Newbie - Planning to buy a Chimp 4.5....

[ascender]

I currently have a Boxster and am seriously considering trading it in for a TVR of some sort. Having spoken to my local dealer they have recommended the Chimp as being the best TVR to go for in terms of reliability, bang for your buck etc. The test drive blew my mind - although I have been in what I assumed were fast sports cars in the past, nothing could have prepared me for this! I got out of the car grinning like a maniac. Anyway, just wondering if there is anything I should look for when buying. As a newcomer to TVR I am planning to buy through the dealer as I would rather pay a bit extra to get a car which I know has been checked over and comes with a warranty etc. The one I am looking at is a 4.5, 98R, 15,000 miles in Rosso Red with Black Leather. I was surprised to hear it didn''t have A/C but the dealer was saying that very few TVRs do - is this true? I am going to spend a good bit of time going through the forum over the next few days, but any advice, opinions etc would be much appreciated. Forgot to mention, I got the site details from a couple of guys on the Evo forums who recommended it. Thanks in advance, Mike.

[apache]

welcome to the fold Mike, first, do not expect the quality you are used to, you are buying a car that has been built as cheaply as possible hence the performance / quality ratio. The car will piss you off now and then but when you get the roof down and end up looking for an excuse to go for a drive it will become irrelavent...JFDI

[Saturn 5]

Any particular reason why he is recommending this car. Why not any of the other range or 5 litres.

[apache]

good point, go for a 5ltr before fun is banned forever

[ascender]

I went for the 4.5 because it is at the sort of price I want to spend on a car at the moment. And the fact that I drove it and loved it! THe local TVR dealer has been excellent and advised me to go for a Chimp for its reliability and the fact it is a good all round TVR for your first one. I have to say that initially I preferred the looks of the Cerbera or Tuscan but the dealer has had a lot of problems with both cars and although he could have sold me one he pushed me in the direction of the Chimaera. Since the original posting, I have put down a deposit and hope to pick it up next week! I'll keep you informed.