Griffith v Chim
Discussion
I also looked at both, but again, I preferred the looks of the Chim - especially the back. The more for your money bit also did it given that I have a 97 450 Chim but for the same money could have only really got a 92/93 400 griff. The dash is also a lot nicer on the Chim, TVR also think this clearly as the last run of Griffs switched to the Chim dash!
The Griff boys will tell you that the Griff is faster/more focussed etc but in my eyes, that is all a bunch of crap. The chassis is exactly the same, as is the engine and everything else, the only difference is the suspension setup and this is only the dampers - if you switch the Chim dampers for Griff ones, they are essentially the same car with a different body. The only other difference then is that the Chim has a few more inches of boot at the back so as TVR says 'you can get two sets of golf clubs in'. This is the Griff boy's main putdown but I put it down to jealousy - just try not to laugh when you watch a Griff owner try and struggle to put their roof in the boot! Jokes aside, the extra boot space is another thing that swung it for me, I am frequently able to get in a bag full of clothes to last a couple of weeks, my laptop bag, a kitesurf board + at least 3 kite bags, wetsuit, harness and some other random bits without a problem and still have plenty of room in the car for a passenger and some stuff on the parcel shelf. Granted you won't always fill the boot but it means when you have a bunch of stuff to take, you don't have to take the other car and wish you were in the TVR!
The Griff boys will tell you that the Griff is faster/more focussed etc but in my eyes, that is all a bunch of crap. The chassis is exactly the same, as is the engine and everything else, the only difference is the suspension setup and this is only the dampers - if you switch the Chim dampers for Griff ones, they are essentially the same car with a different body. The only other difference then is that the Chim has a few more inches of boot at the back so as TVR says 'you can get two sets of golf clubs in'. This is the Griff boy's main putdown but I put it down to jealousy - just try not to laugh when you watch a Griff owner try and struggle to put their roof in the boot! Jokes aside, the extra boot space is another thing that swung it for me, I am frequently able to get in a bag full of clothes to last a couple of weeks, my laptop bag, a kitesurf board + at least 3 kite bags, wetsuit, harness and some other random bits without a problem and still have plenty of room in the car for a passenger and some stuff on the parcel shelf. Granted you won't always fill the boot but it means when you have a bunch of stuff to take, you don't have to take the other car and wish you were in the TVR!
I originally started looking for a Griff and after seeing both Chim and griff side by side ,concluded that they were both nice looking cars so it came down to what was available in my price range at the time (and you get a chim a few years younger for your money). Also the griff boot is usable but the chim is huge for a convertable and makes taking the roof off, going away for the weekend etc that bit easier.
I would have thought that you'd struggle to find a £10K Griff that wasn't either very old or need a fair bit of attention, and possibly both. However, you should be able to get a good Chim for that money, especially if you don't mind having a 400 instead of one of the bigger ones. Another factor is whether or not you're in a hurry to buy, as convertibles tend to be more expensive at this time of year than they are in the Autumn/Winter months.
I agree with the advantages of a Chimaera over a Griff - although I prefer the look of the Griff (but that's personal). There is another significant difference however - as well as being a different design, I found less knee room in the Chim as the centre console intrudes more. There's not a lot in it, but it was enough to convince me a Griff was for me. That and the fact that precats sound so good...
thenick said:
The dash is also a lot nicer on the Chim!
Who said that??
Actually I have had both and each has their pros and cons. My Griff also has the upgraded leather inserts on the doors rather than carpet which is nice. All pre SE Griffs also get a voltmeter. Biggest annoyance I have found in the Griff is the lack of drivers righthand side vent though to be fair the centre ones in a Chim are next to useless unless you want to toast the electric window switches (at least their hidden in a Chim as they look cheap
) Most confusing is the relocation of the boot release switch
under the dash on the Chim, and on the dash in the Griff. Matter of taste is the door release, bit madder on the Chim but at least the passenger can get out at the same time in the Griff.
Griff gets a glovebox but the Chim has a handy little space in the centre between the seats for bits and bobs as well as a space in front of the electric window switches (though u will cook ur polos if the heaters on)
To be honest both are very special places to be
Duplicate posting here
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=393825
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=393825
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