Advice on chim purchase 4.5 or 5 litre? lotus esprit owner
Discussion
Hi there guys/gals,
Im looking to purchase possibly a chimera in the near future to replace my 1997 lotus esprit gt3.
i havent been to view any yet as i am just trying to do a little research first, and obviously have a car to sell at some point. im a regular user of these sort of forums, but obviuously the esprit ones, and find them very useful, and if your anything like the lotus guys using them im sure you will come up trumps with this one!
My questions are:
Which year model is best to go for reliability wise? i was thinking of 1999/2000 either 4.5 or 5.0
are there any specific things i should look out for. i can apreciate its difficult to say as i have the same when people ask me about esprits but i know nothing at all about the chimera mechanical wise compared to the esprit. all i know is they are both hand built and british which can be a problem
ive heard people have suffered with suspension problems and starter motors ect:
id look for a car with full service history obviously, tvr preferably. would tvr garages do a full check on a private buy or do they not want to know? i know lotus specialists are wary these days and dont like doing them.
what are tvr specialist garages like reliability wise and how genuine are they?? i have used lotus ones and found some to be very hooky if your with me!
what sort of service costs do you incure?
sorry for all the questions but ive been bitten once to many times before so im doing all my research prior to even looking
Thanks in advance
Dave
Im looking to purchase possibly a chimera in the near future to replace my 1997 lotus esprit gt3.
i havent been to view any yet as i am just trying to do a little research first, and obviously have a car to sell at some point. im a regular user of these sort of forums, but obviuously the esprit ones, and find them very useful, and if your anything like the lotus guys using them im sure you will come up trumps with this one!
My questions are:
Which year model is best to go for reliability wise? i was thinking of 1999/2000 either 4.5 or 5.0
are there any specific things i should look out for. i can apreciate its difficult to say as i have the same when people ask me about esprits but i know nothing at all about the chimera mechanical wise compared to the esprit. all i know is they are both hand built and british which can be a problem
ive heard people have suffered with suspension problems and starter motors ect:
id look for a car with full service history obviously, tvr preferably. would tvr garages do a full check on a private buy or do they not want to know? i know lotus specialists are wary these days and dont like doing them.
what are tvr specialist garages like reliability wise and how genuine are they?? i have used lotus ones and found some to be very hooky if your with me!
what sort of service costs do you incure?
sorry for all the questions but ive been bitten once to many times before so im doing all my research prior to even looking
Thanks in advance
Dave
get the 5 litre,i have the 4 litre and wish i had gone for the faster option especially as you have a fast car already.not sure theres much reliability difference in the engines and the rest of the car is the same.like any car some are good and some are bad and that goes to for the garages servicing them.i thought about a lotus esprit before i bought my tvr and everyone i spoke to advised on buying the tvr(on looks,reliability and repair costs)i am pretty happy so far and have no regrets.maybe someone will swap there chim for your lotus.....theres a few mad uns on this site!!!get one and enjoy that fabulous exhaust note and summer toplessness(i know not a real word!!)rob
cheers for that rob
i must admit ive had my problems with the esprit but what a pleasurable car to own. i can honestly say im glad i own one and it is like a drug but i just like to change now and again. ive spent thousands the past few months on mods and maintance etc: i alays seem to come to sell cars when i have them at there absolute best, what a plonker hey, puts a smile on my face anyway. i was thinking the maybe a chim owner that might want a part ex. if anyone is then i can soon pass the details on if you leave me a message. there is a picture on my profile and its a 1997 gt3 in norfolk mustard, the only colour for it to be seen in, in my eyes!!
happy driving
dave
>> Edited by DAVES_GT3 on Saturday 5th November 00:08
i must admit ive had my problems with the esprit but what a pleasurable car to own. i can honestly say im glad i own one and it is like a drug but i just like to change now and again. ive spent thousands the past few months on mods and maintance etc: i alays seem to come to sell cars when i have them at there absolute best, what a plonker hey, puts a smile on my face anyway. i was thinking the maybe a chim owner that might want a part ex. if anyone is then i can soon pass the details on if you leave me a message. there is a picture on my profile and its a 1997 gt3 in norfolk mustard, the only colour for it to be seen in, in my eyes!!
happy driving
dave
>> Edited by DAVES_GT3 on Saturday 5th November 00:08
I have a 1997 Chimaera having had both a 1987 Lotus Espprit and M100 Elan. Commpared with an Esprit the power delivery is much stronger and the car does not feel as flimsy although it has its share of rattles.
