Discussion
Morning all,
Have decided that the time has come to trade up in the TVR ranks. I've had my S2 for 2 years and thoroughly enjoyed it, it has also been relativly in-epensive to run and maintain.
I keep the car in Scotland and use a 3rd vehicle, covering less than 3k per year. Budget is £12k max, and would like power steering for my wifes benefit! My first thoughts were for a Griff, but then moved onto a Chim once I realised for the same money a two year newer Chim could be bought.
My Questions are:
1. Is 12k going to get me a good Chim 400 - what should I be looking out for apart from chasis?
2. How much will the annual running costs be on 3k miles?
3. Insurance is £195 restricted on the S fully comp - what could I expect for a Chim? (28, 10years driving, 3rd car etc.)
4. Is it going to be as much fun as the S2 - potentially provocative question!
Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks in advance.
Cheers
Dougie
Have decided that the time has come to trade up in the TVR ranks. I've had my S2 for 2 years and thoroughly enjoyed it, it has also been relativly in-epensive to run and maintain.
I keep the car in Scotland and use a 3rd vehicle, covering less than 3k per year. Budget is £12k max, and would like power steering for my wifes benefit! My first thoughts were for a Griff, but then moved onto a Chim once I realised for the same money a two year newer Chim could be bought.
My Questions are:
1. Is 12k going to get me a good Chim 400 - what should I be looking out for apart from chasis?
2. How much will the annual running costs be on 3k miles?
3. Insurance is £195 restricted on the S fully comp - what could I expect for a Chim? (28, 10years driving, 3rd car etc.)
4. Is it going to be as much fun as the S2 - potentially provocative question!
Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks in advance.
Cheers
Dougie
dougs said:
Morning all,
Have decided that the time has come to trade up in the TVR ranks. I've had my S2 for 2 years and thoroughly enjoyed it, it has also been relativly in-epensive to run and maintain.
I keep the car in Scotland and use a 3rd vehicle, covering less than 3k per year. Budget is £12k max, and would like power steering for my wifes benefit! My first thoughts were for a Griff, but then moved onto a Chim once I realised for the same money a two year newer Chim could be bought.
My Questions are:
1. Is 12k going to get me a good Chim 400 - what should I be looking out for apart from chasis?
2. How much will the annual running costs be on 3k miles?
3. Insurance is £195 restricted on the S fully comp - what could I expect for a Chim? (28, 10years driving, 3rd car etc.)
4. Is it going to be as much fun as the S2 - potentially provocative question!
Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks in advance.
Cheers
Dougie
Been there done that
1. Is 12k going to get me a good Chim 400
YES - Definitely
what should I be looking out for apart from chasis?
Condition of interior, condition of paint, condition of exterior. SERVICE HISTORY.
2. How much will the annual running costs be on 3k miles?
Sod all... £400 for a service every 6000 and some odds and ends along the way* (*assuming the car is as good as it looks, get a lemon and it can cost ££££'s)
3. Insurance is £195 restricted on the S fully comp - what could I expect for a Chim? (28, 10years driving, 3rd car etc.)
I would guess around the £600 mark (I'm 29, 3rd car etc)
4. Is it going to be as much fun as the S2 - potentially provocative question!
YES, although read my previous posts on this subject. eg:
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?p=2&f=23&t=17483&h=0
Cheers
Matt
>> Edited by M@H on Monday 10th May 15:18
dougs said:
Morning all,
Have decided that the time has come to trade up in the TVR ranks. I've had my S2 for 2 years and thoroughly enjoyed it, it has also been relativly in-epensive to run and maintain.
I keep the car in Scotland and use a 3rd vehicle, covering less than 3k per year. Budget is £12k max, and would like power steering for my wifes benefit! My first thoughts were for a Griff, but then moved onto a Chim once I realised for the same money a two year newer Chim could be bought.
My Questions are:
1. Is 12k going to get me a good Chim 400 - what should I be looking out for apart from chasis?
2. How much will the annual running costs be on 3k miles?
3. Insurance is £195 restricted on the S fully comp - what could I expect for a Chim? (28, 10years driving, 3rd car etc.)
4. Is it going to be as much fun as the S2 - potentially provocative question!
Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks in advance.
