Chimp engine option/help for first time buyer..
Discussion
Hi. At last I am looking to purchase a used Chimp with a budget of £25K. I have looked in Hawthorns TVR in Farnham and they were v helpful. Is there anything I should be made aware of with regard to purchasing and running a used one? Should I go for a 4, 4.5 or 5 litre?
All advice would be v much apreicated.
Re Engine Sizes:
It depends on what you plan to do with the car.
If you want to use it every day to go backwards and forwards to work a 4.0 will be fine, and its a smidge more economical.
If you think you might like to have a go at track days, go all out for a 500.
Above all buy a car that you are going to be happy to live with as it doesn't pay to chop and change these days.
Cheers Dan
My first TVR was a chim 500. Many people said it was too powerful and too much of a handful for everyday use. I managed to do 18000 miles in under two years and most of that was with foot flat to the floor, no worries.
Personally I would try and go for a 4.5 or a 5ltr. Chat to Simon at Fernhurst Motors as they have good stock at and good prices. They have always been open and honest with me and their servicing is second to none. Hope the above helps.
I've had a 4.0L and now have a 4.5L. The 4.5 is miles better - quite a lot quicker at overtaking, and smoother in my opinion. Thought about the 5ltr, but was told they have a very on/off cam that could be annoying in traffic. Best bet is to try all three at the dealer! You also should try one with PAS and one without - there's a big difference. Again, I couldnt get on with the PAS - its way too vague at anything over 40/50 (its not speed sensitive).
(Plug - my 4.5 T reg is up for sale too.)
Ignore anyone who says the 500 is a handful... it's not. All it takes in a sensible right foot when the weather's manky.
10000 miles, 9 months, and only one unintentional oversteer moment. (I keep all my intentional oversteer moments to a track, not quite having the sideways confidence of Tiff Needell.)
quote:Be very careful. A lot of people have been burnt by these. If you keep the car until the end of the term it's not so bad. Before you sign, get (in writing) the settlement figure for 6, 12, 18 months into the agreement. It'll surprise you. These schemes use "the rule of 78"... ask about it and look it up. It's amazing it's legal. A regular finace scheme is safer. You can get these from a number of places and then go to the dealer (who doesn't neccesarily have as good rates).
mmm, only prob is that i need finance, so can only buy from a dealer with a baloon payment at the end.
quote:Depends on use - if you want to do the odd track day, the lower profile on the 500 gives much better handling - but it is a bit twitchier on the road. Neil
I found that the 4.5 had a much more compliant ride than the 5.0, possibly main reason was the tyre profile difference. Go for a 4.5 - most friendly TVR I've owned.
Cheers. I will hopefull put down £12K deposit and then finance the rest with a baloon of say £7K at the end. I dont want to enter an agreement with a guaranteed future value as you get heavily penalised with excess mileage. I guess TVR do finace with a balloon and non guranteed future value???
quote:Lots of 400s second hand in dealers. Quite a few 450s. Not very many 500s at all - they're all taken up by owners of 400s or 450s trading them in
Any ideas as to how many 400 to 450 there are on the roads?? Are 450 hard to come by in dealerships and are they much more expensive that the 400??
Neil
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