Is £10k Enough to get me into a Chim?
Discussion
I'm torn, I've alway loved the brand, what it stood for and the noise... Always the noise so I've always been keen to get into TVR ownership at some point in my life.
I'm currently in a position to buy something as a bit of a weekend toy, I've sold my other second car and can add some to the funds from that.
I'm looking around and I can see it is possible to get into Chim ownership, but without actually going to look at the cars within my price range what sort of standard of car will I be looking at? Aware there's issues underneath the fiberglass body that will have needed looking at and most seem to have been dealt with at some point, but is £10k buying me a bigger money pit than they already are?
My other option is a semi sorted Mk1 Jaguar XKR another bucket list car. But tvr and the Chim in particular ate an itch I certainly would to to scratch.
I'm currently in a position to buy something as a bit of a weekend toy, I've sold my other second car and can add some to the funds from that.
I'm looking around and I can see it is possible to get into Chim ownership, but without actually going to look at the cars within my price range what sort of standard of car will I be looking at? Aware there's issues underneath the fiberglass body that will have needed looking at and most seem to have been dealt with at some point, but is £10k buying me a bigger money pit than they already are?
My other option is a semi sorted Mk1 Jaguar XKR another bucket list car. But tvr and the Chim in particular ate an itch I certainly would to to scratch.
Good TVR's are no more a money pit, than any other make of car that you purchase and that comment is not based on how much you spend. First thing to do is research the model thoroughly, then decide how much work that you are prepared to do given your budget by yourself - garage services cost.
Later Chimaeras tend to be the desired models, by being more refined. Personally never had an issue of any significance over the past 25 years. Smiles per Miles is what you get when you drive them.
Later Chimaeras tend to be the desired models, by being more refined. Personally never had an issue of any significance over the past 25 years. Smiles per Miles is what you get when you drive them.
I think it would get you into one with a little patience; I hate to be talking values down as I’ve got one but I think there’s a fair bit of discrepancy between what owners think they’re worth (and what they’ll advertise them at), and what people are actually prepared to pay for a 30 year old kit car from a firm that’s been dead and buried since 2006.
I was amazed to see a Griffith 500 being advertised at £12-14k on one of the Facebook groups after the owner said it had failed to meet reserve at auction. Obviously I have no idea of the condition but I think it shows the bubble has annoyingly popped for now. Good luck and get involved!
I was amazed to see a Griffith 500 being advertised at £12-14k on one of the Facebook groups after the owner said it had failed to meet reserve at auction. Obviously I have no idea of the condition but I think it shows the bubble has annoyingly popped for now. Good luck and get involved!
Well I'm certainly patient and if I held out a few more months could probably stretch it to 12k.
Regarding being a money pit..., I've just got rid of a 2009 Audi S5 V8 that I bought last September, comparatively the Chim is cheaper by £500 a year on insurance and misses the hefty vehicle tax bracket so there's money save there. Plus I've thrown way more money at the Audi than I'd have wanted hence hinking that if the TVR was even similar costwise to maintain I'm better off just owning the TVR.
Regarding being a money pit..., I've just got rid of a 2009 Audi S5 V8 that I bought last September, comparatively the Chim is cheaper by £500 a year on insurance and misses the hefty vehicle tax bracket so there's money save there. Plus I've thrown way more money at the Audi than I'd have wanted hence hinking that if the TVR was even similar costwise to maintain I'm better off just owning the TVR.
Edited by NordicCrankShaft on Friday 23 May 07:21
A big factor in my view is your own ability to examine a car properly and have the mechanical knowledge to repair and maintain it yourself.
They are fairly basic kit cars that are expensive in comparison to other similar size vehicles. They have a following and are season dependent, so the prices go up in the good weather.
A similar priced Mazda is undoubtedly a better car , albeit I have not owned one . I have owned three TVR's.
The whole specialist servicing and repair notion is ridiculous. A Chimera has a simple 40 plus year old engine , a basic tubular ladder chassis and various other manufacturers components.
In my view the whole TVR specialist is a proposition that has driven up the cost of this old brand .
