Chimera and long fast motorway driving
Discussion
sorry that this is long.
I drive around 30000 miles/year, 70% of it in Germany on the autobahn, at pretty high speeds.
Typical journeys:
a) chunnel, Bruges, Ghent, Eynatten (german border), back to Ghent, 4 appointments, around 450 miles, all in one day
b) leave afternoon to south of Frankfurt, nearly 500 miles. 100 mph in France, 85 Belgium, flat out in Germany (i.e. 120-140 mph). Arrive midnight after approx. 6 hours driving. Up at 7.00 am, appointment, leave 10.00, drive 300 niles north (3.25 hrs), lunch, appointment 14.00 hrs. Leave 16.00 drive to Berlin 300 miles, 4 hours. Appointment next morning, then back to UK 800 miles, 9.5 hours.
I use an audi A8, 310 bhp, and in 70000 miles I have only actually been forced to stop once. The windscreen wiper motor stopped, and it was raining. I got off the motorway, 3 miles to nearest audi agent, 1 hr. repair (they nicked the motor off a demo car) and I was back on the road again. Its a smashing car, now very nicely run in, actually has around 340 bhp, but I still find it slow - and I AM BORED TO TEARS.
Perhaps its my midlife crisis, but in 1-2 years when the Audi is up for renewal, I want soemthing more exciting, to put some pep back into my sad life, now that everything on my body seems to be drooping or falling off.
I'm looking around for a 2 or 2+2 convertible (I have a souped up MPV if I have to ferry customers around). I thought of Porsche (HATE THEM!), Jaguar XK8 or XKR - and then chanced on TVR.
Whatever I buy, it has to be as a company car. Normally, I would buy a TVR privately and for fun. But my wife is baying at my heels for 20000 quid for a new kitchen, so I can't go off any buy one - and I can't afford both a kitchen and a TVR at the same time off private money.
It has to be Chimera. I think the Rover V8's are still a little more robust, and the Chimera has a decent sized boot. I always have a lot of gear to take with me - 2 laptop bags, 2 large camera bags, other assorted stuff and overnight bags. I don't think they'd fit in a Griff. Also, Chimp is probably kinder to my back.
BUT - I drive on average 6-8 hours/day, in extreme cases 16hours/1100 miles.
Can you do it in a Chimp? Will the Chimp hold up to the strain?
Will I (or do you??) hold up to the strain of driving it and strain of the noise over a long distance. A TVR makes a gorgeous sound - but 8 hours of it?!?
I cannot live without navigation. It can be fitted easily enough - but will I hear the voice with the instructions?
I have to speak on a mobile phone a lot - and hands-free is the law now everywhere in Europe, even Germany as from 01.04.2001. Could you even hear a hands-free system?!? (However, I think I could get round it by wearing a head-set).
Can one (even in the summer) drive for long hours and high speeds with the roof down, or is this no longer a viable proposition.
Enough. You are all, I think, drivers, and not people that piss about, so I am sure you understand what I am getting at. I very much welcome your comments and suggestions as to the feasability of a Chimp for what I am doing.
Many thanks in advance, Best wishes, WalterU
I use my Chim for 12-15k miles per year, mostly on long journeys. ( no drive to work as i work 50% from home) and get very few problems. Its nosier yes, but still quite comfy. I drove all the way to and from le mans last year with the roof in the back of one of the other cars, so long top down journeys at 130plus are no problem ( interestingly at very high speed it was more comfy with the back of the roof down rarther than up).
There is plenty of room for stuff in the boot of a chim, i regularly carry a couple of pc's in the boot.
You could fit navigation in the radio slot, just.
I have a nokia hands free kit and it of at 80/90 with the roof on, although it would be better if i could route the sound out through the stereo.
The only down side would be loads of serving 6k intervals, lots of tyres 2-3 sets per year...Loads of fuel 20-25mpg and the residuals would take a hammering 3 years old with 90 -100k might be difficult to pass on.
A boxter would probably be more practical, but who needs practical when you want somthing to make you smile.
A different set of seats would make things better as the current ones are crap, but i think the new Chimaera have different sedats so maybe they have that one sorted.
The trip back from LM to the ferry port was about 7hours in 110-120 degree heat, with the first part in heavy stop go traffic and the last part almost flat out at 150. The car was faultless and never missed a beat.
Unless you got a lemon i dont think you would have a problem, espec if you get to streatch its legs a lot on the autobahn. So i would say yes, but get good aa cover just in case...
Graham
quote:Bloody Hell!! My A8 may be staid and boring, but at 300-odd bhp maintenance costs for 70000 miles have been less than 4000 pounds (sorry, german keyboard can't write a "pound" sign). That includes Mobil1 oil. I'm a TVR novice. Why so HIGH?!? Could Graham perhaps give a guesstimate as to what his maintenance costs are for hos 12-15K miles p.a. Tyres - how long do they last? Does the car itself burn so much rubber, or are you all doing it yourselves at the traffic lights? :-) Because of the way I drive tyres on the A8 last around 25000 miles, cost (in Germany) 300 pounds. Mostly theyre okay in the middle but the edges are worn from going round autobahn corners on two wheels.
Maybe it won't be a concern for you, but with that sort of mileage you really ought to work out the likely servicing costs. Chimps need a service every 6,000 miles, and I have never had a service bill for less than £500. I have had several in 4 figures.
I guess I wouldn't recommend a Tiv for such mega mileage as depreciation will be mega as well as servicing bills and tyres. My company car is a Jag sedan with the R performance suspension and wheels and it is just fine for the sort of mileage you talk about. I need a 4 door but if you don't check out the XKR Silverstone convertible.
20,000 GBP ?
That must be one hell of a kitchen!!
Services for a Chimaera vary (typically) between 300 and 1000 GBP, depending on interval and the garage you use. I would say try and hire one for a weekend or few days (Bespoke?) and do some long journeys. It's a very comfortable car, but nothing like an A8. Whilst the position and cabin is good, you cannot relax as much as you might in the A8, as any TVR demands a constant level of attention, especially if you're travelling on minor roads. Motorways are generally fine though.
I tend to find on a long journey, that I don't get tired driving the car, indeed, sometimes you wish the distance was longer, but once I've arrived and got out of the car, the fatigue hits you. And it seems (IMHO) to hit harder after a TVR journey than a normal (boring) car journey.
Good luck with your choice,
Dr C
Services for a Chimaera vary (typically) between 300 and 1000 GBP, depending on interval and the garage you use. I would say try and hire one for a weekend or few days (Bespoke?) and do some long journeys. It's a very comfortable car, but nothing like an A8. Whilst the position and cabin is good, you cannot relax as much as you might in the A8, as any TVR demands a constant level of attention, especially if you're travelling on minor roads. Motorways are generally fine though.
I tend to find on a long journey, that I don't get tired driving the car, indeed, sometimes you wish the distance was longer, but once I've arrived and got out of the car, the fatigue hits you. And it seems (IMHO) to hit harder after a TVR journey than a normal (boring) car journey.
Good luck with your choice,
Dr C Servicing is not as cheap as a 'mainstream' car, if you can call an S8 that. However, if residuals on 8 series Audis are anything like the same in the UK then you are already willing to lose quite a chunk on that, so look at it on an overall basis. If though, as I suspect, the values hold better in the cars homeland, then my arguement just flew out the window.
One other point, does a large 4 wheel drive Audi aquaplane much on fast autobahn driving? A chimp is MUCH more likely to do so. I'm not wimping here, just thinking how much time you might lose if you need to knock 30-40mph on a long run.
Having said that, GO ON, you know it makes sense
:-)
Walter, much as I love TVR's and am always one to promote them to all and sundry, I think that in your situation even if you don't end up with a lemon you could be buying a headache (metaphorically and physically). I have just added up my service history on my 1994 Griffith 500. Currently stands at about £12k (without tyres).
I love the car and on the whole it is pretty reliable, however, I've just returned from a 5 hour drive to Wales, one which I did in the Griff last year and despite being enjoyable and fast, it was hot, pretty noisy (even that beautiful sound gets annoying eventually), hot and frequented with fuel stops. This time I took my Jeep Cherokee and it took about half an hour longer but cost a lot less in fuel and unlike last time I now don't feel like murdering someone.
I'd wait for the fast Audi TT coming out next year or get a Boxster and supercharge it (I know you don't like Porsches from what you've said though) or, how about a Z3M Coupe? Best of luck, hate to be the one to put you off.
...Oh and hide the Smallbone catalogue from you're wife!
a big thank you to all who have commented, and a few answers
ADB commented on aquaplaning. A very good point. The A8 with quattro drive has been the least affected of all big limousines I have driven, and beats the **** out of a 7 series - I've had that as well.
ADB and residuals: a valid point, but I don't mind. Company cars run on my german company, are written down to 30p afer 5 years. Any residual value above that I have to tax as a company profit. They always get you somehow, don't they?!?
A8, 5 years old, 70K miles is worth 30% of new in Germany.
All have made very helpful comments. Dr. Chuff, I will, no matter what, rent one and take it for a trip before deciding. rob350, an XKR convertible is probably the other alternative, or - sigh - a Boxster. The Audi TT looks good, but doessn't live up to its looks when you drive it.
Dr chuff and craigw say what I am secretly afraid off - I'll have a hellofatime driving, but be knackered when I get there - bad for business :-((
Dammit, I've probably only got 20 more years to live - why does common sense always have to creep in so inexorably?
I suppose I could drive a TVR less than I do the audi and do the longer journeys with the Galaxy V6 - GROOOAANN.
By the way, the A8 uses about the same in petrol as a TVR - no probs with that.
It seems to me that with a TVR you get:
Ferrari performance at half the price :-))))
Ferrari maintenance costs :-(((
Please, anyone that wants to - make further comments, I'd be very grateful. I'll be away for 2 days flogging the A8 over a german motorway, snow permitting. I'm visiting the TVR agent in Ghent on the way over tomorrow afternoon. I haven't even driven one yet, its high time I did. Whatever I buy, I'll sure miss quattro drive ...
Thank you, all of you, WalterU
quote:Not so - a dancing donkey will most likely cost considerably more to maintain than a TVR even if it doesn't go wrong. (I am of course prepared to accept a 360 Spider for 12 months to test this theory
It seems to me that with a TVR you get: Ferrari performance at half the price :-)))) Ferrari maintenance costs :-(((
)
I have to concur with the opinion of others - driving a Chimp for long periods of time is fatiguing (although always exhilerating). Perhaps there are other 'GT' cars out there that would provide thrills + comfort? 2nd hand Bently Turbo R? A TVR is definitely cheaper to service than other supercars. For lots of long distance cruising I'd be tempted by an XKR - bloody fast and fine on a motorway. Not a supercar like a TVR/Fwawi etc though. I guess they're quite rare in mainland Europe too.
MPG wise a TVR is probably better than it's peers.
T/.
Late i responding but I'd tend to agree that a TVR for long, regular motorway work is not ideal. I've done London to Scotland (n of Glasgow) in 5 hours, 12-hour trips across France and the like and it IS knackering, even though it's fun at the time. Sometimes you need a car that doesn't require 100% concentration to keep it in lane since no-one can maintain that level of attention for such a sustained period.
I'd get an XKR....
I came back from Belgium/Germany on Wednesday
On the way, I went to the dealer in Ghent, had a chat and a short drive of a Chim 500.
Very, very interesting. I found the car very, very easy to drive, extremely practical and useable in everyday traffic. The ride was hard, but acceptable, the seats helping to swallow. I was so intrigued that I rang up TVR centre en route and ended up renting a Chim 450 for the weekend.
I have now driven a Chim for around 8 hours. I love it, its a really good car. It has a really solid feeling to it. Doors and boot lid clunk beautifully. The roof system is wonderful. A Chim is around 4 metres long. A Boxster needs 4.3 metres and and XKR 4.7 metres. Neither has nowhere near the boot capacity of the Chim. I can get all my gear in with lots of room to spare. I repeat, I find it a doddle to drive (mind you, I didn't try flooring the throttle on wet roads). I have averaged 55 mph over 8 hours doing 65% motorways, 35% town and country roads, intersperced with occasional acceleration orgies whever the roads were dry enough :-). For around 300 bhp I find fuel ecomony very good - around 23 mpg.
The belgian dealer tells me a small maintenance would cost approx. £ 200.00, the big ones approx. £ 400.00 - is he cutting corners?!?
I could really live with a Chim - but not with the noise. philshort is dead right. I went 85-90 mph - and after two hours I arrived home and it took around 1/2 hour before I could hear properly - I was semi-deaf. The sound is absolutely gorgeous, but as far as I'm concerned it makes it into an hour-and-a-half car. Give me a Chim with the exhaust sound levels of an A8 - and I'm your man.
Ultimately, I'll buy one, but privately, for the weekend - which means the kitchen has to come first :-(. As a business car the way I need one - sorry no.
So now its looking at Porsche Boxster, 911, XKR or perhaps an S8.
I value very much all the input you have all put into my silly problem. The wonderful response I had led me to go to Lydden Hill today, and I met and talked to a few TVR owners.
I'll be back ...
Best wishes to all, and thank you - WalterU
Walter,
You can get removable inserts for the exhausts that bring the noise level down by a few dBs. They're meant for use with sports exhausts so that cars can conform to noise regulations at track days and so on However, they may work with the standard exhaust too.
If there's anything else I can do to assist with imminent and vast expenditure, just let me know 
quote:Not really the sort of weather that shows TVR at their best, was it? It was so wet I couldn't even get the tyres to squeal.
I value very much all the input you have all put into my silly problem. The wonderful response I had led me to go to Lydden Hill today, and I met and talked to a few TVR owners.
And after surviving all that oil and rain on the track it took me another three and a half hours to get home. One of those weekends when I think we were lucky to get away unscathed. Hope you will come back later in the year when we have some better weather to show you.
Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)
quote:Just a thought re deafening yourself in a TVR - I was reading about a bloke here in the states who uses noise reducing headphones to enable him to drive his Cobra for long periods. Didn't say what brand, but Bose sell a set of noise reducing headphones for $299 that can be used during air travel. Sony & Panasonic also sell a setup ($199 & $150) that are advertised for coach travel as well as other modes of transport. You can still listen to the hi-fi, it just cuts out the ambient drone of the vehicle... I've no idea of the legality of these devices in Europe (or even here in the US), but possibly worth a look?
I could really live with a Chim - but not with the noise. philshort is dead right. I went 85-90 mph - and after two hours I arrived home and it took around 1/2 hour before I could hear properly - I was semi-deaf. The sound is absolutely gorgeous, but as far as I'm concerned it makes it into an hour-and-a-half car. Give me a Chim with the exhaust sound levels of an A8 - and I'm your man. Best wishes to all, and thank you - WalterU
quote:yes that was me - sorry I didn't see you! I didn't crawl out of bed until 11 am and had to leave at 3pm do do the shopping. I normally do the shopiing on Sats, but I spent all Sat blasting in the Chim. The wekend cost me a fortune, I was way over my mileage limit. If I did all my mileage in England, I would buy a Chim. But its the huge longdistance hauls in mainland Europe that are the problem. Rgds, WalterU
Walter that was you!? I saw the TVR Centre car and couldn't work out if it was a demo car or what. Sorry to have missed you.
quote:I told you - I'll be back. I saw you drive - Graham pointed you out. Unfortunately I missed having a chat to you and then Tesco called ... By the way, you did very well indeed keeping the back end under control. Rgds WalterU
Not really the sort of weather that shows TVR at their best, was it? It was so wet I couldn't even get the tyres to squeal.
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