Chimaera Prices
Discussion
Car sharks.
We all know of em.
Desperate types if you ask me.
Another long time owner came on here awhile back mentioning this thread as hampering people’s sales, I thought it a bit paranoid but if people are going to blatantly use someone’s car thats for sale as an example of what might or might not be good about a particular car then I now totally agree with him.
Without viewing a car it’s deeply disrespectful to my mind and not something other Tvr owners should encourage.
We all know what they are and any prospective buyer can read up on riggers and the like, it’s all rightly public knowledge.
Talking in general I broadly agree reality, pound re value, austerity, lack of confidence etc
Less buyers out there simples.
We all know of em.
Desperate types if you ask me.
Another long time owner came on here awhile back mentioning this thread as hampering people’s sales, I thought it a bit paranoid but if people are going to blatantly use someone’s car thats for sale as an example of what might or might not be good about a particular car then I now totally agree with him.
Without viewing a car it’s deeply disrespectful to my mind and not something other Tvr owners should encourage.
We all know what they are and any prospective buyer can read up on riggers and the like, it’s all rightly public knowledge.
Talking in general I broadly agree reality, pound re value, austerity, lack of confidence etc
Less buyers out there simples.
phazed said:
baconsarney said:
And the fastest 
Well mine is anyway
When its working
You know that's a fib Richard. There is only one reaaally fast n/a chim..........Well mine is anyway
When its working
I nearly mentioned how many n/a Chims there are with 400bhp/460ft/lb about when you mentioned a Nissan as a rare car
that wasn't me, surely.............baconsarney said:
Interestingly Peter, if my sums are right we have near identical bhp/litre 
Quite probably.The only conclusion that I can deduce from that is that, bigger is better, (apart from mpg
).The reality is that for a real noticeable difference, you need an extra 100 horses! A smooth bore elbow just won't do......
phazed said:
I think what the poster is referring to Alun is that more Chimaera's were sold than all the other TVRs put together, (or something like that).
You can't get away from the fact that the chim is definitely the best selling and most popular model .
I suppose you could say that the availability dilutes the value? But actually, the classic car market can be a very dark art. Rarity does not equal value at all. I get fed up with auctioneers trotting out the idea that Jag E-types are 'rare' for example. There are over 5000 of them left but some of them fetch frankly ludicrous amounts of money.You can't get away from the fact that the chim is definitely the best selling and most popular model .
As an example, I bought a Fiat Tempra 1.6 S ie a couple of years ago at a classic auction (randomly, spontaneous bid, I didn't go to see that one, it was going so cheap etc etc excuses
...). Very few of them on the road, only 1 of that spec, but got it for £800! Under 60k miles and vgc, Sold now but just an example that values do not follow rarity.If a Chimaera is of good spec and apparently more 'desireable' (450 / 500, Mk 2s for example), they are still commanding more but the cooking 400 models like my last one, perhaps not.
ray von said:
TR4man said:
I think it is affecting all TVRs and probably classic cars in general.
Trust me to buy my Tuscan 15 months ago when prices were at their peak!
Could be worse, not that it sold, but someone could've jumped in Trust me to buy my Tuscan 15 months ago when prices were at their peak!
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Edited by robsco on Wednesday 28th August 11:39
Classic Chim said:
Car sharks.
We all know of em.
Desperate types if you ask me.
Another long time owner came on here awhile back mentioning this thread as hampering people’s sales, I thought it a bit paranoid but if people are going to blatantly use someone’s car thats for sale as an example of what might or might not be good about a particular car then I now totally agree with him.
Without viewing a car it’s deeply disrespectful to my mind and not something other Tvr owners should encourage.
We all know what they are and any prospective buyer can read up on riggers and the like, it’s all rightly public knowledge.
Talking in general I broadly agree reality, pound re value, austerity, lack of confidence etc
Less buyers out there simples.
What an absolutely stupid post. A Chimaera is no different in the car market to a Mondeo. It has a value. No more, no less.We all know of em.
Desperate types if you ask me.
Another long time owner came on here awhile back mentioning this thread as hampering people’s sales, I thought it a bit paranoid but if people are going to blatantly use someone’s car thats for sale as an example of what might or might not be good about a particular car then I now totally agree with him.
Without viewing a car it’s deeply disrespectful to my mind and not something other Tvr owners should encourage.
We all know what they are and any prospective buyer can read up on riggers and the like, it’s all rightly public knowledge.
Talking in general I broadly agree reality, pound re value, austerity, lack of confidence etc
Less buyers out there simples.
If I came here looking to buy a Mondeo, I would rightly be told what to look for. Even Shed of the Week points out a particular vehicle's known faults. It's no different with a Chimaera. We all know the chassis by now is Swiss cheese, unless it's had work. We all know about heat soak, plug lead extensions, stepper motors, and on and on.
