Tuscan, Griffith, Tamora, Chimaera?
Discussion
Thanks for all the replies, I must admit that it was the look of the Tuscan that first caught my attention then after looking I started to favour the look of the MK2 over the MK1, just not sure about the front grill on the MK1, a personal thing I suppose.
I currently drive a Porsche Cayman S so am quite used to the thought of the engine going bang at any moment but obviously has to be taken into consideration when buying.
I currently drive a Porsche Cayman S so am quite used to the thought of the engine going bang at any moment but obviously has to be taken into consideration when buying.
None of the T cars look dated. Having had a Tuscan ( and Cerb) and now a Tamora......
Tamora
Forget the Tuscan.....it is stunning but so tricky to get the Mk1 to "go" in a useful everyday way. Tamora is THE misunderstood TVR. It's the granddaddy of the Sag and the handling and package fully defeats the "all show" of the Tuscan. The Tusker is a big old psychopathic whale in handling terms.
In the flesh the Tam is beautiful.
In the real world the difference between speed sixes ( standard) is minor. It's the chassis. These cars are for driving not looking at.
Tamora
Forget the Tuscan.....it is stunning but so tricky to get the Mk1 to "go" in a useful everyday way. Tamora is THE misunderstood TVR. It's the granddaddy of the Sag and the handling and package fully defeats the "all show" of the Tuscan. The Tusker is a big old psychopathic whale in handling terms.
In the flesh the Tam is beautiful.
In the real world the difference between speed sixes ( standard) is minor. It's the chassis. These cars are for driving not looking at.
See here for an "ugly duckling" Tamora!
Sodding useless iPad .....
http://thumbsnap.com/pSbU5iX0
Sodding useless iPad .....
http://thumbsnap.com/pSbU5iX0
Edited by Zarkingfardwarks on Wednesday 15th August 22:00
Have had a chim and a Tuscan, chim was a great cruiser but love the Tuscan considerably more. Imo its prettier, faster (than my 4.0) and feels stacks more modern. Cheese grater grille is subjective, but can be changed to a mk2 for a few hundred quid.
As for rebuild and handling same old clichés get trotted out everytime someone mentions buying a Tuscan, engine will go bang, handle crap etc. Most will have had engines and shocks/spacers sorted by now so just buy wisely. Get an inspection and if your worried about s6 pretty sure power will warrant it.
As for rebuild and handling same old clichés get trotted out everytime someone mentions buying a Tuscan, engine will go bang, handle crap etc. Most will have had engines and shocks/spacers sorted by now so just buy wisely. Get an inspection and if your worried about s6 pretty sure power will warrant it.
I have just been round the same loop, had a 15k ish budget and knew I wanted a TVR just wasn't sure which to go for. I had a ride and a drive in a Chim and loved it, saw a Tuscan and thought WOW, Grif never really got a look in for some unknown reason but then decided with my heart that I wanted a Tamora. I picked it up this week as as with any TVR the love affair has started with that first turn of the key. For sure it's not the catwalk stunner of the Tuscan and the Speed Six barks rather than the meaty burble of the V8 but it still turns heads as all TVRs do. Full soft top is great, most refined drive of any TVR (so they say). I was used to 3.0 Z4 which like your Cayman S was well behaved and the Tamora is raw but oh so much more fun without feeling like your riding on the back of a crazed lion that may just turn round and bite your face off. My advice though is that, if you're anything like me, your heart will decide which it wants based on looks, noise, style, agility or whatever it fancies and all the head will do is find a way to pay for it. Get one, any of them and you'll start to grin like everyone else posting on this site who has one - heck if you get one you'll want to try all the others in the end I am sure. 
Slip below the radar and 15k will bag a lovely low mileage Chimaera 500...
Classic TVR good looks.
Rover V8 simplicity sustainability and tune-ability.
Rarer than the equivalent Griff 500.
IMHO ,as quick as needs to be on the road, and if you want to go faster or get on track..
Can be modified to brake and corner as well as virtually ANY other road legal TVR.
Look after it and if you modify it , do it sensibily and empathetically and it will hold it's money - prior to beginning, an initilally gentle,then exponential appreciation in value.
But.. and keep it under your hat - dont tell anyone , the Chimaera 500 is the next Big Thing .. you've not heard it from me though
.
Classic TVR good looks.
Rover V8 simplicity sustainability and tune-ability.
Rarer than the equivalent Griff 500.
IMHO ,as quick as needs to be on the road, and if you want to go faster or get on track..
Can be modified to brake and corner as well as virtually ANY other road legal TVR.
Look after it and if you modify it , do it sensibily and empathetically and it will hold it's money - prior to beginning, an initilally gentle,then exponential appreciation in value.
