Do I really want a Chimaera? Part 1
Discussion
do it. the s2000 is slow, anyhow, if efficient.
i like the elise - but they leak, even with hard tops, and the owners i know say they don't like doing more than an hour or 2 in the seats. if i could run 2 vehicles i might get one - but only if i had a big cruiser for journeys.
once you've had a chim everything else just seems so.......second best.
mines a 95, is pretty water tight ( at least no obvious leaks and it's been parked outside during all the heavy rain we had recently ), but is garaged at night for insurance reasons.
just chat up the dealers and take a few out for a spin if you are in 2 minds. you'll soon decide ( oh that noise!.....
)
goonmysonyouknowitmakessense
to say, oh yeah - the elise is an embarresment (?) on the motorway, and the chim just blows pretty much everything into the weeds.
>> Edited by chimburt on Friday 25th October 13:26
i like the elise - but they leak, even with hard tops, and the owners i know say they don't like doing more than an hour or 2 in the seats. if i could run 2 vehicles i might get one - but only if i had a big cruiser for journeys.
once you've had a chim everything else just seems so.......second best.
mines a 95, is pretty water tight ( at least no obvious leaks and it's been parked outside during all the heavy rain we had recently ), but is garaged at night for insurance reasons.
just chat up the dealers and take a few out for a spin if you are in 2 minds. you'll soon decide ( oh that noise!.....
) goonmysonyouknowitmakessense
to say, oh yeah - the elise is an embarresment (?) on the motorway, and the chim just blows pretty much everything into the weeds.
>> Edited by chimburt on Friday 25th October 13:26
beano1197 said: My boss has an S2000. Accompanied by all sorts of problems:
Vibrations in gearbox/clutch which the dealers just cannot cure, and then the rear suspension collapsed big time on him on the motorway (resulting in a 540 degree spin!).
Now - one car doesn't mean a trend, but just goes to show that even what you might consider the most reliable aint guaranteed!
There have been a number of problems with the clutch and gearbox. These have been rectified with the 2002 model, and can be fixed under warranty on the 1999 - 2001 model. The problem is finding a dealer that knows the S2000, many of them are pretty clueless
. Tell your boss to ask them about Technical Service Bulletins TSB054 and TSB055 - they should know all about them and what to do. I've never heard of the suspension collapsing before tho...
MikeyT said: douglasr,
For someone whose head made the decision instead of his heart, I'm not surprised you spend a fair amount of time on the TVR section.
Too late douglas, you've got a Honda.
Do you still want a Chimaera?
Firstly, this is a quality forum, secondly its never to late, thirdly I dont want a Chim, I would like a Tuscan or Tamora with a reliable SP6 engine.
THANK YOU for all your posts! Thanks to Douglasr as the S2000 is most probably the car I'd get if I decide against the Chim. In fairness to Douglasr, I think he has publically stated that all things being equal, he would rather go for the Chim, but for the dealer and potential servicing problems up in Scotland.
I live in near Canary Wharf in London so most of my long distance driving will be on the Continent. Having an electrical or mechanical gremlin paralysing the Chim in Reims or Bordeaux would be a nightmare No-one would know how to "fix" a TVR on the continent...
I am sure you all read the recent article in Autocar where the Tuscan's throttle cable snapped while the tester was in Paris....
But I just want to say what a community the TVR ownership can be - I can tell from SPRINT and these boards that everyone will happily chat/wave to each other when they see another TVR on the roads, the same has happened to me a couple of times from fellow Alfa drivers (but has never happened to me when I was in my 3 series!!!
)and the feeling is brill - to have like minded people acknowledging your car...
Thanks to you all - am still deciding and will go for some test drives when we get some clear weekends, hope I will have something to report shortly!
p.s. whoops - I am adding this as i just read Douglasr's comment above... i stand corrected re him wanting a Chim
>> Edited by tamago on Friday 25th October 13:51
>> Edited by tamago on Friday 25th October 13:52
>> Edited by tamago on Friday 25th October 13:52
I live in near Canary Wharf in London so most of my long distance driving will be on the Continent. Having an electrical or mechanical gremlin paralysing the Chim in Reims or Bordeaux would be a nightmare
No-one would know how to "fix" a TVR on the continent... I am sure you all read the recent article in Autocar where the Tuscan's throttle cable snapped while the tester was in Paris....
