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Discussion
SUPRAMAN said: Why do Griff owners always feel the need justify that their cars are better than Chimaera's?
If they are a better looking car,(which is why most people choose between the two) why did the Chim outsell them by 4 to 1?
>> Edited by SUPRAMAN on Friday 15th November 18:39
Because it was cheaper and a viable alternative to the MX5 and other "femenine" cars of that type.
Chimaera is actually Greek for "female car"
shpub said:
The reason was mainly the availability of smaller engined versions which were deemed to be less of a handful than either the Griff 500 or Chimaera 500 and the fact that the boot is bigger. The Chimaera is slightly softer in the suspension generally (don't believe the claims that the Chimari and Griffi have the save suspension and chassis and therefore handle the same as they don't after driving too many to remember) which again appealed to new entries to the marque although some claim that this means the golf clubs are likley to do less damage inside the boot.... Allegedly.
Well there we have it then. Confirmation from somebody who knows his onions.
The Chimaera is soft and with its larger boot is best suited for the weekly shopping trip to Sainsbury's and Miss Selfridge.
Oh, and if you disagree, I'll see you outside the gates after school but I think it only fair to warn you that my Dad's bigger than your Dad!
>> Edited by bacardi on Saturday 16th November 16:07
simpo one said: I really thought, even after reading Ye Bible, that in later cars they were the same, only that the Chimaera had slightly higher profile tyres, giving it a slightly more pliable ride.
No?
Read what you wrote... They are the same except that
The except that includes suspension components like springs and shocks. Also the aerodynamics have a big effect as well. Then there is the set of golf clubs in the boot as well
The long and the short is that in my experience there is some difference and generally the Chimaera is a softer ride and handling. Although there have been several attempts at trying to create Griff handling on a Chimaera, it has really never worked at all. If you want Griff handling get a Griff. If you want Chimaera handling get a Chimaera. If you want to improve Chimaera handling, work out was is wrong and improve it. Don't try the I'll change it to Griff spec as it rarely works.
BTW you never hear Griff owners wanting Chimaera spec handling...
whitechimp500 said: OK,aside from the "which is best ?" debate ( i love them both ).
Can any body really,finally,definatively ?
Tell us what are the suspension differences between a Chim 500 and a Griff 500 ? assuming both cars were built at the same time.
I gots ta know.
Different chassis, springs, shocks, tyres, aerodymanics etc etc. All were changing over the build years but even though the last Griffs and Chimaeras were supposed to be exactly the same, they weren't and the car's handling is slightly softer/different from a Griff 500. I know of several Griff owners who went to a Chimaera, specced the Griff suspension and then went back to the Griff as it was never the same.
I reckon is you should accept a Chimaera for being a Chimaera and so on. If you want a Griff or a Chimaera and end up getting the other car, it is virtually impossible to change it into the other.
When I ordered my Chimaera 500 in January 1998, I spoke with the factory and they confirmed my suspension and brakes would be exactly the same as a Griffith 500. I was going to get the Griffith but went for the Chimaera because of the bigger boot and at the time it was just about to have a facelift, ie new rear lights and angled numberplate recess.
Cheers
Whitey
Cheers
Whitey
whitey said: When I ordered my Chimaera 500 in January 1998, I spoke with the factory and they confirmed my suspension and brakes would be exactly the same as a Griffith 500.
Just as i thought
. Anyway,if your gonna get a 500 , might as well get the rarer version - More Griffs 500's built than Chim 500's
.
whitey said: When I ordered my Chimaera 500 in January 1998, I spoke with the factory and they confirmed my suspension and brakes would be exactly the same as a Griffith 500.
I know I know. I've heard these claims before but having driven these cars back to back, they are not the same in my experience. Yes the brakes and chassis are identical (changeover was 1996) but the TVR docs from the time have different shocks and springs for these cars. I have also been in discussion with several Chimaera owners who also ordered Griff compatible Chimaeras and found that they were not, despite them having what was reputed to be the same components. I also believe that the different body styles and aerodynamics have a big effect as well.
Can't explain it much more than that but I've driven enough of them in anger to say that they are different cars with a common pedigree...
I'll enter this with flame suit at the ready, but despite what Steve Heath says, Noel Flannery from V8 Sports assures me that later Chimaeras have exactly the same (or the same as any TVR gets) shocks & springs etc.
Aerodynamics may have some effect, as you are less likely to get the high speed lift in a Chimaera compared to a Griff, so the rear end should be better planted on a Chimaera at high speed, due to the longer boot & trailing lip.
I have been in worse handling Griffs than my Chim, but I think that is down to individual cars needing setting up/replacing worn components etc....
Aerodynamics may have some effect, as you are less likely to get the high speed lift in a Chimaera compared to a Griff, so the rear end should be better planted on a Chimaera at high speed, due to the longer boot & trailing lip.
I have been in worse handling Griffs than my Chim, but I think that is down to individual cars needing setting up/replacing worn components etc....
It all depends... Yours is a later 2000 spec car and I would tend to agree that this is when the factory started saying they are the same. Look in the various parts manuals and there are clear differences and I have docs which state this up to late 1999! So that tells me that things are not as clear especially given the hundreds of mods and variations that these cars have gone through. My own experience indicates that the cars don't handle the same. There do appear to be differences. Doesn't mean that one is better than the other but that they are different.
I have also been called into several discussion() with owners about this and the conclusion was always they do not handle the same. As for aero effect etc it is surprising at the lowish speeds that is starts having an effect. You don't need to be doing120 to feel it. I have experienced it at around 45 on the 520.
The point really is that the car should be appreciated for what it is. If it drives well and suits you fine. If not try some others. Just don't assume that because the car has Griff 500 components that it is going to handle like one. My experience is that this is not the case. I don't care about this as it doesn't effect me but several Chimaera owners who have paid a lot of dosh having their car Griffied have ended up with not what they expected and big bills to go with it.
Moral is to try cars out until you find what you want.
I have also been called into several discussion(
) with owners about this and the conclusion was always they do not handle the same. As for aero effect etc it is surprising at the lowish speeds that is starts having an effect. You don't need to be doing120 to feel it. I have experienced it at around 45 on the 520. The point really is that the car should be appreciated for what it is. If it drives well and suits you fine. If not try some others. Just don't assume that because the car has Griff 500 components that it is going to handle like one. My experience is that this is not the case. I don't care about this as it doesn't effect me but several Chimaera owners who have paid a lot of dosh having their car Griffied have ended up with not what they expected and big bills to go with it.
Moral is to try cars out until you find what you want.
I'll lend my two cents worth to this discussion.... my attraction to TVRs started years ago and has as much to do with the noise and the rawness as the look. I originally wanted a Griffith but after much consideration decided the Chimaera was a better looking car so opted fo a 4.0 litre job. As for the arguments about which handles best...... I also have a large sportsbike and the bike press agrue back and forth about which top sportsbikes handle better, pretty much along the lines of which is best, Griffith or Chimaera..... and it comes down to exactly the same thing really..... how many of you can use the perfromance and handling of either to the extremes where it will make any difference... probably as many sportsbike riders who'd ever notice the difference...... none. So I reckon we should all stop arguing the toss, accept it comes down to personal preference, and realise you'll never really know.
I agree with the last post.
When I was trying to decide between the two, I hired a Griff for the weekend and test drove about 5 Chimps, 4's 4.5s and 5's.
The Griff was definitely the fastest, the loudest and the scariest, but I know this could be down to individual cars.
I would love to tell everyone I own a Griff and every time someone drools over my car, they ask if its a Griff (I reckon its just because they can't promounce Chimaera) but at the end of the day I bought a Chimaera.
Why:
1. I play golf
2. I go away for weekends
3. Its ride IS softer and the wife would keep moaning about it meaning less driving time overall.
4. The Chimaera is more modern, has more gadgets and for me feels more special inside than the Griff.
5. Even though I bought a 5L Chim I could have bought a 4.5 or even a 4 really but I had to have a 5L
I love the look of both and feel privileged and honoured to own one and have driven both types.
I love my Chim and I have absolutely no regrets, I had to have a boot or I would never drive the car....
When I was trying to decide between the two, I hired a Griff for the weekend and test drove about 5 Chimps, 4's 4.5s and 5's.
The Griff was definitely the fastest, the loudest and the scariest, but I know this could be down to individual cars.
I would love to tell everyone I own a Griff and every time someone drools over my car, they ask if its a Griff (I reckon its just because they can't promounce Chimaera) but at the end of the day I bought a Chimaera.
Why:
1. I play golf
2. I go away for weekends
3. Its ride IS softer and the wife would keep moaning about it meaning less driving time overall.
4. The Chimaera is more modern, has more gadgets and for me feels more special inside than the Griff.
5. Even though I bought a 5L Chim I could have bought a 4.5 or even a 4 really but I had to have a 5L
I love the look of both and feel privileged and honoured to own one and have driven both types.
I love my Chim and I have absolutely no regrets, I had to have a boot or I would never drive the car....
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