Very Proud New Owner of S312LRU
Discussion
Hi all
Last Wednesday I realised a decades long dream of owning a Chimaera.
In August '23 I went to see Mark at Amore, he's very conveniently only a 20 minute or so drive from my house and test drove a green Chim I saw on his ebay pages. Fast forward to the 10th Jan we both signed on the dotted line and I drove it home.
It runs like dream. Full credit and my thanks goes to the previous owners for looking after it so well. It's had loads done to it over the years and I'm committed to keeping up with the ongoing maintenance when needed.
Its still sinking in I have it, I'm sure one day it will!
See you around
Paul
Last Wednesday I realised a decades long dream of owning a Chimaera.
In August '23 I went to see Mark at Amore, he's very conveniently only a 20 minute or so drive from my house and test drove a green Chim I saw on his ebay pages. Fast forward to the 10th Jan we both signed on the dotted line and I drove it home.
It runs like dream. Full credit and my thanks goes to the previous owners for looking after it so well. It's had loads done to it over the years and I'm committed to keeping up with the ongoing maintenance when needed.
Its still sinking in I have it, I'm sure one day it will!
See you around
Paul
Edited by PaulH69 on Wednesday 17th January 19:10
PaulH69 said:
Haha. Nice one. My rule is "No rain, No roof" so every opportunity I have I'm out there!
A fantastic rule! Ive only driven mine with the roof on once and that was when I got caught while I was out. The heater works well when its cold, and there is always extra clothes to put on if its still not enough! BEARDYB0Y said:
PaulH69 said:
Haha. Nice one. My rule is "No rain, No roof" so every opportunity I have I'm out there!
A fantastic rule! Ive only driven mine with the roof on once and that was when I got caught while I was out. The heater works well when its cold, and there is always extra clothes to put on if its still not enough! MadMark911 said:
Congrats - she looks lovely. I'm also a new owner (the Friday before Christmas) and I am still in the learning / acclimatising phase. And fixing a few gremlins. Mines currently residing in a well known specialist - having a "full works" service and everything given the once over.
Thank you. Good luck with yours. Can't wait for summer!Congratulations! I'm a recent TVR convert myself so good to know there's a few other newbies on the block.
I've had great fun reading all the posts and admiring everyone's cars and knowledge on them.
TVR really does seem to be a welcoming club and very helpful so far. Looking forward to getting better weather and meeting up with local TVR guys and gals on some runs.
I've had great fun reading all the posts and admiring everyone's cars and knowledge on them.
TVR really does seem to be a welcoming club and very helpful so far. Looking forward to getting better weather and meeting up with local TVR guys and gals on some runs.
PaulH69 said:
BEARDYB0Y said:
PaulH69 said:
Haha. Nice one. My rule is "No rain, No roof" so every opportunity I have I'm out there!
A fantastic rule! Ive only driven mine with the roof on once and that was when I got caught while I was out. The heater works well when its cold, and there is always extra clothes to put on if its still not enough! 
Although the Wife was rarely keen on having the roof off on ours when we had it.As to the OP, I must confess to feeling a slight degree of envy, mainly because I miss having mine, (M407 EYG).
Enjoy
MadMark911 said:
Congrats - she looks lovely. I'm also a new owner (the Friday before Christmas) and I am still in the learning / acclimatising phase. And fixing a few gremlins. Mines currently residing in a well known specialist - having a "full works" service and everything given the once over.
Congrats to the new owners, I’ve been living the dream for nearly 5 years. 
Mark, how does it compare to the pork for you
sawman said:
Congrats to the new owners, I’ve been living the dream for nearly 5 years.
Mark, how does it compare to the pork for you
Hey Sawman - that's a lovely colour and I particularly like the signs of use .... Mark, how does it compare to the pork for you
Well the Porkers were not hand made or anything like as old. I've had a mixture too. A Boxster 987 "S" was the first, followed by a 997 "S", then a 997 GT3, a Boxster 981 (brand new from the factory in a custom colour and every "Sport" extra). Then a couple of 991 "S" in high specs.
So as you would expect, the Porsches were much more of a precision tool, albeit at many multiples more expensive. But they all lacked the charm of the Chim and now that I'm getting mine sorted in terms of performance, the gap has closed substantially. Fresh tyres on top of my realigned suspension should make the Chim even more enjoyable, but the reality is that if you want to go really fast, buy the Porsche. I you want the warm fuzziness, buy a TVR!
