Discussion
Hi to all Chimaera owners.
Having owned a 1989 TVR S2 for almost 3 years I'm considering the Chimaera as a replacement.
Budget would depend on the sale of my S2 plus my GSXR 750 bike so about £8-10k.
For some reason I fancy the 4.5 litre (not sure why!) so apart from the usual chassis rot is there anything that stands out between the 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 litre versions that would be advisabe to take in to consideration.
Thanks in advance.
Paul
Having owned a 1989 TVR S2 for almost 3 years I'm considering the Chimaera as a replacement.
Budget would depend on the sale of my S2 plus my GSXR 750 bike so about £8-10k.
For some reason I fancy the 4.5 litre (not sure why!) so apart from the usual chassis rot is there anything that stands out between the 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 litre versions that would be advisabe to take in to consideration.
Thanks in advance.
Paul
There were some early 4.3 cars too.
Chim had a few minor revisions in its life. Useful website for you - http://www.chimaerapages.com/chimaera.php
Chim had a few minor revisions in its life. Useful website for you - http://www.chimaerapages.com/chimaera.php
Your choice is the same as I have been told. The 4.0 is a 4 litre Range Rover engine. The 4.5 is the 4.6 Range Rover engine, strong as an ox and 50 bhp more than the 4.0. The 5.0 is a stretched 4.5, and while more powerful, it is also more fragile. The early 4.3 is also more powerful than the 4.0, but was not available after about 1994.
My TVR expert suggests I get a 4.5 engine if I want to have more power than my 4.0. At the moment I don't, my 4.0 has been great fun in the road and the track, easily equal to my talent level. I improved the suspension and tyres, got the wheels properly aligned, and enjoyed it all the more.
Your budget will buy you a good one. As with the S, condition is everything, especially underneath the skin. Check chassis, service history etc. You will get a better 4.0 for that budget than 4.5 or 5.0. This is a good time of year to be buying.
My TVR expert suggests I get a 4.5 engine if I want to have more power than my 4.0. At the moment I don't, my 4.0 has been great fun in the road and the track, easily equal to my talent level. I improved the suspension and tyres, got the wheels properly aligned, and enjoyed it all the more.
Your budget will buy you a good one. As with the S, condition is everything, especially underneath the skin. Check chassis, service history etc. You will get a better 4.0 for that budget than 4.5 or 5.0. This is a good time of year to be buying.
swimmer27 said:
Hi to all Chimaera owners.
Having owned a 1989 TVR S2 for almost 3 years I'm considering the Chimaera as a replacement.
Thanks in advance.
Paul
It also depends why you want to replace the S. I've recently (last weekend) bought a 4.0 Chimaera having owned my S1 for ~6 months and can attest that they are completely different animals. IMHO the S is more "fun" to drive, certainly it's more engaging and a great "point to point" car.Having owned a 1989 TVR S2 for almost 3 years I'm considering the Chimaera as a replacement.
Thanks in advance.
Paul
The Chimaera is a superb GT car, smooth, rapid, refined and comfortable. I originally thought I'd buy the Chimaera as a replacement for the S but have subsequently decided to keep both. One for short journeys across country. And one for longer journeys across countries..
Mine's just the stock 4.0 but it's still plenty fast enough for me but I suspect you're right and the 4.5 is probably THE Chimaera to own as a good allrounder.
Make sure you have a good, long ride in one before you fully commit to a swap though - you may be surprised at how you feel about the S after...
Thanks for all the replies.
My reasons and thoughts for changing to a Chimaera are as follows:-
Most of my relatives and friends live a fair distance from me, I'm near to jctn 11 M25 and my trips out can be anything from a 150 to 450 mile round trips so the extra comfort and carrying capacity would be the two main reasons for the change.
Quietlybonkers I too feel the 4.5ltre would be the better choice but with my expected budget I would rather have a sorted chassis on a 4.0ltr than spend the same money on a 4.5ltr that might need some work.
I have a very large garage and still have all my own welding equipment but with my lower back issues I tend to fine it takes me twice as long to do anything these days, I have just replaced my steering rack, track rod ends and fitted new poly bushes but this work I did over a course of several evenings!
Julesprivate For me to raise the money I would have to sell the S2 and my very quick Suzuki GSXR 750 motorbike so it would be a big sacrifice.
As I live very close to where the Surrey TVR Club meets perhaps I need to find a kind sole who's willing to take me for a spin.
My S2 is no show car but has been reliable and in the 3 years of ownership I have replaced the steering column bearing, radiator cooling fan and last month the steering rack, for the past two MOT's they have told me there is a little play in the rack but now its how it should be.
Thanks once again for your replies. Below is my S2
My reasons and thoughts for changing to a Chimaera are as follows:-
Most of my relatives and friends live a fair distance from me, I'm near to jctn 11 M25 and my trips out can be anything from a 150 to 450 mile round trips so the extra comfort and carrying capacity would be the two main reasons for the change.
Quietlybonkers I too feel the 4.5ltre would be the better choice but with my expected budget I would rather have a sorted chassis on a 4.0ltr than spend the same money on a 4.5ltr that might need some work.
I have a very large garage and still have all my own welding equipment but with my lower back issues I tend to fine it takes me twice as long to do anything these days, I have just replaced my steering rack, track rod ends and fitted new poly bushes but this work I did over a course of several evenings!
Julesprivate For me to raise the money I would have to sell the S2 and my very quick Suzuki GSXR 750 motorbike so it would be a big sacrifice.
As I live very close to where the Surrey TVR Club meets perhaps I need to find a kind sole who's willing to take me for a spin.
My S2 is no show car but has been reliable and in the 3 years of ownership I have replaced the steering column bearing, radiator cooling fan and last month the steering rack, for the past two MOT's they have told me there is a little play in the rack but now its how it should be.
Thanks once again for your replies. Below is my S2
Edited by swimmer27 on Thursday 25th October 09:27
swimmer27 said:
Thanks for all the replies.
...
As I live very close to where the Surrey TVR Club meet perhaps I need to find a kind sole who's willing to take me for a spin.
...
An offer to display one's pride and joy to a fellow TVR owner that is considering joining the Chimaera fold....
As I live very close to where the Surrey TVR Club meet perhaps I need to find a kind sole who's willing to take me for a spin.
...
Hmm, do you think he will get many offers?
If you find yourself in Gloucestershire gimme a shout, you can take mine out for a run, you'd get a much better feel for it if you're driving rather than sat alongside...
The boot is ENORMOUS, it's really useful! With the sort of trips you're doing I'm sure you'd appreciate the extra refinement.
It's a shame the bike has to go too but the Chimaera is almost as much fun as a bike (IMHO - and I have a B-King and Victory Vegas in the garage so I do get to do the comparison quite frequently LOL).
I took a punt with my Chimaera, I bought one unseen (off eBay) and with no service history (lost by the insurance company) and it is a Cat D too - all the things that good advice says to walk away from.. But I did my research, spoke to the PO at great length, did an HPI check and worked on the principal that Cat D is not serious, Service History can be faked so it's not all it used to be and the car only has 20k miles on from new and has never even seen the rain until I bought it. Oh and he e-mailed me a huge selection of pictures of everything I asked.
The car is actually better in the flesh, it looks like it came off the showroom floor a couple of months ago (not 16 years!). Even the chassis is unmarked.
The only reason I mention that (aside from boasting about how lucky I am) is that I paid just over £6k for mine and it looks/drives better than some of the £10k+ ones I looked at.
One other small thing to mention - stock exhausts are very quiet - even in comparison the the S. My S1 (which as a full SS V8 system fitted and tubular manifolds) is quite a bit louder, and sounds "better" (it's a personal opinion) than the Chimaera at the moment but it's cheap enough to have it sleeved so I'll do that soon.
If I can offer one tiny bit of advice based on personal experience - don't let the owner start the car until AFTER you've crawled all over it. Once that V8 fires up it's really difficult to keep a level head and you might find yourself rushing the decision..... But that might just be me, I do TRY to think with my head but you know what it's like with a TVR, it's not all about rational thought, it's about passion and that V8 certainly makes me feel like that!
