Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

FOR SALE:

One sclaffy red volvo (think it's a diesel 1.5). 1,000,000 miles, "like new". Will get above 40mph if you razz the nuts off of it.

£300 ono.

Has anyone had first hand experience in TVR Chimaera ownership? Been through a ton of forums and buying guides but haven't actually sat in one; was wondering if anyone has one on here?

Get used to this sight:

Tremendously Variable Reliability

Chimaeras are shonky in every regard. If you want something that burbles purposefully, sounds fast, but isn't and is average to drive (and you can bear the shonkiness) then get one. But otherwise get something else. Something good. Yeah.

Get a Griff, not a Cerb or Chim.

Griffith's are better looking and have a removable roof

Unless the one I had was broken Chimaeras have removable roofs too.

A former manager of mine had a Griffith 500 and what a beast it was too. It weighed slightly more than the shed it was built in, and had the same dubious-fitting panels as the average garden shed too. The engine however was marvellous.

We went to the Bike show many years ago and came down a slip-road on to the M6 and by the time we hit the carriageway we were doing 130.

When we arrived at the NEC, he twisted a knob in the centre consul to open the passenger door and it duly popped open and then dropped clean off the hinges. We spent an hour trying to reattach it before going in to speculate on a pair of MV Agustas.

Beautiful story

Piss taker.

My advice would be to think really carefully about buying an old TVR - they were only really any good for about 40-50k miles. After that they were utter money pits.

Would love to have a chat in person if you've got one! PM me if so!

To answer some questions

1) Would love a Griffith, alas I can only afford a chimaera

2) TVRs seem to have a notoriously bad press on reliability, but I have also come across people's experiences on the internets no less living in London, parking their car on the street and using them infrequently (like I would be) with no trouble. However, I've never actually met anyone in person so I too am skeptical, but i'd be very easily swayed if someone shows me it can be done!

3) its to replace an S2000

^ Reading that I'd actually say get one.

Esp because of 3) because that sounds like me. Every year or two I change a sensible car for a silly car, because life's too short to be sensible.Then a year or two later I go back to a sensible car because life's too short to be dicking about with silly cars.

I currently have a 1.6 diesel Golf. I'm thinking of a GD T70 Moda next.

I've been trying to make one of the most sensible cars in the world increasingly silly.

I currently have a 1.6 diesel Golf. I'm thinking of a GD T70 Moda next.

Ooooooooohhh, nice. GD T70. Luvverly. With the partially-painted carbon bodywork and an LS7/G50 combo out back. Would. If I got rid of a few cars first...

Odometer and speedo have to be there, not work but be there.

EDIT - Unless it is a car of a certain age

TVR are kit cars. That is way to look at them.

they're the only big kit car I've driven that feel like they're mby someone who knows what a car should drive like. Even their Cobra reps are good and all Cobra reps are shit.

I test drove a griffith when looking to replace my S1 Elise. Great engine but handling is not as sharp as it could be (obviously most cars have different handling to an Elise) although it can be improved with coilovers. Can't speak for the Chim but one of my old directors had one. It was great when it worked. I'd say it was off the road approx 30% of the time, and for a long time. I ended up buying an S2 elise instead of the TVR. Just as squeaky and rattly but in a heavier more comfortable type of way.

I now also have an S2000. The beauty of the Honda is that I know when I go to start it, it will start. I wouldn't be as confident with a TVR, even if it's a silly car for irregular use. If you're prepared to spend the time/money on it then I'm sure they're a great car. Like you I've read a lot online of owners having no problems but it's the kind of purchase you have to go in to with your eyes wide open. You'll enjoy the low end torque over that of the Honda though!

how much of it is down to the age-old cliches, dating back to the 70s & 80s tvrs?

if you can service and carry out basic fault finding, how much worse are they than other high performance sports cars from the mid 90s?

maser?
db7?
merc sl?
jag xk8?

don't get me wrong, i wouldn't have the minerals to take on any of the above, but i'd prefer the tvr out of that list. (or just get a 996...)

The only one of your list that I'd choose would be Maserati - presumably the 3200 GT with the boomerang lights.

The DB7 was a known dog, the Merc weighs as much as Blenheim Palace and I'm not old enough for a Jaaaaaaaaaaag.

The only one of your list that I'd choose would be Maserati - presumably the 3200 GT with the boomerang lights.

My next door neighbour had a 3200GT. It was beautiful and spectacular and noisy and lovely.

He bought it off a Maserati dealer for £18,000 with a years' warranty. During the year it had £13,000 worth of repairs under warranty. He sold it back to them on day 364.

did they make a 3200 conv?

@Hefty - True to Maserati spirit.

My pal worked for the 'Rarri dealership in South Ken and they had one of those as a tester. He used it one weekend to drive his then gf down to some swanky country house where he was due to meet her family.

When he arrived at this gaff he carefully stopped and pulled up the handbrake and in doing so, pulled the whole handbrake arm and fitting out of the centre console.

Fantastic car.

He also advised to steer well clear of a Maserati Biturbo I was considering buying when I was about 25. Thank fuck he did. I bought the M3 instead.

@BRM - they did, but only with the moody Allegro rear lights. It was all downhill when they ditched the boomerangs.