Chimaera to tuscan?
Discussion
Any one on here done the same? I love my 430 chim, goes like stink, silky smooth and you don't have to thrash it to enjoy the 'drama' of a TVR. However always fancied a tuscan and so has the Mrs so we are thinking of selling her bmw and my chim and getting a tuscan together, has anyone made the same move? Did you regret selling the chim? Or never looked back?
Thanks!
Jon
Thanks!
Jon
Yep went from a 4ltr (well sorted) Chim, to a 3.6 Mk1 Tuscan.
Totally different is all aspects IMHO, I much preferred the V8 as opposed to the Straight Six certainly from the ease of use and sound of the engine.
Much preferred the hairs on the back of the neck experience of the Tuscan.
So mixed feelings really, in hindsight I should have stuck with the Chim, I would certainly save myself a lot of money.
Totally different is all aspects IMHO, I much preferred the V8 as opposed to the Straight Six certainly from the ease of use and sound of the engine.
Much preferred the hairs on the back of the neck experience of the Tuscan.
So mixed feelings really, in hindsight I should have stuck with the Chim, I would certainly save myself a lot of money.
Go and have a decent test drive in one in your budget. Only you will know.
All Tuscans are Speed 6 engines, power delivery is higher up the rev range than a Chimaera RV8.
Low down grunt of the Chimaera not there as much.
So to make fast progress across country you need to rev it more.
Pedals are all floor hinged on the Tuscan - make sure you both like the feel of the pedals, particularly on full depression.
Some say make sure the Speed 6 you buy has had an engine rebuild - that statement should get some comments going.
I think the Tuscan has real presence in the looks department. If they made one with an RV8 or LS engine, and normal pedals, I would be there like a shot.......
All Tuscans are Speed 6 engines, power delivery is higher up the rev range than a Chimaera RV8.
Low down grunt of the Chimaera not there as much.
So to make fast progress across country you need to rev it more.
Pedals are all floor hinged on the Tuscan - make sure you both like the feel of the pedals, particularly on full depression.
Some say make sure the Speed 6 you buy has had an engine rebuild - that statement should get some comments going.
I think the Tuscan has real presence in the looks department. If they made one with an RV8 or LS engine, and normal pedals, I would be there like a shot.......
Well before the chim I always had nice high revving straight 6 engines and loved it, it's why I went for a 430 as the 400's were just too dull to me (that should get a few comments going lol)
Floor mounted pedals shouldn't be an issue, coming from bmws they have the same, we do plan on having a drive once the bmw is sold then make up our mind about what we do with the chim.
Keep the experiences coming
Floor mounted pedals shouldn't be an issue, coming from bmws they have the same, we do plan on having a drive once the bmw is sold then make up our mind about what we do with the chim.
Keep the experiences coming
My Chimaera started out as a 4 litre...and is now a very grunty 5 litre. I have owned cars with 4, 6 and 8 cylinders, the later 4s were turbo Saabs, the 6s big German diesels, and the other V8s both 4 litre Lexuses.
As I get older I prefer the grunt and sound of the V8 and will never own a Speed Six. But it is definitely each to their own. I only warn about the pedals because I drove a friend's Tamora and my ankles screamed at me after less than 5 minutes - but that could just be age and arthritis. Make sure Erin Doors test drives in her favourite shoes.
Good luck!
As I get older I prefer the grunt and sound of the V8 and will never own a Speed Six. But it is definitely each to their own. I only warn about the pedals because I drove a friend's Tamora and my ankles screamed at me after less than 5 minutes - but that could just be age and arthritis. Make sure Erin Doors test drives in her favourite shoes.
Good luck!
QBee said:
I think the Tuscan has real presence in the looks department. If they made one with an RV8 or LS engine, and normal pedals, I would be there like a shot.......
Pedal box has to be set to individual driver each linkage is adjusted separately, so you can heal/toe the pedals takes a few hours, then is great,Took me about 6 months to get my Tuscan sorted, the amount of stuff that went in the skip or on fleebay was unbelievable engine box clutch ecu dampers brakes, but it was worth it and its made a great car
Had a chim 400 then went to a 4.2 ajp cerb and just added a mk1 red rose tuscan . tbh I have as much fun equally in all 3 the chim had the best sound track just. The cerb is by far the best drivers car and the Tuscan is by far the best looking.
