Happy with your 4.0 or wish you had a 4.5 / 5.0 ?
Discussion
Looking to buy my first tvr/chim in the next couple of months and despite having read most of the steve heath bible i've still got a few "user questions".
Ian (grey ghost) from here was kind enough to take me for a spin in his 4.5 the other day, and that felt fast.
My GT is fast (500 bph) but in a different way, it ways 2 tonn and feels big and heavy, whereas in the chim it was a very different experience.
Now whilst looking in the classifieds i've only seen a few 4.5 and 5.0's come up. And i've read somewhere that people who've bought a 4.0 wish they'd bought a faster model, but just wanted to know if that's the majority of the 4.0 owners, or only a handfull.
So are you quiet happy with your 4.0, or do you wish you'd gone for a 4.5 / 5.0 at the time ?
I'm more than happy with my 400. It's plenty fast enough for me, and my background is mainly in fast motorbikes so to me the term "fast car" is a bit peculiar..
My bikes will do a sub 3 second 0-60, and a sub 10 second 0-100-0 so ANY car should feel slow in comparison.. Not the Chim though! You get 90% of the experience in a 400, much the same noise, the same abundance of power, noise and theatre..
See if you can get a ride in one, it may be that the 400 genuinely isn't for you, but on the road, in "real world" conditions I am VERY happy with mine, it'll keep up with MOST things (certainly up to speeds i am comfortable with).
If you do a lot of track days you MIGHT feel differently, but TBH a well sorted 400 will be every bit as much fun as anything else..
If you want the bragging rights though you may want to wait for a good 500...
My bikes will do a sub 3 second 0-60, and a sub 10 second 0-100-0 so ANY car should feel slow in comparison.. Not the Chim though! You get 90% of the experience in a 400, much the same noise, the same abundance of power, noise and theatre..
See if you can get a ride in one, it may be that the 400 genuinely isn't for you, but on the road, in "real world" conditions I am VERY happy with mine, it'll keep up with MOST things (certainly up to speeds i am comfortable with).
If you do a lot of track days you MIGHT feel differently, but TBH a well sorted 400 will be every bit as much fun as anything else..
If you want the bragging rights though you may want to wait for a good 500...
Driven all the models 400, 450 and 500. In my experience I didn't notice much difference between the 450 and 500, they are both very rapid, whereas the 400, although quick compared to your average car, was noticeably slower on acceleration. The way I think of it as with the 450/500 pulling away from junctions you need to change gear before you get a chance to look at the rev counter, but with the 400 I'd watch the rev counter pulling away from a junction. If it was me I'd go for a 450, 500 is a little too manic!!
Im on my 2nd Chimaera, the 1st was a 450, and was very fast. The one I own now is a 400 and is nothing like as fast a the 450. But it is still a very fast car.
I bought on condition with the thought that if I want more speed I can always change the engine or Supercharge or add a turbo.
As it happens its getting turbo charged in a couple of weeks.
Buy on condition and keep an open mind about buying a modified car. There are some very nice modified cars available and most owners spend a fortune on their TVR's.
I bought on condition with the thought that if I want more speed I can always change the engine or Supercharge or add a turbo.
As it happens its getting turbo charged in a couple of weeks.
Buy on condition and keep an open mind about buying a modified car. There are some very nice modified cars available and most owners spend a fortune on their TVR's.
I bought a 400, intending to drive it both on the road and the track. Said that if I wanted more power I would sell it and buy a faster one.
Spent about £6000 making it go faster by changing the engine for a 500. The biggest difference is the sheer torque of the 5 litre. Mine is not standard, but I love it as it now is..
Now 300 bhp, 330 lb ft, in a just over 1 tonne car.
Remind me of this when I turbo- or super- charge it next year, somebody, please.
OP, if you fancy a drive in any Chimaeras, let people know where you are based and volunteers will come forward, I have no doubt. You can try mine if you like. Just email me
Spent about £6000 making it go faster by changing the engine for a 500. The biggest difference is the sheer torque of the 5 litre. Mine is not standard, but I love it as it now is..
Now 300 bhp, 330 lb ft, in a just over 1 tonne car.
Remind me of this when I turbo- or super- charge it next year, somebody, please.
OP, if you fancy a drive in any Chimaeras, let people know where you are based and volunteers will come forward, I have no doubt. You can try mine if you like. Just email me
)- but who doesn't want more power 
I have a 400 .... and I do pang for that infinite acceleration you seem to get from the 500 from time to time. Indeed, even considering an SC conversion over winter.
That being said it is quite rare that I find myself in a situation where accelerating much faster would actually be of benefit. As it is, on the smooth twisties that we like so much, I sometimes find myself changing to third realising I have held my breath for the last 3000 revs.
I have a very well behaved 400 and she is lovely to deal with even burbling along behind cyclists at 15mph - a common occurrence in Surrey - (or indeed horses at 5 mph - or a horse and bloody trap at 10mph) - from what I understand 500's aren't so willing to lie down and play this game.
An oft-quoted flying adage : "It's better to be on the ground wishing you were flying, that be flying wishing you were on the ground." May apply here.
Since you are asking, I would say you will always pang for faster! But there are alot more variables to take into account. I like the 400 on original seats tyres because it copes with the roads round here better (in summer) than my Octy VrS did when on 18" . In fact it's alot more comfortable that S2000's and MX'5 .. primarily because of the amount of rubber and bum-foam. If it wasn't for the need to get a big pram in my boot I would perhaps have gone with a different more racy TVR, but I know I would have regretted it with the bumps - and to utilise the 500s power you need to give up the bump riding prowess AFAIK
Soz for ramble
That being said it is quite rare that I find myself in a situation where accelerating much faster would actually be of benefit. As it is, on the smooth twisties that we like so much, I sometimes find myself changing to third realising I have held my breath for the last 3000 revs.
I have a very well behaved 400 and she is lovely to deal with even burbling along behind cyclists at 15mph - a common occurrence in Surrey - (or indeed horses at 5 mph - or a horse and bloody trap at 10mph) - from what I understand 500's aren't so willing to lie down and play this game.
An oft-quoted flying adage : "It's better to be on the ground wishing you were flying, that be flying wishing you were on the ground." May apply here.
Since you are asking, I would say you will always pang for faster! But there are alot more variables to take into account. I like the 400 on original seats tyres because it copes with the roads round here better (in summer) than my Octy VrS did when on 18" . In fact it's alot more comfortable that S2000's and MX'5 .. primarily because of the amount of rubber and bum-foam. If it wasn't for the need to get a big pram in my boot I would perhaps have gone with a different more racy TVR, but I know I would have regretted it with the bumps - and to utilise the 500s power you need to give up the bump riding prowess AFAIK
Soz for ramble
All are fast, depends what u buy it for. My dad drives my 450 on occasion and loves it, but pootles around. it is the look and the experience he likes. I asked if he gave it the full beans,,, "god no!". I on the other hand bought it because i always wanted a Tvr since passing my test the fact that is a tweaked 450 is a bonus.
if it makes u feel better i have never seen 20mpg! Even when trying!. Still must be one of the best value for money performance cars, tax , insurance wise.
also agree that the grin factor will be the same..... Just the overtakes a little quicker
if it makes u feel better i have never seen 20mpg! Even when trying!. Still must be one of the best value for money performance cars, tax , insurance wise.
also agree that the grin factor will be the same..... Just the overtakes a little quicker
I would go for the 450 every day of the week. Yes the 500 is faster but if does not rev as well. I personally wouldn't go for a 400 as when I drove one i was a little disappointed with the performance. It is still a quick car but it wasn't 'TVR Quick' IMHO. The 450 and the 500 were more what I expected from a TVR where you are pinned back in your seat. The 500 feels very quick due to the low down torque but to be honest I preferred the 450 as it loved to rev whereas I found the 500 run out off puff a bit at the top end. Another advantage with the 450 is that it is the very latest spec rover V8, the stronger cross-bolted 4.6 lump. Great if you want to tune at a later date.
Give me a shout if you want to go out in my Griff 500 to compare. I know you are after a chimp but as you probably already know they are the same car underneath.
Give me a shout if you want to go out in my Griff 500 to compare. I know you are after a chimp but as you probably already know they are the same car underneath.
I bought a 400 4 years ago on impulse as my Stag wasnt working properly. I loved the Chimaera so much, I sold the Stag after a couple of years. The have been a handful of times I have genuinely needed more power and a few more times on top of that when it would have been nice to have. Better brakes, new and set-up suspension and some driver training made me go faster but the question you asked was still there.
On my drive there is now a 5.3 Chimaera (and a very nice 400 in the Garage for sale!).
Depends on how long you want to keep a car and how long you want to look for one. There is a lot of choice for 400's less so with the others,
On my drive there is now a 5.3 Chimaera (and a very nice 400 in the Garage for sale!).
Depends on how long you want to keep a car and how long you want to look for one. There is a lot of choice for 400's less so with the others,
My 500 is nice and quick, but I want quicker, so wouldn't consider a 400 unless I was planning to mod and add a whopping great turbo. In fact, I wish I had a turbo on the 500, either that os a Cerb 4.5.
As with all the Chim/ Griff variants, the biggest challenge is keeping them on the tarmac. Don't expect a smooth drive on our shoddy roads. No ABS or dynamic stability control to help you... Just the tweak in the seat of the pants that tells you you're pushing it too far! This is the TVR 'experience'.
As with all the Chim/ Griff variants, the biggest challenge is keeping them on the tarmac. Don't expect a smooth drive on our shoddy roads. No ABS or dynamic stability control to help you... Just the tweak in the seat of the pants that tells you you're pushing it too far! This is the TVR 'experience'.
Chuffmeister said:
My 500 is nice and quick, but I want quicker, so wouldn't consider a 400 unless I was planning to mod and add a whopping great turbo. In fact, I wish I had a turbo on the 500, either that os a Cerb 4.5.
As with all the Chim/ Griff variants, the biggest challenge is keeping them on the tarmac. Don't expect a smooth drive on our shoddy roads. No ABS or dynamic stability control to help you... Just the tweak in the seat of the pants that tells you you're pushing it too far! This is the TVR 'experience'.
That makes a good point. Whatever TVR you buy, first thing you shoud do is get the suspension fully checked, and if all A1 then have a full electronic four wheel alignment done by someone you trust who knows the correct settings. Totally changes the car from killer to thriller. Best money you will spend.As with all the Chim/ Griff variants, the biggest challenge is keeping them on the tarmac. Don't expect a smooth drive on our shoddy roads. No ABS or dynamic stability control to help you... Just the tweak in the seat of the pants that tells you you're pushing it too far! This is the TVR 'experience'.
Hello Medic-one,
Personally having owned the range cars that your talking about , be it Griff or Chim, I do not think the cars performance matters simply because, which ever one you buy it will end up feeling slow after a period of time. That just life, since you will adjust to the cars speed.
The only problem with the 500, is that there on the border line for their cooling abilities.
The bottom line, is that once you buy one! You will always hanker after another!
Personally having owned the range cars that your talking about , be it Griff or Chim, I do not think the cars performance matters simply because, which ever one you buy it will end up feeling slow after a period of time. That just life, since you will adjust to the cars speed.
The only problem with the 500, is that there on the border line for their cooling abilities.
The bottom line, is that once you buy one! You will always hanker after another!
I have a 400, and what I'd say is that my reasons for buying it were that I knew I'd mod it and didn't want to end up modding a car that would be worth more standard. There are a limited number of genuine 500's, so these are the ones that will make money in time in standard trim.
Answering the question you ask in a slightly different way - I would look very carefully at any you buy. The 400s are cheaper (lots of them, less desireable than the bigger ones in general), but you can easily spend money buying a 'reasonably cheap' 400 and end up having to spend more to bring it up to a standard where you'd be able to find a bigger one in similar nick even at a dealer.
I suppose even another way of looking at it is that you need to remember that these are bordering on the 'Classic' market - mine is 15 years old now. So (1) You shouldn't expect them to be quick by modern standards - especially where quick = easy to drive fast. (2) It might pay you to look for one that's been 'restored', or at least had the major bits overhauled (brakes, suspension, chassis). Again, buying the wrong one will make the 'Is it fast?' question academic.
Answering the question you ask in a slightly different way - I would look very carefully at any you buy. The 400s are cheaper (lots of them, less desireable than the bigger ones in general), but you can easily spend money buying a 'reasonably cheap' 400 and end up having to spend more to bring it up to a standard where you'd be able to find a bigger one in similar nick even at a dealer.
I suppose even another way of looking at it is that you need to remember that these are bordering on the 'Classic' market - mine is 15 years old now. So (1) You shouldn't expect them to be quick by modern standards - especially where quick = easy to drive fast. (2) It might pay you to look for one that's been 'restored', or at least had the major bits overhauled (brakes, suspension, chassis). Again, buying the wrong one will make the 'Is it fast?' question academic.
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