Chimaera suggestions for a newcomer
Discussion
Hello,
I am Alberto from Torino, Italy, I need some suggestion in order to buy a Chimaera as my dayly car (22,000 miles/year sun/rain/snow (with winter tires)).
I love sport cars so much and in the last five years I drove 100,000 miles with my Porsche 964 with RS suspension/engine. Sometime I attempt at trackdays in Monza.
Now I decided to have a TVR, maybe a Chimaera. Here in Italy (but also in the rest of continent) are very rare cars and I have to buy a RHD because the LHR are very expensive (over 23,000 GBP). The budget is up to 13,000 GBP.
What model you suggest for my dayly use ? (4.0 or 4.3, 4.5 ?).
About aestetic I love much the oldest Chim with the grille.
Someone experienced very long mileage (over 100k) without problems ?
Regards
Alberto
I am Alberto from Torino, Italy, I need some suggestion in order to buy a Chimaera as my dayly car (22,000 miles/year sun/rain/snow (with winter tires)).
I love sport cars so much and in the last five years I drove 100,000 miles with my Porsche 964 with RS suspension/engine. Sometime I attempt at trackdays in Monza.
Now I decided to have a TVR, maybe a Chimaera. Here in Italy (but also in the rest of continent) are very rare cars and I have to buy a RHD because the LHR are very expensive (over 23,000 GBP). The budget is up to 13,000 GBP.
What model you suggest for my dayly use ? (4.0 or 4.3, 4.5 ?).
About aestetic I love much the oldest Chim with the grille.
Someone experienced very long mileage (over 100k) without problems ?
Regards
Alberto
Hi Alberto - 20,000 miles for the engine is no problem, with correct maintenance. I'd be most concerned about the state of the chasis, especially on an old model and the effect of winter driving (do they put salt on the roads in your area?). As for the engine I recommend the 450 (well of course, because I have a 450 
). With your budget and the current low prices in the UK at this time of the year you should be able to get an excellent 99-2000 450, face-lifted version with reasonably low mileage. Try to get one that has been well-maintained, full service history and evidence that the car has been used frequently, not laid up for long periods of time. Don't forget to keep some budget for 6000 mile services - every 3 months in your case 
. Good luck!
). With your budget and the current low prices in the UK at this time of the year you should be able to get an excellent 99-2000 450, face-lifted version with reasonably low mileage. Try to get one that has been well-maintained, full service history and evidence that the car has been used frequently, not laid up for long periods of time. Don't forget to keep some budget for 6000 mile services - every 3 months in your case . Good luck!Hi Nick
unluckly our road are full of salt during the winter so maybe it would be necessary to have frequent wash under the car.
Here we have even some strong rain; has the Chim any problem whith heavy rain ? (I do not understand why the water do not enter from the holes in the bonnet ?).
Any shieldunder the car to protect engine bay and trasmission ?
Alberto
unluckly our road are full of salt during the winter so maybe it would be necessary to have frequent wash under the car.
Here we have even some strong rain; has the Chim any problem whith heavy rain ? (I do not understand why the water do not enter from the holes in the bonnet ?).
Any shieldunder the car to protect engine bay and trasmission ?
Alberto
al02052 said:
Hi Nick
unluckly our road are full of salt during the winter so maybe it would be necessary to have frequent wash under the car.
Here we have even some strong rain; has the Chim any problem whith heavy rain ? (I do not understand why the water do not enter from the holes in the bonnet ?).
Any shieldunder the car to protect engine bay and trasmission ?
Alberto
unluckly our road are full of salt during the winter so maybe it would be necessary to have frequent wash under the car.
Here we have even some strong rain; has the Chim any problem whith heavy rain ? (I do not understand why the water do not enter from the holes in the bonnet ?).
Any shieldunder the car to protect engine bay and trasmission ?
Alberto
Absolutely no problem with heavy rain provided you don't try surfing and remember the rear is very light and the tyres are wide. I drove without incident or this week in the heaviest rain I've ever seen. There's no shield and air flow out of the holes in the bonnet stops water going in. So water spray under the car will find every gap to the inside - making sure all the usual sources of water leaks are fixed (e.g around the clutch master cylinder cover etc) will be important but that's all easily done with some Sikaflex and a few hours. Plus a regular dosing of Thompson water seal on the roof material and you're all set.
SEASPANNER said:
I am worrying a bit also about the rhd in the continent,autostrada tolls,parking,overtaking etc.It is the one thing that has been holding me back.
What is this i am hearing about chassis corrosion now?,is this a serious tvr problem?????
What is this i am hearing about chassis corrosion now?,is this a serious tvr problem?????
Do a search on "outriggers" - but pour yourself a stiff drink first
Actually it's only a problem with some cars where maintenance of the powder coat has not been attended to and especially in certain areas (the hardest to get to, naturally). It's not a problem on all cars but certainly worth getting someone experienced to check out before you buy. Rectification of serious chassis corrosion (i.e. not just flakey powder coat) may require the body to be lifted off the chassis for attention. Regular Waxoyl applied after careful inspection and surface preparation is a must-do maintenance investment. Alberto
I guess in Torino you will get a lot of snow in the winter. Trust me, the Chimaera is not a good snow car. (Maybe you will have small FIAT for the snowy days)
Apart from that the Chimaera is a good every day car. It does prefer 98 octane fuel, which I can never find in Italy, but can be set up for normal unleaded.
I guess in Torino you will get a lot of snow in the winter. Trust me, the Chimaera is not a good snow car. (Maybe you will have small FIAT for the snowy days)
Apart from that the Chimaera is a good every day car. It does prefer 98 octane fuel, which I can never find in Italy, but can be set up for normal unleaded.
"There's no shield and air flow out of the holes in the bonnet stops water going in"
Ok, but what happen if the car is not going, do the water enter by those holes ?
Snow: yes we have a lot, but I am not scared, I drove without any problem my Porsche 964 Turbo with 355bhp only on the rear wheels and no traction control (only LSD). Of course need a lot of concentration. A car with narrow tires is better but I get used to mount winter tires on Porsche and it is ok and I guess shoud be the same with TVR.
About snow and skiing, is possible to mount a rack for carrying the skiis?
Alberto
Ok, but what happen if the car is not going, do the water enter by those holes ?
Snow: yes we have a lot, but I am not scared, I drove without any problem my Porsche 964 Turbo with 355bhp only on the rear wheels and no traction control (only LSD). Of course need a lot of concentration. A car with narrow tires is better but I get used to mount winter tires on Porsche and it is ok and I guess shoud be the same with TVR.
About snow and skiing, is possible to mount a rack for carrying the skiis?
Alberto
Water through the bonnet vents when stationary is not a problem it just runs onto the inner wings and down them to the ground. My 400HC stands in my work car park every day and has never had a problem with getting wet in the engine bay. I also drive it in the occasional snow we get here, as you say you just have to be careful and expect to be overtaken by lots of Fords & Skodas.
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