A few Q's from a TVR & PH Newbie....

[monkeypilot]

Hello Redleicester! I'm new to PH too but I've had the Chimp (I reserve the right to call it that as it's the same colours as ITV's monkey - hence the name) for 15 months and clocked up 20k miles. I use it in all weathers and it's been almost completely reliable. Well as reliable as any other car I've had. It's a 4.0 HC which is allegedly more grunty than the standard 4.0 but I think it depends on the individual car and a P plater which is the restyled front version. Definitely get the bible as it's SO useful on TVR oddities and a cover as they do leak a little here and there. I've had non-franchise service as I can't afford main dealer. I'm not bowled over by my local dealer anyway.
As I say 15 months in....and I love it. Do it and you won't regret it.

[MikeyT]

M@H said:

can't comment I have a dark blue dash top.. regarding half leather, with full leather, the seat backs (and transmission tunnel??) are leather too instead of "imitation" stuff.

Also, on the full leather models the doors have leather in the middle as opposed to carpet

They all look good though - if you find your 'perfect' car and it's only got 1/2 leather, don't let it bother you - if it comes with it then great.

As M@H said though, buy on condition, condition and condition

[phlap]

Hi Red Leicester
I second all advice given here. By following such sage advice from these loons I bought a beauty.

I would try a 4, 4.5 and 5 litre in the interests of science.
Now I love my little 400 but 9 months on Im already checking the classifieds for a 500.

Mine is used every day, doesnt leak and is just so much damn fun.
Last week we had to rely on the 'unreliable' Tiv when our 'sensible' VW Golf packed up.

Couldnt recommend a Chim highly enough.

[Big Al.]

Gazboy said:

Interesting thread, and one of the most interesting and enlightening about TVR's I've read in a while, a Chimera/Griffith 4.0/4.3/4.5 is on my shortlist, but how much difference in performance is there between the different cars and engines? Don't mean to sound condescending but if I had a 4.0 would I get bored/used to the power quicker than one of the larger engines, or is there not much difference?

I have been driving my 4 ltr Chim now for just over a year. Today I took out my first 5 ltr Griff.
I was to say the least very impressed.

Sound and solid drive with plenty of power in all gears.

Have I missed the power in the last year? No not really, but I will in the future.

I never drove a 5 ltr at time of purchase, so I didn't at the time have any comparison. Saw and drove the car I brought, because at the time it felt right for me.

I feel if I had of test drove a 5 ltr, the power may have been just that little bit too much.

I feel fairly confident now that I could manage a 5 ltr now in most weathers, under normal driving conditions.

I did get the chance to drive a Tuscan a couple of months back, now that was an ANIMAL. AWESOME even in the dry.. very very impressed, but an everyday car? The jury's still out on that one!

So what should you choose...."TRY THEM ALL" and then decide. OH

[V8 Archie]

I only drove my 4.5 before I bought, but it has more large potatoes than I cna fry right now. I don't expect a 5l to be too great a step up.

On the other hand, my experience in a T350C last Saturday was mind-blowing, even in the pg rain. The Chim felt positively pedestiran afterwards (well for a few mile anyway ).

[M@H]

V8 Archie said:

I only drove my 4.5 before I bought, but it has more large potatoes than I cna fry right now. I don't expect a 5l to be too great a step up.

Not 100% convinced about that.. I managed to get fairly scared in a 5l Griff by Johno.. there is more in the difference than just a few bhp as you are getting closer and closer to the practical limits of standard road tyres and grip when you boot it..

Matt.

[ribol]

I would like to know where people make use of all this extra power? I live in a small place called England where we have crap roads and limitless photo opportunities. I have a lowly Chim 400 and tend to run out of road long before I run out of power. Yes I have driven faster cars, yes I enjoyed it, but if I drove those cars like that all the time on public roads it would not do much for my NCB or license. The fact a car can do 160mph instead of 150mph is academic to me, it is not something I am going to do.
If I lived somewhere where I could drive like I would want to……………now that is another story

Ivan