The whole point of this thread is an objective view of Chimaera prices. If a particular car is linked, it will get discussed.
I think I liked you better when you thought I was someone else!
Tyre Smoke said:
Classic Chim said:
Car sharks.
We all know of em.
Desperate types if you ask me.
Another long time owner came on here awhile back mentioning this thread as hampering people’s sales, I thought it a bit paranoid but if people are going to blatantly use someone’s car thats for sale as an example of what might or might not be good about a particular car then I now totally agree with him.
Without viewing a car it’s deeply disrespectful to my mind and not something other Tvr owners should encourage.
We all know what they are and any prospective buyer can read up on riggers and the like, it’s all rightly public knowledge.
Talking in general I broadly agree reality, pound re value, austerity, lack of confidence etc
Less buyers out there simples.
What an absolutely stupid post. A Chimaera is no different in the car market to a Mondeo. It has a value. No more, no less.We all know of em.
Desperate types if you ask me.
Another long time owner came on here awhile back mentioning this thread as hampering people’s sales, I thought it a bit paranoid but if people are going to blatantly use someone’s car thats for sale as an example of what might or might not be good about a particular car then I now totally agree with him.
Without viewing a car it’s deeply disrespectful to my mind and not something other Tvr owners should encourage.
We all know what they are and any prospective buyer can read up on riggers and the like, it’s all rightly public knowledge.
Talking in general I broadly agree reality, pound re value, austerity, lack of confidence etc
Less buyers out there simples.
If I came here looking to buy a Mondeo, I would rightly be told what to look for. Even Shed of the Week points out a particular vehicle's known faults. It's no different with a Chimaera. We all know the chassis by now is Swiss cheese, unless it's had work. We all know about heat soak, plug lead extensions, stepper motors, and on and on.
The whole point of this thread is an objective view of Chimaera prices. If a particular car is linked, it will get discussed.
I think I liked you better when you thought I was someone else!
The trouble is most of the discussion on this thread has been people saying prices are to high, mostly people who are interested in buying, fair enough.
This thread doesn’t need to start pulling people’s cars as an example of the mark and any associated problems as it’s clearly documented by us on here on many a thread merely a google search away.
Values have plummeted by a 1/3rd a bit like the pound has. Rough guess but probably about right, who gives two hoots if your not selling
This thread doesn’t need to start pulling people’s cars as an example of the mark and any associated problems as it’s clearly documented by us on here on many a thread merely a google search away.
Values have plummeted by a 1/3rd a bit like the pound has. Rough guess but probably about right, who gives two hoots if your not selling
Practical Classics have an online reference that has become less and less frequent. Here is a snapshot from Aug 2018 that I took from their guide online:
The first column value is concourse / dealer. The next 3 are as follows:
Now many people will have varying opinions on guides but a comparison with the one from July 2019 is interesting:
My own conclusion was that as with all rising markets, such as the values were rising up until last year, that many Chimaeras were sold for what can comparatively be called a 'high' price. Yes, many cars are no longer standard and are likely worth more than the 'guide,' but even Practical classics value an 'average' Chimaera as having not shifted at all.
However, their editorial checks aren't up to spec. They have put a little yellow up triangle for a £500 increase in Griff values but no down triangle for the Cerbera 4.5, despite it being down by thousands. Of which I have one.
The first column value is concourse / dealer. The next 3 are as follows:
Now many people will have varying opinions on guides but a comparison with the one from July 2019 is interesting:
My own conclusion was that as with all rising markets, such as the values were rising up until last year, that many Chimaeras were sold for what can comparatively be called a 'high' price. Yes, many cars are no longer standard and are likely worth more than the 'guide,' but even Practical classics value an 'average' Chimaera as having not shifted at all.
However, their editorial checks aren't up to spec. They have put a little yellow up triangle for a £500 increase in Griff values but no down triangle for the Cerbera 4.5, despite it being down by thousands. Of which I have one.
Edited by ianwayne on Wednesday 28th August 16:49
Classic Chim said:
The trouble is most of the discussion on this thread has been people saying prices are to high, mostly people who are interested in buying, fair enough.
This thread doesn’t need to start pulling people’s cars as an example of the mark and any associated problems as it’s clearly documented by us on here on many a thread merely a google search away.
Values have plummeted by a 1/3rd a bit like the pound has. Rough guess but probably about right, who gives two hoots if your not selling
not me....i´m definately one fo the persons mostly claiming that the prices are too high....but i´m owing several (different) cars already...so no need to buy....but i´m watching the market quite deeply and i see it realistic.This thread doesn’t need to start pulling people’s cars as an example of the mark and any associated problems as it’s clearly documented by us on here on many a thread merely a google search away.
