Chimaera Reliability.
Discussion
Right open the flood gates. I want a Tiv. But like alot of folks I'm scared off by the reputation that they have, which in the case of the chim can be summed up as "If it starts consider yourself lucky, if you complete your journey praise be to the Lord"
But as I look into the car, meet owners etc, peer under the hood....I get this impression....it's a Rover V8 engine...no mods, no high compression, not turboed, not S charged....on a basic steel chassis, with a nice looking light fibre glass body on top...it being light rather than hugely powerful ( given the engine size ) makes it quick.
People say the S is more reliable.....why? It's the same engine ( at least in some cases ) just a different body and things like better lights.
So Chim owners...given the car is powered by a basic R V8, a solid, tested engine, with basic mechanics.....do they have such as terrible reputation?
I have spent my driving time to date mainly in ricers, my current one being a 1991 2.0l MR2 T-bar....similar power output to an S series.....they're not as bullet proof as people like to think, mechanics hate them because of the mid-engined config. If I buy a Chim will I suddenly be horrified by the constant break downs and huge gargage bills? The MR2 isn't exactly cheap to run and always has something going....being 16 years old...except being a steel body..it's starting to rust out....terminally.
Isn't the Chim basically a range-rover engine with a lightweight body on top?
I know the chassis can rust out and that's a job that can kick you in the balls for £4k but what other big bills can bite my bum?
I really would like everyones help and opinions here, and maybe if enough sage advice is gathered I can see if I can get the post pinned for all future 'considering buying' folks to save the same questions being asked again and again.
Cheers all.
Tim
But as I look into the car, meet owners etc, peer under the hood....I get this impression....it's a Rover V8 engine...no mods, no high compression, not turboed, not S charged....on a basic steel chassis, with a nice looking light fibre glass body on top...it being light rather than hugely powerful ( given the engine size ) makes it quick.
People say the S is more reliable.....why? It's the same engine ( at least in some cases ) just a different body and things like better lights.
So Chim owners...given the car is powered by a basic R V8, a solid, tested engine, with basic mechanics.....do they have such as terrible reputation?
I have spent my driving time to date mainly in ricers, my current one being a 1991 2.0l MR2 T-bar....similar power output to an S series.....they're not as bullet proof as people like to think, mechanics hate them because of the mid-engined config. If I buy a Chim will I suddenly be horrified by the constant break downs and huge gargage bills? The MR2 isn't exactly cheap to run and always has something going....being 16 years old...except being a steel body..it's starting to rust out....terminally.
Isn't the Chim basically a range-rover engine with a lightweight body on top?
I know the chassis can rust out and that's a job that can kick you in the balls for £4k but what other big bills can bite my bum?
I really would like everyones help and opinions here, and maybe if enough sage advice is gathered I can see if I can get the post pinned for all future 'considering buying' folks to save the same questions being asked again and again.
Cheers all.
Tim
Edited by blokey on Friday 15th September 20:58
No there not as unreliable as so called peole who have never owned one allways like to Pipe up and say.
Im on nearly 9 years of TVR ownership (and S and a Griffith) only time I have been left stranded was when thes tarter motor was sticking. 30 mins later ok and replaced now.
If your after a Chimeara ( god nows why when theres the Grifith
) then you cant go far wrong. Older ones IMHO are either complete Dogs or pretty well looked after and any ..that sif any probs will be ironed out.
Good luck
BB
Im on nearly 9 years of TVR ownership (and S and a Griffith) only time I have been left stranded was when thes tarter motor was sticking. 30 mins later ok and replaced now.
If your after a Chimeara ( god nows why when theres the Grifith
) then you cant go far wrong. Older ones IMHO are either complete Dogs or pretty well looked after and any ..that sif any probs will be ironed out. Good luck
BB
blokey said:
which in the case of the chim can be summed up as "If it starts consider yourself lucky, if you complete your journey praise be to the Lord"
Last week mine done 2500 miles of sometimes hard driving to the South Of France and back.
To me your statement is
Bolloxs 
Edited by oggs on Friday 15th September 21:47
Tim
The problem with some used Chimeara’s is normally the previous owner?
Owning these cars is not cheap and they will require regular servicing. Unfortunately some owner buy them, run them, but don’t look after them. Which often means the un-suspecting new owner end up footing the bill.
It’s not always the low mileage ones that make the best buys, talk to your local TVR specialist or the owners club when looking for a good car, they are always in the know.
As an owner of a 400 Chimeara I personally think they aren’t as bad as people say and smile per mile they are unbeatable.
Good Luck
The problem with some used Chimeara’s is normally the previous owner?
Owning these cars is not cheap and they will require regular servicing. Unfortunately some owner buy them, run them, but don’t look after them. Which often means the un-suspecting new owner end up footing the bill.
It’s not always the low mileage ones that make the best buys, talk to your local TVR specialist or the owners club when looking for a good car, they are always in the know.
As an owner of a 400 Chimeara I personally think they aren’t as bad as people say and smile per mile they are unbeatable.
Good Luck
We are also looking to buy a Chim, my worry is also reliability even though I know many have been very reliable, its just the stories what people spend on their cars.
Whats the best action we can take when looking for a Chim to get the best for the money we have?
(obviously there is no guarantee it has been previously looked after well)
Whats the best action we can take when looking for a Chim to get the best for the money we have?
(obviously there is no guarantee it has been previously looked after well)
Condition, conditon and again condition.
My chassis was waxoyled from new - that was the only reason why I bought her, she could have been bright pink but as long as it was in good nick - I wasnt bothered.
Done over 30k miles in 18 months, all weathers and never missed a beat. Only issue was the door solanoid, that was fixed by Ian.
Coming up to camshaft change time now though. Again wont be an issue for another 60-90k miles.
Cant fault the Chim
Claire
My chassis was waxoyled from new - that was the only reason why I bought her, she could have been bright pink but as long as it was in good nick - I wasnt bothered.
Done over 30k miles in 18 months, all weathers and never missed a beat. Only issue was the door solanoid, that was fixed by Ian.
Coming up to camshaft change time now though. Again wont be an issue for another 60-90k miles.
Cant fault the Chim
Claire
mxdi said:
Whats the best action we can take when looking for a Chim to get the best for the money we have?
(obviously there is no guarantee it has been previously looked after well)
Good condition - mechanical more important than cosmetic, and preferably used near-daily. (obviously there is no guarantee it has been previously looked after well)
As for them being unreliable, I've had two Chim's, still got a Tuscan and I'm thinking of chopping the Audi for another Chim as a daily driver...
Yes, a bad one will cause some short term pain financially, but once sorted they are good for daily use.
If you read the Chim threads on here, most of them are likely to be about some problem or other, that's why they post - seeking help. So you can quickly interpret this as evidence of unreliability. Mostly Chims are very reliable (mine is, on 4 years experience) and rather than post tales of woe we just get out there and drive them.
I've huge respect for the Chimaera and although it's hardly rocket-science in engineering it is a hand-built car and as such it's hugely involving. It demands pampering and it knows when it's been polished, had a tankful of the most expensive fuel and just been serviced. It can tell when envious motorists sneak a peak or lower the window to hear the sweatest v8 this side of the atlantic.
So the message is don't weigh the volume (if that's not mixing my metaphors) of posts on PH as evidence of unreliability. Just take your time and find one that deserves your investment. You won't regret it - and take no notice of doom-mongers on falling prices. Big deal, you won't be looking for buyers for a long time and by then maybe they will be moving into classic status and everyone will want one.
I've huge respect for the Chimaera and although it's hardly rocket-science in engineering it is a hand-built car and as such it's hugely involving. It demands pampering and it knows when it's been polished, had a tankful of the most expensive fuel and just been serviced. It can tell when envious motorists sneak a peak or lower the window to hear the sweatest v8 this side of the atlantic.
So the message is don't weigh the volume (if that's not mixing my metaphors) of posts on PH as evidence of unreliability. Just take your time and find one that deserves your investment. You won't regret it - and take no notice of doom-mongers on falling prices. Big deal, you won't be looking for buyers for a long time and by then maybe they will be moving into classic status and everyone will want one.
In my assessment a second hand TVR is going to be as problematical as any other second hand car out there. There's nothing too inherently wrong with the way the TVR is designed or built when you consider that it's a low volume, hand built car. And where there are little foibles (like the starter motor warm start problem) there are easy work arounds.
Your key consideration is that you're buying a car that someone else (or more likely quite a few someone elses) has owned and either abused or properly looked after. You need to satisfy yourself that you're getting the best example that you can afford. Yes, you're taking a risk. But that's going to be the same with any pre-enjoyed car that you buy. If you don't want any risk then buy a brand new car from a manufacturer with a great warranty and break-down recovery service.
Over the past 10 years we've owned 2 BMWs, 3 Mercs and 2 Peugeots all from new, and one second hand TVR. Guess which one has never needed the RAC out?
(if you want even more fun, guess which one the manufacturer bought back after 12 months at the full original purchase value on the basis that they could not make it reliable)
Your key consideration is that you're buying a car that someone else (or more likely quite a few someone elses) has owned and either abused or properly looked after. You need to satisfy yourself that you're getting the best example that you can afford. Yes, you're taking a risk. But that's going to be the same with any pre-enjoyed car that you buy. If you don't want any risk then buy a brand new car from a manufacturer with a great warranty and break-down recovery service.
Over the past 10 years we've owned 2 BMWs, 3 Mercs and 2 Peugeots all from new, and one second hand TVR. Guess which one has never needed the RAC out?
(if you want even more fun, guess which one the manufacturer bought back after 12 months at the full original purchase value on the basis that they could not make it reliable)
Owned my previous one for five years, the electrics were, in the words of my auto-electrician, wired by a colour blind 5 year old. But once he had fixed that, she never let me down mechanically (battery went flat a couple of times, but she hadn't been used for 4 weeks etc..).. It was our only car for a year or so, Tesco and blasting, always happy....
Expensive to service and run, but well worth it.
As the other chap said, most people who bleat about the breakdowns etc.. IME have not actually owned one. We are on another one now, and so far she hasn't missed a beat in 6 months, she even started having not been used for 3 weeks.
Expensive to service and run, but well worth it.
As the other chap said, most people who bleat about the breakdowns etc.. IME have not actually owned one. We are on another one now, and so far she hasn't missed a beat in 6 months, she even started having not been used for 3 weeks.
I often listen to people who have never owned a TVR and feel like laughing hysterically at their misconceptions.
However I often listen to owners describing something utterly unrecognisable as what I know to be a TVR Chimaera.
Are they unreliable? Well - yes! Of course they're unreliable. And they get worse as they get older. Seals and gaskets wear out, cause problems, need replacing and - if you ignore the problem too long - the car will let you down. Door solenoids stop working. The starter motor may need replacing. The clutch wears out after 50,000 miles or so. There are odd coolant leaks. The door mirrors have no give in them so if some chav brushes up against 'em they get knocked off and you have to refit 'em. I could go on and on...
What you have to remember is that our Chimaera is eight years old - and we've had it seven years. In that time plenty of shit can happen!
The key thing is maintenance. Our car is maintained regardless of cost and always has been. Anything goes wrong it gets fixed. And fixed again until it stays fixed. Given you do this - the car is very unlikely to let you down.
Ours let us down once in a major way when the water pump failed. It let us down in a minor way just a few times with hot start problems and HT leads that just wouldn't stay on. Its been on the back of a low loader just the once to my recollection.
My brand spanking new Porsche, on the other hand, was on the back of a low loader three times in its first year and once subsequently. There again the Porsche has never let me down in a minor way!
