Mat Jackson Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 Chris, Hows the hunting going? Hope you are planning another trip to Rhiwbina when you pick one up!!!!!!! My Westie is doing well, body went on last week, so just the interior and finishing to go so should be on the road soon!!! Mat Quote
wrightster Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 And FWIW, I'd get an elise. Much more entertaining, less breakage potential, and you'll get a much newer one for equivalent £ Chrisbin , have you driven an elise yet ? i drove an s reg with 50k on the clock the other week (standard S1) 118bhp was up for 12k but i reckon 11k would have bought it , it was a gorgeous car to drive , i have now decided to keep my westy untill i can afford an elise preferably a 111s (but it will be a while yet ) Quote
chrisbin Posted September 1, 2004 Author Posted September 1, 2004 Have you tried a Griff Hi Sam - yep, Griff is a beast!! Just think that the Chim is a better all rounder. Also I can get a later Chim than a Griff which makes sense to me. If I can get a 500 then I reckon I also get something which will hold value better too (better than "ordinary" Chim, that is). Incidentally, cheapest TVR is an S which was my first thought. Then I realised that for the price of the V8S a Chim was in budget. Elise? Nah.....gave it a thought initially, but not really desirable enough for me. And to be honest, for my budget you would have to get a very early S1 probably with miles. Mat - still hunting as you can see!! Rest assured when I get a result I'll be calling round!! Look forward to seeing your toy completed - have to bring it round to show Carl! Thanks again for the input everyone Quote
samcooke Posted September 1, 2004 Posted September 1, 2004 Incidentally, cheapest TVR is an S which was my first thought. Then I realised that for the price of the V8S a Chim was in budget I meant post Griff. Though you could always have a 400 Without meaning to pry too much - what is the budget? Haven't looked in a while but I though Chimaeradom started around £13k... The Chim is defo more of a pub pose than an Elise and better for highdays and holidays, but it won't excite like an Elise (except the scary type of excitement). If it's highdays and holidays you're after how about one of these : http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW....=SEARCH Quote
chrisbin Posted September 1, 2004 Author Posted September 1, 2004 Incidentally, cheapest TVR is an S which was my first thought. Then I realised that for the price of the V8S a Chim was in budget I meant post Griff. Though you could always have a 400 Without meaning to pry too much - what is the budget? Haven't looked in a while but I though Chimaeradom started around £13k... The Chim is defo more of a pub pose than an Elise and better for highdays and holidays, but it won't excite like an Elise (except the scary type of excitement). If it's highdays and holidays you're after how about one of these : http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW....=SEARCH Sam - I like the way you're thinking!!! Great cars those E-types! But sadly over budget. FYI I'm talking about spending £10k tops.. And there are certainly some Chims available for that, but very few Elises. I agree with what you say about comparing the two experiences, but what I'm looking for is something that is fun, whilst not being too raw, thereby making it more acceptable to SWMBO, and me happier about taking one of the kids further in it. I reckon a Tiv fits the bill, but just gotta find the right one. Inevitably shopping at the entry level is much harder than further up the scale. BTW Mrs Westy is the one for Cheese.......apparently....... Quote
Luke_Eliasz Posted September 1, 2004 Posted September 1, 2004 Chimeara ( i always thought it was pronounced shimera, but then on seeing an episode of topgear i found out it was pronounced kimera). I've seen one or two near school, they have a nice idle sound and a beutiful growl on acceleration. So when do you think you will be buying it? Quote
chrisbin Posted September 1, 2004 Author Posted September 1, 2004 Hi Luke well the cash is burning a hole in my pocket since I sold my westy so.........just gotta find the right one.. Quote
chrisbin Posted September 2, 2004 Author Posted September 2, 2004 Well I've decided to let the Chim 500 go.....just couldn't get my head round buying it with 80k on the clock..... And after all I said above about Chim v. Griff, a 93 Griff 500 with 62k on clock has just come up, locally.... Definitely gonna have to give this one a look............. Quote
Martin Keene Posted September 2, 2004 Posted September 2, 2004 Envy Mode On Git... Griff 500 is my most fav Trevor ever! /Envy Mode Off Edited to add: Oh I should be a poet! Quote
ChrisG Posted September 2, 2004 Posted September 2, 2004 A friend of mine ruins a 4L Chim on a similar budget and he was saying the main reason he wouldnt consider a 5L one is that if the engine ever lets go, its big bills because of the big bore block and pistons etc. If a 4L engine lets go its basically the same internals as the Range Rover so a hell of a lot cheaper. Chris Quote
chrisbin Posted September 2, 2004 Author Posted September 2, 2004 A friend of mine ruins a 4L Chim on a similar budget and he was saying the main reason he wouldnt consider a 5L one is that if the engine ever lets go, its big bills because of the big bore block and pistons etc. If a 4L engine lets go its basically the same internals as the Range Rover so a hell of a lot cheaper. Chris Thanks Chris - worth bearing in mind. I'm pleased to say that there's an excellent independent TVR specialist here in Cardiff which will help considerably with running costs.......wouldn't be considering it so seriously if I didn't know him! Quote
Bazzer Posted September 2, 2004 Posted September 2, 2004 They are great cars, but if it is your only fun car, get a 500 :-) The Rover powered cars are reliable as well. I have some bit's and bobs you might be interested in if you buy one. I have a lot of the Levan technology alloy bits from when I had mine. Great cars and in my opinion make much better road cars than a 7. Also as you said everyone loves them as well. If/when I get another I would probably go for a Griff 500 I had a Rosso Pearl Chim 500 last time and it was fantastic. Bazzer Quote
samcooke Posted September 2, 2004 Posted September 2, 2004 Had no idea they were that cheap now. I've tried my very very best and can't think of a better car than the trevs for your needs at that money. Make sure you fit a really loud exhaust. Quote
Martin Keene Posted September 2, 2004 Posted September 2, 2004 because of the big bore block and pistons etc. If a 4L engine lets go its basically the same internals as the Range Rover so a hell of a lot cheaper. Not true I'm afraid. The company I work for quoted to manufacture the V8 block as spares for Mitchell Cotts now it is out of production, I did the engineering work for the project and have walked the current (old?) machining line and can state without doubt that anything above 4 ltrs uses the same bore size. Indeed, the second operation on the line is to ultrasonically measure the wall thickness between the cylinder bore (pre-liner) and the water jacket. If it is more than 2.5mm it becomes a 4.6ltr. If it is 2.5 - 2.0mm it becomes a 4.0ltr and if it is below 2.0mm it becomes an ornament... Anything above 4.0 ltrs is all down to stroke, because the block can't take any more. Quote
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