advice for a tvr neophyte please -buying a chimera
Discussion
Ive just sold my 7[my 3rd 7]lways been into lotus or 7s but now i must move on to something a wee bit more practical and effete so that SWMBO can drive
So i have narrowed down to either a chimera or a caterham 21 -the latter allowing me to stay with the marque in a sfoter form and a boot and a useable hood -I have more or less discounted the 21 as i dont like the k series engine -ie for its relaiblity issues -otherwsie think the 21 is ideal but its either a k series or nowt
So im back to the chimera -which seems good value for money and a nice car with decent boot and fairly quick [my track days are over according to SWMBO ]
My 7 was quite quick with 250 bhp -so > 400 bhp / tonne -so i guess its going to have be a 500
Im told by a pal who had a 500 Griff that its not as nice to drive as 400 or 450 and more difficult to maintain -presume the same applies to a chimera as well
Im in no rush as the weather here is poor until march/april
Anyway ive narrowed my dearch down to 2 cars within my price range ,and aside from service history ,what does one need to look out ofr in a 500
On the a kindred topic -is it worth having the mark adams tornado chip and mapping -does it make the car more driveable or not in terms of usable otrque band -has anyone 1st hand experience of this chip ?
Also one of the cars im considering has a dodgy radiator which has been radwelded [at least the vendor was honest about thsi ] -so how much does it cost to get a radiator reonditioned or a new one fitted
Ive been told to set aside about 3k over 2 years realistically for a chimera -so im having to factor this into the equation as well
Any advice gladly accepeted
Anyone who knows of decent car would alsas im in no rush and will wait for the right one to come along -currently thining about justin hughes car which seems well sorted and a hassle free option [im not a techie person who tinkers with cars ]
Regards,Brian
So i have narrowed down to either a chimera or a caterham 21 -the latter allowing me to stay with the marque in a sfoter form and a boot and a useable hood -I have more or less discounted the 21 as i dont like the k series engine -ie for its relaiblity issues -otherwsie think the 21 is ideal but its either a k series or nowt
So im back to the chimera -which seems good value for money and a nice car with decent boot and fairly quick [my track days are over according to SWMBO ]
My 7 was quite quick with 250 bhp -so > 400 bhp / tonne -so i guess its going to have be a 500
Im told by a pal who had a 500 Griff that its not as nice to drive as 400 or 450 and more difficult to maintain -presume the same applies to a chimera as well
Im in no rush as the weather here is poor until march/april
Anyway ive narrowed my dearch down to 2 cars within my price range ,and aside from service history ,what does one need to look out ofr in a 500
On the a kindred topic -is it worth having the mark adams tornado chip and mapping -does it make the car more driveable or not in terms of usable otrque band -has anyone 1st hand experience of this chip ?
Also one of the cars im considering has a dodgy radiator which has been radwelded [at least the vendor was honest about thsi ] -so how much does it cost to get a radiator reonditioned or a new one fitted
Ive been told to set aside about 3k over 2 years realistically for a chimera -so im having to factor this into the equation as well
Any advice gladly accepeted
Anyone who knows of decent car would alsas im in no rush and will wait for the right one to come along -currently thining about justin hughes car which seems well sorted and a hassle free option [im not a techie person who tinkers with cars ]
Regards,Brian
HI Brian,
Glad you found us
A new/recored rad will set you back a couple of hundred + labour - count in new pipes etc as well - whilst the rads out if your considering the car it would be worth getting the Steering rack checked out as well - these go and is a well known problem - a new one is expensive - as it is a TVR only part - you can get them reconditioned like mine was last year (£200.00 from memory) - if the rack goes after you've had a new rad fitted its a rad out job to get access to the rack - as i found out after the Indie that fitted my recon rack found out as one of the gaiters had a pinhole in it and had to have the whole thing out again
Have a look in the FAQ's section i seem to remember there been a good buyers section as well as simple problems that you will come across if you make the plunge - and if its mines you should be sorted for a while anyway as its had most of them dorted out
Speak to you tomorrow !!
Justin Hughes
Glad you found us
A new/recored rad will set you back a couple of hundred + labour - count in new pipes etc as well - whilst the rads out if your considering the car it would be worth getting the Steering rack checked out as well - these go and is a well known problem - a new one is expensive - as it is a TVR only part - you can get them reconditioned like mine was last year (£200.00 from memory) - if the rack goes after you've had a new rad fitted its a rad out job to get access to the rack - as i found out after the Indie that fitted my recon rack found out as one of the gaiters had a pinhole in it and had to have the whole thing out again
Have a look in the FAQ's section i seem to remember there been a good buyers section as well as simple problems that you will come across if you make the plunge - and if its mines you should be sorted for a while anyway as its had most of them dorted out
Speak to you tomorrow !!
Justin Hughes
I bought a Chimaera 500 about 3 months ago. Have used it as an everyday car for the last 6 weeks and no major problems. Few little niggles but nothing too concerning. Never owned a TVR before and so far the experience has been a good one. Certainly not faultless, but that's part of the experience i believe!
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