Decisons! Decisions!
Discussion
Hi guys, been crusing about this forum for a few weeks now but this is the first time I've posted as I need some help/info on buying a TVR!
Currently have an Impreza STIPPP as a second car that I'll be trading in and although I am used to quick cars I have no real experience of driving quickly in a rear whel drive car. Have been looking into getting lessons to help me go in the right direction so I don't mangle the car within a few hours of getting it! I realise it will be a lot tougher than driving the Impreza as it is just a kinda point and shoot car which takes no great skill at all!
My budget is between 20 and 25 big ones and have test driven various Chimeras and Cerberas. Ideally, as I'm not yet experienced with RWD the 4.0 Chimaera is probably the best option for me with less grunt(relatively) and I really want a soft top. I am just about to move house as well and am not going to have a garage for at least a year so I think it would only be feasable to get a Chimaera if they're was a hard top available for it that will make it a little more thief/ weather proof(I live in Scotland where it always rains on me!) So is there a hard top available, even a non TVR made one? Or am I ok leaving a Chimaera out on the drive! I live in a small village and there's not any car crime I know off!
Or am I best going for a Cerbera with the hard top and more grunt,Is this a good idea for my first TVR though I suppose I have to start somewhere!
Any help/advise greatly appreciated!!
Currently have an Impreza STIPPP as a second car that I'll be trading in and although I am used to quick cars I have no real experience of driving quickly in a rear whel drive car. Have been looking into getting lessons to help me go in the right direction so I don't mangle the car within a few hours of getting it! I realise it will be a lot tougher than driving the Impreza as it is just a kinda point and shoot car which takes no great skill at all!
My budget is between 20 and 25 big ones and have test driven various Chimeras and Cerberas. Ideally, as I'm not yet experienced with RWD the 4.0 Chimaera is probably the best option for me with less grunt(relatively) and I really want a soft top. I am just about to move house as well and am not going to have a garage for at least a year so I think it would only be feasable to get a Chimaera if they're was a hard top available for it that will make it a little more thief/ weather proof(I live in Scotland where it always rains on me!) So is there a hard top available, even a non TVR made one? Or am I ok leaving a Chimaera out on the drive! I live in a small village and there's not any car crime I know off!
Or am I best going for a Cerbera with the hard top and more grunt,Is this a good idea for my first TVR though I suppose I have to start somewhere!
Any help/advise greatly appreciated!!
Hi, I know its not quite the same scenario but I've had my Chim 3 months, use it daily & so far have kept it outside (with a cover)as I'm sure some owners do permanently. It seems fairly weatherproof & I've found no leaks even after deliberately leaving it uncovered in some torrential downpours.
I found that some insurance companies will insist the car is always garaged. Other than that, I think the main prob you will have is the combination of outside storage and not using it regularly - others will confirm but I imagine both cars may not like this.
IMHO if you decide to go for it you should at least cover the car with a good quality car cover. Have you got room to build a carport? - combined with a good car cover this would give a fair amount of protection from the weather.
Great cars though. Makes me
almost every day.
I found that some insurance companies will insist the car is always garaged. Other than that, I think the main prob you will have is the combination of outside storage and not using it regularly - others will confirm but I imagine both cars may not like this.
IMHO if you decide to go for it you should at least cover the car with a good quality car cover. Have you got room to build a carport? - combined with a good car cover this would give a fair amount of protection from the weather.
Great cars though. Makes me
almost every day.Cheers for the help guys, Is there a specific shaped car cover for the Chimaera or have you got a generic one? Can you point me in the direction of where to get a decent one? The car will be getting used every other day so not a problem of it just sitting and rotting away! I can store it else where inside if I need to leave it for longer but I don't see this becoming the case!
>> Edited by gargoil on Thursday 5th August 13:30
>> Edited by gargoil on Thursday 5th August 13:30
gargoil said:
Cheers for the help guys, Is there a specific shaped car cover for the Chimaera or have you got a generic one? Can you point me in the direction of where to get a decent one? The car will be getting used every other day so not a problem of it just sitting and rotting away! I can store it else where inside if I need to leave it for longer but I don't see this becoming the case!
>> Edited by gargoil on Thursday 5th August 13:30
Cover from Leven (www.leventechnology.co.uk) is the best I've found if you use the car regularly. Easy to fit, covers the roof and stops prying eyes. Highly recommended.
Can also highly recommend the 4.0 Chimaera, and with your budget you should be able to get one of the very last ones. I bought one after having a Cerbera and its fantastic.
Cheers,
Tommomic
Like has been said, a lot of people do leave rag top TVrs out in all weathers, but it really isn't ideal. If you hanker after open air motoring, i personally think you would find a Cerbera claustrophobic, so...
get a Tuscan.
Removable hard top with the advantage that the rear window also comes out to give you half way between a targa and a convertible
get a Tuscan.
