Looking for my first TVR

[jsr]

I'm ready to realise the dream. I'm about to start looking for my first TVR. I'm looking at Griffith or Chimaera in any of the engine sizes.

Would i be right in thinking that the 4 litre engine would be cheaper to maintain than the 5 litre, being less highly tuned?

I'm not talking about petrol costs, just the cost of work that might be required at services, likelyhood of the engines going out of tune, other parts that may need replacing. And oil too i guess.

I've budgeted for about £1200 a year for parts and servicing (not petrol).

Buying a 4 litre Grif/Chim would be more sensible for my first TVR, but then again, buying a tvr isn't supposed to be sensible and i can't resist the lure of the 500!

I'd appreciate your advice.

[glena]

Good selection in the TVRCC sprint mag this month (just received). Bought my pre-cat 4.3 Griff from an advert in it this year, what a machine

[TT Tim]

Go for the 500, you know you want to.

Having said that test drive examples of them all and draw your own conclusions.

Check the Classifieds on here for cars too, that's where I sourced mine.

Tim

>> Edited by TT Tim on Saturday 11th October 18:23

[li'l pugs]

If you can't decide between the Grif or the Chim, go for the best car you can find for the money that you have.............that's what I did and 9 months later still grinning and nothing serious in the repair dept. (Touch wood).

[jayt1980]

I have to agree, if you can afford the extra initial outlay then go for the 500 every time. That said, this being your first TVR you may be surprised just how quick a 4 or 4.5 litre engined TVR can be. Also, insurance may be steeper with the five. Anyway just go and buy any one, it'll change the way you think about cars

[simpo two]

Hi JSR,
You've certainly come to the right place and you're asking the right questions. IMHO: Griff or Chimp - buy the one you like the look of most. Griffs are rarer and carry a premium - but of course you get this back at sale time.
Re engine size, there's nowt wrong with 4.0s - I had one and it was great. It's not far off the pace of the 500, less demanding to drive and will be cheaper to run (petrol and insurance). Ultimately I guess it depends on budget.
You really need to see a few of each and get a feel for what's available for the money, what's good and what's bad and what to look for. Suggest you go to your nearest TVRCC meeting (you don't have to be a member, just interested!) and get the Steve Heath bible if you want to know them under the skin. This also contains a buying guide.
Whatever you decide, you only get your first TVR once and bringing it home is a landmark event

[cosmoschick]

simpo two said:

Re engine size, there's nowt wrong with 4.0s - I had one and it was great. It's not far off the pace of the 500, less demanding to drive and will be cheaper to run (petrol and insurance)

simpo two said:

Whatever you decide, you only get your first TVR once and bringing it home is a landmark event

Good luck

[Nickccc]

It depends where your coming from. Have you had any "proper" cars, performance and power wise I mean before.
I got a 4.0 chim after promising my mum I would never get another bike (downer I know but I don't want my mum upset do I)
I would say get the most powerfull car you can afford, or sell a kidney and get the one you can"t afford, what ever model (TVR of course)
I have found that I personally need more, upgrades are an option but you'll save money in the long run if you go for, dare I say it maxpower.
Dont get me wrong the 4.0 is a mean machine , it's just you get used to it.
I remember the test drive as soon as it was started and I heard that sound I was sold.
The drive was just as mind blowing.
As many others have said try as many as possible, if you can as I said the moment it was started the deal was done. S@@t I thought I was a haggler.
What ever engine or power option you go for it's still a TVR and thats what this is all about.........


>> Edited by Nickccc on Saturday 11th October 23:42

[rv8500]

Just come and buy my 500 chimaera, its the cheapest on ph's, and lowest mileage. Been advertised twice for 30 days in total, still no ones been to look at it Think its too cheap But really get a 5 litre, you'll never stop I'll probably never get over the loss when its gone.

[jsr]

Reading all your coments, i'm really excited now! It's clear you all really love your TVR's!

I love the Griffith and it is my car of choice, but there are a lot more Chimaeras for sale, so finding one i like might be easier. I'm pretty flexible on colours and trim, though i would really love Purple Paradise (either car)! Seems to be a rare colour though.

As for insurance, Tesco's have quoted £1200 for a 4.0 Chimaera and £1500 for a Griff 500. I think that's cheap considering i'm 23. Will soon have 5 yrs NCB so should go down a bit further.

I've been a member of the TVRCC for 2 years and been dreaming of owning a TVR for a lot longer. Can't wait to become a 'true' member of the club.

[big simp]

Definalty buy a 5.0 car theres so much torque and grunt,and why not buy my Chimaera as i am going to change to a Griff 20.000 miles 97 on a P Cherry pearl with magnolia and red interior totally mint..............

[cyberface]

If you go for a 500 then you get a newer car. Remember that TVR refined the more duff parts of the design over the years, so the later cars are better.

I'd say buy on condition first, age second.

As to the power issue, these Rover V8s seem to have a bloody large spread on power output (the Griffs I drove when looking for mine, all 500s, seemed to have a massive variation in performance!!!). Getting the car set up properly on a rolling road can give big gains, so maybe a 4.0 or 4.3 could easily be as quick as my 500, which seems to be a tad random in the ignition department....

[WildfireS3]

jsr said:

As for insurance, Tesco's have quoted £1200 for a 4.0 Chimaera and £1500 for a Griff 500. I think that's cheap considering i'm 23. Will soon have 5 yrs NCB so should go down a bit further. .

Wow!!! I got quoted £1500 for a 2.9 S3. I'm 22 WITH 5 years NCB!! What area are you in?

P.S

Personally I would go with a Griff.

[simpo two]

cyberface said:

I'd say buy on condition first, age second.

Yep. I don't mind paying a bit more for a better car. When I went to see my first one, an S3, I remember saying to myself as I saw it outside the chap's house 'I'm not leaving without it!'

All you have to do now, jsr, is be a little patient. Eventually the right car will come along with the right colour inside and out, the right condition, a fair price and ideally a caring owner who demonstrates understanding of the marque. Make your own mind up in your own time and don't be swayed by people who just happen to have (say) a red Chimaera 500 for sale Colour is a funny thing on TVRs - you can be sure that you want one colour, then you see a car in a completely different colour and want that instead. Oh, what fun you will have!

NB As you're in Essex and like purple, keep an eye out for V8 NUT - but I don't think it's for sale!

[jimi]

Hi mate!

I was in a similar situation to you 6 months ago. Im 21 wanted a TVR, i bought a 96 N 4.0 Chimaera in Formula Red, if youre going to get one you will want to be noticed! Ive got insurance with Tescos at £1100, and have spent so far on one service £300, so your about right in estimations.

I love my car 'kylie' its just fantastic, but i have got used to the power quite quickly, went out in a Tuscan and woooooooow! theres some difference. So if i was you id go for the 500 if you can stretch to it or get a 'baby' like mine for a year or so until you can afford a Tuscan like I want to!!!

Good luck mate, James

[RichB]

jsr said:

Would i be right in thinking that the 4 litre engine would be cheaper to maintain than the 5 litre, being less highly tuned?

One point (as I won't go over stuff already mentioned) is that there should be no difference in service costs between the 4.0/4.3/5.0 V8 cars as the service schedule is the same, you will get between 20/24mpg from each depending on how is being driven at the time (down to 9 mpg on track days ) so the only real difference is the insurance, happy hunting. Rich...

[WildfireS3]

jsr, jimi, can I ask what the conditions of your insurance are? Just You guys are both around my age, but I couldn't get insurance qutoes at the prices you got.

Cheers

'fireS3