Chim to Tamora

[chris watton]

I went from Chim 450 to Tamora almost 10 years' ago now. when it came to choosing another car last year, it had to be another Tamora, it is so much more fun and predictable on the twisties (assuming you don't just want a point and squirt car..)

[TOV!E]

SILICONEKID346HP said:

The Tamora wipes the floor when it comes to handling ,engine wise if you like high revving engines and expensive services then go for it .

Edited by SILICONEKID346HP on Thursday 24th April 21:41

Don't agree with the servicing quote, there are so many indys out there now servicing is quite cheap now, but remember it is not a Mondeo,,,,

[Zippee]

TBH both cars are so quick that you won't notice much in speed differential, hence a well driven Chim would keep up with a well driven Tam or 350. It's the feel of the cars that is so different.
A 500 Chim off the line would match a 3.6 Tam or T350 (my 4.3 on the other hand ) so to talk about differneces between the V8s and S6s in terms of speed is pretty much a moot point.
You really need to drive one on a variety of roads and speeds, they do take some getting used to, especially in terms of power delivery if it's a standard 3.6 but 6 years in now with my T350 and I love it. It has however, been a very expensive car to maintain and ensure you keep an engine fund if it's not already had a rebuild. Mine let go because of a duff half time bearing rather than the usual S6 issues - prior to that it was a very strong and healthy engine so just be prepared.
Clutches are also a weak point compared to the RV8 cars.

[QBee]

That was a very fair appraisal Zippee.

Advice with S6 is always buy one that has already had the factory or TVR Power rebuild, as it will most likely need one sooner or later if not.

I guess it partly comes down to what you have driven before.
If, like me, your daily driver has the red line at 4250 rpm , and the previous two cars, even though they were 150 mph +saloons, both maxed at around 6000 rpm, then the RV8 feels natural and wonderfully torquey.
If you had an M3, an Elise, or an S2000, for example, then the S6 will feel more natural.

[madbadger]

gacksen said:

you cant compare it. it is just different. having a t350 and the chim is way more of an easy to live with car.
t350 spoecial occasions only. could not think about driving it daily. would be way to much of a hazzle.
its fast it has plenty of power and it will kill you if you cross the line.... chim will of course also but
in a different way.

if you miss something with the chim get a proper geo setup and different dampers plus tires.... it will transorm the car

Tamora is fine as an only car. I used mine as a daily between 2004 and 2008. No one died.

It is cheaper to run two cars, though.

[SILICONEKID346HP]

This shows you how nimble they are .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJrP8Pg2xTQ

[GTRene]

Is a tamora (350hp) that must faster/better to drive on a circuit as the examples in this video? even the 420hp Cerbera?

http://youtu.be/DoI7IkrrQDU

[SteveSPG]

SILICONEKID346HP said:

I would jump for the chance of a LS Tamora

Edited by SILICONEKID346HP on Thursday 24th April 22:13

pretty easy conversion.....

i sat on the fence for a little while about doing one, but after using a speed 6 it never "clicked' with me, just missed the big torque too much

also wondered if the "best handling" label the tam had was due to its smaller less powerful speed 6, but it really does handle the LS tq and power very well.

I'm a happy bunny with mine

[macdeb]

QBee said:

Advice with S6 is always buy one that has already had the factory or TVR Power rebuild, as it will most likely need one sooner or later if not.

Sorry mate, not nit-picking but that statement is flawed. Power rebuild = good, very good.
Factory rebuild however? I knew a guy in the TVRCC and he had a 15k mile t350 that was on it's fourth [count 'em], FOURTH rebuild the last of which didn't last the running in period and sort of confirmed my decision to sell.
But, don't mean to stir up that old can of worms

PS; I've seen Zippe's car a couple of times, it's a beaut' and makes me wonder sometimes,,,, what if?,,,,,,,,,.
But for now 458 suits me fine

Edited by macdeb on Friday 25th April 14:48

[phazed]

SteveSPG said:

pretty easy conversion.....



also wondered if the "best handling" label the tam had was due to its smaller less powerful speed 6

Now, that makes perfect sense!

There isn't a huge difference between the two although the chims torque can get you in to trouble

[Walford]

SteveSPG said:

SILICONEKID346HP said:

I would jump for the chance of a LS Tamora

Edited by SILICONEKID346HP on Thursday 24th April 22:13

pretty easy conversion.....

i sat on the fence for a little while about doing one, but after using a speed 6 it never "clicked' with me, just missed the big torque too much

also wondered if the "best handling" label the tam had was due to its smaller less powerful speed 6, but it really does handle the LS tq and power very well.

I'm a happy bunny with mine

The 3.6 makes it easy to drive,
once you drop an LS in you really have a car more suited to a professional driver, the way the power comes in on the Chevy makes it massively quicker through traffic, the 50mph to 100 happens so quick, plus you,ve taken out 40kg from the engine and put it on the gearbox, so should see big improvement in balance(polar)

[SILICONEKID346HP]

TOV!E said:

Don't agree with the servicing quote, there are so many indys out there now servicing is quite cheap now, but remember it is not a Mondeo,,,,

Ok its always going to cost more than the old V8 ! 1200 miles servicing is more involved ..

[BabyDriver]

You'll miss the V8. They're so talky and I just love listening to them.

Edited by BabyDriver on Saturday 26th April 10:56

[chris watton]

Let's not forget that most T350's and quite a few late Tuscans were also fitted with the 3.6 S6 - this engine is not slow!

I remember loving my Chim 450, the low down torque was great, but perhaps too much for the chassis, which made it less fun on the twisties as, at the back of my mind I knew that it can bite any time. It also ran out of puff quite early in the revs - after 5k or so, it dropped off. At 5k on the S6, it just gets better and pulls stronger than any standard TVR RV8. For me, after the 450, this engine was a revelation - I could never go back, not after knowing just how well the S6 (even in the 'baby' 3.6 guise) behaves when using it properly.

I think the newer LS3/7 engines are a different matter - but you need at least £24k (I looked into it...) if you're not doing the conversion yourself....

[mart 63]

Decided to keep the Chim,i keep looking at it and thinking I must be mad to get rid of it.If I didn't get on with a Tamora,i would be hard pushed to find another Chim in as good condition as mine, for the money I was going to let it go for.So its a keeper.Thanks for all the input guys.

Mart

[phazed]

Just a note for the future if you want a little more speed then that's entirely possible.

A few years ago on track, my tweaked 5.0 chim was practically identical performance as a mates T350 4.0RR.

Different delivery but similar outcome.

[Quinny]

mart 63 said:

Decided to keep the Chim,i keep looking at it and thinking I must be mad to get rid of it.If I didn't get on with a Tamora,i would be hard pushed to find another Chim in as good condition as mine, for the money I was going to let it go for.So its a keeper.Thanks for all the input guys.
Mart

I've known mart for a long time............ I always thought he was a bit indecisive....... Now I just can't make up my mind about him

[macdeb]

BabyDriver said:

You'll miss the V8. They're so talky and I just love listening to them.

Edited by BabyDriver on Saturday 26th April 10:56

I like the way mine torques back.

[QBee]

phazed said:

Just a note for the future if you want a little more speed then that's entirely possible.

A few years ago on track, my tweaked 5.0 chim was practically identical performance as a mates T350 4.0RR.

Different delivery but similar outcome.

Last time I was in that situation I hauled the T350 in and got past him. Couldn't catch Fastboychim, who was just in front of the T350, in his 4 litre SC Chim, however. You made the right decision IMHO (until the next time the itch has to be scratched)

[EGB]

Have read somewhere that a well sorted Griff Chim 500 is faster to 100mph than many T cars. T cars have to rev to get off the line. Tricky in a lights drag !!

Standard Griff 500 X Ferrari 430
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuirtJ9_1ao

Standard Griff 500 X Tuscan 2S
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3D6GMTrn1Y