TVR Chimaera 4.0 vs S3 - a question of head over heart?
Discussion
I am still saving for my first Tiv, and will probably not be able to buy for until next summer, but I am still trying to decide whether I would go for an early-ish Chimaera 4ltr or a late S3.
I adore the Chimaera, it looks stunning, sounds stunning, and goes like Billyo - what more could you want? If I am driving along in my Fiesta and my girl says to me "wow, look at that Ferrari 430", and I had seen a Chim the other way (I live in a very affluent part of society obviously), there is no way my gaze would be broken.
The S3 on the other hand, has been a grower. I saw one at the Harpenden Classics on the Common last year (saw an S2 this year), and thought it looked nice, not stunning, but nice. Then the owner turned the ignition - nice. I recently read a buyers guide in Classic Cars Mag, which pointed out the low cost of ownership compared to most later Tivs.
In summary, I see the pro's and con's of each as being:
Chim
Pro
-Amazing V8, great looks and entertainment. A sense of occasion every time.
- Big boot
- Not a Speed Six!
Con
- Expensive to maintain (on a budget)
- Fuel costs
- Girl might be intimidated to drive!
S3
Pro
- Great sounding V6
- Ford parts so reliable, cheap and easy to source.
- Cheapish to own, decent entry-level
Con
- Crap boot space
- Older, therefore possibly less reliable
- Not as good looking (opinion)
I have posted this thread in the S/Chimaera forum too to try and get a balanced view. I am 23, with 3 years no claims bonus, living in Luton with no garage. I would prob have to keep the Fiesta due to work committments.
Any advice welcome!
I adore the Chimaera, it looks stunning, sounds stunning, and goes like Billyo - what more could you want? If I am driving along in my Fiesta and my girl says to me "wow, look at that Ferrari 430", and I had seen a Chim the other way (I live in a very affluent part of society obviously), there is no way my gaze would be broken.
The S3 on the other hand, has been a grower. I saw one at the Harpenden Classics on the Common last year (saw an S2 this year), and thought it looked nice, not stunning, but nice. Then the owner turned the ignition - nice. I recently read a buyers guide in Classic Cars Mag, which pointed out the low cost of ownership compared to most later Tivs.
In summary, I see the pro's and con's of each as being:
Chim
Pro
-Amazing V8, great looks and entertainment. A sense of occasion every time.
- Big boot
- Not a Speed Six!
Con
- Expensive to maintain (on a budget)
- Fuel costs
- Girl might be intimidated to drive!
S3
Pro
- Great sounding V6
- Ford parts so reliable, cheap and easy to source.
- Cheapish to own, decent entry-level
Con
- Crap boot space
- Older, therefore possibly less reliable
- Not as good looking (opinion)
I have posted this thread in the S/Chimaera forum too to try and get a balanced view. I am 23, with 3 years no claims bonus, living in Luton with no garage. I would prob have to keep the Fiesta due to work committments.
Any advice welcome!
Cor, now that's a hard question.
Depends on how much money you have really, unless your going to service and repair the car yourself.
My S was the most reliable car I've owned, mainly because I cared for her pedantically, but like you said its mainly ford bits so cheap to repair and service.
If I were you I would probably start in the S and progress to a Chim in two years, its what I did and loved every second of my S ownership.
Just to add, the S is a gorgeous car and I got more comments from women in that than in my Chim so far.
Hope this hasn't confused you lol.
Depends on how much money you have really, unless your going to service and repair the car yourself.
My S was the most reliable car I've owned, mainly because I cared for her pedantically, but like you said its mainly ford bits so cheap to repair and service.
If I were you I would probably start in the S and progress to a Chim in two years, its what I did and loved every second of my S ownership.
Just to add, the S is a gorgeous car and I got more comments from women in that than in my Chim so far.
Hope this hasn't confused you lol.
Pupp - a worthy consideration, although are the running costs of a V8S more in line with a Chimaera then?
Dave - great to hear your S so was popular, I am working on the assumption of having a budget of about £10k (but not much else to cover major issues). I am also not handy with a spanner! But I am willing to learn if small jobs are worth the cost-cutting.
Dave - great to hear your S so was popular, I am working on the assumption of having a budget of about £10k (but not much else to cover major issues). I am also not handy with a spanner! But I am willing to learn if small jobs are worth the cost-cutting.
I've owned both,and can honestly say they are both fantastic cars.The s3 will be a lot easier and cheaper to look after,but once you've got the bug you will probably want a Chim.Whichever you choose, if you buy sensibly you could always change at a later date without too much impact on the wallet.I also had a wedge 390SE,which I could also recommend.
john p said:
I've owned both,and can honestly say they are both fantastic cars.The s3 will be a lot easier and cheaper to look after,but once you've got the bug you will probably want a Chim.Whichever you choose, if you buy sensibly you could always change at a later date without too much impact on the wallet.I also had a wedge 390SE,which I could also recommend.
I want both!!
Legend83 said:
john p said:
I've owned both,and can honestly say they are both fantastic cars.The s3 will be a lot easier and cheaper to look after,but once you've got the bug you will probably want a Chim.Whichever you choose, if you buy sensibly you could always change at a later date without too much impact on the wallet.I also had a wedge 390SE,which I could also recommend.
