Advice on First Chim
Discussion
Little excited as this Thursday will entitle me to join the TVR owners club, with a my first Chim joining the family.
Is there any advice that anyone can offer regarding collection from the garage, checks, cautions, things to remember etc.
Look forward to sharing many new pics and queries with you all, and hopefully see you at some events soon.
Ehh Ehhh, roll on Thursday!
Is there any advice that anyone can offer regarding collection from the garage, checks, cautions, things to remember etc.
Look forward to sharing many new pics and queries with you all, and hopefully see you at some events soon.
Ehh Ehhh, roll on Thursday!
Hi Cliff
I had the very same experience two years ago - congratulations!
Advice:
- Be careful on the drive home, particularly if it is wet.
- If you are inexperienced with this type of car don't boot it until you have the wheels pointing straight ahead, particularly in the wet! It was three weeks before I had my first moment - it actually came from booting it in a straight line on a dual carriageway when it was slightly damp!
- Wind the windows down and listen to the noise. Boot it at every opportunity.
- Let the engine overrun where possible to get the chuntering burble that sounds fantastic.
- Enjoy it - you have made a great buy and will have a grin on your face every time you drive it.
On a more practical note, keep your eyes on the temperature and oil pressure gauges. Check the tyres and oil levels regularly. Let her warm up for a minute before you drive away from cold (otherwise they are very spluttery). Don't hammer it until she's warmed up. Select fifth gear before going into reverse - it is easier and wears the 'box less.
That's it. ENJOY!
I had the very same experience two years ago - congratulations!
Advice:
- Be careful on the drive home, particularly if it is wet.
- If you are inexperienced with this type of car don't boot it until you have the wheels pointing straight ahead, particularly in the wet! It was three weeks before I had my first moment - it actually came from booting it in a straight line on a dual carriageway when it was slightly damp!
- Wind the windows down and listen to the noise. Boot it at every opportunity.
- Let the engine overrun where possible to get the chuntering burble that sounds fantastic.
- Enjoy it - you have made a great buy and will have a grin on your face every time you drive it.
On a more practical note, keep your eyes on the temperature and oil pressure gauges. Check the tyres and oil levels regularly. Let her warm up for a minute before you drive away from cold (otherwise they are very spluttery). Don't hammer it until she's warmed up. Select fifth gear before going into reverse - it is easier and wears the 'box less.
That's it. ENJOY!
Take the BAFFLES out 
Actually nothing to stop you joining TVRCC before getting one!
Enjoy!
Oh - and be very careful where you are and which direction the wheels are pointing before putting the hammer down. I had a 'moment' on the slip road from A414 onto M11 in the dry last week. Just a slight curve and wheel slightly turned - just too much right pedal!
Have fun!
Enjoy!
Oh - and be very careful where you are and which direction the wheels are pointing before putting the hammer down. I had a 'moment' on the slip road from A414 onto M11 in the dry last week. Just a slight curve and wheel slightly turned - just too much right pedal!
Have fun!
Oh, also, (it's a very important one this) never, never, NEVER rely on the handbrake as they are cr@p and you can end up finding your car 200m down the road! I actually don't use mine at all, I just leave the car in 1st, particularly if it is going to be left for a few days as the calipers can tend to stick otherwise.
I've had my Chim 500 for 2 weeks now and I managed to learn everything that roadsweeper advised.
Damn right about being carefull in the wet and pointing in a straight line before you boot it, that was a bit exciting!
Also just found out about the 5th gear before reverse, I was starting to think mine had a problem, but it seems that its like that for all the later gearboxes 97 onwards I think!
One thing I'd add is: I read in the bible about not using engine braking, because it can cause the rear wheels to lock up and spin out of control. This isn't something I was told by anyone else and probably worth noting, because I know a lot of people do it and it would be a shame to find these things out the hard way!
I hope you enjoy yours as much as I am mine.
Damn right about being carefull in the wet and pointing in a straight line before you boot it, that was a bit exciting!
Also just found out about the 5th gear before reverse, I was starting to think mine had a problem, but it seems that its like that for all the later gearboxes 97 onwards I think!
One thing I'd add is: I read in the bible about not using engine braking, because it can cause the rear wheels to lock up and spin out of control. This isn't something I was told by anyone else and probably worth noting, because I know a lot of people do it and it would be a shame to find these things out the hard way!
I hope you enjoy yours as much as I am mine.
Just one thing on the 'wheels in a straight line before you boot it thingy'. Be careful that it's not too wet on the roads when you do this. I had a bit of a moment a while back on Madeira Drive in Brighton (the strip on the seafront) where I thought I'd give it a bit of stick. It was pretty late at night (well, about 2am) and there wasn't anyone else around apart from the usual gaggle of Laxxers that are permamently there. I was rolling along in first, put the clutch in, changed up to second, gave it a bootful of gas and then dropped the clutch....... Suffice it to say that it took off fairly briskly before the torque pulled the back end off line and the rest, as they say, was a bit hairy! Good job it's a wide strip of road and that it was empty. Took me a while to clean my undies though!! Have fun and drive everywhere with the roof down, you know it makes sense!
SiH said:
Just one thing on the 'wheels in a straight line before you boot it thingy'. Be careful that it's not too wet on the roads when you do this. I had a bit of a moment a while back on Madeira Drive in Brighton (the strip on the seafront) where I thought I'd give it a bit of stick. It was pretty late at night (well, about 2am) and there wasn't anyone else around apart from the usual gaggle of Laxxers that are permamently there. I was rolling along in first, put the clutch in, changed up to second, gave it a bootful of gas and then dropped the clutch....... Suffice it to say that it took off fairly briskly before the torque pulled the back end off line and the rest, as they say, was a bit hairy! Good job it's a wide strip of road and that it was empty. Took me a while to clean my undies though!! Have fun and drive everywhere with the roof down, you know it makes sense!
It is perfectly possible to lose the back going in a straight line - I did this at 40mph on a dual carriageway when it was ever-so-slightly damp. I didn't even dump the clutch, I just hit the throttle too hard.Be careful when taking the roof off and putting it in the boot.
Also when folding down the rear section make sure don't strain the material. Keep an eye on the seals in this area as they can come away.
Also make sure that you fit the roof correctly. At first I would recommend you get some help as it makes it easier and there is a knack.
Have fun!
Also when folding down the rear section make sure don't strain the material. Keep an eye on the seals in this area as they can come away.
Also make sure that you fit the roof correctly. At first I would recommend you get some help as it makes it easier and there is a knack.
Have fun!
That reminds me, when putting the roof in the boot keep a duster or similar in the boot and lie it on the rear quarter near the the boot where the last bottom corner of the roof goes in. (I.e. you have to tilt the roof at an angle to get it in, I'm talking about the bottom roof corner that is quite tricky to drop in). This is one of the best tips I ever got for my Chimaera and has saved me from many a scratch.
roadsweeper said:
That reminds me, when putting the roof in the boot keep a duster or similar in the boot and lie it on the rear quarter near the the boot where the last bottom corner of the roof goes in. (I.e. you have to tilt the roof at an angle to get it in, I'm talking about the bottom roof corner that is quite tricky to drop in). This is one of the best tips I ever got for my Chimaera and has saved me from many a scratch.
Or alternatively place your hand around the bottom left hand corner of the roof just whilst you guide it in.
Even better leave it in the boot forever.
Hiya Roadsweeper(I now know who you are.) parked behind you at back home last year.you test drove my car at CN's befor you bought yours.
Lastly dont forget to drive everywhere in a lower gear than you need so as to sound cor!!!!!!!!!!!!
especially in tunnels and near high walls...
cliff123 said:
Is there any advice that anyone can offer regarding collection from the garage
Welcome aboard, enjoy the day you pick it up its something you dont forget.
Couple of things
1. Lift the big lid thing at the front and have a look around, it doesnt matter if you dont know what you are looking for a) it helps you catch your breath b) it will make you give it a bit of respect once you see what is under there c) they dont know that you dont know what you are looking for
2. As others have probably mentioned, 5th before reverse, otherwise your credibility goes out of the window along with a gutwrenching sound of grinding metal
3. Dont be suprised if it takes a while to get petrol pump nozzles to work efficiently, all together now....."they all do that Sir"
jessica said:
Hiya Roadsweeper(I now know who you are.) parked behind you at back home last year.you test drove my car at CN's befor you bought yours.
Hi back!
I didn't go to back home last year so that must have been someone else but I did do a test drive at CN in a different Chimaera before buying my current car from them. What colour was your car - I think the one I test drove before buying mine was a dark reddish 400, but I might be mistaken?
I do remember that CN let me take it out with my then girlfriend (i.e. no salesman) which impressed me no end.
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