One of them has to go
Discussion
In 12 months or so… won’t be the Volvo it’s an essential piece of kit.. so, Chimaera or Vantage… love both equally, both do what they were designed to do brilliantly (imo)…. Neither getting the use they should… been weighing up pro’s and Con’s, lots to think about… any thoughts chaps? (I’m expecting a landslide keep the Chim but….)
Richard.
Richard.
I had the same situation a short while ago - Aston V8V & Griffith 500..
In the end it was the Aston that went. I loved both cars but the things that tipped the balance were:
a) Aston was a coupe & I like open top driving on long trips (LM, etc)
b) Griffith was fun to drive more of the time (marginal difference)
c) Some bills on the Aston can get daunting if any big issues arise
d) Easier to work on the TVR if you're not as mechanically brilliant as some on this forum are (which I'm not).
Good luck with your decision, I must say that I really miss the Aston but for me it was the right choice.
In the end it was the Aston that went. I loved both cars but the things that tipped the balance were:
a) Aston was a coupe & I like open top driving on long trips (LM, etc)
b) Griffith was fun to drive more of the time (marginal difference)
c) Some bills on the Aston can get daunting if any big issues arise
d) Easier to work on the TVR if you're not as mechanically brilliant as some on this forum are (which I'm not).
Good luck with your decision, I must say that I really miss the Aston but for me it was the right choice.
Sell the vantage. It's a vastly more complex car (electrically) than a chim so is going to get more expensive to keep in a reasonable condition. A chim is far simpler being really based on 60's/ 70's mechanical tech that an old school mechanic will always be able to fix. I'd argue that a chim is already a classic whereas a modern yet 'old' Aston is still a normal car. My 2ps worth...
If it’s a choice between one or the other,
Depending what you might need to do to keep your Chimaera a top line very powerful mint car which is what I remember it being moving forward assuming low mileage your service costs should be minimal.
Depending on the underside of your Aston as the one and only time I’ve stood under a DB7 I noticed many aluminium components that would be subject to road corrosion if used in poor conditions.
So if your Astons also mint then service costs I’d expect to be more expensive but if low mileage use probably similar.
So only you can decide which one suits what you want to do with it. If it’s to be suited and booted out to a nice country restaurant then playing Bond has to be the greatest driving thrill of all but if your going to be more a jeans and real ale man then your Chim must be more like being Jimmy Clark and risking your life at every turn
your cars not slow is it.
I found by taking a step back and making the car softer or more compliant my Tvr started to feel far more useable and safer.
Tyres are everything.
Sell both and buy a mint Volvo 240 and live happily ever after
Depending what you might need to do to keep your Chimaera a top line very powerful mint car which is what I remember it being moving forward assuming low mileage your service costs should be minimal.
Depending on the underside of your Aston as the one and only time I’ve stood under a DB7 I noticed many aluminium components that would be subject to road corrosion if used in poor conditions.
So if your Astons also mint then service costs I’d expect to be more expensive but if low mileage use probably similar.
So only you can decide which one suits what you want to do with it. If it’s to be suited and booted out to a nice country restaurant then playing Bond has to be the greatest driving thrill of all but if your going to be more a jeans and real ale man then your Chim must be more like being Jimmy Clark and risking your life at every turn
your cars not slow is it. I found by taking a step back and making the car softer or more compliant my Tvr started to feel far more useable and safer.
Tyres are everything.
Sell both and buy a mint Volvo 240 and live happily ever after
Put both up for sale at the same time , both at a price you would be happy with. Sell the one you get the first buyer and take the other off the market 
.
That's what I did with my Sagaris and Tuscan Vert when one had to go, the Sag was £80k and the Tuscan £65k , the Sag went first , so I kept the Tuscan (which is the one I really wanted to keep )
.That's what I did with my Sagaris and Tuscan Vert when one had to go, the Sag was £80k and the Tuscan £65k , the Sag went first , so I kept the Tuscan (which is the one I really wanted to keep
)Edited by glow worm on Saturday 27th January 12:48
Classic Chim said:
Depending on the underside of your Aston as the one and only time I’ve stood under a DB7 I noticed many aluminium components that would be subject to road corrosion if used in poor conditions.
So if your Astons also mint then service costs I’d expect to be more expensive but if low mileage use probably similar.
Difficult choice though blokes.
Edited by macdeb on Saturday 27th January 14:54
macdeb said:
Just for reference IIRC, The DB7 was based on an XJ-S chassis and steel whereas the VH platform Astons (Vantage '05 on) were bonded aluminium chassis with steel rear subframe carrying gearbox/transaxle. They say don't buy an accident damaged VH Aston because so difficult (near impossible) to get straight. I know,
Difficult choice though blokes.
Yeah that’s the ones, lots of glue as the mechanic mentioned with a smile as he knew I had a Tiv. Difficult choice though blokes.
Edited by macdeb on Saturday 27th January 14:54
They do have a good balance with gearbox situated at the back but I couldn’t get on with the gearbox linkages which were a bit worn in the one I often drove. It was old and well used to be fair. They now have a couple around 2019 manual V8 Vantages and they are much improved and a bit faster but then they are 10 years younger.
I really enjoyed any instructing in Astons, the customers usually have a deep respect and emotional connection to them.
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