Should I buy a Chimera?

[Pierscoe1]

right.. before I get a hundered replies just saying YES, there are some conditions:

I can only aford to run 1 car, is a chim a realistic proposition for a daily driver? how many of you on here do this? I'd probably go for the cheapest to start with (4.0??).

does the hood leak?

is servicing rediculous? are they reliable?
I mean this honestly, not "it's as reliable as you need it to be".. can I rely on it to get me to work every day?

what do they handle like? obviously oversteer is the main word.. but is it useable oversteer, or "sneeze and exit via hedge backwards".

what should I pay for one that's going to be dependable? not bothered about age, although would prefer <40k...

all thoughts/comments/suggestions please

[matt101]

I bought a chim 4.0 around 2 years ago as a second car and although I only do around 5k per year, many people use them as every day transport. I dont think Id be too keen on using mine like this as services roll around more often and they do like a drink if pushed. As far as reliability goes, on the V8 based TVRs you should be fine but as with any car, get a good one in the first place and you should be OK.

If its anything to go by, my Chimaera has never left me stuck anywhere. My 2 everyday cars have both let me down in this time and I have ended up relying on the Chim to get me about while I fix them. (they where both French cars though!)

I have been lucky with leaks but you may well find that yours does. Its no major issue though as most are very easy to make watertight (see other posts on here)

I paid rediculous money for 1 service at 18k but that was a main dealer. I have since used David Batty who did a better Job for half the money. In fact I paid nearly £1100 for a minor at a MD, £600 for a major with David Batty and from what I can gather, it should not effect your resale value by using a specialist.

Everyone seems to think that handling is an issue with TVR (mostly people that have not driven one) but in my experience they are not intimidating and on the occasions where the rear has let go, I found it car to be very predictable and easy to control. That said you do need to be a careful but any + 200BHP (quoted!!!), rear wheel drive car can get you in trouble if you go too far.

There are more exciting cars out there for your money, but they all have a TVR badge on the bonnet. It took me around 8 months looking at M3s, Subaru, lotus etc but none could offer what my Chimaera could for the money.

So my advice,

BUY ONE NOW!!!!


Matt.

[apache]

right.. before I get a hundered replies just saying YES, there are some conditions:

I can only aford to run 1 car, is a chim a realistic proposition for a daily driver? absolutely how many of you on here do this? we did with a Griff 500 I'd probably go for the cheapest to start with (4.0??). fair enough

does the hood leak? not if treated

is servicing rediculous? £180 @ 6k, £360 @ 12k are they reliable? yes and simple mechanicals and easy to get to if not
I mean this honestly, not "it's as reliable as you need it to be".. can I rely on it to get me to work every day? we did

what do they handle like? obviously oversteer is the main word.. but is it useable oversteer, or "sneeze and exit via hedge backwards". not with a 4.0 Chimaera, they have collosal grip and handle just fine, with decent tyres break away is progressive

what should I pay for one that's going to be dependable? not bothered about age, although would prefer <40k... £14k should net a good un, talk to Jamer of Agger motor sport

all thoughts/comments/suggestions please

JFDI

[twerlie]

I use my 4.0 every day, and it starts everytime. Only time it didnt start was when i needed a new battery. They do like being used daily, as mine gets the hump if i dont use her for over a week. (typical woman)

The thing with tvr's is that you either get a 'Good one'.....or a 'Bad one' - I have been very lucky, but i would recomend getting a warrenty. about £500 for the year, but WELL WORTH IT!

YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE...! Good luck

Ross

[Ribol]

I have the economy model (400) but do not run it as a daily car. I drive it when I feel like it which seems to work out 3/4 times a week, maybe 6K per year. It is all a question of money really, I think it is cheaper to run a runabout and a Chim than just the Chim. As you clock mileage up the resale value drops (on a newish car). The servicing is not going to be cheap, nor are the fuel bills. The 400 is the cheapest Chim model to run no matter what anyone tells you.

My car does not leak but then it is not that old (2000) and a good one. The odd bits and pieces that have gone wrong in the short period I have owned it I have fixed myself so am not bothered about that. I think if you are prepared to tinker with it yourself there is no reason why it should not be reliable it will never be a Toyota Corolla though(thank heavens).

The car drives fine, it is not really powerful enough to get into trouble in the dry, needs a little more respect in the wet. I have driven faster cars but am more than happy with it.

What I will say is if you buy a dog and you will regret it more so than most other cars. If you have to take it to the garage every time it goes wrong it will cost a fortune. If you buy one the first time you go out for a blast on a nice sunny day you will know you made the right choice.

Good luck,

Ivan

[chim450]

I have been driving my 450 Chimaera every day since last August. It has never let me down, last service at a main dealer was £500 plus two new SO2s which took it nearer the £800 mark, oh and they waxoyled the chassis as well.

Had one or two hairy moments in the wet, but was fairly easy to recover. The roof did leak a bit but is now completely waterproof after using Thompsons Water Seal.

