I may be going...
Discussion
Hi chaps,
A little while ago I had a bit of a crisis when I was playing with the idea of upgrading to a Chimaera. I managed to repel the notion that time but now it seems to have come back big style and I fear I will not be able to resist this time. I have seen a nice one that I wouldn't mind having so may be letting the old girl go to make way for a Chimaera.
Roy.
A little while ago I had a bit of a crisis when I was playing with the idea of upgrading to a Chimaera. I managed to repel the notion that time but now it seems to have come back big style and I fear I will not be able to resist this time. I have seen a nice one that I wouldn't mind having so may be letting the old girl go to make way for a Chimaera.
Roy.
Roy_S2 said:
Go for it, you won't regret it.
Thats the biggest problem, I know I will. But I`m also sure that I will regret it if I don't do it. Woe is me! How do you make a decision like this??
Roy.
you wont forget your S, as I am certain most former owners wont forget - they always hold a candle for their old S - largely because it was their introduction to TVR. You also will never worry that if you were skint and needed to "downgrade" to an S again that it would ever be a hardship. But, and its a big but, the love affair continues further down the TVR line.
well I am a bit of a speed freak and I knew I had to get something quicker. My S was a quick example anyway but i needed the V8 speed so i had little option other than a V8S. its an odd reason that i didnt get a V8S but almost as though as I had an S already i couldnt justify a load of cash for the same car, only quicker. 
yet that is what i was really out to achieve.
I have no regrets, whilst M@H has come back to an S, that is largely financial reasons and I agree that if i wanted to use the equity elsewhere (as M@H's done) I wouldnt hesitate in buying another S. The number of Griff and Chim owners that have formerly had an S is enough to know its a good start to move upwards from.
Have you driven a Chim? I assume you have but if not, make sure you do. Its not as direct in the handling dept as far as I am concerned. If you can live without that, then everything else is a step up from the S. My real negative being the feedback is not as good but a long way. But other than that, the fact the S was a £13k entry car shines through when you change to a later more expensive Tiv. Just gives more credit to the enjoyment that can be had for so little money with the S though.
All sounds very negative towards the S and not what I truly believe - IMHO the chim is only 1/10 better in every dept except the steering feedback, but add up all those 1/10's and it makes a far superior car. Not enough to generally mean you grin any more than when you are driving the S, or indeed enough to justify the extra cost, but enough that if the option is available, its worth doing.
yet that is what i was really out to achieve. I have no regrets, whilst M@H has come back to an S, that is largely financial reasons and I agree that if i wanted to use the equity elsewhere (as M@H's done) I wouldnt hesitate in buying another S. The number of Griff and Chim owners that have formerly had an S is enough to know its a good start to move upwards from.
Have you driven a Chim? I assume you have but if not, make sure you do. Its not as direct in the handling dept as far as I am concerned. If you can live without that, then everything else is a step up from the S. My real negative being the feedback is not as good but a long way. But other than that, the fact the S was a £13k entry car shines through when you change to a later more expensive Tiv. Just gives more credit to the enjoyment that can be had for so little money with the S though.
All sounds very negative towards the S and not what I truly believe - IMHO the chim is only 1/10 better in every dept except the steering feedback, but add up all those 1/10's and it makes a far superior car. Not enough to generally mean you grin any more than when you are driving the S, or indeed enough to justify the extra cost, but enough that if the option is available, its worth doing.
..yep, mainly Financial as Shnozz says, but I am really enjoying having a "little" S again. Shnozz is also spot on about the handling and feel of the chimaera not being as crisp, but the sheer power of the V8 is very captivating.
Seriously consider this though... The "oo..I'm on the edge of the handling envelope of the car.. oo this is fun.." feeling that you can get with the S at 50-60 mph (or less), you need to be doing 100+ in a Chimaera to experience, and the repercussions at that speed put you off a lot..
I found that I was getting a little frustrated with the real competence of the handling of the chimaera, coupled to the less comunicative "feel", making the everyday "driving" experience less fun.
Sounds stupid I know.. Drive one.. and drive it hard before you buy... and then you'll realise you need both.
Louise and I have already agreed that when we can afford another Chimaera, she can have it and I'll keep my S... best of both worlds then
Cheers,
Matt.
>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 2nd March 16:41
Seriously consider this though... The "oo..I'm on the edge of the handling envelope of the car.. oo this is fun.." feeling that you can get with the S at 50-60 mph (or less), you need to be doing 100+ in a Chimaera to experience, and the repercussions at that speed put you off a lot..
I found that I was getting a little frustrated with the real competence of the handling of the chimaera, coupled to the less comunicative "feel", making the everyday "driving" experience less fun.
Sounds stupid I know.. Drive one.. and drive it hard before you buy... and then you'll realise you need both.
Louise and I have already agreed that when we can afford another Chimaera, she can have it and I'll keep my S... best of both worlds then
Cheers,
Matt.
>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 2nd March 16:41
Thanks for your thoughts Shnozz. I actually haven't at this moment in time 'driven' a Chim, but have been a passenger in a few. Speed is not an issue for me. I have always loved the styling of the Chim and, though it may not be a valid reason to many for uprgading, is one of the main reasons I feel I want one now. Another reason being that, as you hinted at in your views, the S is a little too 'directionable' for me. I think I may prefer the more docile feel of the Chim. I fully intend to test drive a few before I buy, if indeed I do even buy. There has also been a little pressure from the missus about getting a more modern TVR, though this hasen't really influenced my choice.
I think I may have convinced myself here.
Roy.
I think I may have convinced myself here.
Roy.
Thanks for your thought also M@H. I'm not that fast a driver, and driving with any great pace in the S (eg in convoy on a run out) I have always found a little bit too much for me. A good friend of mine who has a Chim said once that it's very easy to drive a Chim fast whereas I have always found driving an S fast hard work (not that I don't enjoy it, I think I would just prefer to make it a bit easier). I will be seeking out a few test drives soon. The reason I hadn't already is because I know I would want one if I drove one and up until recently I did think I wanted to change that badly.
Roy.
Roy.
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