Talk me into a Chimaera!
Discussion
Telsa said:
I've hung between wanting a Chimaera and an S2000 for ages. However, I've done the high-revving jap thing (Civic Type-R and now a Mk1 MX5), so now need pushing over the edge and convincing into the hand-built V8 glory-machine.
How much convincing do you need? Because TVRs are usually pretty difficult to justify on sober, dispassionate grounds. I'm sure you will find yourself wanting one once you've been for a ride, but if it doesn't grab your heart then you've got no chance of any un-biased information swaying your head! 
I spent a day with a very late S2000 a few years back and the difference is pretty dramatic. I was really disappointed with the soundtrack of the standard S2000 and although it was actually very rapid in a straight line - more than capable of worrying a 4-litre Chim I'd say - it didn't actually feel it. Also, while the cabin was a step up from the likes of the MX5 it's still pretty generic. On the upside, it felt very nimble and I didn't notice too much evidence of the scary on-limit behaviour the earlier cars are said to exhibit. Plus, it's a Honda. If it's looked after it should be bullet proof.
The Chim does have its advantages ... Much nicer soundtrack, much bigger boot, far more interesting interior, better looking exterior, far more interior space, a lot more torque (obviously), feels quicker, cheaper to insure.
But ... it's probably no quicker in the real world (our apparently standard S2000 would chase a supercharged Elise in a straight line so I reckon it would have troubled a 400 and possibly others), less outright grip, significantly less nimble, less torsionally rigid, thirstier, more prone to niggles.
Chris71 said:
How much convincing do you need? Because TVRs are usually pretty difficult to justify on sober, dispassionate grounds. I'm sure you will find yourself wanting one once you've been for a ride, but if it doesn't grab your heart then you've got no chance of any un-biased information swaying your head!
I spent a day with a very late S2000 a few years back and the difference is pretty dramatic. I was really disappointed with the soundtrack of the standard S2000 and although it was actually very rapid in a straight line - more than capable of worrying a 4-litre Chim I'd say - it didn't actually feel it. Also, while the cabin was a step up from the likes of the MX5 it's still pretty generic. On the upside, it felt very nimble and I didn't notice too much evidence of the scary on-limit behaviour the earlier cars are said to exhibit. Plus, it's a Honda. If it's looked after it should be bullet proof.
The Chim does have its advantages ... Much nicer soundtrack, much bigger boot, far more interesting interior, better looking exterior, far more interior space, a lot more torque (obviously), feels quicker, cheaper to insure.
But ... it's probably no quicker in the real world (our apparently standard S2000 would chase a supercharged Elise in a straight line so I reckon it would have troubled a 400 and possibly others), less outright grip, significantly less nimble, less torsionally rigid, thirstier, more prone to niggles.
My slightly modded 400 was on about a par with my mates S2K we did a good few runs and there is not a lot in it. In a straight line the Chim would have the edge , In the Bends i would say the S2K is better road manners and inspires more confidence to push it on a little harder . I am half thinking about a S2K to replace our mini due to how cheap they are now but i will be keeping my TVR no matter what stable mate yes , Replace a TVR no I spent a day with a very late S2000 a few years back and the difference is pretty dramatic. I was really disappointed with the soundtrack of the standard S2000 and although it was actually very rapid in a straight line - more than capable of worrying a 4-litre Chim I'd say - it didn't actually feel it. Also, while the cabin was a step up from the likes of the MX5 it's still pretty generic. On the upside, it felt very nimble and I didn't notice too much evidence of the scary on-limit behaviour the earlier cars are said to exhibit. Plus, it's a Honda. If it's looked after it should be bullet proof.
The Chim does have its advantages ... Much nicer soundtrack, much bigger boot, far more interesting interior, better looking exterior, far more interior space, a lot more torque (obviously), feels quicker, cheaper to insure.
But ... it's probably no quicker in the real world (our apparently standard S2000 would chase a supercharged Elise in a straight line so I reckon it would have troubled a 400 and possibly others), less outright grip, significantly less nimble, less torsionally rigid, thirstier, more prone to niggles.
Telsa said:
When life gives you lemons.. f
k it and buy a new car - right? (long boring personal story involving a relationship breakdown of nuclear-war proportions that's more suited to the Lounge 
)
I've hung between wanting a Chimaera and an S2000 for ages. However, I've done the high-revving jap thing (Civic Type-R and now a Mk1 MX5), so now need pushing over the edge and convincing into the hand-built V8 glory-machine..
