One in .... one out
Discussion
On a recent trip down the M5 en route to Plymouth, I realised that the much-talked-about Amore Autos was going to be too close not to visit. I'm not sure if it was a mistake or a blessing....
With no intention of doing anything but gawping, I phoned them, confessed to owning an S3, and asked if I could go and tyre-kick. They were most accommodating - really nice guys. I called in, patted the cars that I'd seen in their adverts and went on my way with an unsettled spirit. I love(d) my little S3. It was my first TVR and I had it well fettled - it runs beautifully and was starting to look pretty neat too. But having a run out in a Chim was very, very different....
So after a few days in Devon, I set the satnav to haul us back to Lincoln. Funny thing was it seemed to want us to detour at Bristol. "Must be roadworks" I thought. What I hadn't realised was that it was taking us back via Amore - which I'd added as a waypoint on the way south. So much for German technology.
Turning up unannounced didn't pose a problem but when I got a second look at the Chimeras (and there was one in particular which seemed to whisper "buy me") my brain flipped into irrational mode. I think the conversation went something like this: "I would like that one please". "What? You're going to buy it now?". "No, I'll get it at the weekend". And that was that. So on Saturday morning under a faultless blue sky with a big bright spidery shiny thing in it, I headed south in what was to be my final journey in my lovely S3. It performed faultlessly and I was wondering about the wisdom of going from the known to the unknown, but then a faint heart never...oh, better not use that one here....
180 miles later, I roared up the drive to Amore and about an hour after that I roared out again. Carefully.
Oh. My. God.
This is a very different beasty indeed. If I ever stop grinning, it will be time to sell the car. I took it easy on the way home and yes, I was passed by Corsas, Saxos, and a VW Up (fecker), but I don't care, because old age and treachery beats youth and inexperience every time. And my time will come - once I know what all of the knobs and buttons do, that the gauges tell (almost) the truth, and work out what the amazing growl is that seems to follow me everywhere I go.
So hello Chimera people - really happy to be here - and I have a couple of 'newby' questions. Let's use these as a test for the Chim forum and see what you're like:
First of all, there's an intermittent 'tick' emanating from the bowels of the dashboard on the drivers side when running. It sounds just like a 'Tecalamit' style fuel pump... but I'm sure it's not. Well, I hope it's not. Any ideas (or answers)?
Secondly, I'm really amused by the battery location and associated cacophony of wiring - it's almost as crazy as the S3 - BUT, someone's also added a battery isolator switch. Now my experience of these in a marine environments isn't particularly healthy. I can understand why it might have been done, but if 'someone' kicked the big red plastic key at an inopportune moment, it could get messy.
Thirdly (I know, but I like value for money) there's a twiddly knobby thing on the left hand side of the steering column. Panel lights dimmer? If it is, it doesn't work, but then again, this is a TVR. Wouldn't be right if it did.
Oh - the car? It's a 430 BV (probably). The Amore guys were great to deal with and it was up on their hoist for a good poke around prior to launch. I'm now looking forward to getting to grips with it and getting out and driving it more. At 30mpg between Bristol and Lincoln either I'm not trying hard enough or it's better on fuel than I thought so there's no excuse not to.
With no intention of doing anything but gawping, I phoned them, confessed to owning an S3, and asked if I could go and tyre-kick. They were most accommodating - really nice guys. I called in, patted the cars that I'd seen in their adverts and went on my way with an unsettled spirit. I love(d) my little S3. It was my first TVR and I had it well fettled - it runs beautifully and was starting to look pretty neat too. But having a run out in a Chim was very, very different....
So after a few days in Devon, I set the satnav to haul us back to Lincoln. Funny thing was it seemed to want us to detour at Bristol. "Must be roadworks" I thought. What I hadn't realised was that it was taking us back via Amore - which I'd added as a waypoint on the way south. So much for German technology.
Turning up unannounced didn't pose a problem but when I got a second look at the Chimeras (and there was one in particular which seemed to whisper "buy me") my brain flipped into irrational mode. I think the conversation went something like this: "I would like that one please". "What? You're going to buy it now?". "No, I'll get it at the weekend". And that was that. So on Saturday morning under a faultless blue sky with a big bright spidery shiny thing in it, I headed south in what was to be my final journey in my lovely S3. It performed faultlessly and I was wondering about the wisdom of going from the known to the unknown, but then a faint heart never...oh, better not use that one here....
180 miles later, I roared up the drive to Amore and about an hour after that I roared out again. Carefully.
Oh. My. God.
This is a very different beasty indeed. If I ever stop grinning, it will be time to sell the car. I took it easy on the way home and yes, I was passed by Corsas, Saxos, and a VW Up (fecker), but I don't care, because old age and treachery beats youth and inexperience every time. And my time will come - once I know what all of the knobs and buttons do, that the gauges tell (almost) the truth, and work out what the amazing growl is that seems to follow me everywhere I go.
So hello Chimera people - really happy to be here - and I have a couple of 'newby' questions. Let's use these as a test for the Chim forum and see what you're like:
First of all, there's an intermittent 'tick' emanating from the bowels of the dashboard on the drivers side when running. It sounds just like a 'Tecalamit' style fuel pump... but I'm sure it's not. Well, I hope it's not. Any ideas (or answers)?
Secondly, I'm really amused by the battery location and associated cacophony of wiring - it's almost as crazy as the S3 - BUT, someone's also added a battery isolator switch. Now my experience of these in a marine environments isn't particularly healthy. I can understand why it might have been done, but if 'someone' kicked the big red plastic key at an inopportune moment, it could get messy.
Thirdly (I know, but I like value for money) there's a twiddly knobby thing on the left hand side of the steering column. Panel lights dimmer? If it is, it doesn't work, but then again, this is a TVR. Wouldn't be right if it did.
Oh - the car? It's a 430 BV (probably). The Amore guys were great to deal with and it was up on their hoist for a good poke around prior to launch. I'm now looking forward to getting to grips with it and getting out and driving it more. At 30mpg between Bristol and Lincoln either I'm not trying hard enough or it's better on fuel than I thought so there's no excuse not to.
The twiddly knob......intermittent wiper speed on my later car..
The button up from your right knee underneath the dash = boot release when the ignition is on.
The identical button above your left knee = the reason why your instrument lights suddenly stopped working.
Your fuel pump is by the rear left wheel. I think you are hearing the odometer ticking.
The battery isolator is useful if you are away a lot, saves a flat battery and theft of the car. Put a cover over it if an accidental kick worries you, or relocate it.
The button up from your right knee underneath the dash = boot release when the ignition is on.
The identical button above your left knee = the reason why your instrument lights suddenly stopped working.
Your fuel pump is by the rear left wheel. I think you are hearing the odometer ticking.
The battery isolator is useful if you are away a lot, saves a flat battery and theft of the car. Put a cover over it if an accidental kick worries you, or relocate it.
Edited by QBee on Sunday 20th May 18:58
Edited by QBee on Sunday 20th May 20:33
Early cars have the silly ticking mile-ometer sound. I was kicking s
t out of the dash on my first drive trying to stop this noise. The tick coincides with the tenths turning over. Its like a metronome on the motorway at the 'speed limit'.
The twiddly knob on the left on my early car is the panel lights dimmer. It wasn't working so took the cowling off to have a shuftie and the locknut was very loose. Tightened up and all good.
30mpg??? definitely granny driving, I only get 18
430 BV is one of the best IMHO. Enjoy
t out of the dash on my first drive trying to stop this noise. The tick coincides with the tenths turning over. Its like a metronome on the motorway at the 'speed limit'.The twiddly knob on the left on my early car is the panel lights dimmer. It wasn't working so took the cowling off to have a shuftie and the locknut was very loose. Tightened up and all good.
30mpg??? definitely granny driving, I only get 18
430 BV is one of the best IMHO. Enjoy
Edited by N7GTX on Sunday 20th May 19:15
Have never been to Amore's though have spoken to them on the phone and via email and most helpful people it would seem.
The twiddly thing on the left of the binacle does seem to be wiper delay. I have a 93 430 and that is what mine does. So far have not found a instrument illumination dimmer! Now unless I listen for it no longer notice the tick from the odometer. Oh I too have been being very careful with the throttle though did have a partcial break away on a round about in the city the other evening and she did lose traction on a curve going up hill into Gorna. The roads is very uneven with ripples and had some numpty in a Merc SUV trying to drive through my boot so put my foot down a little. Oddly enough they backed right off after she tried to fish-tail!!!
Welcome to the club of new 430 owners !!!
The twiddly thing on the left of the binacle does seem to be wiper delay. I have a 93 430 and that is what mine does. So far have not found a instrument illumination dimmer! Now unless I listen for it no longer notice the tick from the odometer. Oh I too have been being very careful with the throttle though did have a partcial break away on a round about in the city the other evening and she did lose traction on a curve going up hill into Gorna. The roads is very uneven with ripples and had some numpty in a Merc SUV trying to drive through my boot so put my foot down a little. Oddly enough they backed right off after she tried to fish-tail!!!
Welcome to the club of new 430 owners !!!
[quote=QBee]The twiddly knob......intermittent wiper speed on my later car..
The button up from your right knee underneath the dash = boot release when the ignition is on.
The identical button above your left knee = the reason why your instrument lights suddenly stopped working.
Your fuel pump is by the rear left wheel. I think you are hearing the odometer ticking.
The battery isolator is useful if you are away a lot, saves a flat battery and theft of the car. Put a cover over it if an accidental kick worries you, or relocate it.
Thanks QBee. I'll get round to pulling the cowl off and have a look - or may be try the wipers!. Boot release is similar to the S, so I'm OK with that. Left-knee button has apparently been rewired as a fan override!
Oddometer? Weird! I haven't come across one that loud before! Now I know what it is, I think I quite like it....
As for the isolator, I'm not convinced. I've had several of these fail or cause electrical damage on marine applications over the years.
The button up from your right knee underneath the dash = boot release when the ignition is on.
The identical button above your left knee = the reason why your instrument lights suddenly stopped working.
Your fuel pump is by the rear left wheel. I think you are hearing the odometer ticking.
The battery isolator is useful if you are away a lot, saves a flat battery and theft of the car. Put a cover over it if an accidental kick worries you, or relocate it.
Thanks QBee. I'll get round to pulling the cowl off and have a look - or may be try the wipers!. Boot release is similar to the S, so I'm OK with that. Left-knee button has apparently been rewired as a fan override!
Oddometer? Weird! I haven't come across one that loud before! Now I know what it is, I think I quite like it....
As for the isolator, I'm not convinced. I've had several of these fail or cause electrical damage on marine applications over the years.
N7GTX said:
30mpg??? definitely granny driving, I only get 18
430 BV is one of the best IMHO. Enjoy
Yup - definitely granny driving on Saturday. I reckon that some cars are like wild animals - look cute but deep down they want to kill you. As the daily drive has ABS / airbags / DCS / ejector seats etc, I just thought I'd take it easy. 18mpg does sound a bit scary but maybe reality for me will be somewhere in between. Took it out yesterday on some local twisties that I'm familiar with and left Granny at home..... 430 BV is one of the best IMHO. Enjoy
trev4 said:
You've done well to escape the cult of the S, been trying to get my brother out for years, welcome to the light side.
The "cult of S"..... interesting comment.... let's see how it goes with the Chim gang... If any of your brother's mates are looking for a well-sorted S3, there's one at Amore, but I doubt it will be there very long.TV8 said:
Is that the red 430? If so, I know the previous owner and it should be in good order.
It certainly is (was). Thanks for the heads-up. It certainly seems to have been well looked after.Brithunter said:
Welcome to the club of new 430 owners !!!
Thank for the info and the caveat! What is it with these lobotomised SUV drivers that they think it's remotely cool, funny or smart to sit six inches off yer bumper?
Message Board | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff