From an S to a Chim...?
Discussion
Mines a daily driver, but I don't take it out in the wet
This is because I f
g hate waxoyling, not because of the [seventiesdiscovoice] "let's go round again" [/seventiesdiscovoice] handling
My point was it's spotless underneath an it might be for sale in your price bracket too (got (yet) another project on the horizon)
This is because I f
g hate waxoyling, not because of the [seventiesdiscovoice] "let's go round again" [/seventiesdiscovoice] handling My point was it's spotless underneath an it might be for sale in your price bracket too (got (yet) another project on the horizon)
'still really miss my S though, if I could go back I’d probably keep it over the Griff!'
Know how you feel Paul - I'd certainly be much richer if I'd stuck with the S3. Although maybe not; I'd probably have invested the difference and even Griffs didn't depreciate as much as the stockmarket - and I know which is more enjoyable!
Know how you feel Paul - I'd certainly be much richer if I'd stuck with the S3. Although maybe not; I'd probably have invested the difference and even Griffs didn't depreciate as much as the stockmarket - and I know which is more enjoyable!
Ok, my thoughs as promised yesterday.. Firstly there are two issues here, not one. One is the change from the S to the Chimaera and the other is the change from using the TVR for “fun” and then using it every day.
Firstly, the car change:
Pro’s
The 4.0 Chimaera is quicker by far, and can really give you a scare in second/third gear. Anyone who says there performance is not really noticeable surprises me, we’re talking a sub 5 second 0-60 with 240bhp and 270 lbsft Torque, versus a 7 second 0-60 with 160bhp and 170 lbsft Torque.
It also handles very very competently and in the Dry you can pull it around most corners at speed with minimal fuss, albeit a little tyre squeal.
The Chimaera is a more comfortable (some would say softer) ride, It also has a cavernous boot for those weekends away.. I know the S has a boot, but the Chim one is massive in comparision. The Chimaera dashboard is a joy to look at, and makes the slightly cramped style of the S look very poor by comparison, although amusingly I noticed the other day that some Early Griffs carry the S dials ! (albeit better laid out)
The Chimaera also has a certain “it’s a Supercar and I’m loaded” look to it and can look stunning from the right angles, plus you have a V8 rumble to make people turn and stare.
Con’s
The Chimaera is more expensive to buy, and more expensive to run. The S will (mine would anyway) do over 30 to the gallon, on unleaded, the Chimaera will do anywhere from 15 to 25mpg (only 23 for me) on Optimax.
Servicing for an S is cheaper (and many parts), and as the S is becoming more of a “Classic” car, there is an awful lot you can do to it yourself without affecting the value. Most people want to see a Full TVR or Good Independant service history with a Chimaera or Griff, however I would buy an S of someone who knew what they were doing and serviced and cared for the car themselves (as condition of the car, and owner attitude, knowledge and reputation would indicate good service history)
I think an S is more “fun” to drive, as you have a capable car that you can put on its limits at much lover speeds than the Chimaera.. I find that you have to be exceeding the speed limit everywhere in the Chim to get the tingling “I’m really driving this” sensation that can be achieved at 50mph in an S.
The Chimaera V8 is a great sound, however be aware that it only really sounds great when you are being driven past by one, when you’re driving it you really don’t enjoy the engine note as much as you do with the raw V6 sound which seems to be right behind your ears.
I have found that the stunning looks of the Chimaera fade with time… after a while the front of it starts to look a bit plain, and somehow I never had this with the S.
The fun to everyday thing.
As you know this was my plan too.. sell the S, and my other car and get the Chimaera for every day.. sounds great like that, however some cautionary points.
Doing 12,000 miles a year in a Chimaera is going to cost you something like £2350ish in Petrol, and £800+ in servicing (that’s 2 per year), plus your insurance and and odds and ends that can (will) go wrong or need replacing. This is significantly more than a daily runabout will cost you.
I bought my Chimaera in Autumn and began using it on a daily basis, and I can tell you that on a cold leafy rainy dark winter day, the last thing I wanted to get home in was the Chim, its no fun at all really.. I was just wanting a boring runabout with ABS, power steering, a stereo I could hear, an idle note that I couldn’t hear, and with comfy seats. Of course at the weekend when I actually wanted to “drive” it was a different matter, but for the catatonic commute home in the dark its not the right car.
Also bear in mind that your everyday car gets all the dings, scratches and scrapes that the numpty tossers of this world who cant drive, park, or see the corners of their cars dish out, and there is no peace of mind at all these days in leaving your car in a public carpark especially if it’s a Chimaera.
I found that using it every day was actually removing some of my enjoyment of the car, as it was no longer a “treat” to take myself out in it… forget “oo the suns out, shall we go in the TVR”, its “oo I’ve only got the one car and I need to get a bag of cement from the builders yard”
All IMO of course, sorry if it all seems negative I’m just trying to be helpful.. Fortunately I was able to hang on to another car to provide me with my daily runabout, therefore I’m not piling miles onto the TVR at too much of a rate either.
Cheers,
Matt.
>> Edited by M@H on Friday 18th July 14:40
Firstly, the car change:
Pro’s
The 4.0 Chimaera is quicker by far, and can really give you a scare in second/third gear. Anyone who says there performance is not really noticeable surprises me, we’re talking a sub 5 second 0-60 with 240bhp and 270 lbsft Torque, versus a 7 second 0-60 with 160bhp and 170 lbsft Torque.
