Length of Ownership?

[ChimpOnGas]

Or to put it another way...

"How long have you had yours?"

Just 11 years for me, I wonder who's had theirs the longest

[BIG DUNC]

I am “only” at 15

I think a few have had “since new”

[swisstoni]

I’ve had A Chimaera for 17 years.
But the longest with a single car was 9 years.

Last week I was talking to someone who’s had the same one for 20 years.

[JonathanT]

I've had mind from new in Sept 1999, so almost 21 years and counting.

[PhilF329]

I’ve had my Chim 16 years

[MuffDaddy]

Since 96

[SwanJack]

Same Chimaera 20 yrs (TVR S for 5 yrs before that)

[737 FLF]

Griff 500 since 2007

[ChimpOnGas]

MuffDaddy said:

Since 96

Wow that's 24 years!

Did you buy the car from new?

[ChimpOnGas]

JonathanT said:

I've had mind from new in Sept 1999, so almost 21 years and counting.

I love a good "had it from new story"

Did you go to the factory to watch it being built?

Can you share your buying experience, ie choosing your trim and paint combination ect?

[bobfather]

Mine for 18 years, bought my Chim at 3yrs

[HiAsAKite]

Only 12 so far...

Though reading some of the responses, and looking at the longevity, it re-affirms my belief that in many cases people hang on to the good 'uns and they never come up for sale (or we spent so much money/effort turning into a good 'un).

In truth it feels very difficult to replace with anything comparable, unless it was another TVR

[carl350i]

15 years for the griff and 10 years prior to that with a 350i, so 25 over 2 cars.

[QBee]

Only 8 years for mine - but it's the longest i have owned any car.

[ChimpOnGas]

HiAsAKite said:

Only 12 so far...

Though reading some of the responses, and looking at the longevity, it re-affirms my belief that in many cases people hang on to the good 'uns and they never come up for sale (or we spent so much money/effort turning into a good 'un).

In truth it feels very difficult to replace with anything comparable, unless it was another TVR

Exactly

While it's true the Chimaera comes with a reputation for unreliability and chassis corrosion my experience has been the car is actually a fundamentally very durable thing. Lifting the body recently showed my 24 year old chassis had actually lasted really well, the reality is only the very corners of the outriggers were holed and the remaining 98% of the chassis would have given years more service without being touched.

I'd argue any 24 year old car will have some corrosion, but like the TVR reliability reputation the poor old Chimaera does seem to get an especially bad press when it comes to rust, especially when when you consider the reality is the TVR benefits from a fiberglass body that removes a significant element of the corrosion problem nearly every other car must contend with.

The way I see it my Chimaera was an absolute bargain at the £7,900 I paid for it 11 years ago with just 30,000 miles on the clock, I appreciate these days a Chimaera in the same condition would be double that but despite this they're still excellent value for money today. Ok so I've spent some money on it over the last 11 years, including what I paid to buy it the car in the first place it now stands me at £20k.

But if I sold it tomorrow my TVR ownership experience would have only cost me just £5k all in, or less than £500 for every year of ownership, I'm not selling of course because there's nothing I'm interested in to replace it without spending £40k. I like my hobby car to give me a certain raw and analogue experience, even then a lot of what floats by boat like a Healey 3000 or Daimler Dart would be much less usable than my Chimaera.

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1122325

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1250327

Even a decent TR6 is over £20k these days!

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1248009

If I wanted a convertible with a reasonable turn of speed from the same era as the Chimaera that's usable on modern roads I guess there's always the Porsche 968 cabriolet, but the rare manual cars are breaking £30k these days, at the end of the day it's also still a four banger and will likely come with big miles.

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1202657

After recently toying with the idea of making a change this is why I decided to stick with what I have and invest in having the chassis restored, structurally my Chimaera is now all sorted for the next 30 years of enjoyment and continues to deliver unbeatable value for money!

When all this is considered, I'm really surprised our cars still remain so cheap

Edited by ChimpOnGas on Monday 27th July 10:25

[JonathanT]

ChimpOnGas said:

JonathanT said:

I've had mind from new in Sept 1999, so almost 21 years and counting.

I love a good "had it from new story"

Did you go to the factory to watch it being built?

Can you share your buying experience, ie choosing your trim and paint combination ect?

Alas it's one of the "I really wish I had" things - I didn't go see it being born at the factory. That would have completed the whole experience. As it was, the buying experience was fantastic. I'd gone to Brundle's outside Downham Market and the chap there never bothered with the TVR paint book. As Brundle's was a collection of marques, he instead suggested that I go round and grab whatever paint samples I liked from the others and bring them back. In the end I settled on a Toyota colour - "satin red". Sadly things like full hide were out of my budget, but I did opt for aircon (which stll works), PAS and the luxury of a 6 CD changer!

Definitely been a love hate relationship - the vast majority being the former, but the latter is more recent history as "Trev" is clearly showing his age. At least I only have myself to blame being the sole owner! I've now had an engine rebuild (following slipped liners), gearbox rebuild (after loss of 5th), second camshaft at 28k, and a breakdown on the French autoroutes (traced back to broken 100A fuse).

But.... Trev still makes a great sound and mostly goes fast enough for British roads. Others have mentioned this, but when I am asked when am I going to change/upgrade, it's really hard to figure what would be an appropriate car to change to. I could never justify buying one today, but I'm VERY glad that I did way back when!

[ChimpOnGas]

JonathanT said:

ChimpOnGas said:

JonathanT said:

I've had mind from new in Sept 1999, so almost 21 years and counting.

I love a good "had it from new story"

Did you go to the factory to watch it being built?

Can you share your buying experience, ie choosing your trim and paint combination ect?

Alas it's one of the "I really wish I had" things - I didn't go see it being born at the factory. That would have completed the whole experience. As it was, the buying experience was fantastic. I'd gone to Brundle's outside Downham Market and the chap there never bothered with the TVR paint book. As Brundle's was a collection of marques, he instead suggested that I go round and grab whatever paint samples I liked from the others and bring them back. In the end I settled on a Toyota colour - "satin red". Sadly things like full hide were out of my budget, but I did opt for aircon (which stll works), PAS and the luxury of a 6 CD changer!

Definitely been a love hate relationship - the vast majority being the former, but the latter is more recent history as "Trev" is clearly showing his age. At least I only have myself to blame being the sole owner! I've now had an engine rebuild (following slipped liners), gearbox rebuild (after loss of 5th), second camshaft at 28k, and a breakdown on the French autoroutes (traced back to broken 100A fuse).

But.... Trev still makes a great sound and mostly goes fast enough for British roads. Others have mentioned this, but when I am asked when am I going to change/upgrade, it's really hard to figure what would be an appropriate car to change to. I could never justify buying one today, but I'm VERY glad that I did way back when!

Cool

Keep in mind those who paid the premium for full leather typically found it soon shrank on the dash top and screen pillars, so the standard option of part leather where these areas were trimmed in vinyl would have been a better proposition. People can be a little sniffy about vinyl, but the truth is its a material that's way more durable and long lasting that leather which cracks and shrinks.

I'd say you optioned your TVR very well, I'd like aircon myself but it's rare, I am however really pleased I went with a power steering car as it definitely makes parking easier and allows for the faster ratio rack too, a sports car should have well weighted direct feeling steering. Sorry to hear about your slipped liner issue, this is something that hangs over us all but an issue so far I've dodged myself, from what I've read a lot of these failures can be traced back to a failed water pump or generally allowing the engine to overheat which is of course avoidable with good maintenance.

The early demise of camshafts is another common issue, although I've been told much of it was due to poor follower quality which is now resolved as soon as you replace the cam as better quality followers are readily available like the ones used on my car when V8 Developments fitted my Stealth cam and quality JP timing gear at 35,000 miles. Consider also the fact there's no cam belt to change, with most other cars from the period by now you would have spent more on age related cam belt changes than you spent having your new cam fitted to your TVR.

Like any other car a Chimaera will punish you if you use it infrequently, and a Chimaera is often a car that doesn't get regular use. If I had a criticism of mine it would be some of the wiring on the car could and should have been better executed, however where they got things wrong are all elements that are easy to upgrade.... and very cheaply too!

Overall it's been my experience a well used and well maintained Chimaera with a few simple and inexpensive wiring upgrades like a thicker gauge starter cable, better engine grounding, and the incorrectly wired immobiliser either replaced or simply bypassed, can actually be a very durable and reliable car indeed

Edited by ChimpOnGas on Monday 27th July 10:27

[blitzracing]

Can I add my Ginetta to this ? Bought new in 1992 (it was £500 less than a Griff and a direct competitor,) when I was a young man with a flash new sports car, then I became middle age crisis man, followed by old git in a classic car ! Mind you Its taken me 28 years to get it as I like. The two pack solid paint and glass fibre has stood the test of time really well but the chassis would have been an issue if I'd not waxoyled it from day one.

Edited by blitzracing on Monday 27th July 10:50

[rigga]

Purchased my Griff in 2008, so 12 years, did the often advised not to, as it was the first one I looked at, but it ticked all the boxes, good history, great condition, good price (at the time) and off someone here, who funnily enough hasn't been on here since. No intention of selling until I'm physically unable to drive it.

[DangerousDerek]

Ive had mine for 13 years (never raced or rallied).
I also still own a Rover SD1 that ive had for about 25 years.