My first 4 months of ownership - a short story
Discussion
I bought my 500 in December, but due to work commitments didn't pick her up until the 8th February. I've spent alot of time working away since, but I've managed to clock up nearly 1700 miles in that short time, a large part of that over this last bank holiday weekend.
I'm writing this in the hope that some of you guys might find it interesting, or even experienced something similar to what I have....
I actually bought the car before I'd even driven it... (yeah, I know), I'd looked at it, fallen in love with the colour, made my mind up.... then fired her up.... OMG... Nuff said..
I actually drove her for the first time about ten days after I'd done the deal.. It had been a few years since I'd driven something quick, and having looked at the stats (340 bhp, 0-60 4.1 seconds etc etc...more on that later) and read posts on here about the 500 being so brutal.. well, I drove it like a girl.... (no offence to female TVR owners intended). Oh, it was also on damp slippery roads back in January.. I have to be honest, It scared me... (and to be even more honest, that's what I'd hoped it would do).
I've owned some decently quick things in the past.. Notably.. Lotus 7, 0-60 a little over 4 seconds, went round corners like nothing I've ever owned since... Sierra RS Cosworth (the Whale tail baby), light weight rally shell and chipped to 270 bhp.. sub 5 seconds to 60, grin factor similar to the Chim but without the sound track.. and I've had bikes.. last one ZX1000, 0-60 3 seconds, 0-100 6 seconds, and alledgedly 0-100 and back to standstill in 10.. never had the cojones or need to stand on the anchors that hard though.. fortunately..
Anyway, back to the Chim.. It's slow... I'll just clarify that, up to 60 it's mental, and even on a dry road it's a handful.. It's the next bit that lets it down (now that I've got used to it).. (btw, I LOVE my car).. using the 'standard' figures, which I don't think are far off, but useful for comparison (I've rounded them down), it takes 4 seconds to 60, then another 6 seconds to 100... Now, 6 seconds to get from 60 to 100 isn't slow, but it is noticably slower than the 4 seconds it took to get to 60.. It's a bit like change into third gear, and put put the kettle on coz you've got the time before you need to change into fourth..
I would add, that in the dry, power sliding round roundabouts (on private roads) is a doddle once you find the right balance...
So in summary, my first four months of ownership have been brilliant.. car has been totally reliable, and puts a massive grin on my face every time.. I can now throw it round corners in confidence (dry roads), and it no longer frightens me (although I know it's just waiting to bite me in the arse when I'm not paying attention..) When we left Duxford yesterday there were three lads standing at the exit, we heard one of them say "A TVR", then one of them shouted "Go on..Rev it.." Well.. anything to please a crowd.. we must have snaked about 500 yards up the road..
I'm now thinking megasquirt, lose the AFM and the dizzy, usual induction mods, bit of work on the heads (thanks for the advice RXXb), maybe ACT twin throttle plenum, and get the pre-cats removed...
As a last note, I left Attlebourough for Duxford about half eight yesterday morning, and hooked up with a Cayman S and a black thing in front of it on the way to Thetford...(they were obviously together) which, although I didn't get a good look at, I believe was a VXR thingy.. and they were tanking it... I kept up, but have to say, with the above mods on the Chim, next time you'll be eating my dust lads..
I also need to add, that all the TVR owners I've met since buying my car have been bloody brilliant nice people... And all you guys on PH that have given me loads of advice in response to the many (and often possibly stupid) posts I've put up (possibly like this one, now on my second bottle of CabSav..)
Sincerely yours, one very happy and stupidly grinning fairly new Chim owner..
I'm writing this in the hope that some of you guys might find it interesting, or even experienced something similar to what I have....
I actually bought the car before I'd even driven it... (yeah, I know), I'd looked at it, fallen in love with the colour, made my mind up.... then fired her up.... OMG... Nuff said..
