Considering a Chim… coming from Caterham

[KEVS500]

Well, point no. 1 - don't sell the Caterham, you'll regret it. Not because it's better than a TVR, but because they're unique cars providing a driving experience (especially on track) that you can't get at any price anywhere else. But you know this already 'cos you've got one.
Point no. 2 - buy a Chimaera 500 for the best power/noise/comfort combo for road use.
There is no comparison between the two cars so it's either go for a complete change or do what I did and have both in the garage.
Good points above about TVR maintenance costs but nowhere near similar high performance car costs.
Oh, and neither car depreciates!

[Classic Chim]

Turn7 said:

Ford Sigma with Caterham 150 kit, rolling road proven 150hp

No slouch then.
You better buy a tuned 450

[Belle427]

I dont see the high maintenance costs personally if you do everything yourself, fuel costs on the other hand.

[e42]

I think you should just go for it! I’ve had 3 Caterhams and 5 TVRs, not really comparable except that all have been great fun to own. As others have said choose carefully, use experience from the folks here and do try not to buy the first one you look at unless it ticks every box! Life’s too short not to really

[Turn7]

e42 said:

I think you should just go for it! I’ve had 3 Caterhams and 5 TVRs, not really comparable except that all have been great fun to own. As others have said choose carefully, use experience from the folks here and do try not to buy the first one you look at unless it ticks every box! Life’s too short not to really

Kind of my thinking !

[Turn7]

One very important thing....

Can anyone give exact front to rear and mirror to mirror dims please ?

My garage is pretty tight, and this may or not be a deal breaker....

[sawman]

Turn7 said:

One very important thing....

Can anyone give exact front to rear and mirror to mirror dims please ?

My garage is pretty tight, and this may or not be a deal breaker....

whilst I am in the garage, I have just measured mine - iit s 1.92m mirror tip to mirror tip (fairly straight tape measure) , the official length is 4.015 m - which seems to be about what mine measures

[e42]

If you’re still in the garage roughly how much space do you need to open a door to get in and out?

[Turn7]

sawman said:

Turn7 said:

One very important thing....

Can anyone give exact front to rear and mirror to mirror dims please ?

My garage is pretty tight, and this may or not be a deal breaker....

whilst I am in the garage, I have just measured mine - iit s 1.92m mirror tip to mirror tip (fairly straight tape measure) , the official length is 4.015 m - which seems to be about what mine measures

Thanks for that...

Just come in from the garage after giving the 7 a run up....

Will check the dims over the weekend as CBA to unlock all the security again now.

[sawman]

e42 said:

If you’re still in the garage roughly how much space do you need to open a door to get in and out?

this is where the clever bods at blackpool help you - the door only opens about 70cm in any event - I have a closed cell foam block glued to the wall, it depends on your suppleness after that

[Jasandjules]

e42 said:

If you’re still in the garage roughly how much space do you need to open a door to get in and out?

I got an old sofa seat, took the insert and stuck that to the garage wall.....

[8Speed]

I've had a couple of Caterhams in the past (HPC then R300). Tremendous fun especially on track days. I eventually sold the R300 because it always tempted me to drive as fast as possible on the road and that's not always sensible (in my case at least). With my Griffith I can have a lot of enjoyment even when I'm not in a hurry, it's much more of an all round car.

[Turn7]

8Speed said:

I've had a couple of Caterhams in the past (HPC then R300). Tremendous fun especially on track days. I eventually sold the R300 because it always tempted me to drive as fast as possible on the road and that's not always sensible (in my case at least). With my Griffith I can have a lot of enjoyment even when I'm not in a hurry, it's much more of an all round car.

Fully agree, and part of my thinking tbh...that ad Id really not want to get the end having not owned a V8/TVR

[Classic Chim]

Turn7 said:

Fully agree, and part of my thinking tbh...that ad Id really not want to get the end having not owned a V8/TVR

Very wise words.
Others on here might consider them foolish

You sound like you know your cars so I see no reason why you can’t find a good car and indeed enjoy the benefits of a far more user friendly car with real windows.
A Caterham is one of the greatest cars ever conceived and truly fantastic at what it does.
I like driving faster on tracks so road driving has always been a very slow compromise and no amount of trying can replicate what you can do on a known circuit.
What I found so much fun was how much I just enjoy driving TVR at slower cruising speeds . I never expected that.
I find a Tvr is as much fun driving steady Eddy as it is fast and that’s very thrilling in itself.
It’s just the connection you make with the car and engine and it’s torque that’s intoxicating. The sound of the RV8 is second to none in a TVR.

[Belle427]

A good friend of mine has a V8 Westfield, as a driving experience there isn't much better but I dont really gel with it.
I find the wind buffeting on them to be terrible without side windows in place but they spoil the experience totally.
How do owners get on with 7 type cars?

[Classic Chim]

Belle427 said:

A good friend of mine has a V8 Westfield, as a driving experience there isn't much better but I dont really gel with it.
I find the wind buffeting on them to be terrible without side windows in place but they spoil the experience totally.
How do owners get on with 7 type cars?

Wear a helmet.
.
I know that’s not what people do but when I’ve used one on tracks it’s always with helmets as roof off you are completely exposed similar if not more exposed than someone in a single seater.
It’s a true go cart of a car.
The helmet helps smooth over the air flow that buffets past you.

I’m 6ft and find the screens so small when taking right handers I tilt my head also to the right and often it’s outside the line of the windscreen and more inline with the right inside front wheel which is only a few feet away from my face. It’s brilliant but I use a full face helmet or don’t get in it.
My arms normally rest on the outside of the door or I can’t move my arms well otherwise.
I remember an Atom came past me on an inside line off a corner once and a stone flicked up and hit my forearm

But that’s not to complain. It’s a mad bad tiny car from a by gone age usually with modern much more powerful engines than is safe.
He’ll do great in a TVR I reckon

Edited by Classic Chim on Monday 1st January 10:22

[cerb4.5lee]

Belle427 said:

A good friend of mine has a V8 Westfield, as a driving experience there isn't much better but I dont really gel with it.
I find the wind buffeting on them to be terrible without side windows in place but they spoil the experience totally.
How do owners get on with 7 type cars?

For me it is horrible with the doors off in a Caterham if it is a windy day. However if it isn't windy, then it is far more enjoyable though with the doors off.

[indigochim]

sawman said:

e42 said:

If you’re still in the garage roughly how much space do you need to open a door to get in and out?

this is where the clever bods at blackpool help you - the door only opens about 70cm in any event - I have a closed cell foam block glued to the wall, it depends on your suppleness after that

Just had mine out to put the Christmas decorations back in the garage loft... my garage is quite narrow and I can get out fine. Just tested and if I put a cardboard box up against the wall limiting the door opening to 45cm I can still get out. I tend to keep the roof panel off which makes getting in and out easier especially as I have wall cabinets hindering my access. I too have carpet on the wall to protect the doors.

[Turn7]

Hmmm, my garage is going to very tight....

Door aperture is 2140mm

Length is 3630, but thats only to my work bench, I probably have about 650mm for the nose to slide into

Internal width 2460

Edited by Turn7 on Monday 1st January 15:45

[Belle427]

Mine used to fit in a standard new build type single garage which was small, i also had a small worktop bench in one corner but it went in ok.
Width was tight but you could still get out.