Chimaera versus Griffith
Discussion
Hi there,
I've decided to take the plunge into TVR ownership and am trying to decide whether a Griff or Chim is the best way forward.
Practicality is not a massive issue as it will be a second vehicle, mainly used for pleasure.
The perfomance of either car will be more than adequate for me I'm sure, and I will probably go for the 4 litre !
I love the looks of both cars.
Budget is certainly a consideration for me, and though I should be OK with the initial purchase, and realise they are expensive to run, I'm a little concerned about the reliability issue - is it possible to say which model is "better put together" ?
Thanks for your help !!
Mike Fletcher
I've decided to take the plunge into TVR ownership and am trying to decide whether a Griff or Chim is the best way forward.
Practicality is not a massive issue as it will be a second vehicle, mainly used for pleasure.
The perfomance of either car will be more than adequate for me I'm sure, and I will probably go for the 4 litre !
I love the looks of both cars.
Budget is certainly a consideration for me, and though I should be OK with the initial purchase, and realise they are expensive to run, I'm a little concerned about the reliability issue - is it possible to say which model is "better put together" ?
Thanks for your help !!
Mike Fletcher
Hi there,
I've decided to take the plunge into TVR ownership and am trying to decide whether a Griff or Chim is the best way forward.
Practicality is not a massive issue as it will be a second vehicle, mainly used for pleasure.
The perfomance of either car will be more than adequate for me I'm sure, and I will probably go for the 4 litre !
I love the looks of both cars.
Budget is certainly a consideration for me, and though I should be OK with the initial purchase, and realise they are expensive to run, I'm a little concerned about the reliability issue - is it possible to say which model is "better put together" ?
Thanks for your help !!
Mike Fletcher
Best place to start is on here searching the Griff and Chimeara threads. Don't worry unnecessarily about realiability. Sure they go wrong, but as many on here will tell you their reputation of being unreliable is largely unfounded. Get yourself the latest model you can afford, have it checked over by someone who really knows TVRs - Rob Ingleby, James Agger, David Batty would be a good start - and try a few before you buy.
I'd also recommend you get Steve Heath's 'bible' for the Griff and Chimaera - invaluable. You can do a lot of fettling and fixing yourself.
Finally - get one soon, you'll love it.
Cheers, Paul
just for balance.... 
Go for the Chimaera, I had a 4.0 Griff and then migrated to a couple of Chimaeras (1st 4.0, then 4.5). I preferred the styling of the Chimaera both inside and out & it was marginely more practical for touring around the continent (which I did a lot of).
As (Rosso) Paul suggested - search the forums, drive some, get some considered expert advise, and enjoy whatever you choose, they are both knockout cars.
Go for the Chimaera, I had a 4.0 Griff and then migrated to a couple of Chimaeras (1st 4.0, then 4.5). I preferred the styling of the Chimaera both inside and out & it was marginely more practical for touring around the continent (which I did a lot of).
As (Rosso) Paul suggested - search the forums, drive some, get some considered expert advise, and enjoy whatever you choose, they are both knockout cars.
It's personal choice. I have a Griff because I like the looks over the Chimp, but either is a good car. The difference in the 5.0 and smaller engined Chimps is there but I doubt you'd notice it that much day to day, even a "humble" 4.0 is faster than most things on the road.
Plenty on here will vehemently argue the case but in the end it's down to you. For me it was the sher beauty of the Griff against what I think is a dated look in the Chimp. Just my view of course, go for what you prefer and good luck.
Reliability? Yeah - odd things can go wrong but the scare stories are largely unfounded.
Dave
Edited to say - the main difference is pure torque. Try hoofing a 5 litre car at say 80mph in 5th gear (on an airfield of course) and watch how quick it picks up. You won't get the same results from a 4.0
>> Edited by donatien on Friday 7th March 18:27
Plenty on here will vehemently argue the case but in the end it's down to you. For me it was the sher beauty of the Griff against what I think is a dated look in the Chimp. Just my view of course, go for what you prefer and good luck.
Reliability? Yeah - odd things can go wrong but the scare stories are largely unfounded.
Dave
Edited to say - the main difference is pure torque. Try hoofing a 5 litre car at say 80mph in 5th gear (on an airfield of course) and watch how quick it picks up. You won't get the same results from a 4.0
>> Edited by donatien on Friday 7th March 18:27
Drive a 400 and you'll wonder about a 450, drive a 450 you'll wonder about a 500, cut out the inevitable decisions and go straight for the 500. They are only a little more, if any, expensive to maintain than a 400 or a 450.
Budget on about £1500 including a bit of a safety net if using it a bit for 12 months or so I reckon.