I have the 4 Ltr but wish I had the 5Ltr.
Don't go for service history alone without an inspection. My Chim had full main dealer history but I have spent a great deal on it in my short period of ownership. The car is fabulous particularly with the top off. I liked the Esprit and your is quicker than mine was but the Chim definately provides more smiles per mile....
I have the 4 Ltr but wish I had the 5Ltr.
Don't go for service history alone without an inspection. My Chim had full main dealer history but I have spent a great deal on it in my short period of ownership. The car is fabulous particularly with the top off. I liked the Esprit and your is quicker than mine was but the Chim definately provides more smiles per mile....
The classifieds on here are a good place to start, the cars are generally known throughout the circuit and there is the widest range of TVRs available here.
First rule - do your homework, get a copy of Steve Heath's guide to Chimaera and Griffith and familiarise yourself with the car.
www.shpub.co.uk/
Next get to your nearest dealer, look at a few side by side, drive one, even if you don't intend on buying from them, the more you drive the better picture you will have for these cars - no two are ever really the same!
Drive BOTH PAS and non-PAS cars!!! PAS will generally add about £1,000 to sale/resale value of a car but it is all a matter of personal choice. The PAS rack is a very high ratio at 2.2 turns lock to lock, whilst being easier to park it does make it very twitchy at speed. The non-PAS rack is slightly less at 2.4 turns, much better at speed and not that much difference when parking.
It's all a matter of personal choice at the end of the day, I went for PAS on my old 4 litre but specifically opted out of it with the 5 litre I replaced it with.
The TVRCC - get along to your local club meet, talk to the owners and look at the cars, get an independant viewpoint.
Lastly
Condition, condition, condition - the most important thing with a TVR. If the car is a private sale, speak at length with the owner, get a feel for what they know, ask stuff like...
When was it last waxoyled?
When was the roof last treated?
Has it any modifications, cooling system etc?
What condition are the chassis, outriggers and wishbones in?
Has it had a cam/clutch etc?
Full or half hide interior?
If you find a car you are intersted in post up the details, someone will always help you out.
Best of luck!
Corin
First rule - do your homework, get a copy of Steve Heath's guide to Chimaera and Griffith and familiarise yourself with the car.
www.shpub.co.uk/
Next get to your nearest dealer, look at a few side by side, drive one, even if you don't intend on buying from them, the more you drive the better picture you will have for these cars - no two are ever really the same!
Drive BOTH PAS and non-PAS cars!!! PAS will generally add about £1,000 to sale/resale value of a car but it is all a matter of personal choice. The PAS rack is a very high ratio at 2.2 turns lock to lock, whilst being easier to park it does make it very twitchy at speed. The non-PAS rack is slightly less at 2.4 turns, much better at speed and not that much difference when parking.
It's all a matter of personal choice at the end of the day, I went for PAS on my old 4 litre but specifically opted out of it with the 5 litre I replaced it with.
The TVRCC - get along to your local club meet, talk to the owners and look at the cars, get an independant viewpoint.
Lastly
Condition, condition, condition - the most important thing with a TVR. If the car is a private sale, speak at length with the owner, get a feel for what they know, ask stuff like...
When was it last waxoyled?
When was the roof last treated?
Has it any modifications, cooling system etc?
What condition are the chassis, outriggers and wishbones in?
Has it had a cam/clutch etc?
Full or half hide interior?
If you find a car you are intersted in post up the details, someone will always help you out.
Best of luck!
Corin
thanks for the input guys especially corin.
is it crutial they are waxoyled? and what is the mod with the cooling system? that is one thing i had read in a thread somewere but dont seem to be able to find it now.
thanks again your a big help
p.s: i cant seem to find steve heath's book on that web site you gave me.
dave
>> Edited by DAVES_GT3 on Saturday 5th November 11:25
is it crutial they are waxoyled? and what is the mod with the cooling system? that is one thing i had read in a thread somewere but dont seem to be able to find it now.
thanks again your a big help
p.s: i cant seem to find steve heath's book on that web site you gave me.
dave
>> Edited by DAVES_GT3 on Saturday 5th November 11:25
just to be a pain ive just thought of two more things.
is there any difference between the 4.5 and 450 or the 5.0 and 500 or is it just the way they are advertised?
and how do you know if the car has full or half hide interior because from what i have seen i would have said they all have full. although i know they dont
thanks
dave
is there any difference between the 4.5 and 450 or the 5.0 and 500 or is it just the way they are advertised?
and how do you know if the car has full or half hide interior because from what i have seen i would have said they all have full. although i know they dont
thanks
dave
As you suspect, 4.5 or 450 both describe the same thing, as do 5.0 or 500.
