TVR Chim. as a daily driver ???
Discussion
I've not had my chim long, but its now my only car and so is the daily driver... Its a 97 450 and so far i've driven 1000ish miles in it and its never once skipped a beat. Fuel isn't too bad either, managed to get from Birmingham, to the northern tip of Anglesey and back in a tank (just) and it generally manages between 20 and 25 mpg as long as you drive fairly economically! Has plenty of boot space and seems to be a lot more practical than I thought it would be! Just make sure the chassis is protected properly if its going to be a daily driver! Also, get the leven wiper kit, the standard ones are rubbish!
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Nick P said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
30,000 miles per annum for several years...t'was the servicing costs that were expensive (about £6,000 per annum)
didnt you do oil changes yourself? takes a lot of the cost out.
Not if I did it mate...t'would be a new engine every 6,000!
i do mine...piece of piss to do.
I started a similar a couple of weeks ago, here is the thread -
[url]www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=323616[/url]
[url]www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=323616[/url]
Used mine as a daily driver for nearly 3 years now, mix of 80 mile commutes and short trips too (know I'm not supposed to do the latter!). Only problems were expendables eg. new alternator needed.
Do it, you'll never regret it! Although as someone mentioned before, your wallet might. 12-15mpg in town, 23-25 on motorway.
Do it, you'll never regret it! Although as someone mentioned before, your wallet might. 12-15mpg in town, 23-25 on motorway.
Bahnstormer said:
...or am I kidding myself
Feel the need for a drivers car to replace my daily driver, it'd be kept outside (as the Caterham's in the garage !)
Are there any problems to look out for, and what is the fuel consumption like ?
Cheers.
B
Feel the need for a drivers car to replace my daily driver, it'd be kept outside (as the Caterham's in the garage !)
Are there any problems to look out for, and what is the fuel consumption like ?
Cheers.
B
im the same as you .. i have an mr2 for when the ££$£$£ starts to pinch .. and 7 is under cover .." soon to be sold " the tvr is awesome . gr8 boot space .. fuel not that bad! .. may be worth checking the door roof rubbers to prevent it becoming a bath tub! i have a cover for mine . came with the car .. made to measure thing .. and the water just beads off it ... DO IT !! GET ONE
Well I have been using my Chim 4.0 since May as a regular drive to and from work which is also only a 10min commute which some advised against but I just thought 'sod it its the same engine as a Range Rover and you'd use that to commute short distances' so I bought it and use it everyday and it has not missed a beat. Excellent car, love it to bits!! Obviously I don't just do short trips I do mix them with longer blasts at the weekend and evenings just to be sure it gets its legs stretched.
Problem is I have just got a new job that is a good 30-40mins away so have bought a commuting car. The Chim is now officially a toy!
Matt
Problem is I have just got a new job that is a good 30-40mins away so have bought a commuting car. The Chim is now officially a toy!
Matt
I could quite happily use my Chim as a daily commuter even though my round trip is 110 miles.
It's not the cost or wear/tear or weather that stops me doing it rather I want to keep the Chim special so that when we go out in it (which is 3 - 4 times a week anyway), it is for enjoyment - not that commuting in it wouldn't be a joy - to start with - but my daily motorway flog soon wears the pleasure thin whatever vehicle you're driving and the next thing is you'll find autopilot kicks in. So I use the Chim 2 or 3 times a month as a commuter.
My daily tin top is quiet, I can hear the traffic reports on the radio and i'm not that fussed if it were ever to get bent whereas I'd be fecking livid if anyone so much as touched the TVR.
If you want to use it daily, go for it - just watch out for baby-buses and 4x4 rednecks!
It's not the cost or wear/tear or weather that stops me doing it rather I want to keep the Chim special so that when we go out in it (which is 3 - 4 times a week anyway), it is for enjoyment - not that commuting in it wouldn't be a joy - to start with - but my daily motorway flog soon wears the pleasure thin whatever vehicle you're driving and the next thing is you'll find autopilot kicks in. So I use the Chim 2 or 3 times a month as a commuter.
My daily tin top is quiet, I can hear the traffic reports on the radio and i'm not that fussed if it were ever to get bent whereas I'd be fecking livid if anyone so much as touched the TVR.
If you want to use it daily, go for it - just watch out for baby-buses and 4x4 rednecks!
Just to add balance to the "Just do it" sentiment....
The Chim CAN be used as a daily driver if you give it enough attention. I love my Chim BUT I WOULDN'T use it as a daily driver. It is great when out for a blast on the country lanes or just out for a cruise or when used for the Tesco run when the sun is out etc, but IMHO for as an everyday car it is not ideal. There are others who disagree, but I would get p1ssed off with it and stop enjoying it. You only need to read this forum to know that:
When used in the wet many (most? I know...not all) leak water and end up smelling like an old jock strap as a result, despite all endeavours to find where the water is coming in!
The standard headlights are next to useless compared with modern lights
The handling in the wet needs to be treated with respect
The chassis needs fastidious attention if you are to use it in all weathers and in winter when the roads are salted
There are occasional idling problems
The temperature gauge can look a bit scary when in traffic jams
Power Steering and air con are nice to have for ease of the daily commute but most Chims don't have them
If fettling and going for a blast is the whole point the recurrent niggles don't seem to matter, but are not ideal in a daily driver
I like care free driving when on a journey or commute, and proper fun in my "hobby car".
All just my opinion. I love my Chimaera but would have something else if it had to be the daily car.
The Chim CAN be used as a daily driver if you give it enough attention. I love my Chim BUT I WOULDN'T use it as a daily driver. It is great when out for a blast on the country lanes or just out for a cruise or when used for the Tesco run when the sun is out etc, but IMHO for as an everyday car it is not ideal. There are others who disagree, but I would get p1ssed off with it and stop enjoying it. You only need to read this forum to know that:
When used in the wet many (most? I know...not all) leak water and end up smelling like an old jock strap as a result, despite all endeavours to find where the water is coming in!
The standard headlights are next to useless compared with modern lights
The handling in the wet needs to be treated with respect
The chassis needs fastidious attention if you are to use it in all weathers and in winter when the roads are salted
There are occasional idling problems
The temperature gauge can look a bit scary when in traffic jams
Power Steering and air con are nice to have for ease of the daily commute but most Chims don't have them
If fettling and going for a blast is the whole point the recurrent niggles don't seem to matter, but are not ideal in a daily driver
I like care free driving when on a journey or commute, and proper fun in my "hobby car".
All just my opinion. I love my Chimaera but would have something else if it had to be the daily car.
I've driven my Chim 500 pretty much everyday for over a year now and have never had any problems. Apart from when it has snowed heavily and then it stays on the drive! I only do about 5k a year in it though so I'm not driving miles everyday. If you've got a long commute it might be better as a second car.
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