MadMark911 said:
Hey Sawman - that's a lovely colour and I particularly like the signs of use ....
Well the Porkers were not hand made or anything like as old. I've had a mixture too. A Boxster 987 "S" was the first, followed by a 997 "S", then a 997 GT3, a Boxster 981 (brand new from the factory in a custom colour and every "Sport" extra). Then a couple of 991 "S" in high specs.
So as you would expect, the Porsches were much more of a precision tool, albeit at many multiples more expensive. But they all lacked the charm of the Chim and now that I'm getting mine sorted in terms of performance, the gap has closed substantially. Fresh tyres on top of my realigned suspension should make the Chim even more enjoyable, but the reality is that if you want to go really fast, buy the Porsche. I you want the warm fuzziness, buy a TVR!
That’s an impressive list of cars. Well the Porkers were not hand made or anything like as old. I've had a mixture too. A Boxster 987 "S" was the first, followed by a 997 "S", then a 997 GT3, a Boxster 981 (brand new from the factory in a custom colour and every "Sport" extra). Then a couple of 991 "S" in high specs.
So as you would expect, the Porsches were much more of a precision tool, albeit at many multiples more expensive. But they all lacked the charm of the Chim and now that I'm getting mine sorted in terms of performance, the gap has closed substantially. Fresh tyres on top of my realigned suspension should make the Chim even more enjoyable, but the reality is that if you want to go really fast, buy the Porsche. I you want the warm fuzziness, buy a TVR!
It’s fantastic you are getting the TVR thing.
When I was a lad I rode raw light overpowered 500cc Speedway and Grasstrack bikes which is a speedway bike with rear shocks and the wildest loudest ride of my life.
Into my late forties I still missed that rawness and massive torque so got a Tvr.
All the power and rawness and inherent danger but now an old fart I could still feel that rawness at 50 mph or even 30 mph.
That’s what’s so engaging about them. You can cruise about and still feel that sharpness and eager engine and old school race feel about them.
Takes skill and concentration but the rewards are just marvellous in return.
What year is your car.
Earlier cars and non PS cars had 2.5 turns lock to lock which is still a fast rack yet the later cars this was reduced further to 2.2 turns so very direct and race like. It’s a joyous thing in my book lol
Or is it 2.7 down to 2.5 I’ll check that when I get 5 mins!
Keep us updated on your progress then because you clearly like great cars
Modding or just updating them is infectious so be warned
Edited by Classic Chim on Thursday 25th January 11:44
Classic Chim said:
That’s an impressive list of cars.
It’s fantastic you are getting the TVR thing.
When I was a lad I rode raw light overpowered 500cc Speedway and Grasstrack bikes which is a speedway bike with rear shocks and the wildest loudest ride of my life.
Into my late forties I still missed that rawness and massive torque so got a Tvr.
All the power and rawness and inherent danger but now an old fart I could still feel that rawness at 50 mph or even 30 mph.
That’s what’s so engaging about them. You can cruise about and still feel that sharpness and eager engine and old school race feel about them.
Takes skill and concentration but the rewards are just marvellous in return.
What year is your car.
Earlier cars and non PS cars had 2.5 turns lock to lock which is still a fast rack yet the later cars this was reduced further to 2.2 turns so very direct and race like. It’s a joyous thing in my book lol
Or is it 2.7 down to 2.5 I’ll check that when I get 5 mins!
Keep us updated on your progress then because you clearly like great cars
Modding or just updating them is infectious so be warned
Well the full list of cars numbers something like 35 .... but I am "car mad" as my friends and family would put it .... My car is a 2000 on an "X" plate and has PAS - I think 2.2 turns lock to lock? As soon as I've paid for a new kitchen and garage, I'll have another 911 to add to the mix. It’s fantastic you are getting the TVR thing.
When I was a lad I rode raw light overpowered 500cc Speedway and Grasstrack bikes which is a speedway bike with rear shocks and the wildest loudest ride of my life.
Into my late forties I still missed that rawness and massive torque so got a Tvr.
All the power and rawness and inherent danger but now an old fart I could still feel that rawness at 50 mph or even 30 mph.
That’s what’s so engaging about them. You can cruise about and still feel that sharpness and eager engine and old school race feel about them.
Takes skill and concentration but the rewards are just marvellous in return.
What year is your car.
Earlier cars and non PS cars had 2.5 turns lock to lock which is still a fast rack yet the later cars this was reduced further to 2.2 turns so very direct and race like. It’s a joyous thing in my book lol
Or is it 2.7 down to 2.5 I’ll check that when I get 5 mins!
Keep us updated on your progress then because you clearly like great cars
Modding or just updating them is infectious so be warned
Edited by Classic Chim on Thursday 25th January 11:44
Good backstory! Competition, difficulty and risk are a dangerous (read addictive) cocktail! My two grandads and my father are wholly responsible for my love of cars and machinery, because they all loved them. My Dad's father was hugely into bikes and had several "Indians". My mothers father had a brother that worked for Ford Motorsport - so my grandad had a series of fast Fords and wow he could really drive! Only in later life did I find out why all of his cars were so fast and that's because they were all tuned!! His best mate was the Mangoletsi brother (John I think) that owned the post war racing / tuning firm in Knutsford (near Manchester) ....
The TVR thing is a little story in itself and it started when my Dad took me the last Earls Court Motorshow in 1976 (and yes I'm an old git too). Instantly smitten with cars, I loved the mad looking "M" series but then we moved to Indonesia, where everything was an old Toyota Landcruiser.
However, when I was sent back to boarding school here in 1980 - I wrote to Peter Wheeler (as the new MD), asking for a new car brochure and to my delight he sent me a whole load of stuff including posters with the cars and scantily clad girls, the brochures and a price list, with a hand written note hoping I would become a buyer once I passed my test (or more likely his secretary did).
Then I remember queueing to get on the 1990 Motorshow stand and see the new Griffith. I was mildly smitten to say the least! Fast forward to April 2000 and I hired a "V" Reg Griffith 500 for a week as part of my 30th Birthday celebrations (from Barnet TVR). God it was amazing with the optional sports suspension and sports exhaust and I took my soon to be wife down to Corfe Castle for the week! The weather was amazing, so of course we got sunburnt ....
Fast forward to November last year and I was amazed to see the price difference between a Chim and a Griff. And not wanting a Griffith (as I have a hairy chested mate with one of those), but always liking the looks of the Chim, the search was on and after a couple of missed 500's, I found and bought my 450 ....
MadMark911 said:
Well the full list of cars numbers something like 35 .... but I am "car mad" as my friends and family would put it .... My car is a 2000 on an "X" plate and has PAS - I think 2.2 turns lock to lock? As soon as I've paid for a new kitchen and garage, I'll have another 911 to add to the mix.
Good backstory! Competition, difficulty and risk are a dangerous (read addictive) cocktail! My two grandads and my father are wholly responsible for my love of cars and machinery, because they all loved them. My Dad's father was hugely into bikes and had several "Indians". My mothers father had a brother that worked for Ford Motorsport - so my grandad had a series of fast Fords and wow he could really drive! Only in later life did I find out why all of his cars were so fast and that's because they were all tuned!! His best mate was the Mangoletsi brother (John I think) that owned the post war racing / tuning firm in Knutsford (near Manchester) ....
The TVR thing is a little story in itself and it started when my Dad took me the last Earls Court Motorshow in 1976 (and yes I'm an old git too). Instantly smitten with cars, I loved the mad looking "M" series but then we moved to Indonesia, where everything was an old Toyota Landcruiser.
However, when I was sent back to boarding school here in 1980 - I wrote to Peter Wheeler (as the new MD), asking for a new car brochure and to my delight he sent me a whole load of stuff including posters with the cars and scantily clad girls, the brochures and a price list, with a hand written note hoping I would become a buyer once I passed my test (or more likely his secretary did).
Then I remember queueing to get on the 1990 Motorshow stand and see the new Griffith. I was mildly smitten to say the least! Fast forward to April 2000 and I hired a "V" Reg Griffith 500 for a week as part of my 30th Birthday celebrations (from Barnet TVR). God it was amazing with the optional sports suspension and sports exhaust and I took my soon to be wife down to Corfe Castle for the week! The weather was amazing, so of course we got sunburnt ....