I am taking it on the track for the first time soon, not something you would normally do with your everyday runaround.

[Mark.S]

Have used my 4ltr every day since purchase, without any problems. Costs for me where higher than intended because I did 3 times the mileage I was expecting to

Full history and costs are in my profile and the car is coming up for sale shortly if your interested!

[Big Al.]

YES

99 to go!

[Count Duckula]

Find one you like get it checked by a TVR specialist, pay the money and LOL every time you go though a tunnel.
Mine is a 450 and has never missed a beat also its my only car.

When I started work all I wanted was a sports car, Big TV, THX surround sound and a lovely lady.

Go with your heart and get the chim, you will not regret it.


Malc

[K3NJW]

Positively buy one. Mine's a 4ltr 94 and I've thoroughly enjoyed it for the last year. Waterproofing is a bit of an issue, but mine is now 100% watertight and I use it every day, even through the snow in the winter. It stays outside on the drive, with a leven hood through the winter, and has been very reliable (except when the battery needed repalcing). I get mine serviced by Moore Racing, very reasonable costs, I reckoned that as an older car it wouldn't be devalued by non dealer servicing.

I spent years lusting after a TVR, bought one and two months later had a massive heart attack. Recuperating with the roof off was a real bonus ..... so if you really want one, you may as well do it from "the life's too short not to" point of view alone.

[tvrbob]

Again 'DO IT' I drive a '99 4.0 all year round. When the roads are wet and cold you do need to test your driving skills though. The only time I refuse to use mine is in the snow. You will need a modicum of mechanical skill to put the bits back on when they fall off. That's just part of the fun though.

[robkola]

If you're moving to the Midlands - so good people there - I get my major servicing work done by David Gerald, where I bought it, very sound guys.

I use mine every day - In bleedin London Town mate!

[incorrigible]

Do it

You'll either wish you'd done it sooner 98%

or wish you'd never bothered 2%

Ben (4.0 used almost every day, few electrical gremlins but nothing that's stopped it being used whenever I've wanted to)

[the jiffle king]

Oh Yes!!!

You will not regret it and the smile never goes away.

It's easy to say I don't know how I survived without one and I did think about selling recently, but I can't, the addiction is set!!

Leaks? Buy a good one

T-J-K

[Don]

Given all your questions. The answer is



Just budget on maintaining it properly. If you do there's no reason why a Chimaera shouldn't be an everyday car. My wife uses hers every day. Although we do have access to another car should it go wrong.

Ours has let us down only once so far (had Vauxhalls that were much worse). Was fixed in two days and back on the road.

Fundamentally the car is reliable but also be prepared for niggles needing sorting out in a continuous minor stream - nothing that will stop you.

Oh..and is it all worth it. Well. Of course it is!

[M@H]

Yes... 95 to go..


Matt.

(Chim 4.0 as dailyish driver)

Edited to add.. are you in the midlands yet..? if so you can pop round and have a spin in mine that'll convince you..

No leaks by the way..

M.

>> Edited by M@H on Thursday 10th April 12:40

[Pierscoe1]

wow.. thanks for all the response you guys.
and some constructive stuff too as well as all the "YES YES YES" !!

moving to midlands at the very start of may.. so M&H, where do you live

well it's certainly on the shopping list after all this positive response, and a larger ammount of you than I thought that use them everyday..

thanks again

[M@H]

I live near Ledbury, Herefordshire.. about 20 minutes from Worcester...

Matt.

[MikeyT]

Yes.


Right, I was in the same position as you - thought 'could I honestly afford one or not'

Bit the bullet - went on the search for a good 'un – and got one.

95 N reg. 38k when just mine. Have done 5k over the first year. Costs: One service and the usual fuel/oils etc. Has never let me down and just a bloody fantastic experience!

JFDI!!

Sometimes the wife may *think* about asking me to get rid of it and get that conservatory - but I think she knows better now.

[big_treacle]

Very very very definitely get one. I've only had my Chimaera 400 for just under 2 weeks & am enjoying it soooo much I've managed to add another 1500 miles to it already! Lots of 2 hour trips to get a loaf of bread or give a mate a lift 1 mile up the road...via 50 miles of twisty roads.

I can't comment on reliability & costs having not had the car long enough. Suffice to say that it does like petrol but it's such a laugh I don't care (til I see my next bank balance I guess). Also, it is very very fast - talking as someone coming from a 2.2 vtec Prelude - I thought that was quick!

Prepare to be stared at all the time.

...just one other thing. Any other contact lens wearers find their eyes get super dry when driving with the roof off? Or am i just forgetting to blink with the crazy excitement?!

--- edited to say, Pierscoe1 - having just noticed you have an mx5 at the moment. I took a mate who owns a 1.8 mx5 for a spin in my Chimaera. When he got out the first thing he said after finally stopping laughing was 'my mx5 is shit now, i want one of these'. So there you go!

>> Edited by big_treacle on Friday 11th April 11:06