Matt.
Budget on about £1500 including a bit of a safety net if using it a bit for 12 months or so I reckon.
Matt.
I bought a Chim 4.0 and have been seriously thinking about trading up to a Griff 500 (although in truth mine already does everything and more that UK roads will allow).
Only thing is that we're planning to take it round France camping this summer, and the Chimaera has bags more space for tent etc, plus the inevitable large quantities of vin rouge we'll want to bring home.
I think it's a bit like lurve - when you see the car that's 'for you', you'll know. Let's face it, they're TVRs, and they all make me smile.
Just make sure when you go looking that you take someone who knows his (sic) onions, so that you don't end up falling swiftly out of love when you get it home. James Agger (mail him through PH -he's Jamer) or Rob Ingleby will look after you well and give you a very fair deal, neither will sell you something just to grab your cash.
Only thing is that we're planning to take it round France camping this summer, and the Chimaera has bags more space for tent etc, plus the inevitable large quantities of vin rouge we'll want to bring home.
I think it's a bit like lurve - when you see the car that's 'for you', you'll know. Let's face it, they're TVRs, and they all make me smile.
Just make sure when you go looking that you take someone who knows his (sic) onions, so that you don't end up falling swiftly out of love when you get it home. James Agger (mail him through PH -he's Jamer) or Rob Ingleby will look after you well and give you a very fair deal, neither will sell you something just to grab your cash.
gotta be a ggriff 
BBTo be honest - they are the same under the skin. Go for the one you like the look of the most. Later Griffs are all 500s - Chimaeras you have a choice of power and the bigger boot. The shape of the Chimaera also affords easier respraying of stone chips as there are swage lines to blend the paint into. Griff is maybe more of a 'classic'. You will have fun in either - they are the same but different.
the only thing really will be that the 4ltr Griffs were phased out some time ago so you will be able to buy a newer Chimaera in 4ltr form.
As has been said before though try as many as you can and you will find you are favouring one over the other, they are the same underneath apart from the Griff being a little stiffer suspension wise
Jamer will sort you out
edited to add check on the profiles to see a good selection of readers wi....er...cars
>> Edited by apache on Friday 7th March 20:30
As has been said before though try as many as you can and you will find you are favouring one over the other, they are the same underneath apart from the Griff being a little stiffer suspension wise
Jamer will sort you out
edited to add check on the profiles to see a good selection of readers wi....er...cars
>> Edited by apache on Friday 7th March 20:30
i always preffered the shape of the griff, but bought a chim. the car was known to me, and it was a fair wodge of cash ( to me ), so i played safe.
if you are used to RWD then a 5L griff will be no problem. i wasn't, so this was another factor in my reasoning, and i think it was just as well.
i think the griff is more comfortable ( purely in an ergonomic sense ). didn't find it noticibly ( sp? ) harder of suspension or grumbly in traffic ( 5L ), which is someting people say about the 5L - this must be down to the individual car.
the bonnet opening on the griff seemed smaller so this may be a factor if you see yourself working on it.
there are more chims to choose from, but when you go to meets, there are obviously more cars just like yours....
either way, it's a great choice to make. who's a lucky boy then?
enjoy yourself, go to a dealer, and take advantage of them, and then make a balanced decision. ( like buying a car with an engine > 3.5L with a tent strapped to it could ever be the choice of a balanced mind
)
if you are used to RWD then a 5L griff will be no problem. i wasn't, so this was another factor in my reasoning, and i think it was just as well.
i think the griff is more comfortable ( purely in an ergonomic sense ). didn't find it noticibly ( sp? ) harder of suspension or grumbly in traffic ( 5L ), which is someting people say about the 5L - this must be down to the individual car.
the bonnet opening on the griff seemed smaller so this may be a factor if you see yourself working on it.
there are more chims to choose from, but when you go to meets, there are obviously more cars just like yours....
either way, it's a great choice to make. who's a lucky boy then?
enjoy yourself, go to a dealer, and take advantage of them, and then make a balanced decision. ( like buying a car with an engine > 3.5L with a tent strapped to it could ever be the choice of a balanced mind
)Just buy a Griff. That way the only Tivs that will overtake you are the Tuscans and Cerbies - and they will probably blow their valves and finger followers soon after 
As I said before, buy what you like. It isn't a fashion parade and make sure you don't have those TVR goggles on the test drive; all to easy to fall in love with the first beast you step in to.
Dave
As I said before, buy what you like. It isn't a fashion parade and make sure you don't have those TVR goggles on the test drive; all to easy to fall in love with the first beast you step in to.
Dave
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff