Finally got one
Discussion
Hi All
After nearly a year of looking (6months very actively), I've finally got myself a Chim - a 4.0HC
First impressions ;
Sounds superb
get some very jealous looks and people rolling their windows down to get a taste of the noise
get some odd looks too as it's pretty loud
buttons are all very confusing (as is immobiliser)
Had to get back out to the garage at least three times tonight to have a look at it.
Have to drive it to work tomorrow in what looks like pooring rain as I left my daily car at Sellers premises and have to collect tomorrow
Very fast, and nice and grunty low down
Mrs initally said she didn't like it, but I can tell from her smile it's growing on her (I just got a 'like the colour' from her, which from her is pretty good)
I need some new seats (or rather old seats and get them retrimmed) as it has non TVR seats currently
It's actually fairly comfortable on the motorway, and I'd even go as far as to say fairly relaxing, certainly for that type of car
I'm still a little confused about all the bottuns and stalks on the dash and column though. I'm sure I saw diagram on here once explaining what all the bits and bobs did. Especially, the two knows/small stalks on the column under the indicators and wiper stalks (mine has the aluminium stalks, but can't seem to work out what the lower ones do)
Anyway, here she is arriving home and getting sat in by the kids
After nearly a year of looking (6months very actively), I've finally got myself a Chim - a 4.0HC
First impressions ;
Sounds superb
get some very jealous looks and people rolling their windows down to get a taste of the noise
get some odd looks too as it's pretty loud
buttons are all very confusing (as is immobiliser)
Had to get back out to the garage at least three times tonight to have a look at it.
Have to drive it to work tomorrow in what looks like pooring rain as I left my daily car at Sellers premises and have to collect tomorrow
Very fast, and nice and grunty low down
Mrs initally said she didn't like it, but I can tell from her smile it's growing on her (I just got a 'like the colour' from her, which from her is pretty good)
I need some new seats (or rather old seats and get them retrimmed) as it has non TVR seats currently
It's actually fairly comfortable on the motorway, and I'd even go as far as to say fairly relaxing, certainly for that type of car
I'm still a little confused about all the bottuns and stalks on the dash and column though. I'm sure I saw diagram on here once explaining what all the bits and bobs did. Especially, the two knows/small stalks on the column under the indicators and wiper stalks (mine has the aluminium stalks, but can't seem to work out what the lower ones do)
Anyway, here she is arriving home and getting sat in by the kids
Ah, I see, I'll have a play with that in the morning (without saying 'I'll be playing with my knob!haha)
Sorry, one more thing ;
The seat belts don't retract very well, are they a part common to another OEM where I can get replacements fairly cheap or are the specials ?
I've tried googling, but not found anything conclusive
Sorry, one more thing ;
The seat belts don't retract very well, are they a part common to another OEM where I can get replacements fairly cheap or are the specials ?
I've tried googling, but not found anything conclusive
JonyTVR said:
oh and seat wise I will be getting rid of mine soon if your interested.
Yeah, might be depending on colour. Roughly what sort of condition & price are they ?Options I have are find the correct colour in good condition, or buy any colour in terrible condition and spend £200 getting them re leathered
I'll post up a pic of the interior when I have one, but it's dark and light grey two tone, so I'd be looking at seats in the lighter grey
Good work! It looks great.
The seat belt retractors are a bit crap in mine too. They're worse when the roof is down as it sits on the seat belt holder. I don't bother too much and hope I don't crash.
Some of the buttons and bobs seem to be different across cars - mine has a button under the dash which switches the dash lights on and off and also a rather useless fan switch for blowing cold air in the driver's feet.
The seats in mine are rather tired and I'm looking at getting them redone along with the nasty brown carpet - I've had a quote of around £1200 for this.
The seat belt retractors are a bit crap in mine too. They're worse when the roof is down as it sits on the seat belt holder. I don't bother too much and hope I don't crash.
Some of the buttons and bobs seem to be different across cars - mine has a button under the dash which switches the dash lights on and off and also a rather useless fan switch for blowing cold air in the driver's feet.
The seats in mine are rather tired and I'm looking at getting them redone along with the nasty brown carpet - I've had a quote of around £1200 for this.
yep the seat belts are pretty crappy!
RE- seats. If it was me I would look to find some and recover them, just for the seats isnt much and then they are brand spanking1 most seats now the foams will be old and they also arnt full leather, only the faces, the rest is vinyl.
mine are kind of in the middle tbh, very usuable but could do with a re dye or something (no good for you as they are cream.)There is also the option of Tuscan seats (what I am fitting) but they are rare and rocking horse kak and blooming expensive from the breakers! I'm also being a fanny and having heated seat element fitted for those winter top down days!
RE- seats. If it was me I would look to find some and recover them, just for the seats isnt much and then they are brand spanking1 most seats now the foams will be old and they also arnt full leather, only the faces, the rest is vinyl.
mine are kind of in the middle tbh, very usuable but could do with a re dye or something (no good for you as they are cream.)There is also the option of Tuscan seats (what I am fitting) but they are rare and rocking horse kak and blooming expensive from the breakers! I'm also being a fanny and having heated seat element fitted for those winter top down days!
graeme4130 said:
Yeah, might be depending on colour. Roughly what sort of condition & price are they ?
Options I have are find the correct colour in good condition, or buy any colour in terrible condition and spend £200 getting them re leathered
I'll post up a pic of the interior when I have one, but it's dark and light grey two tone, so I'd be looking at seats in the lighter grey
you will be spending triple that..a trimmer would not get out of bed for £200..Options I have are find the correct colour in good condition, or buy any colour in terrible condition and spend £200 getting them re leathered
I'll post up a pic of the interior when I have one, but it's dark and light grey two tone, so I'd be looking at seats in the lighter grey
My missus likes the TIV but her pet hate is being unable to buckle up because the seat or reclined roof is pressing on the seatbelt, or the car is on an angle!
From the drivers point of view I find I buckle up and then have 6 inches of loose belt flapping around because the reel wont take up the slack!
No air bags and dodgy seatbelts...thats TVR for ya.
You could say 'click , clung, give it some grunt...
sorry I'm leaving right now!
Enjoy your new car.
From the drivers point of view I find I buckle up and then have 6 inches of loose belt flapping around because the reel wont take up the slack!
No air bags and dodgy seatbelts...thats TVR for ya.
You could say 'click , clung, give it some grunt...
sorry I'm leaving right now! Enjoy your new car.
Seat belts. Mine were the same, replaced them with LR Defender ones. Exactly the same as those that came out.
http://www.paddockspares.com/pp/DEFENDER/Upholster...
Lovely colour. Enjoy.
http://www.paddockspares.com/pp/DEFENDER/Upholster...
Lovely colour. Enjoy.
JonyTVR said:
there is only one lower stalk yes? that's for adjusting the steering wheel height and the other little turny knob I think is for headlamp height adjuster if i remember correctly.
car looks lovely btw, same colour as mine but has much more reflection to it!
The turny knob is for the variable wiper delay - but don't expect it to have much effect!!!car looks lovely btw, same colour as mine but has much more reflection to it!
Welcome to the land of silly grins and enjoy!!!
Might try that. On the belt itself, or into the reel mechanism?
graeme4130 said:
It's actually fairly comfortable on the motorway, and I'd even go as far as to say fairly relaxing, certainly for that type of car
It is indeed a very comfy long-distance cruiser. Took my missus from Oxford up to the top end of North Yorkshire and we were both surprised how much fresher we felt than we would have if we'd taken my "sensible" car. You could cover much longer distances and still feel fine.Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Friday 17th June 13:33
I was going to help by putting a link to a pair of cream leather seats I saw earlier in the classifieds parts section (TVR), but I keep getting the 'oops' message. 
If I find it again later I'll edit this post. They were £200 with slight marks which might not be significant to you (or you could buy new covers I guess).
Start on page one of this link and you might find them eventually:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?g=3&...
If I find it again later I'll edit this post. They were £200 with slight marks which might not be significant to you (or you could buy new covers I guess).
Start on page one of this link and you might find them eventually:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?g=3&...
sparkesp said:
Seat belts. Mine were the same, replaced them with LR Defender ones. Exactly the same as those that came out.
http://www.paddockspares.com/pp/DEFENDER/Upholster...
Lovely colour. Enjoy.
Perfect, I'll have a look into getting some of them tomorrowhttp://www.paddockspares.com/pp/DEFENDER/Upholster...
Lovely colour. Enjoy.
Had a couple of hours blasting this arvo in the dry and it's still impressing me with the noise. Mine's not got PAS, and I love the weightiness of it.
Brakes are pretty wooden thoughand handbrake's crap, but I didn't buy it to drive at 99%, so rubbish brakes isn't a problem.
It's nice that it's a rewarding car at just a fast cruise or kinda 80% effort.
Had a little second gear drift out of a open corner today, which put a grin nearly as broad as the cockpit on my face.
Oh and tunnels are pretty good too
These look nice ,I gave up in the end looking for seats ...the condition of the seats were fine but there are so many colour variations.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TVR-Chimaera-Seats-TVR-Griff...
This guy as a selction of seats ,the Mx5 suit the TVR Chimaera.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MX5-LEATHER-SEATS-MK1-MK2-TR...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/tvr-chimaera-griffith-leathe...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TVR-Chimaera-Seats-TVR-Griff...
This guy as a selction of seats ,the Mx5 suit the TVR Chimaera.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MX5-LEATHER-SEATS-MK1-MK2-TR...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/tvr-chimaera-griffith-leathe...
Classifieds is working again, these were the seats I mentioned (no connection to the seller, so this isn't a recommendation, etc):
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2926826.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2926826.htm
Just recieved a message from the guy below,he explained the seats come in any colour you want in leather..Any one fitted MX5 seats in a Chimaera.They look factory have more support and sit lower so would benifit if your tall.They are dirt cheap
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MX5-LEATHER-SEATS-MK1-MK2-TR...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MX5-LEATHER-SEATS-MK1-MK2-TR...
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