New Owner to the TVR fold
Discussion
Well, I have finally done it - I bought a TVR! Picking it up tomorrow from David Gerald in the midlands. I cant wait really and would love to camp outside his door, but that is getting a little sad.
However, I was wondering if any other Chimaera owners would like to share hints and tips for a new owner? It is an early 4.0L (pre-facelift) and certainly seems good to start with. However, wondering if there are any hints & tips that can be offered to make sure that I get the best out of it.
Not looking for anything specific, but those little gems that come from ownership - you know, if it does "this" then do "that" and everything is fine. That type of thing.
Oh, and if anyone has any roads to recommend in the midlands around Reddich, Alcester and Evesham then great. Wont be going that fast but would like to drive it a little (wish to have the car last more than 1000 miles).
Paul
Chimaera 4.0L (I can say that now!!!)
However, I was wondering if any other Chimaera owners would like to share hints and tips for a new owner? It is an early 4.0L (pre-facelift) and certainly seems good to start with. However, wondering if there are any hints & tips that can be offered to make sure that I get the best out of it.
Not looking for anything specific, but those little gems that come from ownership - you know, if it does "this" then do "that" and everything is fine. That type of thing.
Oh, and if anyone has any roads to recommend in the midlands around Reddich, Alcester and Evesham then great. Wont be going that fast but would like to drive it a little (wish to have the car last more than 1000 miles).
Paul
Chimaera 4.0L (I can say that now!!!)
If the rubber seal on the edges of the roof panel start to come away...use a teaspoon to push the rubber back into the metal groove...and a dab of glue keeps it there for quite a while.
Carry spare bulbs for your brake lights.
If the car has been in a showroom for a while - get the battery changed.
Keep the dealer's phone number handy in the car!!
When it rains remember its self control not traction control (I lit up the rear wheels several times in the first few weeks) - careful!
Enjoy.....they are just glorious things.
Carry spare bulbs for your brake lights.
If the car has been in a showroom for a while - get the battery changed.
Keep the dealer's phone number handy in the car!!
When it rains remember its self control not traction control (I lit up the rear wheels several times in the first few weeks) - careful!
Enjoy.....they are just glorious things.
Are 100w bulbs direct replacements for the standard bulbs? Does anyone recommend any particular make of bulbs?
I've heard www.powerbulbs.com recommended on the evo web forum, in particular the Philips Blue Vision... Anyone had any experience?
I've heard www.powerbulbs.com recommended on the evo web forum, in particular the Philips Blue Vision... Anyone had any experience?
Welcome pbrettle.
As a new owner meself, I can only suggest you get in the car, learn how you feel best driving it, take care of it, and take care of yourself.
Most importantly, try to stop laughing as MGF, Z3 and MX5 drivers enviously try to keep up with you thinking their car is "like yours". :-))
spooky "chim500" buz
As a new owner meself, I can only suggest you get in the car, learn how you feel best driving it, take care of it, and take care of yourself.
Most importantly, try to stop laughing as MGF, Z3 and MX5 drivers enviously try to keep up with you thinking their car is "like yours". :-))
spooky "chim500" buz
Hve fun with it but be carefull, if its your first performance car ( forget Gti's).
If you are silly they can bite, but other wise there great fun. be prepared to discovery you doing well over 100 when your halfway through an overtaking manover
where you based im Kidder. theres a few of us about here..
If you are silly they can bite, but other wise there great fun. be prepared to discovery you doing well over 100 when your halfway through an overtaking manover
where you based im Kidder. theres a few of us about here..
Agree with Graham here, be careful and take your time to get the feel of the car, particularly in wet. Remember you've nothing to prove as there's now very little that can live with the pace you've got under your foot. Also, watch out for leaks, they're typically nothing to do with the roof. See my recent posting for the advice I've been given by the very helpful members of the TVR community. Above all else enjoy!
Steve
Steve
Graham,
Sorry, David Gerald is in Inkberrow, WORCS but I am based in Suffolk (joining the Cambridge TVRCC). Will be driving over on Saturday morning and staying in the area as it is so nice (used to live in Warwickshire). Thought I would make a weekend of it and stay in a hotel saturday and then enjoy the Sunday morning drive home...
Well that is the plan - just hoping that it doesnt rain.
Paul
Sorry, David Gerald is in Inkberrow, WORCS but I am based in Suffolk (joining the Cambridge TVRCC). Will be driving over on Saturday morning and staying in the area as it is so nice (used to live in Warwickshire). Thought I would make a weekend of it and stay in a hotel saturday and then enjoy the Sunday morning drive home...
Well that is the plan - just hoping that it doesnt rain.
Paul
quote:
Graham,
Sorry, David Gerald is in Inkberrow, WORCS but I am based in Suffolk (joining the Cambridge TVRCC). Will be driving over on Saturday morning and staying in the area as it is so nice (used to live in Warwickshire). Thought I would make a weekend of it and stay in a hotel saturday and then enjoy the Sunday morning drive home...
Well that is the plan - just hoping that it doesnt rain.
Paul
Where in Suffolk are you based?
I used to live in Clare until about 2 weeks ago.
Hi Paul,
Try 'Drivers Roads' on the home page but not sure if the area you mention is covered. Otherwise, there was a thread on this general topic a few months back that could be helpful.
If the starter motor refuses to turn over after a run it's probably too hot. Open the bonnet, wait 10 or 20 minutes (or go to the local pie shop
) and try again, it'll probably start.
Take your time filling the tank, there's no way I've found of hurrying it. Careful of overfilling as the petrol runs down the boot lip channel and runs off very close to the hot exhaust pipe below.
I've fitted PIAA bulbs which I think are 80W, give a good improvement to the lighting level and don't push the wiring too hard although a little expensive.
Use Rain-X or similar on the windscreen as the wipers aren't the world's best. Use Fabsil proofer on the roof.
Don't trust the petrol gauge, better to fill up after say a maximum of 200 miles on a tankful until you get used to your own car.
Speedo illumination probably poor compared to the other dashboard lights. Good insurance to join a recovery service but a lot of experience says that the most reliable cars are the ones that get regular use.
The best advice of all, get out there and enjoy it, what better excuse than the more miles you do the more you get to understand it and soon you'll be saying 'they all do that'.
Martin.
Try 'Drivers Roads' on the home page but not sure if the area you mention is covered. Otherwise, there was a thread on this general topic a few months back that could be helpful.
If the starter motor refuses to turn over after a run it's probably too hot. Open the bonnet, wait 10 or 20 minutes (or go to the local pie shop
) and try again, it'll probably start. Take your time filling the tank, there's no way I've found of hurrying it. Careful of overfilling as the petrol runs down the boot lip channel and runs off very close to the hot exhaust pipe below.
I've fitted PIAA bulbs which I think are 80W, give a good improvement to the lighting level and don't push the wiring too hard although a little expensive.
Use Rain-X or similar on the windscreen as the wipers aren't the world's best. Use Fabsil proofer on the roof.
Don't trust the petrol gauge, better to fill up after say a maximum of 200 miles on a tankful until you get used to your own car.
Speedo illumination probably poor compared to the other dashboard lights. Good insurance to join a recovery service but a lot of experience says that the most reliable cars are the ones that get regular use.
The best advice of all, get out there and enjoy it, what better excuse than the more miles you do the more you get to understand it and soon you'll be saying 'they all do that'.
Martin.
Get some tyreweld to put in the boot incase you get a flat when you are carrying luggage - its easier than trying to accomodate a whopping tyre in the boot.
Give the leather seat facings a clean every so often with a Lux soap solution - stops them getting to grubby.
Be gentle with seat belts when putting them on - you don't want them to lock up.
Go easy on narrow country lanes with a steep camber or going on and off drive ways - although ground clearance is reasonable - its still a low car and can scrape sometimes.
Shop around for new tyres - TVR dealers are obviously going to be the most expensive.
Drive in low gear around town so everyone can hear you. Give it some boot under bridges and in tunnels - smile - you have a TVR!
Give the leather seat facings a clean every so often with a Lux soap solution - stops them getting to grubby.
Be gentle with seat belts when putting them on - you don't want them to lock up.
Go easy on narrow country lanes with a steep camber or going on and off drive ways - although ground clearance is reasonable - its still a low car and can scrape sometimes.
Shop around for new tyres - TVR dealers are obviously going to be the most expensive.
Drive in low gear around town so everyone can hear you. Give it some boot under bridges and in tunnels - smile - you have a TVR!
I bought my Griff from David Gerald, very nice people (make nice tea!). The roads around that area are great for the run home too! I picked my car up during an open day where it was in the center of the show room. I remember thinking how much of a tit I would look as I drove it out amoungst all the visitors if I stalled it! 
