chimaera/cerbera????????

[smithyboy64]

hello all,anyone out there that have owned both,apart from obvious differances,what you thoughts and experiences of both cars,pros and cons,driving experiences,how do both compare? had my chim.5 years and thinking of changing to a cerb,any one else had dilemma/luxury,did u miss the wind in u hair experience or does raw power make up for this? not that the chim,is slow,by half,any thoughts,ramblings or dont do it be well appriciated,very interested in u views,many thanks in anticipation,cheers.

[scotty_d]

Hi

I had a Chim 400 for 3 years and my Cerb 4.2 for the last year now.

Both great cars The chim had a great sound and with the roof off driving i do miss it a bit now.

The Cerb is quick a bit too much for the road and it just want's to keep above revving.

My Cerb handling wise is light years apart from the chim and yes my chim had all the suspension, polly bush's ect ect done. A very well sorted car in terms of handling set up. The Cerbs longer wheel base is great very predictable and lots of grip even when on the limit i find it great (been on the track with it)

I find the Cerb better around town than my old Chim a bit more cabin space and worse on fuel lol.

It really likes to be driven hard all the time to get the most out of it unlike the RV8 which is more of a low down torque lazy feel. Even though the Cerb makes more power low down it just feels more like a race car than a GT.

I prefer the Cerb in the Wet over the Chim 1000 times more lol i just feel happy it will not try and step out on me with the long throttle travel more feel again. More in touch with the car at all times.

This is the main point i can think off really both are great. Would i go back to the Chim. Hmmm don't think so iv done it now and change is good. i think the Cerb will be a long time keeper once i get it where i want.

[Mark.]

The Scotsman pretty much sums it up.

They kind of look similar, but they are very different. The Cerbera is an event every time you drive it, it's bloody wonderful. Although the wife prefers the Chimaera as in the Cerbera "The gap to the car in front disappears too quick".

We go out for a 'drive' in the Cerbera, and a 'pootle' in the Chimaera. Like Scoty, the Cerbera is better behaved around town, 4th gear at 35-ish and it's very happy.

One thing though. In comparison. The Chimaera is slow.

[smithyboy64]

thanks for quick replies,i spose,i have to drive a cerb,to get better answer to my question,its just that theres an element of doubt,the sound and roof down is such an attraction of the chim,but u hear and read so many good things about the cerb,but looking similar and acting completely differant,oh what a dilemma,lol,hand on heart and gun to u head which would u pick??????????????

[scotty_d]

The Cerbera took a while to grow on me but a year in no looking back now. It just looks so Stunning.

[smithyboy64]

u cerb,certainly looks the part,lovely colour,cheers scotty.

[Goaty Bill]

Mark. said:

The Scotsman pretty much sums it up.

They kind of look similar, but they are very different. The Cerbera is an event every time you drive it, it's bloody wonderful. Although the wife prefers the Chimaera as in the Cerbera "The gap to the car in front disappears too quick".

We go out for a 'drive' in the Cerbera, and a 'pootle' in the Chimaera. Like Scoty, the Cerbera is better behaved around town, 4th gear at 35-ish and it's very happy.

One thing though. In comparison. The Chimaera is slow.

I would agree on most everything said by "The Scotsman" and Mark, but I take small exception to quoting Mark; "In comparison. The Chimaera is slow."
The Chimaera 500 was a totally different beast to a 400.
They may look the same, and even sound very similar, they do not drive the same. <-full stop
I drove several 400s when doing my initial 'window shopping', 3-4 500s and a couple of Griffs.
After a couple of years of owning the Chimaera(500), I started looking for a Cerbera, and drove a few 4.5s

If I say too much about the difference in Chimaera variations, we are likely to require a fire engine to put out the flames from fellow Chimaera owners, to whom I wish to give no offence. Suffice to say Peter did not create all Chimaeras equally.
The Griff 500 always reminds me of driving a go-kart, with a 3 year steroid habit. Bags of fun. Medallions and rapidly increasing volume of chest hair notwithstanding.
The Chimaera 500 is an animal. It has no reason or pity, not for you or for other drivers. But I assure you that every mistake it makes will be your fault. It only does stupid things when you tell it to, and it never questions your 'instructions' no matter how foolish.
The Cerbera 4.5. What can anyone say? So I will repeat what anyone who has ever driven one must say; It is truly awesome.
Quicker, faster, better handling. Even when comparing to the Chim and Griff 500s; "The gap to the car in front disappears..." very quickly.
A good deal less 'drama' involved.
That said; I guarantee to you that top down the Chimaera 500 can come very close to 160 if you have the nerve for it. "In comparison. The Chimaera is slow." hmm, yes but...

Sadly, I never bought a Cerbera, but if I had, the first criteria was always to be; "only if I can keep my Chimaera as well".
Some people just need to have the wind in (what is now left of) their hair. That may be the deciding factor after all.

After 13 years, starting the Chimaera and listening to the initial barks and cackles followed by the ground shaking rumble at slow idle, is still an event for me (and the neighbours).
It has lost none of the thrill.
Mine remains completely unmodified, we will never 'run down' a healthy Cerbera 4.5 together but, we have learned to live with it

[Mark.]

Goaty Bill said:

I would agree on most everything said by "The Scotsman" and Mark, but I take small exception to quoting Mark; "In comparison. The Chimaera is slow."
The Chimaera 500 was a totally different beast to a 400.

Peace. I can only compare my Cerbera with my Chimaera, it's a 400, and it's slow in comparison.

Goaty Bill said:

Sadly, I never bought a Cerbera, but if I had, the first criteria was always to be; "only if I can keep my Chimaera as well".

Was my rule too - best of both worlds

[Mark.]

smithyboy64 said:

...hand on heart and gun to u head which would u pick??????????????

I'd pick the Chimaera.
Roof off can't really be beaten on a warm sunny evening, or a cold frost morning.

Having said that, I've had the Chimaera 10.5 years so it's part of the family, the Cerbera just over a year, so it needs to get in my blood a bit more yet.

[Goaty Bill]

In response to Mark's absolute honesty, rather than the "Mine is best" horn blowing we are all so apt to do here, and just to muddy the waters a bit more for you ;

The opportunity to own a Cerbera will disappear faster than the that of owning a Chimaera.

If you can find an honest to God V8 Cerb for sale in worthwhile condition...

You won't really know until you have driven a Cerbera.
In the comparison, it is not 'horses for courses'. They are again, very different beasts.

Also, I would swear from the grins and enthusiasm I see on the faces of other Chimaera owners, it really doesn't have to be a 500 to be brilliant, and I am sure a fair few of the modded 400s/450s would more than keep up with my old stocker.
So, if the performance aspect is critical, shop around on the Chimaera, you could be surprised.

Would I sell my Chimaera to own a Cerb? No.
Do I still want a Cerb? Oh Yes!
Am I jealous of Mark? Too right!

Would I be happy to park a Griff 500 next to the Chim and Cerb....
What would most people really do?

[Mark.]

Goaty Bill said:

Am I jealous of Mark? Too right!

Swap wallets?

[R44DOR]

I have had a Chim 450 and a Cerb at the same time sold the Chim for a Tuscan and wished I had kept the Chimaera,
both the Chim and the Cerb are good cars you would be happy with what ever car you had, I will have another Chim but not to replace the Cerb

[kevin63]

I had a Chimaera for 3 and half years and my Cerbera now for just coming up to 11years. I loved the Chimaera especially the sound and I had no troubles at all. When I bought the Cerbera (new) I thought I would miss having the roof down but I don't, I do miss the reliability of the Chimaera and how cheap it was to run. The Cerbera works out about double the cost to run than I remember the Chimaera cost me but yet i don't regret buying or running a Cerbera. Driving the Cerb in my view is better than a Chim and being tall I find the Cerb has more room for me and is more planted on the road.
Would I have another Chimaera, yes, would I sell the Cerbera to get a Chimaera, no.
scotty_d gave a good fair write up.

[smithyboy64]

thank you,the response has been excellent,ye if only i could have both,would be ideal world,garage,oh yes but alas life aint like that for many,me,keep u posted as to developments,not in any rush,as got the chim, to enjoy,and savour,cos the noise is addictive,cheers.

[kevin63]

Just a point, my Cerb has lived outside for all it's life with do problems due to that so don't let no garage put you off.
Chim did the same.