Why shouldn't I buy a Chimaera 500?

[Agent Orange]

Morning all

I’ve an itch I need to scratch and it’s getting itchier each day… Maybe I should try some cream.

But that aside I’m getting fed up with having sensible cars since becoming a family man! If I’m going to get a weekend/occasional car it might as well be a soft top too. Rightly or wrongly I’ve heard enough scare stories about the Speed 6 engine to put me of and consider the Rover V8s. I’ve started looked at the Chimaeras and have been some what tempted by the 500.

I’ve had a read of www.chimaerapages.com but any other recommend sources of reading appreciated. I’m guessing there is a shed load of info on Pistonheads but can’t see it in one place unless I’m being thick.

Budget is £10K so why shouldn’t I consider a Chimaera 500 as my first TVR?

Body off chassis restos? Any ball park figures?

Cheers
Kieron

Edited by Agent Orange on Thursday 9th December 13:28

[V8NRG]

With a budget of 10k i think you'll be lucky to find a 500 that does not need some work doing.
Although they are relativly easy to work on and if you're ok with a spanner you'll be able to do most work on it yourself.

[Chimjunkie]

If £10k is your budget I am selling (not advertised) my Cat D 500 chim for offers around that amount. It is a significantly modifed 500 with proper suspension and even more power. But if you have not driven powerful rwd's without ABS and traction control before i would stick with a very nice 400 for that budget.

Edited by Chimjunkie on Thursday 9th December 15:00

[e635815]

If you have the choice between a 400, 450 and a 500, go for the 500. Since you get used to the power, you'd better go for the most powerful option straight.

I assume you're comfortable with a spanner and are not afraid of spending some time underneath the car. Otherwise, you'd better choose a German car.

That choice was mine a year ago. I paid little over you budget to get a nice Chim 500 which stayed 4 months in the garage this year with a general ignition circuit failure.
The rear axle is now in bits and pieces on my garage floor, with the most exposed parts going through zinc plating at the moment and lots of POR-15 being painted over the other parts.

Do I regret my choice? Absolutely not!!! Being able to drive roof down, listening to the RV8 burble makes me forget everything.

Go for it but be aware that you will have to plan and budget for either a full chassis or, at least, axles refurbishment.

[DavidLScott]

But you could have my as yet unadvertised '97 450 for £8995.
I was going to put the advert in last week to try to pick up a pre-christmas indulgence buyer but didn't see the point with all the snow around so was going to wait to the new year but....

[Chimjunkie]

Would you let someone test drive your P&J in anything other than dry weather!!

[TJC46]

Chimjunkie said:

Would you let someone test drive your P&J in anything other than dry weather!!

NOPE! Not even in dry weather. Not even if they had insurance. I would take them for a test drive and "drive" it as they request, i.e give it some in each gear, pull away from 30 mph in fifth, bit of motorway driving, whatever they want, but drive it NO WAY! They can drive it when they have paid for it!
30 mph in fifth whom i trying to kid! Still in first up to that speed

Edited by TJC46 on Thursday 9th December 19:00

[heightswitch]

I think you shouldn't buy one because your name is Kieran. This is a very bad name to associate with A Chimaera. I think that a tamora suits your name much better.

[Agent Orange]

V8NRG said:

With a budget of 10k i think you'll be lucky to find a 500 that does not need some work doing.
Although they are relativly easy to work on and if you're ok with a spanner you'll be able to do most work on it yourself.

Truth be told I wasn't specifically looking for a 500 but this advert got me thinking
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2258898.htm
which I notice was previously for sale at
http://www.tvr-centre.co.uk/used-cars/view/488331

heightswitch said:

I think you shouldn't buy one because your name is Kieran. This is a very bad name to associate with A Chimaera. I think that a tamora suits your name much better.

Nope..... 30,000ft moment for me I'm afraid!

[DavidLScott]

TJC46 said:

Chimjunkie said:

Would you let someone test drive your P&J in anything other than dry weather!!

NOPE! Not even in dry weather. Not even if they had insurance. I would take them for a test drive and "drive" it as they request, i.e give it some in each gear, pull away from 30 mph in fifth, bit of motorway driving, whatever they want, but drive it NO WAY! They can drive it when they have paid for it!
30 mph in fifth whom i trying to kid! Still in first up to that speed

Edited by TJC46 on Thursday 9th December 19:00

Nor would I, which is why I waited. It just that it had taken me 4 months to decide whether or not to sell and I needed to force myself to do it. An ageing and ailing back means I can't get in or out of it sometimes but it isn't so bad that I HAVE to sell, just after 6+ years I feel it's the right time (well spring anyway now).

The test drive and payment bit does worry me and I was thinking on the same lines as TJC46.
Also no car until payment is absolutely confirmed by the bank as being all mine.
If people don't like it then don't bother coming to look.
'Terms and Conditions apply'

[Mr M]

heightswitch said:

I think you shouldn't buy one because your name is Kieran. This is a very bad name to associate with A Chimaera. I think that a tamora suits your name much better.

The absence of a smiley would indicate that he's serious. Oh dear. Well he is a building surveyor.

Edited by Mr M on Friday 10th December 12:00

[RichB]

Chimjunkie said:

Would you let someone test drive your P&J in anything other than dry weather!!

Of course I would allow someone to test drive a car I was selling. I would expect to see insurance and ride with them, and demonstrate it's capabilities first myself but as I would never buy a car I was not allowed to drive I wouldn't expect someone else to do so either.

[DavidLScott]

RichB said:

Chimjunkie said:

Would you let someone test drive your P&J in anything other than dry weather!!

Of course I would allow someone to test drive a car I was selling. I would expect to see insurance and ride with them, and demonstrate it's capabilities first myself but as I would never buy a car I was not allowed to drive I wouldn't expect someone else to do so either.

There's the difficulty though.
They may have insurance but what if they've only ever driven a Fiesta or Mondeo and are suddenly let loose in your car?
Being the passenger is no great help as you can't do any more than knock it out of gear if they aren't in control.
You can't get at the ignition to turn it off and pulling on the handbrake doesn't work when it's stationary so when it's moving there's no chance.

I bought mine from Fernies and they were happy to let my wife and I out in it (for what its worth, we did leave our BMW keys with them) but for a dealer it's a different type of risk.

I'm really not sure how to deal with this situation - I'm a bad enough passneger under normal circumstances so this fills me with dread.