I guess this comes with a cheeky quaver - I've never actually been in one Do any marvellous PHers fancy showing off their P&J to an Internet random? I'm based in Cheltenham, and will happily drive somewhere to check one out! Failing that, if there are any meets, I'd be happy to come along and join one :-)
-Telsa
Wow this sounds very similar to my situation!k it and buy a new car - right? (long boring personal story involving a relationship breakdown of nuclear-war proportions that's more suited to the Lounge )I've hung between wanting a Chimaera and an S2000 for ages. However, I've done the high-revving jap thing (Civic Type-R and now a Mk1 MX5), so now need pushing over the edge and convincing into the hand-built V8 glory-machine..
I guess this comes with a cheeky quaver - I've never actually been in one
Do any marvellous PHers fancy showing off their P&J to an Internet random? I'm based in Cheltenham, and will happily drive somewhere to check one out! Failing that, if there are any meets, I'd be happy to come along and join one :-)-Telsa
Redundancy, cancer then a break-up triggered my purchase.
My last two cars were also an MX5 and Civic Type-R as well!
I loved my civic, but found lack of low down torque frustrating as well as the high servicing costs.
The MX5 I loved to pieces, it replaced the Civic, but it just didn't have enough grunt.
The Chimaera is a different beast from either of them. You can't throw it around as easily and it feel fragile in comparison. However the power is immense, the brakes are sharp and every drive feels like an event!
I paid £8750 for mine. I couldn't find many decent ones advertised for less than £9k so I would spend as much as you can now.
No matter how cr4p you feel a quick blast in the Chimaera will always make you feel better so I say go and buy one!
Edited by Phoenixcat on Tuesday 7th August 14:08
V8 GRF said:
citizen smith said:
Well 5.0ltr,
Whats wrong with a chimp!, perhaps thay don,t do "u" turns @ traffic lights like some others do, but they are still good entry TVRs.
Can't disagree with that a 'good entry TVR' before you decide to 'upgrade' to a Griff Whats wrong with a chimp!, perhaps thay don,t do "u" turns @ traffic lights like some others do, but they are still good entry TVRs.
Telsa said:
I'm aware there is some slight ah, 'contest' between the Griff and Chim owners. I'm afraid I prefer the Chim. We can all live in nice V8 harmony, right?
"live in nice V8 harmony" My God man, are you mad???? You're clearly a man of good taste, my advice would be forget the 'harmony' thing, The Grief brigade are a bunch of untrustworthy no-gooder's that sieze every opportunity to insult our taste, sophistication, and, on occasion, our masculinity. Have nothing to do with them is what I say 
I went from a mk2 mx5 to a chimp, best decision i've ever made. Absolutely bloody love the thing !!! If you enjoy doing the work on it yourself you'll love tinkering with it as well and the support from people on here is amazing if you ever need anything !
I couldn't recommend it enough !!!!!!
AJ
I couldn't recommend it enough !!!!!!
AJ
domV8 said:
In the same way that someone with hair "upgrades" to being bald
HEY! I resemble that remark...! 
I consider my follically challenged and "built for comfort" state to be a devine message from [insert random daiety here] telling me that my future was to buy a Chimaera and run it as often as possible - with the roof off so that I can get in easily without folding myself in half and having my hair messed up!
When I (finally) bought mine - Big Al, Podie and Mark. can all attest to how long I spent battling with the (now ex) wife about getting one and once she was disptched then I fulfilled a 20 year desire to own one.
Anyway - how can you deny yourself this ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detail...
Phil
AJV8 said:
Chilliman said:
We heard you the first time 
Jesus, who knows what happened there. Buy first, think later is what i say ! Haven't spoken to anyone who's regretted their decision.
Mine left me yesterday in a cloud of steam afer a weld on the ally radiator split, and, as I sat there at the side of the road with steam wafting up lazily from under the bonnet I spun up the eBay app on my phone and bought a recored rad. I did - momentarily - think "I don't need this s
t - why don't I just buy another RX-8?"......which was immediately followed by the kind of remorse you get when you foolishly tell your girlfiend that you sometimes fantasise about her younger sister when you want to get things over with a bit quicker and get to sleep.
Phil
To all those debating the Chimaera / Griffith decision here's a little helper...
