upgrading to a Chimera 4.0

[iamthestig]

Hi guys, after many years of aspiring I'm finaly in a position to get rid of my trusty '93 MR2 and upgrade to my first TVR. A nice 4.0 Chimera for about £8k will fit the bill perfectly I think, I'm quite handy with a spanner and have a garage and a diesel fiesta to use for work or when it's raining.

I have been reading on here for many months and done a lot of research about potential problems (outriggers!)

A couple of questions though, can I join the owners club before I get a car? Would be nice to chat to some fellow owners before taking the plunge.
And secondly, am I being completely daft? I mean will I die from being thrown off the road backwards in a fireball? Only asking because all my friends think I'm being nuts every time I talk of it...

Thanks for you opinions!

[john p]

I would recomend going to a local tvr meet and meet a few members.The west mids area are meeting at David Geralds dealership this Saturday.The third Sunday of the month we meet at the Bulls Head in Meridan,we can get over fifty cars on a good day.I think the MR2 would probably be more sure footed round the twisty bits than a Chim,but once you get to know the car and know its limits,I think you will love it like the rest of us.You don't have to be a member to own one but in my oppinion its well worth the money.

[tobeee]

Your friends are just jealous. You'll love it, and will be comfortable with the power within a couple of hours, so long as you respect its evil side!

[iamthestig]

Glad you lot agree, you only live once and all that. Had a look at the owners club site, I'm from Shrewsbury so the nearest meet to me looks like the 1st Sunday of the Month at The Mill, Worston Lane, Great Bridgeford
Stafford. Unfortunately I've got a guy coming to look at the MR2 with regards to a possible sale so won't be able to go to this one. Any other meets going round here soon? I see some of you guys are from Telford, any of you lot going?

[Ribol]

Having owned a few MR2s I can assure you the Chim 4.0 is a completely different type of car.
The MR2s have build quality that TVR can only dream about, Chims have character that Toyota can only dream about. When I eventually sell it I will remember my TVR always but have long forgotten my MR2s already - that says it all.
You cannot compare running cost though and if you buy a rough one you will regret it. Buy the best you can afford, it is not really the sort of car you can buy cheap and put right cheap.

[antonyj]

Contact this guy

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0&memberId=64179&f=8&t=307399

Having said that , you probably already know him, through the MR2's....

He has recently swapped up to a TVR..

[Flintstone]

iamthestig said:

a diesel fiesta to use for work or when it's raining.

Don't be daft man. They're more fun in the rain!!

[andy-w]

I use mine everyday, sun, rain, sleet and snow and have had no problems with the handling...you just have to be less aggressive with the loud peddle!!!

Outriggers can be a problem but can be fixed...i have to do mine soon!!!

But follow the above advice and you wont go wrong.

[can of worms]For 8K you are going to get an oldish car and then weigh up the pro's and cons of getting a dealership service (£600) or find a good indie (£200-£300).[/can of worms]

[jasandjules]

As above, choose a good one, and you will love it.

Make sure you respect it well though, or you will end up going bum first into a ditch. It will have LOT more power than the MR2, and a LOT less forgiveness of driver errors.

I would say definately get to a meet or two before you buy though.. Usually the car clubs meet once a month, if you join the TVR car club in the back it lists where they are all held, so you can always look to go to a random meet as well, people are always welcome !

[speedeight]

I had an absolute gem of a MR2 Turbo before my first Chimaera and I loved it! As people have already said the Toyota build quality blows TVR's out of the water but you'll drive around with a massive grin on your face in the Chim I never had that in the MR2 even though it was damn quick, 5.5 secs to 60.

Every single TVR has soul, something a Toyota will never have, you'll love it!

[Nuggs]

But 4 liter Chims are sooo slow and 500's arent much bter. TVR sais 300bhp; more like 250 if your lucky and get a good 1. And the exorst system is rubbish and the breaks dont work if you think there good enuf for ataking corners then your not driving fast enuf. And the shocks r rubish too.

[leemarkadams]

Is that mobile phone texting you are speaking there?

LOL

Lee

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Nuggs said:

But 4 liter Chims are sooo slow and 500's arent much bter. TVR sais 300bhp; more like 250 if your lucky and get a good 1. And the exorst system is rubbish and the breaks dont work if you think there good enuf for ataking corners then your not driving fast enuf. And the shocks r rubish too.

And the abs & traction control are a bit iffy.