Discussion
Hi folks
Today was the day I picked the Chimaera up, I have just returned home from a faultless (ish) 2.5 hour drive home.
What a car, I am grinning from ear to ear. I hate the words 'epic' and 'awesome' but they are the only words I can use to describe it. Coming from an MX-5, it's a different world, so bleedin quick, just a flex of the big toe and of it goes. Someone in the Chimaera section, recently asked if 450BHP was necessary, well no it isn't, 250BHP is enough for me thanks.
Pictures in just a minute, I'll tell you about the car first:
1998 Chimaera 450
Metallic Black with black leather interior
FSH
51,000 on the clock
Non PAS
Uprated head unit and 6-Disc changer
Only modifications (so far) are:
Pre Cats removed
Sleeved exhaust
Trickle charger in boot
Leven Interior Kit
Leven Oil Filler cap
Mark Adams Chip and set up (Graphs state 248BHP @ 5242rpm and 277lbft @ 4125rpm)
The chap I bought it from also had a box of bits that came with the car – Serp' belt, Bulbs, Fuses/Relays, Oil, Coolant, Steve Heath Bible etc. - A 3 layer cover, Unused spare and a few other bits and bobs.
I can see myself going through an awful lot of V-Power over the next coming months, it drives really well and the lack of power steering is not something that bothers me at all. Although, I did come across 2 little problems.
1. The cigarette lighter doesn't work. Why didn't I check? Who knows. It looks fairly corroded though so hopefully that's it.
2. I think it may have the Hot Start problem
I pulled into the services to stretch my legs and after a few minutes I went back and it wouldn't start. My heart sank 
I remembered what I had read about the Hot Start issue (this was after 1.5 hours solid motorway cruising and around .80 leptons), so I went and had a leak, bought a drink and when I retuned to the car it fired straight up.
Anyway, I am booked into TVRS (South West) on Tuesday for a summer service and MOT. I'll get Colin to have a look and sort it out.
Plans so far, Stainless dash, Leven Wipers, Fix Broken numberplate..... and that's about it – don't laugh, I am naïve, as if I won't think of anything else.
Right then, pictures:
Today was the day I picked the Chimaera up, I have just returned home from a faultless (ish) 2.5 hour drive home.
What a car, I am grinning from ear to ear. I hate the words 'epic' and 'awesome' but they are the only words I can use to describe it. Coming from an MX-5, it's a different world, so bleedin quick, just a flex of the big toe and of it goes. Someone in the Chimaera section, recently asked if 450BHP was necessary, well no it isn't, 250BHP is enough for me thanks.
Pictures in just a minute, I'll tell you about the car first:
1998 Chimaera 450
Metallic Black with black leather interior
FSH
51,000 on the clock
Non PAS
Uprated head unit and 6-Disc changer
Only modifications (so far) are:
Pre Cats removed
Sleeved exhaust
Trickle charger in boot
Leven Interior Kit
Leven Oil Filler cap
Mark Adams Chip and set up (Graphs state 248BHP @ 5242rpm and 277lbft @ 4125rpm)
The chap I bought it from also had a box of bits that came with the car – Serp' belt, Bulbs, Fuses/Relays, Oil, Coolant, Steve Heath Bible etc. - A 3 layer cover, Unused spare and a few other bits and bobs.
I can see myself going through an awful lot of V-Power over the next coming months, it drives really well and the lack of power steering is not something that bothers me at all. Although, I did come across 2 little problems.
1. The cigarette lighter doesn't work. Why didn't I check? Who knows. It looks fairly corroded though so hopefully that's it.
2. I think it may have the Hot Start problem
I pulled into the services to stretch my legs and after a few minutes I went back and it wouldn't start. My heart sank I remembered what I had read about the Hot Start issue (this was after 1.5 hours solid motorway cruising and around .80 leptons), so I went and had a leak, bought a drink and when I retuned to the car it fired straight up.Anyway, I am booked into TVRS (South West) on Tuesday for a summer service and MOT. I'll get Colin to have a look and sort it out.
Plans so far, Stainless dash, Leven Wipers, Fix Broken numberplate..... and that's about it – don't laugh, I am naïve, as if I won't think of anything else.
Right then, pictures:
That looks great!
I made the leap to Chimaera ownership just over a year ago, not really expecting to gel with the TVR approach to things, but feeling it was something I should try for a year or so.
Fastforward 7,000 miles - and a lot of amazing memories - to now, and I can't see me ever selling it. I hope your ownership experience is equally fulfilling.
I made the leap to Chimaera ownership just over a year ago, not really expecting to gel with the TVR approach to things, but feeling it was something I should try for a year or so.
Fastforward 7,000 miles - and a lot of amazing memories - to now, and I can't see me ever selling it. I hope your ownership experience is equally fulfilling.
What is this "sleeved exhaust"? A quick google just brings up a load of threads of people asking whether they should do it or not.
