Hello all, can I have your help please (newbie)
Discussion
Hi all very shortly I intend on becoming a Chimaera owner and I am very excited, I just have a couple of questions I would like some help, I apologise if they have already been asked!!
1) I intend on buying a nice 400, I have a budget of up to 9k, but I have seen 450 in this budget as well. How much difference is there in power and mpg in day to day driving?
2) I have read that some people feel that specialst servicing is a waste of money and a local land rover specialst would be a better option as its cheaper and they know the engines just as well, is there much truth in this?
3) My dad by trade is a car mechanic by trade but is no longer in that type of work, he could easily do the servicing for me but I would get no service stamp, how much would this put of potential buyers in the future?
4) Finally what do you guys think of this car, Its been for sale for a while now, I have been on the companys site and they sound good but they are no TVR specialist, I like this particular car as its a 400 HC and is in my favorite colour, let me know your opinions
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2232803.htm
I look forward to becoming apart of the TVR Chimaera community, thankyou for your time
Zach
1) I intend on buying a nice 400, I have a budget of up to 9k, but I have seen 450 in this budget as well. How much difference is there in power and mpg in day to day driving?
2) I have read that some people feel that specialst servicing is a waste of money and a local land rover specialst would be a better option as its cheaper and they know the engines just as well, is there much truth in this?
3) My dad by trade is a car mechanic by trade but is no longer in that type of work, he could easily do the servicing for me but I would get no service stamp, how much would this put of potential buyers in the future?
4) Finally what do you guys think of this car, Its been for sale for a while now, I have been on the companys site and they sound good but they are no TVR specialist, I like this particular car as its a 400 HC and is in my favorite colour, let me know your opinions
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2232803.htm
I look forward to becoming apart of the TVR Chimaera community, thankyou for your time
Zach
Hot1 said:
Hi all very shortly I intend on becoming a Chimaera owner and I am very excited, I just have a couple of questions I would like some help, I apologise if they have already been asked!!
1) I intend on buying a nice 400, I have a budget of up to 9k, but I have seen 450 in this budget as well. How much difference is there in power and mpg in day to day driving?
A 450 has a bit more torque. Power, there isn't enough in it to make a difference IMHO, the 4 is not exactly slow. MPG again, not enough difference - I have gotten 9mpg average out of a tank but that was a fun drive and that was only the 4litre
2) I have read that some people feel that specialst servicing is a waste of money and a local land rover specialst would be a better option as its cheaper and they know the engines just as well, is there much truth in this?
I use specialists because the car is not just a Rover engine
3) My dad by trade is a car mechanic by trade but is no longer in that type of work, he could easily do the servicing for me but I would get no service stamp, how much would this put of potential buyers in the future?
Some will simply not purchase, others won't care - I am in the wouldn't buy it camp
4) Finally what do you guys think of this car, Its been for sale for a while now, I have been on the companys site and they sound good but they are no TVR specialist, I like this particular car as its a 400 HC and is in my favorite colour, let me know your opinions
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2232803.htm
You have to go and look at the car really, you also want to look at 3-4 before going back and buying the first one, because condition is everything and you want to look at a few cars to decide what is reasonable condition etc for example when someone says the carpets all get damaged etc - they don't
I look forward to becoming apart of the TVR Chimaera community, thankyou for your time
Zach
My answers in italics1) I intend on buying a nice 400, I have a budget of up to 9k, but I have seen 450 in this budget as well. How much difference is there in power and mpg in day to day driving?
A 450 has a bit more torque. Power, there isn't enough in it to make a difference IMHO, the 4 is not exactly slow. MPG again, not enough difference - I have gotten 9mpg average out of a tank but that was a fun drive and that was only the 4litre
2) I have read that some people feel that specialst servicing is a waste of money and a local land rover specialst would be a better option as its cheaper and they know the engines just as well, is there much truth in this?
I use specialists because the car is not just a Rover engine
3) My dad by trade is a car mechanic by trade but is no longer in that type of work, he could easily do the servicing for me but I would get no service stamp, how much would this put of potential buyers in the future?
Some will simply not purchase, others won't care - I am in the wouldn't buy it camp
4) Finally what do you guys think of this car, Its been for sale for a while now, I have been on the companys site and they sound good but they are no TVR specialist, I like this particular car as its a 400 HC and is in my favorite colour, let me know your opinions
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2232803.htm
You have to go and look at the car really, you also want to look at 3-4 before going back and buying the first one, because condition is everything and you want to look at a few cars to decide what is reasonable condition etc for example when someone says the carpets all get damaged etc - they don't
I look forward to becoming apart of the TVR Chimaera community, thankyou for your time
Zach
see for me I drove a few 4L and each one were different, all standard (bar one had a straight through exhaust on) but they just felt lazy to me, haven't driven a 450 but my 430 is just a different car, it just revs so nicely and feels more of a sports car than the 4L ever did, I also know from previous cars going for the lesser powered ones after a while you soon start to hanker for more power!
Thank you for your comments so far this is all very insightful, I have had a look at a couple at Tony Gilbert cars and they were immaculate but they are very expensive, I am still yet to have a test drive in one and this is something I am aiming to do next week.