It's a bit like going to a celebs party and deciding which of the Minogue sisters you're going to take a shot at ... there's Danni (the Griffith) who you know you should take a shot at because she's a little less mainstream and "edgy", then there's Kylie (the Chimaera) who you know you really shouldn't be lusting after because you maybe feel that she's a bit less "credible" but if we're being honest you know you'd much rather have.
Thing is, once you get inside either of them you know that genetically they're just the same underneath and it's just the exterior that's different - Kylie having a much nicer, tighter and more pert ass.
Of course - if you do decide to go for a Griff and then decide you got it wrong and go for a Chim instead then you'll find it much less grief than transitioning from Danni to Kylie - however if you could do the latter then you would, of course, be a God to the the entire male population of the planet as opposed to changing from a Griff to a Chim which would just be admitting that you got it wrong in the first place...
Of course there's always the option of having both ... then as long as they didn't sychronise being "off the road" you could rag whichever you liked whenever you liked
Phil
It's a bit like going to a celebs party and deciding which of the Minogue sisters you're going to take a shot at ... there's Danni (the Griffith) who you know you should take a shot at because she's a little less mainstream and "edgy", then there's Kylie (the Chimaera) who you know you really shouldn't be lusting after because you maybe feel that she's a bit less "credible" but if we're being honest you know you'd much rather have.
Thing is, once you get inside either of them you know that genetically they're just the same underneath and it's just the exterior that's different - Kylie having a much nicer, tighter and more pert ass.
Of course - if you do decide to go for a Griff and then decide you got it wrong and go for a Chim instead then you'll find it much less grief than transitioning from Danni to Kylie - however if you could do the latter then you would, of course, be a God to the the entire male population of the planet as opposed to changing from a Griff to a Chim which would just be admitting that you got it wrong in the first place...
Of course there's always the option of having both ... then as long as they didn't sychronise being "off the road" you could rag whichever you liked whenever you liked
Phil
domV8 said:
V8 GRF said:
citizen smith said:
Well 5.0ltr,
Whats wrong with a chimp!, perhaps thay don,t do "u" turns @ traffic lights like some others do, but they are still good entry TVRs.
Can't disagree with that a 'good entry TVR' before you decide to 'upgrade' to a Griff Whats wrong with a chimp!, perhaps thay don,t do "u" turns @ traffic lights like some others do, but they are still good entry TVRs.
Everyone knows that Griff owners have plenty of hair. Okay it's made of nylon and placed on their chests to stop the medallions rubbing, but it still counts.
For me the Chimaera isn't the fastest or most nimble thing on the road, but it gives me entry to a club of real enthusiasts, gets looked at lovingly by all and sundry and is a real event to drive....every time.
This might surprise you, but the other weekend I joined 12 other cars (7 x 355/360/430 Ferraris, 3 Gaillardos, a 911 Turbo and an Esprit) for a cruise around the Norfolk coast, and got more attention than all the others at the start, and a a lot of "OOOH Look, a TVR" as we cruised around the towns. I was at the back of the line, in a navy TVR, the others were mainly red, yellow and orange. I defy you to get that from an S2000. THAT is what TVR ownership is about - it is something a bit special.
Yes, it has reliability niggles, yes it can be frustrating, and yes I will be buying a Caterham/lookalike before too long (as well as the TVR) for the track-day experience - the TVR was just about the slowest car on the track at Cadwell due to its lack of nimbleness.
If the above strikes a chord with you, then buy a TVR. If you just want to drive a nimble, quick, reliable car with a slick gear-change and have fun on the track, buy something else.
This might surprise you, but the other weekend I joined 12 other cars (7 x 355/360/430 Ferraris, 3 Gaillardos, a 911 Turbo and an Esprit) for a cruise around the Norfolk coast, and got more attention than all the others at the start, and a a lot of "OOOH Look, a TVR" as we cruised around the towns. I was at the back of the line, in a navy TVR, the others were mainly red, yellow and orange. I defy you to get that from an S2000. THAT is what TVR ownership is about - it is something a bit special.
Yes, it has reliability niggles, yes it can be frustrating, and yes I will be buying a Caterham/lookalike before too long (as well as the TVR) for the track-day experience - the TVR was just about the slowest car on the track at Cadwell due to its lack of nimbleness.
If the above strikes a chord with you, then buy a TVR. If you just want to drive a nimble, quick, reliable car with a slick gear-change and have fun on the track, buy something else.
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