Newbie - Considering a Chimaera??
Discussion
Hi All, as a result of a previous post in general gassing I have discovered that my £15K could buy me a slice of TVR ownership, but before I start to consider this in more seriousness I would like to ask the learned amongst you a few questions ;-)
I an no stranger to a bit old fashioned motoring, have run Westfields beofore, even a stint in an SEiGHT, but those days are over and my missus would never set foot in it. So my questions are as follows:
1) Can I get a Chimera (good un) at ~£12-13K (would like to keep some money spare
2) Is the car likely to hold it's value over 12 months?
3) A/C is a must (wife criteria), is this a common option, also is it any good?
4) No space in the garage, so are they OK left on the drive (i.e. does the roof leak constantly?
5) Insurance, I am 28, 9yrs NCB and live in a low risk area, what sort of money will I be looking at?
6) Do they need specialist servicing (I know it's every 6K), do you need full manufacturers SH, or are indy OK?
Thanks in advance...
I an no stranger to a bit old fashioned motoring, have run Westfields beofore, even a stint in an SEiGHT, but those days are over and my missus would never set foot in it. So my questions are as follows:
1) Can I get a Chimera (good un) at ~£12-13K (would like to keep some money spare
2) Is the car likely to hold it's value over 12 months?
3) A/C is a must (wife criteria), is this a common option, also is it any good?
4) No space in the garage, so are they OK left on the drive (i.e. does the roof leak constantly?
5) Insurance, I am 28, 9yrs NCB and live in a low risk area, what sort of money will I be looking at?
6) Do they need specialist servicing (I know it's every 6K), do you need full manufacturers SH, or are indy OK?
Thanks in advance...
Jd
1 yes you will get good one for this much.
2 yes likely to hold its value
3 Have to ask why A.c when the roof comes off and you will always drive with window down unlike other motors to listen to the sound .In my view pointless as if its warm the roof is off , A.c just means another thing to fix if it goes wrong. This is not a normal car so think different when it comes to A.c. I would be looking for one without it ,I would be put off buying one with unless the car was very tidy at the right price.
4 It will be o.k outside but get a breathable cover and re waterproof the roof regularly
5 Not sure on the insurance give you a clue I am 37 , Full NCB and low risk £260.You may find it cheaper going for a car 10 years or older as this is often the cut off point for most classic car policies.
6 Indie is good enough.
Mines for sale in the classifieds Mica red first page , Nobody has looked at it yet , Though i am fairly confident when first person does it will go.
Hope this helps
1 yes you will get good one for this much.
2 yes likely to hold its value
3 Have to ask why A.c when the roof comes off and you will always drive with window down unlike other motors to listen to the sound .In my view pointless as if its warm the roof is off , A.c just means another thing to fix if it goes wrong. This is not a normal car so think different when it comes to A.c. I would be looking for one without it ,I would be put off buying one with unless the car was very tidy at the right price.
4 It will be o.k outside but get a breathable cover and re waterproof the roof regularly
5 Not sure on the insurance give you a clue I am 37 , Full NCB and low risk £260.You may find it cheaper going for a car 10 years or older as this is often the cut off point for most classic car policies.
6 Indie is good enough.
Mines for sale in the classifieds Mica red first page , Nobody has looked at it yet , Though i am fairly confident when first person does it will go.
Hope this helps
1. You can get a decent one for a few £k less
2. Should do, though like any convertible, they can be trickier to sell in winter
3. Don't know
4. Mine lived on the drive & was waterproof. A cover can help too.
5. I'm 28 & lived in v.high risk area and paid about £800 IIRC
6. Lots of good independent garages around who know their stuff. They are not complex cars.
2. Should do, though like any convertible, they can be trickier to sell in winter
3. Don't know
4. Mine lived on the drive & was waterproof. A cover can help too.
5. I'm 28 & lived in v.high risk area and paid about £800 IIRC
6. Lots of good independent garages around who know their stuff. They are not complex cars.
3) I have aircon in my '99 Chim and can say that when it works, it works a treat - ice cold air - useful in the winter for demisting windows and useful in the summer for when it's too hot for the roof off. It also feels quite decadent with the roof off and aircon on - nice cold feet!
4) mine spent many overnights on the road outside my now-wife's house. As long as it's well sealed it should not leak. Most leaks happen in known locations.
