5 litres of Heaven (TVR Chimaera)

Member Name: keithede

Product:	TVR Chimaera
Date:	24/08/01 (1967 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast, Fun, Powerful

Disadvantages: Poor Build Quality, Bad resale value, Insurance

I have owned the Chimaera 5 litre for a year. I have had some interesting experiences with it. I think the best way to write it is to put it in headings.
The Car in general:
Oh my god!!!! I have modifed Turbo cars in the past and i know what speed is. A 5 litre V8 is another matter....the Americans say there is no substitute for capacity, they're so right.
The Engine feels so strong and useable. There is however a big difference between the 4l and the 5l with regards to power.
The handling is fine, however they seem to be prone to worn shocks and bushes. I wouldnt advise throwing this car around winding country roads, it is perfect for drag racing and medium twisty roads.
The build quality is terrible... I love the car but can admit that. The body work is poorly fitted. The paint work however is very good. The hood and back window are ok but prone to looking old very quickly.
The market has dropped out of the resale price so you can pick them up cheapley, however be aware you may lose a lot on resale.
Aftersales and Servicing....second to none!!! Its that simple. I have had the pleasure (and normally dealing with garages i cant say that, you know what i mean all you Vauxhall drivers) of dealing with professionals who are also enthusiasts. I know that advertising is not allowed here so i wont mention the name of the last people I dealt with, but they are in Birmingham and are a Team based Centrally!!
My advice - is if you can afford it get it...its cheaper than a Ferrari, sound better than a Porsche and is just as fast.

Keith

Ok round 2....
Some more detail you want, some more detail you shall get.
When you first sit inside a TVR Chimaera, the first thing you notice is the sexy dash. The second is the seat belt requiring the equivalent of a sexual position to get the damn thing.
I bought some seat belt pads....to all you ladies out there, i now understand how painful it is to have that "darned str
ap cutting in me"!
The seating position is fine, i'm 6 foot 2 so for me to fit into a car comfortably and then being able to get out again, its a great bonus. I tried the same in an MGF...i think its still in my butt cheeks. The seats are comfortable and with the steering wheel they are adjustable to your specific needs.
A word of caution, the handbrake is...how can i put this...a testosterone packed strength test. It is very heavy to pull up and lock, be careful you may wake up and find your car in the middle of the road having rolled off your drive. Then to actually release the handbrake again it takes a great deal of strength and 20 years of training. For those left handed blokes out there, maybe not as much training is required.!!!
The general feeling on the streets about TVR's is they are unreliable, I havent had a problem with mine at all. It starts every morning and begs to be driven. Keep the oil topped up and check the fluids regularly. Then take your time warming her up from cold, never, I repeat that, never get her screaming when she's cold. The engine is well made and forgiving, however we are talking about the entire mechanical package here, so treat her well and she will keep costs low and excitement high.
The switches and dials that were made for the TVR are lovely and smack of 60's motoring. The plastic indicator/washer lever and driver heater switch smack of a Ford designer with a sense of humour.
Thats right, you may find on the older Chimeara's that you share the same bloodline as a Ford. The rear light covers are off a Ford Fiesta and the stalks on the column as mentioned are Ford, which Ford i dont know and frankly dont care. Its bad enough knowing its Ford.
Final thoughts...
imagine driving down main street in the beautiful bright sun under a clear blue sky. The radio is on and Britney is singing the same song.You pull slow to a halt at the traffic lights and sit there looking straight up wit
h your head back, staring to where the roof should be if it werent locked securley in the boot.
The gentle hum of the V8 calming you as you wait for the lights to turn.
As the time draw close you watch the stragglers cross the road in front of you, the dear old man, inching his way along wondering to himself whether he is going to get to the toilet in time.
Then.....the light goes RED/AMBER, you see your chance, you floor the throttle and dump the clutch. The Engine roars the wheels spin.
The "chance" dear friends is not to leave a skid mark on the road, rather, to leave one in the dear old mans undies. (10 points)

Keith

Summary: