V8S or Chimera?
Discussion
What is the best non-wedge starter V8? Owned a lot of British and non-British sports cars, but never aTVR and never a V8 engine. As a Lancastrian petrolhead the lack of a TVR seems criminal. And it can’t be long before V8’s are deemed illegal. I have to admit a preference for the V8S, but I’m open to arguments - tell me which you think is best.
TvrJohn said:
Generally the newer the TVR the better its built, however the best sounding TVRs are the pre cat cars
Ah ha that old chestnut. 
That's assuming post-cat cars still have their cats! Mine had the pre-cats removed but retains the main cat and the box tubed. Sounds bloody excellent! 
I've owned a LHD Griffith 4.3 BV which was great fun, only a bit short power range, but fun, although slippery seats when cornering fast from left to right :-)
I've also owned a LHD V8S (pretty rare 58 or so?) which also droves well, although the Griff was more 'brutal"
I've sit in a Chimaera to buy, I liked the idea to put a great looking hardtop on it etc, but when I sat in it, I did not felt like, a good shoe fit...also not a good overview?
I could not remember it having such in the Griffith...and I thought those were pretty the same, but maybe I was different then being 13 years younger than.
Can anyone confirm the Chimaera gives a different feeling in interior? sitting more 'cramped' and having a les good overview on the road?
I've also owned a LHD V8S (pretty rare 58 or so?) which also droves well, although the Griff was more 'brutal"
I've sit in a Chimaera to buy, I liked the idea to put a great looking hardtop on it etc, but when I sat in it, I did not felt like, a good shoe fit...also not a good overview?
I could not remember it having such in the Griffith...and I thought those were pretty the same, but maybe I was different then being 13 years younger than.
Can anyone confirm the Chimaera gives a different feeling in interior? sitting more 'cramped' and having a les good overview on the road?
acbluemarlin said:
What is the best non-wedge starter V8? Owned a lot of British and non-British sports cars, but never aTVR and never a V8 engine. As a Lancastrian petrolhead the lack of a TVR seems criminal. And it can’t be long before V8’s are deemed illegal. I have to admit a preference for the V8S, but I’m open to arguments - tell me which you think is best.
The later Chim/Griff are overall better cars to drive and own - more sophisticated. Preference is on your driving style and budget. The Chimaera 4.0 is the entry level and cheapest. It's a great touring car with a big boot, but after a period of time you will want more power - be it from a turbo/supercharger or increased capacity. The sweet spot is the 450 Chim, where as the 500 Chim is at the limit of cooling and the camshaft is under greater duress. There's plenty of choice out there.
The Griff 500 is a different beast, a lot more involving to drive with a smaller boot. A true adrenalin machine , that can really bite you if your not careful in damp conditions. The only downside these days is that top quality cars are hard to find at realistic prices.
Give me a Griff any day over a Chim as long as the car is well sorted.
The V8s prices are climbing and with limited numbers there is little choice, but it's a tough choice. My advise would be to try before you buy, preferably at a dealers were test drives are more open to non-insured drivers.
TheRainMaker said:
A Chimaera 500 and a griff 500 are the same car underneath, same engine, same gearbox, same suspension set up etc etc.
No difference in driving experience at all.
Agreed No difference in driving experience at all.
The only real difference from factory was the Griffs had stiffer springs than the Chimaera which constituted a ( sports feel) which as the years have gone by has mostly been negated by after market or just revised suspension set ups as we all learn to do our best to perfect the cars.
I’m not one of those to choose between the cars as they are so similar.
I’ve not known many V8s cars personally but did own an S2 which was a fantastic car. The S feels smaller inside and defo less modern but the few V8S cars I’ve witnessed are joyous things, must be outrageous to drive, for some reason I feel a bit safer and defo more modern in the Chimaera,more room and the difference in having boot space is remarkable and makes the Chimaera a very useable car compared to my old but great little S car.
Don't worry about 'wanting more power', the entry level 4.0 is more than adequate for most people, especially if you're simply looking for that big old v8 and English sports car feel. As with nearly everything though, there are ways to improve the old Buick v8...but thats just of a lot of people's fun on here.
Chimaera gets my vote and you might well get more out of it as a car due to its more capacious boot. Plus.....I'd personally take a mk3 look chim with spots over a griff any day!
Chimaera gets my vote and you might well get more out of it as a car due to its more capacious boot. Plus.....I'd personally take a mk3 look chim with spots over a griff any day!
What’s ironic here is the S and especially the Griff to my mind ( because of the short boot ) are just a progression of the S car, ok chassis changes are an upgrade ( in essence) but the S became the Tuscan race car which then became the Griff/Chimaera using the revised chassis which was being raced.
Although the S looks quite different to both the Griff and Chimaera with their swooping lines I at least can see how the S effectively morfed unto the Griff.
A V8S must be the closest thing to you can get to looking like a Tuscan race car for the road and for that alone I’d like one, like the Griff, rare, not all in good condition so hard to find the one that suits you or your purse.
I’d guesstimate the Chimaera gets the most used of the Tvr of that generation as it does make for a healthy grand tourer and general allround fun car and putting a few miles on it won’t destroy its value quite like the rarer Griff /V8S.
It’s a useable classic in the realist sense of the term, infact the only retro/ classic car that is still useable as they can easily keep up with modern traffic, but that’s true to say of most Tvr
ETA and Motul knows his onions as he’s bang on the money about the late Chims as being the best out the lot, I own a Mk3
Although the S looks quite different to both the Griff and Chimaera with their swooping lines I at least can see how the S effectively morfed unto the Griff.
A V8S must be the closest thing to you can get to looking like a Tuscan race car for the road and for that alone I’d like one, like the Griff, rare, not all in good condition so hard to find the one that suits you or your purse.
I’d guesstimate the Chimaera gets the most used of the Tvr of that generation as it does make for a healthy grand tourer and general allround fun car and putting a few miles on it won’t destroy its value quite like the rarer Griff /V8S.
It’s a useable classic in the realist sense of the term, infact the only retro/ classic car that is still useable as they can easily keep up with modern traffic, but that’s true to say of most Tvr
ETA and Motul knows his onions as he’s bang on the money about the late Chims as being the best out the lot, I own a Mk3
Edited by Classic Chim on Sunday 23 December 10:43
RichB said:
I think that's a bit of a mass generalisation!
Why not,,, everyone else is doing it these days 
I have to say I miss my little S car as it was really cool and it’s shape fascinating, I liked the bonnet that came up and over as cars of old, great to work on etc,
It did feel more like a 70’s car in many ways but mine was well built and I went allover the country in it quite happily with its trusty 2.9i V6.
A proper good V8S must feel just as quick as a Chim or Griff if it’s engine is upto spec so it’s about other things as to why you choose one over the other.
If I was unsure I’d find a local TVRCC car meet and meet owners in a pub car park or other, often people have moved from an S to a Chim or Griff so getting owners opinions and the odd drive out is valuable info.
When I moved onto a Chim it was because I felt the S was getting rarer with fewer Tvr dealers and experts around who work on them so Just felt ( rightly or wrongly) the later cars would be easier to maintain and get parts for.
All Tvr are great when working well, that’s really the key, getting one that’s working well and keeping it that way.
I took my V8S to X Works in Kirkham to get a new master cylinder, and came out with a fixed V8S and a 4L Chim.
6 years on still got the Chim, not got the V8S.
In my opinion the V8S is not as good as the Chim, many of my S friends will undoubtedly disagree. But they are delusional!
Also blue ones are the best.
Hope this helps
Andy
6 years on still got the Chim, not got the V8S.
In my opinion the V8S is not as good as the Chim, many of my S friends will undoubtedly disagree. But they are delusional!
Also blue ones are the best.
Hope this helps
Andy
It's down to personal choice, my preference is Griff over chimaera. Long term in my opinion they will hold their value ,also pre cat models I understand not everyone wants a 26 year car to work on I guess I'm opening a can of worms here. We must agree whatever model you decide on Tvr good choice enjoy
It depends on what you want from the car, I’ve had an S3c, Chimaera and Griffith.
The Griff and Chimaera and more recogniseable as TVRs, whereas the S seems to get the “is it a Triumph?” Question raised a lot.
The S is a much rawer experience in my view, the Chimaera the most practical and the Griff seems to be one that people recognise the most.
I’m incredibly fond of the S series cars (rose tinted specs?) and there is something a bit special about a V8S to me - maybe it because I regret not owning one.
That said, they all a bit special, they’re TVRs...
The Griff and Chimaera and more recogniseable as TVRs, whereas the S seems to get the “is it a Triumph?” Question raised a lot.
The S is a much rawer experience in my view, the Chimaera the most practical and the Griff seems to be one that people recognise the most.
I’m incredibly fond of the S series cars (rose tinted specs?) and there is something a bit special about a V8S to me - maybe it because I regret not owning one.
That said, they all a bit special, they’re TVRs...
GTRene said:
...when I sat in it <a Chimaera>, I did not felt like, a good shoe fit...also not a good overview? I could not remember it having such in the Griffith...and I thought those were pretty the same, but maybe I was different then being 13 years younger than.
Can anyone confirm the Chimaera gives a different feeling in interior? sitting more 'cramped' and having a les good overview on the road?
Strange you should say that but yes, I had a Chimaera as a courtesy car for a few weeks and I noticed the sausages on the gearbox tunnel seemed fatter giving the impression of being more jammed in. Can anyone confirm the Chimaera gives a different feeling in interior? sitting more 'cramped' and having a les good overview on the road?
acbluemarlin said:
And it can’t be long before V8’s are deemed illegal.
Nearer than you think. Where I am in East London will be part of the Ultra Low Emmission Zone in 2021. £12.50 Just to move it each time I get in it. Never driven a V8S but loved my old S2, it's completely different to my Chimaera 500, much more of an old school revvy sportscar. A car that you could put your foot down in.
Don't think I've remotely got anywhere near finding out what the 500 can really do, you find yourself going very quickly at 3/4 of the throttle travel in any gear. It also terrifies my wife when the sound goes up.
....another great thing about the noise is i don't have to talk to the wife, i cannot hear her..
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