What would you do?
Discussion
Hi all I am in a position to purchase my first Chimaera and I am very excited. I orginally intended to buy one that had all the main issues resolved and I found the ideal car, this particular one was a 1994 4.0L covering 60k. Work included new outriggers, new cam, oil pump wishbones, alloy radiator, uprated break discs, pads, new shocks and dash. I thought with this car I would avoid some of the major costs that can ocurr with a chimaera. This was going to cost me in the region of 8k, whicj I felt was a fair price considering the work which has been carried out. But I keep looking at the classiffieds and I am being tempted by other cars, particulaly a cheap silver 400 and a cheap 500, (I will post links below.)Both of these cars offer excellent value for money for different reasons, so my question to you guys is what would you do in my position and why? Would you stick with the original car in question or go for a different one?. Thank you for your time and I look forward to being part of the TVR Chimaera community!
Zach
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2850170.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2891308.htm
Zach
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2850170.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2891308.htm
Edited by Hot1 on Monday 27th June 23:40
Edited by Hot1 on Tuesday 28th June 09:24
I would buy that red 500, the out riggers may be ok for now but no one has seen the top side of them but at the end of the day if there solid for now you can budget to change them out a couple of years down the line. I had a 400 and it was great fun but the power bug always gets you.
And plus that red is a very nice colour silver is to plain for a TVR IMHO.
And plus that red is a very nice colour silver is to plain for a TVR IMHO.
Which is why I have priced it accordingly ! According to the MOT geezer who inspected it he reckoned they were good for a couple of years yet. Even with £1500 spent on getting them done you'd see an increase in value of the car accordingly. Even if it was eventually resprayed (My original plan)Then I reckon a 500 with fresh paint and new outriggers would be worth 14k-ish? So not like it would be money you'd not see back. Anyway have a guy travelling from Scotland to see it on Thursday so fingers crossed !!
Have to say though the Silver one does look like a very nice car for the money if a 5.0L isn't a must for you?
Have to say though the Silver one does look like a very nice car for the money if a 5.0L isn't a must for you?
I was in a similar situation last month, wasn't to bothered what engine(ideally another 450 but wasn't gone a hold out for one) just wanted some of the expensive usual jobs to have been done,outriggers,clutch,windscreen,shocks,etc was planning on spending £8k region really wanted a face lift one pref with facelift rear light too but knew I'd be pushing my luck. Anyway ended up with a prefacelift with all the above work done and some more for £6400, it was everything I didn't really want in so many ways but seemed well worth the money for the work that had been carried out. If I'd waited a month I'd have definately been to look at 666SVT 500 for the money and he only lives a short distance from me really.
Edited by BIGMIKE1 on Tuesday 28th June 14:46
Hot1 is depends if you're actually gong to use the car regularly throughout the year (which is best for the car and for the driver to learn how to drive the car) many faults come more from under use than over use
or if its a occasional use (some only if it's sunny)
of the two;
with respect to the 500 owner as I don't know his might be an exception - as a generalisation the 450 engines are sweetest then the 400 last the 500 BUT each TVR varies
regular use 400 get the - laquer lift with need attention but if it doesn't bother you and you don't mind it upsetting others then it could be like that for years
occasional use, going to TVR meets then the 500, the loud exhust doen't matter so much if your not touring our fabulous UK countryside
which ever you get learn to drive it in all weathers not just ideal days as RWD cars need to be driven with respect for prevalent conditions especially powerful ones - a lot of first time powerful car owners crash the car in the first year hence the higher insurance - I did and I'm not an exception
tyres are fairly critical the exact correct compound too, rubber suspension bushes are much more important than the sexy change of dampers and springs most insist on, once everything is full and properly serviced and tyres and suspension components in good order then getting the geomentry done is be a revelation
a lot seem to think you have to set the car as if it's a track car not a good idea on our roads and the modern obsession with having the suspension hard as possible, TVR chassis runs better on softer settings
I spoke with a chap that ran a Griff 500 as a company rental at 25,000 miles a year for two years and had no problems
you do need to test drive as many Chims as you can otherwise you wont be able to tell how well they should go or you'll think it's quick,fast, powerful even if it's not particularly for a Chim and that the faults are "they all do that/ are like that" when they're not
in case you wonder I've had a 4.3 Griff and V8S, driven my mates 400 and 450 Chims have a mate that had a least 5 Chims from 400s, through 450s to a 5.2, I also wrote off my factory-built-for-me 4.6 Westie
we used to have quite a few TVR owners in the Sporting Bears and still have a few by many have got very old and moved on to SLKs and Porsches - I hope I never get that old
or if its a occasional use (some only if it's sunny)
of the two;
with respect to the 500 owner as I don't know his might be an exception - as a generalisation the 450 engines are sweetest then the 400 last the 500 BUT each TVR varies
regular use 400 get the - laquer lift with need attention but if it doesn't bother you and you don't mind it upsetting others then it could be like that for years
occasional use, going to TVR meets then the 500, the loud exhust doen't matter so much if your not touring our fabulous UK countryside
which ever you get learn to drive it in all weathers not just ideal days as RWD cars need to be driven with respect for prevalent conditions especially powerful ones - a lot of first time powerful car owners crash the car in the first year hence the higher insurance - I did and I'm not an exception
tyres are fairly critical the exact correct compound too, rubber suspension bushes are much more important than the sexy change of dampers and springs most insist on, once everything is full and properly serviced and tyres and suspension components in good order then getting the geomentry done is be a revelation
a lot seem to think you have to set the car as if it's a track car not a good idea on our roads and the modern obsession with having the suspension hard as possible, TVR chassis runs better on softer settings
I spoke with a chap that ran a Griff 500 as a company rental at 25,000 miles a year for two years and had no problems
you do need to test drive as many Chims as you can otherwise you wont be able to tell how well they should go or you'll think it's quick,fast, powerful even if it's not particularly for a Chim and that the faults are "they all do that/ are like that" when they're not
in case you wonder I've had a 4.3 Griff and V8S, driven my mates 400 and 450 Chims have a mate that had a least 5 Chims from 400s, through 450s to a 5.2, I also wrote off my factory-built-for-me 4.6 Westie
we used to have quite a few TVR owners in the Sporting Bears and still have a few by many have got very old and moved on to SLKs and Porsches - I hope I never get that old
yes 400 over 500 for daily use (unless you have shares in a petrol company)
I had an orginal 4.3 Griff my mate had a later 400 Chim with the better g/box, bigger brakes (than the original Griff) he could cover ground faster than me and it was only at over about 100 mph were the Griff took over as the Chim started to run out of breath in comparison
I used to have a S2000 after the Griff you'll be swapping revs for torque, it'll be the torque that will get you catch you out and possibly get you into trouble
my S2000 was very compound specific, i.e. same make and model of tyre went on different vehicles with different make up of tyre to suit
best for you to remember to stay betweem 2-4,500 rpm with the Chim, your wasting your going higher and to ride the torque rather than being able to change gear quickly
alongs as you're a bit above tickover any forward gear will move you forward
to start with keep the car in 5th and 4th gear for as long as possible to get you into the habit but don't get lazy as it's so easy to go round a roundabout in 5th and almost think your in an automatic
as with a lot of cars some enthusiasts buy the car and then do everything to 'improve' it (I'm guilty too) but some go far too far, certainaly there are some minor improvements that can be made but as far as running sucessfully then it's regular use, full and proper servicing and maintenance and it'll go well and be very reliable once you've ironed the problems from previous owners' ownerships
good luck
I had an orginal 4.3 Griff my mate had a later 400 Chim with the better g/box, bigger brakes (than the original Griff) he could cover ground faster than me and it was only at over about 100 mph were the Griff took over as the Chim started to run out of breath in comparison
I used to have a S2000 after the Griff you'll be swapping revs for torque, it'll be the torque that will get you catch you out and possibly get you into trouble
my S2000 was very compound specific, i.e. same make and model of tyre went on different vehicles with different make up of tyre to suit
best for you to remember to stay betweem 2-4,500 rpm with the Chim, your wasting your going higher and to ride the torque rather than being able to change gear quickly
alongs as you're a bit above tickover any forward gear will move you forward
to start with keep the car in 5th and 4th gear for as long as possible to get you into the habit but don't get lazy as it's so easy to go round a roundabout in 5th and almost think your in an automatic
as with a lot of cars some enthusiasts buy the car and then do everything to 'improve' it (I'm guilty too) but some go far too far, certainaly there are some minor improvements that can be made but as far as running sucessfully then it's regular use, full and proper servicing and maintenance and it'll go well and be very reliable once you've ironed the problems from previous owners' ownerships
good luck
Thank you for the information na! I did imagine it would be the torque that would get me in trouble in the chimaera. Its certainly going to be a completley different driving experience for me as my previous car to the s2000 was an rx8. I am naturally use to a car that requires alot of revving to get the best from it! I will certainly be carful though nothing more would upset me than crashing my new pride and joy! You mentioned that a 5.0l will drink more fuel, how much truth is in this?, they only reason I ask is that I have read conflicting information, some say more others notice no difference!
I just need to decide weather it is better to go for a bargain, expecting to spend money on bigger jobs in the future like outriggers for example, or pay more for a car or to an exstent over the odds for car thats had a lot of work completed.
This one appeals but seems rather expensive:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2777906.htm
I just need to decide weather it is better to go for a bargain, expecting to spend money on bigger jobs in the future like outriggers for example, or pay more for a car or to an exstent over the odds for car thats had a lot of work completed.
