Chim to Tamora and back again?
Discussion
I have been looking at a few cars this summer (450's and 500's) and whilst I may be a bit fussy, I havent found anything locally and today broadened the search to a Tamora which ticked all of the boxes.
Then I drove it....
It seems a bit modern to me. Lovely firm ride, very responsive, excellent steering and probably very fast. Good noise from an up-graded exhaust and in mint condition.
Not sure what it is but things like the dropping windows when you open the doors and the digital dash made it feel like a modern car, which didnt feel like a good thing to me.
As soon as I came home, it was out in the Chim to try and work out what was putting me off. It felt a bit bigger, a lot heavier to steer and had a better exhaust note.
Has anyone gone from a Chim to a speed 6/Tamora and come back again?
Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated - thanks
Graham
Then I drove it....
It seems a bit modern to me. Lovely firm ride, very responsive, excellent steering and probably very fast. Good noise from an up-graded exhaust and in mint condition.
Not sure what it is but things like the dropping windows when you open the doors and the digital dash made it feel like a modern car, which didnt feel like a good thing to me.
As soon as I came home, it was out in the Chim to try and work out what was putting me off. It felt a bit bigger, a lot heavier to steer and had a better exhaust note.
Has anyone gone from a Chim to a speed 6/Tamora and come back again?
Any thoughts or suggestions appreciated - thanks
Graham
Edited by TV8 on Tuesday 25th September 13:36
Hi Graham.......Hmmmm. Very interesting, I have a similar quandry! But I don't drive TVRs in High days, holidays, or as daily drives......I Speed Hillclimb & Sprint a Chim and a Tam!!
I've had my '93 Chim for 9-years with a few changes in the last 5-years; roll bar, shocks, suspension, new cam, new clutch, 888 tyres. These are all for Speed Hillclimbing & Sprints - 30 to 60 secs blast up hills & 50 to 100 secs around circuits, with the TVR Speed Championship (last 3-years).
Then along came this '02 Tamora 8-weeks ago, with similar mods as the Chim for Speed Hillclimbing and Sprints, to continue my involvement with the Speed Championship. I bought it, but I still have the Chim and not sure if I'll part with it straight away. Chalk & Cheese?
The Tamora, as you have accurately described, is all those things (esp steering), but is a complete step up the scale in both handling and performance. I am still improving my times in the Chimaera and last weekend at Shelshley, before the weather changed, beat my personal best by 0.2 secs - a lot in Hillclimbs.
The Tamora, at it's first Hillclimb (8-weeks ago), beat a 5-year low in the Chimaera by over 1.5 secs, at the first visit (4- runs over 2-days) a huge improvement. In the Chimaera, I feel secure and just within it's performance envelope and capabilities. The Tamora is well beyond my current capabilities, but feels much more planted and secure despite being much faster. The steering is a delight in lightness and feel after the Chimaera. However, the Chimaera does give masses of feedback too in a different way. The Tamora does have an awesome aural sound and a feel about it after a V8 burble.
Each to their own and IMHO, I don't think you tried the Tamora as something which may be faster and more subtle in handling and road-holding? I too like the driver comfort and display. There is just a greater reserve of security in the Tamora, again IMHO.
My choice is likely to be the Tamora in the long term, but I still have the Chimaera. I may reluctantly let it go next year. It's one of the very early Chims, with an excellent Rover gearbox and despite Sprints & Hillclimbs hasn't been abused, a personal view. It has been so reliable, dependable and competitive against 40+ other competitors.
I do prefer the soldidity of the Tamora, in the short time of ownership, and the even more querky aspects which early Chimaeras have nothing to compare - I didn't think there would be much difference, but it is very marked in the chassis and handling. The engines and noise are incomparable, but I am beginning to enjoy the aural 6-cylinder qualities. I'll always love the V8!!
Not sure that helps or clarifys?
Life's too short, if in doubt have both??
Trev
I've had my '93 Chim for 9-years with a few changes in the last 5-years; roll bar, shocks, suspension, new cam, new clutch, 888 tyres. These are all for Speed Hillclimbing & Sprints - 30 to 60 secs blast up hills & 50 to 100 secs around circuits, with the TVR Speed Championship (last 3-years).
Then along came this '02 Tamora 8-weeks ago, with similar mods as the Chim for Speed Hillclimbing and Sprints, to continue my involvement with the Speed Championship. I bought it, but I still have the Chim and not sure if I'll part with it straight away. Chalk & Cheese?
The Tamora, as you have accurately described, is all those things (esp steering), but is a complete step up the scale in both handling and performance. I am still improving my times in the Chimaera and last weekend at Shelshley, before the weather changed, beat my personal best by 0.2 secs - a lot in Hillclimbs.
The Tamora, at it's first Hillclimb (8-weeks ago), beat a 5-year low in the Chimaera by over 1.5 secs, at the first visit (4- runs over 2-days) a huge improvement. In the Chimaera, I feel secure and just within it's performance envelope and capabilities. The Tamora is well beyond my current capabilities, but feels much more planted and secure despite being much faster. The steering is a delight in lightness and feel after the Chimaera. However, the Chimaera does give masses of feedback too in a different way. The Tamora does have an awesome aural sound and a feel about it after a V8 burble.
Each to their own and IMHO, I don't think you tried the Tamora as something which may be faster and more subtle in handling and road-holding? I too like the driver comfort and display. There is just a greater reserve of security in the Tamora, again IMHO.
My choice is likely to be the Tamora in the long term, but I still have the Chimaera. I may reluctantly let it go next year. It's one of the very early Chims, with an excellent Rover gearbox and despite Sprints & Hillclimbs hasn't been abused, a personal view. It has been so reliable, dependable and competitive against 40+ other competitors.
I do prefer the soldidity of the Tamora, in the short time of ownership, and the even more querky aspects which early Chimaeras have nothing to compare - I didn't think there would be much difference, but it is very marked in the chassis and handling. The engines and noise are incomparable, but I am beginning to enjoy the aural 6-cylinder qualities. I'll always love the V8!!
Not sure that helps or clarifys?
Life's too short, if in doubt have both??
Trev
Cheers Trev, we may have met at the speed championship at Lydenn earlier this year? I had a blue Chim and remember chatting with someone who had an early Chim in the paddock.
As I suspected, better in everyway and a rapidly acquired taste! The owner has had three TVRs (Chim to Tuscan to Tamora) and had this one from new.
Keeping both... I had my Stag and the Chimaera for a three year overlap but not sure I could get away with these two for that long!
As I suspected, better in everyway and a rapidly acquired taste! The owner has had three TVRs (Chim to Tuscan to Tamora) and had this one from new.
Keeping both... I had my Stag and the Chimaera for a three year overlap but not sure I could get away with these two for that long!
Hi Graham, twas not me as I haven't ventured that far east, yet! One of the Smith brothers runs a 5 ltr, two white stripes up the bonnet(?), even earlier than mine. We reckon Mar 93, mines May?
I doubt i'll have both for too long, SWIMBO!!
Not all better, but appeals to me as a large improvement and as you say, it is/will be an acquired taste.
Be very certain that the Speed six engine/cylinder head has had a rebuild, or had something which denotes the engine has been improved in some way? Otherwise, you have to walk away
See these guys for potential improvement from the detrimental changes to the cylinder head TVR imposed on the Melling design? - for longevity, not performance necessarily: http://www.rndengineering.co.uk/page_p6.htm
Head not heart, but heart does matter!!
Cheers
Trev
I doubt i'll have both for too long, SWIMBO!!
Not all better, but appeals to me as a large improvement and as you say, it is/will be an acquired taste.
Be very certain that the Speed six engine/cylinder head has had a rebuild, or had something which denotes the engine has been improved in some way? Otherwise, you have to walk away
See these guys for potential improvement from the detrimental changes to the cylinder head TVR imposed on the Melling design? - for longevity, not performance necessarily: http://www.rndengineering.co.uk/page_p6.htm
Head not heart, but heart does matter!!
Cheers
Trev
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