Anyone doing major miles?
Discussion
Hi all
I'm an excellent lurker in this section of PH...
Just wondered who is doing the most miles in their car? This is a bit of indulgence on my part so my apologies as I know you guys really don't like talking about your cars
Apart from weekend blasts, track days etc - do any of you use your Chimaera on a daily basis, commuting etc? Yes I know they're not really designed for that but lets just say one had a set of earplugs and was perhaps a little eccentric, can major miles be done ok? I mean, these cars are made to be used right? and regular use avoids a lot of the problems you get from a car that sits around doing nothing for most of its life.
I've often thought that it would be an interesting experiment to run a suitable TVR for 15 to 20k miles a year etc. What are your thoughts?
Cheers all and thanks for the entertaining and informative threads.
I'm an excellent lurker in this section of PH...
Just wondered who is doing the most miles in their car? This is a bit of indulgence on my part so my apologies as I know you guys really don't like talking about your cars
Apart from weekend blasts, track days etc - do any of you use your Chimaera on a daily basis, commuting etc? Yes I know they're not really designed for that but lets just say one had a set of earplugs and was perhaps a little eccentric, can major miles be done ok? I mean, these cars are made to be used right? and regular use avoids a lot of the problems you get from a car that sits around doing nothing for most of its life.I've often thought that it would be an interesting experiment to run a suitable TVR for 15 to 20k miles a year etc. What are your thoughts?
Cheers all and thanks for the entertaining and informative threads.
I use my car all year round, and did 10,000 miles in 2014. Never let me down, always started first time every time.
This year due to work pressures and crap weather I have used it less, about 5,000 miles, and even had my first non-start in three years a few weeks ago.
The battery is a nearly new gel battery, but I hadn't started it in about 4 weeks, and it had just run low on electrons, not enough left to start the car.
Quickly attached the jump start pack and away we went.
So the moral is don't leave it weeks between uses and it will be fine.
I don't see why you shouldn't use it as a daily driver so long as you are more bothered about the joy of driving it and less about running costs (6k service interval, 20-30 mpg) or comfort in heavy traffic (no air-con, heavy clutch etc).
This year due to work pressures and crap weather I have used it less, about 5,000 miles, and even had my first non-start in three years a few weeks ago.
The battery is a nearly new gel battery, but I hadn't started it in about 4 weeks, and it had just run low on electrons, not enough left to start the car.
Quickly attached the jump start pack and away we went.
So the moral is don't leave it weeks between uses and it will be fine.
I don't see why you shouldn't use it as a daily driver so long as you are more bothered about the joy of driving it and less about running costs (6k service interval, 20-30 mpg) or comfort in heavy traffic (no air-con, heavy clutch etc).
QBee said:
I use my car all year round, and did 10,000 miles in 2014. Never let me down, always started first time every time.
This year due to work pressures and crap weather I have used it less, about 5,000 miles, and even had my first non-start in three years a few weeks ago.
The battery is a nearly new gel battery, but I hadn't started it in about 4 weeks, and it had just run low on electrons, not enough left to start the car.
Quickly attached the jump start pack and away we went.
So the moral is don't leave it weeks between uses and it will be fine.
I don't see why you shouldn't use it as a daily driver so long as you are more bothered about the joy of driving it and less about running costs (6k service interval, 20-30 mpg) or comfort in heavy traffic (no air-con, heavy clutch etc).
Anthony! Its Max here - I was at your place while you were half way through fitting seats This year due to work pressures and crap weather I have used it less, about 5,000 miles, and even had my first non-start in three years a few weeks ago.
The battery is a nearly new gel battery, but I hadn't started it in about 4 weeks, and it had just run low on electrons, not enough left to start the car.
Quickly attached the jump start pack and away we went.
So the moral is don't leave it weeks between uses and it will be fine.
I don't see why you shouldn't use it as a daily driver so long as you are more bothered about the joy of driving it and less about running costs (6k service interval, 20-30 mpg) or comfort in heavy traffic (no air-con, heavy clutch etc).
I've had a long day preparing sales forecasts and rewarding myself with a little car session... Greetings from Norwell.Thanks for the reply. I'm still considering keeping the 5 series for mega miles and getting the TVR for a second. I also considered a 911 as a daily (only car) but that would mean say 20k and a slush fund (or a spare 8 to 10k for hartech assistance). Then I started wondering if I could do my Wilts to Newark drive in a Chim. I've even almost convinced myself that that the icy 4.30am start would be ok as the Chim would wake me up! And also that the running costs can be put down as hobby/entertainment costs .... Man maths at its best. I need a TVR accountant - know anyone?
Hope all is well - did you build your garage yet?
Max
ClassiChimi said:
I'm using mine as a daily driver even through winter, not when the roads are icy but at all other times, not a problem and mines living outside,,, wet, cold dark, if everuthings in order the car should run fine,, it'll be dirty as feck buy hey !
Thats the vision I have in my head - full use!Hi Max
Still working on the garage. Just need a wind-free day to complete it. Tuscan seats are excellent in the Chimaera..
Issues I have with Chimaeras on cold mornings are seriously inadequate heating, the noise on long journeys (hard to enjoy the audio system) and the poor de-misting system. In the final analysis the BMW will get you there a lot more relaxed and just as quickly.
Hope all is going well since I last saw you at Norwell.
Still working on the garage. Just need a wind-free day to complete it. Tuscan seats are excellent in the Chimaera..
Issues I have with Chimaeras on cold mornings are seriously inadequate heating, the noise on long journeys (hard to enjoy the audio system) and the poor de-misting system. In the final analysis the BMW will get you there a lot more relaxed and just as quickly.
Hope all is going well since I last saw you at Norwell.
I like to use mine as much as I can.
I'm in sales too, for me there's nothing better than a trip to a prospective client in my TVR.
I have a company car (with fuel card) so I must admit both will get used for tomorrow's frosty 300 mile round trip, but I often change my mind at the last minute and grab the TVR keys.
I get the cost equivalent of 50mpg plus from my TVR but that as they say is a whole topic by itself.
http://www.pistonheads.com/Gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Suffice to say as I'm about to lose my personal miles fuel benefit, the tax I'll save will mostly be spent on filling my Chimaera with gas
My everyday Chimaera master plan is taking shape nicely, but never forget this is a artisan hand built low volume production sports car, and never lose sight of the fact it's around 20 years young.
As soon as you accept these things there's absolutely no reason why a well maintained Chimaera can't become your daily hack.
Enjoy
I'm in sales too, for me there's nothing better than a trip to a prospective client in my TVR.
I have a company car (with fuel card) so I must admit both will get used for tomorrow's frosty 300 mile round trip, but I often change my mind at the last minute and grab the TVR keys.
I get the cost equivalent of 50mpg plus from my TVR but that as they say is a whole topic by itself.
http://www.pistonheads.com/Gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Suffice to say as I'm about to lose my personal miles fuel benefit, the tax I'll save will mostly be spent on filling my Chimaera with gas
My everyday Chimaera master plan is taking shape nicely, but never forget this is a artisan hand built low volume production sports car, and never lose sight of the fact it's around 20 years young.
As soon as you accept these things there's absolutely no reason why a well maintained Chimaera can't become your daily hack.
Enjoy
Anthony's entirely right, but my heater is very effective ? Warms up really fast and holds a good heat even when my ice indicator light is on Red !!! The thing is they are not to clever at gripping this time of year,,, if I had a choice I'd drive something else if I was doing any real commuter mileage.
Water ingress is inevitable this time of year into the cabin which leads to steamed up windows etc, routine maintanance takes on a weekly routine to clean stuff that will squeak if left to the elements for to long, shocks etc,, but the actual running of the car is no different to any other sorted example,,
Anthony maybe your heater matrix is partially blocked,, it should be toasty in there ?