4) mine spent many overnights on the road outside my now-wife's house. As long as it's well sealed it should not leak. Most leaks happen in known locations.
jonathant said:
3) I have aircon in my '99 Chim and can say that when it works, it works a treat - ice cold air - useful in the winter for demisting windows and useful in the summer for when it's too hot for the roof off. It also feels quite decadent with the roof off and aircon on - nice cold feet!
4) mine spent many overnights on the road outside my now-wife's house. As long as it's well sealed it should not leak. Most leaks happen in known locations.
4) mine spent many overnights on the road outside my now-wife's house. As long as it's well sealed it should not leak. Most leaks happen in known locations.
Hi you say "when it works" suggests that it's not the most reliable component then.
Unfortunatly A/C is a must for me, wife will not travel with the roof down (hates that feeling), so A/C in the summer required when she travells with me. She has her own car so I will get some top down action plus there are some great roads to work (plus detours) ;-)
1. Yes, should get a good one for that.
2. Difficult to say, I'd say so.
3. I wouldn't bother with the a/c but as far as I know it works okay.
4. Some do leak but with maintenance it shouldn't be a problem. You can always get a cover.
5. I'm 26 and paid about 550 with A-Plan, here's a list of recommended insurers.
6. The well known indys are generally even better than dealers.
Here's a buyer's guide to help you along!
Good luck!
2. Difficult to say, I'd say so.
3. I wouldn't bother with the a/c but as far as I know it works okay.
4. Some do leak but with maintenance it shouldn't be a problem. You can always get a cover.
5. I'm 26 and paid about 550 with A-Plan, here's a list of recommended insurers.
6. The well known indys are generally even better than dealers.
Here's a buyer's guide to help you along!
Good luck!
jd
I think your first obstacle is getting the wife trained up, or let hear drive it will take her mind off it , bit like sea sickness.
Are we turning into American with A.C , god i hate A.C maybe its to long living in the Caribbean with American's , its more like a habit with them .
I think your first obstacle is getting the wife trained up, or let hear drive it will take her mind off it , bit like sea sickness.
Are we turning into American with A.C , god i hate A.C maybe its to long living in the Caribbean with American's , its more like a habit with them .
Edited by Rum Runner on Monday 26th February 20:02
jdwoodbury said:
1) Can I get a Chimera (good un) at ~£12-13K (would like to keep some money spare
Yes you can. That amount will get you a good 'un at most ages.
jdwoodbury said:
2) Is the car likely to hold it's value over 12 months?
If it's good and you bought it at the right price, yes.
jdwoodbury said:
3) A/C is a must (wife criteria), is this a common option, also is it any good?
It's not a common option - many more cars were produced without it than with it - but there are a few around. It's good when it works: many cars are left idle for long periods of time and need a 're-gas'. The compressor is the same as in a P38 Range Rover, so it's well above the game.
jdwoodbury said:
4) No space in the garage, so are they OK left on the drive (i.e. does the roof leak constantly?
They can leak in a number of places, some badly, others not at all which goes to show that leaks can be pretty well eradicated. If the car's in constant use the minor leaks won't even be obvious.
jdwoodbury said:
5) Insurance, I am 28, 9yrs NCB and live in a low risk area, what sort of money will I be looking at?
It's a group 20 car: shop around. Being in a low risk area though, will bring the price down. It seems fixed mileage policies come in very cheaply.
jdwoodbury said:
6) Do they need specialist servicing (I know it's every 6K), do you need full manufacturers SH, or are indy OK?
Yes. They are mechanically simple, but there's a lot to do in the service. If you were to keep the car forever and were handy with spanners, you'd easily be able to keep on top of it. If you want the selling value of the car to be reflected in its service history you could use either a maindealer or an 'indie'. The known ones are very well respected.
Jd
Here is mine, www.pistonheads.com/sales/138932.htm , if you want to come and have a go see what you think of one and get some background knowledge / feel for them you can have a spin no problem. Its good to try a few cars I tried just over 12 ( lost count),the thing is not to get carried away with the theatre of it all and keep focused. But no A.C, these cars don't suffer from buffeting at reasonable speeds if the windows and rear roof section is up.Infact i tend to drive with the rear roof up all the time as i think the rear screen folds quite awkwardly, and i don't like it creasing,its especially worse in cold weather when its not as flexible.