I actually drove her for the first time about ten days after I'd done the deal.. It had been a few years since I'd driven something quick, and having looked at the stats (340 bhp, 0-60 4.1 seconds etc etc...more on that later) and read posts on here about the 500 being so brutal.. well, I drove it like a girl.... (no offence to female TVR owners intended). Oh, it was also on damp slippery roads back in January.. I have to be honest, It scared me... (and to be even more honest, that's what I'd hoped it would do).
I've owned some decently quick things in the past.. Notably.. Lotus 7, 0-60 a little over 4 seconds, went round corners like nothing I've ever owned since... Sierra RS Cosworth (the Whale tail baby), light weight rally shell and chipped to 270 bhp.. sub 5 seconds to 60, grin factor similar to the Chim but without the sound track.. and I've had bikes.. last one ZX1000, 0-60 3 seconds, 0-100 6 seconds, and alledgedly 0-100 and back to standstill in 10.. never had the cojones or need to stand on the anchors that hard though.. fortunately..
Anyway, back to the Chim.. It's slow... I'll just clarify that, up to 60 it's mental, and even on a dry road it's a handful.. It's the next bit that lets it down (now that I've got used to it).. (btw, I LOVE my car).. using the 'standard' figures, which I don't think are far off, but useful for comparison (I've rounded them down), it takes 4 seconds to 60, then another 6 seconds to 100... Now, 6 seconds to get from 60 to 100 isn't slow, but it is noticably slower than the 4 seconds it took to get to 60.. It's a bit like change into third gear, and put put the kettle on coz you've got the time before you need to change into fourth..
I would add, that in the dry, power sliding round roundabouts (on private roads) is a doddle once you find the right balance...
So in summary, my first four months of ownership have been brilliant.. car has been totally reliable, and puts a massive grin on my face every time.. I can now throw it round corners in confidence (dry roads), and it no longer frightens me (although I know it's just waiting to bite me in the arse when I'm not paying attention..) When we left Duxford yesterday there were three lads standing at the exit, we heard one of them say "A TVR", then one of them shouted "Go on..Rev it.." Well.. anything to please a crowd.. we must have snaked about 500 yards up the road..
I'm now thinking megasquirt, lose the AFM and the dizzy, usual induction mods, bit of work on the heads (thanks for the advice RXXb), maybe ACT twin throttle plenum, and get the pre-cats removed...
As a last note, I left Attlebourough for Duxford about half eight yesterday morning, and hooked up with a Cayman S and a black thing in front of it on the way to Thetford...(they were obviously together) which, although I didn't get a good look at, I believe was a VXR thingy.. and they were tanking it... I kept up, but have to say, with the above mods on the Chim, next time you'll be eating my dust lads..
I also need to add, that all the TVR owners I've met since buying my car have been bloody brilliant nice people... And all you guys on PH that have given me loads of advice in response to the many (and often possibly stupid) posts I've put up (possibly like this one, now on my second bottle of CabSav..)
Sincerely yours, one very happy and stupidly grinning fairly new Chim owner..
Hi Richard! Nice little short story there! Was great to meet you at the Duxford run, must say I do love your enthusiasm towards the car and can't wait to see the outcome of any mods you do. Those lads with the cameras were lucky enough to get footage of another Chimaera snaking up the road (much to my wifes disgust 
)
Harley
)Harley
Hi Harley, was good to meet you at Duxford, what a lovely day.. Now looking forward to the next meet.. Oh and I may have mentioned it, but your car sounds awesome from behind (followed you from McD's to Duxford) Dr Mike, you're quite correct, and it is no surprise, my point really was that the rate of drop off in acceleration is quite apparent, and it's a bit irritating, well to me anyway... 
Nitrous on the road is cheating DBV8
Dr Mike, you're quite correct, and it is no surprise, my point really was that the rate of drop off in acceleration is quite apparent, and it's a bit irritating, well to me anyway... Nitrous on the road is cheating DBV8
Why thankyou very much! As for Automotive viagra.....
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