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Some Gump
Original Poster
4,370 posts
55 months
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Hi guys,
I'm looking at changing the fleet round a little bit, and I'm quite interested in the porspect of a daft TVR V8 for weekends / occasional wife carrying duty. I've been looking around on the net, and I think either a Chim or Griff might suit the bill, but I thought I'd get an opinion from actual owners, because the net is always so full of woeful stories that I'd never have bought either of the current cars (for fear of IMS or DRS failures)...
The car would be used mainly for weekend blasts, but would live outside with no garage - so I need something that doesn't leak. I prefer sportscar feel to GT, which should push towards the Griff according to the tinterweb, but IMO the Chimera looks better style wise. Both sound great, so thats not an issue!
Does anyone have experience of both and can tell me pros / cons? Even proper stories re. leakyness / reliability (I know TVR have a reputation, like most reputations I suspect it's only 60% true).
Thanks in advance
Gump
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Podie
38,379 posts
144 months
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Essentially the same car underneath - buy which you prefer.
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Mark.
10,003 posts
145 months
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As Podie says, mechanically the same, just different bodywork.
If you are old, but like to pretend to be young, have a penchant for chest wigs and medallions and like ugly things go for the Griff.
If on the other hand you like classic good looking styling (after all the did make the Daddy of all TVR's look like a Chimaera) the Chimaera has to be your option - I can see in your post you are already heading that way.
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Some Gump
Original Poster
4,370 posts
55 months
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Lol! one of the things holding me back from the TVR cliff is the chest wig image. Thankfully, I'm only 31 so instead people will presume I either have a small penis or no personality, rather than a mid life crisis. These assumptions I can deal with, as the compensation of a V8 with a "not cuddled as a child" exhaust would already be enough, but I also have a pair of tunnels 1/2 a mile away =)
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S6 ROR
1,319 posts
134 months
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Some Gump said: Hi guys,
but IMO the Chimera looks better style wise. Both sound great, so thats not an issue!
Thanks in advance
Gump Perhaps a trip to specsavers would be adviseable  
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wargriff
1,748 posts
71 months
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My Griff is awful, I take it for a drive and it always stops where im intending it to stop. The bloody thing passed its MOT monday with small costs. Not the sort of car I would recommend. The Chimp would be a perfect vehicle for your wife to drive, I understand they do have a feminine image and attract a lot of looks from the other sex.They also come in some lovely colours that would match her handbag collection  Buy the car that says 'buy me' to you. You will know it when you see it.
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Mark.
10,003 posts
145 months
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Some Gump said: people will presume I either have a small penis or no personality So with statements like that maybe a Griff would be right 
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PuffsBack
1,547 posts
94 months
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I have had both (and a Cerbera) You have more choice with a Chimaera however if you want a 500 then the roles are reversed. Silly I know but with the Griff I missed the mad wing mirror door buttons. Plus if you have have had a late Chimaera the boot of the Griff will come as a shock. The Chimaera (post 1997 I believe) boot lid opens much wider and the roof just drops in. The Griff boot lid only opens to about 60degrees and the roof only just squeezes in (check the mohair on the passenger side leading edge as its easily damaged by the boot) In terms of quality I thought the Chimaera (both my cars were 1999s and <15k miles) was slightly better put together, I am guessing just because the factory built more. Had the Chim 2 years and Griff 2 and half years and both were a joy to run. Neither ever broke down and other than a lose bit of trim etc nothing ever went wrong with them either. Personally I would go for a Griff 500 because as long as you keep the mileage down and take care of it you won't lose a penny in depreciation (plus the jump is power over a 400 or 450 Chimaera is noticable) One word of warning - Chassis - you want as rust free as possible. In my experience of 3 TVRS (and there are people who will completely disagree with me on this) but you want the most pampered low mileage garage queen you can find. My 2002 Cerbera for instance has virtually all the powder coatinng in place bar a tiny piece the size of my little finger nail flaking on one outrigger (now sorted )
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Podie
38,379 posts
144 months
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PuffsBack said: I have had both (and a Cerbera)
You have more choice with a Chimaera however if you what a 500 then the roles are reversed.
Silly I know but with the Griff I missed the mad wing mirror door buttons. Plus if you have have had a late Chimaera the boot of the Griff will come as a shock. The Chimaera (post 1997 I believe) boot lid opens much wider and the roof just drops in. The Griff boot lid only opens to about 60degrees and the roof only just squeezes in (check the mohair on the passenger side leading edge as its easily damaged by the boot)
In terms of quality I thought the Chimaera (both my cars were 1999s and <15k miles) was slightly better put together, I am guessing just because the factory built more.
Had the Chim 2 years and Griff 2 and half years and both were a joy to run. Neither ever broke down and other that a lose bit of trim etc nothing ever went wrong with them either.
Personally I would go for a Griff 500 because as long as you keep the mileage down and take care of it you won't lose a penny in depreciation (plus the jump is power over a 400 or 450 Chimaera is noticable)
One word of warning - Chassis - you want as rust free as possible. In my experience of 3 TVRS (and there are people who will completely disagree with me on this) but you want the most pampered low mileage garage queen you can find. My 2002 Cerbera for instance has virtually all the powder coatinng in place bar a tiny piece the size of my little finger nail on one outrigger. Good solid advice, with which I wholeheartedly agree.
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TVR500Morgan
624 posts
21 months
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Go along to your local TVR club meet (or ask on here) and ask to try both. See which is best for you, it's pointless asking on here as eveyone will just prefer their own car and everyone will start talking about chestwigs, medallions, wheelbarrow's, and MG's  still all good banter though .
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Some Gump
Original Poster
4,370 posts
55 months
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Thanks guys, thats exactly the sort of advice I'm after =)
Does anyone know how watertight I could expect either car to be? I've googled plenty "I have a leak here, what can I do about it" posts - but you get exactly the same internet chatter for every convertable ever made =)
[footnote]
PS - my comments about chest wigs are in jest - but you have to embrace the stereotype your car represents =) Now, I'm off to cut some hair, possibly bum a sailor, and save up for the 911 I can't afford =)[/footnote]
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Podie
38,379 posts
144 months
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My Chimaera lived outside. Never leaked. The S3c I had before didn't leak and the Griff doesn't leak either.
Some may leak - but it'll be a case of treating the fabric, or buying new seals. Not a big deal. There is also the option of a hood cover.
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Griffithy
373 posts
145 months
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"Chim or griff?"
If you are asking that question,
then it is definitely Chimaera for you!
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900T-R
18,560 posts
126 months
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If you prefer the looks of the Chimaera, you'd be daft to pay the premium for the Griff. None of them will become any cheaper than they are as long as they're being looked after, now barring a complete economic meltdown. Personally I'd steer away from the 500 and towards a 450 - more driveable, better balanced with the rest of the car & a stronger, more reliable engine being based on the RR 4.6 lump and not being stroked to within an inch of its life.
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Mark.
10,003 posts
145 months
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Some Gump said: [footnote]
PS - my comments about chest wigs are in jest - but you have to embrace the stereotype your car represents =) Now, I'm off to cut some hair, possibly bum a sailor, and save up for the 911 I can't afford =)[/footnote]  I think you'll fit in very well here. Leaks, as the chaps said, no 2 are the same, when the Chimaera lived outside it actually was watertight and that's because one tends to make sure it's so but finding every little leak because it's a PIA getting wet legs, arse, shirt. Now it's a garage queen I find it's less so because when these things do pop up but the time I've got home it's dry and then stored dry so tends not to sit leaking water. I think that makes sense.
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mr sagman
816 posts
105 months
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I would advise you to test drive both of them.
Then buy the Griff.... Its far rarer, Miles prettier, Will hold its value much better.
There you go a no brainer.
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domV8
704 posts
50 months
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Some Gump said: ...the net is always so full of woeful stories that I'd never have bought either of the current cars (for fear of IMS or DRS failures)... IMS is a Porsche problem (Boxster I believe?) Have no idea what DRS is... Don't think either of these failures relate to TVR's...
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Obiwonkeyblokey
4,848 posts
109 months
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PuffsBack said: I have had both (and a Cerbera) You have more choice with a Chimaera however if you want a 500 then the roles are reversed. Silly I know but with the Griff I missed the mad wing mirror door buttons. Plus if you have have had a late Chimaera the boot of the Griff will come as a shock. The Chimaera (post 1997 I believe) boot lid opens much wider and the roof just drops in. The Griff boot lid only opens to about 60degrees and the roof only just squeezes in (check the mohair on the passenger side leading edge as its easily damaged by the boot) In terms of quality I thought the Chimaera (both my cars were 1999s and <15k miles) was slightly better put together, I am guessing just because the factory built more. Had the Chim 2 years and Griff 2 and half years and both were a joy to run. Neither ever broke down and other than a lose bit of trim etc nothing ever went wrong with them either. Personally I would go for a Griff 500 because as long as you keep the mileage down and take care of it you won't lose a penny in depreciation (plus the jump is power over a 400 or 450 Chimaera is noticable) One word of warning - Chassis - you want as rust free as possible. In my experience of 3 TVRS (and there are people who will completely disagree with me on this) but you want the most pampered low mileage garage queen you can find. My 2002 Cerbera for instance has virtually all the powder coatinng in place bar a tiny piece the size of my little finger nail flaking on one outrigger (now sorted ) Ive had both and currently have a Cerbera.I would agree with this. My personal choice however is a Griff, rarer, holding values better and perceived by many to be a future classic.
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debaron
556 posts
66 months
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IMHO the Chimaera from the back end is one of the best looking cars ever. Utterly beautiful! The Griff in comparison looks like they let a YTS boy finish off the back end design!! From the front I also think the Chim looks better. The twin fog lights don't do it for me!!
Like has been said the 500's can be a bit highly strung - get yourself a 450. The engine they use (4.6 cross bolted) is one of the best variants.
At the end of the day, whichever you go for good luck - don't buy the first one you see and spend as you can comfortably afford on the best one you can. There's no such thing as a good cheap one!
Ryan
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macdeb
3,817 posts
124 months
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Had both. 94 griff leaked a bit [not much] 2000 griff didn't leak at all but didn't feel as quick as the 94. 2000 Chimaera doesn't leak at all even when jet washed and seems the better screwed together of the three. Agree on the rear end thing too also which one was the Cerbera styling based on? 
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