Looking to buy a Chimaera 400. Advice?
Discussion
Hello everyone,
After looking around for a bit, I came across a bunch of suggestions to turn here for advice on the TVR Chimaera. So here I am, this is my first post here. Right now I'm driving a Citroen DS3 (diesel), perfectly reliable, but also perfectly boring and I've been wanting to replace it with something that's got some character. Catastrophically bad idea, I know, but hey... I'm also the owner of 3 Buell motorcycles so at least I have some idea of what I'm getting into.
Anyway, I stumbled upon this Chimaera 400 yesterday: http://carprof.nl/leiden/occasions/17509_tvr_tvr_c...
And I was wondering whether you guys could comment on a. anything that might stand out with regards to this car in particular and b. things I need to be aware of with the Chimaera in general.
I've heard for instance that the chassis is probably the car's weakest point. Is it possible for me to determine what shape the 'outriggers' are in without, you know, having them take the body off? And is it possible to gauge the state of the chassis if it has been slathered in layers of that waxoyl crap I've been reading about?
That's just one thing though, if you guys know of other things I should look at (and how I should go about doing so) your advice is much appreciated.
After looking around for a bit, I came across a bunch of suggestions to turn here for advice on the TVR Chimaera. So here I am, this is my first post here. Right now I'm driving a Citroen DS3 (diesel), perfectly reliable, but also perfectly boring and I've been wanting to replace it with something that's got some character. Catastrophically bad idea, I know, but hey... I'm also the owner of 3 Buell motorcycles so at least I have some idea of what I'm getting into.
Anyway, I stumbled upon this Chimaera 400 yesterday: http://carprof.nl/leiden/occasions/17509_tvr_tvr_c...
And I was wondering whether you guys could comment on a. anything that might stand out with regards to this car in particular and b. things I need to be aware of with the Chimaera in general.
I've heard for instance that the chassis is probably the car's weakest point. Is it possible for me to determine what shape the 'outriggers' are in without, you know, having them take the body off? And is it possible to gauge the state of the chassis if it has been slathered in layers of that waxoyl crap I've been reading about?
That's just one thing though, if you guys know of other things I should look at (and how I should go about doing so) your advice is much appreciated.
Someone has spent a lot on that car. The headlamps and rear light clusters are non-original. Replacement dashboard. Several parts of the engine appear to have been removed and powdercoated. Aftermarket brake discs too. This means the car may have been looked after but you need to inspect it.
You can see the underside of the outriggers by simply lying on the floor and looking under the bottom edge of the body on both sides. Being a 1995 car, they might have been replaced already. The lack of power steering may be an issue for you.
You can see the underside of the outriggers by simply lying on the floor and looking under the bottom edge of the body on both sides. Being a 1995 car, they might have been replaced already. The lack of power steering may be an issue for you.
Edited by ianwayne on Thursday 21st January 11:16
Yeah, I had noticed the powder coated engine parts, but not the headlamps and rear light clusters. I do not yet have the experience to see that stuff, so thanks for pointing it out 
. Something that could be used as a bargaining point though, prefer things to be original myself...
And the replacement dashboard, do you mean the carbon fibre (look?) surrounding the clocks? Is supposed to have wood always or were cheaper materials used as well?
/edit:
Also, this could be an interesting alternative for 3 grand more: http://www.autobedrijfheije.nl/occasions/?product=...
Just 50.000 km instead of 135.000... though I'm not sure how much of an issue a higher mileage is with these cars.
. Something that could be used as a bargaining point though, prefer things to be original myself...And the replacement dashboard, do you mean the carbon fibre (look?) surrounding the clocks? Is supposed to have wood always or were cheaper materials used as well?
/edit:
Also, this could be an interesting alternative for 3 grand more: http://www.autobedrijfheije.nl/occasions/?product=...
Just 50.000 km instead of 135.000... though I'm not sure how much of an issue a higher mileage is with these cars.
Edited by Fallout-NL on Thursday 21st January 11:35
Edited by Fallout-NL on Thursday 21st January 11:36
Buy on condition not mileage, but whatever car you buy expect to have to do some work to it.
The dash on the 2nd car looks original, but the lower smaller part looks like it come unstuck. Go and have a look at a few and if possible grab one of the other NL TVR owners to come with you.
One thing I always do when looking at cars is phone up and ask what tyres it has, if it has some really cheap tyres I don't normally bother going to see it. My principle is if they have cheap tyres, they probably skimped on other important areas (like servicing etc).
The dash on the 2nd car looks original, but the lower smaller part looks like it come unstuck. Go and have a look at a few and if possible grab one of the other NL TVR owners to come with you.
One thing I always do when looking at cars is phone up and ask what tyres it has, if it has some really cheap tyres I don't normally bother going to see it. My principle is if they have cheap tyres, they probably skimped on other important areas (like servicing etc).
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