Fast forward to November last year and I was amazed to see the price difference between a Chim and a Griff. And not wanting a Griffith (as I have a hairy chested mate with one of those), but always liking the looks of the Chim, the search was on and after a couple of missed 500's, I found and bought my 450 ....
Nice story
Good backstory! Competition, difficulty and risk are a dangerous (read addictive) cocktail! My two grandads and my father are wholly responsible for my love of cars and machinery, because they all loved them. My Dad's father was hugely into bikes and had several "Indians". My mothers father had a brother that worked for Ford Motorsport - so my grandad had a series of fast Fords and wow he could really drive! Only in later life did I find out why all of his cars were so fast and that's because they were all tuned!! His best mate was the Mangoletsi brother (John I think) that owned the post war racing / tuning firm in Knutsford (near Manchester) ....
The TVR thing is a little story in itself and it started when my Dad took me the last Earls Court Motorshow in 1976 (and yes I'm an old git too). Instantly smitten with cars, I loved the mad looking "M" series but then we moved to Indonesia, where everything was an old Toyota Landcruiser.
However, when I was sent back to boarding school here in 1980 - I wrote to Peter Wheeler (as the new MD), asking for a new car brochure and to my delight he sent me a whole load of stuff including posters with the cars and scantily clad girls, the brochures and a price list, with a hand written note hoping I would become a buyer once I passed my test (or more likely his secretary did).
Then I remember queueing to get on the 1990 Motorshow stand and see the new Griffith. I was mildly smitten to say the least! Fast forward to April 2000 and I hired a "V" Reg Griffith 500 for a week as part of my 30th Birthday celebrations (from Barnet TVR). God it was amazing with the optional sports suspension and sports exhaust and I took my soon to be wife down to Corfe Castle for the week! The weather was amazing, so of course we got sunburnt ....
Fast forward to November last year and I was amazed to see the price difference between a Chim and a Griff. And not wanting a Griffith (as I have a hairy chested mate with one of those), but always liking the looks of the Chim, the search was on and after a couple of missed 500's, I found and bought my 450 ....
Nice story
I put my big boy pants on and went out for a blast in the damp conditions earlier. Really impressed with how sticky it was out of roundabouts under steady throttle. I was in no way booting it or near the limit but with what I was doing it was pulling nicely with no signs of it looking for a wall or ditch to throw itself at.
If youre familiar with east Bristol I went through Wick and Warmley to the A46 then right past Bath to Box then Melksham and took the Bradford on Avon Road. (sounds epic through the streets of BOA!). Then came back down the windy hill to the A46 again and took the M4 back.
Did about 60 miles and more often than not with someone in front of me!
I love my Chim
If youre familiar with east Bristol I went through Wick and Warmley to the A46 then right past Bath to Box then Melksham and took the Bradford on Avon Road. (sounds epic through the streets of BOA!). Then came back down the windy hill to the A46 again and took the M4 back.
Did about 60 miles and more often than not with someone in front of me!
I love my Chim
MadMark911 said:
sawman said:
Congrats to the new owners, I’ve been living the dream for nearly 5 years.
Mark, how does it compare to the pork for you
Hey Sawman - that's a lovely colour and I particularly like the signs of use .... Mark, how does it compare to the pork for you
Well the Porkers were not hand made or anything like as old. I've had a mixture too. A Boxster 987 "S" was the first, followed by a 997 "S", then a 997 GT3, a Boxster 981 (brand new from the factory in a custom colour and every "Sport" extra). Then a couple of 991 "S" in high specs.
So as you would expect, the Porsches were much more of a precision tool, albeit at many multiples more expensive. But they all lacked the charm of the Chim and now that I'm getting mine sorted in terms of performance, the gap has closed substantially. Fresh tyres on top of my realigned suspension should make the Chim even more enjoyable, but the reality is that if you want to go really fast, buy the Porsche. I you want the warm fuzziness, buy a TVR!
I keep wondering about dipping my toe in the Stuttgart product, but then I take the TVR for a blast and change my mind. Mine recently had a big service with geo reset - what a drive home!! Took the long way and covered most of Northumberland. the TVR is really enjoyable at modest speeds,
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