Chimera Fuel

[DoctorBonzo]

Hi, I'm looking at entering the world of TVR by buying my first chimera.
However, I'm worried about fuel prices. Do the chimera's only run on superunleaded or will I be able to run her on normal unleaded?
Any ballpark figures on fuel consumption? How big is the fuel tank?
Any advice on buying a chimera would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Rhydian (Kent)

[DoctorBonzo]

Plus are the later models (2001 say) any different from earlier models (1994 etc.)? Any more reliable / upgrades?
Thanks RH

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

DoctorBonzo said:

Hi, I'm looking at entering the world of TVR by buying my first chimera.
However, I'm worried about fuel prices. Do the chimera's only run on superunleaded or will I be able to run her on normal unleaded?
Any ballpark figures on fuel consumption? How big is the fuel tank?
Any advice on buying a chimera would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Rhydian (Kent)

Mate, if you're worried about the above, then don't buy a Chimaera.

[StreetDragster]

As above really, but its really worth the fuel.

MPG wise it can vary greatly between cars, mines a 450 and i'm getting 18mpg on a mixed town run, and 24mpg on more cruise, although on a trip to Essex i averaged 33mpg so its totally dependant on you and your driving style.

They can run on either normal unleaded or super

Not sure on fuel tank size sorry, its at least 50 litres i think

The later models have better chassis, brakes and suspension from the 500 cars, different looks, slightly different interiors, T5 gearbox's rather than the SD1 box's and i think, in a very vague way, thats it.

Thanks

Matt

[Red V8]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

DoctorBonzo said:

Hi, I'm looking at entering the world of TVR by buying my first chimera.
However, I'm worried about fuel prices. Do the chimera's only run on superunleaded or will I be able to run her on normal unleaded?
Any ballpark figures on fuel consumption? How big is the fuel tank?
Any advice on buying a chimera would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Rhydian (Kent)

Mate, if you're worried about the above, then don't buy a Chimaera.

wot SB said... also great site for buying info http://www.chimaerapages.com/

[Timja]

StreetDragster said:

As above really, but its really worth the fuel.

MPG wise it can vary greatly between cars, mines a 450 and i'm getting 18mpg on a mixed town run, and 24mpg on more cruise, although on a trip to Essex i averaged 33mpg so its totally dependant on you and your driving style.

They can run on either normal unleaded or super

Not sure on fuel tank size sorry, its at least 50 litres i think

The later models have better chassis, brakes and suspension from the 500 cars, different looks, slightly different interiors, T5 gearbox's rather than the SD1 box's and i think, in a very vague way, thats it.

Thanks

Matt

33mpg???!!! How the heck? I've never managed over about 24 on a long run! - Normally 17-20mpg on mixed driving.

[nia198]

Timja said:

StreetDragster said:

As above really, but its really worth the fuel.

MPG wise it can vary greatly between cars, mines a 450 and i'm getting 18mpg on a mixed town run, and 24mpg on more cruise, although on a trip to Essex i averaged 33mpg so its totally dependant on you and your driving style.

They can run on either normal unleaded or super

Not sure on fuel tank size sorry, its at least 50 litres i think

The later models have better chassis, brakes and suspension from the 500 cars, different looks, slightly different interiors, T5 gearbox's rather than the SD1 box's and i think, in a very vague way, thats it.

Thanks

Matt

33mpg???!!! How the heck? I've never managed over about 24 on a long run! - Normally 17-20mpg on mixed driving.

I only get 33mpg when I'm pushing it on the country lanes... in my dreams! Don't know what you have to do to get that, but I'm guessing you might as well be in any car, as you must be barely tickling the loud pedal

I worked out how much I've been spending on petrol the other day () - though I should know as I'm useing her every day, and as I can NEVER resist the option of flooring it (The day I can is the day I'll sell up!!!) I thought it may not be good to know what it's costing me! I always buy petrol on my visa card, so simply added up how much I spent on petrol since the last service, 2735 miles ago, and took a stab at the average fuel price over the period. I reckon I've got a long term average of pretty much bang on 18mpg (mine's 450 from 2000 by the way). That's over a mix of probably 70:30 motorway speed:town, with a 2/3 being my 30mile daily round trip to work, during which the fuel econmomy sucks as she takes half the one way trip to warm up...

Hope that helps. Have to say that bearing in mind what I used to get in my little 1.6, the extra 50% I'm spending is WELL worth it

I used to think 15miles to work was pretty sweet, but recently as I get close to home I just wish there was a little further to go. I love this car...

[chimalsu]

just returned from france 1000 mile round trip av 27mpg but mostly motorway driving around 90-100mph.use 98 in france but 95 in uk dont notice any difference in performance.

[thenick]

DoctorBonzo said:

Hi, I'm looking at entering the world of TVR by buying my first chimera.
However, I'm worried about fuel prices. Do the chimera's only run on superunleaded or will I be able to run her on normal unleaded?
Any ballpark figures on fuel consumption? How big is the fuel tank?
Any advice on buying a chimera would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Rhydian (Kent)

- Chim fuel tank is 57 litres

- On standard ECU you need to run on 97 or higher octane fuel: ie vpower and the like

- Plan to get around 17-18mpg average, they will do more but you're not likely to achieve this very often as the loud pedal is just too tempting.

- If you put in normal fuel and intend to drive it at anything more than a pootle, put octane booster in to make sure it doesn't pink.

- When buying, check all the usual stuff (look on the chimaerapages for a guide), but drive a few and get a feel for them. Buy a 'Monday morning' car and it will serve you well, get a 'Friday afternoon special' and you'll spend a fortune and wish you'd never bought it.

[Pupp]

thenick said:

DoctorBonzo said:

Hi, I'm looking at entering the world of TVR by buying my first chimera.
However, I'm worried about fuel prices. Do the chimera's only run on superunleaded or will I be able to run her on normal unleaded?
Any ballpark figures on fuel consumption? How big is the fuel tank?
Any advice on buying a chimera would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Rhydian (Kent)

- Chim fuel tank is 57 litres

- On standard ECU you need to run on 97 or higher octane fuel: ie vpower and the like

- Plan to get around 17-18mpg average, they will do more but you're not likely to achieve this very often as the loud pedal is just too tempting.

- If you put in normal fuel and intend to drive it at anything more than a pootle, put octane booster in to make sure it doesn't pink.

- When buying, check all the usual stuff (look on the chimaerapages for a guide), but drive a few and get a feel for them. Buy a 'Monday morning' car and it will serve you well, get a 'Friday afternoon special' and you'll spend a fortune and wish you'd never bought it.

Just to contrast with that, I always used regular unleaded on mine with no issues... if you do get a touch of pinking, the timing can be backed off a tad but I could always moderate it enough with the right foot. Stock ECU has no timing function BTW although aftermarket ones do enable different spark maps to be set for taking advantage of better fuel qualities.

The difference between a 'Monday' car and a Friday car is about the same as 6000 miles of hard use with no TLC... no harm in buying right however as Nick advises 'though it's difficult not to go for the first you try!

[GreenV8S]

thenick said:

- On standard ECU you need to run on 97 or higher octane fuel: ie vpower and the like

- If you put in normal fuel and intend to drive it at anything more than a pootle, put octane booster in to make sure it doesn't pink.

That's slightly misleading. The octane requirements vary from car to car and depend on the conditions too. IIf the car has been set up to run on lower octane fuel, running the more expensive higher octane fuel is unnecessary. f you don't know whether yours is happy with lower octane, try it and see whether it pinks. If it does, drive it gently to avoid pinking until you can go back to a higher octane or get it adjusted to suit a lower octane. If you decide to get it adjusted, this is very quick to do and the people who service the car should have no trouble doing it for you.

[sparkesp]

Well, I too stuck my toe in to TVR ownership earlier this year, and love it. Wouldnt look back.

Yes, the cars use a lot of fuel (I average 20 mpg), yes, they have their quirks (wiper motor park switch), yes there are some unloved cars out there (but thats the same for any model).

I have always used 98 RON, and hever had any problems. There are stories of issues using 95, but come on, it doesnt cost much more for peace of mind.

But, the sound of that V8 with the roof down on a sunny day is so worth it.

The advice I had when looking. Things to look for, chassis condition, and soes the car look, and read (service history) looked after. TVR isnt just a car, its an experience, and I for one still have a smile on my face every time I start her up.

One thing I would do more of if I were looking again would be to look at lots, i didnt, and yes, a better car came up the very next week.

Still, shes all mine, and I love her.

Edited by sparkesp on Tuesday 12th August 18:35

[Whiplash]

Who cares. GET ONE. Wish I wasn't selling mine but need must. Best car I have ever had.

[snorky]

"On standard ECU you need to run on 97 or higher octane fuel: ie vpower and the like"

Run mine on 95 octane all the time and never had any pinking - so it is dependant on the car methinks...

[thenick]

Well seems I was wrong and you can run it on crap stuff. I was under the impression it was mapped to 98 octane petrol since it says it on the fuel filler?

[Derek Smith]

thenick said:

Well seems I was wrong and you can run it on crap stuff. I was under the impression it was mapped to 98 octane petrol since it says it on the fuel filler?

I have a 4.0 Chim. I couldn't find a Shell or BP garage in France so was forced to put 15 litres of 95RON in. I drove it for no more than 25 miles before finding V-Power and filled up. The car refused to run on all cylinders for some distance. Made the journey a bit of a pain for half a day.

It eventually cleared after another top up with V-Power.

The problem has not returned since returning to Shell and BP magic fuel in England.

[Badmutha]

My mpg has improved dramatically recently, as if by magic, and it seemed to happen when I reached 9 points!! It's surprising what these cars will return if you drive like your Auntie

[daz the plumber]

so what mpg gain would you get with the mark adams chip ?

[V8 Animal]

daz the plumber said:

so what mpg gain would you get with the mark adams chip ?

Can't see any unless your cars running very unhealthy.

[daz the plumber]

thought they ran on the lean side when cruising .