What to replace a TVR Chimaera 500 with?
Discussion
rockits said:
So dropped my Chimaera 500 at Bespoke this morning. Always hard looking at all that glass fibre sitting there staring at me 
Will get the MOT, service and inspection done and then ready it for sale. Makes sense I think for Bespoke to sell it for me as I have zero time to sell a car at the moment.
If anyone is interested in a swap deal for anything interesting I am all ears. Not sure what I will replace it with yet so keeping an open mind. Just looking for something possibly still TVR but maybe a notch down from this Chimaera 500 I have. It drives really well and I am sure some would drive it and love it 110% as it is fast, raw and everything a TVR should be. Just looking for something half a notch turned down.
Well, I’m sure the owners wouldn’t like me to call them ‘a notch down’ but the TVR S is often overlooked.Will get the MOT, service and inspection done and then ready it for sale. Makes sense I think for Bespoke to sell it for me as I have zero time to sell a car at the moment.
If anyone is interested in a swap deal for anything interesting I am all ears. Not sure what I will replace it with yet so keeping an open mind. Just looking for something possibly still TVR but maybe a notch down from this Chimaera 500 I have. It drives really well and I am sure some would drive it and love it 110% as it is fast, raw and everything a TVR should be. Just looking for something half a notch turned down.
It came with a Ford 2.9i V6 and as a rare V8.
Was my first TVR and frankly the later ones TVRs I’ve owned haven’t been hugely different. Still an occasion to drive and all that.
However, like I said earlier, a standard Chim isn’t hard to live with. Ones that have been modded up to the eyeballs, maybe not.
rockits said:
So dropped my Chimaera 500 at Bespoke this morning. Always hard looking at all that glass fibre sitting there staring at me
Will get the MOT, service and inspection done and then ready it for sale. Makes sense I think for Bespoke to sell it for me as I have zero time to sell a car at the moment.
If anyone is interested in a swap deal for anything interesting I am all ears. Not sure what I will replace it with yet so keeping an open mind. Just looking for something possibly still TVR but maybe a notch down from this Chimaera 500 I have. It drives really well and I am sure some would drive it and love it 110% as it is fast, raw and everything a TVR should be. Just looking for something half a notch turned down.
Someone is going to get one hell of a car there. Will get the MOT, service and inspection done and then ready it for sale. Makes sense I think for Bespoke to sell it for me as I have zero time to sell a car at the moment.
If anyone is interested in a swap deal for anything interesting I am all ears. Not sure what I will replace it with yet so keeping an open mind. Just looking for something possibly still TVR but maybe a notch down from this Chimaera 500 I have. It drives really well and I am sure some would drive it and love it 110% as it is fast, raw and everything a TVR should be. Just looking for something half a notch turned down.
I think my conclusion is that this 500 is a cracking car that is no doubt and everything I am sure many would want from a TVR. I'm just finding for my requirements and use the 400 I had before satisfied all my requirements and gave me a little more confidence than this 500. Maybe the less tourquey slightly more revvy nature of the 400 suited me better.
What was funny this morning as got to the end of my lane and pulled out on to the next road.....in 3rd! Thought it was 1st but no.....3rd!! It didn't even murmur and just pulled no problem at all without even a vibration or anything at all. Can't say you could do that in too many cars.
I might try a Speed Six again or see if I can find a 450 with newer ECU to look at. I did like Nick Simpson's supercharged Chim in the way it drove with the GEMS ECU. Just found it had lost some of that classic RV8 character/noise for me.
I guess it is one of those things that you know what you want when you find it.
What was funny this morning as got to the end of my lane and pulled out on to the next road.....in 3rd! Thought it was 1st but no.....3rd!! It didn't even murmur and just pulled no problem at all without even a vibration or anything at all. Can't say you could do that in too many cars.
I might try a Speed Six again or see if I can find a 450 with newer ECU to look at. I did like Nick Simpson's supercharged Chim in the way it drove with the GEMS ECU. Just found it had lost some of that classic RV8 character/noise for me.
I guess it is one of those things that you know what you want when you find it.
rockits said:
Now that looks a handful getting off the line !!
T350C LS3 Topcats version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ7YAfn36dk
mine is 465 bhp, there are cams that will take it to well over 500 bhp - imho not needed on the road
~400 bhp/tonne as is (weighed in it at 1161kg 1/3 tank of fuel)
Yep, They don’t have to be hard to get off the line.
I have run a 12.07 on the strip using road tyres. Just the usual clutch control.
The good thing is you can feed in the clutch at extremely low revs on the road and they will not stall. Easy then to squeeze the throttle and get good acceleration.
I have run a 12.07 on the strip using road tyres. Just the usual clutch control.
The good thing is you can feed in the clutch at extremely low revs on the road and they will not stall. Easy then to squeeze the throttle and get good acceleration.
rockits said:
I think my conclusion is that this 500 is a cracking car that is no doubt and everything I am sure many would want from a TVR. I'm just finding for my requirements and use the 400 I had before satisfied all my requirements and gave me a little more confidence than this 500. Maybe the less tourquey slightly more revvy nature of the 400 suited me better.
What was funny this morning as got to the end of my lane and pulled out on to the next road.....in 3rd! Thought it was 1st but no.....3rd!! It didn't even murmur and just pulled no problem at all without even a vibration or anything at all. Can't say you could do that in too many cars.
I might try a Speed Six again or see if I can find a 450 with newer ECU to look at. I did like Nick Simpson's supercharged Chim in the way it drove with the GEMS ECU. Just found it had lost some of that classic RV8 character/noise for me.
I guess it is one of those things that you know what you want when you find it.
Your welcome to come to Wales and try my revvy 400 with about 200 Bhp at the wheels, I would have loved to try yours but I’m dead set against another red car sadly!What was funny this morning as got to the end of my lane and pulled out on to the next road.....in 3rd! Thought it was 1st but no.....3rd!! It didn't even murmur and just pulled no problem at all without even a vibration or anything at all. Can't say you could do that in too many cars.
I might try a Speed Six again or see if I can find a 450 with newer ECU to look at. I did like Nick Simpson's supercharged Chim in the way it drove with the GEMS ECU. Just found it had lost some of that classic RV8 character/noise for me.
I guess it is one of those things that you know what you want when you find it.
You could tie this up with a visit to Amore autos in Bristol to have a look at their stock, they would probably take yours in as a part ex.
Edited by Belle427 on Wednesday 28th October 07:07
BJWoods said:
T350C LS3 Topcats version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ7YAfn36dk
mine is 465 bhp, there are cams that will take it to well over 500 bhp - imho not needed on the road
~400 bhp/tonne as is (weighed in it at 1161kg 1/3 tank of fuel)
Looks lovely, what’s it like to drive on the road, bit of a handful I’d imagine?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ7YAfn36dk
mine is 465 bhp, there are cams that will take it to well over 500 bhp - imho not needed on the road
~400 bhp/tonne as is (weighed in it at 1161kg 1/3 tank of fuel)
Couple of years ago I was down at Top Cats looking at a white T350 they had for sale with a 550hp LS7 conversion. It looked fantastic.
I have driven a 500+ horsepower griff on the road a couple of times and to be honest it is a bit pointless. Of course the massive power is fantastic but it is way too powerful for the basic facilities that the Griff offers. imagine all that power in a lightweight car without any traction especially in the wet!. No matter what people think, your everyday driver isn’t very good. There are enough TVRs in breakers to qualify that!
My old 400 hp Chimaera was excellent on the track and had blistering acceleration which was a hoot on the road but you still had to be very careful. I loved that car but you had to treat it with respect.
If I was to be totally honest, my old 320 hp 4.6 chim was absolutely brilliant on the road, didn’t get you in trouble but still had plenty of performance to surprise fast cars.
My old 400 hp Chimaera was excellent on the track and had blistering acceleration which was a hoot on the road but you still had to be very careful. I loved that car but you had to treat it with respect.
If I was to be totally honest, my old 320 hp 4.6 chim was absolutely brilliant on the road, didn’t get you in trouble but still had plenty of performance to surprise fast cars.
phazed said:
I have driven a 500+ horsepower griff on the road a couple of times and to be honest it is a bit pointless. Of course the massive power is fantastic but it is way too powerful for the basic facilities that the Griff offers. imagine all that power in a lightweight car without any traction especially in the wet!. No matter what people think, your everyday driver isn’t very good. There are enough TVRs in breakers to qualify that!
My old 400 hp Chimaera was excellent on the track and had blistering acceleration which was a hoot on the road but you still had to be very careful. I loved that car but you had to treat it with respect.
If I was to be totally honest, my old 320 hp 4.6 chim was absolutely brilliant on the road, didn’t get you in trouble but still had plenty of performance to surprise fast cars.
