Looking to buy a 4.0 Chimaera
Discussion
You've done something I wish I had done before buying my Chim, talk to PistonHeads.
I suggest you first locate your local TVR Club meet and talk to the people there. They will know who to avoid and good mechanics to take along for an inspection. TVR ownership can be expensive so as Mikey mentioned, what is your budget???
I suggest you first locate your local TVR Club meet and talk to the people there. They will know who to avoid and good mechanics to take along for an inspection. TVR ownership can be expensive so as Mikey mentioned, what is your budget???
Post '96 the cars have those buttons under the mirrors rather than the push buttons on the wing. Much better. there are a few other minor changes.
Would strongly suggest that you get one with a serpentine engine (a single, wide 'fan'belt), but mine is a 94 ad that has it.
Power steering is a major consideration, depending on your needs.
Reliabilty isn't really an issue related to age, it is all about how it has been looked after. Ideally you want to find one that has been looked after by a rich enthusiast who has lavished time and lots of cash on it, and keeps the receipts to prove it.
Get Steve Heath's book.
good luck. Pistonheads will give you lots of well meaning advice, and you may also find a car on it too.
r
Would strongly suggest that you get one with a serpentine engine (a single, wide 'fan'belt), but mine is a 94 ad that has it.
Power steering is a major consideration, depending on your needs.
Reliabilty isn't really an issue related to age, it is all about how it has been looked after. Ideally you want to find one that has been looked after by a rich enthusiast who has lavished time and lots of cash on it, and keeps the receipts to prove it.
Get Steve Heath's book.
good luck. Pistonheads will give you lots of well meaning advice, and you may also find a car on it too.
r
Agree with the last post - it is condition not age that is the most important thing.
Also beware of very low mileage cars - TVRs like / need to be used and do not like sitting in the garage doing nothing [too many people treat them like automotive art IMO
] leading to all sorts of problems.
Also beware of very low mileage cars - TVRs like / need to be used and do not like sitting in the garage doing nothing [too many people treat them like automotive art IMO
] leading to all sorts of problems. As has been said already, get Steve Heath's book. It is perfect for getting a detailed understanding of the things you should be looking out for when buying. That budget should easily be enough to get you a nice example from a private seller ... less comeback than going to a delaer, but more bang for your buck (~25%??). Don't be put off if the service history isn't entirely TVR main dealers. Good independent specialists can be better. If you look around this site you'll see the names of the indies who are rated. These things seem to take ages to sell, so there is no point hurrying into a purchase.
David Geralds have got a 96N 4.0 with 35k on the clock for £17250
www.davidgeraldtvr.freeserve.co.uk/
www.davidgeraldtvr.freeserve.co.uk/
Look at the ads for pistonheads, its within your budget and its a 500! (No it's not mine and I don't know the seller). Seems better value than going to a dealer :-
Chimaera 500 97/P 19 days old
ref: 3843
35,000 miles. Starmist Blue, Portland Grey hide, Blue Wool overmats, Kickplates, Rear Speakers, 6 Stack CD, PAS, Tarox brakes, Roll Bar, Twin 4 point harnesses, Tornado ECU, rolling-road tuned by Mark Adams, details available.
Just had 36000 mile service, FTVRSH, 1 yr MOT, Gortex cover included. This is a stunning car, kept at no expense spared and enjoyed by me for 3 years, now making way for Tuscan. [Surrey, UK]
Price: £17,500
Contact: Simon Hewitt
Phone: 07711 080724
Email: CLICK HERE TO EMAIL ME
Picture: www.megajoule.co.uk/snett2.jpg
Chimaera 500 97/P 19 days old
ref: 3843
35,000 miles. Starmist Blue, Portland Grey hide, Blue Wool overmats, Kickplates, Rear Speakers, 6 Stack CD, PAS, Tarox brakes, Roll Bar, Twin 4 point harnesses, Tornado ECU, rolling-road tuned by Mark Adams, details available.
Just had 36000 mile service, FTVRSH, 1 yr MOT, Gortex cover included. This is a stunning car, kept at no expense spared and enjoyed by me for 3 years, now making way for Tuscan. [Surrey, UK]
Price: £17,500
Contact: Simon Hewitt
Phone: 07711 080724
Email: CLICK HERE TO EMAIL ME
Picture: www.megajoule.co.uk/snett2.jpg
or there's :-
4.0 Chimaera 1998/S Over 28 days old
ref: 3909
46,800 miles. Starmist Silver body with dark blue leather and carpets, upgraded CD player (6 disk), Power Steering, Scuff plates, rear light facelift model. Four new SO2's
1 Owner from new, 6 months tax & MOT, FSH, no track days, no accidents, used & loved every day, never had a niggle (must be a one off). Reluctant sale due to company move to Sydney. [Battersea, London, SW11, UK]
Price: £17,750
Contact: Rob Partner
Phone: 07747 021 043
Email: CLICK HERE TO EMAIL ME
4.0 Chimaera 1998/S Over 28 days old
ref: 3909
46,800 miles. Starmist Silver body with dark blue leather and carpets, upgraded CD player (6 disk), Power Steering, Scuff plates, rear light facelift model. Four new SO2's
1 Owner from new, 6 months tax & MOT, FSH, no track days, no accidents, used & loved every day, never had a niggle (must be a one off). Reluctant sale due to company move to Sydney. [Battersea, London, SW11, UK]
Price: £17,750
Contact: Rob Partner
Phone: 07747 021 043
Email: CLICK HERE TO EMAIL ME
Chimaera 4.0 1996/N Over 28 days old
ref: 3429
4 more pictures
32,000 miles. Moonraker black, black hood, biscuit leather, kick plates, alloy interior accessories, FTVRSH - just had 36K, CD, always garaged. Excellent condition.
[West Midlands, UK]
Price: £16,995 ono
Contact: Pete Marriott
Phone: 07970 742726
Email: CLICK HERE TO EMAIL ME
ref: 3429
4 more pictures
32,000 miles. Moonraker black, black hood, biscuit leather, kick plates, alloy interior accessories, FTVRSH - just had 36K, CD, always garaged. Excellent condition.
[West Midlands, UK]
Price: £16,995 ono
Contact: Pete Marriott
Phone: 07970 742726
Email: CLICK HERE TO EMAIL ME
Some on here too!
www.tvr-webmart.co.uk/tvr_ads_cars.html
..Hope this post gets on before sybaseian copies the entire ad section over
www.tvr-webmart.co.uk/tvr_ads_cars.html
..Hope this post gets on before sybaseian copies the entire ad section over
quote:
David Geralds have got a 96N 4.0 with 35k on the clock for £17250
www.davidgeraldtvr.freeserve.co.uk/
That is TOO much money I'm afraid. I paid £15,500 for my 95 38k FTVRSH N reg Chim 4.0HC from Mole Valley
There are better bargains out there to be had, you've just gotta look around and explore every avenue.
>> Edited by MikeyT on Wednesday 22 May 14:50
www.adrianblyth.co.uk usually has some fine examples, but beware the turnover if quite quick and some cars get sold even before they make it on the web site.
Please, please, please, find someone who really know's Chimaera's and is willing to inspect the car before your purchase. Your local TVRCC will be able to help and I'm sure they will welcome you into their fold.
A £14K car from a private sale or non franchised concern can work out more expensive than a dealer model priced £16K. I suspect this can also work vice-versa.
I made the mistake of buying a dud altough the car had a FullTVRSH. Cost me £2.2K to sort out since last August.
If you would like more detailed info please mail me.
A £14K car from a private sale or non franchised concern can work out more expensive than a dealer model priced £16K. I suspect this can also work vice-versa.
I made the mistake of buying a dud altough the car had a FullTVRSH. Cost me £2.2K to sort out since last August.
If you would like more detailed info please mail me.
If you are happy and can get someone to look it over who knows the model then buying privately shouldn't be an issue. I bought a 1996 Chimaera 500 6 weeks ago (30,000 miles, full TVR SH, new MOT, etc) for £14,750 and apart from the starter motor (see other posts) it's been great for 1300 miles! I must admit that I think I got a storming deal as 1996 Chim 500s are still up for £19k - £20k on some sites (the one I bought was advertised on Autotrader on-line).
My one concern is that you are now buying towards the summer and all Tivs go up in value at this time of year, sell in August and buy over the winter
My one concern is that you are now buying towards the summer and all Tivs go up in value at this time of year, sell in August and buy over the winter
quote:
If you are happy and can get someone to look it over who knows the model then buying privately shouldn't be an issue. I bought a 1996 Chimaera 500 6 weeks ago (30,000 miles, full TVR SH, new MOT, etc) for £14,750 and apart from the starter motor (see other posts) it's been great for 1300 miles! I must admit that I think I got a storming deal as 1996 Chim 500s are still up for £19k - £20k on some sites (the one I bought was advertised on Autotrader on-line).
My one concern is that you are now buying towards the summer and all Tivs go up in value at this time of year, sell in August and buy over the winter
About time you bought a 500.......
Where about in London are you? Are you up for a blast on the 1st June - see Next Harlow Meet under TVR Gassing......
I too would like to suggest you look at Adrian Blythe's web site. I bought my 96N from him last November, he really is a very straight Guy to deal with and comes up front when anything needed to be attended to (only monor issues I might add). He seems to get some really nice examples in and will advise all the way.
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