TVRs need more TLC than a Vectra. A LOT more. But if you provide the TLC - you would be unlucky to be let down in my experience.
We've done several holidays covering thousands of miles in the car and its been fine. Countless weekends away. All fine.
If you want one - GET ONE! Try and get the best you can afford. And accept that your maintenance bills will be eye watering. If you can do this - you will be getting a car that stirs the soul. If the maintenance is going to piss you off - don't buy one.
However I often listen to owners describing something utterly unrecognisable as what I know to be a TVR Chimaera.
Are they unreliable? Well - yes! Of course they're unreliable. And they get worse as they get older. Seals and gaskets wear out, cause problems, need replacing and - if you ignore the problem too long - the car will let you down. Door solenoids stop working. The starter motor may need replacing. The clutch wears out after 50,000 miles or so. There are odd coolant leaks. The door mirrors have no give in them so if some chav brushes up against 'em they get knocked off and you have to refit 'em. I could go on and on...
What you have to remember is that our Chimaera is eight years old - and we've had it seven years. In that time plenty of shit can happen!
The key thing is maintenance. Our car is maintained regardless of cost and always has been. Anything goes wrong it gets fixed. And fixed again until it stays fixed. Given you do this - the car is very unlikely to let you down.
Ours let us down once in a major way when the water pump failed. It let us down in a minor way just a few times with hot start problems and HT leads that just wouldn't stay on. Its been on the back of a low loader just the once to my recollection.
My brand spanking new Porsche, on the other hand, was on the back of a low loader three times in its first year and once subsequently. There again the Porsche has never let me down in a minor way!
TVRs need more TLC than a Vectra. A LOT more. But if you provide the TLC - you would be unlucky to be let down in my experience.
We've done several holidays covering thousands of miles in the car and its been fine. Countless weekends away. All fine.
If you want one - GET ONE! Try and get the best you can afford. And accept that your maintenance bills will be eye watering. If you can do this - you will be getting a car that stirs the soul. If the maintenance is going to piss you off - don't buy one.
Just get one and then you'll see that all the unreliability stuff you hear from your work chums is just rubbish! As long as they're regularly serviced, and any odd knocking/buzzing/rattling is dealt with immediately (as should be for ALL cars) then they're as reliable as any car.
Mine's a late 97 5.0 with just over 82,000 miles, is my only car, I've never worried about it not starting, and it has never left me stranded. It's serviced twice a year, and the garage is always asked to repair ANY problems they find along the way. The bodywork is immaculate, the engine's smooth (and ferocious) the handling is excellent (just had suspension set up) and it just passed its MOT this morning! It had a string of caring owners, who, like me, washed and polished and checked oil and water levels weekly.
I'm not mechanically-minded, but for a test drive would always recommend checking EVERY electrical item, and running it long enough to be sure the plumbing is all working. Above the roar of the engine you might even hear a "NICE CAR MATE!" though if it's got a sports exhaust like mine you might not!
I would feel more comfortable buying from PHer as they're generally enthusiasts, so will have looked after their cars like I do.
Get yerself over to the Classifieds and go test drive a few. Then buy one! Have fun!
Mine's a late 97 5.0 with just over 82,000 miles, is my only car, I've never worried about it not starting, and it has never left me stranded. It's serviced twice a year, and the garage is always asked to repair ANY problems they find along the way. The bodywork is immaculate, the engine's smooth (and ferocious) the handling is excellent (just had suspension set up) and it just passed its MOT this morning! It had a string of caring owners, who, like me, washed and polished and checked oil and water levels weekly.
I'm not mechanically-minded, but for a test drive would always recommend checking EVERY electrical item, and running it long enough to be sure the plumbing is all working. Above the roar of the engine you might even hear a "NICE CAR MATE!" though if it's got a sports exhaust like mine you might not!
I would feel more comfortable buying from PHer as they're generally enthusiasts, so will have looked after their cars like I do.
Get yerself over to the Classifieds and go test drive a few. Then buy one! Have fun!
Yes they are more unrelible than your standard eurobox second hand car,but the car is based on old mechanicals cheaply made electrics/british quality,the cars lack of use/previous owners dosent always help the reliability,they havent had the same funding for development/well not so you would notice,but it is a performance car (big bang per buck)and i love em,yes some of the build quality does leave a lot to be desired.but they have simple mechanics and are easy to maintain,certainly not for the complete novice as far as maintainance is concerned best left to good indi,s.Hope this is of some use.
Your like me..and the replies to your concerns are correct. You do only see the horror stories because..no one volunteers just..'I had a great day out last week with no breakdowns..they are only going to go into print if there were issues..considering the amount of people who drive the vehicles jus work out the % of people who have troubl free motoring. I am looking at a 94 400HC tomorrow..I am not an expert by any means and ultimately no one can give any guarantees against anything.If you have a budget just buy as good as poss..thats what I intend to do,if I like it I'll get it.I will do the basic checks and try to view as much of the chassis/wishbones as poss and see if it stops/starts
hot or cold..if it drives smoothly and gearchanges are smooth,clutch doesn't seem to want to slip..then theres not much else you can do is there.? aside from strip the entire car down and rebuild to satisfy your concerns.A chaps mentioned 50,00 miles amd new clutch..is this law..?? depends on useage and luck..I own an ST170 2YEARS OLD..
CLUTCH WENT ON ME AFTER 2 MONTHS OF USE AND ENDED UP ALSO NEEDING A COMPLETE GEARBOX UNIT FROM FORDS..WHO WOULD HAVE BELIEVED IT..
hot or cold..if it drives smoothly and gearchanges are smooth,clutch doesn't seem to want to slip..then theres not much else you can do is there.? aside from strip the entire car down and rebuild to satisfy your concerns.A chaps mentioned 50,00 miles amd new clutch..is this law..?? depends on useage and luck..I own an ST170 2YEARS OLD..
CLUTCH WENT ON ME AFTER 2 MONTHS OF USE AND ENDED UP ALSO NEEDING A COMPLETE GEARBOX UNIT FROM FORDS..WHO WOULD HAVE BELIEVED IT..
All cars can be unreliable, we own a Chim, an Audi as the daily driver, and a Renault Scenic for carting the kids around in... the Renault is only 1 year old and has been back to the garage 5 times in the first year with problems relating to the electronic stating gadgets (each time on the back of a tow truck).. bloody useless!
As for cost, I pay around £70 per hour for TVR servicing and £95 for Audi... and the difference is that even thought the TVR service seems costly up front, the TVR dealer actually does some work on the car as part of the normal service, whereas the Audi dealer only changes oil and plugs, and looks it over for around £300, and wants more cash for everything they find, e.g. Audi dealers won't even blow the dust of brake pads for less that £100.
Buy a TVR and like many people here have already said, if you treat it well and look after it properly, then it will be as reliable as any car.
As for cost, I pay around £70 per hour for TVR servicing and £95 for Audi... and the difference is that even thought the TVR service seems costly up front, the TVR dealer actually does some work on the car as part of the normal service, whereas the Audi dealer only changes oil and plugs, and looks it over for around £300, and wants more cash for everything they find, e.g. Audi dealers won't even blow the dust of brake pads for less that £100.
Buy a TVR and like many people here have already said, if you treat it well and look after it properly, then it will be as reliable as any car.
I've had 10 years of TVR ownership (S3c and Chim 500 - 5 each) and two years I sold my "everyday car" as the Chimaera was so reliable. I have had some hefty keeping it on the road costs more recently, including - Full TVR Power engine rebuild, new differential, new crankshaft, new clutch, new radiator and new rear suspension, dammit. It's done over 60,000 miles though which can be a fair bit for a TVR, but you wouldn't have expected this on a "normal" car. Still it's £10,000 spent that brings a smile to my face everytime I start it!
J.
J.
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff