Are 4 ltr Chimaeras fast ????
Discussion
I'm looking to buy a 4.5 liter chimp with dark blue or black paint , cream (or similar) leather interior with power steering for about £15k.
Am i dreaming ???
I'm after a 4.5 because i heard that the 4 ltr ones arent all that quick ... is this nonsense ?? If so give comparisons , examples , what other cars you've dusted in your chimps etc ...
Cheers in advance,
Tony.
Am i dreaming ???
I'm after a 4.5 because i heard that the 4 ltr ones arent all that quick ... is this nonsense ?? If so give comparisons , examples , what other cars you've dusted in your chimps etc ...
Cheers in advance,
Tony.
I'm looking to buy a 4.5 liter chimp with dark blue or black paint , cream (or similar) leather interior with power steering for about £15k.
Am i dreaming ???
I'm after a 4.5 because i heard that the 4 ltr ones arent all that quick ... is this nonsense ?? If so give comparisons , examples , what other cars you've dusted in your chimps etc ...
Cheers in advance,
Tony.
The 4L accelerates well enough but lacks driveability in my experience. It typically churns out about 160bhp at the wheels (despite the makers figures). It is however a very flexible engine compared to the 5L "chuggers" and, if dosh is no problem, V8 developments can tune to 5.1L giving a genuine 300 plus at the wheels without loss of the 4L flexibility. With this mod you really need TC to put it down. Best bet is 4.5--nice compromise. Good luck!
Magnus, I'd have to query your driveability statement. Chims are extremely docile at around town speeds and yet when given some welly, stick to the road like the proverbial and remain easily controllable unless being downnright dangerous.
Perhps youmight like to explain further?
Oh and monty, don't cross post ... Ted doesn't like it
Perhps youmight like to explain further?
Oh and monty, don't cross post ... Ted doesn't like it
hmmm,have to agree with mikeyt on this one.i had a 5.0 litre chim and now a 5L griff and had/have no problem with driveability round town etc.your also able to look at earlier cars with the 5L,so its more within your budget.the 5L is an excellant choice performance wise and you wont find yourself in the position of wanting to upgrade at a later date due to the want for more power.i wouldnt consider anything else,to me this is what these superb cars are all about-the higher the performance the better so go for it.
I've got a Chim 500 and love it - you can have fun in 2nd and 3rd on interesting roads, or chug along at 30 in 5th.
As for whether a 4 is fast... well it'll beat an escort from a standing start. Even a red one with a spoiler on the back. Probably not a match for an F1 with a good driver, though. What's your benchmark, and how good is the driver?
As for whether a 4 is fast... well it'll beat an escort from a standing start. Even a red one with a spoiler on the back. Probably not a match for an F1 with a good driver, though. What's your benchmark, and how good is the driver?
MikeyT said: Magnus, I'd have to query your driveability statement. Chims are extremely docile at around town speeds and yet when given some welly, stick to the road like the proverbial and remain easily controllable unless being downnright dangerous.
Perhps youmight like to explain further?
Oh and monty, don't cross post ... Ted doesn't like it
Well--I have owned a 4L and if I was cruising at about 2-3k,say,it was not exactly over-responsive(made a hell of a row with the sports exhaust--but that's another thing). Overtaking quickly meant moving the stick around a bit. I also have an ancient modified BMW E28 M5 churning out about 300bhp at the flywheel and weighing as much as an armoured car and this dear old auntie was actually a lot more torquey in mid-range compared to the tiv--nice on a long journey. I do not have this problem with the 5L needless to say.
:shufflingoffeetandnervouscoughing:
I have a 4.0 Chimaera, and quite honestly as others have said it's plenty good enough for me. I like a bit of spirited driving like the rest of us, but to pootle around town with the roof down or sweep along country lanes without loosing the driving ticket it is perfectly good enough. Wind the old girl up to over 3000 rpm and she wails like a banshee and takes off like a scalded cat, plenty good enough. And lets face it how many other exotica do you see and try and burn off, in those situations we tend to give each other a knowing nod and proceed on our way. If you are on a run-out with others no one goes charging around either. I can honestly say I dont miss the other 1000cc.
Someone mentioned trackdays, well been there, done that for real, don't have a real need right now.
Anyway if I want to blat about I'll take out the Cerbera we are soon to be hunting around for.
:sitsdown:
I have a 4.0 Chimaera, and quite honestly as others have said it's plenty good enough for me. I like a bit of spirited driving like the rest of us, but to pootle around town with the roof down or sweep along country lanes without loosing the driving ticket it is perfectly good enough. Wind the old girl up to over 3000 rpm and she wails like a banshee and takes off like a scalded cat, plenty good enough. And lets face it how many other exotica do you see and try and burn off, in those situations we tend to give each other a knowing nod and proceed on our way. If you are on a run-out with others no one goes charging around either. I can honestly say I dont miss the other 1000cc.
Someone mentioned trackdays, well been there, done that for real, don't have a real need right now.
Anyway if I want to blat about I'll take out the Cerbera we are soon to be hunting around for.
:sitsdown:
Obviously power is good and more power is better, but there is often a price in terms of driveability and it takes a fair bit of skill and experience to exploit the extra power. For example, getting away from a standing start, the V6 S series will consistently put in better 64' times than the later more poweful models, the 4 liter cars are quicker than the 5 liter, and the 5 liter Rover powered cars are usually quicker than the AJP powered ones. Obviously things quickly change when you get up to any speed in a straight line, but the less powerful cars are easier to drive fast and often will actually be faster as a result.
When Rob Ingleby road tested my 99V Chim 400 (bog standard) in February, he reckoned it felt as quick as most 450 Chims he had driven. I had been looking for a 450 but this 400 came up and was in superb condition.
Rob didn't have to impress me as I had found the car for sale so there was no finders fee involved.
As a TVR novice, I was quite happy to take the unbiased advice of an expert. Been out in it again today and it sure felt quick enough to me!!
Rob didn't have to impress me as I had found the car for sale so there was no finders fee involved.
As a TVR novice, I was quite happy to take the unbiased advice of an expert. Been out in it again today and it sure felt quick enough to me!!
I have to agree with Pete , I opted for a 400 Chimaera with a view to Mark Adams tailoring an ECU for me to bring the best out in my car , the current fuel management arrangement is pretty archaic being sourced from Land Rover and every vehicle has slightly different peaks and troughs , I personally feel I can drive a 400 faster than I could in say a 500 as the power seems a lot more useable , I'm not worrying about the backend lighting up as much under full throttle.
As for other cars , the only thing that has served me up was a Masarati Coupe that I had to pull over for at 155mph
>> Edited by Corin Denton on Monday 31st March 18:53
As for other cars , the only thing that has served me up was a Masarati Coupe that I had to pull over for at 155mph
>> Edited by Corin Denton on Monday 31st March 18:53
jellison said: No way is a well driven 5 EVER going to be beaten by a 4ltr even over the first few yards - its all about clutch control. Or you can do the first 64ft side ways and then catch up later.........
I think you'll find Peter wasn't just talking about 4ltr's but 6 cylinder 2.9ltr ones as well
. There is no disputing post 60(ish)mph the 500 is king in a straight line but below that I think there is room for debate about the ability to get the power down
. As RCA says I know where I'd put me money
. Harry
AIMHO and in the interest of lively debate
I have an excellent wife who is very well behaved and quite attractive. But there are better (and bigger) models out there.
I'm very happy with my wife, and I'm not intending to change her in the near future, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that I often wonder what it would be like if I had chosen one of those bigger, better models instead....
I'm very happy with my wife, and I'm not intending to change her in the near future, but I'd be lying if I didn't say that I often wonder what it would be like if I had chosen one of those bigger, better models instead....
All I know is that my 4.0HC is fast (damn fast) and I have had a couple of situations where it has been a little scary - sideways, locking up the rear under braking, wheelspin in third etc... you know the deal as we have all been there.
However, what I do know is that I would have a lot more of these 'events' if I had a more powerful model. It would be nice to have a 450 or even 500, but I aint nowhere near the limits of the handling at the moment (I'm a bit of a ponce if I am honest).... So I am more than happy with the car, dont feel the need for going much faster (at the moment).
Cheers,
Paul
P.S. Though that ACT intake and a Mark Adams chip does sound interesting...
However, what I do know is that I would have a lot more of these 'events' if I had a more powerful model. It would be nice to have a 450 or even 500, but I aint nowhere near the limits of the handling at the moment (I'm a bit of a ponce if I am honest).... So I am more than happy with the car, dont feel the need for going much faster (at the moment).
Cheers,
Paul
P.S. Though that ACT intake and a Mark Adams chip does sound interesting...
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