The cerb is my keeper if I had to pick still. The speed 6 is a cracking lump and likes to sing when pressing on, but settles down on a steady cruise and returns fair mpg if needed.
The cerb is my keeper if I had to pick still. The speed 6 is a cracking lump and likes to sing when pressing on, but settles down on a steady cruise and returns fair mpg if needed.
Went from a 450 chim to a late mk1 3.6 tuscan. Apart from parking it in a hedge in the second month of ownership I haven't looked back. You have to learn how to drive fast again as the power and torque delivery is so different. IMO the chim is much easier to drive quickly and you have make the effort with the tuscan.
As a late model the geometry and suspension is sorted and overall the car is much more refined (5 years younger). Much nicer on long journeys, wind noise, cabin heat, behaviour in traffic all excel in the tuscan.
Running costs have not been a lot different , only major job was replacing 5th, which is a t5 so could have easily happened on the chim.
Full targa with the window out gives all the roof down feeling of the chim too. Chassis much better and less of a worry.
As a late model the geometry and suspension is sorted and overall the car is much more refined (5 years younger). Much nicer on long journeys, wind noise, cabin heat, behaviour in traffic all excel in the tuscan.
Running costs have not been a lot different , only major job was replacing 5th, which is a t5 so could have easily happened on the chim.
Full targa with the window out gives all the roof down feeling of the chim too. Chassis much better and less of a worry.
Had a Chimaera 400, then a Griff 500, now got a Speed6 Cerb.
Don't regret selling the other two one bit. The Cerb is feels faster, a lot faster (but could be the way the powers delivered, less linear), much better handling and nicer inside, aircon works a treat in the hot weather, plus I don't have to provoke it to get it to pop and bang
- it does it all the time.
Don't regret selling the other two one bit. The Cerb is feels faster, a lot faster (but could be the way the powers delivered, less linear), much better handling and nicer inside, aircon works a treat in the hot weather, plus I don't have to provoke it to get it to pop and bang
- it does it all the time. Edited by PuffsBack on Saturday 27th July 18:21
I'm in the same boat here. 450 chim is about to be side lined for a 4.0 Tuscan mk1. Hadn't driven one till the other day. The chim feels like a quick classic car but the Tuscan feels like a much more modern race car in comparison. Agree with all about the v8 grunt and noise but the sound of that screaming straight 6 is amazing. Devastatingly quick too.
Ask me in six months if I regret it!!
Ask me in six months if I regret it!!
I drove 400HC Chimaera for 9 years. When I got a Tuscan S at first I was underwhelmed. It felt gutless to be honest and I didn't like the sound much. It took me a while to realise that the power delivery is completely different. The S6 has to be revved to levels that you wouldn't really want to with the V8. If you do that then the scenery starts moving very quickly with no sense that the power is ever going to stop coming. And the sound has grown on me too. Mine doesn't sound like a wasp in a tin can like some. This is a fairly easy fix anyway.
I have lately bought a Chimaera again, this time a 500. The V8 is a lovely engine but I have a respect for the amazing S6 and the British tradition that Wheeler was following with straight six engines. I recently found out that there was a Bentley Speed Six back in the old days and there are a few other similarities between early Bentley and Wheeler's TVR.
I still have the Tuscan and I like them both equally. The engines make them different beasts but they are unmistakably TVRs.
I have lately bought a Chimaera again, this time a 500. The V8 is a lovely engine but I have a respect for the amazing S6 and the British tradition that Wheeler was following with straight six engines. I recently found out that there was a Bentley Speed Six back in the old days and there are a few other similarities between early Bentley and Wheeler's TVR.
I still have the Tuscan and I like them both equally. The engines make them different beasts but they are unmistakably TVRs.
Walford said:
QBee said:
I think the Tuscan has real presence in the looks department. If they made one with an RV8 or LS engine, and normal pedals, I would be there like a shot.......
Pedal box has to be set to individual driver each linkage is adjusted separately, so you can heal/toe the pedals takes a few hours, then is great,Took me about 6 months to get my Tuscan sorted, the amount of stuff that went in the skip or on fleebay was unbelievable engine box clutch ecu dampers brakes, but it was worth it and its made a great car
I had a Chim 400 for just over 3 years. Bought a Tuscan S Convertible a couple of months back and in terms of performance and delivery of power it's in a different league. Best decision I've ever made.