But I just want to say what a community the TVR ownership can be - I can tell from SPRINT and these boards that everyone will happily chat/wave to each other when they see another TVR on the roads, the same has happened to me a couple of times from fellow Alfa drivers (but has never happened to me when I was in my 3 series!!!
)and the feeling is brill - to have like minded people acknowledging your car... Thanks to you all - am still deciding and will go for some test drives when we get some clear weekends, hope I will have something to report shortly!
p.s. whoops - I am adding this as i just read Douglasr's comment above... i stand corrected re him wanting a Chim
>> Edited by tamago on Friday 25th October 13:51
>> Edited by tamago on Friday 25th October 13:52
>> Edited by tamago on Friday 25th October 13:52
Have you tried a VX220 ? Or are Vauxhalls off the agenda. I am in the qaundry of which car to plough my hard earned wedge into. My boss has a Chim which I recently drove and found it blinding. But, big but, insurance/petrol/servicing e.t.c. also blinding due to tears. I suspect your average Joe can't say the difference between a VX and an Elise is that different. VX is group 16 insurance and 30mpg and vauxhall service costs. OK, no sound, bit slower.... I am sure I am going to get hammered on this thread for mentionaing the V word.
Tamago, I work in Canary Wharf (live nearby) and occasionally drive in... if you want convincing that you need a Chim then I'll take you for a 'spin' 
. Have to say it annoys me that people's perception is that they are unreliable - personally I can live with slow window winders (thats about all that's 'wrong' with it), as long as the engine always starts. The TVR/Rover V8 is virtually bombproof, the box/diff/brakes are sound and its wonderful to drive. You MUST get one.
I was at a family do a little while back talking cars with someone who'd just bought an S2000 and I tell you it didn't sound like much fun to me! Problems with starting, problems with overheating, worst of all the roof mechanism just seizing on him! Anyway these things happen, it was probably a Friday car, but he genuinely sounded like he regretted buying it, said that after the initial novelty of the buzzy engine wore of it just didn't feel very special... The boot was put in by somebody who started chatting to us and was like 'you've got a TVR, great!' and more along the lines of 'an S2000? Thats a Honda isn't it?'. Thats not why I own my car but the fact is that these cars are just more inspiring/exciting/interesting to own than most (Elise/M3/S2000/Boxster included) and this is reflected in responses like I mentioned.
Get one while the prices are flat, they're fine on the street (mine was on the street under a cover for the first 2years I had it), servicing is as low as £250 for a 6K minor... the reasons for owning one go on and on. You'll regret it if you don't
. Have to say it annoys me that people's perception is that they are unreliable - personally I can live with slow window winders (thats about all that's 'wrong' with it), as long as the engine always starts. The TVR/Rover V8 is virtually bombproof, the box/diff/brakes are sound and its wonderful to drive. You MUST get one. I was at a family do a little while back talking cars with someone who'd just bought an S2000 and I tell you it didn't sound like much fun to me! Problems with starting, problems with overheating, worst of all the roof mechanism just seizing on him! Anyway these things happen, it was probably a Friday car, but he genuinely sounded like he regretted buying it, said that after the initial novelty of the buzzy engine wore of it just didn't feel very special... The boot was put in by somebody who started chatting to us and was like 'you've got a TVR, great!' and more along the lines of 'an S2000? Thats a Honda isn't it?'. Thats not why I own my car but the fact is that these cars are just more inspiring/exciting/interesting to own than most (Elise/M3/S2000/Boxster included) and this is reflected in responses like I mentioned.
Get one while the prices are flat, they're fine on the street (mine was on the street under a cover for the first 2years I had it), servicing is as low as £250 for a 6K minor... the reasons for owning one go on and on. You'll regret it if you don't
I'll throw in my 2p here.
The Chimaera is a wonderful car. I have (OK - its the wife's) a TVR Chimaera 450 1998 'S-Plate'.
The Chimaera goes like stink. If you haven't driven one - you will be stunned. Since you travelled in your mate's one you'll have an idea but wait until that power in under your right foot. WooHoo! They look gorgeous and are (relatively) exclusive.
BUT - they are EXPENSIVE to maintain. All TVRs I've ever heard of suffer a range of niggly problems. Ours is no exception. Some of these niggly problems get expensive to fix (e.g. bl**dy handrake cable). Hand-on-heart I can say its only let us down once when the water pump went - and I've had a Vauxhall Cavalier that did that.
Budget 2-3K PER YEAR and you will easily afford to run the car every day. If you use the car less...it may be cheaper.
My wife is pleased when it comes back and the service was less than a grand. 12K miles per year = two of them. Anything goes wrong....etc
The Honda is a great car and will be much cheaper to run...but if you can afford not to stint on the maintenance the Chimaera will provide an experience thats very difficult to match.
The Chimaera is a wonderful car. I have (OK - its the wife's) a TVR Chimaera 450 1998 'S-Plate'.
The Chimaera goes like stink. If you haven't driven one - you will be stunned. Since you travelled in your mate's one you'll have an idea but wait until that power in under your right foot. WooHoo! They look gorgeous and are (relatively) exclusive.
BUT - they are EXPENSIVE to maintain. All TVRs I've ever heard of suffer a range of niggly problems. Ours is no exception. Some of these niggly problems get expensive to fix (e.g. bl**dy handrake cable). Hand-on-heart I can say its only let us down once when the water pump went - and I've had a Vauxhall Cavalier that did that.
Budget 2-3K PER YEAR and you will easily afford to run the car every day. If you use the car less...it may be cheaper.
My wife is pleased when it comes back and the service was less than a grand. 12K miles per year = two of them. Anything goes wrong....etc
The Honda is a great car and will be much cheaper to run...but if you can afford not to stint on the maintenance the Chimaera will provide an experience thats very difficult to match.
One of my mates has got an Elise.
That leaks more than any other car I've known.
Lotus continually failed to fix the problem and eventually the best that they could come up with was to offer to drill a couple of holes through the footwells..... so that the water could run out !
Get a TVR !
That leaks more than any other car I've known.
Lotus continually failed to fix the problem and eventually the best that they could come up with was to offer to drill a couple of holes through the footwells..... so that the water could run out !
Get a TVR !
You may be asking the wrong bunch of people but for my money the Chimaera is the only special car that's on your shortlist.
It's a special event everytime you drive it, even if you drive it everyday like I do.
The only thing is your not planning to have it garaged, I'd worry about mine if it was left in the open every night. Not from a security point of view, but I just think the winter would take its toll. But I hear that Leven's car cover is good so maybe that's an option.
Oh bollox to it, just get one
It's a special event everytime you drive it, even if you drive it everyday like I do.
The only thing is your not planning to have it garaged, I'd worry about mine if it was left in the open every night. Not from a security point of view, but I just think the winter would take its toll. But I hear that Leven's car cover is good so maybe that's an option.
Oh bollox to it, just get one
beano1197 said: My boss has an S2000. Accompanied by all sorts of problems:
Vibrations in gearbox/clutch which the dealers just cannot cure, and then the rear suspension collapsed big time on him on the motorway (resulting in a 540 degree spin!
Now - one car doesn't mean a trend, but just goes to show that even what you might consider the most reliable aint guaranteed!
I can second that. My S2k is reliable in the sense that it starts up first time/every time, every mornine.
That being said, for those considering that car has its fair share of issues...
1. Gearing. Once the car was run in and I got over the novelty of being able to rev the thing to almost 9000 rpm (I've never been brave enough to try to hit the limiter), I have to say that I absolutely DESPISE the gearbox. Close-ratio gearing may be nice on the track but having to row through the gears like a maniac every time I drive the thing gets old. Plus, the gear lever twitches and vibrates like a maniac under any driving conditions.
