Chimaera buying/running costs.
Discussion
Hi,
I would like to know the severity of running costs of keeping a 5.0 Chimaera on the road as an evening and weekend car.
I'm due to graduate next year from my masters and am seriously considering buying one. Having been out for rides in 4.0/4.5/5.0 versions, I'd like to get a good 5.0. If someone could give me a ball park figure of how much one would cost too, i'd be very greatful. My estimation is around £14-15k for a totally decent one.
I'll be 22/23 by the time I come o buy one.
Thanks.
Combover
I would like to know the severity of running costs of keeping a 5.0 Chimaera on the road as an evening and weekend car.
I'm due to graduate next year from my masters and am seriously considering buying one. Having been out for rides in 4.0/4.5/5.0 versions, I'd like to get a good 5.0. If someone could give me a ball park figure of how much one would cost too, i'd be very greatful. My estimation is around £14-15k for a totally decent one.
I'll be 22/23 by the time I come o buy one.
Thanks.
Combover
A service isn't cheap on these cars, and at a 6,000 mile interval its a big consideration. The savings I made going from everyday (18k miles per annum) to weekend (6k per decade) were enough to fund the purchase of a second car. Straight up.
18k miles = 2 services. Not one came in under £1k. All it takes is brakes or clutch to need some attention and the £4/500 basic service fee rockets. OK, that was main dealer servicing on a new car, needed for warranty, and you could shave a bit off that for using independants.
You can't get away with less than one service a year no matter how few miles you do. Yes, its heartbreaking seeing clear golden oil pouring out of the sump into a drip tray, but thats what happens if you do next to no miles in a year.
If you are prepared to do a lot of the maintenance work yourself you can save a packet, but unless you really know your TVR's you'll still want the reassurance of a dealer service annually. So will the next owner
So, if you keep the mileage to less than 6k, budget for one dealer service (£400-500), plus the same again for parts (pads, disks, bushes, POR15, waxoyl, plugs, engine mounts, drop links, ball joints, batteries etc) and four or five weekends of your time getting your fingernails dirty.
Your £14-15k estimate is pretty much on the nail for a good 'un, circa 96-99 vintage. A tad more for a good 'un from this millennium. Spotting that good 'un is another matter (as discussed at length on other threads!). In my opinion the aformentioned fingernails are the first thing to look for - walk away from and car owned by perfectly manicured digits (unless accompanied by a thick wad of very expensive main dealer service bills). Anyone not getting down and dirty isn't an enthusiast, and good 'uns are usually enthusiast maintained. They're the guys who'll spend three weeks rubbing down and prepping a chassis for POR15, rather than steam cleaning and waxoyling over the rust for a couple of hundred quid, for example. One method is good for decades, the other keeps it looking good until the new owner (you) discovers the rusted mess under the gunge.
At your age the most significant running cost is going to be insurance. That is not going to be cheap, and will probably be several times the cost of servicing.
18k miles = 2 services. Not one came in under £1k. All it takes is brakes or clutch to need some attention and the £4/500 basic service fee rockets. OK, that was main dealer servicing on a new car, needed for warranty, and you could shave a bit off that for using independants.
You can't get away with less than one service a year no matter how few miles you do. Yes, its heartbreaking seeing clear golden oil pouring out of the sump into a drip tray, but thats what happens if you do next to no miles in a year.
If you are prepared to do a lot of the maintenance work yourself you can save a packet, but unless you really know your TVR's you'll still want the reassurance of a dealer service annually. So will the next owner
So, if you keep the mileage to less than 6k, budget for one dealer service (£400-500), plus the same again for parts (pads, disks, bushes, POR15, waxoyl, plugs, engine mounts, drop links, ball joints, batteries etc) and four or five weekends of your time getting your fingernails dirty. Your £14-15k estimate is pretty much on the nail for a good 'un, circa 96-99 vintage. A tad more for a good 'un from this millennium. Spotting that good 'un is another matter (as discussed at length on other threads!). In my opinion the aformentioned fingernails are the first thing to look for - walk away from and car owned by perfectly manicured digits (unless accompanied by a thick wad of very expensive main dealer service bills). Anyone not getting down and dirty isn't an enthusiast, and good 'uns are usually enthusiast maintained. They're the guys who'll spend three weeks rubbing down and prepping a chassis for POR15, rather than steam cleaning and waxoyling over the rust for a couple of hundred quid, for example. One method is good for decades, the other keeps it looking good until the new owner (you) discovers the rusted mess under the gunge.
