Chim/Cerb
Chim/Cerb
Author
Discussion

Onzlouk

Original Poster:

909 posts

219 months

Monday 24th March 2014
quotequote all
How does a 5 litre Chim compare to a Cerb in reality? Anyone have any first hand of both? I'm looking at a 5l Chim for sale and on paper it's very similar performance wise to a Cerb, there's only one of each available near me and I can't take my lack of TVR for much longer!

morebeanz

3,283 posts

260 months

Monday 24th March 2014
quotequote all
I've not owned one, but I test drove a load before buying the Cerb (in itself tells you something).

The easiest comparison is that every drive is an event in the Cerb, whereas the Chim can seem a bit calm and tame by comparison, even when making progress.

grahamn

1,777 posts

258 months

Monday 24th March 2014
quotequote all
Onzlouk said:
How does a 5 litre Chim compare to a Cerb in reality? Anyone have any first hand of both? I'm looking at a 5l Chim for sale and on paper it's very similar performance wise to a Cerb, there's only one of each available near me and I can't take my lack of TVR for much longer!
Performance wise, on the road, the Cerb and the 5L Chim would be quite simular. On track the Cerb would pull away from the Chim once you hit 100 plus.

Mags

1,195 posts

303 months

Monday 24th March 2014
quotequote all
Chalk and cheese IMHO. I used to own a 5ltr Griff and now a 4.5 Cerb. The Griff was a little retro in feel, more of a quick classic car with great lazy low down torque but not as free revving as the Cerb.
The Cerb feels more like a race car for the road, it doesn't have the low torque that the Rover V8 has but once you get off the line it revs much more freely, for higher revs and pulls much harder.
For me the Cerb is far quicker on the road and much more willing to go fast, I always felt the Griff didn't like being hustled as much.
Having said that, I miss the Griff's ability to pootle along with the traffic, the Cerb feels like its always straining at the leash, for me they cannot be compared, the Cerb is an animal.
Having said all that I wish I could afford both, my missus hates the Cerb and misses the Griff, I couldn't own a Chim though, too fugly ;o)


Edited by Mags on Monday 24th March 10:32

Mr Cerbera

5,148 posts

254 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
quotequote all
I have driven both now and as MadGraham says, in the real world, the performance difference is negligible. I thought the Chimp had more torque lower down the rev range but the Cerb has proven to have the top end.

Given the huge differences between their open top/4 seater characteristics, I would have thought that those aspects would be bigger deciding factors. scratchchin

chibbard

1,554 posts

284 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
quotequote all
Mags said:
Chalk and cheese IMHO. I used to own a 5ltr Griff and now a 4.5 Cerb. The Griff was a little retro in feel, more of a quick classic car with great lazy low down torque but not as free revving as the Cerb.
The Cerb feels more like a race car for the road, it doesn't have the low torque that the Rover V8 has but once you get off the line it revs much more freely, for higher revs and pulls much harder.
For me the Cerb is far quicker on the road and much more willing to go fast, I always felt the Griff didn't like being hustled as much.
Having said that, I miss the Griff's ability to pootle along with the traffic, the Cerb feels like its always straining at the leash, for me they cannot be compared, the Cerb is an animal.
Having said all that I wish I could afford both, my missus hates the Cerb and misses the Griff, I couldn't own a Chim though, too fugly ;o)


Edited by Mags on Monday 24th March 10:32
+1 I also went from a 5.0L Griff to a 4.5 Cerb and can agree with this totally....

Mark.

11,104 posts

300 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
quotequote all
chibbard said:
Mags said:
Chalk and cheese IMHO. I used to own a 5ltr Griff and now a 4.5 Cerb. The Griff was a little retro in feel, more of a quick classic car with great lazy low down torque but not as free revving as the Cerb.
The Cerb feels more like a race car for the road, it doesn't have the low torque that the Rover V8 has but once you get off the line it revs much more freely, for higher revs and pulls much harder.
For me the Cerb is far quicker on the road and much more willing to go fast, I always felt the Griff didn't like being hustled as much.
Having said that, I miss the Griff's ability to pootle along with the traffic, the Cerb feels like its always straining at the leash, for me they cannot be compared, the Cerb is an animal.
Having said all that I wish I could afford both, my missus hates the Cerb and misses the Griff, I couldn't own a Chim though, too fugly ;o)


Edited by Mags on Monday 24th March 10:32
+1 I also went from a 5.0L Griff to a 4.5 Cerb and can agree with this totally....
I'll +2 it but swap Griff for Chimaera, I couldn't own a Griff though, too fugly wink


portzi

2,325 posts

199 months

Tuesday 25th March 2014
quotequote all
Mark. said:
chibbard said:
Mags said:
Chalk and cheese IMHO. I used to own a 5ltr Griff and now a 4.5 Cerb. The Griff was a little retro in feel, more of a quick classic car with great lazy low down torque but not as free revving as the Cerb.
The Cerb feels more like a race car for the road, it doesn't have the low torque that the Rover V8 has but once you get off the line it revs much more freely, for higher revs and pulls much harder.
For me the Cerb is far quicker on the road and much more willing to go fast, I always felt the Griff didn't like being hustled as much.
Having said that, I miss the Griff's ability to pootle along with the traffic, the Cerb feels like its always straining at the leash, for me they cannot be compared, the Cerb is an animal.
Having said all that I wish I could afford both, my missus hates the Cerb and misses the Griff, I couldn't own a Chim though, too fugly ;o)


Edited by Mags on Monday 24th March 10:32
+1 I also went from a 5.0L Griff to a 4.5 Cerb and can agree with this totally....
I'll +2 it but swap Griff for Chimaera, I couldn't own a Griff though, too fugly wink
+3 Griff's are fugly smile

Tarmacshredder

135 posts

154 months

Wednesday 26th March 2014
quotequote all
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder but for me the Griff is one of the most beautiful cars made, the lines are so clean and elegant, it might look a little dated at certain angles and with certain wheels but in my eyes its not fugly.
I bought a Cerbera as I have always wanted one ever since seeing it on the motor show stand at its launch it was an itch that just needed to be scratched. I looked at a Griff as well as the Cerbera and after speaking to a few friends that had had the opportunity to drive most exotica including all the TVR range, all the feed back was go for the Cerbera every journey will be an experience and they weren't wrong. The AJP engine is like no other, the noise the power delivery, the Cerbera's interior not only looks amazing but is very comfortable for long distances (when the aircons working).
The only thing I would have liked on the Cerbera is the American v8 burble, instead however I have transit diesel camshaft clatter and 2 bikes at the back which wakes the dead and attracts more attention than any other car I have ever been in.
Day to day I think the Cerbera would be an easier car to live with but the running cost are going to be in a different league to the Griff.
Good luck with what every you choose, I am sure you will enjoy it.

StarmistBlue400

3,077 posts

242 months

Monday 31st March 2014
quotequote all
I love my Chimaera to bits but lust after a Cerb. If I had enough to buy one and had a slush fund in reserve I would buy one like a shot.

Here is an idea, get a Cerb. That way you won't experience how much cheaper a Chimaera can be to run (if you get a good one).

I'm just going to have to keep on saving.

athomp04

177 posts

192 months

Thursday 3rd April 2014
quotequote all
I have owned good standard examples of both and the Cerb is in another league performance wise. They are very different cars in my opinion and should not really be compared like for like.

Ashley

Tyre Smoke

23,018 posts

285 months

Thursday 3rd April 2014
quotequote all
chibbard said:
Mags said:
Chalk and cheese IMHO. I used to own a 5ltr Griff and now a 4.5 Cerb. The Griff was a little retro in feel, more of a quick classic car with great lazy low down torque but not as free revving as the Cerb.
The Cerb feels more like a race car for the road, it doesn't have the low torque that the Rover V8 has but once you get off the line it revs much more freely, for higher revs and pulls much harder.
For me the Cerb is far quicker on the road and much more willing to go fast, I always felt the Griff didn't like being hustled as much.
Having said that, I miss the Griff's ability to pootle along with the traffic, the Cerb feels like its always straining at the leash, for me they cannot be compared, the Cerb is an animal.
Having said all that I wish I could afford both, my missus hates the Cerb and misses the Griff, I couldn't own a Chim though, too fugly ;o)


Edited by Mags on Monday 24th March 10:32
+1 I also went from a 5.0L Griff to a 4.5 Cerb and can agree with this totally....
I too concur, although I went 4.0L Chim to 4.5 Cerb. The Chimaera, when you put your foot down is a bit like a chap lighting his pipe, "be right with you, once I've got a fug going" and the Cerb will rip your throat out with it's bare hands.

Mark.

11,104 posts

300 months

Thursday 3rd April 2014
quotequote all
Tyre Smoke said:
I too concur, although I went 4.0L Chim to 4.5 Cerb. The Chimaera, when you put your foot down is a bit like a chap lighting his pipe, "be right with you, once I've got a fug going" and the Cerb will rip your throat out with it's bare hands.
biggrin excellent analogy