2. Motorway driving. The S2000 is a car for town and for the B roads. Driving the car on the motorway for long distances is torture. Because of the close-ratio gearbox and the hilariously-geared rear-end, I constantly find myself at 4000-5000 RPM and the drone from the engine makes it virtually impossible to hear the stereo properly without inflicting permanent damage on both the speakers and my eardrums. And that's with the roof up. With the roof down, don't even bother switching the stereo on.
3. Steering and throttle-response. These can most politely be described as "sanitized for your protection". Plus, the back end is very quick to step out in a wet roundabout. I've felt more secure going around wet corners quickly in a 4 liter Tuscan and 5 liter Griffith.
It isn't all bad though. When the engine is howling, it sounds great. If TVR ever built a 2 liter, 4-pot engine and decided to over-muffle it a little, it might sound a bit like the S2000.
Around town and on back roads it isn't bad. The top is an absolute gem. I have never seen one that is faster or more user-friendly. It is so easy to put up and down that it actually encourages me to have it down more than I would with any other car.
Take the two for a test drive back to back, it may help you decide.
As for driving on the continent there is always some form of support. Take the factory phone number with you and I would be very surprised if Mr Heath has not had the odd phone call from people stuck in parts foreign.
Its your decision in the end but I know what I would go for ! (and did). See profile for running costs.
Bob
As for driving on the continent there is always some form of support. Take the factory phone number with you and I would be very surprised if Mr Heath has not had the odd phone call from people stuck in parts foreign.
Its your decision in the end but I know what I would go for ! (and did). See profile for running costs.
Bob
Buying a Honda S2000 won't change your life - buying a Chimaera will. 6 months down the line I find myself staring out of the bedroom window at it just for the look of the thing. I wash it twice a week to feel the curves under the wash leather and I drive it for no reason at all EVERY day. And I'm nowhere near the saddest person on this board. There's just no competition - stop mucking about 
and get that bank draft. 6,000 miles in last 3 months and my fog lamp warning light has blown. Most reliable car I've ever had. 24.5 to the gallon (4.0 HC) Oil use negligable. Seriously, just get it. cheers, Tant.
and get that bank draft. 6,000 miles in last 3 months and my fog lamp warning light has blown. Most reliable car I've ever had. 24.5 to the gallon (4.0 HC) Oil use negligable. Seriously, just get it. cheers, Tant.
trackdemon said: The phrase 'speaks for itself' springs to mind after reading the above comments... And of course I agree with all and add that keeping outdoors is fine as long as you have a quailty cover.
My mate finished his nice warm garage to house his Chimaera 4.3 and the mice moved in! They left his motor alone when it was outside.
After three years, I find myself going the long way home, or taking the 10-mile route between the driveway and the garage, just for the fun of it.
My bills aren't anything like those mentioned. I expect around £500 for a service, and not much in between unless I use brake pads at trackdays. Never let me down.
the bills rise if you do track days (extra oil/brake/tyre changes etc) and of course the cost of track days themselves, but that comes under a different budget marked "Fun". I haven't seen a S2000 at a track day yet.
I don't suppose were expecting impartiality from the Chimaera forum, were you?
R
>> Edited by yum on Friday 25th October 17:47
My bills aren't anything like those mentioned. I expect around £500 for a service, and not much in between unless I use brake pads at trackdays. Never let me down.
the bills rise if you do track days (extra oil/brake/tyre changes etc) and of course the cost of track days themselves, but that comes under a different budget marked "Fun". I haven't seen a S2000 at a track day yet.
I don't suppose were expecting impartiality from the Chimaera forum, were you?
R
>> Edited by yum on Friday 25th October 17:47
yum said: After three years, I find myself going the long way home, or taking the 10-mile route between the driveway and the garage, just for the fun of it.
Well said, yum. BTW Any of you North Yorks lot coming karting
at Teesside this weekend? Us TVRCCNE folks are coming down in convoy from Washington service station...(not a huge convoy perhaps...but..) Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff