Should I buy one???
Discussion
Hi everyone, I am a newbie to this site, found you by looking for a chimaera. Now, my question is, should I buy one, and if so which one? Have been told to go for the 500, is there really much difference, are they more expensive to run, are they worth it for the extra premium?
I have read up on all the faults, possible ones anyway, quite handy with the tools myself, realise you want fsh, check chassis, and general nick but is there anything else all you peeps can advise, has anyone got a good one for sale, under 8000 please. Should I wait till after xmas, do you think that prices are going to drop, must be a buyers market at the moment and better to come.
Any thoughts would be great, all the best, cheers.
I have read up on all the faults, possible ones anyway, quite handy with the tools myself, realise you want fsh, check chassis, and general nick but is there anything else all you peeps can advise, has anyone got a good one for sale, under 8000 please. Should I wait till after xmas, do you think that prices are going to drop, must be a buyers market at the moment and better to come.
Any thoughts would be great, all the best, cheers.
If you can, wait, as the price's are crashing, as there are so many people that have to sell.
I just bought a 400 with 18,000 miles, one family owned since new. It was up for £14500 a few weeks ago and i paid just under nine for it, as i wanted a low milage one.
I did miss a low milage 500 for £9000 a few weeks ago, but at the time i had not sold my V8s.
There is or was at the weekend, a nice looking 450 in the classified for £6000 with around 30,000 miles if my memory is correct [ redish color]
I just bought a 400 with 18,000 miles, one family owned since new. It was up for £14500 a few weeks ago and i paid just under nine for it, as i wanted a low milage one.
I did miss a low milage 500 for £9000 a few weeks ago, but at the time i had not sold my V8s.
There is or was at the weekend, a nice looking 450 in the classified for £6000 with around 30,000 miles if my memory is correct [ redish color]
Take a look at this site... has most of the info that you'll need...
http://www.chimaerapages.com/resources_buyers.php
http://www.chimaerapages.com/resources_buyers.php
wheels1 said:
If you can, wait, as the price's are crashing, as there are so many people that have to sell.
Are they?Most people that have to sell are the ones that either cannot afford to run them or have bought a bad one - not really the car you would want to buy. There is one particular car on here I would not want for nothing. The owner knows very little about cars but insists on constantly messing about with it, each job creating more jobs.
The one thing which holds true for these cars is they cost a lot of money to repair if you cannot do the repairs yourself - properly. Just because one car is selling for £3k less than another one that doesn't make it a better buy, you could easily spend more than that in a garage in no time.
The country is in recession and the motor trade in general is going down the pan. With that in mind I would suggest TVR prices in general are doing a lot better than most. I have owned mine for over 6 years, I cannot think of many sportscars that would have depreciated less over the same period.
To the OP, I would say drive a few decent ones and decide for yourself. I went out looking for a 450 (I didn't want a 500) and couldn't find a decent one at the time and that was 6 years ago. Ended up with a decent 400 and it has been great, never let me down once. Good cars don't usually sell cheap.
Good luck with your search.
Ribol said:
wheels1 said:
If you can, wait, as the price's are crashing, as there are so many people that have to sell.
Are they?Most people that have to sell are the ones that either cannot afford to run them or have bought a bad one - not really the car you would want to buy. There is one particular car on here I would not want for nothing. The owner knows very little about cars but insists on constantly messing about with it, each job creating more jobs.
The one thing which holds true for these cars is they cost a lot of money to repair if you cannot do the repairs yourself - properly. Just because one car is selling for £3k less than another one that doesn't make it a better buy, you could easily spend more than that in a garage in no time.
The country is in recession and the motor trade in general is going down the pan. With that in mind I would suggest TVR prices in general are doing a lot better than most. I have owned mine for over 6 years, I cannot think of many sportscars that would have depreciated less over the same period.
To the OP, I would say drive a few decent ones and decide for yourself. I went out looking for a 450 (I didn't want a 500) and couldn't find a decent one at the time and that was 6 years ago. Ended up with a decent 400 and it has been great, never let me down once. Good cars don't usually sell cheap.
Good luck with your search.
Thanks guys, yea i saw the reddish 450 on here, cant seem to get in touch with him though, tried phoning, sent mail and he has not responded, there is a 500 110 miles away from me which seems okay, but the owner is not a tvr owner if you know what i mean, he is not really that clued up on them, its just a car to him, whereas I missed a 400 last week on ebay which had been a tvr club member and owner for 7 years, the cherished one seems the better one to go for, bur a tvr specialit said if you can, get the 500, reckoned I would be dissapointed with the 400.
This is to replace my sportsbike, he said as used to speed get as much grunt as I can, 500 will provide!!
Reading on this forum though what terrifies me is buying one, then cam fails, roof leaks, chassis fails, and I left with a good looking car that cant be driven!!!Haha, would not make me a happy bunny!!
Hey, and yes I ride trials, aswell as track days, do you ride trials also, if so, where?
Cheers, further thoughts be welcome on buying or not, think prices will drop after xmas,when recession really takes a bite?
This is to replace my sportsbike, he said as used to speed get as much grunt as I can, 500 will provide!!
Reading on this forum though what terrifies me is buying one, then cam fails, roof leaks, chassis fails, and I left with a good looking car that cant be driven!!!Haha, would not make me a happy bunny!!
Hey, and yes I ride trials, aswell as track days, do you ride trials also, if so, where?
Cheers, further thoughts be welcome on buying or not, think prices will drop after xmas,when recession really takes a bite?