I picked my car up from a garage the other day an he had a lovely Chimaera in, had the exhaust that to, my eyes, looked just like yours. He had to move it back outside so I could get my car out, the TVR had a lovely tone but was not that loud.
Yours is lovely though, very nice and I love the walnut-finish dash.
I picked my car up from a garage the other day an he had a lovely Chimaera in, had the exhaust that to, my eyes, looked just like yours. He had to move it back outside so I could get my car out, the TVR had a lovely tone but was not that loud.
Yours is lovely though, very nice and I love the walnut-finish dash.
Cheers for the comments folks 
In other words, I don't really know. I think it is just a pipe that goes through the silencers to 'bypass' them.
Mastodon2 said:
What is this "sleeved exhaust"? A quick google just brings up a load of threads of people asking whether they should do it or not.
It is a magic spell that only TVR people know, they cast the spell on their cars. It makes them sound lovely In other words, I don't really know. I think it is just a pipe that goes through the silencers to 'bypass' them.
ybt1982 said:
It is a magic spell that only TVR people know, they cast the spell on their cars. It makes them sound lovely
In other words, I don't really know. I think it is just a pipe that goes through the silencers to 'bypass' them.
A bit of further reading suggests its a straight stainless steel pipe the same diameter as the main exhaust that is placed inside the silencer box in place of a piece of perforated steel pipe, in effect bypassing the silencer (as the gas does not flow into the baffles, just straight through the pipe and out the back. Sounds like fun!In other words, I don't really know. I think it is just a pipe that goes through the silencers to 'bypass' them.
Revs_Addiction said:
Looks great! I think the wood dash works really well with the black leather too!
Strangely enough, that's probably the only thing I'm not keen on when it comes to the interior. I think a stainless item will suit the car more as well as the rest of the interior bits and bobs which are also stainless steel.ybt1982 said:
Strangely enough, that's probably the only thing I'm not keen on when it comes to the interior. I think a stainless item will suit the car more as well as the rest of the interior bits and bobs which are also stainless steel.
What about a carbon fibre dash?It should look great against the dark interior and silver trim on the dials/buttons etc.
I've just put some CF wrap on mine, and although my dash is dark blue it still looks good.
Edit: Love the car by the way!
Not really a fan of Carbon. My mind is set on some kind of stainless or maybe brushed steel, may get used to the wood though.
The wheels are Estorils and come from the 500 model. I quite like them, be boring if we all liked the same thing though
It does sound amazing, main selling point I suppose. I'll try and get a Video done and post it
The wheels are Estorils and come from the 500 model. I quite like them, be boring if we all liked the same thing though
It does sound amazing, main selling point I suppose. I'll try and get a Video done and post it
Right then, after an entire 2 days of worrying and panic I got the call from Colin at TVRS.
Good news: Passed MOT and had a light service. All seems good and she is a genuine solid car.... there is some bad news though
At this point in the conversation my heart stopped and I felt a bit sick Had I bought a lemon, was the list going to be endless and very costly?
Turns out not
In a nutshell she needs a few things sorted and a couple of things that would be better to do sooner rather than later.
To do list:
Re-glue bonnet heat padding stuff
Fuel Hose in engine bay split
Adjuster on Serp' belt
Engine mounts
Brake master cylinder was leaking
Small amount of corrosion on chassis corners
Everything, apart from the Brake master cylinder, is a simple enough job and I've asked Colin to get it all done. Turns out you were all right, if you leave these things standing, they get ill. It had only done 400 miles since it's last MOT.
There are a few other bits that were mentioned but not important, drivers door mirror needs looking at and exhaust mounting cracked a bit.
All in all I am still super pleased with my new car and within my planned budget to get a decent one. Which I think I have, from all of the research and reading I did, it is what I was expecting from a 450 at this budget.
Good news: Passed MOT and had a light service. All seems good and she is a genuine solid car.... there is some bad news though
At this point in the conversation my heart stopped and I felt a bit sick
Had I bought a lemon, was the list going to be endless and very costly?Turns out not
In a nutshell she needs a few things sorted and a couple of things that would be better to do sooner rather than later.
To do list:
Re-glue bonnet heat padding stuff
Fuel Hose in engine bay split
Adjuster on Serp' belt
Engine mounts
Brake master cylinder was leaking
Small amount of corrosion on chassis corners
Everything, apart from the Brake master cylinder, is a simple enough job and I've asked Colin to get it all done. Turns out you were all right, if you leave these things standing, they get ill. It had only done 400 miles since it's last MOT.
There are a few other bits that were mentioned but not important, drivers door mirror needs looking at and exhaust mounting cracked a bit.
All in all I am still super pleased with my new car and within my planned budget to get a decent one. Which I think I have, from all of the research and reading I did, it is what I was expecting from a 450 at this budget.
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