They are dinasours and will go the same way .
I do have a Jag XK . You can buy a good car for £10k. I have a convertible. It's a far far better car than a Chimera. There is no comparison in the areas of , quality ,usability, and engine. It's a whole car not a collection of parts .
Buy the Jag , I have had two Chimeras and a Tuscan. I should have just gone straight to the Jag. Finally you put MK1, XK. You want a post 2007 XK (150). Aluminium body.
They are fairly basic kit cars that are expensive in comparison to other similar size vehicles. They have a following and are season dependent, so the prices go up in the good weather.
A similar priced Mazda is undoubtedly a better car , albeit I have not owned one . I have owned three TVR's.
The whole specialist servicing and repair notion is ridiculous. A Chimera has a simple 40 plus year old engine , a basic tubular ladder chassis and various other manufacturers components.
In my view the whole TVR specialist is a proposition that has driven up the cost of this old brand .
They are dinasours and will go the same way .
I do have a Jag XK . You can buy a good car for £10k. I have a convertible. It's a far far better car than a Chimera. There is no comparison in the areas of , quality ,usability, and engine. It's a whole car not a collection of parts .
Buy the Jag , I have had two Chimeras and a Tuscan. I should have just gone straight to the Jag. Finally you put MK1, XK. You want a post 2007 XK (150). Aluminium body.
Edited by cliffords on Friday 23 May 07:41
Yeah I'm aware it's really an X100 and not Mk1. I thought about the X150 but I'm just not a fan of the looks. I love the X100 and know they come with thir own set of corrosion issues as I looked deeply into getting one before I bought the S5 and like you wish I'd just gone for the XK.
I'm handy with a spanner and have no issues getting my hands dirty and diagnosing, whilst I'm not a mechanic by any means, cars interest me a lot and that stretches me to the mechanical and how things work side.
Just really feel like the tvr itch is one I need to scratch but having said that I feel like that about the XKR too as values of good ones of those are also on the rise.
I'm handy with a spanner and have no issues getting my hands dirty and diagnosing, whilst I'm not a mechanic by any means, cars interest me a lot and that stretches me to the mechanical and how things work side.
Just really feel like the tvr itch is one I need to scratch but having said that I feel like that about the XKR too as values of good ones of those are also on the rise.
cliffords said:
A big factor in my view is your own ability to examine a car properly and have the mechanical knowledge to repair and maintain it yourself.
They are fairly basic kit cars that are expensive in comparison to other similar size vehicles. They have a following and are season dependent, so the prices go up in the good weather.
A similar priced Mazda is undoubtedly a better car , albeit I have not owned one . I have owned three TVR's.
The whole specialist servicing and repair notion is ridiculous. A Chimera has a simple 40 plus year old engine , a basic tubular ladder chassis and various other manufacturers components.
In my view the whole TVR specialist is a proposition that has driven up the cost of this old brand .
They are dinasours and will go the same way .
I do have a Jag XK . You can buy a good car for £10k. I have a convertible. It's a far far better car than a Chimera. There is no comparison in the areas of , quality ,usability, and engine. It's a whole car not a collection of parts .
Buy the Jag , I have had two Chimeras and a Tuscan. I should have just gone straight to the Jag. Finally you put MK1, XK. You want a post 2007 XK (150). Aluminium body.
Conversely, just for balance, my XK was a bloody nightmare whereas none of my 3 Chims have had any notable issues or costs beyond regular maintenance. They are fairly basic kit cars that are expensive in comparison to other similar size vehicles. They have a following and are season dependent, so the prices go up in the good weather.
A similar priced Mazda is undoubtedly a better car , albeit I have not owned one . I have owned three TVR's.
The whole specialist servicing and repair notion is ridiculous. A Chimera has a simple 40 plus year old engine , a basic tubular ladder chassis and various other manufacturers components.
In my view the whole TVR specialist is a proposition that has driven up the cost of this old brand .
They are dinasours and will go the same way .
I do have a Jag XK . You can buy a good car for £10k. I have a convertible. It's a far far better car than a Chimera. There is no comparison in the areas of , quality ,usability, and engine. It's a whole car not a collection of parts .
