Discussion
Hello chaps and chapesses
Being knowledgable about cars and technical crap but knowing little about TVRs - my wife wants to purchase a Chimaera. My question is what are the pros and cons of the 4.0, 4.3, 4.5 and 5.0L ones. I see that it is mainly 4.0 jobs for sale. Looking at the performances between these cars - there seems to be little in it.
What are your experiences
Cheers
E
Being knowledgable about cars and technical crap but knowing little about TVRs - my wife wants to purchase a Chimaera. My question is what are the pros and cons of the 4.0, 4.3, 4.5 and 5.0L ones. I see that it is mainly 4.0 jobs for sale. Looking at the performances between these cars - there seems to be little in it.
What are your experiences
Cheers
E
Looking at the performances between these cars - there seems to be little in it.
What are your experiences
Cheers
E
I don't want to start a mass-debate (oops) but I have driven all types of of Rover V8 powered TVR's and there is a vast difference between the original 4.0 litre Chimaera and the 500 chimaera in terms of performance, although PAS is a must and I personally feel the cars are more controlable with it.. unless you can drive like Tiff Needel.
G.
Run a 400 Chim myself, I would have considered a 450 if a decent one had turned up first. I did not want a 500 at all, they cost much more to run in every way. I know two people who ran 500s, both suffered massive servicing bills, both suffered overheating problems and both suffered petrol station problems. It may have been just a coincidence but knowing the owners I doubt it.
No, I will stick with my little 400, it goes quickly, sounds wonderful, puts a grin on my face every time I drive it and does not cost a fortune to run.
Be warned - buy any car that is a dog and you will regret it, buy a TVR that is a dog and you REALLY will regret it.
Ivan
No, I will stick with my little 400, it goes quickly, sounds wonderful, puts a grin on my face every time I drive it and does not cost a fortune to run.
Be warned - buy any car that is a dog and you will regret it, buy a TVR that is a dog and you REALLY will regret it.
Ivan
Bought a V-plate 450 with 9000 miles for 23k in July and haven't regretted one penny of it. Like others I wish I'd bought into the TVR experience long ago. Now unless it's actually raining the top goes in the boot so I can hear the exhaust better. The v8 is silky smooth, it's easy to drive even in central london traffic and you have power in armfuls whenever you want it, in whatever gear you happen to be.
For the moment it lives outside with the cats (well all of them actually, including those in the exhaust). It doesn't leak, I take pleasure in filling it with Optimax since it reminds me how much fun I've had since the last tankful, and the insurance is not much more than a Rover 75 v6 (although I understand this is a driver age thing).
I looked closely at about 10 (400/450 and 500) before I bought and got stuck with 2 inspection charges (TVR dealers) on vehicles that fitted my must-have criteria but which I didn't buy because the reports showed they weren't A1. I figured I spent about £400 over the course of 4 weeks on this exercise. But this was money well spent in my view.
Hope this helps you and your wife make the right decision.
Hutch
For the moment it lives outside with the cats (well all of them actually, including those in the exhaust). It doesn't leak, I take pleasure in filling it with Optimax since it reminds me how much fun I've had since the last tankful, and the insurance is not much more than a Rover 75 v6 (although I understand this is a driver age thing).
I looked closely at about 10 (400/450 and 500) before I bought and got stuck with 2 inspection charges (TVR dealers) on vehicles that fitted my must-have criteria but which I didn't buy because the reports showed they weren't A1. I figured I spent about £400 over the course of 4 weeks on this exercise. But this was money well spent in my view.
Hope this helps you and your wife make the right decision.
Hutch
clint888 said: You can have your cake and eat it. Buy a 4L and add induction kit from ACT + fast road cam from V8 developments + tornado chip--all the advantages of a 4L but acceleration to match a 5L--what more can you ask.
5l Brakes and Suspension ?
Power is nothing without Control... There are a numbner of good bargains at the moment on 4 litre Chimaeras. This one just happens to be mine
www.pistonheads.com/ads/displayAd.asp?advertId=6079
www.pistonheads.com/ads/displayAd.asp?advertId=6079
Repeat after me:
"I need 5 litres
I need 5 litres
I need 5 litres"
And you do. I had a 4.0 Griffith, which was great. V fast, v loud. Just right. After 2 years, I started thinking about changing, so I drove all three engine sizes. The 5.0 is somehow different. True, on paper the figures aren't that different, but I think the 5.0 does it all with a little less fuss.
Just my opinion, but it's such a great car.
"I need 5 litres
I need 5 litres
I need 5 litres"
"I need 5 litres
I need 5 litres
I need 5 litres"
And you do. I had a 4.0 Griffith, which was great. V fast, v loud. Just right. After 2 years, I started thinking about changing, so I drove all three engine sizes. The 5.0 is somehow different. True, on paper the figures aren't that different, but I think the 5.0 does it all with a little less fuss.
Just my opinion, but it's such a great car.
"I need 5 litres
I need 5 litres
I need 5 litres"
the right car (overall package - age, condition, colour, history, location, PRICE etc) is probably more important than engine size.
for me, a 4L is more than 'adequate'. Only worry about the extra power if you are a good enough driver to get 100% out of the car on the slow bits, ie the corners
R
for me, a 4L is more than 'adequate'. Only worry about the extra power if you are a good enough driver to get 100% out of the car on the slow bits, ie the corners
R
I had the same predicament until April. My other half was very much in favour of a Chimaera, although she had only been in one in the dealer forecourt. As I plan to keep the car for as long as I have wanted one (10 years) I noticed that a lot of the 400's for sale had the reason for sale that they were buying a 500, i plumped for a 500 and have never regretted it.
It is very personal choice, Drive them all, none should disappoint, buy your preferred one.
It has exceeded my high expectations in every way. The best summary came from my wife who said all cars are just the same except the TVR which is special!!!!!!
It is very personal choice, Drive them all, none should disappoint, buy your preferred one.
It has exceeded my high expectations in every way. The best summary came from my wife who said all cars are just the same except the TVR which is special!!!!!!
With regards to running costs, I'd suggest that a 500 is very little more than a 400 to run.
Insurance should be the same.
Servicing the same.
Tyres slightly more as they're wider.
Petrol maybe a little more, but depends how you drive. I get 200 miles per tank - approx 20 mpg.
So a 500 may cost a couple of grand more to purchase, but you'll retain that on resale.
It's a question of why you're buying a Chimaera.
If you've chosen it for the looks get a 400.
If you've chosen it for the performance you must get a 500. For what is only a little more cash you get much more horsepower, better brakes and suspension. You can never have enough horsepower but you'll always wonder what it would have been like had you bought the big one. I've never regretted it.
Insurance should be the same.
Servicing the same.
Tyres slightly more as they're wider.
Petrol maybe a little more, but depends how you drive. I get 200 miles per tank - approx 20 mpg.
So a 500 may cost a couple of grand more to purchase, but you'll retain that on resale.
It's a question of why you're buying a Chimaera.
If you've chosen it for the looks get a 400.
If you've chosen it for the performance you must get a 500. For what is only a little more cash you get much more horsepower, better brakes and suspension. You can never have enough horsepower but you'll always wonder what it would have been like had you bought the big one. I've never regretted it.
Well you might as well have my 2p's worth. I've driven some v.fast road cars in my 30+ driving career including TVR's for the past 5 (but not as an everyday car). As this will be your first TVR I think any V8 will please. As you have already decided on a Chimaera (good choice) you don't need a 5.0L and as they didn't make many you'll be restricting your choice. Far better to sort out a nice 4.0L which suits your personal/financial needs. Have you thought about using Rob Ingleby (www.findasportscar.co.uk)? He will help you find the right one.
Good luck.
Good luck.
I wasn't too worried about engine size when I got mine, I just wanted the newest I could get, i.e series 2.
I ended up getting a 4.0 but it has got Full hide interior, Air conditioning and lumbar Support (which I think is an option).
It all depends whether you want it for the look and sound or for all out perfomance.
Lee
I ended up getting a 4.0 but it has got Full hide interior, Air conditioning and lumbar Support (which I think is an option).
It all depends whether you want it for the look and sound or for all out perfomance.
Lee
The best thing to do is go and both drive one, if your wifes uses it Power steering is a must when parking, personally as well it used to be that everyone with a TVr called you for having PAS 
- now 90% of customers have demanded it. Even the last Griffiths had it as standard.
Lumbar support is a great option , but not to worry as it's £200 max to retro fit.
- now 90% of customers have demanded it. Even the last Griffiths had it as standard. Lumbar support is a great option , but not to worry as it's £200 max to retro fit.
VYT said: Just wondering how anybody can only get 180 miles on a tank with a 4.0? Mine used to return 350 on the motorway ~200 in mixed driving. A very heavy right foot me thinks.
350 miles?!!!!
Jeez, never seen more than 240 miles out of mine (a 4.0HC). Probably a good indication of my driving style though! Managed to get only 70 miles to the tank at one point (and boy was that a fun tank full!)
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