TVR Chimaera

Maz

Maz

Maz

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
7,387
Location
Newcastle.
What is the general consensus on these things?

I'm not looking to buy one, just at the current prices they seem to be a good buy.

Nice looking british topless sports car which sounds absolutely gorgeous and goes like stink.

Can't see them depreciating much.

So what do you guys think of them and any tips for buyers?
 
I assume you are fully prepared for it to:

Fall to bits at every available opportunity?

Need a proper tune-up the second it leaves the factory?

Have insanely dangerous handling?

If so, and you can live with (and afford!) it being repaired for 11 months out of 12, go for it! :D
 
DRZ said:
I assume you are fully prepared for it to:

Fall to bits at every available opportunity?

Need a proper tune-up the second it leaves the factory?

Have insanely dangerous handling?

If so, and you can live with (and afford!) it being repaired for 11 months out of 12, go for it! :D
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So I'd assume you've owned one then? and know all about them? :o
 
mymate has had 2 cerbera's and he has never had any bother with them,but i have heard all about the problems they have with TVR's
 
I've been doing a lot of reading about these lately. I've always loved TVRs and the Chimaera is probably the most reliable of the lot (although that doesn't mean a great deal, it's still not exactly reliable)

They're a bargain nowadays, you can pick them up for next to nothing considering how much they cost when new. I'd try to buy a fairly lateish 4.2 or 4.5 as they seem to be on par with the 5l but without the potential engine problems.

Apparently the general concensus is that you need to have a reserve of £3k per year for when (not if) things go wrong (not including petrol and insurance). Servicing is pretty pricey but I guess if you get supercar performance you have to pay supercar servicing costs.
 
Have insanely dangerous handling?

Wouldnt say dangerous,a 900cc fiesta is dangerous in the wrong hands


If so, and you can live with (and afford!) it being repaired for 11 months out of 12, go for it! :D[/QUOTE]
My mate has not had any trouble from them apart from wear and tear tyes brakes etc
 
Maz said:
So I'd assume you've owned one then? and know all about them? :o
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Nope, but I have read a fair few owner experiences on my internet travels over the years and that seems to be the general concensus.

At least one of the motoring shows on TV has commented on the handling of the TVRs of old (TG did when they reviewed the Sagaris, IIRC)
 
Bramsafc said:
Have insanely dangerous handling?

Wouldnt say dangerous,a 900cc fiesta is dangerous in the wrong hands

My mate has not had any trouble from them apart from wear and tear tyes brakes etc
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When I say that, I mean from a point of view of non-linear, non-progressive handling at the limit. By that I mean everything is fine until *snap* you are in the tyres/wall/hedge.

Never driven one personally (maybe one day) but I have been in situations where things happen that arent expected or happen too fast for most people to catch and that is when they are dangerous.

At least in a 900cc fiesta you get progressive understeer followed by oversteer if you dont know what you are about.

In a 306, say, you dont get that - you get wild rear-end action without warning.

That is what I meant :)

EDIT: should have put it in the above post, ah well :p
 
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I'm looking to get one in the next 18 months - 2 years, be nice to talk to someone with first hand experience in handling the beast :D
 
I think the 4.2's have the camshafts made of cheese - might be worth checking up.

TVR were selling some crated 4.5 and 4.2 AJPs for just a shade over 5k recently......ohso very tempting :D
 
Expensive to run, proper balls-out British sportscar with lairy handling. Too much of a medallion man's car for me.
 
DRZ said:
I assume you are fully prepared for it to:

Fall to bits at every available opportunity?

Need a proper tune-up the second it leaves the factory?

Have insanely dangerous handling?
Click to expand...

Dont forget that when it rains there is a good chance you could drown in your own car :D

Fog
 
from what I have read so far if this car had any other badge on it, it would be, well ****.

The only redeeming feature about this car is the looks and badge by the sounds of it, isn't this paying hugely over the odds for a badge, or have I got it all wrong?
 
jamoor said:
from what I have read so far if this car had any other badge on it, it would be, well ****.

The only redeeming feature about this car is the looks and badge by the sounds of it, isn't this paying hugely over the odds for a badge, or have I got it all wrong?
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Yeh, you've got it completely wrong. TVRs provide immense power and performance for much less than the German and Italian alternatives. The trouble is that the reliability and handling are not upto scratch.
 
Mad old tory said:
Yeh, you've got it completely wrong. TVRs provide immense power and performance for much less than the German and Italian alternatives. The trouble is that the reliability and handling are not upto scratch.
Click to expand...

And neither is the build quality.

Christopher Neil's TVR garage is the otherside of town from where I live and we had a good look round the various models whilst my sis was looking for an Elise. Quite a few had soggy interiors from various leaks and the build quality on some of them made them look like they had been assembled by blind monkeys. Sound awsome though :D

Fog
 
So basically... Snarling beast of a British Sportscar (ie, needs fixing lots) that'll kill you if you go around a corner? Just what I'm looking for! :D
 
The handling isn't THAT bad apperently, predictable in that it will just hang its arse out all day...

As with all these things, it's a compromise.

Pros:
Great looks
Great sound
Very good straight line performance
Nice Interior
Feels special

Cons:
Costs a lot to run
Will break down a fair bit
Isn't as dynamically sorted as an Elise
Very poor crash protection
 
A mate used to have a few of these around when he ran a performance type garage.
They look pretty good but do have strange ideas when it comes to colour matching. Some of the interiors are hideous colours.
They were always in the shop getting one thing or another fixed. I remember when he fitted a new manifold to one and had to bend it to make it fit. The manifold was somethiing ridiculous like 800 quid and you had to virtually stand on it to get it in place. Scarey.
From what i have seen i rate these as no better than kit cars.

Then we went out in one. :eek:
Damn they are quick off the mark and i mean quick. Real raw power, noise and vibration. Absolutely fantastic.
So i would say as a second car or track car they would be good fun but the dissapointment when it breaks would be extreme. :(
 
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