Thinking of buying a Grif or Chimera any thoughts
Discussion
Oooooo! Brave man starting the Griff v Chimaera thread!!! 
Whilst underneath there are a load of similarities, it is all about image.
Having owned and driven the Griff for over two years I wouldn't change a moment.
A few obvious differences:
Engine choice
Chimaera 4.0, 4.3, 4.5, 5.0
Griff 4.0, 4.3, 4.5, 5.0
But nearly all Griffs since '94 are the 500
Boot size
Do you play golf???
Slightly bigger boot on the Chimaera, and the roof is a tight fit on the Griff!
Lights (standard headlights)
Griffs are atrocious, Chimaeras, I believe, are just about OK
Numbers made
About 3 Chimaeras for every Griff
Er.....apart from how you open the doors, the only other difference is the body shape! Thus the Griff wins every time
Seriously go and see a few, drive a few and see what you like! Even though I am Griff man myself, I'd still have a Chimaera rather than just about any other car make!
Whilst underneath there are a load of similarities, it is all about image.
Having owned and driven the Griff for over two years I wouldn't change a moment.
A few obvious differences:
Engine choice
Chimaera 4.0, 4.3, 4.5, 5.0
Griff 4.0, 4.3, 4.5, 5.0
But nearly all Griffs since '94 are the 500
Boot size
Do you play golf???
Slightly bigger boot on the Chimaera, and the roof is a tight fit on the Griff!
Lights (standard headlights)
Griffs are atrocious, Chimaeras, I believe, are just about OK
Numbers made
About 3 Chimaeras for every Griff
Er.....apart from how you open the doors, the only other difference is the body shape! Thus the Griff wins every time
Seriously go and see a few, drive a few and see what you like! Even though I am Griff man myself, I'd still have a Chimaera rather than just about any other car make!
The cars are basically the same in terms of mechanicals. Most Griffs ate 500s, Whereas Chimearas are more frequently 400 / 450s. The Chimearas are marginally more practical, having a larger boot (for those golf clubs 
). They are both excellent cars -in your price range the Chimeara is much more common, though you can certainly pick up Griff 4.x and early 500's. Chimearas outnumber Griffs by around 3 to 1.
Edited to say; opps too slow, Beano got in there first...
Are planning on buying privately? Get a thorough inspection if you are - someone like Rob Ingleby can source quality vehicles for a modest sum.
Have you got any preferences so far?
>> Edited by julianhj on Tuesday 25th March 17:43
). They are both excellent cars -in your price range the Chimeara is much more common, though you can certainly pick up Griff 4.x and early 500's. Chimearas outnumber Griffs by around 3 to 1. Edited to say; opps too slow, Beano got in there first...
Are planning on buying privately? Get a thorough inspection if you are - someone like Rob Ingleby can source quality vehicles for a modest sum.
Have you got any preferences so far?
>> Edited by julianhj on Tuesday 25th March 17:43
the Griff has a glovebox, is considered a tad more hardcore (not because of the glovebox), they are both beautiful, reliable and highly un PC (which is reason enough in itself to buy one IMO)
edited to add see jamer at jamesagger motorsport on the home page (I could do with another friggin baseball hat)
>> Edited by apache on Tuesday 25th March 17:57
edited to add see jamer at jamesagger motorsport on the home page (I could do with another friggin baseball hat)
>> Edited by apache on Tuesday 25th March 17:57
ive owned both.first a chim,and now a griff(both 5 litre cars).i first fell in love with the griff after reading a c&sc article,then went to look for one and ended up buying a chim!the reason for this was that we couldnt decide between the two,but my wife prefered the colour of the chim!imo the chim is much more practical-larger boot which is also easier to stow the hood in btw,and a couple of recesses in the interior for bits and pieces,but only a pocket rather than a glovebox(griff glovebox is v.small anyway).however,i dont have the car for practical reasons so its no big deal,except maybe when touring.if i lost my griff-say it was written off,then id go and buy another griff,why?-purley for its looks.im still in love with it,probably more now than ever,i still keep reading the article(and others on the griff)and i still cant get enough of it.best material thing ive ever had/done and its nice that theyre a little more exclusive than chims.some might call my passion for it sad,but youll never see me sad in my griff!
Ignore comments refering to golf , of no consequence, get a full set plus trolley and room for roof to boot in the Griff`
Drove a Chimera once, believe it was built in Cawala Lumpa, it was a 4 litre and was great fun, handled like a Ford Zodiac on steroids, enourmouse fun , more grip than power you know, unlike the Griff which is the opposite, mind you, only get 150 miles on a full tank of the smelly stuff and sometimes don`t get to journeys end but what the hey , who cares, bottoms up old chap and tally ho !!!
Oh almost forgot, can`t really go out after dusk cos headlight wick must be low , needs replacing with brighter candle , sorry not much help, new crop of sloe gin in the cellar , must go, toodle oooo
Drove a Chimera once, believe it was built in Cawala Lumpa, it was a 4 litre and was great fun, handled like a Ford Zodiac on steroids, enourmouse fun , more grip than power you know, unlike the Griff which is the opposite, mind you, only get 150 miles on a full tank of the smelly stuff and sometimes don`t get to journeys end but what the hey , who cares, bottoms up old chap and tally ho !!!
Oh almost forgot, can`t really go out after dusk cos headlight wick must be low , needs replacing with brighter candle , sorry not much help, new crop of sloe gin in the cellar , must go, toodle oooo
Engine wise, I'd say it depends on what you're going to use it for as well.
I deliberately bought a 4 litre with PAS as it's my only car & used for the daily commute in London. I therefore had to take into consideration fuel costs, all types of weather etc.
Come dry Saturdays though, the car turns into my weekend toy as I blast all the coke out of the engine! (best of both worlds then).
As to choice- I've not driven a Griffith but, from what I've gathered, there's not a lot of difference between the two (of equal engine size of course).
If anything the Chimaera is a bit more of a (v. fast!) grand tourer because of slightly gentler handling and that larger boot.
Looks wise?- sorry, can't help- I love em both
Hope you buy one.
I deliberately bought a 4 litre with PAS as it's my only car & used for the daily commute in London. I therefore had to take into consideration fuel costs, all types of weather etc.
Come dry Saturdays though, the car turns into my weekend toy as I blast all the coke out of the engine! (best of both worlds then).
As to choice- I've not driven a Griffith but, from what I've gathered, there's not a lot of difference between the two (of equal engine size of course).
If anything the Chimaera is a bit more of a (v. fast!) grand tourer because of slightly gentler handling and that larger boot.
Looks wise?- sorry, can't help- I love em both
Hope you buy one.
I am thinking of buying a Griffith or Chimera for around 13-15K and am wondering what differences there are between the two?? Has anybody on here owned both of these cars?? Your comments would be appreciated.
I'm havin the same problem!! Got similer budget maybe 1K more, but have had a Cerbera 4.2 which makes it even harder to choose, coz i know that neither will match the C8ERA. Yet running the Cerb cost me a fortune! (9mths=£9K with no deprication!) So getting a Rover V8 engined TVR is the obvious choice.
mycerbera said:
I am thinking of buying a Griffith or Chimera for around 13-15K and am wondering what differences there are between the two?? Has anybody on here owned both of these cars?? Your comments would be appreciated.
I'm havin the same problem!! Got similer budget maybe 1K more, but have had a Cerbera 4.2 which makes it even harder to choose, coz i know that neither will match the C8ERA. Yet running the Cerb cost me a fortune! (9mths=£9K with no deprication!) So getting a Rover V8 engined TVR is the obvious choice.
9K - Jesus mate! nightmare! I've been deliberating about Tuscan/Cerb next, but stories like this just scare the bejesus out of me!
Thanks for all your comments, I personally think the Griff looks better but finding it hard to find a good one like you say! Its going to be a third car for me basically to travel the 15 miles to work and back during the summer so should be good fun!! I must say some of the running costs mentioned are a bit scary how many of you experience these type of costs??
Mike J Smith said:I must say some of the running costs mentioned are a bit scary how many of you experience these type of costs??
Excluding fuel and insurance, in the last 10 months my Griff has cost over £2800 to maintain. That included a 24k service, new camshaft, radiator, starter, alternator, clutch master cylinder, driveshaft work, 3 batteries and 2 front tyres. I've driven just over 5k miles. Mine's a '94 with 48k on the clock. This is obviously quite a lot of work in one year, but goes to show you can't predict what might go wrong.
Hopefully this coming year's running costs will be far smaller!
Mine's a '96N with 36K on the clock. I bought it in Dec 00 with 21K on it, the 24k service was part of the purchase price - those mentioned below have been carried out slightly early as a result.
Excluding depreciation & upgrades it has cost:
30K service at Mole Valley appx 400 quid.
36K service/diff mount bushes/steering UJ's/antiroll bar brackets at Peninsula = 950
2 sets of replacement tyres = 900
Exhaust flexi joint replaced (Mole Valley) = 200 (inc Mot)
I've also needed suspension bushes & rear discs replacing, but these were done at the same time as a suspension/brake upgrade. I reckon appx cost would be 500 quid.
I've gone thru' loads of brake pads, but that's down to using the car on the track (also a major factor in tyre costs). If you're willing & able to change the pads yourself it won't cost much more than 40 quid, or take more than an hour front or rear. On the road pad wear is minimal.
Excluding depreciation & upgrades it has cost:
30K service at Mole Valley appx 400 quid.
36K service/diff mount bushes/steering UJ's/antiroll bar brackets at Peninsula = 950
2 sets of replacement tyres = 900
Exhaust flexi joint replaced (Mole Valley) = 200 (inc Mot)
I've also needed suspension bushes & rear discs replacing, but these were done at the same time as a suspension/brake upgrade. I reckon appx cost would be 500 quid.
I've gone thru' loads of brake pads, but that's down to using the car on the track (also a major factor in tyre costs). If you're willing & able to change the pads yourself it won't cost much more than 40 quid, or take more than an hour front or rear. On the road pad wear is minimal.
I'm in the same dilemma.
Within budget you'll get a much later Chimaera than Griff, like for like on the mileage (say, 40-50k).
Griffs I reckon you'll be looking at a 4.x or an early 500. The problem, I understand, is that neither of these cars were fully sorted; 4.x in the handling department, early 500 with it's 'box.
So you can go for a 'sorted' 4.0 Chim but be labelled a softie (at least by Griff owners), or take a punt on a lairier (?), older, Griff.
I'm after a second car and whilst arguably getting less vfm to start with, I think I'll go the Griff route as they will hold their value better (IMO), and I'm in for the long term. Stuff the handling - it's supposed to go sideways.
Just to throw a spanner in the works though, you could get a Chim, save a grand and blow it on a late Cerbera style projector lamp upgrade. It transforms the car! (The looks - I don't care about the illumination).
Within budget you'll get a much later Chimaera than Griff, like for like on the mileage (say, 40-50k).
Griffs I reckon you'll be looking at a 4.x or an early 500. The problem, I understand, is that neither of these cars were fully sorted; 4.x in the handling department, early 500 with it's 'box.
So you can go for a 'sorted' 4.0 Chim but be labelled a softie (at least by Griff owners), or take a punt on a lairier (?), older, Griff.
I'm after a second car and whilst arguably getting less vfm to start with, I think I'll go the Griff route as they will hold their value better (IMO), and I'm in for the long term. Stuff the handling - it's supposed to go sideways.
Just to throw a spanner in the works though, you could get a Chim, save a grand and blow it on a late Cerbera style projector lamp upgrade. It transforms the car! (The looks - I don't care about the illumination).
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