This one appeals but seems rather expensive:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2777906.htm
5 litre drinking about the same as a 4 litre?
all things being equal with the two the 5 litre will drink more - comparing cars is a different matter, bear in mind as they leave the factory the same engine size cars vary, it's as much to do with their states of servicing and maintanence, tune of engine, driving conditions and driver
I'd think from what I can remember that a 450 would be nearer to the fuel consumption of a 500 than a 400
personally I like the sound of that car but he's probably over valuing the reg
if he thinks the reg is worth a lot ask him how much then ask him to reduce the price of the car by 75% of his valuation of the reg that way he's gaining 25% of his valuation
remember there are loads of Chims out there and loads for sale but there are a lot less good ones about and you either buy a low mileage and nurse it through a couple of years of getting it to where it should be, or a higher mileage that's been well looked after but will obviously be less likely to be of show standards
better still you buy a car that was in the past couple of years restored to a high standard then driven fairly frequently so niggles have been ironed out
you can tell very little from photos, go and test drive all three, the 500 should be the most powerful, the fastest and quickest but is it the best for you? and is it that much noticeably powerful/quicker/faster than the 400 (it should be) but then try driving it around town at 20 or 30 mph, stop/starting because that's what you'll be doing more with a daily
the more power the more heat, fibreglass is an insulation, too much heat isn't good for the car or driver and wont impress a lady (if you have that concern)
a lot of the faults you here about should noy be present on Chims today, I've driven cars that the owners think are fine because they having nothing to compare with, or don't want to know, that I'd be concerned about if I owned them
I had J** TVR and it was valued at £1,000 at the time if I could have waited I could have perhaps got £7-800 or about £750 eventually if I let it go through one of those companies that clain to have regs for sale
when I rang one to inquire about the value before selling the car like an idiot when asked if I wanted a valuation I said "yes" and they said"hold whilst we transfer you to our valuation dept." or some such stuff are waiting a bit I finally got through and after a bit they came back with £1,000 (exactly what my mate told me for free) - when I got my phone bill that information had cost me £10 plus VAT as I'd been transfered to a premium rate number without being told
I sold the reg with the car for £500 as I knew from getting my previous car, the V8S, that changing personal plates can delay things especially if the other side is slow in processing the necessary paperwork
my mate was mad with me he said he'd paid £750 me and sold it for more later, but I'm a bit sentimental and thought the reg should with the car as the first owner put in on from new, transfered from his, brand new then, V8S
all things being equal with the two the 5 litre will drink more - comparing cars is a different matter, bear in mind as they leave the factory the same engine size cars vary, it's as much to do with their states of servicing and maintanence, tune of engine, driving conditions and driver
I'd think from what I can remember that a 450 would be nearer to the fuel consumption of a 500 than a 400
personally I like the sound of that car but he's probably over valuing the reg
if he thinks the reg is worth a lot ask him how much then ask him to reduce the price of the car by 75% of his valuation of the reg that way he's gaining 25% of his valuation
remember there are loads of Chims out there and loads for sale but there are a lot less good ones about and you either buy a low mileage and nurse it through a couple of years of getting it to where it should be, or a higher mileage that's been well looked after but will obviously be less likely to be of show standards
better still you buy a car that was in the past couple of years restored to a high standard then driven fairly frequently so niggles have been ironed out
you can tell very little from photos, go and test drive all three, the 500 should be the most powerful, the fastest and quickest but is it the best for you? and is it that much noticeably powerful/quicker/faster than the 400 (it should be) but then try driving it around town at 20 or 30 mph, stop/starting because that's what you'll be doing more with a daily
the more power the more heat, fibreglass is an insulation, too much heat isn't good for the car or driver and wont impress a lady (if you have that concern)
a lot of the faults you here about should noy be present on Chims today, I've driven cars that the owners think are fine because they having nothing to compare with, or don't want to know, that I'd be concerned about if I owned them
I had J** TVR and it was valued at £1,000 at the time if I could have waited I could have perhaps got £7-800 or about £750 eventually if I let it go through one of those companies that clain to have regs for sale
when I rang one to inquire about the value before selling the car like an idiot when asked if I wanted a valuation I said "yes" and they said"hold whilst we transfer you to our valuation dept." or some such stuff are waiting a bit I finally got through and after a bit they came back with £1,000 (exactly what my mate told me for free) - when I got my phone bill that information had cost me £10 plus VAT as I'd been transfered to a premium rate number without being told
I sold the reg with the car for £500 as I knew from getting my previous car, the V8S, that changing personal plates can delay things especially if the other side is slow in processing the necessary paperwork
my mate was mad with me he said he'd paid £750 me and sold it for more later, but I'm a bit sentimental and thought the reg should with the car as the first owner put in on from new, transfered from his, brand new then, V8S
na said:
5 litre drinking about the same as a 4 litre?
all things being equal with the two the 5 litre will drink more -
I'd think from what I can remember that a 450 would be nearer to the fuel consumption of a 500 than a 400
I still reckon on average the difference between the 4l & 5l is about 10%, or 2-3 mpg.all things being equal with the two the 5 litre will drink more -
I'd think from what I can remember that a 450 would be nearer to the fuel consumption of a 500 than a 400
As you can see from my profile I'm reasonably well placed to make the estimate
I do want to test drive them al the main issue is time as most are around 100 miles away from me I am located in Northampton. I am going to email the chap and may do what you suggested, the car sounds ideal just over priced in my opinion! I have to say I do like the private plate, I done a quick search to see how much a similar plate would go for, prices seemed to range from £1500 to £3000 so it may be worth paying over the odds for and selling the plate of in the future! Thank you for your responses.
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