it's nearly time..

[Pookie]

Its nearly time for my first TVR a chimaera (while i save for my bugatti veyron mmmmmm) ive narrowed it down to about 2347 different colours so thats not the problem. The problem i have is choosing the engine. Is there anything different between the 4.5 and the 500?

Except the extra power for example better breaks, suspension, wheels, or anything else.

Is it really much angrier to drive, ie flying up embankments or into streams at every opportunity or even just trouble in light traffic?

Is it truly that much faster? and is that due to setup or just the engine? cos i would probably like to goto the track a few times but dont want people pulling down their trousers and slapping their bare arses at me as they fly past me in their 500's.

and one final thing. how much more petrol do they drink?

cheers in advance 4 your help i just dont want to regret my purchase either way.

[dai capp]

I've got a Griff 500 and there is a little extra power but I guess it's all relative. I don't find myself going up verges etc but I do find the back end can dance when I'm really trying (but then that's what's supposed to happen)

I'm not sure that as far as everyman is concerned there are any noticable differences in suspension etc between the two but cosmetically you get 500 alloys.

I get around 15 to 18 mpg out of the Griff and I've a colleague who gets around 20 mpg from his 4.5 Chim.

The other and probably the most crucial factor when all things are considered is that you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that, if you've gone for the 5 litre, that's the top dog in the Chim camp.

Cheers

DC

PS just to throw a spanner in the works, if you intend to visit tracks and use the car for fast road driving you may find a Griff has the edge on the handling and you don't have to scratch your head over engine size...

[apache]

4.5?...you'll always wonder what the 5.0 is like, wifey drives the Griff on a regular basis in town with manual steering so it can't be that bad

[donatien]

You shouldn't have any problems with a 5 litre - especially if it's the later, slightly detuned 320HP (that's TVR "horses") as they are far easier to drive around town. Power steering is a bit emotive but it does help at low speeds and also speeds up the turning slightly.

I can quite easily get 25mpg on a motorway run out of the Griff500, but it drops down to 12-15 when commuting or caning it. They don't like being stuck in traffic too much, that seems to generate a huge thirst.

As many people say - if you get a 4.5 you'll only wonder what the full 5 would have been like......

DT

[incorrigible]

No answer this, but it's very personal

I've got a 4.0 and I get it sideways on (almost) any corner up to about 60. Of course I'd like more straight line speed but if that's what you're about buy a dragster

I've heard (though wothout much corroberating sp? evidence) that you get more miles out of a 4.0 or 4.5

Sure SHpub will put me straight

Ben

PS what ever you choose, you can always get a different one next year, as you're going for a Chim I assume convertable is what you want, but silly power (and servicing costs) would have to be a Cerb 4.5 lightweight

[schueymcfee]

Although I agree that if you go for the 4.5 you will always wonder what 5.0 is like, you may feel some differences but in real world terms it's not mega.

The mpeg of the Lotus Elise keeping up with Ferrari F40 around a track is a good example.

[Pookie]

so there are no physcial diffrernce except the engine stroke and the fact it drinks loads more juice , 23 ish from 4.5 and 15 from 500 ?

[paul]

have a ganders in the Chimaera section and do a search on 4.5 versus 5.0 (or similar) as this has been discussed at length a number of times before.
Drive both before making your mind up - there isn't much 'real world' difference between them and any material differences will vary from car to car (As I've reported before, my '98 4.5 was as "quick" as a mates '97 5.0). All of the 'Grifmaera' engine variations sound amazing (4.0, 4.0HC, 4.3, 4.5, 5.0) and depending on your needs (will you track day it? are you worried about a TVRFSH?) a car with a smaller engine that has been better looked after and maintained, may be the better option.
Just my 2p worth.

[paul]

Just re-read the original post - and with respect to being embarrassed at track days, I'd worry more about driver skill than engine size. Any feeling of superiority in the pits at track days I've been to have passed once I've been humbled by lesser machinery on the track. At one particular 'mixed manufacturers' day at Castle Coombe I was passed by a V6 Capri without any engine mods (that he was prepared to admit!)despite being able to out-drag him on the straights (or straightaways as my American colleagues call them).

However, If you're already a veteran track-daymeister then a 5 litre machine may be the tool you need...

[BCA]

schueymcfee said: Although I agree that if you go for the 4.5 you will always wonder what 5.0 is like, you may feel some differences but in real world terms it's not mega.

The mpeg of the Lotus Elise keeping up with Ferrari F40 around a track is a good example.

Except that judging by the sound that elise has a little turbo charger and could potentially have a very similar power to weight mmmmmm turbo elise