Newbie to TVR's
Discussion
Hi, after searching through this site and many others over the last 2 weeks .. I've decided to go buy a Chimaera. Sold my BMW yesterday and now want some fun! Seen lots of diff viewpoints and troubles here so have been a bit hesitant..
Going looking tomorrow - at some TVR dealers and others that sell sports cars. Seen one on www.monaco-cars.com (a 1996 Chimaera, 38K, £12.995) and warranty comes with it, FSH, Can anyone advise if this is any good (you can click on the car picture to see more pics). Think might go and see this tmrw - what's to look out for??
Going looking tomorrow - at some TVR dealers and others that sell sports cars. Seen one on www.monaco-cars.com (a 1996 Chimaera, 38K, £12.995) and warranty comes with it, FSH, Can anyone advise if this is any good (you can click on the car picture to see more pics). Think might go and see this tmrw - what's to look out for??
A Big Hi there and WELCOME, 
Brought mine 3 months ago and haven't stopped grinning yet. Sound choice of car! (Biased viewpoint)
Go for it, it appears to be a good time to buy.
Happy hunting and hope you don't have to wait too long
Word of advice:-
Start practicing the grin NOW.
Big Al.
>> Edited by ABBTVR (moderator) on Wednesday 29th January 23:08
Brought mine 3 months ago and haven't stopped grinning yet. Sound choice of car! (Biased viewpoint)
Go for it, it appears to be a good time to buy.
Happy hunting and hope you don't have to wait too long
Word of advice:-
Start practicing the grin NOW.
Big Al.
>> Edited by ABBTVR (moderator) on Wednesday 29th January 23:08
Monaco claim the car has traction control ... this would be very, very unusual if true and would be a major feature (coz it would need some explaining). I'm a bit surprised about the whole tone of their descrption of the car ... it doesn't really tell you anything that you need to know. Banging on about side skirts is pointless. That area of the bodywork didn't change across the entire life of the car, but plenty of other features did; important ones like the gear box used and the arrangement of the drive belt for the engines ancilliaries. I have no idea who Monaco are and they may be absolutely fine, but ...
There are loads of Chims for sale. Take your time and pick a good one. Get hold of a copy of Steve Heath's book on the Griff and Chim. The 2nd edition is just out. You'd really be mad not to take advantage of this resource. Its full of exactly the kind of info you need when you're looking to buy one of these cars.
There are loads of Chims for sale. Take your time and pick a good one. Get hold of a copy of Steve Heath's book on the Griff and Chim. The 2nd edition is just out. You'd really be mad not to take advantage of this resource. Its full of exactly the kind of info you need when you're looking to buy one of these cars.
Tvr Chimaera 4 , 1996 N Reg , Cooper Green, Cabriolet, 38,000 miles. ABS, Adjustable Steering Column, Alarm, Alloy Wheels, Body Coloured Bumpers, Catalytic Converter, Central Door Locking, In Car Entertainment, Leather Steering Wheel, Leather Upholstery, Manual Transmission, Paint Metallic, Power-Assisted Steering, Side Skirt, Soft Top Cover, Sports Design Upholstery, Sports Seats, Sports Steering Wheel, Sports Suspension, Traction Control System, Warranty.magnolia leather trim,Px,Finance.A steal at only £12,995 Tel:
Very worrying ABS (never seen that on a tvr before),Side Skirt (??????),Soft top cover (do they mean the targa bag ?????),Sports Design Upholstery ( ?????),Traction Control System ( not a standard feature could be an after market sytem but I really doubt it would have cost thousands)
All vey very odd sounds more like a cr*p advert, written by someone who knows nothing abbout TVR's rather than a car with all these features unles someone wants to prove I am wrong !!!!!!!!
The only point is be carefully who you buy from try one of the specialissts or dealers lised on here at least they know what they are talking about generally !!!
Good luck
Very worrying ABS (never seen that on a tvr before),Side Skirt (??????),Soft top cover (do they mean the targa bag ?????),Sports Design Upholstery ( ?????),Traction Control System ( not a standard feature could be an after market sytem but I really doubt it would have cost thousands)
All vey very odd sounds more like a cr*p advert, written by someone who knows nothing abbout TVR's rather than a car with all these features unles someone wants to prove I am wrong !!!!!!!!
The only point is be carefully who you buy from try one of the specialissts or dealers lised on here at least they know what they are talking about generally !!!
Good luck
Dunno who the dealer is, but there's a Cerbie on there too that seems suspiciously on the cheap side. Add that to the comments already made here, and I'd be a bit cautious.
Before you jump in, I'd talk to a few more people if I were you - buy Steve Heath's book (available through the Car Club - the best £35ish you could spend, I even read it in bed!), maybe contact Rob Ingleby (www.findasportscar.co.uk), or drop a mail to James Agger (his ph name is jamer). There are people closer to you too, but I'm not from round there, so can't suggest.
If you're going to look at this car, I'd ring your local car club (or ask nicely on here) and see if someone who knows TVRs fancies a look in exchange for a pie.
Before you jump in, I'd talk to a few more people if I were you - buy Steve Heath's book (available through the Car Club - the best £35ish you could spend, I even read it in bed!), maybe contact Rob Ingleby (www.findasportscar.co.uk), or drop a mail to James Agger (his ph name is jamer). There are people closer to you too, but I'm not from round there, so can't suggest.
If you're going to look at this car, I'd ring your local car club (or ask nicely on here) and see if someone who knows TVRs fancies a look in exchange for a pie.
Don't knock that one straight away!!, It could be very good but I doubt it has those features!!!, Go to the garage and have a look at it, Ask them to show you the abs in the engine bay!!! and quiz them about the traction control!!!!. Could be a good knocking down the price point when they realise that it has neither!!!!
Welcome aboard Dazzak,
Shit add, I'd book a test drive and ask them to turn the traction control on.....then spend half an hour lighting up the rear wheels
"Not very good this TC is it"
Also the waranty means that this garage will almost certainly want to do the work themselves. You'd be better off taking it to a specialist (a few around) and haggling to get a money off for less warranty IMHO
Shit add, I'd book a test drive and ask them to turn the traction control on.....then spend half an hour lighting up the rear wheels
"Not very good this TC is it" Also the waranty means that this garage will almost certainly want to do the work themselves. You'd be better off taking it to a specialist (a few around) and haggling to get a money off for less warranty IMHO
condition.... 
Well ... 200 miles driving around the country and I've checked out 2 dealerships and "Monaco". The car that has been in question thru this thread was in excellent condition - engine started 1st time, idles correctly with no unusual "clanging" sounds! The Leather seats are in need of a tidy up but other than that the interior is clean - all windows etc work and are not slow going up/down!! It's last Service was @ 36K @ Henley Heritage TVR, where it had a speedo change - all documented (now showing 1100 miles on new speedo). The guy that showed me round the car obviously knew TVR's vos when I mentioned the ABS/Traction Control he said "these TVR's don't have that" .. I swiftly pointed out the error in their Ad!!!!!!!!!!
There was the inevitable couple of stones chips on the bonnnet but this is to be expected I guess....
It was a 1996 Model with the Borg Gearbox (Think that is correct) as reverse was on right hand side.
Also the Hood was in really good condition - guess it was a new one not too long ago. Had a look behind the seats and doesn't look like the roof has leaked (even in this blizzard snow/rain weather!).... They also had a Ferrari and Lambo there which were in fab condition
Yeah the grin was there ..... Going back next week for another test and check over ... Going to look at other ones too this week .... Anymore tips that people can give will be great.... ALMOST THERE!!!!
>> Edited by dazzak on Thursday 30th January 16:39
>> Edited by dazzak on Thursday 30th January 16:41
There was the inevitable couple of stones chips on the bonnnet but this is to be expected I guess....
It was a 1996 Model with the Borg Gearbox (Think that is correct) as reverse was on right hand side.
Also the Hood was in really good condition - guess it was a new one not too long ago. Had a look behind the seats and doesn't look like the roof has leaked (even in this blizzard snow/rain weather!).... They also had a Ferrari and Lambo there which were in fab condition
Yeah the grin was there ..... Going back next week for another test and check over ... Going to look at other ones too this week .... Anymore tips that people can give will be great.... ALMOST THERE!!!!
>> Edited by dazzak on Thursday 30th January 16:39
>> Edited by dazzak on Thursday 30th January 16:41
zippy500 said: Sounds like its worth a look, however I dont think the bloke who wrote the ad has a clue about TVR's.
