Should I buy it ?

[phillpot]

My little S series has been great fun for last couple of years but now got a serious yearning for a Chim.
Nice looking one for sale very local to me but its a 5 litre and have been advised that, well how to put it ? Rovers good old 3 and half didn't really like being stretched that far ?
Reckon any engine option will be plenty fast enough for me so should I stick to looking for a 4.0 or 4.5?

All advise / suggestions appreciated !

Mike

[T_Pot]

stop listening to who ever is telling you these things, they know nothing

[V8isa]

Phillpot,

I have had a 500 for 3 years now. Touch wood a just few minor bits done so far- radiator recore needed and water pump replaced. It's a hoot to drive and if you have the opportunity, don't think twice, go for it. Just watch the back end in any but the driest conditions.

[pwd95]

Buy it. That 5 litre serp engine is a beaut. You'll be laughing & swearing every time you drive it, especially if it's a decent one. Doesn't take a great deal to get them up to 300hp too.

[Cooky]

Do it sir, you know it will look lovely parked outside your local Nail Salon or whilst purchasing a new 'manbag'

[Milky400]

there is so much scare mungering bks, scared the crap out of me, but havent looked back since last May, although i only have the baby

[phillpot]

Cooky said:

Do it sir, you know it will look lovely parked outside your local Nail Salon or whilst purchasing a new 'manbag'

This will empty my piggy bank, gonna have to do my own nails from now on !

[phlap]

I had a 400 and have a 500. Sod all difference in running costs, driveability, reliability and all that stuff you hear about IMHO.
I have yet to hear a 500 owner complaining .

If its a good example you are unlikely to be disappointed.

[Cooky]

phillpot said:

Cooky said:

Do it sir, you know it will look lovely parked outside your local Nail Salon or whilst purchasing a new 'manbag'

This will empty my piggy bank, gonna have to do my own nails from now on !

oh well, a small sacrifice for a lot of gain. I had a chimp for a while, and loved it. it took a bit of getting to grips with, and i did bully it a bit and found myself comparing it to the cerb. Totaly unjust really as they are chalk and cheese. roof down burbling and 2 hour evening runs-out for a packet of cigs were commonplace.

and yes i'd have another tomorrow if i had somewhere to store it...oh!...and Mrs C didn't know about it

[.Mark]

phlap said:

I had a 400 and have a 500. Sod all difference in running costs, driveability, reliability and all that stuff you hear about IMHO.
I have yet to hear a 500 owner complaining .

If its a good example you are unlikely to be disappointed.

Shhhh!

The 500's are terrible and you would be making a grave mistake. Tell you what, as a fellow TVR owner I'll help you out; buy the 500 and I'll swap your engine for my 400 FOC - how does that sound?

[TJC46]

Hi mike, i too had an S3 and moved on to a 4.0 ltr chim. I noticed the pic on your profile of your S3 and in particular the registration, my old S3 was also H###MPD. MIKE ITS A SIGN! Seriously just buy it what a christmas present to yourself.

[quattrophenia]

I have had my 2001 450 for a couple of months now and just love it. I bet you are in the same state of mind now that you were in when you were considering buying your S3.
Well, however you justified buying the S3 could be used to justify a Chim. Having been around the RV8 - for you it's just a natural progression. The 450 is just great, but a well sorted 400 will be just as much fun.

[s5tuart]

phlap said:

I had a 400 and have a 500. Sod all difference in running costs, driveability, reliability and all that stuff you hear about IMHO.
I have yet to hear a 500 owner complaining .

If its a good example you are unlikely to be disappointed.

+1

[garfys v8s]

Had an s3 moved onto an v8s that put out around 280bhp and now have a chim500 that to be honest is awesome do it now you wont regret it.

[phillpot]

Thanks guys, looks like the aye's have it !

Wether or not this one works out, think my mind is deffinately made up

Edited by phillpot on Friday 18th December 19:25

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Get anything but a 500 & you'll always be wondering

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

How did it finish up?

[caduceus]

phlap said:

I had a 400 and have a 500. Sod all difference in running costs,

Really...? Surely mpg is much less in the 500?

[chris1972]

Got my 500 earlier this month... love it. The only downside of ownership is the UK weather. However, I'm really looking forward to summer!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

caduceus said:

phlap said:

I had a 400 and have a 500. Sod all difference in running costs,

Really...? Surely mpg is much less in the 500?

I don't think there's much in it, especially as the average Chimaera driver only does 4,000 miles p.a. (so difference in pound notes is fairly small)