Way do you think about these cars? Looking to buy...

[zed4]

Hi,

I'm looking to buy a Chimaera and I'd like some advice on these cars please. My budget is as close to £7000 as possible, but could stretch for a really good car.

Firstly is a car that was advertised, but the advert seems to have expired. Details are:

2 Door Convertible, Petrol, Manual. Starmist Blue. Full MOT and Full Service in January 2013. FSH and lots of old receipts including original purchase documents from factory. Much loved car by TVR Car Club owner for last 7 years (2 prior owners). FULL leather interior in magnolia and biscuit. Heated seats and electric mirrors/windows. CD and radio, power steering, immobiliser, Always garaged and dry weather use only. 45900 miles.

4.0HC (high compression) V8. 8 cylinders.

45900 miles.

1996 N reg.

£7800

Looks to be a really nice standard car, nice helpful seller, chassis has been wax oiled and is in sound condition with only dry use.

These are the others...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

And finally is K4TRV's Chim. 1993 400 with 46k miles. Sprint prepared, but will be converted back to road spec for £7500. New clutch, radiator, shocks, rebuilt diff etc.

Any thought appreciated. Differences between them, what I should be looking for etc.

Thanks,

Dan

[Pipeandacrepe]

I bought the blue one at £7850 today!

[zed4]

Pipeandacrepe said:

I bought the blue one at £7850 today!

Congrats. That's one less to worry about!

[Pipeandacrepe]

Cheers.

The red one in Suffolk looks like a potentially good one - that was next on the viewingblist had I not liked the one I've bought.

Colour combo is a matter of taste though.

[BountyHunter]

Pipeandacrepe said:

Cheers.

The red one in Suffolk looks like a potentially good one - that was next on the viewingblist had I not liked the one I've bought.

Colour combo is a matter of taste though.

that ones on my viewing list for this week

[BountyHunter]

I dont do green cars, but if I did then this one you linked would be very high on my viewing list

Im pretty sure its owned by a long term PH'er who only buys good examples (and it has nice mods too)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...


edit
yep its owned by this guy
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0...

Edited by BountyHunter on Saturday 2nd March 23:01

[Pipeandacrepe]

Looks good. Don't like the wheels at all though, would expect the originals with the car.

[zed4]

BountyHunter said:

I dont do green cars, but if I did then this one you linked would be very high on my viewing list

Im pretty sure its owned by a long term PH'er who only buys good examples (and it has nice mods too)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...


edit
yep its owned by this guy
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0...

Edited by BountyHunter on Saturday 2nd March 23:01

Yeah, I like this one. Just a it concerned it had the newer rear lights, so wonder if its had rear damage in the past. Plus it's over my budget, so I wonder if he'll negotiate on price.

I'm quite tempted by the first one, the blue one, as it seems well cared for and is completely standard/original.

[seeby]

Go for the Red one . They are the fastest don't you know

[swisstoni]

Full leather was an expensive option so good to have. Not sure heated seats was an option back then though.
Bit surprised that an owner's club member wouldn't know that HC stood for High lift Cam not High Compression but I suppose its a common mistake.

Sounds like a good buy. Good luck with it.

[pwd95]

BountyHunter said:

I dont do green cars, but if I did then this one you linked would be very high on my viewing list

Im pretty sure its owned by a long term PH'er who only buys good examples (and it has nice mods too)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...


edit
yep its owned by this guy
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0...

Edited by BountyHunter on Saturday 2nd March 23:01

. Thank you sir.

Pipeandacrepe said:

Looks good. Don't like the wheels at all though, would expect the originals with the car.

No problem. £7250 with original wheels.........

zed4 said:

Yeah, I like this one. Just a it concerned it had the newer rear lights, so wonder if its had rear damage in the past. Plus it's over my budget, so I wonder if he'll negotiate on price.

No record of rear damage but it's had repairs on the front. Guy I bought it off had it for 8 yrs.
It's going in for MOT, oil service & a new clutch master cylinder in the next two weeks.
I need to go down to one car. My A4 is for sale too......

http://audisrs.com/99_T_A4_2_8_Quattro_48k__about4...

so whichever sells first I'll be keeping the other & using as a daily.

I may have been a bit optimistic on price. . Just doing my bit for the market.

[zed4]

pwd95 said:

BountyHunter said:

I dont do green cars, but if I did then this one you linked would be very high on my viewing list

Im pretty sure its owned by a long term PH'er who only buys good examples (and it has nice mods too)

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...


edit
yep its owned by this guy
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0...

Edited by BountyHunter on Saturday 2nd March 23:01

. Thank you sir.

Pipeandacrepe said:

Looks good. Don't like the wheels at all though, would expect the originals with the car.

No problem. £7250 with original wheels.........

zed4 said:

Yeah, I like this one. Just a it concerned it had the newer rear lights, so wonder if its had rear damage in the past. Plus it's over my budget, so I wonder if he'll negotiate on price.

No record of rear damage but it's had repairs on the front. Guy I bought it off had it for 8 yrs.
It's going in for MOT, oil service & a new clutch master cylinder in the next two weeks.
I need to go down to one car. My A4 is for sale too......

http://audisrs.com/99_T_A4_2_8_Quattro_48k__about4...

so whichever sells first I'll be keeping the other & using as a daily.

I may have been a bit optimistic on price. . Just doing my bit for the market.

Hi,

Thanks for popping up!

A member of SRS too I'm also a member, used to have an S4. That A4 looks lovely.

I'm interested in your Chimaera. I like the Comp wheels, but its over my budget with them. Anyway, perhaps we can discuss that - I'll be in touch when my Z4 is gone. It's being collected next week.

Cheers,

Dan

[pwd95]

[zed4]

swisstoni said:

Full leather was an expensive option so good to have. Not sure heated seats was an option back then though.
Bit surprised that an owner's club member wouldn't know that HC stood for High lift Cam not High Compression but I suppose its a common mistake.

Sounds like a good buy. Good luck with it.

To be fair, it says here HC is High Compression.... http://www.chimaerapages.com/chimaera.php#engines

[Milky400]

Pipeandacrepe said:

I bought the blue one at £7850 today!

And a good buy it looks too

MOT Wednesday, see you Saturday, promise i wont cry until you have gone...

[zed4]

Guys,

I've been offered a car without PAS. What are your thoughts on this? Which is the most popular, with or without PAS? I used to have a VX220 and I must admit I wasn't keen on the lack on PAS and that had the engine in the middle, not over the front wheels.

Is the PAS system reliable, or do they cause grief?

Thanks,

Dan

[StarmistBlue400]

Without PAS means there will be no oil leaks but it can be very heavy at parking speeds.

TBH I never drove one without PAS and although mine does have PAS its a fun / weekend car so I dont do a lot of low speed maneuvers so I guess it depends on how you are going to use the car.

If its a good one dont let it be a deal breaker though.

[pwd95]

Very heavy @ parking speeds TBH, as in, lean forwards both hands & huuiiiya!!!

[zed4]

pwd95 said:

Very heavy @ parking speeds TBH, as in, lean forwards both hands & huuiiiya!!!

Is there a retrofit for PAS?

It seems a good car, cheap and very low miles, but might need a few things doing to get it up to scratch again.

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

When I was test-driving, I drove one without PAS and had a go at parking it. It truly is hard work if, like me, you're a bit of a weakling. And once up to normal driving speed the PAS is hardly noticeable - the steering is still nice and weighty. I decided that PAS was high on my list of "must-have" features, although I was told that it's not too hard to retrofit the original PAS to a non-PAS car if you can find someone else going the other way who has the parts you need.