is there a big difference?

[bellerophon]

The time is approaching when at last I get into a chimaera, but Still a little undecided about the 4.0 or 4.5. seems to be a lot more choice of a 4.0 but would i really miss the power diffence in the long term. thanks in advance for the many helpful and informative unbiased replies...

[MikeyT]

You gotta go have a drive in them all really. Only then will you know. No amount of posting on here will tell you what you'll feel when you're behind the wheel on the open road ...

Go book those test drives ...

[Marshy]

But if money's tight, don't drive a 500. If you do, get on friendly terms with the mortgage people... fast...

[hughjayteens]

I have a 400 and love it to death - Went in a 500 on Saturday and the difference is amzing!!!

I'd get a 400 if money is tight, or a 500 if it's not!!

450s aren't really any cheaper than 500 and not enough quicker than the 400 to justify the extra cost IMHO.

[xain]

I don't think the 500's are much more expensive second hand than 400s. The fuel economy is fairly close (I get about 21 mpg from mine) and the insurance is often exactly the same.

I do wonder occasionally about how stressed the engine, cooling system and other ancilliaries are though...

[hughjayteens]

When I was looking it was about £2k more for an equivalent 500, whoch then means you could get a much newer/lower miles/better spec 400 for the same cash as an older/higher mileage 500 etc etc...

The 500 seemed a lot happier being driven hard, and less happy pottering about (whoch I sadly do being in London)...

[kevinday]

quote:
II do wonder occasionally about how stressed the engine, cooling system and other ancilliaries are though...

Not very, the output is around 60bhp/litre for either variant, and the revs are not excessive. Modern engines and ancillaries are often up to 100bhp/litre and rev a couple of thousand rpm higher, I would worry about those!

[trefor]

If you find the right car with the right spec that you want and it's a 500 go for it. They are muc gruntier than the 4 litre or the 4.5.

I have a 4 litre and 99% of the time it has plenty of power (as an MX5 driver found out this morning, hehehe). The 1% of the time when I need more power is when trying to chase bikers or when a new M3 pulls up next to me at the lights.

Given the choice I'd have a 5 litre though ...

Trefor/.

[buzzsaw]

I went for the 4.5L instead of the 5.0L as a compromise between performance & reliability/driveability. I had heard that the 5.0 Ls were more prone to overheating and harder to drive around town in traffic. Admittedly, I haven't driven a 5.0L but have driven both a 4.0L & my 4.5L. I noticed a big difference in performance (from the 'butt dyno').

[plotloss]

The major difference between the 450 and the 500 is that all the extra bhp in the 500 is way down low in the rev range, there is hardly any difference to top end power.

Matt.

[apache]

in answer to your first question.......YES, I first drove a couple of 4.5's and was impressed, then I got in a 5.0 and it was the first time I felt in awe of a car, there is a serious amount of grunt in these things.....if you need to ask then JFDI before the government ban it

[jacko500]

I went for the Chimaera 500 as a Cerbera compromise! It is all a question of budget. If you can afford it I would definately get the 500 as it has far more torque in the lower "usable" rev range. The only thing I cant get it to do is spit flames but I'm guessing someone on here can give me advice in that department!

[dr chuff]

It's another shameless plug (sorry Ted), but:

There's a rather nice Chimaera 500 for sale on this site. Tornado chip and remapped engine so more power than the average 500, Tarox brakes so it can stop, and roll bar and harnesses in case it doesn't.

Only 19950 or reasonably close offer.

I had a 4 litre, test drove a 4.5, then a 5 litre, and had to buy it. No question. It has never overheated, or been difficult to drive in traffic. It has idled happily for a couple of hours in searing summer sun on the M4, which is more than I can say for myself. One's feet may get a little hotter in a 5 litre!

Dr C

[straga]

I've had a 4.0 for 2 years (20,000 trouble free & fun miles) and there have been a few occasions when I would have enjoyed more performance but not many. The 400 is bloody quick and takes a bit of time to get used to. You would have to be a very experienced driver to be able to exploit the difference unless drag racing is your particular thing. I'd try them all and just go with the one in the best condition.

[apache]

dr chuff, where'd ya get that chip work done?

[dr chuff]

Apache,

Chip was supplied and fitted by Mark Adams, then rolling road tuned at Power Engineering in Uxbridge. Total cost about 700 GBP.

Dr C

[xain]

I can confirm that a 5L is not difficult in traffic. I commute out of London every day, so part of my journey is busy town roads and queuing traffic, part is motorway and part is quiet (until I arrive) country roads.

It loves them all.

[bellerophon]

Well thanks for all the advice guys, didnt expect soo many replies.. If i can find a S 'ish' plate 500 at around the £22k mark then I think that may be the option I will go for , maybe in a nice imperial/iris blue, and the full complement of dead cows.. maybe see some of you in the summer,,

thanks...

[bellerophon]

Well thanks for all the advice guys, didnt expect soo many replies.. If i can find a S 'ish' plate 500 at around the £22k mark then I think that may be the option I will go for , maybe in a nice imperial/iris blue, and the full complement of dead cows.. maybe see some of you in the summer,,

and to think i was going to but a TT.....

thanks...

[lateconvert]

Agree with Xain. My 500 has no problem with sub-2000rpm, traffic, over-heating - in fact I'm getting embarrassed to have nothing to winge about.