Discussion
I know its probably been asked thousands of times :-)
but thinking about moving from the Chimaera to a Cerbera for those who have done so how did the change go and any regrets ?
Just spent a small fortune on the Chimaera so probably looking to change next year some time but I like to get my research in early
but thinking about moving from the Chimaera to a Cerbera for those who have done so how did the change go and any regrets ?
Just spent a small fortune on the Chimaera so probably looking to change next year some time but I like to get my research in early
Hi Ewan, i have a chim 500 and had a cerbera for a month, couldnt get on with it, harder to get in than the chim, couldnt get on with leaning forward to look through the low windscreen to see if lights had changed, and by the time i sat back, everyone else had gone,and when i kept seat back so my legs were at right length for clutch i couldnt see properly out of shallow screen, although later models had a taller windscreen. crap heater feet were always cold couldnt go quick at night because the lights were rubbish and most important i didnt want two cars i had to be completely alert in at all times, oh and i much preferred the power delivery of the chim
Lester
Lester
I know we talked about this the other day but il put something in txt for you on my experiences.
Would i go back to a Chim - No but i would have both if i could.
Cerb- Much better in the Wet than my old chim. Feels 100% more planted all the time.
It Feels like a big go kart not twitchy or skittish at all Unlike the Chim, great handling and i think it will be even better on the track with the Nitrons, it is on the road for sure.
My lights are first class at night once i set them up as good as my Mini's.
The power delivery took a lot of getting used to in fact it felt slow next to my 400 until i drove it in anger and got the REVS up and looked at the speedo (Might just be a 4.2 clatter cams thing ) But looking at the rolling road graph of both the cerb is still making more lb/ft and BHP across the whole range it just puts it down in a different manor.
Running cost wise not really fair to ask me as i like upgrades and got very carried away most of it was not needed.
But put me back with the chim now would i still have changed to the Cerb ? No i would have bought one of those turbo kits and nitrons and made it as quick if not quicker than the Cerb. And still be able to get the roof off.
I love both more or less equally but for different reasons. The chim wins in the sound department for me as well But the my cerb with it's new exhaust is quite close now. The sleeved exhaust of the chim was just noise porn at 5k what a rip it made.
The long doors are a pain in the Cerb.
I think the Cerb does look better bit wider on the back end and nicer lines with the windows than the chim.
Would i go back to a Chim - No but i would have both if i could.
Cerb- Much better in the Wet than my old chim. Feels 100% more planted all the time.
It Feels like a big go kart not twitchy or skittish at all Unlike the Chim, great handling and i think it will be even better on the track with the Nitrons, it is on the road for sure.
My lights are first class at night once i set them up as good as my Mini's.
The power delivery took a lot of getting used to in fact it felt slow next to my 400 until i drove it in anger and got the REVS up and looked at the speedo (Might just be a 4.2 clatter cams thing ) But looking at the rolling road graph of both the cerb is still making more lb/ft and BHP across the whole range it just puts it down in a different manor.
Running cost wise not really fair to ask me as i like upgrades and got very carried away
most of it was not needed.But put me back with the chim now would i still have changed to the Cerb ? No i would have bought one of those turbo kits and nitrons and made it as quick if not quicker than the Cerb. And still be able to get the roof off.
I love both more or less equally but for different reasons. The chim wins in the sound department for me as well But the my cerb with it's new exhaust is quite close now. The sleeved exhaust of the chim was just noise porn at 5k what a rip it made.
The long doors are a pain in the Cerb.
I think the Cerb does look better bit wider on the back end and nicer lines with the windows than the chim.
lestershaw said:
Hi Ewan, i have a chim 500 and had a cerbera for a month, couldnt get on with it, harder to get in than the chim, couldnt get on with leaning forward to look through the low windscreen to see if lights had changed, and by the time i sat back, everyone else had gone,and when i kept seat back so my legs were at right length for clutch i couldnt see properly out of shallow screen, although later models had a taller windscreen. crap heater feet were always cold couldnt go quick at night because the lights were rubbish and most important i didnt want two cars i had to be completely alert in at all times, oh and i much preferred the power delivery of the chim
Lester
...but apart from that, it was perfect right? Lester
I have gone from a Chim 400 to a Griff 500 and now a Cerb S6
My impressions below
Power: No contest here, the Chim felt like it needed more and I even considered having it converted to a 500 but eventually the lure of a Griff was to much and I swapped. The Griff 500, just one phrase summed it up 'Ohhhh the power!!' Just a very torquey car, felt fast whatever the revs in whatever gear.
As for the Cerb - 'Christ its fast!- properly fast', no where near as much torque low down as the Griff but once it passes 4000 rpm everything happens very very quickly. My mates E46 M3 feels pedestrian in comparison.
Don't fall for all the macho rubbish about having to have a 4.5 - any Cerb well setup is indecently fast, might be a slight difference on a track but on a road, all 3 are way too fast to be honest!
Handling & Ride: Griff was way the most comfy but then again it was running on 15/16" Estorils. My Chim was on 17"s and the Cerb on 18" spiders. Handling wise the Cerb by a country mile - the benefit of those rollbars stiffen the Chassis in a way the Chim/Griff could never emulate
Looks: Cerbera, end of discussion (except from the rear 3/4 when the Griff is just the best looking car in the world)
Brakes: Cerbera again by a country mile.
Practicality: 4 seats (sort of) in a Cerb are great from small kids. Just done a 100mile roundtrip with my 6 year old, one year old along with the Mrs and all absoultely fine. Boot in the Griff is a nightmare, was a shock after having a Chim where you could just drop the roof in.
Interior: Cerb again, really really feels special inside but then again mine is full leather with upgraded roof lining etc. I know its stupid but I really missed the wing mirror door buttons when I had the Griff
Summers Day: Ahh - this is the real question you need to answer. In my opinion the Cerb is the better car is every way - except can you live without being able to take the roof off.
My impressions below
Power: No contest here, the Chim felt like it needed more and I even considered having it converted to a 500 but eventually the lure of a Griff was to much and I swapped. The Griff 500, just one phrase summed it up 'Ohhhh the power!!' Just a very torquey car, felt fast whatever the revs in whatever gear.
As for the Cerb - 'Christ its fast!- properly fast', no where near as much torque low down as the Griff but once it passes 4000 rpm everything happens very very quickly. My mates E46 M3 feels pedestrian in comparison.
Don't fall for all the macho rubbish about having to have a 4.5 - any Cerb well setup is indecently fast, might be a slight difference on a track but on a road, all 3 are way too fast to be honest!
Handling & Ride: Griff was way the most comfy but then again it was running on 15/16" Estorils. My Chim was on 17"s and the Cerb on 18" spiders. Handling wise the Cerb by a country mile - the benefit of those rollbars stiffen the Chassis in a way the Chim/Griff could never emulate
Looks: Cerbera, end of discussion (except from the rear 3/4 when the Griff is just the best looking car in the world)
Brakes: Cerbera again by a country mile.
Practicality: 4 seats (sort of) in a Cerb are great from small kids. Just done a 100mile roundtrip with my 6 year old, one year old along with the Mrs and all absoultely fine. Boot in the Griff is a nightmare, was a shock after having a Chim where you could just drop the roof in.
Interior: Cerb again, really really feels special inside but then again mine is full leather with upgraded roof lining etc. I know its stupid but I really missed the wing mirror door buttons when I had the Griff
Summers Day: Ahh - this is the real question you need to answer. In my opinion the Cerb is the better car is every way - except can you live without being able to take the roof off.
Drive one, they're completely different.
My Chim 400 was good for rumbling about and going for roof down blasts. My Cerb is less good for the rumbling about but much better for blasting about and imagining you are in some sort of mental racing car. It also feels a lot faster & the brakes are much stronger. And its 10x as loud You can't take the roof off but you can fit 2 dwarves in the back.
Later Cerbs don't have the letterbox screen - I tried an earlier one when I was looking and didn't like it.
My Chim 400 was good for rumbling about and going for roof down blasts. My Cerb is less good for the rumbling about but much better for blasting about and imagining you are in some sort of mental racing car. It also feels a lot faster & the brakes are much stronger. And its 10x as loud
You can't take the roof off but you can fit 2 dwarves in the back.Later Cerbs don't have the letterbox screen - I tried an earlier one when I was looking and didn't like it.
My chim is a reasonably healthy 290 bhp, im not sure what the cerb was, although the guy i sold it said it was "missing some horses" but there is no way the cerb was faster than my chim up to **** leptons, it may be faster on the track and it may be quicker after 100mph, but i will never know.
and yes the Cerbera did feel more planted, but i felt more comfortable at speed in the chim because i (thought) i knew what was coming next, whereas i was always wary in the cerb because i didnt know it well enough i suppose, im pretty sure i would beat the cerb in the chim going from a - b, after owning the cerb for a year, maybe it would be different.
it was great having the cerb and the chim on my drive, but i dont miss the cerb at all, however i am looking forward to one day owning a later model 4.5 :-)
and yes the Cerbera did feel more planted, but i felt more comfortable at speed in the chim because i (thought) i knew what was coming next, whereas i was always wary in the cerb because i didnt know it well enough i suppose, im pretty sure i would beat the cerb in the chim going from a - b, after owning the cerb for a year, maybe it would be different.
it was great having the cerb and the chim on my drive, but i dont miss the cerb at all, however i am looking forward to one day owning a later model 4.5 :-)
I remember your deliberations and questions Lester, it's a shame you didn't stick at it as like you say given time I think you'd have enjoyed it. It took about 3 months for me to 'get' the Cerbera. There is no way on this earth that my Chimaera will keep near the Cerbera.
OP, people do try to compare because they look similar, but that's where it ends. They couldn't be more different and both have their qualities. Compared to the Chimaera the Cerbera is a hoot to drive - it's a bit like being in a video game. My Cerbera is also better around town than the Chimaera in a drivability sense, it really can be a wolf in sheeps clothing.
As others have said though, if you can keep the Chimaera, they complement each other very well.
OP, people do try to compare because they look similar, but that's where it ends. They couldn't be more different and both have their qualities. Compared to the Chimaera the Cerbera is a hoot to drive - it's a bit like being in a video game. My Cerbera is also better around town than the Chimaera in a drivability sense, it really can be a wolf in sheeps clothing.
As others have said though, if you can keep the Chimaera, they complement each other very well.
Gazzab said:
Your cerb must have had some issues. there is no way a standard chim is staying with a healthy cerb.
Hi Gazz, yes it was down on bhp, and yes my chim runs really well, and im sure your right, which is why i hope to one day try another cerb :-)
sorry mark, still didnt see the point of having two cars on the drive that scream, dont take me for granted or i will bite you.
at the moment the chim, and an xjr suit me. i sold my boxster last week as just being topless didnt do it for me, so im sure the topless bug will go and ill be after another cerb, but definitely a later one than before
Lester
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