Water ingress is inevitable this time of year into the cabin which leads to steamed up windows etc, routine maintanance takes on a weekly routine to clean stuff that will squeak if left to the elements for to long, shocks etc,, but the actual running of the car is no different to any other sorted example,,
Anthony maybe your heater matrix is partially blocked,, it should be toasty in there ?
There's only really one major problem with running the cars at this time of year and that's temperature and road conditions,, if you see snow,, don't even think about driving a Tvr, ice,, pointless,,,, so extreme conditions meansvthe cars realistically out of use during those periods,, but other than that they can handle most things as long as your very respectfull of its limitations.
ChimpOnGas said:
I like to use mine as much as I can.
I'm in sales too, for me there's nothing better than a trip to a prospective client in my TVR.
I have a company car (with fuel card) so I must admit both will get used for tomorrow's frosty 300 mile round trip, but I often change my mind at the last minute and grab the TVR keys.
I get the cost equivalent of 50mpg plus from my TVR but that as they say is a whole topic by itself.
http://www.pistonheads.com/Gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Suffice to say as I'm about to lose my personal miles fuel benefit, the tax I'll save will mostly be spent on filling my Chimaera with gas
My everyday Chimaera master plan is taking shape nicely, but never forget this is a artisan hand built low volume production sports car, and never lose sight of the fact it's around 20 years young.
As soon as you accept these things there's absolutely no reason why a well maintained Chimaera can't become your daily hack.
Enjoy
Well thats my next few evenings reading sorted! I'm in sales too, for me there's nothing better than a trip to a prospective client in my TVR.
I have a company car (with fuel card) so I must admit both will get used for tomorrow's frosty 300 mile round trip, but I often change my mind at the last minute and grab the TVR keys.
I get the cost equivalent of 50mpg plus from my TVR but that as they say is a whole topic by itself.
http://www.pistonheads.com/Gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Suffice to say as I'm about to lose my personal miles fuel benefit, the tax I'll save will mostly be spent on filling my Chimaera with gas
My everyday Chimaera master plan is taking shape nicely, but never forget this is a artisan hand built low volume production sports car, and never lose sight of the fact it's around 20 years young.
As soon as you accept these things there's absolutely no reason why a well maintained Chimaera can't become your daily hack.
Enjoy
I'm on a straight 45/25p per mile basis as I run my own car. Current 530d gets me 40mpg so I'll lose out in that respect but thats all part of the equation.
ClassiChimi said:
There's only really one major problem with running the cars at this time of year and that's temperature and road conditions,, if you see snow,, don't even think about driving a Tvr, ice,, pointless,,,, so extreme conditions meansvthe cars realistically out of use during those periods,, but other than that they can handle most things as long as your very respectfull of its limitations.
Hmmm. I guess its either running a Chim as a second or accidentally driving of in the wife's Outlander when its icy M3ax said:
Well that's my next few evenings reading sorted!
I'm on a straight 45/25p per mile basis as I run my own car. Current 530d gets me 40mpg so I'll lose out in that respect but thats all part of the equation.
However, my TVR consistently & genuinely delivers the Holy Grail £0.10p a mile, which is actually better than my 2013 1.8 litre 4 cylinder Toyota Prius Hybrid company car
Which if you think about it is totally nuts, the Prius has less than half the engine capacity, half the number of cylinders, turns itself off if its stopped longer than 3 seconds and partly runs on electricity up to 15 mph. It also has one of the most advanced engine management systems that makes even my Canems system look like it came from the Stone Age!
But it's true, my LPG powered TVR Chimaera is proven cheaper per mile than the latest high tech Toyota Prius Hybrid!
If you factor in simple serving and cheap consumables on the TVR I'd be hard pressed to beat my LPG powered Chimaera's overall running costs with a 50k mile three year old diesel Golf purchase, and changed on a three year basis at 100k miles with another 50k three year old diesel Golf.
I've crunched the numbers, depreciation (or the lack of it with a TVR) helps too, but trust me in my case the cheaper everyday hack is not a used Golf diesel but actually my dual fuel TVR, and by a good margin
An every day TVR?