Values have plummeted by a 1/3rd a bit like the pound has. Rough guess but probably about right, who gives two hoots if your not selling
lets see my car:
400chim from 1993...pre-serpentine, high milegage car, it looks ok from 10feet away...but shows its age (its 26y old)...but its quite reliable ...it was regulary maintained...major recent work: chassis change, incl. all new wishbones, clutch change, brakes all new.... as said, the car remains 26y old...in fact it looks presentable, but its still far away from prestine.
some will say: those above mentioned things are "major" repairs which should positively effect the value.
i say : NO, those mentioned things are "normal" maintenance costs on such a car
i bought it for 6500pound in 2018 with all above jobs already done...(and i still think it was reasonably priced for what have been done already, compared to lots of other cars offered)
.transporting to me, some further work like new tyres, quitening the exhaust, sorting several "botch" from former owners and garages etc...and quickly another 1500 where on the bill...the hours in my garage not counted.
and there are still no upgrades like new shocks, alloy radiator, roof-change, interior refurbishment done.
i paid 6.5k+1.5k additional investment=8k.
knowing my car now very deeply, with all its small niggles and hidden areas which would profit from improvement or repair, i would say the car´s "real" value is not more than 4.5k....even you wont find a car in that condition for 4.5k
why ´m so "harsh" / realisitc to myselves: theoretically the car should be again completely stripped , the (new) chassis re-assembled with all new bolts and polybushes (which was not done when it was stripped for chassis change), full respray, full interor, new shocks, new hood, enginebay deailed (even it looks not too bad now), engine fully refurbished (as it was only partially refurbished several times throughout its life) etc.
if somebody is searching a daily driver...the car is fair enough.....but if you want it also perfect locking and technically improved, than you would need to put lots of money in the hand.....which never would pay back on this model
(respray 3k, interoir, 1.5k, roof 1k, engine refurb & improvement 4k..suspension 1k....detailing 1k...etc.....plus, plus, plus)
there are several cars on the market where all those jobs have been done ...but they mostly cost less than i would need to invest .
plus the fact that i wouldnt have ANY work with it. pay & enjoy
conclusion: its not worth investing in a chimaera for speculation-reasons.
plus the fact that most "improvements" should be considered as running costs, which never come into account in terms of value or sales price.
Edited by LLantrisant on Thursday 29th August 08:18
You can’t say fairer than that.
It’s simply the reality that the very early cars are bound to need more work as a consequence of a long and fruitful life.
It’s long since been accepted you can’t bring a tired car back to rude health for anything like the cost of buying one already done unless you are very talented which most of us are not.
For many myself included, building a car where your personal input is a big part of it, working with experts to achieve things and slowly doing a rolling resto is just a lot of fun if rather expensive but then so is a holiday to Vegas
When values are knocked people start questioning if it’s all worth it.
I say drive some of the best cars around, feel the linear power curve, a Turbo car even, mine if you want shunt free,, that was my goal, that and a softer more user friendly safer car.
I still have a chassis to refurb!
Who cares, I can’t buy a better car of any Mark for the money that carries the charisma, drama and power of a great Tvr
I’m biased obviously, hopelessly in love maybe but if I still have a cool Tvr in ten years time I’ll be a happy man.
It’s simply the reality that the very early cars are bound to need more work as a consequence of a long and fruitful life.
It’s long since been accepted you can’t bring a tired car back to rude health for anything like the cost of buying one already done unless you are very talented which most of us are not.
For many myself included, building a car where your personal input is a big part of it, working with experts to achieve things and slowly doing a rolling resto is just a lot of fun if rather expensive but then so is a holiday to Vegas
When values are knocked people start questioning if it’s all worth it.
I say drive some of the best cars around, feel the linear power curve, a Turbo car even, mine if you want shunt free,, that was my goal, that and a softer more user friendly safer car.
I still have a chassis to refurb!
Who cares, I can’t buy a better car of any Mark for the money that carries the charisma, drama and power of a great Tvr
I’m biased obviously, hopelessly in love maybe but if I still have a cool Tvr in ten years time I’ll be a happy man.
Just a thought for those wishing to sell;
Get one of these cars on YouTube for a review with one of the many channels that seem to Have THOUSANDS of followers. A combination of the new car coming out and a review or two on the interweb, and I think the demand for these cars will rocket!
I think currently their a well kept secret hiden behind the misconception of unreliability!
Get one of these cars on YouTube for a review with one of the many channels that seem to Have THOUSANDS of followers. A combination of the new car coming out and a review or two on the interweb, and I think the demand for these cars will rocket!
I think currently their a well kept secret hiden behind the misconception of unreliability!
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