Considering a Chim… coming from Caterham
Discussion
your comment about potholes is interesting
I have both cars, and though the Chim is a GT style car its suspension is still old school and doesn't like potholes either. I still drive to carefully avoid them as with any sports car. The Caterham, being so light, actually rides pretty well.
I have the Chim for the spaceship cockpit and the V8. I'd suggest keeping the Caterham for the handling... (no depreciation and cheap to run anyway). I went looking for a 450, but I also wanted a really good example and so ended up with a 400 as there are just so many more to choose from. In my experience they all offered the same feel upto 3500 revs, and that's really the RV8 sweet spot. After that the bigger engines had more power, but I really didn't mind for the experience I wanted from the car. I bought a reassuringly expensive example with spotless MoT history and have been rewarded with total reliability.
I have both cars, and though the Chim is a GT style car its suspension is still old school and doesn't like potholes either. I still drive to carefully avoid them as with any sports car. The Caterham, being so light, actually rides pretty well.
I have the Chim for the spaceship cockpit and the V8. I'd suggest keeping the Caterham for the handling... (no depreciation and cheap to run anyway). I went looking for a 450, but I also wanted a really good example and so ended up with a 400 as there are just so many more to choose from. In my experience they all offered the same feel upto 3500 revs, and that's really the RV8 sweet spot. After that the bigger engines had more power, but I really didn't mind for the experience I wanted from the car. I bought a reassuringly expensive example with spotless MoT history and have been rewarded with total reliability.
I went from Chim to Elise which was forced on me somewhat as the Chim was sadly written off after a small accident.
Decided i wanted to experience the Lotus but to be perfectly honest its not really floating my boat maybe because it lacks the engine noise which is a big part of a car for me.
No doubt its an epic car but slightly uncomfortable to live with.
The two cars couldnt be more different though.
Ive not decided if im going to return to a Tvr yet as i seem to be losing a bit of interest in just taking the car out for a drive, the weather doesnt help either!
Some people get the Tvr once owned and are bitten by the bug like me but others and ive spoke to a few wouldnt touch another with a bargepole.
Decided i wanted to experience the Lotus but to be perfectly honest its not really floating my boat maybe because it lacks the engine noise which is a big part of a car for me.
No doubt its an epic car but slightly uncomfortable to live with.
The two cars couldnt be more different though.
Ive not decided if im going to return to a Tvr yet as i seem to be losing a bit of interest in just taking the car out for a drive, the weather doesnt help either!
Some people get the Tvr once owned and are bitten by the bug like me but others and ive spoke to a few wouldnt touch another with a bargepole.
Belle427 said:
I went from Chim to Elise which was forced on me somewhat as the Chim was sadly written off after a small accident.
Decided i wanted to experience the Lotus but to be perfectly honest its not really floating my boat maybe because it lacks the engine noise which is a big part of a car for me.
No doubt its an epic car but slightly uncomfortable to live with.
The two cars couldnt be more different though.
Ive not decided if im going to return to a Tvr yet as i seem to be losing a bit of interest in just taking the car out for a drive, the weather doesnt help either!
Some people get the Tvr once owned and are bitten by the bug like me but others and ive spoke to a few wouldnt touch another with a bargepole.
Get a K Series Sport 190 matey and you wont be disappointed with the Engine noise Decided i wanted to experience the Lotus but to be perfectly honest its not really floating my boat maybe because it lacks the engine noise which is a big part of a car for me.
No doubt its an epic car but slightly uncomfortable to live with.
The two cars couldnt be more different though.
Ive not decided if im going to return to a Tvr yet as i seem to be losing a bit of interest in just taking the car out for a drive, the weather doesnt help either!
Some people get the Tvr once owned and are bitten by the bug like me but others and ive spoke to a few wouldnt touch another with a bargepole.
Mutley00 said:
Belle427 said:
I went from Chim to Elise which was forced on me somewhat as the Chim was sadly written off after a small accident.
Decided i wanted to experience the Lotus but to be perfectly honest its not really floating my boat maybe because it lacks the engine noise which is a big part of a car for me.
No doubt its an epic car but slightly uncomfortable to live with.
The two cars couldnt be more different though.
Ive not decided if im going to return to a Tvr yet as i seem to be losing a bit of interest in just taking the car out for a drive, the weather doesnt help either!
Some people get the Tvr once owned and are bitten by the bug like me but others and ive spoke to a few wouldnt touch another with a bargepole.
Get a K Series Sport 190 matey and you wont be disappointed with the Engine noise Decided i wanted to experience the Lotus but to be perfectly honest its not really floating my boat maybe because it lacks the engine noise which is a big part of a car for me.
No doubt its an epic car but slightly uncomfortable to live with.
