Which TVR for daily short distance use? Wedge S Chim or Grif

[akwaaba]

I have a Tuscan, which I use once or twice a week, but as I limit the revs until the oil is thoroughly warmed up, it doesn't feel suitable for lots of short trips (work, shops, pub etc - all are less than 4 miles). It hasn't had a re-build .... crosses fingers its one of the early models that may not need it?

So which model is most suitable? Wedge, S, Chim or Griff? Which engine Ford V6 or RV8
Then will it be better to over pay for a mint, or buy cheaply and work through the list of problems (have no space nor tools nor time and no patience to do very much myself - I'm sorry to admit!)

Not so concerned about reliability, as I suspect that condition, condition and condition, along with history will be more important than one model being much more reliable than others. Guess that the older, the harder to get spares. That running costs will depend more on condition and driving style than model ... does this sound right? Anyways, high teens MPG in a V8 vs low 20s MPG in a V6 over 80 miles a week isn't as significant as the general wear and tear through so many short distances.

Am dreaming at the moment, but hoping to turn into reality in the spring - yet to work out the budget, but likely to be somewhere between £4000 and £9000. (My business is growing - projections suggest the range)

I'm guessing the best model to go for is a Chim 400? Followed by a 290S. All twitchy, but all Griffs, and Chim 500 bit out of my budget, and too twitchy in the rain. Wedge most likely to have electrical problems, and doesn't like lots of short trips?

OR just rack up the miles in the Tuscan, paying much more in servicing and parts?

Looked but didn't see much that helped, when considering the type of use
Please share your opinions - I'll be very interested to hear them ... Thank you!

[pwd95]

I think you've got most of it right. The only thing I'd say is short journeys aren't very good for 'cat's' so a pre-cat Griff or a Wedge would be better from that point of view. A good Wedge will be as reliable as a Griff/Chim but they are twitchier. Weight distribution not as good, especially in the wet.

[The Lukas]

Sorry did you say the V8 is more economical than the V6? It's just that I've heard overwise.

Out of that list: a Chimaera will seem to be most 'normal' car like. The rest tend to be a bit more 'hardcore'. The S will be simple and may be by a very small margin a bit more cost effective to buy and to run.

[pk500]

i got a chim 500 and a tasmin 200 , the tasmin is great as an every day driver mpg is good easy to drive its a 2 ltr ford pinto in it with a 5 speed box , the chim is for fun dont care what fuel it uses its the grin on my face what counts not so good for evey day use

[akwaaba]

pwd95 said:

I think you've got most of it right. The only thing I'd say is short journeys aren't very good for 'cat's' so a pre-cat Griff or a Wedge would be better from that point of view. A good Wedge will be as reliable as a Griff/Chim but they are twitchier. Weight distribution not as good, especially in the wet.

Thanks for your reply. I'd heard something like that somewhere - but don't think I've seen it online. So a 4.0 Griff! However, its just occurred to me that some Chim have power steering. If so anone know if they are like the Power Steering on a Tuscan (still really heavy)

Edited by akwaaba on Wednesday 17th August 19:23

[akwaaba]

The Lukas said:

Sorry did you say the V8 is more economical than the V6? It's just that I've heard overwise.

Out of that list: a Chimaera will seem to be most 'normal' car like. The rest tend to be a bit more 'hardcore'. The S will be simple and may be by a very small margin a bit more cost effective to buy and to run.

Thanks for your answer. I think I was expecting high teens for the V8, and hoping for something in the 20s for the V6 - considering the nature of the short trips I'd likely to be doing.

I was thinking Chimaera, didn't know how well the V8 will cope with the nature of use, maybe a decent journey ever so often will help it cope.

[akwaaba]

pk500 said:

i got a chim 500 and a tasmin 200 , the tasmin is great as an every day driver mpg is good easy to drive its a 2 ltr ford pinto in it with a 5 speed box , the chim is for fun dont care what fuel it uses its the grin on my face what counts not so good for evey day use

Thanks for your reply. Aren't both of those pretty rare! The Tasmin 200 in particular, weren't they only available for a year or 2, a low cost TVR not being as popular as they expected? What is the performance like, fairly good I expect. seems as though you have the same attitude to fuel for the Chim 500 as I do for my Tuscan .... every drop is worth it!

[pk500]

the 200 tasmin they made 45 convertable and only 9 coupes i got mine by sheer luck , its no way a fast car compared with todays standard but every thing on it is cheap and its something different !

akwaaba said:

Thanks for your reply. Aren't both of those pretty rare! The Tasmin 200 in particular, weren't they only available for a year or 2, a low cost TVR not being as popular as they expected? What is the performance like, fairly good I expect. seems as though you have the same attitude to fuel for the Chim 500 as I do for my Tuscan .... every drop is worth it!

Edited by pk500 on Wednesday 17th August 19:42

[akwaaba]

pk500 said:

Edited by pk500 on Wednesday 17th August 19:42

They look fantastic, actually it was an advert of a TVR the colour scheme that first really caught my attention, and started my interest in the marque. When one rumbled past me, with the exhaust note bouncing of the buildings ... thats when I got hooked!

