Car change: Chimaera to Tuscan, good move or not?
Discussion
I am thinking of selling my 450 X reg Chimaera and getting as new a Tuscan as I can. I have used my Chim pretty much every day for the last 5 years, except when it's being fixed, and the mileage is now up to 110k!
I can just about afford the running, service and repair costs.
Has anyone else upgraded from a chim to a tuscan? Are the running costs a lot more? And are the later tuscans generally more or less reliable than the later chims?
thanks for any guidance.
david
I can just about afford the running, service and repair costs.
Has anyone else upgraded from a chim to a tuscan? Are the running costs a lot more? And are the later tuscans generally more or less reliable than the later chims?
thanks for any guidance.
david
Think the short answer would be no, they arent cheaper, they are a damn site more. But, the long answer is 'it depends'!!
You need to pick the right car, get one thats had the necessary engine work done, and has been looked after, you may only need an annual service and MOT, there are plenty out there that are at this level.
Get the wrong one and they can be a money pit until you sort them out, mine was for the first 12 months.
Not owned a chim, but with the non bespoke parts and cheaper servicing i would guess that (short of chassis work etc) they are cheaper to run.
The sp6 likes to be used daily, no trouble there, but i would say you need a daily journey of 10 miles each way at least to ensure you warm up adequately.
In terms of driving and performance the Tuscan is significantly better (on average - there is always bad and good before anyone flames me!)
Hope that helps...
You need to pick the right car, get one thats had the necessary engine work done, and has been looked after, you may only need an annual service and MOT, there are plenty out there that are at this level.
Get the wrong one and they can be a money pit until you sort them out, mine was for the first 12 months.
Not owned a chim, but with the non bespoke parts and cheaper servicing i would guess that (short of chassis work etc) they are cheaper to run.
The sp6 likes to be used daily, no trouble there, but i would say you need a daily journey of 10 miles each way at least to ensure you warm up adequately.
In terms of driving and performance the Tuscan is significantly better (on average - there is always bad and good before anyone flames me!)
Hope that helps...
I made the same move last year - '97 Chimaera 400 to an '01 Tuscan S, and don't regret it at all - the car has been completely different, and no more or less reliable (the only problem I had with the Chimaera was the clutch master cylinder, the only one with the Tuscan has been the handbrake cable). I think the key has been buying a really well sorted car in the first place, then keeping it like that - mine had just had an engine rebuild, gearbox and back axle, plus a lot of other work done.
The running costs have been comparable - the difference is parts prices, and that I'd be more cautious about turning my hand to a Speed 6 than I was with the RV8. The rest of the Tuscan seems better put together if anything, although more prone to scratches judging by the previous owners attempt at looking after it (rear screen, around boot opening). The key is - as everyone else will say - buying the right car, not the shiniest or cheapest.
The reaction you get from the public, the looks (mine is reflex charcoal) and the sound are all a big step up (depending how loud your Chimaera is), but I always feel more nervous driving the Tuscan in the wet than I did in the Chim.
No bad reflection on the Tuscan, but it'll shortly be for sale, as I'm now looking to change to a Cerbera 4.5 (no idea why - just quite fancy one)
The running costs have been comparable - the difference is parts prices, and that I'd be more cautious about turning my hand to a Speed 6 than I was with the RV8. The rest of the Tuscan seems better put together if anything, although more prone to scratches judging by the previous owners attempt at looking after it (rear screen, around boot opening). The key is - as everyone else will say - buying the right car, not the shiniest or cheapest.
The reaction you get from the public, the looks (mine is reflex charcoal) and the sound are all a big step up (depending how loud your Chimaera is), but I always feel more nervous driving the Tuscan in the wet than I did in the Chim.
No bad reflection on the Tuscan, but it'll shortly be for sale, as I'm now looking to change to a Cerbera 4.5 (no idea why - just quite fancy one)
[quote=bob_g]
No bad reflection on the Tuscan, but it'll shortly be for sale.
Not a good selling point on your profile. "One Dirty Tuscan" Should park further away from the Land Rovers.
David
May be a good time to try as it seems Tuscan prices are beginning to increase.
Other club members have done the same, some love the Tuscan others not so, but only you will know. Get some test drives from dealers or speak with any local owners and beg a drive.