Indeed! At legal speeds, from the low 300s hp level onwards, traction will be the limiting factor in how fast you can accelerate rather than power. The extra grunt will only come into its own at or around where you enter three digits... My old 400 hp Chimaera was excellent on the track and had blistering acceleration which was a hoot on the road but you still had to be very careful. I loved that car but you had to treat it with respect.
If I was to be totally honest, my old 320 hp 4.6 chim was absolutely brilliant on the road, didn’t get you in trouble but still had plenty of performance to surprise fast cars.
In fact, if you want a faster accelerating and more responsive car at vaguely acceptable speeds, you will see more benefit from lowering rotating masses (the flywheel is an obvious candidate as are wheels, tyres and brakes) than adding more power.
Even then, with a manual 5-speed and no traction control you'll have a hard time breaking 4.0s 0-60, and a well fettled 4.6/5.0 with basic mods is pretty close already...
wormus said:
Looks lovely, what’s it like to drive on the road, bit of a handful I’d imagine?
Couple of years ago I was down at Top Cats looking at a white T350 they had for sale with a 550hp LS7 conversion. It looked fantastic.
not at all. t350 s are one of the best handling TVRs .. 6 gears, and be respectful of power/torque in damp/cold. and cold tyres. Couple of years ago I was down at Top Cats looking at a white T350 they had for sale with a 550hp LS7 conversion. It looked fantastic.
Dean, from what you say it sounds like perhaps you should have kept the Vantage. Was it the lack of torque and initial throttle response that disappointed, hence the desire for BR upgrades?
I thoroughly enjoyed a try in a Grif 4.3 just before lockdown and am on the lookout for a good one. It felt you could potter at a good pace on the torque or enjoy the power via a progressive throttle. No doubt a similar drive to your previous Chim. Lack of CATs and PAS make the 4.3 my choice.
Everyone who has owned an Evora raves about them and many have owned several in succession. They are a car under the radar, which hold their value quite well due to low production numbers. I fancy one as an all seasons sports GT and keep the Grif for sunny Sundays.
I thoroughly enjoyed a try in a Grif 4.3 just before lockdown and am on the lookout for a good one. It felt you could potter at a good pace on the torque or enjoy the power via a progressive throttle. No doubt a similar drive to your previous Chim. Lack of CATs and PAS make the 4.3 my choice.
Everyone who has owned an Evora raves about them and many have owned several in succession. They are a car under the radar, which hold their value quite well due to low production numbers. I fancy one as an all seasons sports GT and keep the Grif for sunny Sundays.
Having owned a 450SE, Griff 500, Cerbera 4.5, Tasmin & Tuscan Race cars and Tamora (though that was a stabby redheads) I've been on the look out for a weekend car.
Think I've settled on a Jag XKR, all the power but refinement when a cruise is required, think I've had my time in no compromise TVRs.
So perhaps another car to think about OP?
Think I've settled on a Jag XKR, all the power but refinement when a cruise is required, think I've had my time in no compromise TVRs.
So perhaps another car to think about OP?
SFTWend said:
Dean, from what you say it sounds like perhaps you should have kept the Vantage. Was it the lack of torque and initial throttle response that disappointed, hence the desire for BR upgrades?
I thoroughly enjoyed a try in a Grif 4.3 just before lockdown and am on the lookout for a good one. It felt you could potter at a good pace on the torque or enjoy the power via a progressive throttle. No doubt a similar drive to your previous Chim. Lack of CATs and PAS make the 4.3 my choice.
Everyone who has owned an Evora raves about them and many have owned several in succession. They are a car under the radar, which hold their value quite well due to low production numbers. I fancy one as an all seasons sports GT and keep the Grif for sunny Sundays.
So the Vantage I didn't sell because I didn't like it. Far from it as it happens. Loved it. It could have done with a little more torque/power as the chassis could easily handle it but I didn't need or desire more power really.I thoroughly enjoyed a try in a Grif 4.3 just before lockdown and am on the lookout for a good one. It felt you could potter at a good pace on the torque or enjoy the power via a progressive throttle. No doubt a similar drive to your previous Chim. Lack of CATs and PAS make the 4.3 my choice.
Everyone who has owned an Evora raves about them and many have owned several in succession. They are a car under the radar, which hold their value quite well due to low production numbers. I fancy one as an all seasons sports GT and keep the Grif for sunny Sundays.
The only reason the Vantage went was a short to medium term reaction to Covid really. I knew I wasn't going to drive it much for a year maybe longer. It would have needed a clutch at some point possibly soon. So with an annual service due now I would possibly have dropped maybe £5k into the car over the next 6-24 months. Also I had too many cars and wanted a little thin out. Also thought with economy issues I might be able to see some decent cars dropping a fair chunk in the next 3-12 months.
Also I had some money tied up in cash especially the Vantage that I wanted to use to trade on the markets with. In fact I have been doing this 15-20 hours per week since Mid March and being doing very well. Well apart from today! Still doing very well over the last 7 months though. The profit on that alone would pay for 2 x Vantages so it seems to have been the right decision so far.
An Evora is on the list of possibles amongst some others still.
I also felt the Vantage was a car I could buy again fairly easily at any time as they are not rare or limited. I have kept my mint as new 2007 Maserati 4200 as it is the best I know of and I will never find another as good so wanted to keep that.
I also don't hanker for a 4.7 or a V12 necessarily. I haven't driven either yet but for my use and requirements I had no issues with the 4.3 V8. It was all the car I wanted it to be. It didn't need more power for me and had great steering, handling, balance, grip and gave me great confidence. I also prefer the older style dash/interior and not the later facelift style. If I went to buy another V8 Vantage 4.3 Manual I would try to find one with the BR upgrades if I could but it wouldn't be a deal breaker. Certainly a nice to have.
Hopefully that goes some way to explain my thinking and why the Vantage went.
Phil Dicky said:
Having owned a 450SE, Griff 500, Cerbera 4.5, Tasmin & Tuscan Race cars and Tamora (though that was a stabby redheads) I've been on the look out for a weekend car.
Think I've settled on a Jag XKR, all the power but refinement when a cruise is required, think I've had my time in no compromise TVRs.
So perhaps another car to think about OP?
Thanks. I actually have a Jaguar XJL SuperSport which I absolutely love and is not going anywhere. A fantastic VFM car that does so much in one package. I bought it for £16.5k just over 3 years ago after the 1st owner paid £108k new. It averages 25mpg which is amazing as all cars of this ilk have never done over 20mpg before. I care less about this of course but it is a bonus. It is 500bhp with that lovely Supercharged V8 and with sports back boxes sounds good to. Also pretty good fun to drive with the 6 speed ZF and paddles with pretty fast changes. It doesn't cost much too run and way less than most big lumpy cars. Also hardly anything has gone wrong short of an annual basic fluid service. Only a failed water pump last year. Even the chuffin tyres won't wear out as they are P Zero's that I hate and dying to get PS4S's on it. It is the car I mainly go to.Think I've settled on a Jag XKR, all the power but refinement when a cruise is required, think I've had my time in no compromise TVRs.
So perhaps another car to think about OP?
A bit of an update today from Bespoke. The car flew threw the MOT with no advisories so all good. Service and check all good. A couple of minor things to keep an eye on so all good also.
So then we get into meat for the debate so happy for all and sundry to chip in to give me their 2p's worth.
Had a nice chat with Martin on dropping the car off Monday. Lovely honest trustworthy people and more than happy for them to cater for all my TVR requirements now and moving forwards. Highly recommended.
Had a great chat with Mark this afternoon who as always is very professional, very honest and always looking out for the best options even to their detriment if so. The good thing is that they have have agreed with my thoughts that the car is at the moment requiring big balls, stupidity or a very good driver to drive it well or get the best out of it. They agree it is a very nice example, has had a lot of work and money spent on it so is a great car that is 90% there. What it misses and this is the piece of the puzzle it is missing is better suspension/dampers, an LSD and then full geo setup. This little 10% would make the car drive so much better in their opinion and would allow for much more confidence. So that is good that they are in agreement with my thoughts.
It is a little frustrating I guess for Bespoke and myself as the car has had a ton spent on it and it seems maybe the suspension/LSD/Geo spend was compromised a little so suffers a little because of this. Don't get me wrong it is far from disastrous to drive. I managed to keep up with an Aventador the other week OK so it drives really well but not as well as it could be and I knew it should do. The other 400's I have owned drove no better but I guess I expected more from a fully rebuilt 500 in comparison. I guess people such as Bespoke know TVR's inside out and know what a car can drive like so know when something can be improved.
Therein lies the rub. It seems to get some decent dampers, the LSD and geo setup would be circa £3k. As I was going to leave the car with them to sell this creates a small change of plan it seems. They wouldn't be happy selling car as it is as it really needs these changes made so they would be 100% happy retailing the car. I can understand this 100% and a buyer buying from them can take great confidence in this stance. So for me, to spend the money for them to sell it for me when I add on the rightfully so sales commission it changes my numbers quite a bit. At this point it starts to not make sense so much to do it this way I think.