Every one says that the 400 is "slow" every run i have been on with the club is not a issue i pace most of the cars with ease including speed 6 engine cars where it counts on the windy parts fair enough they have more grunt in a straight line but to be honest the 400 aint a slow car and if drivin well is as fast as the most powerfull car driven by a bad driver.;) so buy on condition is all i can Emphasize if you can get a good bigger cc go for it but you wont be dissapointed with any good one
Hi Stevie,
In answer to your original question, yes.... do it.... I did in March this year and havent looked back.
Completley agree with all the advice here, and its essential you do your homework, and drive as many as you can. There are some bad ones out there, but a car that looks looked after, has good paperwork, and feels good when you drive it should give you years of enjoyment.
Replacing your sportsbike... well, I thought about that too, but kept mine. The TVR and bike give different grin factors. I love them both, and wouldn't part with mine.
In terms of cost, this year, mine has cost me so far. Service - £275, wiper park switch - £6 (part only), rear drive shaft and CV gaiters - £200, PAS fluid service - £15 (fluids only). Oh, and fuel... quite a bit...
There are a lot of little jobs you can do yourself on these cars, so dont be put off, just know your limits, and find a good independant dealer to help with the bigger jobs.
The guys on here were very helpful to me when I was in your position, and have been throughout my first 8 months of ownership. I also got in touch with my local TVR car club. Great guys too, very helpful, and some drives out to, which helped.
Good luck, and enjoy.
In answer to your original question, yes.... do it.... I did in March this year and havent looked back.
Completley agree with all the advice here, and its essential you do your homework, and drive as many as you can. There are some bad ones out there, but a car that looks looked after, has good paperwork, and feels good when you drive it should give you years of enjoyment.
Replacing your sportsbike... well, I thought about that too, but kept mine. The TVR and bike give different grin factors. I love them both, and wouldn't part with mine.
In terms of cost, this year, mine has cost me so far. Service - £275, wiper park switch - £6 (part only), rear drive shaft and CV gaiters - £200, PAS fluid service - £15 (fluids only). Oh, and fuel... quite a bit...
There are a lot of little jobs you can do yourself on these cars, so dont be put off, just know your limits, and find a good independant dealer to help with the bigger jobs.
The guys on here were very helpful to me when I was in your position, and have been throughout my first 8 months of ownership. I also got in touch with my local TVR car club. Great guys too, very helpful, and some drives out to, which helped.
Good luck, and enjoy.
Stevie, dont forget most people only post when they have a problem. If you read any car forums you get paranoid. I did the same for my wifes SAAB, my peaople carrier and yes my Chim.
If you see one for sale in Pistonheads, see if you can trace owners previous threads on here to see if they have had problems. I did this and spoke to the owner before last.
I am still happy. (with a 97 500)
PS if you see a good one, dont let it get away.
If you see one for sale in Pistonheads, see if you can trace owners previous threads on here to see if they have had problems. I did this and spoke to the owner before last.
I am still happy. (with a 97 500)
PS if you see a good one, dont let it get away.
Edited by WokingWedger on Tuesday 18th November 12:23
Edited by WokingWedger on Tuesday 18th November 12:24
steviegasgas said:
Hey, and yes I ride trials, aswell as track days, do you ride trials also, if so, where?
Stopped riding a few years ago when I sold my bike carrier and bought a Chimaera! - Sold that last year, and it's now owned by Woking Wedger who has just posted here! Just fitted a tow bar to my wife's car, so will start riding again very soon (on my old 03 Gasser, which, although almost unused, is probably quite old fashioned now!). Member of Berkamsted and Milton Buzzard clubs.
Chimjunkie said:
Meatball said:
Ribol said:
There is one particular car on here I would not want for nothing. The owner knows very little about cars but insists on constantly messing about with it, each job creating more jobs.
Whos that then? 
Ribol said:
Chimjunkie said:
Meatball said:
Ribol said:
There is one particular car on here I would not want for nothing. The owner knows very little about cars but insists on constantly messing about with it, each job creating more jobs.
Whos that then? 
Guess before I buy one I best check its not the one you guys are talking about!!! Just be my luck!! Can you guys tell me do you have to run it until its warm before drivin off or can you drive off keeping it sensible till she heats up? Is this a myth? I know with a diesel to sit and let it idle till hot is the worst thing you can do to the engine, cheers :
steviegasgas said:
Guess before I buy one I best check its not the one you guys are talking about!!! Just be my luck!! Can you guys tell me do you have to run it until its warm before drivin off or can you drive off keeping it sensible till she heats up? Is this a myth? I know with a diesel to sit and let it idle till hot is the worst thing you can do to the engine, cheers :
You're alright it's not for sale well not at the moment.Just keep the revs low until fully warm is the safest bet.
No car should idle for long periods.
V8 Animal said:
Ribol said:
Chimjunkie said:
Meatball said:
Ribol said:
There is one particular car on here I would not want for nothing. The owner knows very little about cars but insists on constantly messing about with it, each job creating more jobs.
Whos that then? Edited by MADMAX2 on Tuesday 18th November 20:29
Edited by MADMAX2 on Tuesday 18th November 20:31
Thanks for all replies, you all seem a friendly bunch, so far anyway!!! So, should I be buying a 500 or 400. Does it really matter, is there a lot more grunt in the 500? Are the running costs greater on the 500, should I buy the best one for my budget regardless of engine size? Thoughts please...
Oh, yes i ride trials in norfolk, and trackdays on the bike wherever, nurburgring too as often as I can. I know this will not replace bike but looking for a different kind of rush. cheers.
Oh, yes i ride trials in norfolk, and trackdays on the bike wherever, nurburgring too as often as I can. I know this will not replace bike but looking for a different kind of rush. cheers.
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff