Thursday 11th April 2013

TVR Chimaera and Mazda MX-5: PH Fleet

No faults, just miles covered for the Garlick fleet.

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Can you imagine the chap on the news saying ‘nothing happened today’? Well, in the life of the Garlick fleet that’s exactly what happened, nothing but turn-key motoring leaving lots of space to talk about the cars, not the problems.

Mazda has become a faithful and fun daily hack

Let’s start with the Mazda. KMO has been a loyal companion of late, not often washed but used daily with no more than a splash of VPower every once in a while and that means we’ve had a lot of time to get to know one another. People ask why I have two, two-seater roadsters and the answer is simple, they are completely different! The Mazda has no space to speak of so shopping and touring is a lightweight affair yet I’ve been away for a week’s camping in the Chimaera (and we don’t travel light). The TVR roars while the Mazda interior rattles meaning you can’t hear the almost silent exhaust. Rev the TVR in low gears and you’re breaking the speed limit, do the same in the Mazda and you’re not quite at 50mph. Park the TVR on the street and you worry about it, in the Mazda you don’t. You get the idea by now, while the end results may look similar the ingredients are very different. 

Strut brace has calmed tremors in the body

As our sensible car, the MX-5 is used a lot and that means my driving pleasure has increased tenfold. I loved the Lexus, but now I’m working the gearbox, using roundabouts as an excuse to hug kerbs and maintain speed (sounds corny but it’s true) and I really enjoy ‘normal’ driving again. Let me clarify that, I’ve always enjoyed driving but when the low-geared engine starts to sound stressed at an indicated 70mph you start to enjoy yourself at lower, legal speeds and that’s fun. It will cruise at 80+ if you want it to, it just seems happier at 70, so if you ever pass me on the motorway I’m quite happy just cruising along.

I recently added the front strut brace and promised I’d report back. The front of the car seems more surefooted and as a bonus the scuttle shake seems to have vanished too. It’s a worthwhile addition, and one that enhances the car without affecting the looks (which I like). Otherwise all I have done is add an adhesive numberplate, which I like but others don’t. So what next for KMO? Nothing but driving it and trying to source where an annoying rattle is coming from.

A reliable TVR? Such a thing exists...

Trouble-free TVR
The Chimaera has been a star of late, and on the few occasions we’ve been out it has been nothing less than perfect. Salty conditions means I’ve not covered that many miles since I last wrote about it, but I’m hoping for warmer weather soon so I can start to use the TVR as regular transport.

The battery I fitted last year has impressed as it has held charge, without any external chargers, all winter. Last weekend I returned after almost four weeks of sub-zero temperatures with jump leads on standby, only for it to start straight away. Can’t argue with that can you?

Owning the TVR is a pleasure, to sit inside it still excites and the positive reactions mean conversations with strangers are a regular occurrence and we enjoy just burbling along enjoying the drive. Only last weekend did we experience the power TVR still holds to the public as we arrived, roof down, at a National Trust stately home for an afternoon stroll. Cars were being waved along by parking marshals when all of a sudden the lady asked me to stop before pointing to a space near the entrance. When I got out she said ‘it’s too nice to be parked with the others in the field, I thought you’d prefer to park there instead’. You don’t get that in an MX-5…

Garlick's certain: this one's a keeper

I started a thread on the forums a few weeks ago about driving hard on the public roads, and if I’m honest it is very rare that the TVR gets driven as Peter Wheeler intended. I’ll make the most of the power but more often than not I am happy to rumble along at a normal pace enjoying the smells and sounds of TVR ownership. It’s not like the latest buzzy hatch or supercar where you need to be ‘on it’ to enjoy yourself. In the Chim you can relax and watch the world go by, but if you want to get to your destination a little faster that's easily achieved too. Is it the modern day AC Cobra? Quite possibly.

I’ve toyed with the idea of selling my 4.0 from time to time but I know that I’ll never experience a car that is so satisfying to own ever again.  We’ve had our ups and downs but no worse that in my previous RS2, 944, Range Rover, Mercs or even the LS, it’s just that folk remember when you suffer issues in a TVR more than they do in a Porsche (or so it seems). As we clicked over the 59,000 mile mark a few weeks ago I asked the Mrs if she thought we should ever sell it. She answered no and I agreed. I have visions of opening a garage door in my 80s to show someone my sports car, we’ll look at it shining away and I’ll say "I’ve had this car since 2009 you know." I probably won’t be driving it at that time, and there might not be much chassis left but it will always be MY TVR.

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Fact Sheet:
Car: 1999 TVR Chimaera 4.0
Run by: Garlick
Bought: December 2009
Purchase price: £12,995
Last month at a glance: Waiting for spring, enjoyable Sunday drives, strong battery

Fact Sheet:
Car: 1997 Mazda MX-5 1.8is
Run by: Garlick
Bought: November 2012
Purchase price: £600
Last month at a glance: Daily grind, stiffened up, legal fun

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Previous reports:
Back to Fernhurst for the TVR as Mazda strides along
Inactivity (intended) for one and inactivity (unexpected) for the other
Two cabrios in the fleet, one had big bills the other needed nothing...

 

[wongthecorrupter]

Great right up, im on my third tvr and my first was a green chimaera 400, still miss it today

[stufarri]

I have thought about swapping my Z4M roadster for one as I have lusted after a TVR for years.

The ownership challenges and the fact that my garage is piled to the ceiling full of tat have always put me off though. I'd keep hold of it too as you seem to have found a good one.

I'll keep dreaming, as with Griffith prices on the climb it may be just that.

Edited by stufarri on Friday 12th April 10:20

[LordFlathead]

Enjoyed reading that. It's certainly refreshing to hear that the TVR has been reliable. All cars go through a heavy maintenance stage and a lot of owners sell at that point because they cannot be bothered with it.

The problem I have is that when I've finally got the car fully sorted I find it's time for a change

As much as I love my cars for their distinctive personality, the thought of having a keeper makes me shudder when there are so many other fantastic cars to savour.. I guess that's why I've owned over fifty cars in my life-time

[Krikkit]

I shouldn't read Garlick's musings on his Chim - it just makes me want one more!

[wongthecorrupter]

A good chimaera is fairly trouble free, my tuscan on the other hand is a bit more of a challenge, but god its so good

[wongthecorrupter]

I had more trouble and spent more money on a e36 m3 i once owned

[billzeebub]

Garlicks fleet update time...Just heading for my monthly trawl through the TVR classifieds

[snotrag]

Garlick - FYI - dont put V-power in your Mazda. They arent tuned for it, makes no difference.

In fact, at the standard 10deg ignition timing, you can run them on pretty much anything. Can safely be advanced to 14Deg on UK 95Ron fuel and get a very useful bump in midrange torque.

Very well documented 'tune up', and its piss easy and free if you can borrow a timing strobe. Mad not to.

[rtz62]

I hate reading your TVR write-ups.
Why?
Well I had one, same colour, very low miles, one Army Captain owner, and it was the most enjoyable car I have ever owned. Not the best, not the fastest, but possibly the most reliable, and a fantastic combination of power and space.
Other than my Ur Quattro and RS500, the only car I truly wish I'd kept.
So hate is a bit strong; it reminds me of my folly in selling it.

[Meths]

Great write up.


Our chim has been used in Germany for day-to day university stuff and back here through the winter. Absolutely faultless aside from a small niggle when it got back (more my fault for buying the cheapest part possible from ebay; buy cheap, buy twice)

I also have a 2nd convertible, a MGf

[Schnellmann]

Great write - up, especially on the TVR but I worry that Garlick is tempting fate somewhat in declaring he will never sell it and looks forward to owning it in his eighties...que next update starting with "I never intended to get rid of the TVR but...."

[JamesHayward]

snotrag said:

Garlick - FYI - dont put V-power in your Mazda. They arent tuned for it, makes no difference.

In fact, at the standard 10deg ignition timing, you can run them on pretty much anything. Can safely be advanced to 14Deg on UK 95Ron fuel and get a very useful bump in midrange torque.

Very well documented 'tune up', and its piss easy and free if you can borrow a timing strobe. Mad not to.

Paul, I can do this on the weekend mate - no problem.

[cribbohx]

I adore TVR's but sadly only have MX5 pockets... a word of praise tho' for those great plucky little MX5's, simple inexpensive roadster driving like it used to be! Since purchasing my first MX5 just two years ago i've now got the bug and they have rekindled a driving passion that I never realised I had and also insprired my son "Wheelynutz" toward a motorsport career. Epic little cars.... Jinba ittai!

[carinaman]

I've done a cash & carry run in an MX-5, though it did fill the boot and the space behind the seats.

Regarding making journeys fun with the ooomph to go quicker if needed, I was thinking more XK150 or Healey 3000. I guess there's some mileage in the Cobra comparison if we consider the Buick ancestry of the Rover V8 plus the V8 motor as opposed to an inline six.

Perhaps you opening your garage door on your Chimera at 80 reminded me of the Jay Leno tale of seeing that XK120 during his childhood also nudged me towards Jag XK thoughts?

Regarding the front reg. plate transfer, it's difficult, it at least gives the gaping mouth in the front nose cone a look in. I was facing a similar choice on my PH & Flux £10K competition giveway S1 Elise. It too has the open mouth front. One is a Lotus and the other is a Lotus clone.

Edited by carinaman on Thursday 11th April 12:03

[V8Firm]

I always enjoy reading this update.
Had both Eunos amd Chimaera out last Sunday. Had a great time in both, in their own different ways... exactly as your said.
When I parked the Chim in the garage I said to my wife that if i ever talk of selling this car then shoot me! Selling the last one was a big mistake...I just had to get another...hopefully this will be a keeper.

[Quikcurl]

carinaman said:

I've done a cash & carry run in an MX-5, though it did fill the boot and the space behind the seats.

You have space behind the seats!?

As an Mx5 owner looking for the elusive 'cheap' (ish) TVR, I too love these updates.

Trouble is, to get a TVR I'd more than likely have to get rid of the '5. Not sure I can bring myself to do that yet!

One of these days...

[killingjoker]

snotrag said:

Garlick - FYI - dont put V-power in your Mazda. They arent tuned for it, makes no difference.

In fact, at the standard 10deg ignition timing, you can run them on pretty much anything. Can safely be advanced to 14Deg on UK 95Ron fuel and get a very useful bump in midrange torque.

Very well documented 'tune up', and its piss easy and free if you can borrow a timing strobe. Mad not to.

I notice the difference with my mk2.

[Garlick]

Thanks for all the kind comments, I've been out for most of the day so haven't had the chance to read through before now.

[ukzz4iroc]

Love your updates, always read them. The final sentiment almost brings a tear to the eye.

All the best.

[si_xsi]

TVR's to me will always mean Chimaera, Griff or Cerbera. I would love to own any of them one day, when funds allow. I remember back in 1993 as a boy of 8yrs old, seeing my first Griff rumble past the end of our road and being facinated with it. The shape and noise like nothing else i had seen or heard before.