Turbo cars

[SkemJazzer]

I very stupidly sold my 500 and i’m thinking of replacing it.

A turbo’d Chimaera is very appealing to me and I was wondering what the pros and cons were.

There’s a turbo’d 400 for sale in the classifieds that looks appealing, what do you think of that car?

Thanks

[QBee]

Have you seen this one? Immaculate car, well maintained.
I know the owner so can vouch for him and the car

link to autotrader ad

[QBee]

And to answer your question, I have turbo'd my own car.
No cons that i have found yet in 9000 miles, and one pro is that you get 5 litre performace and torque, but at 4 litre fuel consumption.

[phazed]

I used to dream about fuel consumption!

[SkemJazzer]

That’s the one I had been looking at. It appeals because it’s had lots of the usual areas of concern addressed. It’s a couple of thousand more than i’d be willing to pay but without seeing it in the flesh it’s hard to judge.

A big concern would be resale, modified cars seem to be a pain to sell. I’m looking for a keeper but if circumstances changed i’d like to know that I could sell without losing a fortune.

[lancelin]

Yep, keep it standard unless its a keeper. I think a modern ecu is ok but anything else will make it hard to sell. I must confess that car looks like a keeper to me. Spec is fantastic.

[mk1fan]

Other than the orange bulbs in the clear indicators (why???? Chrome bulbs / LEDs are cheap), you'd need to spend 15k on another CHimp to reach that standard / package. So, unless you buy a 5k chimp and wait for it to be done, I'd go have a looky at the one Qbee linked too. Unless you can't live with the colour combo.

Chimps are always hard to sell. Perception that they are common and a golfists car. Not really true but unfortunately much quoted 'fact'. The other issue is that any TVR that doesn't sell in an hour is deemed to have catastrophic problems and constantly referred to by the same non-interested people.

[CanoeSniffer]

The Chimaera linked to looks superb, I think you'd struggle to find another one that good for the money.

[sapper]

mk1fan said:

Other than the orange bulbs in the clear indicators (why???? Chrome bulbs / LEDs are cheap), you'd need to spend 15k on another CHimp to reach that standard / package. So, unless you buy a 5k chimp and wait for it to be done, I'd go have a looky at the one Qbee linked too. Unless you can't live with the colour combo.

Chimps are always hard to sell. Perception that they are common and a golfists car. Not really true but unfortunately much quoted 'fact'. The other issue is that any TVR that doesn't sell in an hour is deemed to have catastrophic problems and constantly referred to by the same non-interested people.

The Tuscan indicators were fitted by x-works and I’ve just not got round to changing the bulbs.

[TV8]

There is a lovely and slightly oversize 500 just posted up for sale in the classifieds....Most of the regulars on here know the car and it hasn't been used much.

Stewart (Mk1fan) also knows the car but don't listen to him as he thinks he is being funny always calling Chimaeras Chimps and Griffiths Griefs...

[phazed]

He is right with the griefs!

[sapper]

mk1fan said:

Other than the orange bulbs in the clear indicators (why???? Chrome bulbs / LEDs are cheap), you'd need to spend 15k on another CHimp to reach that standard / package. So, unless you buy a 5k chimp and wait for it to be done, I'd go have a looky at the one Qbee linked too. Unless you can't live with the colour combo.

Chimps are always hard to sell. Perception that they are common and a golfists car. Not really true but unfortunately much quoted 'fact'. The other issue is that any TVR that doesn't sell in an hour is deemed to have catastrophic problems and constantly referred to by the same non-interested people.

Googled Chimps for sale

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/c...

£500 not a bad price

[ITVRI]

SkemJazzer said:

A big concern would be resale, modified cars seem to be a pain to sell. I’m looking for a keeper but if circumstances changed i’d like to know that I could sell without losing a fortune.

The turbo and exhaust can be unbolted, and the intercooler removed. I doubt it would make that bigger difference ( unless it was a low mileage pristine example )but if it did it can easily be reversed.

[sapper]

SkemJazzer said:

I very stupidly sold my 500 and i’m thinking of replacing it.

A turbo’d Chimaera is very appealing to me and I was wondering what the pros and cons were.

There’s a turbo’d 400 for sale in the classifieds that looks appealing, what do you think of that car?

Thanks

Richard
The car you are looking at is mine.
Almost everything is new, so massive pro. The interior and exterior are in mint condition. Power 360bhp & 420 torque which leaves 5.0 l wanting. That was at 5psi of boost. 10 psi is available.
If you drive it at full pelt nothing will stand in your way. Or you can pull away and enjoy the smooth Power delivery that comes from a well engineered turbo installation.
The ACT cherry bomb exhaust sounds amazing.
I am selling because I have an itch to build a Cobra.
I thought about selling last year and talked myself out of it. I have had a 4.6 l engine built by an excellent engineer. The 4.6 will go into my Cobra or if not my Chimaera.
If I don’t sell my Chimera in May it will have a new 4.6 custom built engine installed and I will never sell the best chimaera in the TVR community.
I invite you to come and see it in the flesh, it is stunning even if I do say so myself.

Edited by sapper on Friday 19th April 21:56

[Belle427]

sapper said:

SkemJazzer said:

I very stupidly sold my 500 and i’m thinking of replacing it.

A turbo’d Chimaera is very appealing to me and I was wondering what the pros and cons were.

There’s a turbo’d 400 for sale in the classifieds that looks appealing, what do you think of that car?

Thanks

Richard
The car you are looking at is mine.
Almost everything is new, so massive pro. The interior and exterior are in mint condition. Power 360bhp & 420 torque which leaves 5.0 l wanting. That was at 5psi of boost. 10 psi is available.
If you drive it at full pelt nothing will stand in your way. Or you can pull away and enjoy the smooth Power delivery that comes from a well engineered turbo installation.
The ACT cherry bomb exhaust sounds amazing.
I am selling because I have an itch to build a Cobra.
I thought about selling last year and talked myself out of it. I have had a 4.6 l engine built by an excellent engineer. The 4.6 will go into my Cobra or if not my Chimaera.
If I don’t sell my Chimera in May it will have a new 4.6 custom built engine installed and I will never sell the best chimaera in the TVR community.
I invite you to come and see it in the flesh, it is stunning even if I do say so myself.

Edited by sapper on Friday 19th April 21:56

If you do build the cobra I’d seriously consider a Chevy or Ford motor.
I had a Ford 302 (5.0) in mine, you get so much more for your money and performance parts are more readily available.
Unless you plan to boost the 4.6 of course, then becomes a more level playing field!

[Sardonicus]

This advice above no question , sell the RV8 far more bang for your buck with yank iron

[Belle427]

You can buy some very nice stuff already built too, takes some of the stress and expense away as budgets usually creep up as your building.
http://www.cobraclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=61...

[SkemJazzer]

sapper said:

I invite you to come and see it in the flesh, it is stunning even if I do say so myself.

That sounds like a good idea. I’ll give you a call after the bank holiday and arrange something.

[sapper]

SkemJazzer said:

That sounds like a good idea. I’ll give you a call after the bank holiday and arrange something.

I’ll look forward to meeting you.

[SkemJazzer]

Apologies, i’m Going to have to pass on your car, lovely as it it. Whilst I could buy your car now I don’t know if I could afford to run it properly as i’ve split with my partner so have larger monthly outgoings now.