Chimaera Prices

[citizen smith]

phazed said:

citizen smith said:

Nice looking Porker, but which one gives the most "smiles per miles"!

They are both completely different IMO.



I hated using my 5.5 in really warm weather, the cabin was unbearably hot even with extra sound and heat proofing fitted below the carpets. No doubt a penalty of 5.5 litres! Otherwise a great car for get-togethers, track and drag days which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was always a talking point as it was unusual as are all TVRs.

For every day use, the Porsche is far superior and strangely enough when I go out for a blast on my own down country lanes, the Porsche puts the biggest smile on my face. The close ratio gearbox makes a welcome change to the wide spaced ratios on the T5 and handling is just fantastic. Don't knock them if you haven't spent some time in one.

Don't get me wrong, TVRs are affordable fun cars. Cars that can be easily spannered no matter what goes wrong with them, just a giant Meccano kit. They are really rare compared to most other marques so you feel somewhat special driving then.

"Don't knock them if you haven't spent some time in one"

I am NOT knocking them at all, I can see the appeal. Many years ago I was considering buying a Boxster S, but after a very lengthy test drive I decided to keep the Griff 500. The Boxster performed perfectly well and my only reason for it's consideration was the fact that I did not have too struggle trying to get the TVR's hard top section in the boot. A button and the roof's down seemed the ideal solution to me at the time.

Modern sports car perform brilliantly no matter what the road conditions, but these days to go for hoon down a country road, how much time do we spend trying to avoid the "pot holes/craters" and where is the enjoyment in that.

Still hopefully I will spend more time in them this September, Luckily for me my nephew has bought me a Porsche Experience Day - Cayman & 991, should be interesting on country roads.

[Johnniem]

phazed said:

I am only here to amuse you guys.

Of course I loved my TVRs but circumstances change and this fits the bill.

I certainly won’t do any drag days with it but I’m looking forward to track days. I am sure it will chase the pants off TVRs

Getting back to prices, I am sure they are down now and will stay down for some time. A good car will always be worth stronger money but on average car prices, even classics I’m sure will be lower. There are more people out there with less security and less available fun money and it is always the luxuries that are given up first.

Of course, that doesn’t bother me as I have just retired. I can do what I damn well like. I have just finished the fourth day with my wife repointing the patio, we have only another five days to go. See how much fun you can have in lockdown if you put your mind to it.

Taking the day off tomorrow so I can go for a nice long run to pick up a pack of bacon and try and bring my brain back from monotony into normal mode!

As for that whippersnapper saying he would prefer my 5.5, yes, I would as well given different circumstances.
There is an old saying that I love reciting to my children, “nothing stays the same“ and that’s why I have the Porsche.

Carry on.

I am right there with you Peter. I am now on my 2nd Porsche Cayman since I sold my 4.5 Chim, having loved it and lavished care and attention on it for 7 years. A TVR is a car of the heart (and there mine will remain) but the Porsche is a car of the head. It is the perfect 'jump to' when a love affair with a TVR comes to a close or there is a need to move on. The noise and torque curve of the TVR Chim is obviously missed but with the awesome semi auto gearbox and the high end torque madness, the Cayman is a good alternative for a lover of driving. I also still have great friends in the TVRCC. Long live the TVR!

[phazed]

Not having a go, just saying. happy to give you a drive out under the right circumstances sometime.

I quite agree with you about the roof, always a bit of a faff especially if you have stuff in the boot!

I hope you get on well on your experience day. No doubt they will have a fairly up-to-date 911 which will be a complete change to yours griff. It's always nice to drive different cars for variation and comparison.

As for the 350 Z. I was so close to buying a 370 Z convertible but the driving position in the Porsche very much suited my frame and it is one of the most comfortable cars regarding positioning and seat that holds you in position that I have driven.

Anyhow, let's have a little bit more TVR!



I like this little fifth gear comparison btw

https://youtu.be/JKB-YC6xWlw

]

Edited by phazed on Tuesday 2nd June 19:27

[mart 63]

I had a test drive in a f type V8. It was just like driving my Audi. So i bought this.

Took a deposit on my Griff yesterday, up for sale for about 3 weeks. They all sell at the right price

[phazed]

Nice. I was offered a drive in one at a Snetterton TD but sadly I couldn't squeeze in! Shame....

[Jon Brown]

I'm amazed no one has come up with a decent retro fit air con system, that would make these old girls infinitely better imho. not that I'm complaining

Peter I would have thought you'd have something to spanner on by now....

I've always fancied an MGB GT with a K series or zetec engine on bike carbs (with some Dunlop style wheels)

[VerySideways]

Jon Brown said:

I'm amazed no one has come up with a decent retro fit air con system, that would make these old girls infinitely better imho. not that I'm complaining

Peter I would have thought you'd have something to spanner on by now....