It can be done... and better still it can be the cheaper company car too.
The mind boggles!!!!!
I think my heater issue is more the type of miles I do going to clients, than the car:
5am (that's a time of day, not a type of airflow meter!), start car, out of the drive, one mile at 30/40/50.
Turn onto A1 southbound, cruise at 56-75 mph (two lanes, lots of elephant racers), 85 miles later turn off M11, 5 miles on A road to client.
It's the motorway miles that put a lot of cold air through the radiator and never allow the water temperature gauge to get to 70 degrees.
But i will get the heater matrix and thermostat looked at in the next service, next month.
5am (that's a time of day, not a type of airflow meter!), start car, out of the drive, one mile at 30/40/50.
Turn onto A1 southbound, cruise at 56-75 mph (two lanes, lots of elephant racers), 85 miles later turn off M11, 5 miles on A road to client.
It's the motorway miles that put a lot of cold air through the radiator and never allow the water temperature gauge to get to 70 degrees.
But i will get the heater matrix and thermostat looked at in the next service, next month.
QBee said:
I think my heater issue is more the type of miles I do going to clients, than the car:
5am (that's a time of day, not a type of airflow meter!), start car, out of the drive, one mile at 30/40/50.
Turn onto A1 southbound, cruise at 56-75 mph (two lanes, lots of elephant racers), 85 miles later turn off M11, 5 miles on A road to client.
It's the motorway miles that put a lot of cold air through the radiator and never allow the water temperature gauge to get to 70 degrees.
But i will get the heater matrix and thermostat looked at in the next service, next month.
May be the valve on the heater control is stuck closed or almost closed. If its not the thermostat check this before the heater matrix.5am (that's a time of day, not a type of airflow meter!), start car, out of the drive, one mile at 30/40/50.
Turn onto A1 southbound, cruise at 56-75 mph (two lanes, lots of elephant racers), 85 miles later turn off M11, 5 miles on A road to client.
It's the motorway miles that put a lot of cold air through the radiator and never allow the water temperature gauge to get to 70 degrees.
But i will get the heater matrix and thermostat looked at in the next service, next month.
M3ax said:
Has anyone considered a retro fit of heated seats? Maybe installing heating elements during reupholstering?
Interesting question. It ought to be possible to do as you suggest, but having said that a full re-trim of existing seats with new leather etc and you are already looking at £1000 ish (see Central TVR's website for an idea of prices - they quote for Cerbera seat retrims).I did consider all sorts of seats from other cars for my Chimaera, but the biggest problems with most readily available really comfortable, heated, electric, leather car seats (Saab 9-5 come to mind immediately) is that they are too wide at the base, or at shoulder height, or the base itself is too thick, so anyone taller than Mickey Mouse will have his head sticking out of the roof.....
.......which still to this day brings to mind watching a school friend driving his first car in about 1970. He had a Fiat 500, the 1960s version obviously, and he was about 6 ft 2 and had a full afro hair style. No problem, 500s came with a canvas roof, so he just rolled back the roof and drove the car with his afro sticking a good four inches out of the top..... The mental image still makes me smile.
The only ones that I can think of that may work are Mazda MX5 seats, if they have a heated option.
I average 6,000 pa in my daily drive chim. I commute from Twickenham to Colnbrook variously by motorway (15 miles each way) or A roads (10 miles each way) and various trips into West London.
We bought it in 2003 with 17,000 miles and now it has about 90,000 although we did not average so many miles in the first few years.
The chim has been serviced every 12 months and the main extras have been:
We bought it in 2003 with 17,000 miles and now it has about 90,000 although we did not average so many miles in the first few years.
The chim has been serviced every 12 months and the main extras have been:
- top eye of a damper sheared off - new front dampers
- immobiliser died - Carl Baker replaced it
- alternator died - RAC man replaced it for the cost of the parts
- noisy fuel pump was replaced before it failed
- outriggers replaced with galvanized ones by Sportmotive
- new rear dampers
- a misfire due to a faulty plug extender
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