TVR Chimaera or Lotus Elise S2.
Discussion
I have about £15K for a car (Lotus Elise S2 or TVR Chimaera is on the cards). From a TVR buying perspective 1).how will the car hold up (TVR = bad rep) bearing in mind I will be doing a fair few miles (including to France)and 2). do I want a newer car with higher mileage or an older car with low mileage if I go down the TVR route.
MEVILAZY said:
TVR = bad rep
Intresting comment.
I use mine every day and have done approx 14000 miles in the past 12 months.
Rain, shine, snow or whatever it has never broken down on me.
I have had the odd problem, mostly self inflicted through either buying cheap parts or negligence, but it has never broken down.
Smiles per miles the chim has got to come out on top!!!
15k will net you one as good as they come, if spent wisely. They all need TLC and repay it with reliability. High mileage is not an issue if the vehicle is otherwise 'right' and unduly low miles could be a sign of problems suffered. Perceived wisdom is they're better for being regularly used and ny experience tends to confirm that, 'though regular use brings burdens in the form of regular servicing etc.
Do your homework, get someone to show you round the 'problem' areas, drive loads. Chalk and cheese to an Elise 'though, both great, just v different.
Do your homework, get someone to show you round the 'problem' areas, drive loads. Chalk and cheese to an Elise 'though, both great, just v different.
MEVILAZY said:
I have about £15K for a car (Lotus Elise S2 or TVR Chimaera is on the cards). From a TVR buying perspective 1).how will the car hold up (TVR = bad rep) bearing in mind I will be doing a fair few miles (including to France)and 2). do I want a newer car with higher mileage or an older car with low mileage if I go down the TVR route.
So does the Lotus have a particularly good reliability reputation, don't know? Personally I bought my TVR new 8 years ago and it has been to France more times than I can remember and never let me down. Great car. 
Mind you I would say a Chimaera and an Elise are very different cars. Certainly the Elise is not very practical for touring in Europe if that's what yo uhave in mind. Chimaera on the other hand has an enormous boot and a torquy V8 motor for when you are feeling lazy. Rich... richb said:
So does the Lotus have a particularly good reliability reputation, don't know?
Aptly named?
Loads
Of
Trouble
Usually
Serious
Seriously, perhaps Lotus deserve that reputation as much as TVR deserves theirs - i.e. the truth is most of the time people only shout and complain when they have a problem. You don't see many posts in either TVR or Lotus forums that constantly say how pleased the author is to say that there have been no faults this day/week/month/year. Perhaps we should to balance things up!
MEVILAZY said:
My heart is certainly heading down the TVR route, especially with that great TVR sound. One other quickie - it will be parked outside all the time so how good is the hood in all weather conditions?
They're fine and can live outside quite happily provided the seals are all present and in decent nick, and provided the fabric is kept proofed occasionally. Mine's not been garaged in 5+ years although I do use a Leven cabin cover when the foulest of weather is forecast.
Seriously, mine is garaged so I can't really comment but of course it does have nights out in the rain when we are away places and it doesn't leak. The roof material on a TVR is made of mohair cloth (known as double duck for some reason) and will become porous unless it is treated often (say annually) with Fabsil www.surplusandoutdoors.com/ishop/877/shopscr295.html or Thompson's Weatherseal or similar. Do this and it will remain waterproof for years. For a roof that's been ignored you may want to look at Remonvo which will recondition it. Rich...
That will get them thinking!
My gorgeous missus gave me some money to buy a toy (no, not that sort...)
Shortlist included Honda S2000 (great car, incredible reliability, but don't want to wring its neck to make it go...) Lotus Elise(too small and impractical, felt flimsy, crap roof, and a K-series engine
!)and the Chimeara (big engine, large boot and a man's car not a hairdressers!).
Seriously,
the Honda has the ingredients to make a good car, pity nobody gave Honda the full cooking instructions.
The Lotus has the ingredients and the instructions, just that it is an acquired taste, and who would want to trust the K-series engine with its minimal coolant?
The TVR has proven mechanicals, parts are easy to obtain and relatively cheap, and I can even get babys pushchair in the boot, and it looks and go's like its on fire.
Mine has never let me down (actually I'm lying, it did twice with the dreaded 'hot-start' problem which I cured with the Mod-Wise hot start kit) and is practical to use every day. Which I do.
Shortlist included Honda S2000 (great car, incredible reliability, but don't want to wring its neck to make it go...) Lotus Elise(too small and impractical, felt flimsy, crap roof, and a K-series engine
!)and the Chimeara (big engine, large boot and a man's car not a hairdressers!). Seriously,
the Honda has the ingredients to make a good car, pity nobody gave Honda the full cooking instructions.
The Lotus has the ingredients and the instructions, just that it is an acquired taste, and who would want to trust the K-series engine with its minimal coolant?
The TVR has proven mechanicals, parts are easy to obtain and relatively cheap, and I can even get babys pushchair in the boot, and it looks and go's like its on fire.
Mine has never let me down (actually I'm lying, it did twice with the dreaded 'hot-start' problem which I cured with the Mod-Wise hot start kit) and is practical to use every day. Which I do.
I drive a 97 400 Chim and to be honest I love it to bits, the noise, looks, practicality etc.
My best mate has a S1 Elise in Chrome Orange. Whenever I drive it I swear I'll sell my car and get one, it's just sooo much fun. But it lacks the noise and overall package of the Chim.
Also, the practicality aspect seriously lets it down - something I do need though not a consideration for all.
My chim has cost me a packet, despite a 'professional' (yeah right Ingle)inspection I've had to spend a lot.
In the end it's your choice and TBH if I were in a buyers situation now I'd be looking at spending a little more and finding a turbo kitted 993 Carrera4.
My best mate has a S1 Elise in Chrome Orange. Whenever I drive it I swear I'll sell my car and get one, it's just sooo much fun. But it lacks the noise and overall package of the Chim.
Also, the practicality aspect seriously lets it down - something I do need though not a consideration for all.
My chim has cost me a packet, despite a 'professional' (yeah right Ingle)inspection I've had to spend a lot.
In the end it's your choice and TBH if I were in a buyers situation now I'd be looking at spending a little more and finding a turbo kitted 993 Carrera4.
I've had my Chimmy for just over 3 years now and done about 10K miles per year with no problems at all. Had a look at an elise when I was in the market to buy but came to the conclusion it would have been impractical (unless you wanted to go away with a pair of knickers, tooth brush and nothing else!!) I love my car to bits and wouldn't change it for anything (even though the bloke at the tvr garage suggested I should go for something with power steering etc being a girl! cheeky sod!)
Have fun in whatever you go for but you'll not get a TVR grin from anything other than the real thing!
Have fun in whatever you go for but you'll not get a TVR grin from anything other than the real thing!
I'd go for a later car with more miles over an earlier car with low miles.
If its done some miles then chances are its been reliable.. My chim used to live out on the side of a main road and was driven in all weathers... in 3 years using it as a company car the only problem i had were the door locks freezing up in the car park late at night a couple of times and a wiper motor packing up.... since its now garaged all the time and not used much it gives more daft problems....
if leaving it out side all you need to do is keep proofing the hood every 6-12 months ( or after jet washing the car) with fabsil or thompsons water seal.. and make sure the brake fluid res and the clutch cylinder cover are sealed properly..
If its done some miles then chances are its been reliable.. My chim used to live out on the side of a main road and was driven in all weathers... in 3 years using it as a company car the only problem i had were the door locks freezing up in the car park late at night a couple of times and a wiper motor packing up.... since its now garaged all the time and not used much it gives more daft problems....
if leaving it out side all you need to do is keep proofing the hood every 6-12 months ( or after jet washing the car) with fabsil or thompsons water seal.. and make sure the brake fluid res and the clutch cylinder cover are sealed properly..
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