Anyway - like I said, you're welcome to have a go in mine if you find yourself in this neck of the woods...
The boot is ENORMOUS, it's really useful! With the sort of trips you're doing I'm sure you'd appreciate the extra refinement.
It's a shame the bike has to go too but the Chimaera is almost as much fun as a bike (IMHO - and I have a B-King and Victory Vegas in the garage so I do get to do the comparison quite frequently LOL).
I took a punt with my Chimaera, I bought one unseen (off eBay) and with no service history (lost by the insurance company) and it is a Cat D too - all the things that good advice says to walk away from.. But I did my research, spoke to the PO at great length, did an HPI check and worked on the principal that Cat D is not serious, Service History can be faked so it's not all it used to be and the car only has 20k miles on from new and has never even seen the rain until I bought it. Oh and he e-mailed me a huge selection of pictures of everything I asked.
The car is actually better in the flesh, it looks like it came off the showroom floor a couple of months ago (not 16 years!). Even the chassis is unmarked.
The only reason I mention that (aside from boasting about how lucky I am) is that I paid just over £6k for mine and it looks/drives better than some of the £10k+ ones I looked at.
One other small thing to mention - stock exhausts are very quiet - even in comparison the the S. My S1 (which as a full SS V8 system fitted and tubular manifolds) is quite a bit louder, and sounds "better" (it's a personal opinion) than the Chimaera at the moment but it's cheap enough to have it sleeved so I'll do that soon.
If I can offer one tiny bit of advice based on personal experience - don't let the owner start the car until AFTER you've crawled all over it. Once that V8 fires up it's really difficult to keep a level head and you might find yourself rushing the decision..... But that might just be me, I do TRY to think with my head but you know what it's like with a TVR, it's not all about rational thought, it's about passion and that V8 certainly makes me feel like that!
Anyway - like I said, you're welcome to have a go in mine if you find yourself in this neck of the woods...
swimmer27 said:
from a 150 to 450 mile round trips so the extra comfort and carrying capacity would be the two main reasons for the change.
Had A Chimaera for about 18 months, definately more of a long distance criuser only downside was mine never managed more than about 20 to the gallon, my little S3 averages around 28.Big difference over 450 miles !
phillpot said:
Had A Chimaera for about 18 months, definately more of a long distance criuser only downside was mine never managed more than about 20 to the gallon, my little S3 averages around 28.
Big difference over 450 miles !
Oh yeah, I forgot about that LOL. That is a very good point. It's around a £30 difference per trip, plus the Chimaera needs the higher octane fuel too..Big difference over 450 miles !
Julesprivate said:
Podie said:
Cobblers.
The sticker might say it, but it doesn't need it.
LOL - no, no don't hold back - say what's on your mind..The sticker might say it, but it doesn't need it.
It's not just the sticker, it's mentioned in the bible too and I'm more than happy to accept that as "gospel" but that's just my opinion...
Sorry, wasn't meaning to be abrupt.I've run TVRs for over a decade and even after my S was chipped it was still fine on 95. Some people will swear by it, I personally don't. The V8 is agricultural, and a petro-chemist friends of mine recommends not wasting money.
Each to their own. No offence intended.
One other small thing to mention - stock exhausts are very quiet - even in comparison the the S. My S1 (which as a full SS V8 system fitted and tubular manifolds) is quite a bit louder, and sounds "better" (it's a personal opinion) than the Chimaera at the moment but it's cheap enough to have it sleeved so I'll do that soon.
Plenty to consider then.
My S2 has the V8 Stainless Exhaust setup which does sound the biz.
Thanks for the offer re the drive.
I made the trip to Chatsworth this year, terrible weather as poored with rain almost all day plus very windy and cold but did see some very nice TVR's so was worth the trip.
The petrol side of things is ok as I accept the fact that if I want a big V8 then I'm going to have to feed her!!
Julesprivate said:
Podie said:
Each to their own. No offence intended.
And none taken I may well switch over to the cheaper fuel and see if it pinks at all, that'll save me a few bob LOLGassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff