Buying Second Hand

[Fattrader]

I am looking for my first TVR and am hooked on the Chimaera. I have a budget of about 9.5K. Have noticed a couple in the classifieds that would fit in my budget. (Namely a nice 4.3 racing Green one). For this money what can I be expecting to get, what pit falls should I be looking out for? Help and hand holding appreciated?

[Li'l Pugs]

Condition..............and buy the bible from Steve Heath (SHPUB) who advertises on here. Personally, I spent over a year looking and then bought the best car I could find.

Good luck, you won't be dissapointed !!!

Paul

[Shnozz]

Just remember that a £9.5k chimaera will cost the same, if not more, to maintain than a £20k chimaera. However, good choise sir

[harrow_chim]

Have a look in the FAQs for this forum - this topic has come up a couple of times before.
Nick

[Cavey]

Arran

At this cost level you really could bag a bargain. Chim prices seem to be pretty soft at the moment, and if you find an early car that's been looked after you can get a lot for sub £10k. Try to find a car that's been owned by the same person for some time, and has receipts for work done over several years. Don't be put off by big bills in the receipts - it's a good sign IMHO. These cars will need bigger jobs done from time to time and if all that's happened in the last three years is three oil changes and a couple of bulbs then there's going to be something round the corner...

Great choice - they are huge fun, and quite beautiful, man . Good luck with your search.

[Fattrader]

Cheers advice is very much appreciated. What are your views between the different engine sizes. Had a read of the buyers guide (Buying a Griffith or Chimaera....the TVR club are so helpful sent it via fax to me) and they suggest as an entry level driver one should consider the 4.0 litre. What are peoples views on that?

[zippee]

Parrot of Doom is selling his. From what I've read of it it's a very well loved/looked after car with a lot of upgrades and new bits etc.
May be worth giving him a shout...

[Fattrader]

Thanks Zippee saw that and am interested in it. Is he well respected here, does anyone have any knoweldge of the car?

[harrow_chim]

Fattrader said:

and they suggest as an entry level driver one should consider the 4.0 litre.

Probably correct - trouble is after a few months you'll be wondering what a 4.5 or 5.0 are like. Best compromise is to buy a 4.5 and go easy in the first few months (as if).
Nick
(looking longingly at 4.5s in the classifieds - ho hum)

On second thoughts 9.5K is probably not enough for a really good 4.5 or 5.0

>> Edited by harrow_chim on Tuesday 4th October 10:44

[zippee]

Fattrader said:

Thanks Zippee saw that and am interested in it. Is he well respected here, does anyone have any knoweldge of the car?

I don't know him personally but from reading his posts he does seem to know what he's on about, and more importantly will ask if he doesn't. He's outlined all work he's had done on the car, never slated it (at least not on here) and appears to have a genuine reason for selling. I believe the car used to belong to a TVRCC RO before PoD bought it as well.

[Big Al.]

harrow_chim said:

trouble is after a few months you'll be wondering what a 4.5 or 5.0 are like.

Took me two years before I wanted more power, I always wondered though!

I personally wouldn't rule out a 4.0ltr, still quicker than most cars out there! OH

Big welcome to the forum, happy and successful hunting.

[Shnozz]

Fattrader said:

Cheers advice is very much appreciated. What are your views between the different engine sizes. Had a read of the buyers guide (Buying a Griffith or Chimaera....the TVR club are so helpful sent it via fax to me) and they suggest as an entry level driver one should consider the 4.0 litre. What are peoples views on that?

For your budget I would concentrate on bagging a decent car more than engine size. The HC variant seemed little different in the ones I have driven so I wouldnt let that pull me away from a mint 4 litre. Unless you increase your budget it wont stretch to a decent 4.5 or a 5 litre. The only other one is the 4.3, and I confess I have never driven one. They are few and far between though.

[Cavey]

Arran

What are you driving currently? If you're already in something quick then you'll probably want a 4.5 or 5.0 to be satisfied. That said, 4 litres are not slow, and a lot can depend on the particular car anyway. They're all too fast to work them really hard on the road whatever, I think, so unless you're into out-dragging new 911s on dual carriageways, I reckon a sweet 4 litre will be just fine. You won't have any problem getting the back out, if that's your thing!

[hugepiece]

I bought a nice '94 4.0 off a pistonhead'er earlier in the year for just under 9.5k, car had several thousand spent on it in 12 months before I got it, I have since done clutch and brakes (normal maintenance stuff) as well as front end respray for cosmetic reasons. I am in agreement that a more expensive car (or newer car) isn't always the best buying factor. I also agree that receipts for money spent is a good thing, if nothing else you get a good idea about how fastidious that last owner was and can tick things off the "expensive" list that you hopefully won't need to do in the near future. Mine has also done 70k miles and is in far better cond than many 20k miles cars I looked at so you should also take mileage with a pinch of salt!! Also don't be shy to ask who has been working on the car and if the seller is happy for you to contact them directly - if the car and owner have nothing to hide then they should be more than happy to let you.

[parrot of doom]

zippee said:

Parrot of Doom is selling his. From what I've read of it it's a very well loved/looked after car with a lot of upgrades and new bits etc. May be worth giving him a shout...

Thanks Zippee

FYI I've just today put 4 brand new tyres on:

Michelin Pilot Exalto, 205/55/15 on the front and 225/50/16 on the rear. Total cost was £423.84

I have to have the rear shocks repaired as the bushes have split (manufacturer fault), but thats all under the shock's warranty. I've still got the originals so they'll be put back on for now.

[Fattrader]

Thank you for your help, my search has begun. Parrot of Doom I'll email you off BB about the car with a couple of questions. Thanks again....all

[Shnozz]

parrot of doom said:

zippee said: Parrot of Doom is selling his. From what I've read of it it's a very well loved/looked after car with a lot of upgrades and new bits etc. May be worth giving him a shout... Thanks Zippee FYI I've just today put 4 brand new tyres on: Michelin Pilot Exalto, 205/55/15 on the front and 225/50/16 on the rear. Total cost was £423.84 I have to have the rear shocks repaired as the bushes have split (manufacturer fault), but thats all under the shock's warranty. I've still got the originals so they'll be put back on for now.

interesting tyre choice as its not one I have heard of on a chim before. Makes a change from seeing people putting on cheap Toyos which perform like oiled eels wrapped around the tyres. The pilots were the best tyre I have ever experienced, albeit briefly since they are so soft they didnt last me long, but oh my god, how much grip top choice.

[Tyre Smoke]

I had Mitchy Exalto on my Chim, fantanstic tyre.

Better grip than the Bridgestones that came off and far better than the Toyo's fitted to my Cerb - Now have Avon ZZ3's on the Cerb and they are very good (thanks Corin )

[parrot of doom]

Well the tyres are bedding in now, but so far I haven't managed to get them squealing.

Acceleration is much improved as well, its just push-and-go whereas before with the old tyres it was push-and-maybe-go