Swapping my Boxster for a Chimaera.....any advice?

[immortallucifer]

I am seriously considering taking the plunge, and swapping my Boxster for a TVR Chimaera. I've always loved the looks and the noise, but the running cost have put the TVR out of reach. Now I can probably afford it, I think I should stop worrying about it and just get on with it and buy one.

Can anyone offer advise on what to look for when shopping for a Chimaera, and how much they really cost to run?

[Gazzab]

They dont have RMS issues so can be cheaper than a boxster :-)

[350Matt]

have a rummage on here:

http://www.chimaerapages.com/

and I'd agree that they shoudl be cheaper to run than the Boxster with teh exception of fuel consmption, everything else , insurance, parts, tyres is cheaper and TVR gargage labour rate will be about £50/ hr compared to £150/ hr for a Porsche dealers

[coetzeeh]

I'm sure many owners will offer some really good buying and technical advice to you soon - just wanted to add if you are not techy I'd suggest you contact one of the reputable indies such as Fernhursts. You may pay a premium but their cars are top quality and they offer great after sales service and warranty.

Alternatively there are of course some really good cars owned by enthusiasts on PH.

Good luck and do it!

[jamienshelly]

Hi, there are many threads that explain the many, many good points and the few bad points of TVR ownership. Firstly buy on condition over age and mileage, Service history and/or receipts of work done and parts used. You can get a specialist to inspect the car for you and give you a run down of what it requires, or if you want to do it yourself, try to get a friend that knows about them to go with you. The main failing on the chassis, are the outriggers corroding and this can set you back upwards of £1500, Windscreens are prone to Delamination and are not cheap. on the other hand there are many spare parts for the engines and running gear and they are not overly expensive and if you can wield a spanner then most jobs are do-able yourself, which is a cost saving on its own.
And despite non TVR owners thoughts they are not unreliable, they are cars that are upwards of 10 years old, that beg to be driven hard and you have to expect the odd part to wear out or give up,
On Saturdays tunnel run there were around 50 cars, in next to zero airflow conditions so heat was an issue to contend with and most of us did not get higher than 3rd gear for 3 hours and only 2 cars got poorly, both of which suffered overheating release bearings and both were Cerberas,
But the sense of theatre being in a TVR is second to none, and one you will not regret
Good luck with your search and enjoy the test drives, and don't buy the first one you look at, even though you want to.

[pwd95]

Echo the running costs. The Chimaera/Griffith are all Ford/Rover parts. Bearings & Brakes are Ford Sierra for example. I wouldn't have a Porsche for fear of high running costs..... honestly.

This one's quite nice...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

[immortallucifer]

Thanks for the feedback guys!

I have heard horror stories about the outriggers rusting, so I will definitely make sure and check them thoroughly! Has anyone had to have this work done? How much did it cost? I have already had a look at one, and the outriggers did look a bit rusty.

Petrol costs aren't much of a concern, as I don't really do that many miles.......although, if (when) I buy the Chimarea, that may change

[jamienshelly]

immortallucifer said:

Thanks for the feedback guys!

I have heard horror stories about the outriggers rusting, so I will definitely make sure and check them thoroughly! Has anyone had to have this work done? How much did it cost? I have already had a look at one, and the outriggers did look a bit rusty.

Petrol costs aren't much of a concern, as I don't really do that many miles.......although, if (when) I buy the Chimarea, that may change

Many people have had them done and if you buy one that has had them done recently then you should be "outrigger issue" free for the duration of your ownership, there are a few cars for sale that have had them done.

[maston]

Glad to hear you are changing the hair dresser's car for a MANS car

I have a wedge and love it to bits, get a chimera and join the TVR ownership, you will be forever happy

[immortallucifer]

maston said:

Glad to hear you are changing the hair dresser's car for a MANS car

I have a wedge and love it to bits, get a chimera and join the TVR ownership, you will be forever happy

Lol, well I am moving upward at least....my last car was an MK1 MX-5. Now I have considered a TVR, nothing else seems worthy, so I just need to find one in my price range.

How easy is it to repair the interior trim? I've been told a lot of TVRs have loose trim inside, and the one I've seen already, the electric window button had come away. I am starting to think that one is off the list, unless he will sell it very cheap!

[QBee]

jamienshelly said:

immortallucifer said:

Thanks for the feedback guys!

I have heard horror stories about the outriggers rusting, so I will definitely make sure and check them thoroughly! Has anyone had to have this work done? How much did it cost? I have already had a look at one, and the outriggers did look a bit rusty.

