Discussion
can the Chimaera be used as a everyday car ???
What are the pros and cons to haveing one.
How reliable are they ???
Hi Chris
Try this link from the FAQ's
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=25542&f=8&h=0
You might get the answers you're looking for.
IMHO Yes!
Had mine now for 4 months, and love it.
Big Al.
>> Edited by ABBTVR (moderator) on Thursday 6th February 23:45
Everyday car – I use mine 3/4 times a week as a second car, I do not think it is suitable for certain weather conditions, torrential rain, ice etc or sitting in traffic for hours on end.
Pros – always good to drive, particularly on a nice sunny day.
Cons – it ain’t a cheap car to run, especially if you put big miles on it.
Reliability – I have not had mine long, it has been fine so far. Have friends well capable of looking after them that got bored with fixing them and got out.
The buy a good one theory applies more to this type of car than most. I have enjoyed every minute of ownership, looking forward to the summer.
Ivan
Pros – always good to drive, particularly on a nice sunny day.
Cons – it ain’t a cheap car to run, especially if you put big miles on it.
Reliability – I have not had mine long, it has been fine so far. Have friends well capable of looking after them that got bored with fixing them and got out.
The buy a good one theory applies more to this type of car than most. I have enjoyed every minute of ownership, looking forward to the summer.
Ivan
I've only had mine about 6 weeks and I'm using it as an everyday car. I drive to Wales from London twice a month normally (500 miles X 2)+ use it to drive to work two weeks of every month too, from Hemel to Central London (60 miles X 14)+ any other trips.
As far as reliability is concerned I've had no problems so far (after about 3200 miles), it's in for a service at the moment at Tower View and the guy said it's fine apart from a mashed rear anti-roll bar & needs new rear tyres.
Cons are -
1. Very pricey to keep on the road, you'll get 25mpg at the very best. Each 6000 mile service will set you back at least £500. Not to mention anything else that goes wrong.
2. Not the best car to drive in the snow/ice, as I found out last Thursday!!
3. Few little niggles, such as water leaks, trim not quite fitting, etc, but nothing to bad.
Pros are -
1. It's a fantastic drive, feels great, corners superbly, and is quicker than 99.5% of other cars on the road.
2. You just can't beat that sound.
3. Looks beautiful, Turns more heads than a bunch of naked cheerleaders
4. It's British!
I'm thinking about putting the Golf back on the road as a runabout (to work/shops etc) and using the TVR for nice days and my trips to Wales.
I'd say the Pro's outweigh the Cons, and would recommend getting one purely for the massive smile it puts on your face!
>> Edited by dannyboyo on Friday 7th February 02:01
As far as reliability is concerned I've had no problems so far (after about 3200 miles), it's in for a service at the moment at Tower View and the guy said it's fine apart from a mashed rear anti-roll bar & needs new rear tyres.
Cons are -
1. Very pricey to keep on the road, you'll get 25mpg at the very best. Each 6000 mile service will set you back at least £500. Not to mention anything else that goes wrong.
2. Not the best car to drive in the snow/ice, as I found out last Thursday!!
3. Few little niggles, such as water leaks, trim not quite fitting, etc, but nothing to bad.
Pros are -
1. It's a fantastic drive, feels great, corners superbly, and is quicker than 99.5% of other cars on the road.
2. You just can't beat that sound.
3. Looks beautiful, Turns more heads than a bunch of naked cheerleaders
4. It's British!
I'm thinking about putting the Golf back on the road as a runabout (to work/shops etc) and using the TVR for nice days and my trips to Wales.
I'd say the Pro's outweigh the Cons, and would recommend getting one purely for the massive smile it puts on your face!
>> Edited by dannyboyo on Friday 7th February 02:01
I've had mine almost a year and I use it everyday for work, running the kids around and generally having fun. The advantages ..... it makes you grin, you can upset boy racers with baseball caps, it sets car alrms off in car parks, the roof comes off, it drifts round roundabouts, grown men turn and stare, small boys grin and point, a sense of gratitude every time you arrive at your destination ..... and on and on.
The disadvantages .... the youngest has to lie across the parcel shelf, it whistles at speeds in excess of 90 as the roof lifts, the petrol guage needle moves only slightly slower than the rev counter, and that's about it.
If you ever thought you fancied a volvo don't buy one, if you want to enjoy driving take the plunge.
The disadvantages .... the youngest has to lie across the parcel shelf, it whistles at speeds in excess of 90 as the roof lifts, the petrol guage needle moves only slightly slower than the rev counter, and that's about it.
If you ever thought you fancied a volvo don't buy one, if you want to enjoy driving take the plunge.
Had mine about 6 months and use it every day when I'm in the country - so used it daily for about 3 months. It lives outside beneath Covercraft cover under a carport and it's been 100% reliable since I bought it. I've added about 4000 miles over that time (now 12000) and averaged around 20 mpg (but that's irrelevant bearing in mind the enjoyment I get from driving it). It goes out in all weather and, through attention to detail on the prevention front, it doesn't leak.
I have had the engine and wheel geometry properly set up and had the underside prepared and waxoyled before the winter. It gets a weekly dose of Maguiar's carnauba wax and is generally spoilt with tlc whenever I get the chance. Once a month during the summer it gets a dose of Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax which produces an unbelievably deep wet-look gloss on dark paint colours.
The car is so engaging it's difficult not to become totally.....engaged
Hutch
I have had the engine and wheel geometry properly set up and had the underside prepared and waxoyled before the winter. It gets a weekly dose of Maguiar's carnauba wax and is generally spoilt with tlc whenever I get the chance. Once a month during the summer it gets a dose of Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax which produces an unbelievably deep wet-look gloss on dark paint colours.