Lee
Lee
Thanks Chaps,
Just the type of information that I wanted. I look forward to many fun trips out.
The only sad thing is that it is only 5:40PM and I want to go and get the car now. Why am I so impatient.....
Still, dropped my seven month old son off for the weekend and its just me and the wifey - time to let the good times roar!
Actually, one last point - am I the only person that has just bought a two seater TVR and has a new baby? While I was looking for a TVR, I kept noticing that everyone was selling theirs with an excuse of "expecting a baby in 1/2/3 months". I have just got one and it hasnt changed my mind..... just a strange observation.
Just the type of information that I wanted. I look forward to many fun trips out.
The only sad thing is that it is only 5:40PM and I want to go and get the car now. Why am I so impatient.....
Still, dropped my seven month old son off for the weekend and its just me and the wifey - time to let the good times roar!
Actually, one last point - am I the only person that has just bought a two seater TVR and has a new baby? While I was looking for a TVR, I kept noticing that everyone was selling theirs with an excuse of "expecting a baby in 1/2/3 months". I have just got one and it hasnt changed my mind..... just a strange observation.
quote:
Are 100w bulbs direct replacements for the standard bulbs? Does anyone recommend any particular make of bulbs?
I've heard www.powerbulbs.com recommended on the evo web forum, in particular the Philips Blue Vision... Anyone had any experience?
Tried Philips Blue Vision in my BMW. 20 quid wasted - absolutely no difference over the cheapo one's I'd been using before. I was suckered in by the Philips brand.
As for 100w bulbs in the 'tiv, just go to halfords and buy the 100w variant of the tiv bulb. I can't remember its designation, but it's the big f****r with three spade terminals on the back.
I've got a 97 Chimaera and the wiring seems well up to it. That may not necessarily be the case on all cars though. Beware - some have horror stories of fritz wiring and knackered light switches.
Well at last I collected my new 450 from TMS on thursday. What great weather had the roof off for 4 days and 350 miles later my jaw is still aching from the inane grin that comes to me as soon as I start the engine. Coming home I made a Novas (complete with big bore silencer)day by letting him overtake I'm sure he's still boring his mates with that story. The car has been fantastic although I left the headlights on for over 4 hours (no buzzer), but it started OK. Niggles; well just a few the wind noise from the wing mirror is annoying. The heater fan doesn't work and I notice that the drivers side window doesn't reach the hood. But who cares, at this rate it will be back for the 1000 mile service by next week. In summary well worth waiting for, I keep going into the garage just to look "sad old git". PS Daughter described it as a penis extension!!
Would agree with most of the above. You'll find that 2700 revs with a slight load (eg uphill) gives the best noise with the 4L.
Watch the coolant level, and carry a short wire with spade connectors on both ends to short out the temperature trigger for the fans as they are temperamental.
Spend some time with the mechanic who looks after it and get his views, they all have useful tips to pass on.
Take it gently, I'm two years and 20,000 miles into ownership, and still learning lots. do some track days, and make sure you get some decent instruction!
Have lots of fun, and don't be too afraid to give him some welly.
Watch the coolant level, and carry a short wire with spade connectors on both ends to short out the temperature trigger for the fans as they are temperamental.
Spend some time with the mechanic who looks after it and get his views, they all have useful tips to pass on.
Take it gently, I'm two years and 20,000 miles into ownership, and still learning lots. do some track days, and make sure you get some decent instruction!
Have lots of fun, and don't be too afraid to give him some welly.
Do a track day as soon as you can.
You just wont believe what your Chim is capable of till you thrash it in anger!
Seriously tho, welcome to the fold.They can be total pigs and sometimes they make you want to weep with all the problems but nothing, and I mean NOTHING gets under your skin like a V8 TVR at full chat, roof down on a sunny day ('cept maybe a speed six or 12)
Its a way of life, or should that be its a WAHAAAAY of life!
Andy
You just wont believe what your Chim is capable of till you thrash it in anger!
Seriously tho, welcome to the fold.They can be total pigs and sometimes they make you want to weep with all the problems but nothing, and I mean NOTHING gets under your skin like a V8 TVR at full chat, roof down on a sunny day ('cept maybe a speed six or 12)
Its a way of life, or should that be its a WAHAAAAY of life!
Andy
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff