Chimaera's & Rust

[Mambit Giggler]

I'm looking to buy a Chimaera about 7 or 8 years old. Until more recently it seems most makes of cars were scrap at about 11 or 12 years old as a result of rust.

Does anyone know if Chimaeras have decent chassis corrosion resistance or could I find that an 8 year old Chimaera could be scrap within 4 years of me buying it ? Thanks in anticipation for any replies.

[townie]

The chassis will probably be OK. Its the wish bones that suffer from the rust bug.

JON

www.ewelmecoachworks.com

[Ballistic Banana]

Until more recently it seems most makes of cars were scrap at about 11 or 12 years old as a result of rust.

Were the hell did u hear hear/read that, and what a load of balomy.

As long as u waxoyle the chassis annually there should be no probs at all.

As said before the only likely problems are with the wishbones as they are exposed to all weathers and stones coming off the wheels and chipping them.

I previosly owned a 10yr(41k miles) old S series which chassis isn't much different to a Chimaera/Griffith and the chassis was A1.

BB





>> Edited by Ballistic Banana on Sunday 2nd March 13:14

[beljames]

Ballistic Banana said: Were the hell did u hear hear/read that, and what a load of balomy.

By no means all of them suffer from this, but it can and does happen and you need to be aware of it. Some horror stories illustrate what can happen...

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=8&h=&t=14052

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=24518&f=11&h=0

Note that both cars were looked after and in the latter case the car had a FTVRSH!!!

You are right to be aware of this weakness, but don't let it put you off, it's an over-exaggeration to say that they ALL have it.

[M@H]

Hi,

My Chimaera is nearly 10 years old and I reckon its got plenty of life in it yet... as long as someoene has kept an eye on the chassis over time it will be fine getting an older car. There will be 3yr old cars with worse chassis than 9 yr old cars, and vice versa..

Cheers
Matt.

[Mambit Giggler]

Ballistic Banana said:

Until more recently it seems most makes of cars were scrap at about 11 or 12 years old as a result of rust.

Were the hell did u hear hear/read that, and what a load of balomy.

OK no need to go ballistic Mr Bannana. My comment is quite true that, until recently most makes of cars were scrap at age 11 or 12.

Frankly I don't understand you reacted the way you did !!!!!

[Ballistic Banana]

Mambit Giggler said:

Ballistic Banana said:

Until more recently it seems most makes of cars were scrap at about 11 or 12 years old as a result of rust.

Were the hell did u hear hear/read that, and what a load of balomy.

OK no need to go ballistic Mr Bannana. My comment is quite true that, until recently most makes of cars were scrap at age 11 or 12.

Frankly I don't understand you reacted the way you did !!!!!

It wasnt meant to have been said in an angry sort of way and i apoligise if it came over that way.
You still havent said where u have got your infomation from and sorry but i find it hard to believe that "most makes of cars were scrap
at age 11 or 12"

BB

[Mambit Giggler]

Ballistic Banana said:

Mambit Giggler said:

Ballistic Banana said:

Until more recently it seems most makes of cars were scrap at about 11 or 12 years old as a result of rust.

Were the hell did u hear hear/read that, and what a load of balomy.

OK no need to go ballistic Mr Bannana. My comment is quite true that, until recently most makes of cars were scrap at age 11 or 12.

Frankly I don't understand you reacted the way you did !!!!!

It wasnt meant to have been said in an angry sort of way and i apoligise if it came over that way.
You still havent said where u have got your infomation from and sorry but i find it hard to believe that "most makes of cars were scrap
at age 11 or 12"

BB

Ballistic maybe I'm longer in the tooth than you but up until about ten years ago most cars were scrap at age 11 or 12 years old. Since then manufacturers realised that the worst advert for what they are selling in the present is rusty wrecks of what they made ten years before so we see much better rustproofing from them. Thanks for the appology.

I'm going to look at a gorgeous Paris blue Chimaera tommorrow. It's 150 miles away & I've never even driven a TVR before but I guess If I like the look of it & buy it I won't be dissapointed. In fact as a petrol head, no doubt I will be sporting the TVR smile for some time to come.

[nickc]

I have also looked at that 97 'R' Paris Blue 4.0, the extent to which the Chassis and wishbones had corroded put me off a little, i dont think it has ever seen waxoil in its life!

[trackdemon]

Just a note to agree with what's already been said - most TVR's are owned by enthuisiasts and as such will have had such things as waxoyling done every year. My 94' 4.3 had been garaged all its life until I bought it, and I've waxoyled the chassis & wishbones once a year... although she lives in a garage again now! My 4.3 is for sale as it goes... is that too old for you Mambit?

[jellison]

My Polo is 20 years old this year and bodily Excellent, but then it is a VW - doubt a ford would last half that and be in same nick - more likely in scrap heap. Quality manufacurers make cars that last, but most do this now anyway - all had to up game.

TVR's that are garaged all the time (mine) will be in much better state in the long run as after hard blast a well sealed garage will keep the heat in and get rid of most moisture that was brought in with it. Kept outside - you would just have to keep after them alot more or obviously they will deteriorate faster. Mine great and April 98 42K.

Triumph TR4 is bodily / chassis and mechanical A1 as always garaged and very well maintained all the time and only rained on if a wet race but drys fast in warm garage. This is a 40 year old car this year.

Had an Alfa GTV6 that was scrap bodily after 10 years while the mechanicals were perfect on only about 90k miles - sinkening - the more effort in maintaning them pays off in the long run.

Drive'em hard, and look after them, and they will last a long long time - don't and you will quickly have a pile of scrap, even a TVR.