Practicalities of Tamora
Discussion
Folks,
I have a Chimaera, which I have owned for 15 years.
I am thinking of getting a Tamora but have a couple of (probably silly) questions:
How does the roof stow in the boot, please? Is it like the Tuscan, or the Chimaera?
Is there a guide to the various options and upgrades throughout the cars life?
Many thanks
Rich
I have a Chimaera, which I have owned for 15 years.
I am thinking of getting a Tamora but have a couple of (probably silly) questions:
How does the roof stow in the boot, please? Is it like the Tuscan, or the Chimaera?
Is there a guide to the various options and upgrades throughout the cars life?
Many thanks
Rich
The roof panel is stowed right in the centre of the boot (there is a "well" in the floor it drops into). I have mine in a bag to protect it which makes it a little trickier but not impossible.
In terms of capacity- I've never looked in a chimp boot-I expect that its smaller than yours. there's also the shelf behind the seats for stowage. I use squashy bags. I doubt you could fit a piano in.
I don't know what upgrades were available- I guess paint, wheels, air con and full leather (which would be an improvement on the standard "buffalo")
In terms of capacity- I've never looked in a chimp boot-I expect that its smaller than yours. there's also the shelf behind the seats for stowage. I use squashy bags. I doubt you could fit a piano in.
I don't know what upgrades were available- I guess paint, wheels, air con and full leather (which would be an improvement on the standard "buffalo")
Many thanks. I am tossing up between a Tuscan and a Tamora. One of the things I don’t like about the Chimaera is the way the roof drops vertically into the boot, making it relatively impractical. The Tuscan lid sits flat on the top, leaving most of the boot space free (‘un-partitioned, if you will).
Hi,
I'd say, if it is about practicality you might look for a Tuscan. If you are thinking about car cornering, test drive a Tamora.
Had a 450 Chim, now with Tamora 4.0. The Chim was something like a proper GT. Tam can bite, big fun on twisty roads.
good luck
Tom
I'd say, if it is about practicality you might look for a Tuscan. If you are thinking about car cornering, test drive a Tamora.
Had a 450 Chim, now with Tamora 4.0. The Chim was something like a proper GT. Tam can bite, big fun on twisty roads.
good luck
Tom
Edited by beemercaf on Saturday 28th July 14:11
My Tuscan convertible boot is actually bigger than my Chim 450s without the roofs in the boot . But I do prefer the upright "wrap around the fuel tank" method on the Chim to the flat method on the Tuscan convertible . The Tuscan roof is larger but lighter than the heavy thick Chim roof . The problem with the flat roof is that you need to remove it if you want any access to the boot. But I can get two sets of Golf Clubs in both 
.
.Edited by glow worm on Sunday 29th July 11:12
Buy the Tamora and get yourself a folding "Surrey" roof from Cambria Cirrus. The folded roof takes up a tiny amount of space. Went on a 13 day tour down to Tuscany last year and had enough room for my and the wife's luggage.
The solid roof section now lives in the loft all nicely wrapped up in a big plastic bag.
It's an excellent piece of kit and well worth the price.
Nick
The solid roof section now lives in the loft all nicely wrapped up in a big plastic bag.
It's an excellent piece of kit and well worth the price.
Nick
Not sure I agree with the doom-mongers re the size of the Tamora boot. It has always seemed big enough to me. I'm not sure its any smaller than the Chimaera, just a rather odd shape.
With the roof stowed it is a bit of a pain as you have a small section forward of it and a large section aft. But this can be managed with careful bag choice! You do have to take everything out of the boot to get the lid in / out but I recall having to do this with the Chimaera.
On the plus side (on mine at least) the foldable section of the roof folds down a lot more than the Chimaera meaning that you actually have rear visibility with the roof down!
With the roof stowed it is a bit of a pain as you have a small section forward of it and a large section aft. But this can be managed with careful bag choice! You do have to take everything out of the boot to get the lid in / out but I recall having to do this with the Chimaera.
On the plus side (on mine at least) the foldable section of the roof folds down a lot more than the Chimaera meaning that you actually have rear visibility with the roof down!
Second the comment re the Surrey Roof. They are not perfect but a few easy mods to accommodate the variations between the car builds and they are, imho, great.
Loads of space in the Tamora.
I fit the tools and spares in her for trackdays.