Buy the Jag , I have had two Chimeras and a Tuscan. I should have just gone straight to the Jag. Finally you put MK1, XK. You want a post 2007 XK (150). Aluminium body.
There's an old saying about there being two types of TVR : those which have had a full body-off chassis renovation, and those that need one. A critical factor in deciding whether you can afford any car is what work has previously been done on the chassis, and whether the seller can show proof of that work.
It's possible to do a partial chassis renovation with the body left on, and some owners opt for that as a cheaper get-around. But it means that the same 10-20% of probably rusting bits are being missed each time. Beware of buying a car where the advert refers to a chassis refurb without explicitly saying that it was a full body-off job.
If you can do that refurb yourself, buying a car which has not had the full job done is a way to save money. But if you would need to pay a professional, that's a big chunk of cash. A couple of years ago I was quoted £5500 as a STARTING price for a full body-off job by my local TVR workshop, with the caveat "and possibly more, depending on what we find".
It's possible to do a partial chassis renovation with the body left on, and some owners opt for that as a cheaper get-around. But it means that the same 10-20% of probably rusting bits are being missed each time. Beware of buying a car where the advert refers to a chassis refurb without explicitly saying that it was a full body-off job.
If you can do that refurb yourself, buying a car which has not had the full job done is a way to save money. But if you would need to pay a professional, that's a big chunk of cash. A couple of years ago I was quoted £5500 as a STARTING price for a full body-off job by my local TVR workshop, with the caveat "and possibly more, depending on what we find".
Dont let mileage put you off, you can grab yourself a bargain. I would be on my way to buy this!
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18477022
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18477022
I spent just under £20k on a Griffith last year.
I could have had a Chimaera but was in the fortunate position of being able to afford the Griffith (which I like the looks of, but realistically a good Chimaera would make me just as happy!)
There are good cars out there at £10k. Buy an early 400 as these are the least desired models, ignore mileage, just look at condition.
Where in the country are you? Come along to an Owners club meeting, have a go in a couple.
Private sale with a specialist inspection will see you in a great car for <£10k.
It's a buyers market for toys right now so I'd not wait too long.
Plus, 90's cars are the next ones to rise in value, and they don't come much more iconic than TVR. The 1990's were their glory days.
I could have had a Chimaera but was in the fortunate position of being able to afford the Griffith (which I like the looks of, but realistically a good Chimaera would make me just as happy!)
There are good cars out there at £10k. Buy an early 400 as these are the least desired models, ignore mileage, just look at condition.
Where in the country are you? Come along to an Owners club meeting, have a go in a couple.
Private sale with a specialist inspection will see you in a great car for <£10k.
It's a buyers market for toys right now so I'd not wait too long.
Plus, 90's cars are the next ones to rise in value, and they don't come much more iconic than TVR. The 1990's were their glory days.
In addition to the blue one:
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18338669
This from a dealer who are known for being at the top end of market values.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17498935
This looks like a car that's going to be mechanically sound which you can spend a bit of time tittivating the details to your own taste.
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1863884
As does this.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/18338669
This from a dealer who are known for being at the top end of market values.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/17498935
This looks like a car that's going to be mechanically sound which you can spend a bit of time tittivating the details to your own taste.
https://www.carandclassic.com/l/C1863884
As does this.
That Chimaera advertised at £7995 is exactly what I was referring to when I warned about partial chassis refurbs. The wording is ambiguous - "Chassis cleaned, repainted, wax-oiled". But how much of it? If it was a body-off full refurb, you would expect the advert to say that. Always check.
frontfloater said:
That Chimaera advertised at £7995 is exactly what I was referring to when I warned about partial chassis refurbs. The wording is ambiguous - "Chassis cleaned, repainted, wax-oiled". But how much of it? If it was a body-off full refurb, you would expect the advert to say that. Always check.
If it were me I'd be frantically looking for a couple of grand and buying the 400 from Amore, at least you know they won't sell rubbish. My Griffith is on it's original chassis. It's not always a bad thing.
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