To buy or not to buy?!

[Bangers]

Hello all

Bored of my Ford Cougar and looking to realise my childhood dreams of owning a TVR, therefore looking to buy a Chimaera. Trouble is my budget is upto 14k. I have found a few on the autotrader website but would welcome some info on what to look for - although looking at these pages it seems that they have a lot of problems? Is this true or am I looking to far into it?

Comments please.........Thanks v much.

James.

[Bangers]

Thanks for all the posts guys, I'm off to test drive one tomorrow - can't wait! Is it worth stretching to 15 - 16k? and whats the deal with the snake sounding engine and the borg box?
Just ahd a look through some previous posts and keep coming across the pre / post-facelift phrases. Could someone tell me when the facelift took place and what the changes were please - thanks

>> Edited by Bangers on Sunday 23 June 08:54

[Bangers]

Test drove one today - v.nice but not the serpentine engine. What is the actual difference in the engine and gearbox between the old and the newer serpentine/borg? This car ran a temp of 70 before the fans came on - is that OK? or is it too cool?

Just want to add a big thank you for all your help, I've learnt a lot over the last 48 hrs! But what a beauty!!! The noise, oh the noise.........!

[Bangers]

Just bought the book!

[Bangers]

Blimey! It's hard to keep your feet on the ground in this game! Test drove a 4.0 today from a dealer - very very nice -the more I see of them the more I want, no, need to have one NOW I hear you say, and of course you are all right!

There does seem to be quite a selection about if you're happy to travel a bit so I guess that's what I'll have to do...........Thanks again for all your input it's very interesting to hear all the different stories. It seems that they are not quite the horror story that so many seem to say they are. Also, I have not found them difficult to drive, it seems that if you keep the RPM above approx 2000 the beast is quite content.

[Bangers]

Hello again

Getting a bit confused with the engine/gearbox business and the bible hasn't arrived yet! Can anyone tell me when the serpentine was introduced and when the borg box was introduced and a simple way of telling which I am looking at. The two cars I have looked at both had reverse gear directly underneath 5th - is this significant? Most of the sellers I have contacted don't seem to know what they have.

Once again thanks!

Anyone know when the next TVRCC meet is, I am in the Herts area.

Cheers

James.

[Bangers]

Strewth, that didn't take long! Thanks guys

[Bangers]

Well, I've done it! And I'd like to say a big thank you for all your help and advice. Steve's book answered all the questions I had and taught me an awfull lot about the car - I did as you all advised, read it from cover to cover then went and looked at a range of cars both private and from dealers.

The end result was a beautiful '96 Chimera 4.0 for 15.5k with 36000 on the clock, full history, 2 owners and the 12k service just completed. It has PAS which is a big help manouvering into the garage especially for the wife and I just love it! Racing green with a full hide interior in magnolia and green - v. tasty! with a new black hood. All in excellent condition and runs like a dream - temp staying at 75 - 92 ish even sat in a trafic jam on the M25! At least it was a good test

Anyway - in danger of going on an bit! so I must go and smile at my Chim! some more

Cheers all, no doubt I'll be asking some questions soon.

Thanks.