And I have read many times that the 4.3 one of the nicest engines its certainly one I would go for if the right one came along!
And I have read many times that the 4.3 one of the nicest engines its certainly one I would go for if the right one came along!
Hot1 said:
And I have read many times that the 4.3 one of the nicest engines its certainly one I would go for if the right one came along!
I'd second that (based on my one brief acquaintance with a 430).The 430s are, by definiton, early examples, but I wouldn't let that put you off if it's been well looked after. They seem curiously undervalued for an unusual, usefully more powerful and somewhat different alternative to the 400; you should get a really nice one for £9k.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2550564.htm
The one above has been in the classifieds for one day, it looks a cracker, good write up, lovely colour combination, great price......go and buy it now mate
The one above has been in the classifieds for one day, it looks a cracker, good write up, lovely colour combination, great price......go and buy it now mate
Chilliman said:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2550564.htm
The one above has been in the classifieds for one day, it looks a cracker, good write up, lovely colour combination, great price......go and buy it now mate
Great colour combination. Definitely worth a look I'd say.The one above has been in the classifieds for one day, it looks a cracker, good write up, lovely colour combination, great price......go and buy it now mate
Hi all thank you for the replies, I have done quite alot of searching in regards to chassis issues and outriggers, I feel confident enough that I know what I am looking for. By the way that 4.3 looks lovely and is in one of my favorite colour combinations. At the moment I could not afford to buy this as I need to wait for my work bonus which is the end of this month, I can only buy one before this if I buy from a trader and I part exchange my s2000!
Hot1 said:
Hi all very shortly I intend on becoming a Chimaera owner and I am very excited, I just have a couple of questions I would like some help, I apologise if they have already been asked!!
1) I intend on buying a nice 400, I have a budget of up to 9k, but I have seen 450 in this budget as well. How much difference is there in power and mpg in day to day driving?
What are you used to? I don't think there's a huge difference between the two. If you are buying new, you can choose. Secondhand, depends what's on the market in your budget. MPG, all depends how you drive, driven identically and assuming identical tune, not much difference between the two. When I bought mine I looked at 400s, a 450 and a couple of 500s, eventually bought a 400, based on condition.
2) I have read that some people feel that specialst servicing is a waste of money and a local land rover specialst would be a better option as its cheaper and they know the engines just as well, is there much truth in this? It isn't a standard Rover engine. Having said that, I would prefer to have someone who knows what they are doing, irrespective of whether they are main dealer or not. The TVR service schedule is more involved than most cars, not difficult, but more time consuming.
3) My dad by trade is a car mechanic by trade but is no longer in that type of work, he could easily do the servicing for me but I would get no service stamp, how much would this put of potential buyers in the future? Some won't buy, some won't care as long as car been looked after. Others will buy even if a car has stamped book but servicing has been scrimped, thinking a stamped book is 'proof', which it isn't. Invoices etc are much better. If your father is a mechanic, he should be able to tell whether a car has been well maintained or not, irrespective of what the paperwork says.
4) Finally what do you guys think of this car, Its been for sale for a while now, I have been on the companys site and they sound good but they are no TVR specialist, I like this particular car as its a 400 HC and is in my favorite colour, let me know your opinions If close, probably worth a look. If you are unsure what you are looking at, take soemone who knows a bit about them. No knowledge of the car or trader
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2232803.htm
I look forward to becoming apart of the TVR Chimaera community, thankyou for your time
Zach
1) I intend on buying a nice 400, I have a budget of up to 9k, but I have seen 450 in this budget as well. How much difference is there in power and mpg in day to day driving?
What are you used to? I don't think there's a huge difference between the two. If you are buying new, you can choose. Secondhand, depends what's on the market in your budget. MPG, all depends how you drive, driven identically and assuming identical tune, not much difference between the two. When I bought mine I looked at 400s, a 450 and a couple of 500s, eventually bought a 400, based on condition.
2) I have read that some people feel that specialst servicing is a waste of money and a local land rover specialst would be a better option as its cheaper and they know the engines just as well, is there much truth in this? It isn't a standard Rover engine. Having said that, I would prefer to have someone who knows what they are doing, irrespective of whether they are main dealer or not. The TVR service schedule is more involved than most cars, not difficult, but more time consuming.
3) My dad by trade is a car mechanic by trade but is no longer in that type of work, he could easily do the servicing for me but I would get no service stamp, how much would this put of potential buyers in the future? Some won't buy, some won't care as long as car been looked after. Others will buy even if a car has stamped book but servicing has been scrimped, thinking a stamped book is 'proof', which it isn't. Invoices etc are much better. If your father is a mechanic, he should be able to tell whether a car has been well maintained or not, irrespective of what the paperwork says.
4) Finally what do you guys think of this car, Its been for sale for a while now, I have been on the companys site and they sound good but they are no TVR specialist, I like this particular car as its a 400 HC and is in my favorite colour, let me know your opinions If close, probably worth a look. If you are unsure what you are looking at, take soemone who knows a bit about them. No knowledge of the car or trader
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2232803.htm
I look forward to becoming apart of the TVR Chimaera community, thankyou for your time
Zach
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