thinking of changing my Cerbera 4.5 for a chimaera

[spants]

Has anyone elso done it?.A 500 looks favourite.

I have had convertibles (2 x e36 m3s) and quite miss the wind in my hair (while I still have some) and the reason for buying the cerb, apart from it being the most beautiful car in existance, was that it had four seats. Well, I've also bought a shopping car now!.

What do I need to look out for in a chim? Any weak points?

cheers
Tony

[M@H]

The chim weakpoints are pretty similar to the cerb weakpoints, less a few foibles of the Cerbie of course Just ensure its got a good chassis (outriggers etc), suspension (wishbones), history, and is in good overall condition. Oh and check the steering rack and track-ends for wear too.

Fancy a swap..? (just kidding as I have a lowly 4.0)


>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 11th October 14:22

[s5tvr]

Hi M3 FAN,

Haven't seen you for ages at the station. Have you moved or changed train ?.

Definately have a good look round the chassis. I've seen a few that have been overlooked as far as maintenance is concerned. Also, make sure everything electrical is working. As for which variant, I would say go for the 500, it will be much closer to your Cerb 4.5 performance for everyday use.

I've got a spare copy of Steve Heath's "Bible" you can borrow, which is good for giving prospective buyers some tips on what to look out for and avoid.

I'll probably get hung for saying this on this forum, but have you considered a Tamora ? - they are, relatively speaking, as "cheap as chips" at the moment. They are better made than a Chimaera 500 and the concensus view is they handle better and are also probably quicker in a straight line provided they are revved.

Hopefully see you at the next meet.

[spants]

Hi Simon - yhm!

[meagain]

exchange possible if you are really interested?

[tattoodrob]

Hello,il swap with you!!!!!!!

[olih]

I'd be up for a swap/part exchange as well. My Chim is now my only car and the wind/rain in my hair is not going to work this winter!!!

[Cavey]

I think Cerby 4.5 made this swap rceently, although not sure if he's got a 4.5 or 5.0. Recently posted that he might go back to the Cerb so would be worth checking ith him.

[Podie]

Fancy a swap..?

Chim 450... with a few tweaks... not too distant from a 500 these days..

[spants]

It is in the classifieds with my mobile number

http://pistonheads.com/sales/50857.htm

.... if you are interested.
Cheers
Tony

[Tyre Smoke]

s5tvr said:

Hi M3 FAN, As for which variant, I would say go for the 500, it will be much closer to your Cerb 4.5 performance for everyday use.......... .........I'll probably get hung for saying this on this forum, but have you considered a Tamora ? - they are, relatively speaking, as "cheap as chips" at the moment. They are better made than a Chimaera 500 and the concensus view is they handle better and are also probably quicker in a straight line provided they are revved.

Have you driven a Cerb 4.5? Have you driven a 5ltr Chim? Have you driven a Tamora?

The Cerb is TOTALLY different to any of them. There is simply no comparison between the performance of the Cerb and the Chim. The Chim runs out of steam at around 4.5/5k revs and the Cerb is just coming on cam. The driving characteristics and different - more feel of torque in the Chim for example. As for the Tamora, a delightful little car, and if you think it's quicker than either of the others, you are sadly mistaken. I like the Tamora, but there is no way a 3.6ltr straight six is going to even feel faster than the other two.

And yes, I have driven them all.

[macdeb]

Tyre Smoke said:

s5tvr said: Hi M3 FAN, As for which variant, I would say go for the 500, it will be much closer to your Cerb 4.5 performance for everyday use.......... .........I'll probably get hung for saying this on this forum, but have you considered a Tamora ? - they are, relatively speaking, as "cheap as chips" at the moment. They are better made than a Chimaera 500 and the concensus view is they handle better and are also probably quicker in a straight line provided they are revved. Have you driven a Cerb 4.5? Have you driven a 5ltr Chim? Have you driven a Tamora? The Cerb is TOTALLY different to any of them. There is simply no comparison between the performance of the Cerb and the Chim. The Chim runs out of steam at around 4.5/5k revs and the Cerb is just coming on cam. The driving characteristics and different - more feel of torque in the Chim for example. As for the Tamora, a delightful little car, and if you think it's quicker than either of the others, you are sadly mistaken. I like the Tamora, but there is no way a 3.6ltr straight six is going to even feel faster than the other two. And yes, I have driven them all.

Agree with some of what you say BUT, not the bit about a Chimeara being quicker car than Tamora, oh no.
Have owned two Griff 500's, a T350 and a Chimaera 450. The T350 was by far the quicker car.
[I love them all though before I get flamed]

[Tyre Smoke]

macdeb said:

Agree with some of what you say BUT, not the bit about a Chimeara being quicker car than Tamora, oh no.

Clearly not been out with Bomber Denton then

[UpTheIron]

Tyre Smoke said:

And yes, I have driven them all.

..and you still think a Chim is faster than a Tamora?

[cerby4.5]

Cavey said:

I think Cerby 4.5 made this swap rceently, although not sure if he's got a 4.5 or 5.0. Recently posted that he might go back to the Cerb so would be worth checking ith him.

Hiya,
I did indeed make the change although had a small hiatus in between Cerb and Chim due to a house move. I wouls be happy to chat with you about the pro's and con's although I am almost certainly keeping the Chim now, so my plans have changed again. By all means drop me a mail and we can exchange numbers and have a chat. Always happy to help!
BTW I had a 450LW Cerb and now have a 450 Chim! (With a 'few' mods!!)

[jellison]

Would HAVE to be a 500, but then it will be slower than Cerb, and have crap brake, but will have the wind in there hair - so pretty different really.

Lazy big V8 vs the revver that is the AJP.

Suspension likely to be a good deal softer as well.

>> Edited by jellison on Tuesday 18th October 09:38

[s5tvr]

tyre smoke said:

Have you driven a Cerb 4.5? Have you driven a 5ltr Chim? Have you driven a Tamora? The Cerb is TOTALLY different to any of them. There is simply no comparison between the performance of the Cerb and the Chim. The Chim runs out of steam at around 4.5/5k revs and the Cerb is just coming on cam. The driving characteristics and different - more feel of torque in the Chim for example. As for the Tamora, a delightful little car, and if you think it's quicker than either of the others, you are sadly mistaken. I like the Tamora, but there is no way a 3.6ltr straight six is going to even feel faster than the other two. And yes, I have driven them all.

Agree with your comment that the Cerb will outperform the Chim. I should have said "closer" rather than "much closer" to the Cerb's performance. The point I was trying to make was that the drop in performance will obviously be less if spants goes for the Chim 500.

If a Chim 500 is running out of steam at 4.5/5k revs, then there's something wrong with it as mine pulls strongly right up to 6k revs. If I remember correctly, the 500 produces peak power at around 5.5k so it shouldn't be running out of steam at this point.

I personally can't vouch for the Tamora being quicker than the Chim 500, but if you look at the Tam/T350/Sagaris forum, people who have traded up from a Chim/Griff 500 pretty much all say the Tam is quicker and certainly handles better.

[Tyre Smoke]

s5tvr said:

[ Agree with your comment that the Cerb will outperform the Chim. I should have said "closer" rather than "much closer" to the Cerb's performance. The point I was trying to make was that the drop in performance will obviously be less if spants goes for the Chim 500. If a Chim 500 is running out of steam at 4.5/5k revs, then there's something wrong with it as mine pulls strongly right up to 6k revs. If I remember correctly, the 500 produces peak power at around 5.5k so it shouldn't be running out of steam at this point. I personally can't vouch for the Tamora being quicker than the Chim 500, but if you look at the Tam/T350/Sagaris forum, people who have traded up from a Chim/Griff 500 pretty much all say the Tam is quicker and certainly handles better.

I think I should perhaps qualify my comments....

The Chimaera may well be revving to 6k but it's a slog after about 4.5k revs (unlike the Cerb which just keeps revving) The Chimaera is much more of a driveable car, easier if you like. I'm sure the Tamora is a quicker car, it should be with the years of development that has gone on since the inception of the Chimaera. The Tamora is a lovely car, if I didn't have the Cerb, it would be a Tamora for sure.