But.. and keep it under your hat - dont tell anyone , the Chimaera 500 is the next Big Thing .. you've not heard it from me though
.As a first TVR a Chimaera takes some beating. Their pretty simple machines but will introduce you to the more 'interesting' aspects of the marque without breaking the bank, parts are cheap and easily availible. They will allow you to get your hands a bit dirty and build up your knowledge and understanding so that you can trade up confidently at a later date.
I personally went from a Chimaera 400 to a Griff 500 and then to a Cerbera.
With any TVR checking the Chassis especially behind the front wheels is extremely important
Engine wise you have these choices
Chim & Griff: 4,4.3, 4.5 & 5 litre Cross Crank V8. All sound awesome (think muscle car) especially the early Griffs without Cats though a cheap well known modification to the centre box of the exhaust will improve the sound the Cat equipped cars.
Tuscan, Tamora, T350, Sagaris: 3.6 and 4 litre. 24 valve dry sumped straight 6. Insane revving engine that makes BMW's straight 6s seem dull. Terrible reputation for reliability, especially the early ones although weaknesses now well understood and if needed a rebuild will cure. Exhaust note ranges from quite refined to utterly barking mad depending on exhaust.
Cerbera: 4 litre straight 6 as above or 4.2,4.5 litre flat crank V8. V8's should sound like a Ferrari V8 but don't because of the odd 75 degree V (rather than 90 degree) Brutal engine that has a much better reputation that the Straight 6 although more expensive to work on. Weird exhaust note tempered by overrun pops and bangs which will have passerbys thinking they are a witness to a drive by shooting.
I personally went from a Chimaera 400 to a Griff 500 and then to a Cerbera.
With any TVR checking the Chassis especially behind the front wheels is extremely important
Engine wise you have these choices
Chim & Griff: 4,4.3, 4.5 & 5 litre Cross Crank V8. All sound awesome (think muscle car) especially the early Griffs without Cats though a cheap well known modification to the centre box of the exhaust will improve the sound the Cat equipped cars.
Tuscan, Tamora, T350, Sagaris: 3.6 and 4 litre. 24 valve dry sumped straight 6. Insane revving engine that makes BMW's straight 6s seem dull. Terrible reputation for reliability, especially the early ones although weaknesses now well understood and if needed a rebuild will cure. Exhaust note ranges from quite refined to utterly barking mad depending on exhaust.
Cerbera: 4 litre straight 6 as above or 4.2,4.5 litre flat crank V8. V8's should sound like a Ferrari V8 but don't because of the odd 75 degree V (rather than 90 degree) Brutal engine that has a much better reputation that the Straight 6 although more expensive to work on. Weird exhaust note tempered by overrun pops and bangs which will have passerbys thinking they are a witness to a drive by shooting.
Edited by PuffsBack on Wednesday 15th August 23:03
RetroWheels said:
Slip below the radar and 15k will bag a lovely low mileage Chimaera 500...
Classic TVR good looks.
Rover V8 simplicity sustainability and tune-ability.
Rarer than the equivalent Griff 500.
IMHO ,as quick as needs to be on the road, and if you want to go faster or get on track..
Can be modified to brake and corner as well as virtually ANY other road legal TVR.
Look after it and if you modify it , do it sensibily and empathetically and it will hold it's money - prior to beginning, an initilally gentle,then exponential appreciation in value.
But.. and keep it under your hat - dont tell anyone , the Chimaera 500 is the next Big Thing .. you've not heard it from me though.
This is possibly the most sensible, correct, and honest thing I have ever read on PH.Classic TVR good looks.
Rover V8 simplicity sustainability and tune-ability.
Rarer than the equivalent Griff 500.
IMHO ,as quick as needs to be on the road, and if you want to go faster or get on track..
Can be modified to brake and corner as well as virtually ANY other road legal TVR.
Look after it and if you modify it , do it sensibily and empathetically and it will hold it's money - prior to beginning, an initilally gentle,then exponential appreciation in value.
But.. and keep it under your hat - dont tell anyone , the Chimaera 500 is the next Big Thing .. you've not heard it from me though
.Chilli
(totally unbiased opinion)
Doneitnow,
I,d go for the one that you most desire!, then when you open your Garage door it will make you smile and when you drive it you,ll smile even more.
There,s nothing worse than having regrets and thinking that I wish that I,d bought that one in that colour/spec.
But thats only my view which means nothing.
Good luck with the HUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I,d go for the one that you most desire!, then when you open your Garage door it will make you smile and when you drive it you,ll smile even more.
There,s nothing worse than having regrets and thinking that I wish that I,d bought that one in that colour/spec.
But thats only my view which means nothing.
Good luck with the HUNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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