Any Chimaera owners?
Discussion
Hi,
I am possibly coming to a point where TVR ownership is finally realistic for me. I have lusted after a TVR for many, many years.
To me, I would prefer a V8. With my tight budget, I would be looking at a Chimaera at the bottom end of £5-6,000.
What I would really appreciate though, and I hope that one of you may be able to help me, is for a Chimaera owner near/in the Bedfordshire area to let me have a look at your Chimaera. It would help me if you are able to give me a quick run down of points to look for (I learn with visual aids!
) and any advice for me.
I would, of course, be willing to pay for fuel and bacon (Depending on where you would like to meet) for your time.
I will not be in a position to go for a Chimaera until the spring so this would just be pure preparation!
Alternatively, I should be going along to the Sunday Service at Goodwood in December if you would be happy to talk to me there.
Hope that someone can help me, thank you.
Steve
Similar posted in TVR Chimaera http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I am possibly coming to a point where TVR ownership is finally realistic for me. I have lusted after a TVR for many, many years.
To me, I would prefer a V8. With my tight budget, I would be looking at a Chimaera at the bottom end of £5-6,000.
What I would really appreciate though, and I hope that one of you may be able to help me, is for a Chimaera owner near/in the Bedfordshire area to let me have a look at your Chimaera. It would help me if you are able to give me a quick run down of points to look for (I learn with visual aids!
) and any advice for me.I would, of course, be willing to pay for fuel and bacon (Depending on where you would like to meet) for your time.
I will not be in a position to go for a Chimaera until the spring so this would just be pure preparation!
Alternatively, I should be going along to the Sunday Service at Goodwood in December if you would be happy to talk to me there.
Hope that someone can help me, thank you.
Steve
Similar posted in TVR Chimaera http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Zippee said:
Ex Chimaera owner here but if you get stuck I'm happy to chat ownership and good/bad points over a shandy!!
If it helps my car blog on my profile details all my running costs for a 400 Chim over 5 years and 32k, mine was maintained regardless of cost and if it was needed it was done.
Thank you Zippee. Your example seems to have not cost a lot more than my current car has in maintenance!If it helps my car blog on my profile details all my running costs for a 400 Chim over 5 years and 32k, mine was maintained regardless of cost and if it was needed it was done.
Hi Steve,
You're welcome to take a look at mine when it's back on the road. It's still in Devon at the moment, though.
Anything in particularly you want to know?
Sub-£6k is bottom end money for a decent Chimaera. Your money will go a lot further with an S (even in V8 form) or a Wedge, but shop around and you should be able to find an early 4-litre Chim as well. Don't be afraid of a going for a Cat D car if it has well documented, professionally done repairs either. They've virtually all reached the stage where they've had some work done by now and, ironically, a good rebuild prompted by crash damage reduces the value, whereas one done out of choice raises it.
General thoughts:
+ Very practical for a sports car, great noise, good steering feedback, surprisingly refined cruiser, well setup examples are much 'friendlier' on the limit than the chest-wig brigade like to let on, cheap insurance (my 500 is about £450pa with track cover...)
- Not a nimble car, non-PAS examples are a bit heavy going round town, fuel economy can be eyewatering if you're pressing on or doing a lot of short journies, 4-litre maybe not quite as rapid as the noise might suggest
You're welcome to take a look at mine when it's back on the road. It's still in Devon at the moment, though.
Anything in particularly you want to know?
Sub-£6k is bottom end money for a decent Chimaera. Your money will go a lot further with an S (even in V8 form) or a Wedge, but shop around and you should be able to find an early 4-litre Chim as well. Don't be afraid of a going for a Cat D car if it has well documented, professionally done repairs either. They've virtually all reached the stage where they've had some work done by now and, ironically, a good rebuild prompted by crash damage reduces the value, whereas one done out of choice raises it.
General thoughts:
+ Very practical for a sports car, great noise, good steering feedback, surprisingly refined cruiser, well setup examples are much 'friendlier' on the limit than the chest-wig brigade like to let on, cheap insurance (my 500 is about £450pa with track cover...)
- Not a nimble car, non-PAS examples are a bit heavy going round town, fuel economy can be eyewatering if you're pressing on or doing a lot of short journies, 4-litre maybe not quite as rapid as the noise might suggest
O/T Hey Chris - it appears I have missed you at the PMW show in Cologne by a day...
Anyway, I feel the above is quite correct. You will need to budget for outriggers at some point as at that end of the market I don't think you'll get a car that has already had them replaced (unless there's a host of other iffiness going on), and if you happen to chance upon a good 430 that'd be my preference - it's the loveliest, sweetest, revviest, most sports car like engine of the bunch and still seriously undervalued.
Anyway, I feel the above is quite correct. You will need to budget for outriggers at some point as at that end of the market I don't think you'll get a car that has already had them replaced (unless there's a host of other iffiness going on), and if you happen to chance upon a good 430 that'd be my preference - it's the loveliest, sweetest, revviest, most sports car like engine of the bunch and still seriously undervalued.
Hi Chris,
Thank you. I would be looking for common faults to identify when selecting a car. Buying a Cat D does not worry me too much as long as the work is good, as you say it may be a cheap way of getting a re-built one.
The insurance is a lot cheaper than my current car, for some reason. The noise and handling is more important to me than pure straight line speed, it would be my first RWD car so I'm not after huge amounts of power.
Thanks for the information,
Steve
Thank you. I would be looking for common faults to identify when selecting a car. Buying a Cat D does not worry me too much as long as the work is good, as you say it may be a cheap way of getting a re-built one.
The insurance is a lot cheaper than my current car, for some reason. The noise and handling is more important to me than pure straight line speed, it would be my first RWD car so I'm not after huge amounts of power.
Thanks for the information,
Steve
900T-R said:
O/T Hey Chris - it appears I have missed you at the PMW show in Cologne by a day...
The guy at Reverie said 'there was a Dutch journalist here a second ago who was really into his TVRs' and I had a suspicion that might have been you! You off to PRI by any chance?
Simon - I'd second the comments about the 430. It's arguably the best engine in the whole range, it's often as powerful as a 450 in the real world and it's curiously undervalued. If you can find a good one, grab it. But the most important thing is condition. An early 4-litre in showroom spec will serve you better than a late 500 that's on its last legs and the sellers' assessments of their cars' worth can sometimes be hopelessly optimistic.
Any of them will keep you on your toes as a first RWD car! The torque is such that you can break traction a lot more easily than you can in something like an MX5 or 944 so you do have to think about what you're doing a bit more, but it's fundamentally the same. You just need to bear in mind that what happens when you're really pressing on at full throttle in an MX5 might happen at half throttle if you catch an unexpected camber or a damp patch in a TVR.
ETA: I'm sure someone has already mentioned this, but barring any obvious faults chassis condition is the big thing to watch, specifically the outriggers that protrude from the backbone of the chassis and run around the perimeter of the two seating areas, from wheel arch to wheel arch.
If you want to start locally(ish), this 400HC looks fairly promising: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3393614.htm
And there's a 430 down in sunny Dorset, which sounds interesting: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3370258.htm
Edited by Chris71 on Wednesday 23 November 13:26
Thanks again Chris!
What an excellent picture!
Is there much between say, a 400, a 400HC and a 430? I know I am not looking for top of the range. Having the outriggers done seems essential as I really would like to run a TVR on a small budget. I appreciate I will be buying in at the bottom to start with!
The Wedges and S2's (Although the V8 carries a premium) are always a possibility, but if the Chimaera is attainable it would be my preference!
What an excellent picture!
Is there much between say, a 400, a 400HC and a 430? I know I am not looking for top of the range. Having the outriggers done seems essential as I really would like to run a TVR on a small budget. I appreciate I will be buying in at the bottom to start with!
The Wedges and S2's (Although the V8 carries a premium) are always a possibility, but if the Chimaera is attainable it would be my preference!
Thought of the 430 comments when I saw this a second ago:
It's a dyno print out from a PHer's 430 big valve Griff (and I have a vague recollection of someone saying that all Chim 430 were BVs?)
To be fair I think this one has had a few minor tweaks, but I'd be pretty chuffed if a standard 500 made 284bhp (despite what TVR claimed) let alone a 450 or 400. Shows what the 430 is capable of.
It's a dyno print out from a PHer's 430 big valve Griff (and I have a vague recollection of someone saying that all Chim 430 were BVs?)
To be fair I think this one has had a few minor tweaks, but I'd be pretty chuffed if a standard 500 made 284bhp (despite what TVR claimed) let alone a 450 or 400. Shows what the 430 is capable of.
Chris71 said:
It's a dyno print out from a PHer's 430 big valve Griff (and I have a vague recollection of someone saying that all Chim 430 were BVs?)
Mine wasn't (still isn't) 
Yes, there's a few BVs out there that weren't specified or designated as such (and probably more non-BVs that were sold to unsuspecting punters as 'BV') - I personally took a set of callipers to a pair of Griff 430 heads laying on a bench to establish they were 43/37 mm rather than 40/34 - but I bet it's less common than the rumour mill would have you believe.
YesItsARover said:
.
Is there an external way of telling if it is a BV version?
Not really - there's a plenum badge but that's quite easy to erm, replace Is there an external way of telling if it is a BV version?
- the std valve 430 might be the sweeter car to drive anyway. A specialist might be able to identify the valve gear with the valley gaskets off, but that means the intake manifold with fuel rail etc have to come off, too. Normally one gets quoted 4-5 hrs labour for replacing intake manifolds...I wouldn't worry about these things to begin with - at this end of the market, condition is key, a good 430 will be a significant step up from an equally good 400 but the latter is vastly preferable to a not-so-good 4.3 litre...
Happy hunting!
900T-R said:
I wouldn't worry about these things to begin with - at this end of the market, condition is key, a good 430 will be a significant step up from an equally good 400 but the latter is vastly preferable to a not-so-good 4.3 litre...
This cannot be stressed highly enough. They can vary hugely from car to car, and the good ones aren't necessarily the expensive examples or the ones sold by well known dealers. It wasn't so bad with Chimaeras, admittedly, but the roughest S3s I saw were all high priced examples with sellers who genuinely believed they were mint.
I'd look for an owner that seems to know what he's talking about and isn't afraid to admit to a few issues with the car. They do need looking after, so you want someone who's regularly replaced bits as they wear out rather than someone who only ever drives it to the local TVRCC meet and believes that shiny paint means all is well underneath.
Have a ring round the local dealerships, but don't be afraid to travel. James Agger (up in Leicestershire I believe?) often has decent looking cars at the more affordable end of the market IIRC. If you're willing to take a punt your money will always go further with a private sale, though.
But, like I said, drop a line to a few Chimaera owners on here. I did the same when I was debating whether a Chimaera was the car for me and it was a spirited ride along the A507 that convinced me! Even while stationary you'll be able to get a feel for a typical standard of condition. The more you go to see on an informal basis, the better prepared you'll be when you start looking at potential purchases.
As I have said before, thank you for the continuous stream of outstanding advice. This is exactly what I was hoping for!
Contacting dealerships for a good look (Possibly to drive) of local cars is currently next on my list. It will be nice to get some valuations on my current car too, I have figures in my head but I'm not sure of trade-in value.
Cheers,
Steve
Contacting dealerships for a good look (Possibly to drive) of local cars is currently next on my list. It will be nice to get some valuations on my current car too, I have figures in my head but I'm not sure of trade-in value.
Cheers,
Steve
Drive lots of them...
Don't settle for the first one you see. Take someone with you who doesn't give a monkeys if you buy the car or not. They will be able to play devils advocate.
When I got my first I test drove 14 over a week and 1200 miles, then bought the first one I'd tried. Unfortunately that was short lived due to component failure, so I purchased a bottom priced example to replace it a few months later which I still have 4 years on.
I'm based in MK and if you want to see a leggy 400 example (110k miles) and chat about ownership experience/costs I'm happy to do so.
Don't settle for the first one you see. Take someone with you who doesn't give a monkeys if you buy the car or not. They will be able to play devils advocate.
When I got my first I test drove 14 over a week and 1200 miles, then bought the first one I'd tried. Unfortunately that was short lived due to component failure, so I purchased a bottom priced example to replace it a few months later which I still have 4 years on.
I'm based in MK and if you want to see a leggy 400 example (110k miles) and chat about ownership experience/costs I'm happy to do so.
Edited by jumplead on Monday 28th November 16:01
jumplead said:
Drive lots of them...
Don't settle for the first one you see. Take someone with you who doesn't give a monkeys if you buy the car or not. They will be able to play devils advocate.
Great advice. I went to see one today and took an impartial advisor with me, very useful!Don't settle for the first one you see. Take someone with you who doesn't give a monkeys if you buy the car or not. They will be able to play devils advocate.
jumplead said:
When I got my first I test drove 14 over a week and 1200 miles, then bought the first one I'd tried. Unfortunately that was short lived due to component failure, so I purchased a bottom priced example to replace it a few months later which I still have 4 years on.
I'm based in MK and if you want to see a leggy 400 example (110k miles) and chat about ownership experience/costs I'm happy to do so.
Thank you. I think popping along to the next local meet would be the best way of doing this now, so long as I hide my MG round the corner!I'm based in MK and if you want to see a leggy 400 example (110k miles) and chat about ownership experience/costs I'm happy to do so.
Edited by jumplead on Monday 28th November 16:01
The one I saw today was over my budget and not in a condition mechanically that I believe I can find for the money, but the dealership was brilliant and very helpful rather than being uninterested or dismissive. I find dealerships can be funny with me sometimes, maybe I come across wrong or look too young but I have struggled to find good helpful dealers before.
Steve I should have took you out in the Chim at the MK meet earlier this year.
Steve mine is sorn'ed at the mo due to not much use, so it'll have another chassis clean up before getting back on the road next year... then I'll probably be selling it after 9 yrs
When I have it up on the stands you're more than welcome to see the underneath of a Chim for yourself so you know what to look for when you go looking at them.
I'm only in Dunstable so not far from you.
Steve mine is sorn'ed at the mo due to not much use, so it'll have another chassis clean up before getting back on the road next year... then I'll probably be selling it after 9 yrs
When I have it up on the stands you're more than welcome to see the underneath of a Chim for yourself so you know what to look for when you go looking at them.
I'm only in Dunstable so not far from you.
Oggs said:
Steve I should have took you out in the Chim at the MK meet earlier this year.
Steve mine is sorn'ed at the mo due to not much use, so it'll have another chassis clean up before getting back on the road next year... then I'll probably be selling it after 9 yrs
When I have it up on the stands you're more than welcome to see the underneath of a Chim for yourself so you know what to look for when you go looking at them.
I'm only in Dunstable so not far from you.
Sounds great, thank you. If you want a hand getting it on the stands it would tie a visit up as well!Steve mine is sorn'ed at the mo due to not much use, so it'll have another chassis clean up before getting back on the road next year... then I'll probably be selling it after 9 yrs
When I have it up on the stands you're more than welcome to see the underneath of a Chim for yourself so you know what to look for when you go looking at them.
I'm only in Dunstable so not far from you.
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