It had to happen....sooner or later......

[redleicester]

Chaps, you told me it would happen, you told me I wouldn't like the alternative, you told me all, but I wouldnt listen...... well I am finally beginning to see sense (matty, jules, don't kill me.... please!)

So I had a Chimaera, one of the good ones that never let me down in 12months/11k, I had a Cerbera which always let me down, but I loved her to bits. Now I have a 2001 M5 which is..... well..... 400bhp of Teutonic Dullness (TM) Simple fact of the matter is I crave the thrills of a TVR, and the M5, capable though it is, just leaves me cold.

So I think after only six months, the Beemer has to go. Unfortunately, at this point my wife is gnawing one leg off, and my baby daughter is busy dissecting the other, so I'm going to have to go a bit carefully with wonga, let alone broaching the subject in the first place! Thus my plan is as far as is possible to keep within the sale price of the M5 to buy a TVR and a motorway hack. I can't believe the insurance will be an issue as splitting the mileage between two cars will reduce it, plus the M5 is catastrophically expensive to insure.

So I need sensible daily hack, plus trackable (but wife drivable to keep the peace) TVR for the better days. My intention is to split the two 50/50, not hide the TVR away for all but sunny days. Having run both the Cerb and Chim as everyday cars I know what that entails.

Thus the thoughts so far are a Chim/Griff for around £12k and a £5k Saab (probably 9-5 Aero, poss estate). £12k-ish seems to cover the whole gamut from a £10k tidy but tired example with the change left to tart it up, or £12k for a 97-98 car in pretty good nick. Main prerequisite would be exciting colour (cosmos/imperial/iris blue or the like) but not silly colour (silly red or silly yellow) plus magnolia/biscuit interior with contrasting leathers/carpets.

So I seem to be coming full circle (and starting most paragraphs with so, but so what, so there ) Any suggestions/thoughts/comments? I am busy reminding myself of the pre-facelift differences in the Chims, was it just plastic dials, older grille, different buttons to open doors. Anything else? I am assuming any car I got would be rapidly retrofitted with uprated brakes and Ohlins, so in those terms, apart from chassis condition, is there any reason to avoid the older cars (obviously serp/t5 but pre-facelift). Anything I've missed? Not too much abuse please!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Do it you know it makes sense.

[redleicester]

Alternative thought, if anyone wants an M5 that they're willing to part-ex for Chim/Griff plus cash, then let me know . Yes it's a cracking car, and I feel foolish and like I'm doing it a disservice, I think it's more that it's not exactly "me" if that makes sense.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

As you know, condition is everything, particularly chassis.

Have fun searching.

[bilton_d]

you could always buy your old Cerbera back if thats your old one on Autotrader?

[redleicester]

bilton_d said:

you could always buy your old Cerbera back if thats your old one on Autotrader?

Thought about it, but it's changed owners rather too rapidly and the dealer is spouting a lot of rubbish about the spec..... worries me a bit. Plus I think with two tin-tops, it'd be nice to have a softtop again.

[bobs4c]

Welcome back (soon). As you probably know the Chim is cheaper than the Griff - and more to choose from. Don't know which model you had but my 450 seems to be the best one to go for of the 3 models, but would those extra horses be missed? Haven't driven a 500.

And hey, you missed the C3C Christmas dinner!

[redleicester]

'Ello Bob, sorry I missed the dinner, work's been a tad mad, hopefully I'll back with the old crowd soon.

Hadn't realised the Griff was more expensive to run than the Chim, had wildly assumed they were so similar that it'd much of a muchness. Was hoping to hunt down a 450, but figured a 400 was better than second best as the choice would probably leave me a bit more in pocket for upgrades.

[scorcher]

I think he meant the Griff was dearer to buy rather than to run.You will buy a newer Chim for 12k but not neccesarily better!

[nervous]

Lezzer, its good to see you old chum

[Tripps]

You've re-affirmed my decision earlier in the year if that's any help, I was going to do the Cerb to M5 move, thinking it was both sensible and fun, but decided against it in favour of keeping the Cerb and getting a runaround.

Glad to know I made the right choice

[redleicester]

nervous said:

Lezzer, its good to see you old chum

Gaaaaahhhhh scary Porker-owning weirdo gibbon..... run for the hills!

Tripps, glad I could be a test bed for you, now get out of my bed and make your own decisions! M5 is an awesome car, quite incredible that something so big, heavy and practical can handle and stop and start quite like that, it's just a tad clinical - great if that's what you want... just don't tell Julian, I think I'm just too young for it

[nervous]

redleicester said:

nervous said: Lezzer, its good to see you old chum Gaaaaahhhhh scary Porker-owning weirdo gibbon..... run for the hills!

this from the man currently running a nazi-staff car. happy christmas to you and all your chums in the Vermacht, Red Hope you ship that Panzer wagon soon....

[V8 Kieran]

redleicester said:

Thus the thoughts so far are a Chim/Griff for around £12k and a £5k Saab (probably 9-5 Aero)

Damned fine choice sir - works for me

[redleicester]

V8 Kieran said:

redleicester said: Thus the thoughts so far are a Chim/Griff for around £12k and a £5k Saab (probably 9-5 Aero) Damned fine choice sir - works for me

It's funny, it feels like coming full circle - had a 2000 9-5 Aero, sold it when I bought the Chim, went through the Cerb and M5, and now I'm ending up right back where I started! Do you have a pre-facelift 230, or the later 250? I'm thinking of buying my Fathers which is a 2002 250 with all the trimmings, plus I know it's been well looked after.

[Julian64]

redleicester said:

nervous said: Lezzer, its good to see you old chum Gaaaaahhhhh scary Porker-owning weirdo gibbon..... run for the hills! Tripps, glad I could be a test bed for you, now get out of my bed and make your own decisions! M5 is an awesome car, quite incredible that something so big, heavy and practical can handle and stop and start quite like that, it's just a tad clinical - great if that's what you want... just don't tell Julian, I think I'm just too young for it

Cheeky bastward.

But I know what you mean, the M5 is NOT a replacement for the Cerb. Anyone with that thought in mind is going to be dissapointed. But are you really going to be able to live with a chim, when all the big boys drive Cerbs?

[robertjp]

When you look at whats available there isn't much that could fill the void that is TVR, I look at mine and feel lucky to be alive....

Just after getting out of it.

How can that be addictive? It just is...

[bjwoods]

Spend a bit more on the griff 15-18k, and given the state of the used car market you could pick up an excellent saab 9-5 for less than 10k.

B

[cirks]

redleicester said:

V8 Kieran said: redleicester said: Thus the thoughts so far are a Chim/Griff for around £12k and a £5k Saab (probably 9-5 Aero) Damned fine choice sir - works for me

And me! 2000 spec 9-5Aero Auto Estate - brilliant motorway hack and not bad even on the twisty stuff (better than the saloon). Just wish the other half of the equation (ie my 450) got out of the garage more frequently.

redleicester said:

I'm thinking of buying my Fathers which is a 2002 250 with all the trimmings, plus I know it's been well looked after.

I hope that doesn't fit into your £5k Saab category because if it does mine must be worth a negative £3k by now

[Duke Thrust]

Chim 500, you know's it.