Discussion
There's been a few of these lately so worth doing a search. I've only had my 400 nearly a year and while it is quick I do wish I had gone for a 450 or 500. However, its a joy to rev the engine where as the 450 and 500 have more low down grunt. There's loads of choice out there so look at as many as you can. Worth getting to a local TVRCC meet too.
I don't drive mine all the time so its always a joy when I do and all Chimaeras will bring a huge smile to your face.
I don't drive mine all the time so its always a joy when I do and all Chimaeras will bring a huge smile to your face.
There is not a lot of performance difference between the two.
In Griffworld, 500 equals better as sure as medallions equals chest hair. Not sure quite the same ethos applies in Chimaeraland although there is still some snobbery and retail kudos to a 500.
When I bought mine I was told the 450 was more drivable as a daily driver and the 500 a bit less forgiving, but I have no evidence either way.
I think you just have to drive a few and go with your guts. Problem, of course, is that you can get good and bad in each model so one-on-one comparison is not all that easy and you may have to drive quite a few.
I would just get a car you love, regardless of the number on the back - unless labels are important.
Rich
In Griffworld, 500 equals better as sure as medallions equals chest hair. Not sure quite the same ethos applies in Chimaeraland although there is still some snobbery and retail kudos to a 500.
When I bought mine I was told the 450 was more drivable as a daily driver and the 500 a bit less forgiving, but I have no evidence either way.
I think you just have to drive a few and go with your guts. Problem, of course, is that you can get good and bad in each model so one-on-one comparison is not all that easy and you may have to drive quite a few.
I would just get a car you love, regardless of the number on the back - unless labels are important.
Rich
Agree there, Ive always tried to get the best car in the range (ie 500) but although I did look at a 500 and 450 the car I brought (400) was by far the best condition wise and it came with new out riggers.
Ive been told that mine shifts very well for a 400 too so as stated they can be different according to how healthy the car is.
Ive been told that mine shifts very well for a 400 too so as stated they can be different according to how healthy the car is.
I went through the same thing. Went for a 500 in the end. I like the extra torque and grunt, plus they are becoming more scarce. You'll hear lots of talk about other models being more free to rev, but I didn't really sense this when I tested them.
There is also a lot of talk about lumpy idle of the 500, however, it could be argued as a bit of a moot point as a well maintained car would have probably had a cam change anyway which will help solve this issue. Likewise, updated ECUs and decats all help smooth out the running. Either way, I didn't buy the car to 'idle'!
However, I will agree with the advice about buying the best example you can afford. If you buy cheap, it will cost you the same in the long run.
There is also a lot of talk about lumpy idle of the 500, however, it could be argued as a bit of a moot point as a well maintained car would have probably had a cam change anyway which will help solve this issue. Likewise, updated ECUs and decats all help smooth out the running. Either way, I didn't buy the car to 'idle'!
However, I will agree with the advice about buying the best example you can afford. If you buy cheap, it will cost you the same in the long run.
i had a 400 which went well and sounded nice
i then bought a 500 that goes better and sounds better but i also had a cerbera 4.2 at the same time, which i sold as i didnt like it.
When asked for advice a lot of people say, if you go for the 400 then you will always wish you had a 500. i think this is true, BUT as the a 500 owner i now wish i had got a Tuscan or a late 4.5 Cerbera.
so i think in essence buy the very best you can find and be happy with that, as you will always wonder about different "better" models.
Personally i think the 400 is definitely enough car for the british roads, and i find it is very tempting to want to drive the 500 faster than you should.
what i would also say is that because the Griffith has to be bought at a premium price, if its performance you want i think value for money (performance wise) is better away from a Griff, even if a medallion is included :-)
i then bought a 500 that goes better and sounds better but i also had a cerbera 4.2 at the same time, which i sold as i didnt like it.
When asked for advice a lot of people say, if you go for the 400 then you will always wish you had a 500. i think this is true, BUT as the a 500 owner i now wish i had got a Tuscan or a late 4.5 Cerbera.
so i think in essence buy the very best you can find and be happy with that, as you will always wonder about different "better" models.
