Cerb to a Chimaera - How reliable are the Chimps?
Discussion
Hi everyone.
Sorry about this question because I know it's in the realms of 'how long is a piece of string!', but are Chimaeras any more reliable that Cerbs.
I've just sold a Cerb which I loved becasue I'm working away, but when I get back I don't think I'll be able to resist another TVR. However I thought I'd try a Chimaera for a different experience.
The concern I have is over reliability - I want a car that I can use daily and won't let me down (well not too often anyway). As an ex-Cerb owner I'm well aware of the pitfalls of ownership but I really love the sound and look of both Cerbs and Chimaeras and don't think I can keep away.
The maintenance costs aren't the issue, it's the amount of time off the road that concerns me.
Well that was a lot of waffle to get to the question:
Are Chimaras more reliable that Cerberas?
I think I'll only have a 10 to 15k budget.
Any thought's gratefully received.
Sorry about this question because I know it's in the realms of 'how long is a piece of string!', but are Chimaeras any more reliable that Cerbs.
I've just sold a Cerb which I loved becasue I'm working away, but when I get back I don't think I'll be able to resist another TVR. However I thought I'd try a Chimaera for a different experience.
The concern I have is over reliability - I want a car that I can use daily and won't let me down (well not too often anyway). As an ex-Cerb owner I'm well aware of the pitfalls of ownership but I really love the sound and look of both Cerbs and Chimaeras and don't think I can keep away.
The maintenance costs aren't the issue, it's the amount of time off the road that concerns me.
Well that was a lot of waffle to get to the question:
Are Chimaras more reliable that Cerberas?
I think I'll only have a 10 to 15k budget.
Any thought's gratefully received.
Done over 22k miles in a year, only 1 day off the road for a door solanoid.
She will be off the road for a week or so soon as I am having the camshaft done plus a few other things as she has hit 70k miles mark.
I run her every day, all weathers and dont have any qualms in doing so.
Claire & Miss Daisy
She will be off the road for a week or so soon as I am having the camshaft done plus a few other things as she has hit 70k miles mark.
I run her every day, all weathers and dont have any qualms in doing so.
Claire & Miss Daisy
Done 13k since Jan last year, only issue was a flat battery. I have had a number of other maintenance problems thrown up at service time (see breakdown in profile) but none that have left me stranded - though thats more my fault in having the car inspected by a supposed TVR expert!!!!
TBH it's been FAR more reliable than my mates TT in the same period.
15k will get you a very late mint 450.
TBH it's been FAR more reliable than my mates TT in the same period.
15k will get you a very late mint 450.
If you are OK with a Cerb you should have no worries with a Chim. Ive been running Chims for 3 1/2 years as daily drivers and had no problems. I wondered if my old 400 was an unusually good one but the 500 I had almost a year has been equally good.
I just cant imagine being able to wait for the weekend to drive it
.
I just cant imagine being able to wait for the weekend to drive it
.braddy said:
Well it's got to be said, from what i've read up to now they seem a lot easier to use as an everyday car.
Is there a 'prefered' model? i.e is the 4,4.5 or 5 ltr more reliable, east to drive, etc.
Can. Worms. Everywhere.
Drive them all and see which one you like and which suits your driving style. No matter what, always buy on condition it's no choice if it's between a peach of a 400 and a dog-rough 500. None of the models are going to leave you feeling disappointed.
Never owned a Cerbera so no comment on that, but I have owned my current Chim 400(x-reg economy model) for 3.5 years now.
In that time it has never:
failed to start first and every time
broken down once
had anything fitted not working
leaked in the rain
overheated in traffic
been expensive to run
made less noise than normal cars
been anything other than a joy to drive
The reliability may be partly due to the fact that as soon as I feel it needs something it gets it. It is not used every day but does get regular use. It has never been abused, tracked or constantly caned to death. It has always been garaged when at home so not as exposed to the elements as much as some.
In fact, if it wasn't already mine I would want to buy it
(Having said all that I did have a headlight bulb go two years ago but am prepared to let that one go just this once.)
In that time it has never:
failed to start first and every time
broken down once
had anything fitted not working
leaked in the rain
overheated in traffic
been expensive to run
made less noise than normal cars
been anything other than a joy to drive
The reliability may be partly due to the fact that as soon as I feel it needs something it gets it. It is not used every day but does get regular use. It has never been abused, tracked or constantly caned to death. It has always been garaged when at home so not as exposed to the elements as much as some.
In fact, if it wasn't already mine I would want to buy it
(Having said all that I did have a headlight bulb go two years ago but am prepared to let that one go just this once.)
braddy said:
Well it's got to be said, from what i've read up to now they seem a lot easier to use as an everyday car.
Is there a 'prefered' model? i.e is the 4,4.5 or 5 ltr more reliable, east to drive, etc.
Blue ones are well known to be best
I've heared a few things about the 4.5 being the pick of the bunch though my pretty sorted 4L feels as quick as the 4.5's. I tried a 5L and it didn't like the traffic as much as my 4L does but that was only a single car and others appear to be fine with them. Get a good one of any engine size & it'll be great.
Hi Mate,
Firstly i own a '98 Chim 450 which apart from an annual service has cost me a total of £50 for an oil pressure sender for the pressure guage.
Looking at it technically, a TVR Chim is pretty simple. It has a well proven Rover V8 Engine which is about as complex as a cheese-grater and dates back about 40 years.
Personally i recommend the latter Serpentine engine (around 95 onwards.. correct me lads and lasses if i'm wrong) as it has a single belt running everything and is a bit easier at oil changes as the oil pump is slightly better.
If you buy a decent one and use it regularly you shouldn't have too much trouble. I do think you may get the odd TVR niggle like electric windows that stick or need adjustment or the odd squeak n rattle but you really cant to wrong.
This is not to knock the Cerbera. I'm tempted with one of those next but having a much lower volume 'home brand' younger engine brings higher bills at the garage.
To those in the know a TVR Chim should be as reliable as most 'mainstream' cars.
(oh and some Chim owners are a bit touchy about the Chimp branding... Lose the P man! )
Cheers,
Nick
Firstly i own a '98 Chim 450 which apart from an annual service has cost me a total of £50 for an oil pressure sender for the pressure guage.
Looking at it technically, a TVR Chim is pretty simple. It has a well proven Rover V8 Engine which is about as complex as a cheese-grater and dates back about 40 years.
Personally i recommend the latter Serpentine engine (around 95 onwards.. correct me lads and lasses if i'm wrong) as it has a single belt running everything and is a bit easier at oil changes as the oil pump is slightly better.
If you buy a decent one and use it regularly you shouldn't have too much trouble. I do think you may get the odd TVR niggle like electric windows that stick or need adjustment or the odd squeak n rattle but you really cant to wrong.
This is not to knock the Cerbera. I'm tempted with one of those next but having a much lower volume 'home brand' younger engine brings higher bills at the garage.
To those in the know a TVR Chim should be as reliable as most 'mainstream' cars.
(oh and some Chim owners are a bit touchy about the Chimp branding...
Lose the P man! ) Cheers,
Nick
Ready?
Can of worms, top off........
I went from a 4.0L Chim with no PAS to a 4.5 Cerb - no contest. The Cerb is a much more refined motor to drive.
However, I did get to use Corin Denton's 5.0L Chim for a day after about 18 months of Cerb ownership and was frankly dissapointed. it felt very agricultural (despite PAS)after the Cerb. Not that it was a bad one, just not how I remembered my Chimaera.
Mind you a Chimaera is a beautiful car, no question. Of course it will be cheaper to run and possibly but not necessarily more reliable than a Cerbera.
Given the choice? A Cerbera every time.
Coat on and skulking back to the Cerbera forum
Can of worms, top off........
I went from a 4.0L Chim with no PAS to a 4.5 Cerb - no contest. The Cerb is a much more refined motor to drive.
However, I did get to use Corin Denton's 5.0L Chim for a day after about 18 months of Cerb ownership and was frankly dissapointed. it felt very agricultural (despite PAS)after the Cerb. Not that it was a bad one, just not how I remembered my Chimaera.
Mind you a Chimaera is a beautiful car, no question. Of course it will be cheaper to run and possibly but not necessarily more reliable than a Cerbera.
Given the choice? A Cerbera every time.
Coat on and skulking back to the Cerbera forum
Tyre Smoke said:
Ready?
Can of worms, top off........
I went from a 4.0L Chim with no PAS to a 4.5 Cerb - no contest. The Cerb is a much more refined motor to drive.
However, I did get to use Corin Denton's 5.0L Chim for a day after about 18 months of Cerb ownership and was frankly dissapointed. it felt very agricultural (despite PAS)after the Cerb. Not that it was a bad one, just not how I remembered my Chimaera.
Mind you a Chimaera is a beautiful car, no question. Of course it will be cheaper to run and possibly but not necessarily more reliable than a Cerbera.
Given the choice? A Cerbera every time.
Coat on and skulking back to the Cerbera forum
To be honest, i love my Chim but i am open minded enough to realise that the engine design is extremely old and wont feel anything like as modern as a Cerbera engine which does take some design practices from F1.
On the choice front it certainly is 'horses for courses' as both camps will champion their cars.
But when it comes down to the cost of ownership my money will be on the Chim working out alot cheaper. Not knocking the cerb. but purely cause of the volume of Chims made plus the tough ol Rover V8 mechanicals where the parts are pretty readily available from many sources.
The AJP8 in the Cerb is low volume and only used in the Cerb which will reflect in reliabilty (clutches etc) and parts prices.
Both great cars and great engines though.
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