23:56
I would never have a TVR with a black box! Bad enough having one on my Saab!
I have a GoPro Camera, I could shoot a video of the alternate route I can take to work, maybe see if you lot think it is sufficient distance? Most of the route is on 40mph roads and some bits are 50mph zones, my Saab is normally at a perfect temperature by the time I arrive at work. (if I have taken the longer route)
Chris71 said:
Go for it. My first car was a sports car and I didn't die in a firey inferno once.
Do make sure you give it a proper run regularly, though. Could you find a long way to work perhaps?
Also, as someone else has said, you could consider an S-Series as an alternative. I actually preferred my S3 to the Chimaera 500 I've got now. Lighter, more chuckable and your money goes a lot further.
That and the bicycle option. When I lived in London I practically gave up on commuting by car because it was so boring in the traffic. Saves fuel and engine wear for the weekend.
I would consider owning any TVR, I love them all, the Cerbera being my dream must have car, but the cerb is a bit 'too' hardcore for someone my age right now, although I was quoted £2500 Third Party Fire And Theft!. The Chimaera has been my choice as a first TVR for many reasons, quite widely available, cheap and of course that soundtrack...Do make sure you give it a proper run regularly, though. Could you find a long way to work perhaps?
Also, as someone else has said, you could consider an S-Series as an alternative. I actually preferred my S3 to the Chimaera 500 I've got now. Lighter, more chuckable and your money goes a lot further.
That and the bicycle option. When I lived in London I practically gave up on commuting by car because it was so boring in the traffic. Saves fuel and engine wear for the weekend.
I have never been a fan of run of the mill cars, since I can remember I have always loved kit cars, hot rods and classics in general, I want a car I can really look after and actually have something to spend my money on! I want a real enthusiasts car, a conversation piece, something people will take a second look at.
I have ambitions to start an automotive blog, In fact I have already got my site up and running, it will be used to document my ownership of my first TVR (that is the plan anyway), countless videos from all the events I plan to attend, road trips (planning a euro trip!) and anything else I can think of.
This is a logo I have come up with just to get the idea across..
As for finding the right car, I am planning to visit Racing Green Cars this weekend as they have quite a selection to look at, still not sure if I would be best going for a lower mileage, say 15,000 or above the 50,000 mile mark? The idea being the higher mileage TVR'S may have had all the necessary work already carried out..?
I understand all the concerns some of you have with running it as a daily through winter etc, and my short commute to work but I assure you I will do everything necessary to keep it on the road. (longer 10 mile windy route to work, letting it warm up for 10 minute before setting off) As for the rust problems with the chassis, I guess that is just what you have to deal with when owning such a car, the heavy clutch and winter driving does not put me off, only a week ago have I fixed the heater in my Saab, the whole winter I had to either drive with a 1 inch clear patch on my windscreen or drive one handed whilst wiping with all 4 windows right down!
Hope this clears a few things up..
Chris71 said:
DIB350 said:
I have an S3 with a 24v Cossie lump and it's an absolute riot. Very quick and like a go cart in corners.
I can imagine. Mine was an allegedly-standard S3, but it felt pretty healthy - the guy I sold it to had previously owned a 4.0 Chim and he was quite shocked how well the S3 went. On a twisty road you'd have to be trying pretty hard to pull out a significant gap, I reckon. Always thought the Cosworth engine in an S3 (plus some bigger brakes and an LSD) would make a superb car.Back on topic - OP, if you do get a Chim I'd advise going for one with power steering. Half the cars I saw either had problems with their power assistance or had done in the past and that was one of the reasons I went for unassisted steering. To be fair, I think this contributes to the feeling of heft compared to the S3, and you need biceps of steel to wind on corrective lock in a hurry (which can be quite a common occurrence with a 500 on a damp day).
I am ideally aiming to get one with no power steering, depending if one is available in my price range..
I really appreciate all the replies and advice I have received, I did not expect so many people to contribute!
I only have one problem now... Convincing my parents! They know how much I am into my older cars and how I do not like many 'new' cars. My parents want me to get a car no older than about 8 years old as they want it to be reliable and practical for me, that's no fun!
I constantly go on about how beneficial it would be to me, it would give me something to work on, something I can travel to shows with and really enjoy whilst I am lucky enough to be able to afford it. It has got to a point now where they just ignore me every time I mention those three letters! My mum even said to me if you want something a bit different why don't you get a Range Rover... not sure how that would be more practical/sensible!
I only have one problem now... Convincing my parents! They know how much I am into my older cars and how I do not like many 'new' cars. My parents want me to get a car no older than about 8 years old as they want it to be reliable and practical for me, that's no fun!
I constantly go on about how beneficial it would be to me, it would give me something to work on, something I can travel to shows with and really enjoy whilst I am lucky enough to be able to afford it. It has got to a point now where they just ignore me every time I mention those three letters! My mum even said to me if you want something a bit different why don't you get a Range Rover... not sure how that would be more practical/sensible!
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