Discussion
Just bought a '93 Chimaera 4.0. Been meaning to buy for some time, but always so busy. Made rather a strange choice as this will not be my day-to-day car, and part of the appeal of ownership will be fettling with it (I've owned a number of Italian sports cars and have grown very used to fettling!). Nothing major (I know my limits!), but interim services and some bigger jobs. Hence I've taken an enormous gamble and purchased one with a significant gap in its service history, on the assumption that the history may not be maintained during my ownership so why pay more now?
However, I was astute enough to buy it from a specialist on the assumption (!!!) that it will be reaosnably sorted (full service & MOT before dispatch). By the way - all the clues suggest the car was taken off the road for the period of the missing history.
Using this discusion group as a source of pointers I have spent today under, in, around and on top of the toy (find big things now - 28 day warranty!). Apart from surface rust over the entire chassis and three of the wishbones all seems well. Slightly leaky sump gasket as well, but nothing to get excited about. Engine seems fine, and what a car to drive... been smiling all weekeend.
Rust is something I know an awful lot about (Italian sports cars remember?!), so lots of painting, sanding, spraying will be done in the near future. Some of the posts here are a bit frightening, but in my experience, whilst rust can never be totally eliminated once it has started, it can be slowed to an irrelevant extent, as long as annual touching up is adhered to. If mine is the extent of trouble in a 9 year old car, I can't believe some of the things I've read about the 3-4 year olds. Of course - I may have missed something... Generally, I guess it depends on how / when / where its driven.
As life goes on I'll let you know how I get on with this 'project'. Older Chimaera's are now 8-9 years old, and as with older cars, sometimes have 'strange' histories like mine, even if their mileage is limited. Can these cars be owned and maintained as relatively affordable classics? Time (and possibly my Bank Manager) will tell....
However, I was astute enough to buy it from a specialist on the assumption (!!!) that it will be reaosnably sorted (full service & MOT before dispatch). By the way - all the clues suggest the car was taken off the road for the period of the missing history.
Using this discusion group as a source of pointers I have spent today under, in, around and on top of the toy (find big things now - 28 day warranty!). Apart from surface rust over the entire chassis and three of the wishbones all seems well. Slightly leaky sump gasket as well, but nothing to get excited about. Engine seems fine, and what a car to drive... been smiling all weekeend.
Rust is something I know an awful lot about (Italian sports cars remember?!), so lots of painting, sanding, spraying will be done in the near future. Some of the posts here are a bit frightening, but in my experience, whilst rust can never be totally eliminated once it has started, it can be slowed to an irrelevant extent, as long as annual touching up is adhered to. If mine is the extent of trouble in a 9 year old car, I can't believe some of the things I've read about the 3-4 year olds. Of course - I may have missed something... Generally, I guess it depends on how / when / where its driven.
As life goes on I'll let you know how I get on with this 'project'. Older Chimaera's are now 8-9 years old, and as with older cars, sometimes have 'strange' histories like mine, even if their mileage is limited. Can these cars be owned and maintained as relatively affordable classics? Time (and possibly my Bank Manager) will tell....
Welcome to TVR ownership ! 
As you can tell from this board all TVRs are indiviual with their own quirks
. I'm sure that the gap in history will not be a factor.
Although this site contains many problems, I'm sure most owners only post the problems and for most of the time they enjoy hours of happy motoring
.
Enjoy
Bob the Planner
As you can tell from this board all TVRs are indiviual with their own quirks
. I'm sure that the gap in history will not be a factor. Although this site contains many problems, I'm sure most owners only post the problems and for most of the time they enjoy hours of happy motoring
. Enjoy
Bob the Planner
It's a brave thing for a new owner to join a discussion group such as this, in that there is a very real chance that the people herein know far more about the car than I do!! Also read the other thread which is underway in 'General' about dodgy dealers and a certain car that 'looks to good to be true!' You lot know how to make a new owner sweat! I am assuming that 'Casio' will be in touch via e-mail (i.e not exposing the Group) if this is the culprit!
Yes - rustoni, it is C4 CHM. So does anyone know something about this toy that I should? Not the obvious gap in the history, but something more sinister.... Still under warranty etc. Think the words are 'fit for purpose' from my criminal law days....
Yes - rustoni, it is C4 CHM. So does anyone know something about this toy that I should? Not the obvious gap in the history, but something more sinister.... Still under warranty etc. Think the words are 'fit for purpose' from my criminal law days....
I have to say, I probably did as much research on the dealer as I did on the car! Would like to have seen Adrian Blyth as well, as he also does cars of the age / price I was after, but one hell of a long way from here and my time is rather limited.
All I heard / read, saw of DG was good.
All I heard / read, saw of DG was good.
James,
It was you I saw on Sat then, nice car. I think the comment re the reg is due to the fact that a lot of people will have seen it on the web site.
DG have a very good reputation, I bought my second TVR from them last year (one of the attractive rarer classy models puts on flak jacket) and a few teething probs have been addressed no probs. They do know their stuff and own the manufacturing rights to all pre 1980 TVRs.
It did seem busy on Sat though.
Cheers,
JSG.
It was you I saw on Sat then, nice car. I think the comment re the reg is due to the fact that a lot of people will have seen it on the web site.
DG have a very good reputation, I bought my second TVR from them last year (one of the attractive rarer classy models
puts on flak jacket) and a few teething probs have been addressed no probs. They do know their stuff and own the manufacturing rights to all pre 1980 TVRs. It did seem busy on Sat though.
Cheers,
JSG.
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