Advice on a potential TVR driver
Discussion
Can you help me.
After running around in a Boxster for the past 12 months, the love hate relationship is coming to an end!
I have been pondering about a Chim.....but which one
4L,4.5L or 5L
I like a fast car, the Boxster clearly isn't hence her going. But will the 4L give me the WOW factor back from what some of my previous cars did or do i need more cc?
Finally, is there anything i need to be aware of for example - all Boxster's 2.5 have the potential of the piston liners splitting (a cool 10k to repair!!)
I gather 16k - 18k should get me a good one??
Thanks
SVG
After running around in a Boxster for the past 12 months, the love hate relationship is coming to an end!
I have been pondering about a Chim.....but which one
4L,4.5L or 5L I like a fast car, the Boxster clearly isn't hence her going. But will the 4L give me the WOW factor back from what some of my previous cars did or do i need more cc?
Finally, is there anything i need to be aware of for example - all Boxster's 2.5 have the potential of the piston liners splitting (a cool 10k to repair!!)
I gather 16k - 18k should get me a good one??
Thanks
SVG
I've got a 4.0l Chim and although it's faster (just) than Boxsters, I reckon if your after a real noticeable difference then your bet bet would be a 4.5l, possibly a 5.0l.
16-18k should get you a very good one, especially if you buy privately. Example, a '96 Chim 4.0l from a dealer would be around £16k whereas I'm the clasifieds you can pick up 4.5l and 5.0l a couple of years newer for around the same price or a little more.
Good luck hunting!
16-18k should get you a very good one, especially if you buy privately. Example, a '96 Chim 4.0l from a dealer would be around £16k whereas I'm the clasifieds you can pick up 4.5l and 5.0l a couple of years newer for around the same price or a little more.
Good luck hunting!
They all have wow factor so I'd be inclined to find the best one (blend of age, service history and mileage) that you can for the money. If a 450 or 500 pops up then take it but if a really good 400 happens along don't miss it. I guess you're looking at '97-98 and by that time of their evolution the Chimaera's were pretty well sorted. There are a few points to check (or have a TVR specialist check for you - doesn't have to be a main dealer, plenty of indies about). Outriggers, wishbones, cooling system and water leaks being four, but you don't need a TVR specialist to tell if the vehicle suffers from water leaks due to the musty smell, especially on a hot day. Can be fixed but you'll need to replace the carpets etc.
If its been properly looked after, and not thrashed on a track, the v8's as hard as nails.
What the Chimaera lacks in in-the-cabin sophistication compared to the Porsche it more than makes up for on the road, and in the looks and sound department.
Hope this helps you to Chimaera ownership
If its been properly looked after, and not thrashed on a track, the v8's as hard as nails.
What the Chimaera lacks in in-the-cabin sophistication compared to the Porsche it more than makes up for on the road, and in the looks and sound department.
Hope this helps you to Chimaera ownership
Thanks for the advice so far.
The 450 was the one @ the back of my mind, along with convincing the "lady" for the change
Between the 4L & 4.5L - is there much apart? Do they share the same brakes etc, and power steering is a must for some (my girl again
)Is this std??
I have already been reading the links on wheels. This will be my 1st purchase for sure. I'm not keen on the tiny std rims.....but thats just me.
SVG
The 450 was the one @ the back of my mind, along with convincing the "lady" for the change
Between the 4L & 4.5L - is there much apart? Do they share the same brakes etc, and power steering is a must for some (my girl again
)Is this std?? I have already been reading the links on wheels. This will be my 1st purchase for sure. I'm not keen on the tiny std rims.....but thats just me.
SVG
Powersteering doesn't make that much difference as the racks have different ratios, very slightly easier for parking.
It goes wothout saying but check for a bulletproof history.
If it's from a dealer speak to the previous owner. Hose the car off with the roof on to check for leaks.
Get the car hot and restart a couple of times to check the starter doesn't suffer due to heat.
Check for play in wishbone bushes.
Check for corrosion on wishbones.
They all weep oil slightly from diff, gearbox or engine as long as it's not excessive - nothing to worry about.
Gearbox can go from light smooth action in one car to a heavy weightier shift in another - both are fine!!
Check windscreen for delamination.
All engine sizes are good, I drive a 4.0 and I personally don't think I could drive a five litre quite as quick, go for the best car you find - not spec.
When you get the car.
Coat the roof with Thompsons waterseal - 2 coats
Get it chassis cleaned and waxoyled
Fit either a lower firing otter switch or fan overide.
Buy a can of tyreweld - they do have a spare but they a low enough already, try jacking one with a puncture!
Buy a new alternator belt - fit it and keep the old as spare.
Treat the glass with Rain-Ex
And enjoy
It goes wothout saying but check for a bulletproof history.
If it's from a dealer speak to the previous owner. Hose the car off with the roof on to check for leaks.
Get the car hot and restart a couple of times to check the starter doesn't suffer due to heat.
Check for play in wishbone bushes.
Check for corrosion on wishbones.
They all weep oil slightly from diff, gearbox or engine as long as it's not excessive - nothing to worry about.
Gearbox can go from light smooth action in one car to a heavy weightier shift in another - both are fine!!
Check windscreen for delamination.
All engine sizes are good, I drive a 4.0 and I personally don't think I could drive a five litre quite as quick, go for the best car you find - not spec.
When you get the car.
Coat the roof with Thompsons waterseal - 2 coats
Get it chassis cleaned and waxoyled
Fit either a lower firing otter switch or fan overide.
Buy a can of tyreweld - they do have a spare but they a low enough already, try jacking one with a puncture!
Buy a new alternator belt - fit it and keep the old as spare.
Treat the glass with Rain-Ex
And enjoy
Welcome into the light !
Just to re-inforce what you have already been advised, take your time and find a well looked after car that has been driven on a regular basis.
You dont see many heads turn when a Boxster goes past, but heads always turn when any Tiv goes past.
Good luck & hope you find the right one
Just to re-inforce what you have already been advised, take your time and find a well looked after car that has been driven on a regular basis.
You dont see many heads turn when a Boxster goes past, but heads always turn when any Tiv goes past.
Good luck & hope you find the right one
Funny thing, wife always wanted a Boxster, or rather, wanted me to have one, and while she likes the Trevor, she still points them out to me as we're going along.
Two things changed her mind - sat next to a Boxster S, revving his little head off, and wife sighs and says "go on, I know you want to" so Jonathan and his Root Vegetables are applied, and Boxster S is left looking very silly indeed.
Second thing, on an hours drive across Birmingham and Worcestershire yesterday, we counted FOURTEEN Boxsters, and only one TVR, and she simply said "you made a choice, they didn't...."
She doesn't say that much, but she hits the nail on the head every time!
Go for it, and as the others have said, buy on condition, not spec. I wanted a light blue or purple Chimaera, with magnolia interior - I ended up with a dark blue one with biscuit leather - but it was two years newer, and half the mileage of all the others I'd looked at....
Best of luck!
Two things changed her mind - sat next to a Boxster S, revving his little head off, and wife sighs and says "go on, I know you want to" so Jonathan and his Root Vegetables are applied, and Boxster S is left looking very silly indeed.
Second thing, on an hours drive across Birmingham and Worcestershire yesterday, we counted FOURTEEN Boxsters, and only one TVR, and she simply said "you made a choice, they didn't...."
She doesn't say that much, but she hits the nail on the head every time!
Go for it, and as the others have said, buy on condition, not spec. I wanted a light blue or purple Chimaera, with magnolia interior - I ended up with a dark blue one with biscuit leather - but it was two years newer, and half the mileage of all the others I'd looked at....
Best of luck!
You need to get yourself along to one of the North West meets, like the Romper on the 2nd Sunday of the month. Jess has a 500 Chim and me and Richarhino have 450s and I think Roadsweeper has a 400 (If I'm wrong on any of these, I'm sorry....it's late, no sleep and baby crying in the background). At least then you should be able to see the difference between them all.
[quote=Nano2nd]agreed about about the PAS, as i've just bought one i didn't entertain any without it
All down to personal choice
I spent some 2/3 months test driving many Chims before I bought my 4ltr all with PAS.
My last drive - no PAS-- it felt heavy and hard work but I had a feeling for the car and it for me
--so I bought it.
After two months of driving I wouldnt change to PAS (My local TVR garage charge £600 fitted)--I grunt and groan a little while trying to park in tight spots but its for driving and not for parking.
Call me old fashiond but I know where the wheels are pointing both in the dry and the wet--not so in the PAS estate which I also drive.
Anyway its your call and what ever you decide go get one and if you dont--
well youll never know
All down to personal choice
I spent some 2/3 months test driving many Chims before I bought my 4ltr all with PAS.
My last drive - no PAS-- it felt heavy and hard work but I had a feeling for the car and it for me
--so I bought it. After two months of driving I wouldnt change to PAS (My local TVR garage charge £600 fitted)--I grunt and groan a little while trying to park in tight spots but its for driving and not for parking.
Call me old fashiond but I know where the wheels are pointing both in the dry and the wet--not so in the PAS estate which I also drive.
Anyway its your call and what ever you decide go get one and if you dont--
well youll never know
I agree with painey -- I came to TVR hood after putting my twin turbo derestricted aero-top Supra in a ditch (brought it back from Japan so not a UK model) -- it was very fast.
For a replacement I went looking for a TVR -- wanted a Chim, and couldn't tell if I would spend money of power I'd never use in a 5l -- or take the same shape and wow factor with a 4l. However Portsfield let me 'test buy' a 4.3 Griff which on my first outing was pushed to beat a Turbo R on the straight.
That made it for me and I bought the 5l and 7 years later don't regret it -- I still beat 911's and will beat turbos with teh Taraka upgrade she is having as I type...
For a replacement I went looking for a TVR -- wanted a Chim, and couldn't tell if I would spend money of power I'd never use in a 5l -- or take the same shape and wow factor with a 4l. However Portsfield let me 'test buy' a 4.3 Griff which on my first outing was pushed to beat a Turbo R on the straight.
That made it for me and I bought the 5l and 7 years later don't regret it -- I still beat 911's and will beat turbos with teh Taraka upgrade she is having as I type...
I would say get a 5 Ltr, power is often corrupting and the more you have the more you want. I started with a 4 Ltr Chim and after about 6 months wanted more..The 5 ltr is just so torquey and you can normally outpull anything without changing down..
When you get used to a 4ltr you will want more...
0-60 is not that much different however 60-120 in a 5 ltr is much quicker and they eat 911's for breakfast..
When you get used to a 4ltr you will want more...
0-60 is not that much different however 60-120 in a 5 ltr is much quicker and they eat 911's for breakfast..
It was a 500 for me, coming off the back of an S3c, saw it, owner took me out for a test drive (they always feel quicker when you're a passenger), wanted it. I've owned it for over two years now and have bitten the bullet and insured it for unlimited mileage and it's going to be my only car as the Neon will be up for sale. Wonderful car
Unless you have enough time to browse these pages extensively, try several cars and talk to owners, you might consider using someone like Rob Ingleby or James Agger. These guys can tell a good car from a bad one and when it comes to negotiating the price they know exactly what the market is like.
Go for it!
Go for it!
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