Cheers
Dougie
1.Is 12k going to get me a good Chim 400 - what should I be looking out for apart from chasis?
It will get you a nice car if you look, also check wishbones including bushes, diff bushes, windscreen de-laminating and brake hoses.
2. How much will the annual running costs be on 3k miles?
Allow for £ 1,800 including tax, petrol and insurance
3. Insurance is £195 restricted on the S fully comp - what could I expect for a Chim? (28, 10years driving, 3rd car etc.)
I'm 31, max no claims, second car, value £15,500 = £347
4. Is it going to be as much fun as the S2 - potentially provocative question!
Sorry no, more!
M@H said:Isn't it 6k or 12 months. So in this case it would be £400 for a service every 3k/12 months.
2. How much will the annual running costs be on 3k miles?
Sod all... £400 for a service every 6000 and some odds and ends along the way* (*assuming the car is as good as it looks, get a lemon and it can cost ££££'s)
dougs said:
Morning all,
Have decided that the time has come to trade up in the TVR ranks. I've had my S2 for 2 years and thoroughly enjoyed it, it has also been relativly in-epensive to run and maintain.
I keep the car in Scotland and use a 3rd vehicle, covering less than 3k per year. Budget is £12k max, and would like power steering for my wifes benefit! My first thoughts were for a Griff, but then moved onto a Chim once I realised for the same money a two year newer Chim could be bought.
My Questions are:
1. Is 12k going to get me a good Chim 400 - what should I be looking out for apart from chasis?
2. How much will the annual running costs be on 3k miles?
3. Insurance is £195 restricted on the S fully comp - what could I expect for a Chim? (28, 10years driving, 3rd car etc.)
4. Is it going to be as much fun as the S2 - potentially provocative question!
Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks in advance.
Cheers
Dougie
I went from an S3 to Chim back last summer. Paid around £12k for a mint older car with low mileage from a reputable independant dealer - ta Dale
Car really is immaculate and the chassis was better than most 1995/1996/1997 cars i was looking at during that time. Look closely at chassis obviously, usual TVR bodywork checks for crazing etc, usual "any car" checks with the motor.
I do 5k miles a year and reckon the last years cost me around £1500 running costs, not including petrol etc. I actually found it cheaper to run than my S, which required a few expensive services as it was at the age springs and shocks etc etc were required. In fairness, my S was used daily and the chim isnt.
Dont know about insurance to be honest. I am 25 and its a second car limited to 5k miles. I pay around £600 IIRC. I dont recall it being more than the S anyhow.
fun factor - its a different beast entirely. Its far more complete car than the S, but that doesnt make it necessarily more fun. You can see why the chim costs double the price of the S. It is a better car is every respect. But personally I think the actual driving experience isnt that much better than the S and if I needed to sell the chim to relieve some cash I would certainly toy with the idea of an S again. It is, as the thread title suggests, a trade upwards. But the S is still a great car thats fun to drive, the Chim just develops the experience one step further IMHO.
Good work on the responses lads!
I was thinking I would have to buy a car privately in this price range but sounds like you can get some from dealers if you look carefully - who is Dale Shnozz?
On the service front, that sounds ok - I've ended up doing all the expensive jobs on the S2 over the last couple of years so it looks cheaper!
Insurance feels about right - was expecting it to go up and £600 isn't that scary.
Plan is to read over SH Bible in advance and look for all the common things mentioned in the notes above.
As for the drive - well someone once said the Chim was like a convertible Mondeo...but I guess that was someone who knows nothing about the cars! Bottom line it looks awsome, sounds awsome, and has the performance to boot. Maybe the wife will actually drive this one!
I'm in the Manchester area, it would be great if anyone lived locally, and would like to come and view potential Chimps with me when the time comes?
Cheers
Dougie
I was thinking I would have to buy a car privately in this price range but sounds like you can get some from dealers if you look carefully - who is Dale Shnozz?
On the service front, that sounds ok - I've ended up doing all the expensive jobs on the S2 over the last couple of years so it looks cheaper!
Insurance feels about right - was expecting it to go up and £600 isn't that scary.
Plan is to read over SH Bible in advance and look for all the common things mentioned in the notes above.