Removable hard top with the advantage that the rear window also comes out to give you half way between a targa and a convertible
No hardtops available - in fact the Chim has a hard targa top anyway. I've never had an issue with it leaking - just make sure you water proof the roof once a year and all should be fine. It may let in water from other places but most dealers/independents should know where all those places are, and ensure they're sealed before autumn.
As for the car being too much in the power department - don't worry about it. I went from a Nissan Micra, to a 1.8 MX-5 to the 4.5 chim. No problems at all. You just have to be sensible about it. If you're coming up to roundabout in the wet, and you're in 1st or 2nd, and you punch your foot to the floor, don't be surprised if you disappear off the roundabout backwards into the scenery!!! I have driven the Chim (and the MX-5 for that matter) in all conditions apart from thick snow - you just take it carefully and progressively and all will be fine.
As has been said, for that money, you'll get a nice newish Chim. But, if you want a soft-top, have you considered a Tamora? I personally think they're gorgeous, and if I had a spare £10-15K - that's where it would be going. Don't get me wrong, I love my Chim, but I think the more modern styling of the Tamora is
There is a gorgeous dark blue one in the classified at the moment, and I think that's around the £25K mark.
I know if I had the spare cash, I would have snapped it up.
Oh well - couple of years maybe :dreaming:
Ropey
As for the car being too much in the power department - don't worry about it. I went from a Nissan Micra, to a 1.8 MX-5 to the 4.5 chim. No problems at all. You just have to be sensible about it. If you're coming up to roundabout in the wet, and you're in 1st or 2nd, and you punch your foot to the floor, don't be surprised if you disappear off the roundabout backwards into the scenery!!! I have driven the Chim (and the MX-5 for that matter) in all conditions apart from thick snow - you just take it carefully and progressively and all will be fine.
As has been said, for that money, you'll get a nice newish Chim. But, if you want a soft-top, have you considered a Tamora? I personally think they're gorgeous, and if I had a spare £10-15K - that's where it would be going. Don't get me wrong, I love my Chim, but I think the more modern styling of the Tamora is
There is a gorgeous dark blue one in the classified at the moment, and I think that's around the £25K mark.
I know if I had the spare cash, I would have snapped it up.
Oh well - couple of years maybe :dreaming:
Ropey
Unfortunately my next door neighbour has a Tuscan and thats what initially got me interested in getting a TVR. He made me promise if he gave me a shot and was looking to buy a TVR that I wouldn't buy a Tuscan! To be honest it's a bit flash looking for me I prefer the look of the Chim/Cerb!
I've had a look at the Tamora but have generally found this to be out my price range, especially as I'm wanting to buy from somewhere that'll give me a years warranty(ie not a private sale!)!
Has anyone taken out a 3rd party warranty (RAC, Lloyds etcetc) to cover the car? Is this possible with a car like a TVR?
>> Edited by gargoil on Thursday 5th August 13:54
Has anyone taken out a 3rd party warranty (RAC, Lloyds etcetc) to cover the car? Is this possible with a car like a TVR?
>> Edited by gargoil on Thursday 5th August 13:54
gargoil said:
Currently have an Impreza STIPPP as a second car that I'll be trading in and although I am used to quick cars I have no real experience of driving quickly in a rear whel drive car. Have been looking into getting lessons to help me go in the right direction so I don't mangle the car within a few hours of getting it! I realise it will be a lot tougher than driving the Impreza as it is just a kinda point and shoot car which takes no great skill at all!
Not a lot tougher, just different!
You're used to a quick car, presumably have some skill as a driver, just take it easy until you get used to it!! Common sense really! Go see a few, drive a few, see what you like, what feels good etc, we've all been there.
Best of luck hope you find a good one (whatever) soon.
We've got an old (P reg) slightly modified Impreza turbo and a Griffith 500.
They both live outside, but I will be getting one of those Leven cover things for the Griff. I live down south, so the weather's not too much of a problem.
As for driving them, they're very different. I'm no expert (I bought the Impreza when I was 23 and it was the second car I've owned) but as long as you're reasonably disciplined on the road and watch what you're doing then you'll be OK. Ride-drive, IAM etc are all good things... I've done the IAM test now and intend to do a ride drive course in the very near future.
We've had the Griff about a week, so it's still early days!
Get out there and look at some cars! You'll have fun.
They both live outside, but I will be getting one of those Leven cover things for the Griff. I live down south, so the weather's not too much of a problem.
As for driving them, they're very different. I'm no expert (I bought the Impreza when I was 23 and it was the second car I've owned) but as long as you're reasonably disciplined on the road and watch what you're doing then you'll be OK. Ride-drive, IAM etc are all good things... I've done the IAM test now and intend to do a ride drive course in the very near future.
We've had the Griff about a week, so it's still early days!
Get out there and look at some cars! You'll have fun.
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