Here is mine, www.pistonheads.com/sales/138932.htm , if you want to come and have a go see what you think of one and get some background knowledge / feel for them you can have a spin no problem. Its good to try a few cars I tried just over 12 ( lost count),the thing is not to get carried away with the theatre of it all and keep focused. But no A.C, these cars don't suffer from buffeting at reasonable speeds if the windows and rear roof section is up.Infact i tend to drive with the rear roof up all the time as i think the rear screen folds quite awkwardly, and i don't like it creasing,its especially worse in cold weather when its not as flexible.
Edited by Rum Runner on Tuesday 27th February 11:20
Rum Runner I am just not understanding why your car has not been snapped up already. By the looks a very well looked after car with nice history. I was almost going to buy it but I deceided to spend a little more. For that price it's for sure a good deal for someone desperate to get into a Chim.
Cheers DB pro. I think it maybe because I am a long way from anywhere and had no viewings yet , but I have put North West down in my ad as my folks are in Warrington so easy too take the car there garage it and clean e.t.c. Anyway I may keep it as the house has fallen through, but I feel disappointed about the house so I think I will have to get over it by getting a 500 instead!. I like the look of this one the engine bay looks very clean and no corrosion or pitted alloy which probably means the underside is the same . www.pistonheads.com/sales/135865.htm . Thing is the wife says mine has to go before another arrives.
Rum Runner said:
Jd
Here is mine, www.pistonheads.com/sales/138932.htm , if you want to come and have a go see what you think of one and get some background knowledge / feel for them you can have a spin no problem. Its good to try a few cars I tried just over 12 ( lost count),the thing is not to get carried away with the theatre of it all and keep focused. But no A.C, these cars don't suffer from buffeting at reasonable speeds if the windows and rear roof section is up.Infact i tend to drive with the rear roof up all the time as i think the rear screen folds quite awkwardly, and i don't like it creasing,its especially worse in cold weather when its not as flexible.
Here is mine, www.pistonheads.com/sales/138932.htm , if you want to come and have a go see what you think of one and get some background knowledge / feel for them you can have a spin no problem. Its good to try a few cars I tried just over 12 ( lost count),the thing is not to get carried away with the theatre of it all and keep focused. But no A.C, these cars don't suffer from buffeting at reasonable speeds if the windows and rear roof section is up.Infact i tend to drive with the rear roof up all the time as i think the rear screen folds quite awkwardly, and i don't like it creasing,its especially worse in cold weather when its not as flexible.
Edited by Rum Runner on Tuesday 27th February 11:20
Really appreciate the offer, but you are a long way from me to just take a look. I have to have a think a weigh up the pro's & con's and see if this osrt car is for me. Again really appreciate all the info received by you guys.
jdwoodbury said:
Unfortunatly A/C is a must for me
Paul
Rum Runner said:
these cars don't suffer from buffeting at reasonable speeds if the windows and rear roof section is up.Infact i tend to drive with the rear roof up all the time as i think the rear screen folds quite awkwardly, and i don't like it creasing,its especially worse in cold weather when its not as flexible.
TBH I find that the least buffeting (apart from roof on) is with the roof off, back DOWN and windows up. FYI the problem I have with my aircon ATM is that after about seven years pretty much working fine it's decided to spring a leak that my garage can't find. It stays gassed up for about a week then nothing!
jonathant said:
FYI the problem I have with my aircon ATM is that after about seven years pretty much working fine it's decided to spring a leak that my garage can't find. It stays gassed up for about a week then nothing!
Have they checked for a leak at the two charging/discharging valves?
Rum Runner said:
Jd
Here is mine, www.pistonheads.com/sales/138932.htm , if you want to come and have a go see what you think of one and get some background knowledge / feel for them you can have a spin no problem. .
Here is mine, www.pistonheads.com/sales/138932.htm , if you want to come and have a go see what you think of one and get some background knowledge / feel for them you can have a spin no problem. .
Edited by Rum Runner on Tuesday 27th February 11:20
I'll have a go!!!!
gf350 said:
I will be selling mine sometime before the summer, arrgh this is quite upsetting to write.
It's an immaculate low mileage 450 in starmist green with full leather and aircon.
Picture in profile e-mail me for more details.
Gareth.
It's an immaculate low mileage 450 in starmist green with full leather and aircon.
Picture in profile e-mail me for more details.
Gareth.
I saw this one at Chimfest last year - It's v nice.
O/T How're you doing Gareth?
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