Petrol costs aren't much of a concern, as I don't really do that many miles.......although, if (when) I buy the Chimarea, that may change

Many people have had them done and if you buy one that has had them done recently then you should be "outrigger issue" free for the duration of your ownership, there are a few cars for sale that have had them done.

What he said.

I bought a 99 car last year where the outriggers were actually pronounced fit for purpose a couple of months later by a TVR garage - only to have them fail the MOT less than a year later. The problem is that the place they go is on top, and so it is a bit of a sod to spot on a casual inspection, and even sometimes with the car on a ramp. And you can't really patch them.
Replacement cost if done by a TVR place - £1500 with body lift, £1800 with full body off (which gives you and the garage a chance to see what else might need doing). BTW, a full body off chassis refurb and repaint is about £3-3.5k.

Your best plan is to buy one that has already had the replacement done, and a nice fat file of other work receipts is always useful. Buy on what has been done and condition rather than age and mileage, having said which a higher miler (anything over 60,000 miles) will be a lot cheaper to buy, with the corollary that it will be cheaper when you try to sell it. The market place really likes cars with less than 40,000 miles on, and there are still some around with less than 20,000, yet 15-20 years old. You will pay a premium for one of those.

Trouble is, they need to be driven to keep them fit....that's my excuse for the 13,000 miles i have done in 15 months. Mine has 81,000 and is still running well, and is definitely a keeper. I have lusted after T350s, Cerberas, Tuscans etc, but to my mind the V8 noise is the mutts, the lovely torquey flexibility is nicer for me that the Speed 6 higher revving nature, the roof off is essential, and the Chimaera when set up properly handles well and is a bit of a stealth-mobile - Aston and M3 drivers look more then a bit shocked when I outdrag them away from the lights.

One more piece of advice - they are all lovely, but know yourself, and if you think you will want to be outdragging Astons then buy a bigger engined car. 4.5/4.6 or 5.0 cars don't cost a lot more than 4.0s but they do have more BHP, and the 5 litre has more torque....and a bigger thirst.

Oh, and come on PH and go to PH organised events. You will find that with a TVR you have 5,000 more friends than you had with a Boxster. That's the best thing of all about having a TVR, along with the great British public's love for the cars.

Edited by QBee on Tuesday 1st October 13:50

[mikal83]

Do it.

[RichardD]

QBee said:

... You will find that with a TVR you have 5,000 more friends than you had with a Boxster...

An example !

Many years ago before owning a TVR, I went to a BNG (on a ZX636) and parked up in the non TVR area. Nearby there was a Boxster owner. I asked why he was there, what about Porsche gatherings. Too hierarchical was the response!

(Also to YellowPeril for letting me join your group for a cuppa later on.)

[immortallucifer]

pwd95 said:

Echo the running costs. The Chimaera/Griffith are all Ford/Rover parts. Bearings & Brakes are Ford Sierra for example. I wouldn't have a Porsche for fear of high running costs..... honestly.

This one's quite nice...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

That is a very nice looking one indeed, and looks very well cared for. I was planning on viewing this one:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...

[phazed]

I drove a 2.5 Boxster last week for a friend, a really nice example.

A TVR will be a revelation.

Although I do like Boxsters, so well screwed together, they feel like sewing machines by comparison, not knocking it, they just do.

You will be pleasently surprised when you try one.

[slippery]

Ask Edo who I bought mine from for his opinion. He swapped to a Boxster so should be able to give you a pretty balanced perspective.

[RocketScience]

All Chimaeras are quite fast, but keep a look out for the rare examples that have a number 500 under the Chimaera badge on the back. It will have the same engine as the Griff 500 and it will blow your socks off!

[Gazzab]

Go 4.5 ltr. Best of the bunch.

[geoffphead]

Gazzab said:

Go 4.5 ltr. Best of the bunch.

I agree when i searched for mine, 500 was nice but sooo much of a premium for not a lot faster and 500 was way more thirsty when pushed hard. Dont worry about a few miles, go on condition and history.you will find the car addictive. My neighbour just sold his sports Boxster S thingy cos his lad said his car didnt sound as good as mine. hehehe it didnt stand a chance against a mk11 4litre Tusc S with sports pipes and decat!!

Talk to good indies like Track V road and Bespoke performance in Ware in Herts, they will know of cars that maybe not on market yet.
good luck

[QBee]

This is the sort of thing 60 of us get up to from time to time

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1m2C0COyog

It's from the tunnel run thread, just loosely organised because we think it's fun. There's also lots of regular regional meets, loads of car shows, track days

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...


And just a lot of chat and banter on pistoffheads. All part of owning a TVR