Personally i think the 400 is definitely enough car for the british roads, and i find it is very tempting to want to drive the 500 faster than you should.
what i would also say is that because the Griffith has to be bought at a premium price, if its performance you want i think value for money (performance wise) is better away from a Griff, even if a medallion is included :-)
As Chris has said, there is lots of talk about 500's being grumpy, but this isnt my experience.
My wife and I have owned a 450 and a 500, (both nice sorted cars), and IMHO the 500 is noticeably quicker.
There are bad 500's that are probably slower than 450's (or even 400's) and vice a versa.
Condition is definitely as important. So buy a very sorted 500 would be my advice.
I may even know of a sorted 500 for sale
My wife and I have owned a 450 and a 500, (both nice sorted cars), and IMHO the 500 is noticeably quicker.
There are bad 500's that are probably slower than 450's (or even 400's) and vice a versa.
Condition is definitely as important. So buy a very sorted 500 would be my advice.
I may even know of a sorted 500 for sale
I depends on your personality type. If you think you are the sort of person who is going to be happy with a nice looking V8 roadster that goes well then choose any Chimaera.
If, on the other hand, you think you might be the sort of person who might find themselves wanting more horsepower later, then it has to be 500 for you to save you money in the long run. This sort of personality should also hold out for full-leather, PAS, etc as well for the same reason.
I'm not criticising either type but I know I fell into the latter category.
If, on the other hand, you think you might be the sort of person who might find themselves wanting more horsepower later, then it has to be 500 for you to save you money in the long run. This sort of personality should also hold out for full-leather, PAS, etc as well for the same reason.
I'm not criticising either type but I know I fell into the latter category.
Edited by swisstoni on Friday 2nd August 13:13
swisstoni said:
If, on the other hand, you think you might be the sort of person who might find themselves wanting more horsepower later, then it has to be 500 for you to save you money in the long run. This sort of personality should also hold out for full-leather, PAS, etc as well for the same reason.
Alternatively, buy a good condition 400, then get a supercharger conversion later on.If you went down this route you would have a wider choice of cars to find a good condition one from, and then benefit from a much improved BHP/£ power increase further down the line.
This is the route I would go *if I was the sort of person wanting more horsepower later*, if I were to do it all over again...
Dom
C
If you went down this route you would have a wider choice of cars to find a good condition one from, and then benefit from a much improved BHP/£ power increase further down the line.
This is the route I would go *if I was the sort of person wanting more horsepower later*, if I were to do it all over again...
DomAny reason not to supercharge a 500?
domV8 said:
swisstoni said:
If, on the other hand, you think you might be the sort of person who might find themselves wanting more horsepower later, then it has to be 500 for you to save you money in the long run. This sort of personality should also hold out for full-leather, PAS, etc as well for the same reason.
Alternatively, buy a good condition 400, then get a supercharger conversion later on.If you went down this route you would have a wider choice of cars to find a good condition one from, and then benefit from a much improved BHP/£ power increase further down the line.
This is the route I would go *if I was the sort of person wanting more horsepower later*, if I were to do it all over again...
Dom
Not really -
My reasons for a 400 would be:
1. Wider choice of good condition cars when buying (as many more made)
2. Substantially cheaper to buy (than an equiv condition 500)
3. Uses standard RV8 parts (eg. crank, heads etc) - easier/cheaper to fix if things go bang
4. Seems that the limit of things like gearbox etc are around 450bhp - going beyond that ceiling with a SC500 would result in more substantial costs to uprate all the drivetrain etc. (can't remember the output of the SC400, but sure it was less than that)
Looking at this from a BHP/£ perspective (as in the paragraph of SwissToni's I quoted) - I think the end result of an SC400 is great BHP/£.
Going for bigger BHP with an SC500 results in more additional costs - reducing the BHP/£...
Just trying to balance performance increases against costs.
Dom
My reasons for a 400 would be:
1. Wider choice of good condition cars when buying (as many more made)
2. Substantially cheaper to buy (than an equiv condition 500)
3. Uses standard RV8 parts (eg. crank, heads etc) - easier/cheaper to fix if things go bang
4. Seems that the limit of things like gearbox etc are around 450bhp - going beyond that ceiling with a SC500 would result in more substantial costs to uprate all the drivetrain etc. (can't remember the output of the SC400, but sure it was less than that)
Looking at this from a BHP/£ perspective (as in the paragraph of SwissToni's I quoted) - I think the end result of an SC400 is great BHP/£.
Going for bigger BHP with an SC500 results in more additional costs - reducing the BHP/£...
Just trying to balance performance increases against costs.
Dom
The other thing is to treat it a little like buying a house.
What are your absolute must haves in terms of colour, price, mileage, spec, age, facelift, PAS, things you dont mind sorting yourself, private or trade etc.
Once you have nailed this, you will find the options are getting pretty limited and the choice on engine may well be made for you!
What are your absolute must haves in terms of colour, price, mileage, spec, age, facelift, PAS, things you dont mind sorting yourself, private or trade etc.
Once you have nailed this, you will find the options are getting pretty limited and the choice on engine may well be made for you!
edo said:
The other thing is to treat it a little like buying a house.
What are your absolute must haves in terms of colour, price, mileage, spec, age, facelift, PAS, things you dont mind sorting yourself, private or trade etc.
Once you have nailed this, you will find the options are getting pretty limited and the choice on engine may well be made for you!
That's a similar strategy that saw me ending up with my 400, which I've been extremely happy with.What are your absolute must haves in terms of colour, price, mileage, spec, age, facelift, PAS, things you dont mind sorting yourself, private or trade etc.
Once you have nailed this, you will find the options are getting pretty limited and the choice on engine may well be made for you!
To stick with the property analogy, with a house its.... LOCATION - LOCATION - LOCATION.
With a TVR its..... CONDITION - CONDITION - CONDITION
ChimpOnGas said:
edo said:
The other thing is to treat it a little like buying a house.
What are your absolute must haves in terms of colour, price, mileage, spec, age, facelift, PAS, things you dont mind sorting yourself, private or trade etc.
Once you have nailed this, you will find the options are getting pretty limited and the choice on engine may well be made for you!
That's a similar strategy that saw me ending up with my 400, which I've been extremely happy with.What are your absolute must haves in terms of colour, price, mileage, spec, age, facelift, PAS, things you dont mind sorting yourself, private or trade etc.
Once you have nailed this, you will find the options are getting pretty limited and the choice on engine may well be made for you!
To stick with the property analogy, with a house its.... LOCATION - LOCATION - LOCATION.
With a TVR its..... CONDITION - CONDITION - CONDITION
chris1972 said:
I went through the same thing. Went for a 500 in the end. I like the extra torque and grunt, plus they are becoming more scarce. You'll hear lots of talk about other models being more free to rev, but I didn't really sense this when I tested them.
There is also a lot of talk about lumpy idle of the 500, however, it could be argued as a bit of a moot point as a well maintained car would have probably had a cam change anyway which will help solve this issue. Likewise, updated ECUs and decats all help smooth out the running. Either way, I didn't buy the car to 'idle'!
However, I will agree with the advice about buying the best example you can afford. If you buy cheap, it will cost you the same in the long run.
Never owned a 450. My 500 is by way of an engine upgrade, so the engine and its cam are under 5000 miles old. Idle is a lovely bumbly lumpy burble, but it is perfectly stable.There is also a lot of talk about lumpy idle of the 500, however, it could be argued as a bit of a moot point as a well maintained car would have probably had a cam change anyway which will help solve this issue. Likewise, updated ECUs and decats all help smooth out the running. Either way, I didn't buy the car to 'idle'!
However, I will agree with the advice about buying the best example you can afford. If you buy cheap, it will cost you the same in the long run.
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