Driving along in the day car, this thought........

[iandbeech]

... entered my head today from "nowhere"!

It said to me "why not sell the 4 litre HC Chimaera and get a 5 litre version?"

Why would I consider it? We`ve had our 4 litre HC Chim for two years now and it`s been very good to us giving stirling and reliable service. It still gives us a great grin factor and we`ve been told by several TVR knowledgeable mechanics that we`ve got a good tight car! Why would the thought of maybe selling a "goodun" have entered my head? Perhaps because we have had her two years and fancy a change for change sake?

Why would we want to put ourselves through all the searching and wasted trips trying to find a good one? Could it be the thought of having the "Daddy" Chimaera?

It`s a bugger of a thought because now it`s got in there, I can`t get rid of it

[tvrbob]

I understand the 5ltr is not as easy in town, not happy at 30mph. Don't know it from experience but the suggestion has been posted here a few times. Sort of depends where you spend most of your driving hours, town or open road.

[bugsy]

My pal sold his 4l chim which gave him no trouble and had 2x5L models that gave him nothing but trouble.
Maybe he was unlucky or maybe the 5L is not quite as reliable as the 4L

[Tyre Smoke]

Corin did this. Loved his 4L, not sure if he loves his 5L as much, he could tell you - both of his are lovely cars.


if you like mulberry interiors

[mrmaggit]

I had this thought, but before I bought one. So I bought a 5l in the first place.

[Podie]

This is the reason I bought the "compromise" …

(the 4.5)

[monkeypilot]

Similar upgrade urges here. I bought the Chim after saying "I'll have one before I'm 35" Two years on I'm going "I'll upgrade to a new one before I'm 40" But I'm thinking T350...

In moments of clarity I start to think "Why do I need another 100+ BHP???" Fortunately these moments of sanity are few and far between!

[neilmac]

Ian, why not go the whole hog and buy a 5 litre? You'll be able to keep up on a run - but make it a GRIFFITH !!

[cosmoschick]

iandbeech said:

Perhaps because we have had her two years and fancy a change for change sake?

Fair enough. If you want more power (and/or a newer model) then it's a good enough reason to go for a 500 but, other than that, I (personally) don't see the point in replacing the 400 if you're more or less happy with it - the next one is basically going to be the same car in terms of looks, interior etc.

A bit of a dilemma for you.

[iandbeech]

cosmoschick said:

iandbeech said: Perhaps because we have had her two years and fancy a change for change sake? Fair enough. If you want more power (and/or a newer model) then it's a good enough reason to go for a 500 but, other than that, I (personally) don't see the point in replacing the 400 if you're more or less happy with it - the next one is basically going to be the same car in terms of looks, interior etc. A bit of a dilemma for you.

You`re right, it`s changing it for change sake if we do - and that`s not a good enough justification really - or is it?! D`oh!

[iandbeech]

neilmac said:

Ian, why not go the whole hog and buy a 5 litre? You'll be able to keep up on a run - but make it a GRIFFITH !!

Now you know perfectly well that the reason I sometimes lag behind a little is because you prefer to spend more time on the wrong side of the road (overtaking anything and everything) than me!

Hadn`t considered the Griff - probably won`t either!!

[lazyitus]

Look at it this way, if you never do it, you'll always wonder should I have, should I have ???

You know what they say, Curiosity Killed the Cat.

Or should that be, Curiosity Killed the Pre-Cats.

[cosmoschick]

iandbeech said:

Hadn`t considered the Griff - probably won`t either!!

Have you been for a test drive in a 500? There's a chance you might not like it!

[RichB]

cosmoschick said:

iandbeech said: Hadn`t considered the Griff - probably won`t either!! Have you been for a test drive in a 500? There's a chance you might not like it!

[cosmoschick]

RichB said:

at your

Let me expand. A chap I know who was looking to buy a Chimaera tried out a 400 and a 500. He much preferred the 400, one of the reasons being the 'lumpiness' of the 500 at low revs/speed. It's a personal choice - money wasn't an issue, in fact he's loaded!

[chimburt]

500s are no more or less lumpy than 4's or 4.5's at any speed.
some cars are lumpy, some aren't, i think it just happened that whoever started ( what i believe is ) the urban myth happened to try a lumpy 500.

[iandbeech]

cosmoschick said:

iandbeech said: Hadn`t considered the Griff - probably won`t either!! Have you been for a test drive in a 500? There's a chance you might not like it!

I have never driven one but have been a passenger in one on a few occasions. My first ever outing in a TVR was my mates 5 litre - and he had it sideways on the first corner out of his estate - and then REALLY gave it some I have never felt so alive - and scared in all my life! Mind you, doing similer to passengers in our car creates the same colourful language

Of course it can`t really be used in that much anger all the time but I do remember the absolute brutal power, in each gear it just kept pulling and pulling. Our Chim almost gives us that, but not quite!

Looking at your profile pic, our cars are almost identical. I can`t get rid of it can I

[Painey]

My Griff 500 isn't too bad around town. Sure it's not the smoothest of cars I've ever been in but anyone who comments on 500's being lumpy etc in low revs should stop poncing around and put their foot down!! Thus resulting in more of this

[cosmoschick]

iandbeech said:

Of course it can`t really be used in that much anger all the time but I do remember the absolute brutal power, in each gear it just kept pulling and pulling. Our Chim almost gives us that, but not quite!

Then perhaps you have answered your question...

I can't even decide on whether to change the orange indicators to clear ones! What do you think? All in all, I've reached the conclusion that my Chim is pretty perfect just the way it is (IMHO) and I'm still grinning, two and a half years on.

[lazyitus]

The original 340bhp models are the lumpier ones.

I believe around 95/96, they de-bhp'd the 500's to 320bhp which supposedly made it less jurky round town.

This probably only applies to Griffs though because of the age?

I dont know, do you?