As for options and upgrades through the cars life.
Last cars had Tuscan seats. A/C was an option. There was a change to 90mm front driving lights from 45mm versions that should be visually obvious. Some cars had horizontal rad and some a vertical one. Glovebox had a notch added. Sports exhaust was an option.
About it really.
Loads of space in the Tamora.
I fit the tools and spares in her for trackdays.
As for options and upgrades through the cars life.
Last cars had Tuscan seats. A/C was an option. There was a change to 90mm front driving lights from 45mm versions that should be visually obvious. Some cars had horizontal rad and some a vertical one. Glovebox had a notch added. Sports exhaust was an option.
About it really.
Edited by mk1fan on Friday 3rd August 14:51
I would say they’re very different, the Chim is a comfortable cruiser very analogue with its inputs. The Tamora is more racy and digital. Both look similar but delivery is chalk and cheese. I have both and love them both for different reasons. The Chim was perfect for a Le Mans cruise, the Tamora is prefect for short blasts to a country pub. The boot space is probably 20% less (with roof stowed) than a Chimaera, a Surrey roof would resolve that though. Not much in it with the boots empty. Good luck with your hunt 👍
I will second what Jon says above, I swapped from a Griff 500 to a 3.6 Tam and as you'd expect they are chalk and cheese in handling and power delivery. I enjoyed the lazy torque and sound of the V8 but the Griff can't change direction or fly round the revs like the Tam. Boot space is a bit less but being deep and wide soI've had no issues with baggage on short trips. But, I have just ordered a Surrey roof to make best use of that space as I tend to run with the roof off whenever I can. For those times when it is wet and the roof is on A/C is almost a necessity, the full option was back fitted on mine by a previous owner (not cheap). I have a quiet sports exhaust fitted that is not too intrusive at 70 on the motorway and nicely intrusive at other times. I think other options were upgrades on engine, brakes and diff but don't have any experience of those.
Hope you enjoy what ever you get.
Hope you enjoy what ever you get.
I went from a Chimaera to a Tam around six months ago. The boot is definitely smaller but not by a huge amount. I toured round Europe in mine for 2 weeks and we managed to fit tonnes in the boot even with the normal roof stowed. It’s juts a bit of a Tetris game to get things in.
Ok, I can’t fit a bike in the boot of the Tam like I could in the Chim but it’ll easily take two sets of golf clubs with the roof off, or three with it on. That’s good enough for me !
If you’re really concerned about boot space then a Surrey roof (as others have mentioned) is what you need.
Mines a 4.3 and an absolute monster, it’s a totally different beast to my 4.5 Chim and am so so happy with the change. It’s the closest thing I’ve had handling wise to my old Mx5 on coilovers which is high praise !!
If you’re in London and fancy a blast in one then I can take you out in mine (once it’s back from a couple of jobs).
Get a Tamora - there are only c180 on the road and they’re bloody awesome !
Ok, I can’t fit a bike in the boot of the Tam like I could in the Chim but it’ll easily take two sets of golf clubs with the roof off, or three with it on. That’s good enough for me !
If you’re really concerned about boot space then a Surrey roof (as others have mentioned) is what you need.
Mines a 4.3 and an absolute monster, it’s a totally different beast to my 4.5 Chim and am so so happy with the change. It’s the closest thing I’ve had handling wise to my old Mx5 on coilovers which is high praise !!
If you’re in London and fancy a blast in one then I can take you out in mine (once it’s back from a couple of jobs).
Get a Tamora - there are only c180 on the road and they’re bloody awesome !
Also went from a Chim to a Tam and LOVED the change. Boot space I wouldn't say is as good as the chim, but its still pretty good, certainly better than my other halfs new mx5!
I would say if you plan on doing many big trips Id agree with the folding surrey roof idea! a friend had one and it was brilliant when I saw it, with the tam, the roof kinda sits in the middle of the boot so a little more awkward fitting stuff in.
And if you are worried about missing the V8, I have a lovely LS Tam in the classifieds at the moment and open to offers
I would say if you plan on doing many big trips Id agree with the folding surrey roof idea! a friend had one and it was brilliant when I saw it, with the tam, the roof kinda sits in the middle of the boot so a little more awkward fitting stuff in.
And if you are worried about missing the V8, I have a lovely LS Tam in the classifieds at the moment and open to offers
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