Not unusual. When I went through my Mazda RX7 phase, I used to laugh at all the ads which described them as having 4-cylinder engines or even V6s. One insurance agent kept asking my how many cylinders it had and when I insisted that it didn't have any he just wouldn't believe me. It *has* to have some, he said. I explained that it did have two rotors which created a pair of combustion chambers with two spark plugs for each one he rather peevishly checked the "four cylinder" box in his form.
I think he was mad because he had check boxes for 4,6,8 and 12 cylinders. I wonder what happened when people who drive V-10 Vipers or 5 cylinder Audis, VWs, Volvos, Acuras, etc. came in to see him.
Amazing the extent to which people who work with cars daily can be clueless about them.
Darren - i see you hail from Kent. Me too.
I spent 4 months looking for the perfect Chimaera - have now found it and collecting it this weekend.
Having seen around 10 cars, I knew immediately when the right one appeared. Rob Ingleby has given it the thumbs up so the wait has been worthwhile.
I wanted to buy the first one I saw but after heeding the wise words of various Pistonheaders and Rob Ingleby, I realised patience when buying a TVR was indeed a virtue.
Speak to Rob Ingleby on 01280 706332 - you won't regret it.
I spent 4 months looking for the perfect Chimaera - have now found it and collecting it this weekend.
Having seen around 10 cars, I knew immediately when the right one appeared. Rob Ingleby has given it the thumbs up so the wait has been worthwhile.
I wanted to buy the first one I saw but after heeding the wise words of various Pistonheaders and Rob Ingleby, I realised patience when buying a TVR was indeed a virtue.
Speak to Rob Ingleby on 01280 706332 - you won't regret it.
Well....
I bought one last week!!! Took a mechanic friend of mine whose had TVR's so managed to get more money off the price by picking up a few bits that needed doing... I also bought the bible which I have been studying like mad! I just have a few questions..
Mine is an early 1996 4.0 Chimp. It has the "silver" surround dials on the dash but the side/dipped light controls are separate buttons. I understand that this changed sometime in 1996 but is it possible to get a "mix" of dashes??
Also mine has the meta alarm which controls the c/l and has the silver push buttons (no key hole) to open the doors just aft of the doors. Mine does not have the "mirror" button so how do I unlock the car if the battery goes flat or the alarm fails. I know this is a sensitive subject so if anyone could mail my profile I'd appreciate it! The bible says look in the handbook but I think a section of it has been replaced as it shows the mirror button / new side-dipped light dash controls!
All in all though a FAB car - grinning all the time!
Cheers!
I bought one last week!!! Took a mechanic friend of mine whose had TVR's so managed to get more money off the price by picking up a few bits that needed doing... I also bought the bible which I have been studying like mad! I just have a few questions..
Mine is an early 1996 4.0 Chimp. It has the "silver" surround dials on the dash but the side/dipped light controls are separate buttons. I understand that this changed sometime in 1996 but is it possible to get a "mix" of dashes??
Also mine has the meta alarm which controls the c/l and has the silver push buttons (no key hole) to open the doors just aft of the doors. Mine does not have the "mirror" button so how do I unlock the car if the battery goes flat or the alarm fails. I know this is a sensitive subject so if anyone could mail my profile I'd appreciate it! The bible says look in the handbook but I think a section of it has been replaced as it shows the mirror button / new side-dipped light dash controls!
All in all though a FAB car - grinning all the time!
Cheers!
dazzak said: Well....
Mine is an early 1996 4.0 Chimp. It has the "silver" surround dials on the dash but the side/dipped light controls are separate buttons. I understand that this changed sometime in 1996 but is it possible to get a "mix" of dashes??
yes if my car is any thing to go by (jan 97) with new grill an tail ive seen another 97 with same dash however i believe 450 models came with newer dash from
late 96 it all gets a bit confusing i have got into my car with flat battery e-mail me if you need advice
dazzak said:
Mine is an early 1996 4.0 Chimp. It has the "silver" surround dials on the dash but the side/dipped light controls are separate buttons. I understand that this changed sometime in 1996 but is it possible to get a "mix" of dashes??
Cheers!
Yep, mine is an April '96 and has the same dash as yours. You will find from early '96 through '97 many and varied combinations of dash/door openers/front/rear.
Enjoy the car - summer is coming, we can have the roof off without getting a cold nose!
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