12.5K - boxster or 4.5 Chimaera
 

Hi there,

With a budget of 12.5K which is best for everyday use?

Boxster 2.5 (1997) or TVR chimaera 4.5 (1997 / 1998)

Martin.

The Boxster by far

Depends which image you prefer, budget airline pilot or wing commander ?

Exactly - after all the only reason you buy a car is for the image!

No, true, its only a small part of the choice, those are two very different cars, for daily use it would have to be the Porsche, the Chimaera is the most reliable TVR but I would imagine the Porsche would be a lot more dependable and economical.

Boxster - residuals probably better long term as well.

Paul

Nothing to do with the drive etc, but,

I will ALWAYS turn to look at a TVR, Porsche Boxters just seem 10-a-penny!

I would assume with handling, economy etc, they Porsche would be a better bet, but there has always been something about TVR's! I would go for a Cerbera though!

I know where you are coming from with this - the TVR will always pull at the heart strings whereas the Boxster will be the choice of the "head" so to speak.

Paul

To be honest mate getting a Boxster for 12.5k is gonna be a struggle, but do your homework and get an inspection and go for it They might not go as well as a Chimaera but the handling is great and they sound pretty good too (past 4000rpm anyway)

Just make sure you dont het one with RMS issues!!!!!

I did not think Boxsters were anything special until i drove one, and i loved it. just dont go picking fights with EVO's and tuned Scoobs 'cos you'll lose!!!
But its not just about speed, its the overall feel-good factor that makes it good to own

Boxsters are a bit clinical and since the newer Boxster/911 with round lights has been released the older ones have started to look a bit odd, and maybe dated IMO.

I agree the Boxster is a better bet for daily use, but Chimaera's are fantastic cars. Other than being very fast (60 in 4.6) and sounding about as good as you can get, being very smart looking - they feel special whereas the Boxster just doesnt.

Would it still feel special at the side of the motorway in the pi55ing rain at 2am because its broken down again? I'd love a TVR but I know it'd be a big mistake to buy one

I know they have a reputation for being unreliable, but knowing 3 people who have Chimaera 4.5's, none of them have really had anything other than very minor problems. One of those owners has had the car 7years (from new).

Covered 2000 miles around Europe in one of them this summer and it ran superbly, even when in sweltering heat crawling through city centres like Nice!

The Chimaera was quite a long running model, so I think if you buy a late well looked after one then chances are you wont have too many problems.

boxsters are slooooow and only suit sausage jockeys.:cuckoo:

id sooner have the tvr that may break down once in a while because 99% of the time when its running well it will run rings around anything and it sounds fantastic,,,,no choice at all imo.