It also handles very very competently and in the Dry you can pull it around most corners at speed with minimal fuss, albeit a little tyre squeal.
The Chimaera is a more comfortable (some would say softer) ride, It also has a cavernous boot for those weekends away.. I know the S has a boot, but the Chim one is massive in comparision. The Chimaera dashboard is a joy to look at, and makes the slightly cramped style of the S look very poor by comparison, although amusingly I noticed the other day that some Early Griffs carry the S dials ! (albeit better laid out)
The Chimaera also has a certain “it’s a Supercar and I’m loaded” look to it and can look stunning from the right angles, plus you have a V8 rumble to make people turn and stare.
Con’s
The Chimaera is more expensive to buy, and more expensive to run. The S will (mine would anyway) do over 30 to the gallon, on unleaded, the Chimaera will do anywhere from 15 to 25mpg (only 23 for me) on Optimax.
Servicing for an S is cheaper (and many parts), and as the S is becoming more of a “Classic” car, there is an awful lot you can do to it yourself without affecting the value. Most people want to see a Full TVR or Good Independant service history with a Chimaera or Griff, however I would buy an S of someone who knew what they were doing and serviced and cared for the car themselves (as condition of the car, and owner attitude, knowledge and reputation would indicate good service history)
I think an S is more “fun” to drive, as you have a capable car that you can put on its limits at much lover speeds than the Chimaera.. I find that you have to be exceeding the speed limit everywhere in the Chim to get the tingling “I’m really driving this” sensation that can be achieved at 50mph in an S.
The Chimaera V8 is a great sound, however be aware that it only really sounds great when you are being driven past by one, when you’re driving it you really don’t enjoy the engine note as much as you do with the raw V6 sound which seems to be right behind your ears.
I have found that the stunning looks of the Chimaera fade with time… after a while the front of it starts to look a bit plain, and somehow I never had this with the S.
The fun to everyday thing.
As you know this was my plan too.. sell the S, and my other car and get the Chimaera for every day.. sounds great like that, however some cautionary points.
Doing 12,000 miles a year in a Chimaera is going to cost you something like £2350ish in Petrol, and £800+ in servicing (that’s 2 per year), plus your insurance and and odds and ends that can (will) go wrong or need replacing. This is significantly more than a daily runabout will cost you.
I bought my Chimaera in Autumn and began using it on a daily basis, and I can tell you that on a cold leafy rainy dark winter day, the last thing I wanted to get home in was the Chim, its no fun at all really.. I was just wanting a boring runabout with ABS, power steering, a stereo I could hear, an idle note that I couldn’t hear, and with comfy seats. Of course at the weekend when I actually wanted to “drive” it was a different matter, but for the catatonic commute home in the dark its not the right car.
Also bear in mind that your everyday car gets all the dings, scratches and scrapes that the numpty tossers of this world who cant drive, park, or see the corners of their cars dish out, and there is no peace of mind at all these days in leaving your car in a public carpark especially if it’s a Chimaera.
I found that using it every day was actually removing some of my enjoyment of the car, as it was no longer a “treat” to take myself out in it… forget “oo the suns out, shall we go in the TVR”, its “oo I’ve only got the one car and I need to get a bag of cement from the builders yard”
All IMO of course, sorry if it all seems negative I’m just trying to be helpful.. Fortunately I was able to hang on to another car to provide me with my daily runabout, therefore I’m not piling miles onto the TVR at too much of a rate either.
Cheers,
Matt.
>> Edited by M@H on Friday 18th July 14:40
Podie said:
Podie said:
OK, so everyone wants to go back to an S, yet no one wants to swap...
I might.
Cheers,
Matt.
Why?
well you've read them now :P ..a potential swap could be considered assuming I can get over the colour of your car.. (they normally have to be blue for me
)danielson said:
cheers matt, thats just pissed on my fireworks :-(
can anyone come back with a counter as to why a chim is a good "only car" before i start to get the major camel with my plans..
Danny (who no longer cares that its friday...)
Its all IMO Dan don't take it all to heart
, there are people here who love using them as an everyday car, a lot of it depends on how far you have to drive to work and how much money you have. If I worked 5 miles from home and had a works carpark I'd just have the Chimaera I expect, but as I'm so tight I squeak when I walk, a lot of what put me off was the running costs. Cheers
Matt
M@H said:
M@H said:
Podie said:
OK, so everyone wants to go back to an S, yet no one wants to swap...
I might.
Cheers,
Matt.
Why?
well you've read them now :P ..a potential swap could be considered assuming I can get over the colour of your car.. (they normally have to be blue for me
You call THAT blue?!?!
, so I think you've just explained why everyone should by a V8S 
, apart for the large boot bit PeterC said:
Matt
I think someone should frame your reply and hang it on the wall. It was a very accurate and informative piece and should be referred to when this topic comes around again - as it will.
Peter, I agree with you about Matt's reply, not having had the benefit of driving or owning a Chim and having only had the S for the 8 weeks since you relinquished ownership
there are a number of points that Matt makes that I think are the essence of owning an S, the sound, the handling, the classic styling and the ease of maintenance and subsequent lower cost of ownership but mostly it is about the sheer fun of driving it. Podie -
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