The two cars couldnt be more different though.
Ive not decided if im going to return to a Tvr yet as i seem to be losing a bit of interest in just taking the car out for a drive, the weather doesnt help either!
Some people get the Tvr once owned and are bitten by the bug like me but others and ive spoke to a few wouldnt touch another with a bargepole.
I doubt it would matter tbh.
Plenty of work been done. I’d now hone in on what might need doing and I’d still check chassis carefully on inspection but that looks like a nice car.
I’m not sure the lights are everyone’s cup of tea but I quite like them especially with the larger wheels as the car looks more Cerbera esk,
With these cars now I look at the plus points and cost that up as if I had to have it done on a lesser car at a lower buying point.
Look at its faults if any and your desired options or maybe add ons down the line and make a judgement based on what else is on the market.
Looking again I’d say that’s a very nice car.
A hoods about 700 quid if not more.
Looks great on those wheels but I might like to try a slightly higher sidewall tyre but if they don’t track should be fine if not a bit firm over harsh bumps.
That’s a lot of car and cost involved using experts so should be very good.
I’m not sure the lights are everyone’s cup of tea but I quite like them especially with the larger wheels as the car looks more Cerbera esk,
With these cars now I look at the plus points and cost that up as if I had to have it done on a lesser car at a lower buying point.
Look at its faults if any and your desired options or maybe add ons down the line and make a judgement based on what else is on the market.
Looking again I’d say that’s a very nice car.
A hoods about 700 quid if not more.
Looks great on those wheels but I might like to try a slightly higher sidewall tyre but if they don’t track should be fine if not a bit firm over harsh bumps.
That’s a lot of car and cost involved using experts so should be very good.
Edited by Classic Chim on Friday 5th January 12:33
Belle427 said:
Not a fan of the lights or wheels personally but it looks a good car.
Don't mind the wheels but also not a fan of the lights.Edited by Belle427 on Friday 5th January 12:39
Saying that, it is an awful lot of car and [ work that's been done professionally] for that price.
Well worth a look and a test drive IMO.
No doubt worth a look.
It's at the right point for a new camshaft on the mileage, so that may be worth factoring in.
Depending on what sort of life it's had, the gearbox and diff might need attention, but might be absolutely fine.
It's worth the usual questions about clutch master and slave cylinder condition - ask to see under the clutch cover in the engine bay wing, and look deep into the footwell to see if there's any evidence of weeping fluid around the clutch push rod (I didn't do this check, and had to replace the m/c 4 months after I bought mine, and whilst I was in that area I replaced the old brake m/c and servo as it was hiding a leak).
Probably similar to the Caterham, they are very simple cars, and once you've fixed a couple of bits, you'll know where to look.
I'm completely smitten by mine despite the things I've had to do, I actually quite enjoy sorting it and upgrading where relevant (just the wife that grumbles
)
It's at the right point for a new camshaft on the mileage, so that may be worth factoring in.
Depending on what sort of life it's had, the gearbox and diff might need attention, but might be absolutely fine.
It's worth the usual questions about clutch master and slave cylinder condition - ask to see under the clutch cover in the engine bay wing, and look deep into the footwell to see if there's any evidence of weeping fluid around the clutch push rod (I didn't do this check, and had to replace the m/c 4 months after I bought mine, and whilst I was in that area I replaced the old brake m/c and servo as it was hiding a leak).
Probably similar to the Caterham, they are very simple cars, and once you've fixed a couple of bits, you'll know where to look.
I'm completely smitten by mine despite the things I've had to do, I actually quite enjoy sorting it and upgrading where relevant (just the wife that grumbles
)Turn7 said:
I'd query how long it's been stored presumably outside under a cover. If its over 2 maybe 3 years, you could have microblistering just round the corner! Take care with buying via that platform too as its recently been discussed on here about the quality of the cars being not as described when collecting.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Just wondered why no one is interested in this?
A bit more grunt being the HC with a recent cam and outriggers, great colour etc, probably a £!5k car in reality though.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15360246
A bit more grunt being the HC with a recent cam and outriggers, great colour etc, probably a £!5k car in reality though.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/15360246
Wasn’t this seen as an upgrade around a decade or more ago and quite a few owners opted for this as part of either a full spray job or front end freshen up due to the fact reflectors for originals were becoming unobtainable.
When my front end was painted at a specialist I was offered MK3 headlights as part of the job for not a lot more money but I prefer the Mk2 look.
This could be similar, I just can’t remember which bodyshop/s used to offer this pod conversion.
When my front end was painted at a specialist I was offered MK3 headlights as part of the job for not a lot more money but I prefer the Mk2 look.
This could be similar, I just can’t remember which bodyshop/s used to offer this pod conversion.
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