I want both!!
Buy a reasonably prices S, in 2-3 years move up to a Chim, but keep the S. That way you'll have an S for track days, and a Chim to pamper. Simple
I know how the money racks up with you accountants
I'm one myself sssssshhhh
Its got to be an S3C for you I think, It's going to be the best way to immerse yourself in TVR's without getting stung. You will get a showroom condition S for £8000 or a tatty Chim that probably will need work for the same amount.
I wouldn't bother with the V8S (sorry), If you want the V8 go for the Chim, Double wishbone's all round for better handling and if you get a 96 onwards that will give you the later stronger engine and gearbox.
Good luck and keep us posted
I wouldn't bother with the V8S (sorry), If you want the V8 go for the Chim, Double wishbone's all round for better handling and if you get a 96 onwards that will give you the later stronger engine and gearbox.
Good luck and keep us posted
At 22 I bought a 5 litre Mercedes, not the coupe I desired but the cheaper four door saloon. I got a lot of pleasure from that car keeping it for 3 years, the longest I've ever had a car for but I always regretted not buying the coupe! Buy the Chimaera I bought mine 1.5 years ago and its the best car I've ever owned. By the S3 and you'll always wish you went for the Chimaera.
Having owned both I am not convinced the chim is much more to run than the S or that an S is easier to drive (most chims have power steering). Other up sides to the Chim are generally better put together (you need to check less often to see if bits are coming loose) and it is much more refined (possibly a bad thing depending on your usage).
Down sides are less like a go kart to drive, much more common and far less soul. If you are going to use the car everyday the chim probably makes more sense. If it is for weekends only then it depends if you value fun above comfort if so go for an S.
Chris
Down sides are less like a go kart to drive, much more common and far less soul. If you are going to use the car everyday the chim probably makes more sense. If it is for weekends only then it depends if you value fun above comfort if so go for an S.
Chris
I just think if you go straight for the Chim you will be missing out big time.
There was something about my S (all S's it seems) that makes it such a fantastic car to own and I wouldn't recommend any other car as your first TVR.
I'm a huge fan of the TVR V8 noise but can tell you the S sounds fantastic. It has the most amazing howl and in tunnels with the roof off maxing out whatever gear your in, well all I can do is show you this smiley
I had mine 2 years and put 20000 on it. Sold it for 500 less than I paid for it, that fact alone makes it a great first Tiv.
But that’s just my opinion, if you just love the looks of the Chim and will be sending it to the same garage for servicing then you can go that way.
But like I said at the beginning, you WILL be missing out
There was something about my S (all S's it seems) that makes it such a fantastic car to own and I wouldn't recommend any other car as your first TVR.
I'm a huge fan of the TVR V8 noise but can tell you the S sounds fantastic. It has the most amazing howl and in tunnels with the roof off maxing out whatever gear your in, well all I can do is show you this smiley
I had mine 2 years and put 20000 on it. Sold it for 500 less than I paid for it, that fact alone makes it a great first Tiv.
But that’s just my opinion, if you just love the looks of the Chim and will be sending it to the same garage for servicing then you can go that way.
But like I said at the beginning, you WILL be missing out
Legend83 said:
I am yet to hear what the V6 sounds like. Have heard the V8 which, I will admit, caused my body to do things it should not!
The V6 of the S sounds amazing.. To this day i think it was a TVR master-stroke managing to make that sound come from a Granada V6..
I own a fairly late chim and it is a fine car. The interior in my opinion in the Chim is a long way ahead of the S and nice touches on mine like the door opening button under the mirror etc makes it a class car.
However, There is just something about the S i like. if i had the money i think i'd have both..
Strangely coming from a Chim owner i'd say get a nice S for well within budget. Save the remainder of the cash, Enjoy the S for a year or two then decide on upgrading to a Chim..
The other option of course is to drive examples of both that you can afford and decide from there...
probably nothing to add to the above, but I still miss my S3 after 2 years of Chim ownership; plenty of boot space (yes, the golf clubs would fit in the S) and if you avoided high speed motorway journeys the S seemed to cover ground more quickly, particularly around the corners, than a Chim.
Having the S is also a great 'toe in the water' to TVR ownership, and always seemed to attract the right sort of attention; getting a bit tired of the idiots who always want to prove a point in their repmobiles every time I take the Chim to work.
just my two pennies worth
Mike
Having the S is also a great 'toe in the water' to TVR ownership, and always seemed to attract the right sort of attention; getting a bit tired of the idiots who always want to prove a point in their repmobiles every time I take the Chim to work.
just my two pennies worth
Mike
Get a Cerb I would say get the newest, nicest, most sorted and quickest you can afford to buy & run. That way, whatever you get you know its the best you can get at the time & you won't be left thinking what you could have had. Have some months/years in it & if you have some more cash & you fancy a change then think about moving on up to something more bad-ass.
Have you test driven either of them? That should help make your decision.
I would say get the newest, nicest, most sorted and quickest you can afford to buy & run. That way, whatever you get you know its the best you can get at the time & you won't be left thinking what you could have had. Have some months/years in it & if you have some more cash & you fancy a change then think about moving on up to something more bad-ass. Have you test driven either of them? That should help make your decision.
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