If not a Chimaera, what?

[Tyre Smoke]

Say you have £18k to buy a weekend toy that has done it's depreciation pretty much.

Doesn't need to be practical, can be anything but must be fun.

I reckon a TVR Chimaera is about the best option, but I suppose a Maserati 3200GT or Lotus Elise would also fit the bill.

Anything else I'm missing?

Colour ideally should be 'conservative' so blues, greys, etc. Not reds, or yellows or that gopping turquoise and white interior on a Chimaera I've seen advertised recently!!

[gamefreaks]

18k would get you a great Chimaera.

I'd recommend to try before you buy though. They are an 'acquired taste'. If you are used to more modern cars, the build quality and the way they drive will take a bit of getting used to!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

gamefreaks said:

18k would get you a great Chimaera.

I'd recommend to try before you buy though. They are an 'acquired taste'. If you are used to more modern cars, the build quality and the way they drive will take a bit of getting used to!

If OP has a Trabant he will be used to the smell of plastic and weird foibles

A Chimaera would be my choice....but then I am a bit biased.

[fflump]

Tyre Smoke said:

Say you have £18k to buy a weekend toy that has done it's depreciation pretty much.

Doesn't need to be practical, can be anything but must be fun.

I reckon a TVR Chimaera is about the best option, but I suppose a Maserati 3200GT or Lotus Elise would also fit the bill.

Anything else I'm missing?

Colour ideally should be 'conservative' so blues, greys, etc. Not reds, or yellows or that gopping turquoise and white interior on a Chimaera I've seen advertised recently!!

The 3200GT according to the Maserati specialist I know has very high bork potential compared to the later 4.2 Coupe. The 4.2 Coupe is n/a whereas the 3200 has a twin turbo so power delivery smoother in the 4.2. Your budget would stretch to a manual version-much more desirable than the cambiocorsa gearbox.

Both are more GT-like than the TVR or Lotus-so depends how raw you want your car to be?

Another GT worth a look is the Jaguar XK (X150). Your budget gets you a later version-facelift with larger 5.0 engine (2010 onwards, n/a 385 bhp) or the previous 4.2 XKR (supercharged 420 bhp).

[Belle427]

Depends what you class as fun.
I enjoyed driving a £1500 Clio Sport 172 as much as my Chimaera.
Elise is probably a good shout if you can buy one for £18k, as is a Boxster/Cayman.
I'm starting to prefer a nice engine noise rather than outright speed as I get older.

[105.4]

Having been there and scratched the Chimera itch, if it was my £18k, I think I’d be looking at Caterhams or maybe a rally-rep Manta. Would £18k get you into a Mk2 2 Escort or a Sunbeam Lotus?

Personally I found the Chimera to be a bit too much of a half-way house. Too sports car to be a GT, but too GT to be a sports car, (if that makes sense to anyone else).

[Tyre Smoke]

This might be the shortest thread ever, which doesn't mention BMW or Mercedes.

I should fess up that I had a Chimaera 2000-2004 and a 4.5 Cerbera 2004-2012.

Anyway. No need to ponder any more. I bought this about an hour ago...





A 450 Chimaera which has been well loved over the years. Outriggers all done, 5.0 litre clutch fitted recently. Nitrous... you get the picture.

[DodgyGeezer]

105.4 said:

a rally-rep Manta. Would £18k get you into a Mk2 2 Escort or a Sunbeam Lotus?

I do like your thinking there... really rep manta



@ OP might a Corvette tickle your fancy?

[voram]

DodgyGeezer said:

@ OP might a Corvette tickle your fancy?

That's a good thought. Maximum V8-ness with mass produced reliability and parts supply.

[Tyre Smoke]

I did consider a 'vette but if I'm honest nothing pre C5 lights my fire and the C3 is just plain ugly

I also looked at Caterfields but I'm thinking my wife might not be quite so enthusiastic. Bit too raw.

I understand about the Chimaera being a bit falling between two stools, but that suits me. I found the Cerbera a bit too brutal when trying not to be a hooligan.

[voram]

Tyre Smoke said:

I did consider a 'vette but if I'm honest nothing pre C5 lights my fire

You'd easily be into a C5 with that £18k budget.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Tyre Smoke said:

This might be the shortest thread ever, which doesn't mention BMW or Mercedes.

I should fess up that I had a Chimaera 2000-2004 and a 4.5 Cerbera 2004-2012.

Anyway. No need to ponder any more. I bought this about an hour ago...





A 450 Chimaera which has been well loved over the years. Outriggers all done, 5.0 litre clutch fitted recently. Nitrous... you get the picture.

[Tyre Smoke]

That should read Nitrons not nitrous!

[ZX10R NIN]

Great work OP love the no nonsense approach

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Tyre Smoke said:

That should read Nitrons not nitrous!

That's disappointing!

[Tyre Smoke]

For now....

[cerb4.5lee]

Very nice OP.

A great choice!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

If the car was originally supplied in Edinburgh it has finished up a fair distance from home!

[Tyre Smoke]

Are you going by the reg? Is SC Edinburgh?

Here's a link to the Autotrader ad...

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/2021070646...

Advert being removed tomorrow.

I think the car was actually in Aberdeenshire for a while, and has ended up on Exmoor!

[cerb4.5lee]

That advert makes me wish that I'd gone in the direction of the Chimaera, it looks a lovely example. I went for a 370Z Roadster instead, but I do still have a massive hankering for another TVR though for sure.