The car is so engaging it's difficult not to become totally.....engaged
Hutch
Really depends on what is meant by 'everyday car' 
I've had mine 3 years and for the last year I've used it 'everyday' for a 5 mile commute and weekend 'fun'
In the last year it has had a lot less battery type problems due to being used more often but you notice the little things more when stuck in traffic.
Like anything go into it with your eyes opens and know the limitations of the car and what you expect of it
I've had mine 3 years and for the last year I've used it 'everyday' for a 5 mile commute and weekend 'fun'
In the last year it has had a lot less battery type problems due to being used more often but you notice the little things more when stuck in traffic.
Like anything go into it with your eyes opens and know the limitations of the car and what you expect of it
I am always one of the first to try and make a joke out of this question - at the expense of some poor new PHer. Which is never fair.....
...but it is fun.
To add to the other comments, I think that you wouldn't want to use a Chimaera as an everyday car.
They're far too common.
Have you considered a proper TVR? For example, see this thread:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=27751&f=9&h=0
:revvingitupreadyforaquickgetawaywhenthemissilesstart:
...but it is fun.
To add to the other comments, I think that you wouldn't want to use a Chimaera as an everyday car.
They're far too common.
Have you considered a proper TVR? For example, see this thread:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=27751&f=9&h=0
:revvingitupreadyforaquickgetawaywhenthemissilesstart:
Don't know if this info helps,
But i have used the following TVR's on a daily basis as my only vehicle at that time over the past 12 years.
I encountered 2 problems one which left me stranded, but that was on a 1984 350i. (a bolt sheared on the suspension).
Ok my ownership of the following.
1984 350i sheared suspension bolt immobilised.
1986 390se (engine rebuild) warranty
1990 400se no problems
1990 450seac (engine rebuild)
1995 400 chimp injector failure
1994 500 griff heater problems
1998 450 chimp couple of electrical problems.
But i have used the following TVR's on a daily basis as my only vehicle at that time over the past 12 years.
I encountered 2 problems one which left me stranded, but that was on a 1984 350i. (a bolt sheared on the suspension).
Ok my ownership of the following.
1984 350i sheared suspension bolt immobilised.
1986 390se (engine rebuild) warranty
1990 400se no problems
1990 450seac (engine rebuild)
1995 400 chimp injector failure
1994 500 griff heater problems
1998 450 chimp couple of electrical problems.
angusfaldo said:
[1. Very pricey to keep on the road, you'll get 25mpg at the very best. Each 6000 mile service will set you back at least £500.
Go to a decent independent and it will be half this amount.
Just had my 54000 mile service done at a local specialist. Needed a clutch slave cylinder and a some back pads - total came in at £380.00. Much better than I expected. Could have done the pads myself and the clutch bit is simple so anyone with knowledge could have done that too. But, they really dont have to be expensive to service.... shop around and do get quotes....
Can you run one as an only car? Yes, but might be worth keeping a second £1,000 car for emergencies. TVR specialists and dealers are relatively few and far between and therefore it can be a bind getting to and from - easier to just drop of the TVR and use your other motor for running around until its back....
Just a thought.
Cheers,
Paul
TVR57S said: Don't know if this info helps,
But i have used the following TVR's on a daily basis as my only vehicle at that time over the past 12 years.
I encountered 2 problems one which left me stranded, but that was on a 1984 350i. (a bolt sheared on the suspension).
Ok my ownership of the following.
1984 350i sheared suspension bolt immobilised.
1986 390se (engine rebuild) warranty
1990 400se no problems
1990 450seac (engine rebuild)
1995 400 chimp injector failure
1994 500 griff heater problems
1998 450 chimp couple of electrical problems.
(Edited to say: I would have added that you've been dogged with problems - but dogging is subject of a different thread....)
That's the best advertisement to counteract the misplaced "reliability" jibes that I've ever seen
>> Edited by Beano500 on Friday 7th February 14:26
can the Chimaera be used as a everyday car ???
Yes.
What are the pros and cons to haveing one.
Pros = if your thinking of buying one you know what they are already.
Cons = will cost more than a eurobox...but not that much more.
How reliable are they ???
Not as bad as those who have never owned one make out...in the last 6 months I've needed a new oil pressure sender.
Oh yes indeedy you can IMHO.
Had mine for a couple of months now and have done 2.5k miles in it already. I love it. Great car to drive, will go really quite fast if you ask it but is equally happy trundling up motorways.
If your not too right foot happy the fuel ecomony is not too bad either, certainly comparable with my previous car. 2.8l BMW.
Buy one and have fun, u know u want to!!!!
Had mine for a couple of months now and have done 2.5k miles in it already. I love it. Great car to drive, will go really quite fast if you ask it but is equally happy trundling up motorways.
If your not too right foot happy the fuel ecomony is not too bad either, certainly comparable with my previous car. 2.8l BMW.
Buy one and have fun, u know u want to!!!!
What a refreshing thread. I was beginning to think I was the only owner (5.0, 14 mths ownership) who never had anything go wrong after reading some of the gloomier threads.
Totally reliable, 11k miles in 14 mths, no rough running at any speed, no leaks, two trouble-free extremely high speed trips to Le Mans, 23mpg.
On the other hand one or other of my Ford Ka and Alfa 156 are in for some work on average every couple of months.
Totally reliable, 11k miles in 14 mths, no rough running at any speed, no leaks, two trouble-free extremely high speed trips to Le Mans, 23mpg.
On the other hand one or other of my Ford Ka and Alfa 156 are in for some work on average every couple of months.
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