I've always fancied an MGB GT with a K series or zetec engine on bike carbs (with some Dunlop style wheels)

I'm sure i saw a retrofit which went above the fuel tank in the boot and was electric, blows in through the rear panel into the cabin.

[Tomm3]

Well she's gone! No regrets, I've had a wonderful 8yrs with her.
Nothing else I get will match the sheer looks and drama. I'm not going to start a which is best thread, loads of info out there, but I'm thinking Boxster or 3.0 Z4 next. At least the neighbours will be happy :-)

[Pursyluv]

mart 63 said:

I had a test drive in a f type V8. It was just like driving my Audi. So i bought this.

Took a deposit on my Griff yesterday, up for sale for about 3 weeks. They all sell at the right price

Apologies for going off topic, but I’ve got to ask.

My Tam is up for sale as I intend to buy a V8 F Type and my Company car is an A5...........please can you elaborate on your comments?

[Belle427]

mart 63 said:

I had a test drive in a f type V8. It was just like driving my Audi. So i bought this.

Took a deposit on my Griff yesterday, up for sale for about 3 weeks. They all sell at the right price

What a stunning colour that is.

[phazed]

Tomm3 said:

Well she's gone! No regrets, I've had a wonderful 8yrs with her.
Nothing else I get will match the sheer looks and drama. I'm not going to start a which is best thread, loads of info out there, but I'm thinking Boxster or 3.0 Z4 next. At least the neighbours will be happy :-)

Do take a Boxster S for a good test, handling is superb.

You are welcome to a drive if ever in the area.

[Tomm3]

Thanks, I will drive a Boxster. I'm aware of the issues, done the research to death, but I know I will prefer it.
It comes back to finding one that has ruled out the majors whether by having had the work done or factory improvements. I can't wait to try one though, the flat 6 in particular. Yours looks lovely, by the way.

[Johnniem]

phazed said:

Tomm3 said:

Well she's gone! No regrets, I've had a wonderful 8yrs with her.
Nothing else I get will match the sheer looks and drama. I'm not going to start a which is best thread, loads of info out there, but I'm thinking Boxster or 3.0 Z4 next. At least the neighbours will be happy :-)

Do take a Boxster S for a good test, handling is superb.

You are welcome to a drive if ever in the area.

Unless you are fixed on a drop top, try the Cayman S too. Bear in mind that the torque happens much later in the Porsche than it does in the Chim. It's a little frustrating at first but when you get used to it and realise the madness of the upper end (3000 revs and above) it is all worth it. I overcame the initial manual gearbox obsession and went for the flappy paddle PDK gearbox on my second Cayman S and it is incredible. Just try it.

[citizen smith]

I,m pondering about the Caymen, have you had any issues.

[phazed]

Johnniem said:

Unless you are fixed on a drop top, try the Cayman S too. Bear in mind that the torque happens much later in the Porsche than it does in the Chim. It's a little frustrating at first but when you get used to it and realise the madness of the upper end (3000 revs and above) it is all worth it. I overcame the initial manual gearbox obsession and went for the flappy paddle PDK gearbox on my second Cayman S and it is incredible. Just try it.

The torque on my 3.4 in standard mode is quite acceptable making for casual or semi brisk driving using the lower end of the rev range. Engage sport mode which opens up the exhaust, stiffens suspension and employs a different map and the torque significantly increases in the bottom end and rises to a howling crescendo.

Unbelievably I feel that exhaust note in sport mode is dare I say it, (laughable from an ex TVR owner) too loud!

[mart 63]

Pursyluv said:

mart 63 said:

I had a test drive in a f type V8. It was just like driving my Audi. So i bought this.

Took a deposit on my Griff yesterday, up for sale for about 3 weeks. They all sell at the right price

Apologies for going off topic, but I’ve got to ask.

My Tam is up for sale as I intend to buy a V8 F Type and my Company car is an A5...........please can you elaborate on your comments?

The F type was a nice car, but just seemed to be an every day car, no sense of occasion. I would find it boring after a while. Thats just my thoughts.

[mart 63]

Belle427 said:

mart 63 said:

I had a test drive in a f type V8. It was just like driving my Audi. So i bought this.

Took a deposit on my Griff yesterday, up for sale for about 3 weeks. They all sell at the right price

What a stunning colour that is.

Thanks, matching engine as well.

[Pursyluv]

So many similarities!

[mart 63]

This is turning out to be a speed 6 and Porshe sub forum

[mart 63]

Tomm3 said:

Well she's gone! No regrets, I've had a wonderful 8yrs with her.
Nothing else I get will match the sheer looks and drama. I'm not going to start a which is best thread, loads of info out there, but I'm thinking Boxster or 3.0 Z4 next. At least the neighbours will be happy :-)

A mate of mine sold his Griff, bought a Z4M. Sold the Z, and now has a Chim.