As for the drive - well someone once said the Chim was like a convertible Mondeo...but I guess that was someone who knows nothing about the cars! Bottom line it looks awsome, sounds awsome, and has the performance to boot. Maybe the wife will actually drive this one!
I'm in the Manchester area, it would be great if anyone lived locally, and would like to come and view potential Chimps with me when the time comes?
Cheers
Dougie
dougs. Dale is James Agger. Quality chap and sells quality TVRs. www.jamesagger.com
mine is cooper green with biscuit leather. Its a 1993 and has 35k on the clock. It sounds the mutts - may be selling her shortly so let me know if you are interested. Feel free to speak to james about the car as he knows it well.
mine is cooper green with biscuit leather. Its a 1993 and has 35k on the clock. It sounds the mutts - may be selling her shortly so let me know if you are interested. Feel free to speak to james about the car as he knows it well.
Doug
Great to meet you tonight. If you've got any further questions about a buying a Chim just ask on here or email me through my profile. I'm no where near being an expert, but, living locally to you, I'd be more than happy to view some Chim's with you....
then I'd be able to compare mine with any prospective purchase! Mind you, then you may end up wanting to save a little more for the best - a 450 
I had the great help of Rob Ingleby (www.findasportscar.co.uk) to find and recommend a purchase for me after discussing my requirements with him. Certainly helps with the fuel bills and time, getting Rob to travel to check them out first before you go any further.
Richard
Great to meet you tonight. If you've got any further questions about a buying a Chim just ask on here or email me through my profile. I'm no where near being an expert, but, living locally to you, I'd be more than happy to view some Chim's with you.... then I'd be able to compare mine
with any prospective purchase! Mind you, then you may end up wanting to save a little more for the best - a 450 I had the great help of Rob Ingleby (www.findasportscar.co.uk) to find and recommend a purchase for me after discussing my requirements with him. Certainly helps with the fuel bills and time, getting Rob to travel to check them out first before you go any further.
Richard
M@H said:
shnozz said:
- may be selling her shortly so let me know if you are interested.
..coming back to the S club then mate..?
was actually thinking lotus or dancing donkey
but just cant do it. Last night i went out on quiet roads and she was just fantastic. pops and bangs from the exhaust on mine are just fantastic and on a quiet night all the more apparent. DustyC was following me the otehr day and was convinced it was pre-cat from the noise on overun.
>> Edited by shnozz on Wednesday 12th May 10:05
although i must admit I am still thinking about an S for a track day special. Although looking at Nos it seems better suited to the RV8 so may have to be a cheap V8S and then also get the benefit of the wider track and rear discs.
Nos conversion £1k at APM for 80bhp.
metal floors, couple of bucket seats and a cage. mmm
Nos conversion £1k at APM for 80bhp.
metal floors, couple of bucket seats and a cage. mmm
shnozz said:
although i must admit I am still thinking about an S for a track day special. Although looking at Nos it seems better suited to the RV8 so may have to be a cheap V8S and then also get the benefit of the wider track and rear discs.
Nos conversion £1k at APM for 80bhp.
metal floors, couple of bucket seats and a cage. mmm
Well along the same lines, in 6 minutes I'll either be chuffed to bits or gutted... I'm bidding for something on Ebay..
M@H said:
My 93 was the same... people thought that was a pre-cat too....
....you won't get the same experience from either of the other two I'm afraid... (no V8 burble for starters!)
Cheers
Matt
i know - it is a problem with TVRs. Never been so addicted to one manufacturer before. Still been happy to move elsewhere but even after I see something else and desperately want one, I get back in the TVR and just know I would miss it even if I swapped it for something (dare I say) more exotic or expensive.
bloody things have some inbuilt nicotine ingrediant.
M@H said:
although i must admit I am still thinking about an S for a track day special. Although looking at Nos it seems better suited to the RV8 so may have to be a cheap V8S and then also get the benefit of the wider track and rear discs.
Nos conversion £1k at APM for 80bhp.
metal floors, couple of bucket seats and a cage. mmm
Well along the same lines, in 6 minutes I'll either be chuffed to bits or gutted... I'm bidding for something on Ebay..
inrtigued! come on let us in on it?
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