Chimaera daily driver - reliability experiences?
Discussion
Evening all,
This is addressed to those who use their Chims every day (as i used to) - my 95 4.0 covered 9000 miles or so in about 9 months, and after some niggles in the first few weeks it ran like clockwork.
Do those of you who drive your Chims every day find them reliable (as in, not breaking down)?
I may well be coming back
This is addressed to those who use their Chims every day (as i used to) - my 95 4.0 covered 9000 miles or so in about 9 months, and after some niggles in the first few weeks it ran like clockwork.
Do those of you who drive your Chims every day find them reliable (as in, not breaking down)?
I may well be coming back
For the vast majority of the time Chimaeras do indeed work.
And can, therefore, be used as "daily drivers", very successfully.
My wife used hers constantly for that purpose for some years - what finally put an end to it was the problems of getting them fixed when something does go wrong - and it will eventually.
The level of support for TVRs is very good but it simply cannot match the plethora of suppliers of support for mass-market cars. When it goes wrong you could be waiting weeks for the parts to arrive or for a slot with your favourite independent. When this occurs - you simply go out and buy a regular car. Right away. No pissing about - so that you can get to work.
We now have a pile of shit called a Vectra (utterly brilliant and reliable car) that works all the time and soaks up the punishment we don't want to dish out to our sports cars (we run a Chim and a BoxS).
Daily driver - "YES!"
Only car - "NO!"
And can, therefore, be used as "daily drivers", very successfully.
My wife used hers constantly for that purpose for some years - what finally put an end to it was the problems of getting them fixed when something does go wrong - and it will eventually.
The level of support for TVRs is very good but it simply cannot match the plethora of suppliers of support for mass-market cars. When it goes wrong you could be waiting weeks for the parts to arrive or for a slot with your favourite independent. When this occurs - you simply go out and buy a regular car. Right away. No pissing about - so that you can get to work.
We now have a pile of shit called a Vectra (utterly brilliant and reliable car) that works all the time and soaks up the punishment we don't want to dish out to our sports cars (we run a Chim and a BoxS).
Daily driver - "YES!"
Only car - "NO!"
I use my 450 as a daily driver (even in the snow and ice) the only issue I have had so far was a door solanoid that went and was fixed by my Ian @ Middlewich.
I guess I am lucky in the fact that I have a massive support network via Parents and friends who are involved in TVR and now Ian. Plus I dropped onto a very well sorted Chim which is a massive bonus.
Now I just need to find someone who works at Shell to get discounts on Optimax
Claire
I guess I am lucky in the fact that I have a massive support network via Parents and friends who are involved in TVR and now Ian. Plus I dropped onto a very well sorted Chim which is a massive bonus.
Now I just need to find someone who works at Shell to get discounts on Optimax
Claire
I ran my 96 4ltr as a daily driver from nov 99 to mar 03 covering about 35k. The car lived out side on a main road in all weathers.. in that time the only problems i had was a snapped windscreen wiper cable and the door locks freezing in empty car parks miles from home 
Used and very much abused all the time including a few track days and it ran perfecty. As a comparison i put it in the garage 6 months ago working perfectly and when i took it out the diff was playing up.... how does that happed the diff broke in the garage
As a daily driver i thought it worked very well, although I'll admit i never had a routine commute as i work from site to site so 30-100 miles to get there. The chim was very usable with stacks of space and always put a smile on my face
G
Used and very much abused all the time including a few track days and it ran perfecty. As a comparison i put it in the garage 6 months ago working perfectly and when i took it out the diff was playing up.... how does that happed the diff broke in the garage
As a daily driver i thought it worked very well, although I'll admit i never had a routine commute as i work from site to site so 30-100 miles to get there. The chim was very usable with stacks of space and always put a smile on my face
G
Don said:That's a fair point although no different from any other specialist car, especially the older ones which can tend to be less reliable.
The level of support for TVRs is very good but it simply cannot match the plethora of suppliers of support for mass-market cars. When it goes wrong you could be waiting weeks for the parts to arrive or for a slot with your favourite independent. When this occurs - you simply go out and buy a regular car. Right away. No pissing about - so that you can get to work.
Daily driver - "YES!"
Only car - "NO!"
verysideways said:
Looks like i'll have to keep my eyes open for a late (98-) blue (the fastest colour) with light leather (biscuit, magnolia, cream) 400/450. Just need to free up some cash first...