I guess my quandary is do I to spend the money and keep the car to enjoy its benefits with that extra 10% it would give? Or sell it likely privately, as it is, at a lower price. The new owner can then decide if firstly they agree and want to do these mods. Then can choose what they want to do to customise and personalise these mods to their requirements/tastes. I am inclined to sell it at a cheaper price as is because I always have not been a fan of it being a red car so that will never change. I don't dislike red and don't find it offensive but it doesn't grab me or wow me. I've only ever had one red car and mainly had blues or grey/black cars. Of course some may love red as it is certainly a subjective thing.
The engine is certainly strong and clearly well spec'd with a great V8D build. The gearbox is great with no issues. The new interior I think is really nice and has a lovely new leather smell with no glue or glass fibre smell at all. It is very much a nearly car for me personally but it is just not grabbing me as much as I really wanted it to or need it to.
Answers on a postcode please
So then we get into meat for the debate so happy for all and sundry to chip in to give me their 2p's worth.
Had a nice chat with Martin on dropping the car off Monday. Lovely honest trustworthy people and more than happy for them to cater for all my TVR requirements now and moving forwards. Highly recommended.
Had a great chat with Mark this afternoon who as always is very professional, very honest and always looking out for the best options even to their detriment if so. The good thing is that they have have agreed with my thoughts that the car is at the moment requiring big balls, stupidity or a very good driver to drive it well or get the best out of it. They agree it is a very nice example, has had a lot of work and money spent on it so is a great car that is 90% there. What it misses and this is the piece of the puzzle it is missing is better suspension/dampers, an LSD and then full geo setup. This little 10% would make the car drive so much better in their opinion and would allow for much more confidence. So that is good that they are in agreement with my thoughts.
It is a little frustrating I guess for Bespoke and myself as the car has had a ton spent on it and it seems maybe the suspension/LSD/Geo spend was compromised a little so suffers a little because of this. Don't get me wrong it is far from disastrous to drive. I managed to keep up with an Aventador the other week OK so it drives really well but not as well as it could be and I knew it should do. The other 400's I have owned drove no better but I guess I expected more from a fully rebuilt 500 in comparison. I guess people such as Bespoke know TVR's inside out and know what a car can drive like so know when something can be improved.
Therein lies the rub. It seems to get some decent dampers, the LSD and geo setup would be circa £3k. As I was going to leave the car with them to sell this creates a small change of plan it seems. They wouldn't be happy selling car as it is as it really needs these changes made so they would be 100% happy retailing the car. I can understand this 100% and a buyer buying from them can take great confidence in this stance. So for me, to spend the money for them to sell it for me when I add on the rightfully so sales commission it changes my numbers quite a bit. At this point it starts to not make sense so much to do it this way I think.
I guess my quandary is do I to spend the money and keep the car to enjoy its benefits with that extra 10% it would give? Or sell it likely privately, as it is, at a lower price. The new owner can then decide if firstly they agree and want to do these mods. Then can choose what they want to do to customise and personalise these mods to their requirements/tastes. I am inclined to sell it at a cheaper price as is because I always have not been a fan of it being a red car so that will never change. I don't dislike red and don't find it offensive but it doesn't grab me or wow me. I've only ever had one red car and mainly had blues or grey/black cars. Of course some may love red as it is certainly a subjective thing.
The engine is certainly strong and clearly well spec'd with a great V8D build. The gearbox is great with no issues. The new interior I think is really nice and has a lovely new leather smell with no glue or glass fibre smell at all. It is very much a nearly car for me personally but it is just not grabbing me as much as I really wanted it to or need it to.
Answers on a postcode please
At the end of the day they may be the nicest people in the world but don't forget they are there to make money not friends.
I'd put it up here with a good honest description and see what happens, face ache is worth a shot too as it's very active.
I was under the impression most cars had an lsd?
I'd put it up here with a good honest description and see what happens, face ache is worth a shot too as it's very active.
I was under the impression most cars had an lsd?
phazed said:
They all have LSD.
I’d be interested to hear what suspension it has at the moment that they reckon should be junked and what did they recommend?
Any car would benefit from a Geo set up, (if adjustment is needed!).
And what symptoms is the LSD Dif displaying that says it needs to be replaced. 90% of these difs are loose as wI’d be interested to hear what suspension it has at the moment that they reckon should be junked and what did they recommend?
Any car would benefit from a Geo set up, (if adjustment is needed!).
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