[pk500]

the black and gold is jps colours apparantly only 5 or 6 were made ! the chim is flip from blue to green , but the rumble of the v8 made me want one , had it over 6 years now , there a couple of wedges on classified quite cheap ! you could buy use for a while and get ya money back but always check the chassis!

Edited by pk500 on Wednesday 17th August 19:54

[pk500]

is see your tvr is a proper in ya face colour

akwaaba said:

They look fantastic, actually it was an advert of a TVR the colour scheme that first really caught my attention, and started my interest in the marque. When one rumbled past me, with the exhaust note bouncing of the buildings ... thats when I got hooked!

[akwaaba]

pk500 said:

is see your tvr is a proper in ya face colour

Yeah - subtle it ain't
to be honest - I wasn't so keen on the colour, but it was a good price,
and lots of people seem to think it looks great in purple!

The only problem with it, can't really use it everyday.
And my Land Rover Discovery isn't anywhere near as much fun ... so need to find something to use everyday ... which is as much fun as a TVR. So I guess it'll need to be a TVR then!

[Pacman1972]

I think you're spot on with a Chim 400 (maybe a 450)

Recently moved to the Tuscan from a Chim 500 and share your sentiments. I live a couple of miles from my office and wouldn't drive the Tuscan without a proper warm up. Occasionally I take a 15 mile detour to the office just for the hell of it but most days just default back to my regualar car.

I did use the Chim more often (weather permitting) although I will say that it averaged 9MPG on short journeys as apposed to 25MPG on a long run. I suspect a 400 would be much better in that respect.

Love the Tuscan, but didn't realise I'd miss the Chim so much

[techbotics]

I use my S3 for short journey to work. Love it pretty ecenomical too. I bought a poor one and fixed it up more expensive but you know it's sorted.

Damian S3

[akwaaba]

Pacman1972 said:

I think you're spot on with a Chim 400 (maybe a 450)

Recently moved to the Tuscan from a Chim 500 and share your sentiments. I live a couple of miles from my office and wouldn't drive the Tuscan without a proper warm up. Occasionally I take a 15 mile detour to the office just for the hell of it but most days just default back to my regualar car.

I did use the Chim more often (weather permitting) although I will say that it averaged 9MPG on short journeys as apposed to 25MPG on a long run. I suspect a 400 would be much better in that respect.

Love the Tuscan, but didn't realise I'd miss the Chim so much

Thank you for your reply, especially from someone who has moved from a Chim to a Tuscan. I'd hope that a 400 would be a bit more fuel efficient than what you experienced with the 500! I also have used the Tuscan occasionally to work - and it also took much longer to get arrive, even though I was going a little quicker!

Another suggestion for a Chimaera, anyone know how they cope with doing just a few miles at a time. Buying one for £6000 and then wrecking it doesn't make much sense.

Another thought, did anyone hear of a hardtop for a Chimaera ... I think I saw a one-off somewhere?

[akwaaba]

techbotics said:

I use my S3 for short journey to work. Love it pretty ecenomical too. I bought a poor one and fixed it up more expensive but you know it's sorted.

Damian S3

Thank you for your reply. How long have you being using it this way? Is it a 2.9 or a V8 ... although judging by you saying that it is pretty economical I'm guessing it is the 290 model?

Is it ever a bit annoying, as opposed to enjoyable - I mean things like heavy controls, wet weather road holding, etc I supposed I'm wanted to check that I'm not completely mad trying to use a TVR everyday! I'll have the Discovery as a back up - but surely when it is raining or icy the TVR is more of a pain?

[KelWedge]

I dont think a wedge is anygood for a short journey, I have been known to do over 70 miles just to pick up the sunday papers!

[akwaaba]

KelWedge said:

I dont think a wedge is anygood for a short journey, I have been known to do over 70 miles just to pick up the sunday papers!

Now that I can understand ...
Although not sure I can spare the time to do this on the way to and from work!

Edited by akwaaba on Thursday 18th August 09:08

[Daggsy]

The hard tops for Chims are fabricated by a guy in the North West, excellent job. They are a 'hard' back panel with solid poly carb window which is detachable in one piece and fits into the boot along with the origional or re fabricated targa panel which is lighter, which when detached gives a flat back from yhe absense of the soft top having to be folded.

[akwaaba]

Daggsy said:

The hard tops for Chims are fabricated by a guy in the North West, excellent job. They are a 'hard' back panel with solid poly carb window which is detachable in one piece and fits into the boot along with the origional or re fabricated targa panel which is lighter, which when detached gives a flat back from yhe absense of the soft top having to be folded.

Thank you for your reply, thought I'd picked up something like that - I'll look into it. It'd be great if therear screen had heatinf elements - make the Chim a real all weather car (apart from in the snow!). I bet the improved rear visibility would be make using it everyday safer as well.