At your age the most significant running cost is going to be insurance. That is not going to be cheap, and will probably be several times the cost of servicing.
May you join the family soon! 
As Victor said finding your car will be difficult and despite best efforts a bit of a gamble sometimes. Plan to use 1K - 1500 to fix niggles at first service I would say. Maintenance costs are very variable but I would say for a sorted and well maintained one with you doing basic bits and bobs 5k for five years with 6000 miles / year. Plus one gzillion Marsian trillian diamonds for insurance.
But DO do a forum search for shed wisdom.
As Victor said finding your car will be difficult and despite best efforts a bit of a gamble sometimes. Plan to use 1K - 1500 to fix niggles at first service I would say. Maintenance costs are very variable but I would say for a sorted and well maintained one with you doing basic bits and bobs 5k for five years with 6000 miles / year. Plus one gzillion Marsian trillian diamonds for insurance.
But DO do a forum search for shed wisdom.
I am a firm believer in the old adage "if you have to ask how much, then you can't afford it!". Owning a TVR is very much within this bracket. I am not trying to be a miserable git just because I was 53 before I could afford my first one, but I am trying to tell you like it really is.
The insurance costs will cripple you, particularly your idea of insuring you and your brother to drive. Have you tried getting a quote for a TVR at 22 years, with little proveable experience of driving high performance cars on the road? The repair & maintenance costs are in a different league to your Nissan Micra or old Volks Polo and always arise when you least want them. Tyres cost around £90 per corner for instance.
Have you thought about fuel consumption? You will never get more than 20mpg and often less. You cannot use supermarket cheapest and need to think about Shell or BP's best. Filling the tank is around £50 each time and good for only 200 miles.
Have you paid off your student loan? I don't think you can afford to pay both!
The insurance costs will cripple you, particularly your idea of insuring you and your brother to drive. Have you tried getting a quote for a TVR at 22 years, with little proveable experience of driving high performance cars on the road? The repair & maintenance costs are in a different league to your Nissan Micra or old Volks Polo and always arise when you least want them. Tyres cost around £90 per corner for instance.
Have you thought about fuel consumption? You will never get more than 20mpg and often less. You cannot use supermarket cheapest and need to think about Shell or BP's best. Filling the tank is around £50 each time and good for only 200 miles.
Have you paid off your student loan? I don't think you can afford to pay both!
...you git. 
PeterC said:
I am a firm believer in the old adage "if you have to ask how much, then you can't afford it!". Owning a TVR is very much within this bracket. I am not trying to be a miserable git just because I was 53 before I could afford my first one, but I am trying to tell you like it really is.
The insurance costs will cripple you, particularly your idea of insuring you and your brother to drive. Have you tried getting a quote for a TVR at 22 years, with little proveable experience of driving high performance cars on the road? The repair & maintenance costs are in a different league to your Nissan Micra or old Volks Polo and always arise when you least want them. Tyres cost around £90 per corner for instance.
Have you thought about fuel consumption? You will never get more than 20mpg and often less. You cannot use supermarket cheapest and need to think about Shell or BP's best. Filling the tank is around £50 each time and good for only 200 miles.
Have you paid off your student loan? I don't think you can afford to pay both!
Just because I'm young, doesn't mean I don't have the necessary capital to do it. Having looked into it, I can actually afford to buy the car and pay the bloody extortionate insurance, I was merely asking if there was anything else I would need to know, having spoken to other Chim owners who have told me about their mishaps and what have you.
For a car like this, I am fully willing to pay what it will cost me, but I won't be so happy about it draining my account for very little time on the road which is what some have said.
Incidentally, not all students ave student loans to pay back....mine is so pitiful that I can pay it all back in one go right now if I wish.
Combover
No-one is knocking you as a student who might have to pay back loans.
I have a good well paid job and have found that over the past few months all i have done is throw buckets of cash at my car...ok i didnt get a very good one...but it is definately getting there.
All people are saying is do not try to run it on a shoestring...you cant...i have blown the yearly budget for this car and have only had it 6 months!!!
Dont know what your insurance quote is but i am 34, 0 no claims and i am paying £1200
Buy the way do not budget for golf courses
1) why play golf when you have a gorgeous car to drive?
2) In the wise words of churchill "Golf, the perfect way to ruin a good walk"
I have a good well paid job and have found that over the past few months all i have done is throw buckets of cash at my car...ok i didnt get a very good one...but it is definately getting there.
All people are saying is do not try to run it on a shoestring...you cant...i have blown the yearly budget for this car and have only had it 6 months!!!
Dont know what your insurance quote is but i am 34, 0 no claims and i am paying £1200
Buy the way do not budget for golf courses
1) why play golf when you have a gorgeous car to drive?
2) In the wise words of churchill "Golf, the perfect way to ruin a good walk"
andy-w said:
No-one is knocking you as a student who might have to pay back loans.
I have a good well paid job and have found that over the past few months all i have done is throw buckets of cash at my car...ok i didnt get a very good one...but it is definately getting there.
All people are saying is do not try to run it on a shoestring...you cant...i have blown the yearly budget for this car and have only had it 6 months!!!
Dont know what your insurance quote is but i am 34, 0 no claims and i am paying £1200
Buy the way do not budget for golf courses
1) why play golf when you have a gorgeous car to drive?
2) In the wise words of churchill "Golf, the perfect way to ruin a good walk"
Sorry, I realise that that was a bit of a bitchy post, I'm having a bad day so far and I really didn't mean it to sound as nasty as it did.
Thanks for all the info guys, I have decided to buy an Elise first and then move on to a TVR in a few years, which is probably best i'm sure you'll agree.
Cheers guys.
Combover
it might work out better doing it that way.
I use my car every day and am constantly at petrol staions and buying bits and peices for it...some to make it better, some to keep it running but then like i said, i got a bad one and have had to make it good...did the fatal mistake of buying the first one i saw / drove.
Give it a while and get used to running the Elise and then get the TVR. The Elise is nice but the TVR is...different noise, sound, looks and doesnt seem to age much.
Hope you come back soon.
I use my car every day and am constantly at petrol staions and buying bits and peices for it...some to make it better, some to keep it running but then like i said, i got a bad one and have had to make it good...did the fatal mistake of buying the first one i saw / drove.
Give it a while and get used to running the Elise and then get the TVR. The Elise is nice but the TVR is...different noise, sound, looks and doesnt seem to age much.
Hope you come back soon.
Did we just drive some one to the Lotus club? 
Combover if you have the dosh go for it. You wanted the Chim, if you can get it do it.
Many of my mates have Elises they forever talk the-going-round-the-bend-quicker-than-you but all for a day after coming for a ride. Yes it gets on my **** when I have to stop more than double the times they do for fuel but what a way to burn it mate. I'd say test drive a few of each and make your mind up, you seem well aware of the problems the Chims can give you.
Combover if you have the dosh go for it. You wanted the Chim, if you can get it do it.
Many of my mates have Elises they forever talk the-going-round-the-bend-quicker-than-you but all
for a day after coming for a ride. Yes it gets on my **** when I have to stop more than double the times they do for fuel but what a way to burn it mate. I'd say test drive a few of each and make your mind up, you seem well aware of the problems the Chims can give you. Totally agree...bad crack driving someone to the Lotus gang.
But then i would not recommend getting a chim to anyone unless they can a)afford it or b)at least be able to work on it (if and) when it goes wrong.
These cars can be cheap enough now and a majority of the parts can be reasonably cheap...i have found that the costs rocket as soon as you take it to a garage and they give you the 'mega bucks because its a tvr' story.
In all fairness to Combover he might have been a graduate who has walked into one of the highest paid jobs in the country!!!
But then i would not recommend getting a chim to anyone unless they can a)afford it or b)at least be able to work on it (if and) when it goes wrong.
These cars can be cheap enough now and a majority of the parts can be reasonably cheap...i have found that the costs rocket as soon as you take it to a garage and they give you the 'mega bucks because its a tvr' story.
In all fairness to Combover he might have been a graduate who has walked into one of the highest paid jobs in the country!!!
andy-w said:
Totally agree...bad crack driving someone to the Lotus gang.
But then i would not recommend getting a chim to anyone unless they can a)afford it or b)at least be able to work on it (if and) when it goes wrong.
These cars can be cheap enough now and a majority of the parts can be reasonably cheap...i have found that the costs rocket as soon as you take it to a garage and they give you the 'mega bucks because its a tvr' story.
In all fairness to Combover he might have been a graduate who has walked into one of the highest paid jobs in the country!!!
Not yet mate, but after today, I may have secured my future employment for time to come...
I am aware of the costs and such things, but in light of what has been said, I would like to do it when it's not going to prove to be such a headache as it would if it were one of my first performance cars....
Anyway, cheers guys, really appreciate it!
Combover
I bought my chim when I was 22, cost me £1200 insurance, with 3 points for speeding, and 3yrs NCB.
Since I have bought it I have spent 2 months rubbing down, painting and waxoiling the chassis which cost me around £80 for the bits. (might have taken a long time, but I know its not going to need doing again for a long time!), other than that regular servicing and of course fuel is the only other things it has cost me. Now 3 years on I still have the chim, still enjoy it, but the insurance has halved.
If I had bought an elise (I looked at these too) I`m 99% sure I wouldn`t have it now and would probably not have such a big grin on my face from driving it!
Since I have bought it I have spent 2 months rubbing down, painting and waxoiling the chassis which cost me around £80 for the bits. (might have taken a long time, but I know its not going to need doing again for a long time!), other than that regular servicing and of course fuel is the only other things it has cost me. Now 3 years on I still have the chim, still enjoy it, but the insurance has halved.
If I had bought an elise (I looked at these too) I`m 99% sure I wouldn`t have it now and would probably not have such a big grin on my face from driving it!
I bought my chim when I was 22, cost me £1200 insurance, with 3 points for speeding, and 3yrs NCB.
Since I have bought it I have spent 2 months rubbing down, painting and waxoiling the chassis which cost me around £80 for the bits. (might have taken a long time, but I know its not going to need doing again for a long time!), other than that regular servicing and of course fuel is the only other things it has cost me. Now 3 years on I still have the chim, still enjoy it, but the insurance has halved.
If I had bought an elise (I looked at these too) I`m 99% sure I wouldn`t have it now and would probably not have such a big grin on my face from driving it!
Sorry for posting twice, first one didn`t work!!
>> Edited by ads on Wednesday 16th November 13:16
Since I have bought it I have spent 2 months rubbing down, painting and waxoiling the chassis which cost me around £80 for the bits. (might have taken a long time, but I know its not going to need doing again for a long time!), other than that regular servicing and of course fuel is the only other things it has cost me. Now 3 years on I still have the chim, still enjoy it, but the insurance has halved.
If I had bought an elise (I looked at these too) I`m 99% sure I wouldn`t have it now and would probably not have such a big grin on my face from driving it!
Sorry for posting twice, first one didn`t work!!
>> Edited by ads on Wednesday 16th November 13:16
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