Should i or shouldn't I??
Discussion
Hi all...first post.
I know this will probably be a biased answer i get but i thought I'd ask anyway.
I'm thinking of changing my car in the next few months and have always loved the Cerbera. I've read a few posts that say the Chimaera is cheaper to run so I'd opt for one of them instead.
If i spent around 10-12k on a car and had around 300-400 per month to keep it on the road would i be able to do it on that budget? I've also wondered about an independent warranty to cover any larger failures - can they be bought for TVRs and are they worth it?
I'm not really mechanically minded and could probably do the absolute basics liuke changing oil and filter etc.
My commute to work is just over 10miles - most of it on motorway with the last mile or so on urban roads so i expect i'll get reasonable economy for TVR - i'm expecting to get 23-24mpg...unless i give it a blast of course!
Not being mechanically minded i'd prefer to buy from a garage - does that make my purchase any safer?
I know there are a few questions in there but i'd really appreciate it if any of you guys could help me out.
cheers
I know this will probably be a biased answer i get but i thought I'd ask anyway.
I'm thinking of changing my car in the next few months and have always loved the Cerbera. I've read a few posts that say the Chimaera is cheaper to run so I'd opt for one of them instead.
If i spent around 10-12k on a car and had around 300-400 per month to keep it on the road would i be able to do it on that budget? I've also wondered about an independent warranty to cover any larger failures - can they be bought for TVRs and are they worth it?
I'm not really mechanically minded and could probably do the absolute basics liuke changing oil and filter etc.
My commute to work is just over 10miles - most of it on motorway with the last mile or so on urban roads so i expect i'll get reasonable economy for TVR - i'm expecting to get 23-24mpg...unless i give it a blast of course!
Not being mechanically minded i'd prefer to buy from a garage - does that make my purchase any safer?
I know there are a few questions in there but i'd really appreciate it if any of you guys could help me out.
cheers
darich said:
Hi all...first post.
I know this will probably be a biased answer i get but i thought I'd ask anyway.
I'm thinking of changing my car in the next few months and have always loved the Cerbera. I've read a few posts that say the Chimaera is cheaper to run so I'd opt for one of them instead.
If i spent around 10-12k on a car and had around 300-400 per month to keep it on the road would i be able to do it on that budget? I've also wondered about an independent warranty to cover any larger failures - can they be bought for TVRs and are they worth it?
I'm not really mechanically minded and could probably do the absolute basics liuke changing oil and filter etc.
My commute to work is just over 10miles - most of it on motorway with the last mile or so on urban roads so i expect i'll get reasonable economy for TVR - i'm expecting to get 23-24mpg...unless i give it a blast of course!
Not being mechanically minded i'd prefer to buy from a garage - does that make my purchase any safer?
I know there are a few questions in there but i'd really appreciate it if any of you guys could help me out.
cheers
Hi,I know this will probably be a biased answer i get but i thought I'd ask anyway.
I'm thinking of changing my car in the next few months and have always loved the Cerbera. I've read a few posts that say the Chimaera is cheaper to run so I'd opt for one of them instead.
If i spent around 10-12k on a car and had around 300-400 per month to keep it on the road would i be able to do it on that budget? I've also wondered about an independent warranty to cover any larger failures - can they be bought for TVRs and are they worth it?
I'm not really mechanically minded and could probably do the absolute basics liuke changing oil and filter etc.
My commute to work is just over 10miles - most of it on motorway with the last mile or so on urban roads so i expect i'll get reasonable economy for TVR - i'm expecting to get 23-24mpg...unless i give it a blast of course!
Not being mechanically minded i'd prefer to buy from a garage - does that make my purchase any safer?
I know there are a few questions in there but i'd really appreciate it if any of you guys could help me out.
cheers
Chimaera cheaper than a Cerbera so def go with the Chim.
10-12k would buy you a decent one but if you bought from a dealer you wouldn't get as good as buying private (dealer mark up)
£300 - £400 a month is plenty to keep it on the road (unless you bought a duff one i suppose)
23 - 24 mpg Yeah Right
I'm not mechanically minded either and bought mine from a dealer but there is the option of buying privately and having someone check it over for you (a couple of people do this service) to make sure your not buying a lemon.
Buy it from someone on here (check classifieds) as a petrolhead would not knowingly sell a car to another petrolhead where they are known (i hope
)Glyn.
£300-400 a month to run? I assume you are talking about insurance, tax and petrol cost in here and not maintenance alone? If people are paying £300-400 month on maintenance then they bought a duff car or I bought a very good one 
.
A Chimaera has a modified RV8 engine and not a Ferrari engine in it. They dont cost a fortune to run and are pretty basic by modern standards to maintain.
Go for it and good luck in your quest. Look at a few before you buy and check out the chimaerapages.com website buying guide.
. A Chimaera has a modified RV8 engine and not a Ferrari engine in it. They dont cost a fortune to run and are pretty basic by modern standards to maintain.
Go for it and good luck in your quest. Look at a few before you buy and check out the chimaerapages.com website buying guide.
Hi
The 300-400 a month i was thinking purely for maintenance. The insurance is something i pay annually - for a chimaera i'd be looking at around £650. I've not included that in the monthly figure.
I wouldn't expect to spend the full 300-400 a month on the car but i would have that much spare to do less important things like eat and pay the mortgage!!
I really am tempted but there is something scary about it...I'm not sure what....possibly the fact that I've heard many stories about poor reliability. I've heard good things too though. I'm also a bit nervous about thieves or vandals taking a fancy to it.
The 300-400 a month i was thinking purely for maintenance. The insurance is something i pay annually - for a chimaera i'd be looking at around £650. I've not included that in the monthly figure.
I wouldn't expect to spend the full 300-400 a month on the car but i would have that much spare to do less important things like eat and pay the mortgage!!
I really am tempted but there is something scary about it...I'm not sure what....possibly the fact that I've heard many stories about poor reliability. I've heard good things too though. I'm also a bit nervous about thieves or vandals taking a fancy to it.
Doubt youll need that much for maintenance only.....less than 500 notes per service, sometimes more with other stuff, usually nowt frightening. As for thieves etc, I tend to find they are less interested in tivs, esp classics but i guess it depends on where you live etc. And theyd much rather scratch a Porker!! Or so Im led to believe....
Final decision, of course, up to you! Good luck, go for it and happy hunting...!
Oh, garage not always best place to buy, prefer to buy from keen owner/seller, always get a reasonable idea of how theyve looked after the car. Heard good things about James Agger though.
Have a good looksy, theres plenty out there!
Dave.
Final decision, of course, up to you! Good luck, go for it and happy hunting...!
Oh, garage not always best place to buy, prefer to buy from keen owner/seller, always get a reasonable idea of how theyve looked after the car. Heard good things about James Agger though.
Have a good looksy, theres plenty out there!
Dave.
Edited by Sam Gamgee on Tuesday 6th November 22:26
Being new here I'm not up to speed with names....who is James Agger?
Ok...just checked Google and found him.
I live just south of Hamilton in Scotland. Technically it's called Lanark although I'm several miles from the town. I live in a nice area and have a doubel drive but wondered about using the garage for the TVR if i went for it.
I guess being specialist cars it looks like i'll have to be prepared to travel quite a distance to buy a good car. That's not a problem - i've travelled to England before for a Cavalier 2.0T 4x4. What I'm excited about is when i remember the performance of that car (204bhp and 4WD) and think that in most cases the TVR will be be comfortably faster!
Any thoughts on an independent warranty?
Ok...just checked Google and found him.
I live just south of Hamilton in Scotland. Technically it's called Lanark although I'm several miles from the town. I live in a nice area and have a doubel drive but wondered about using the garage for the TVR if i went for it.
I guess being specialist cars it looks like i'll have to be prepared to travel quite a distance to buy a good car. That's not a problem - i've travelled to England before for a Cavalier 2.0T 4x4. What I'm excited about is when i remember the performance of that car (204bhp and 4WD) and think that in most cases the TVR will be be comfortably faster!
Any thoughts on an independent warranty?
darich said:
I really am tempted but there is something scary about it...I'm not sure what....possibly the fact that I've heard many stories about poor reliability.
We've all heard the stories a million times. As with any car, you can end up with duff one if you rush in a buy the first one you see without checking it over correctly, but the majority of people (myself included) find them pretty reliable. The RV8 is cast iron and if you find a good indie the servicing costs can be kept down.Rob Ingleby is someone who runs a similar service to James Agger. Might also be worth getting along to a local club and speak to the people who actually own them!
Good luck
I believe A.Manning (TVRCC preferred insurers) have now started a mechanical warranty scheme. Think there was mention of it in this month's sprint.
As mentioned - the heart of the car is a Rover V8 - with plentiful spare part back-up .....so the real clincher will be on condition and history.IMHO
Nick
As mentioned - the heart of the car is a Rover V8 - with plentiful spare part back-up .....so the real clincher will be on condition and history.IMHO
Nick
Chugger said:
The RV8 is cast iron and if you find a good indie the servicing costs can be kept down.
Aluminium actually! Budget £1k-1.5k at 50,000 miles ish for a new cam, £250 for exhaust manifold gaskets and maybe £400 for a clutch.
There are only two major major expenses you may face if unlucky, engine rebuild which is about £4k (cheap for a full, the works rebuild) and chassis repairs if it is shot through with rust (£500 - £5000!) Not wishing to scare you but if you bought the worst car ever that needed a lot of work it would be in that region.
Now obviously the trick is to find a good car. Apart from a good service history and a drive not much you can do about the engine but the chassis can be checked quite easily if you know what to look for.
Suggest you buy Steve Heath's bible, you'll need a copy anyway and worth its weight in gold.
If you're not mechanically minded I'd be inclined to use Rob Ingleby.
www.findasportscar.co.uk
Your maintenance budget should easily cover it - get a good one and maintenance really isn't that silly.
Don't know what the Chim is like on fuel but I was more than surprised with the V8S just how good it can be. Same for insurance, I can get V8S on a classic policy as a second car, don't know about Chims older ones maybe I guess.
Chris
www.findasportscar.co.uk
Your maintenance budget should easily cover it - get a good one and maintenance really isn't that silly.
Don't know what the Chim is like on fuel but I was more than surprised with the V8S just how good it can be. Same for insurance, I can get V8S on a classic policy as a second car, don't know about Chims older ones maybe I guess.
Chris
darich said:
Shoud I or Shouldn't I??
Of course you should http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff