Advice please.

[Dizeee]

ooops topic already moved

[Buffoon]

I try to use my cerb as the only car.

Failed dramatically so far, but I won't bog this thread down with my woes. The point that is worth noting, is that even a good cerb will need repair from time to time, and you need contingency in respect of another vehicle. Some of the parts and dealers can take their time. Mine has been off the road for around 15 weeks this year, and I would have been sunk if I had to hire a car.

[M3John]

BLUETHUNDER said:

Its made him more determined to get a Cerb.But who knows when

Oh ! but not yet, as i have to be realistic about it if i'm honest.

[AngryS3Owner]

M3John said:

Oh ! but not yet, as i have to be realistic about it if i'm honest.

It's a bitch isn't it, I'd nearly managed to talk myself into one as a daily driver then saw sense after Spa / the Ring.

I will own a Cerb in the not too distant future though.

[ph1l5]

Well I have looked into everyones advice and have a bit of a rethink.
So im off to get a 400 Chimera I think. watch this space.

[big_treacle]

ph1l5 said:

Well I have looked into everyones advice and have a bit of a rethink.
So im off to get a 400 Chimera I think. watch this space.

I ran a Chim 400 as a daily driver. Great fun. Cerb is on another level though - have you driven either yet?

[ph1l5]

Nope not yet. still a "TVR virgin" What should I expect ?

[BLUETHUNDER]

ph1l5 said:

Nope not yet. still a "TVR virgin" What should I expect ?

Personnlly i have also been at the Chim 4.0ltr level.And if i was going to do it again then it would have to be the 5.0ltr.Bags more torque over the 4.0.and can still be used a s a regular every day driver.I dont think you will be dissapointed.

Edited by BLUETHUNDER on Thursday 6th December 15:18

[ph1l5]

Hm the plan I have now is to enjoy them in stages. Rather than jump straight to a cerbie, where would I go after that !!! (don't say prison for speeding either)

[_Neal_]

Good choice - I had the 400 as my first TVR a year ago, you won't be disappointed at all IMO - great entry-level model.

However, beware the next step, because, as the song (kind of) goes

now I've gone and spoiled it all by buying something stupid like a Cerbie

Edited by _Neal_ on Thursday 6th December 15:33

[BLUETHUNDER]

ph1l5 said:

Hm the plan I have now is to enjoy them in stages. Rather than jump straight to a cerbie, where would I go after that !!! (don't say prison for speeding either)

That would be the best thing to do.To be honest after the Cerb there is'nt a lot further you can go.

[touching cloth]

Sounds like a plan, Chimaera is a great entry into TVR ownership.. Gets you used to their foibles and a lot less of wallet killer (theoretically at least, a lemon can still hurt however). Sleeved exhaust and they can sound staggering too. Don't rule out a 450 either, that's what I had and considered it a great half way house.

Edited by touching cloth on Thursday 6th December 16:06

[ph1l5]

Sounds good TC but whats a sleeved exhaust ?

[touching cloth]

Basically someone opens up the silencer boxes, inserts some solid pipes instead of the perforated tube (or over the perf tube) and then reseals the boxes..... in basic terms it is making it a straight through rear and in simple terms, it makes it a lot louder guv

[AngryS3Owner]

BLUETHUNDER said:

Personnlly i have also been at the Chim 4.0ltr level.And if i was going to do it again then it would have to be the 5.0ltr.Bags more torque over the 4.0.and can still be used a s a regular every day driver.I dont think you will be dissapointed.

After seeing a sort of drag race between a 5.5L (~400bhp) griff and a chim 400 both in good fettle, I'm not sure there is that much difference between any of them, it's more important to get one that's in good condition regardless of engine etc. in my rather ill informed opinion.

Phil, if you want a Griff, I know a very nice if pricey one that's up for sale, it's worth the money.

[ph1l5]

AngryS3Owner said:

BLUETHUNDER said:

Personnlly i have also been at the Chim 4.0ltr level.And if i was going to do it again then it would have to be the 5.0ltr.Bags more torque over the 4.0.and can still be used a s a regular every day driver.I dont think you will be dissapointed.

After seeing a sort of drag race between a 5.5L (~400bhp) griff and a chim 400 both in good fettle, I'm not sure there is that much difference between any of them, it's more important to get one that's in good condition regardless of engine etc. in my rather ill informed opinion.

Phil, if you want a Griff, I know a very nice if pricey one that's up for sale, it's worth the money.

Cheers Ben, I have found a nice Chim from TVR Henley, that they have looked after from new. The old owner has upgraded so this is up for sale. Higher mileage at 77,000 but they know all the history of it, which seems to count for an awful lot. But e mail over the details and I will have a look if you could.

Thanks for everyones help on this. I have learnt a lot in the last week and Im sure if I had gone into this blind without peoples advice I would either be in a heap of finacial problems or never driving the damn thing through fear of breaking it.

So thanks once again. P.S if anyone has a Chim and wouldn't mind taking me for a spin that would be great as I have to wait 2 weeks before I get to drive this one due to work commitments.

[AngryS3Owner]

I suspect David would be more than happy to take you out in his! E1DJH

[BLUETHUNDER]

AngryS3Owner said:

BLUETHUNDER said:

Personnlly i have also been at the Chim 4.0ltr level.And if i was going to do it again then it would have to be the 5.0ltr.Bags more torque over the 4.0.and can still be used a s a regular every day driver.I dont think you will be dissapointed.

After seeing a sort of drag race between a 5.5L (~400bhp) griff and a chim 400 both in good fettle, I'm not sure there is that much difference between any of them, it's more important to get one that's in good condition regardless of engine etc. in my rather ill informed opinion.

Phil, if you want a Griff, I know a very nice if pricey one that's up for sale, it's worth the money.

Trust me there is a difference in the 4.0 compared to the 5.0.The 4.0 is basically a stock Rover engine with fast road cam fitted.And in the case of the H.C models some working of the heads.The 5.0ltr on the other hand uses different heads, cam, pistons and is stroked.Driving my old 4.0ltr against my mates 5.0 in order to catch him i had to drop a gear to catch him.Where as on the 5.0 i could just pull away in 5th and keep going.The 5.0 is a lot more torquier.You only have to look at some of Del,s(Seasider)starts at FT to appreciate the difference.These days 5.0lts can be had for around about the same money as a 4.0ltr.

[ph1l5]

DOH I wish you hadn't said that. as soon as I make my mind up someone always throws a spanner in the works. But I think I am going to try and stick to my guns and start at the bottom and work up. It will be a better experiance to go through them all rather than go straight to the top. even if I only keep the 400 for 6 months at least I can say I have tried it.

[AngryS3Owner]

Phil, it was basically agreed on our little trip to LeMans with a selection of Griff's and Chim's that there wasn't that much in it in the real world and as I said that included a rather special Griff with a real ~400BHP (and 430lb/ft from memory). All I was trying to say is, I suspect you'll love any of them having driven the Griff in question and it now with only 320bhp.

I'd be happy with a 400 if I was looking.