You will find that most cars have only 1/2 leather because full was an expensive option. The vinyl is quite effective, and it's not often easy to tell the difference. However, on cars I've seen, the vinyl has a grained effect whereas the leather is smooth. Also, if you pinch the leather it should wrinkle up.
Generally all the seat facing are leather whetever, but the rest can vary - leather door cards were a separate option I think.
Oh, and don't forget to buy a blue one - they go much faster.
You will find that most cars have only 1/2 leather because full was an expensive option. The vinyl is quite effective, and it's not often easy to tell the difference. However, on cars I've seen, the vinyl has a grained effect whereas the leather is smooth. Also, if you pinch the leather it should wrinkle up.
Generally all the seat facing are leather whetever, but the rest can vary - leather door cards were a separate option I think.
Oh, and don't forget to buy a blue one - they go much faster.
well i liked the look of this one but obviously wary because its on ebay!! 
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl
might just give them a call and make a few enquires.
obviously i wouldnt pay that price though would i!! what sort of figure would be respectful?
cheers
dave
>> Edited by DAVES_GT3 on Saturday 5th November 14:11
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl
might just give them a call and make a few enquires.
obviously i wouldnt pay that price though would i!! what sort of figure would be respectful?
cheers
dave
>> Edited by DAVES_GT3 on Saturday 5th November 14:11
I have a 4.5 Chim as my everyday car and I also go to Ians at Middlewich.
His details are:
Sherrif House, Unit E
Nantwich Road,
Middlewich,
Cheshire. CW10 0LH
Tel: 01606 831 244
He is great, he spent ages setting up my new Gaz suspension, I still have most of my teeth left cos the ride is hard but handles like a dream.
I am happy with the 4.5, not sure how I would compare it to the 5.0, I suspect there isnt *that* much difference if you get one that is set up properly.
Speak to Ian to clarify, the little star he is.
Claire
His details are:
Sherrif House, Unit E
Nantwich Road,
Middlewich,
Cheshire. CW10 0LH
Tel: 01606 831 244
He is great, he spent ages setting up my new Gaz suspension, I still have most of my teeth left cos the ride is hard but handles like a dream.
I am happy with the 4.5, not sure how I would compare it to the 5.0, I suspect there isnt *that* much difference if you get one that is set up properly.
Speak to Ian to clarify, the little star he is.
Claire
Hi Dave,
Consensus from the Rover V8 specialists I've spoken to is that the 4.5 is the one to go for (but then I'm biased, since I own one!). The 5.0 seems to have been overstroked, so you pay for the extra performance with slightly worse reliability and the higher risk of the block going bang. And the 4.0 is perhaps not as quick as you might like. 4.5 is nicely in between on power (and you can mod it up to 5 litre output+ without stressing it) and good on reliability.
Main thing to watch out for from my experience is that you need a new cam 40-60k in because the original valve springs as fitted are too tight, so check if it's had one if it's anywhere near that mileage.
It does need waxoyling too - watch out for rust on the chassis and outriggers.
Happy hunting!
Consensus from the Rover V8 specialists I've spoken to is that the 4.5 is the one to go for (but then I'm biased, since I own one!). The 5.0 seems to have been overstroked, so you pay for the extra performance with slightly worse reliability and the higher risk of the block going bang. And the 4.0 is perhaps not as quick as you might like. 4.5 is nicely in between on power (and you can mod it up to 5 litre output+ without stressing it) and good on reliability.
Main thing to watch out for from my experience is that you need a new cam 40-60k in because the original valve springs as fitted are too tight, so check if it's had one if it's anywhere near that mileage.
It does need waxoyling too - watch out for rust on the chassis and outriggers.
Happy hunting!
The 500 has been described to me by more than TVR mechanic as 'a bit lumpy', one 500 owner who had just come back from a blat in a 450 told me it didn't feel much different to his car, muttering press preferred the 450's 'smoother torque delivery', gotta run away now and hide from flak from the many 500 owners whose cars run beautifully..
I have driven both 4.5 and 5 litre and owned a 4 litre. Both the 4.5 and 5 were noticeably quicker than the 4. However, the difference between the 4.5 and the 5 was not noticeable at all. The 5 is said to be more lumpy in traffic, although I cant say I noticed that myself. The 4.5 is certainly not far off the pace, if at all.
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