It feels a lot more special too as the Chimaera, gorgeous as it is, has quite a classic look to it whereas the Tuscan looks like a UFO. Which is what I want out of my car.
It feels a lot more special too as the Chimaera, gorgeous as it is, has quite a classic look to it whereas the Tuscan looks like a UFO. Which is what I want out of my car.
Have had my Chim 400 for over 4 years now. Drove a 3.6 Mk1 Tuscan a while back. I'll pretty much echo what others have said; it needs to be revved compared to the RV8, but once on-cam was ballistically fast. I ultimately prefer the V8 noise, but the S6 sounded guttural and race-raw. The throttle-response on the S6 is also better than the Chim; it's laser-sharp.
I wasn't a fan of the digital LCD rev-counter/LED shift lights on the Tusc; too busy looking outside wrestling the car in a straight-line and not enough time to look inside at detail. Steering was great; I didn't find it 'twitchy' at all.
I fancy a Mk1 Tusc next. Travolta kept a .50cal heavy machine gun in the boot of his...
I wasn't a fan of the digital LCD rev-counter/LED shift lights on the Tusc; too busy looking outside wrestling the car in a straight-line and not enough time to look inside at detail. Steering was great; I didn't find it 'twitchy' at all.
I fancy a Mk1 Tusc next. Travolta kept a .50cal heavy machine gun in the boot of his...
I did exactly what you're thinking.
Went from a very well sorted Chim 450 to a Tuscan Convertible S.
The Chimera (as I'm sure you well know) is a fantastic B Road blaster, and not too shabby on the faster roads either.
The Tuscan on the other hand is phenomenal on the faster roads, gets more looks than the Chimera, but on the B roads actually prefer the Chimera as a driving experience. The Tuscan almost has too much power and personally I have very long gear ratios, so rarely need to change gears.
It all comes down to personal choice of course. Both have their own charms.
Went from a very well sorted Chim 450 to a Tuscan Convertible S.
The Chimera (as I'm sure you well know) is a fantastic B Road blaster, and not too shabby on the faster roads either.
The Tuscan on the other hand is phenomenal on the faster roads, gets more looks than the Chimera, but on the B roads actually prefer the Chimera as a driving experience. The Tuscan almost has too much power and personally I have very long gear ratios, so rarely need to change gears.
It all comes down to personal choice of course. Both have their own charms.
Moved from a well sorted 1999 4ltr Chimaera to a 2003 Tuscan S 11mths ago.
Found the handling and steering a handfull to begin with, feels better now its been set up and also i guess i'm more familiar with it.
Power is a no contest, the Chim was positively mundane and dosile in comparison to the Tuscan; it also strangely felt heavier to drive - the Tuscan is raw meat stuff and is an absolute missile... (though can be driven comfortably in town traffic).
I'd also echo some earlier comments about the Tuscan's look, I loved my Chim but the Tuscan is a real head turner and draws attention wherever it goes.
When I bought my Chim I was delighted and honestly thought I'd have it for many many years, however my itch for a Tuscan got the better of me and I eventually took the plunge. Been delighted so far so my advise is to go for it - better to regret something you've done than something you haven't..
Found the handling and steering a handfull to begin with, feels better now its been set up and also i guess i'm more familiar with it.
Power is a no contest, the Chim was positively mundane and dosile in comparison to the Tuscan; it also strangely felt heavier to drive - the Tuscan is raw meat stuff and is an absolute missile... (though can be driven comfortably in town traffic).
I'd also echo some earlier comments about the Tuscan's look, I loved my Chim but the Tuscan is a real head turner and draws attention wherever it goes.
When I bought my Chim I was delighted and honestly thought I'd have it for many many years, however my itch for a Tuscan got the better of me and I eventually took the plunge. Been delighted so far so my advise is to go for it - better to regret something you've done than something you haven't..
My friend, (a PH lurker) had a Chim 450, which he traded for a Mk1 Tuscan S and missed it terribly. He's recently bought a Chim 500 to sit next to the Tuscan so whilst I understand he missed the Chim, I think it would be quite wrong to say he didn't like the Tuscan in a different way!
It certainly feels very quick. He owes me a drive of the Chim 500 sometime soon too as he's driven my Cerb twice!
It certainly feels very quick. He owes me a drive of the Chim 500 sometime soon too as he's driven my Cerb twice!
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