Just so happens mine will be up for sale in Feb, Chim 450, 1998, Olympic Blue Pearl. A fine example if i do say so myself
Email me if you are interested. cic
Hi All,
Firstly Happy New Year!
I've been using my 450 as a daily driver since around April last year. The only things i have had are a slightly wobbley Drivers electric Window and the Oil Pressure sender failed so the gauge read Nowt!
I have since bought an old 5 Series BMW for shopping and lugging things around so i do have that as a backup now but, as a rule of Thumb, the more i drive my Chim the happier it is.
If you get a good one then you should hopefully only suffer minor niggles which need sorting from time to time.
Remember no Car likes sitting for weeks on end without use.
Hope that helps,
Cheers,
Nick
Firstly Happy New Year!
I've been using my 450 as a daily driver since around April last year. The only things i have had are a slightly wobbley Drivers electric Window and the Oil Pressure sender failed so the gauge read Nowt!
I have since bought an old 5 Series BMW for shopping and lugging things around so i do have that as a backup now but, as a rule of Thumb, the more i drive my Chim the happier it is.
If you get a good one then you should hopefully only suffer minor niggles which need sorting from time to time.
Remember no Car likes sitting for weeks on end without use.
Hope that helps,
Cheers,
Nick
Fire,
I found that when i bought my 4.0 it needed a few things doing in the first 3 weeks (clutch pivot ball, cylinder, otter switch, stepper clean) and then ran like clockwork for 9 months.
It had been stood for several months before i bought it you see...
Thanks for opinions so far, keep 'em coming!
:thumup:
I found that when i bought my 4.0 it needed a few things doing in the first 3 weeks (clutch pivot ball, cylinder, otter switch, stepper clean) and then ran like clockwork for 9 months.
It had been stood for several months before i bought it you see...
Thanks for opinions so far, keep 'em coming!
:thumup:
I seem to recall when you had the chim you always talked fondly of your 993 and were keen to get rid of the chim and return to the world of the porkers. Whats changed?
I found both my TVR S3 and Chimaera more reliable through daily use, although its fair to say you will probably find any niggles come out sooner through regular use. When I first got the Chimaera I had about 6 months worth of annoying niggles that were all fairly minor but most likely the result of the car being used infrequently beforehand. Once these were ironed out the car was as good as gold. I also found myself worrying about the chassis condition using theh car in all conditions on a daily basis. I guess ensuring its rubbed down and waxoyled annually it shouldnt prove problematic but I am not convinced still that even a waxoyle can properly protect the top sides and hard to reach areas.
I found both my TVR S3 and Chimaera more reliable through daily use, although its fair to say you will probably find any niggles come out sooner through regular use. When I first got the Chimaera I had about 6 months worth of annoying niggles that were all fairly minor but most likely the result of the car being used infrequently beforehand. Once these were ironed out the car was as good as gold. I also found myself worrying about the chassis condition using theh car in all conditions on a daily basis. I guess ensuring its rubbed down and waxoyled annually it shouldnt prove problematic but I am not convinced still that even a waxoyle can properly protect the top sides and hard to reach areas.
Schnozz, my first 911 was my 993C4S, and for the money i've got tied up in the 993tt i could have another C4S and another Chim.
I'd need a double garage first of course, but if i free up the capital from the 993tt then i can buy another Chim, sort out a bigger house with a double garage, and then save up for a 993 to sit alongside.
I'm not a "toy" person, i like to drive the thing every day. With both my previous 993s and with my Chim i could do that, but with the 993tt i can't - it's just too brutal for the current conditions, so i am now driving something else to and from work and i hate it!
With an n/a 993, and with my sleeved Chim, the noise was wonderful and made cruising just as possible as 'ragging'. The 993tt is just too fast for that. Even cruising is breaking the speed limit almost everywhere (except 30mph zones) and it's so much faster than everything else on the road that the general public become dangerous. At least with a normal 911 or a Chim they expect it to be quicker, but the turbo is SO much quicker than that it simply isn't comprehensible to Joe Public.
I always thought the 993 turbo was my "be all and end all". I sold my Chim to get back into a 993 (C2) and i regretted it. I should have kept the Chim and borrowed the extra money from selling my bimmer cab, and then had a 993 and my Chim. That's where i'm heading now.
I'd need a double garage first of course, but if i free up the capital from the 993tt then i can buy another Chim, sort out a bigger house with a double garage, and then save up for a 993 to sit alongside.
I'm not a "toy" person, i like to drive the thing every day. With both my previous 993s and with my Chim i could do that, but with the 993tt i can't - it's just too brutal for the current conditions, so i am now driving something else to and from work and i hate it!
With an n/a 993, and with my sleeved Chim, the noise was wonderful and made cruising just as possible as 'ragging'. The 993tt is just too fast for that. Even cruising is breaking the speed limit almost everywhere (except 30mph zones) and it's so much faster than everything else on the road that the general public become dangerous. At least with a normal 911 or a Chim they expect it to be quicker, but the turbo is SO much quicker than that it simply isn't comprehensible to Joe Public.
I always thought the 993 turbo was my "be all and end all". I sold my Chim to get back into a 993 (C2) and i regretted it. I should have kept the Chim and borrowed the extra money from selling my bimmer cab, and then had a 993 and my Chim. That's where i'm heading now.
verysideways said:Sounds complicated - I'm sure it isn't - but you could just have the best of both world a 1100kg chim that will muder the Porker and be a nice everday car (AND be a convertible TVR)!!!
Schnozz, my first 911 was my 993C4S, and for the money i've got tied up in the 993tt i could have another C4S and another Chim.
I'd need a double garage first of course, but if i free up the capital from the 993tt then i can buy another Chim, sort out a bigger house with a double garage, and then save up for a 993 to sit alongside.
I'm not a "toy" person, i like to drive the thing every day. With both my previous 993s and with my Chim i could do that, but with the 993tt i can't - it's just too brutal for the current conditions, so i am now driving something else to and from work and i hate it!
With an n/a 993, and with my sleeved Chim, the noise was wonderful and made cruising just as possible as 'ragging'. The 993tt is just too fast for that. Even cruising is breaking the speed limit almost everywhere (except 30mph zones) and it's so much faster than everything else on the road that the general public become dangerous. At least with a normal 911 or a Chim they expect it to be quicker, but the turbo is SO much quicker than that it simply isn't comprehensible to Joe Public.
I always thought the 993 turbo was my "be all and end all". I sold my Chim to get back into a 993 (C2) and i regretted it. I should have kept the Chim and borrowed the extra money from selling my bimmer cab, and then had a 993 and my Chim. That's where i'm heading now.
Jellison,
Have walked away from 400s and 450s before in my naturally aspirated 993s without any trouble at all. 500 was all over me in a straight line but had no chance through the twisties. Obviously your car is a little different though
My slightly modified 993tt will wipe the floor with almost anything once it gets past 100mph, but up to that point most fast cars are very close together in reality, irrespective of what the stats say on paper. I'm obviously getting old, but i think i want the noise more than i want the outright bragging rights. Another reason why i'm after a 400 or 450 not a 500...
Have walked away from 400s and 450s before in my naturally aspirated 993s without any trouble at all. 500 was all over me in a straight line but had no chance through the twisties. Obviously your car is a little different though
My slightly modified 993tt will wipe the floor with almost anything once it gets past 100mph, but up to that point most fast cars are very close together in reality, irrespective of what the stats say on paper. I'm obviously getting old, but i think i want the noise more than i want the outright bragging rights. Another reason why i'm after a 400 or 450 not a 500...
verysideways said:
Schnozz, my first 911 was my 993C4S, and for the money i've got tied up in the 993tt i could have another C4S and another Chim.
I'd need a double garage first of course, but if i free up the capital from the 993tt then i can buy another Chim, sort out a bigger house with a double garage, and then save up for a 993 to sit alongside.
I'm not a "toy" person, i like to drive the thing every day. With both my previous 993s and with my Chim i could do that, but with the 993tt i can't - it's just too brutal for the current conditions, so i am now driving something else to and from work and i hate it!
With an n/a 993, and with my sleeved Chim, the noise was wonderful and made cruising just as possible as 'ragging'. The 993tt is just too fast for that. Even cruising is breaking the speed limit almost everywhere (except 30mph zones) and it's so much faster than everything else on the road that the general public become dangerous. At least with a normal 911 or a Chim they expect it to be quicker, but the turbo is SO much quicker than that it simply isn't comprehensible to Joe Public.
I always thought the 993 turbo was my "be all and end all". I sold my Chim to get back into a 993 (C2) and i regretted it. I should have kept the Chim and borrowed the extra money from selling my bimmer cab, and then had a 993 and my Chim. That's where i'm heading now.
I read it 3 times, but I understand! Fair enough mate, and if you have the cash/space, thats the best pair I can imagine since my tug over Angelina Jolie.
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