May well cost more to run, but you already know that, so what else do you want to blow money at.
No bad reflection on the Tuscan, but it'll shortly be for sale.
Not a good selling point on your profile. "One Dirty Tuscan" Should park further away from the Land Rovers.
David
May be a good time to try as it seems Tuscan prices are beginning to increase.
Other club members have done the same, some love the Tuscan others not so, but only you will know. Get some test drives from dealers or speak with any local owners and beg a drive.
May well cost more to run, but you already know that, so what else do you want to blow money at.
David, I had a 4l Chimaera for just over 14 years and changed to a Tuscan II S just under two years ago.
In terms of running costs, they are indeed just about comparable (save for insurance), but much depends on the Tuscan you get and where you get it serviced!. The Tuscan does go into the garage once or twice a year with little niggles that the Chimaera didn't need.
I truly miss the V8 growl, but the S6 has charms of its own, especially when it starts popping on the overrun or at higher revs.
I have driven both on long runs down to the Italian lakes and Venice. Both were fantastic cars for the job. However, I felt that the Chimaera was probably more fun in the mountains and also more relaxing to drive on long motorway sections. I'm not sure how much of this was due to my better familiarity with the Chimaera or due to the sharper feel of the Tuscan.
On track, both are exceptional fun, but the Chimaera felt a little more forgiving and, dare I say, you could actually play around a little with it by invoking a slide when going around corners - not something that I would yet feel confident about doing with the Tuscan. That said, the Tuscan's level of grip is far superior and its definitely quicker around fast tracks like Goodwood.
The Tuscan was unexpectedly the easier car to drive in heavy London traffic.
I'm sure that others will have differing opinions, but that's just my experience. Hope it helps.
In terms of running costs, they are indeed just about comparable (save for insurance), but much depends on the Tuscan you get and where you get it serviced!. The Tuscan does go into the garage once or twice a year with little niggles that the Chimaera didn't need.
I truly miss the V8 growl, but the S6 has charms of its own, especially when it starts popping on the overrun or at higher revs.
I have driven both on long runs down to the Italian lakes and Venice. Both were fantastic cars for the job. However, I felt that the Chimaera was probably more fun in the mountains and also more relaxing to drive on long motorway sections. I'm not sure how much of this was due to my better familiarity with the Chimaera or due to the sharper feel of the Tuscan.
On track, both are exceptional fun, but the Chimaera felt a little more forgiving and, dare I say, you could actually play around a little with it by invoking a slide when going around corners - not something that I would yet feel confident about doing with the Tuscan. That said, the Tuscan's level of grip is far superior and its definitely quicker around fast tracks like Goodwood.
The Tuscan was unexpectedly the easier car to drive in heavy London traffic.
I'm sure that others will have differing opinions, but that's just my experience. Hope it helps.
Hi Dave
I also made the move from a 450 chim last year I bought an 55 plate Tuscan Convertible and haven't looked back!!
Servicing is a little more expensive, but so far thats the only thing that has hit me expense wise (apart from being a fussy bugger about paintwork/cosmetics etc - reflex paints aren't cheap!!). Having the convertible gives me the top down experience of the chim and there is a definate difference in performance.
I have heard/read that the Tuscan Convertible is probably the best 'Tuscan' reliability/build wise that was made - So far in my ownership it has lived upto it's reputation!! Having said that the later mark 3 i.e wavy dash, which came out around the same time are also meant to be as good.
Anyway my experience so far from changing from Chimaera to Tuscan has been nothing but positive.
Go for it!!
IM
I also made the move from a 450 chim last year I bought an 55 plate Tuscan Convertible and haven't looked back!!
Servicing is a little more expensive, but so far thats the only thing that has hit me expense wise (apart from being a fussy bugger about paintwork/cosmetics etc - reflex paints aren't cheap!!). Having the convertible gives me the top down experience of the chim and there is a definate difference in performance.
I have heard/read that the Tuscan Convertible is probably the best 'Tuscan' reliability/build wise that was made - So far in my ownership it has lived upto it's reputation!! Having said that the later mark 3 i.e wavy dash, which came out around the same time are also meant to be as good.
Anyway my experience so far from changing from Chimaera to Tuscan has been nothing but positive.
Go for it!!
IM
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