New Model Chimaera - What's the difference??

[jeremyadamson]

Hey you lot! I'm a past Trev Chimp owner, and am thinking of taking the plunge again. Looking at the dealers and things, it seems that the new model one's are just about becoming available on the used market for 28-30K ish. Don't wanna buy a new one again....lost a fortune last time when I traded it in! I can't see much difference between the old and new model...faired front lights, Cerbie seats, clear front indicators and repeaters...etc.. is there anything else I should know about?? Is the general opinion that it's better to have the new model? I must admit, I quite like the faired in lights, and the new seats......could it be I'm alone in my opinions??

[craigalsop]

Dunno how tall you are, but check that you can sit in it with the roof on - I found that the new seats are a lot higher than the older ones. Faired lights - matter of taste, neither here nor there - from 2000, the lights were uprated & are pretty good. I think that you will be unnecessarily limiting your choice if you stick to the final model - you'd be best off looking for anything in the last couple of years and deciding about each car on it's merits.
2000 also saw the windscreen wiper motor moving inside the dash, rather than under the bonnet.
Anything after 1997 should have most of the model changes that happened. As a previous Chimaera owner, I would imagine that you will be aware of the various things to look for on the car...

cheers,
Craig

[jeremyadamson]

Thanks for that Craig.....the bit about the seats is interesting! I'll check, as I'm 6'1"!! I know what you mean about the model changes...my first Chimp was a '98 4.0 and the second was a 2000 5.0.....the two thousand one seemed to be much improved in terms of fit and finish. What I'm really trying to find out is whether people like the new model.....I remember reading something on here some time ago saying that the new shape looks pants!! They were talking about different panels and all sorts....I'm sure that they aren't any changes to any of the panels???

[plotloss]

I've got a new shape one and I would say go for it. In addition to the seats and the lights its got alloy switchgear and a digital speedo in the cabin and thats about it for the interior I think.

As far as the running gear is concerned the 2001 model is effectively now identical to the Griff.

Whatever you choose I am sure you will enjoy it.

Matt.

[jeremyadamson]

Hi Matt...pretty sure I had a digital mileometer in my 2000 Chimp.....anyhow, thanks for the advice. I do prefer the new shape ones....and Mole Valley have got a lovely racing blue one....just for 'ickle me!!
When you say that the running gear is the same as the Griffs, was that different from the latest Chimp 500's??

Cheers,
J.

[craigalsop]

quote:
Thanks for that Craig.....the bit about the seats is interesting! I'll check, as I'm 6'1"!! I remember reading something on here some time ago saying that the new shape looks pants!! They were talking about different panels and all sorts....I'm sure that they aren't any changes to any of the panels???

Oh, the other thing I forgot - if you have someone else that will be driving the car who is a lot shorter than you, the new seat travel is less than the old one, so that may be a consideration.
I don't think that the panel thing really counts with fibreglass cars...the front wings around the lights are slightly different, but again it's down to personal taste - personally I slightly prefer the old shape, and the 3 light zertec conversion looks pretty cool too, but I think the new shape looks fine as well (probably a little bit more aerodynamic)
The instruments changed to digital in 2000 & switchgear went to aluminium too (at least mine was)

cheers,
Craig

>> Edited by craigalsop on Tuesday 10th September 23:35

[VictorMeldrew]

quote:As far as the running gear is concerned the 2001 model is effectively now identical to the Griff.

As it always has been on the Chimaera 500.

[plotloss]

I was told that the 2001 model Chim was the first one to share suspension components with the Griff. Before that it was running softer springs...

Matt.

[alt]

Jeremy, personally I far prefer the inside of the new model, prefer the front of the old model and hate the way the Chimaera is referred to as a Chimp!
Good luck....... Andrew

[VictorMeldrew]

quote:running softer springs

Same part numbers I think.

[R6CKT]

Both the later 98 onwards I think Chimaera and Griff 500's are identical under the skin.
I had a 4.0L and spent 12 out of the 14 months of ownership looking for a late 5.0L (in the right colours) needless to say it is fantastic and well worth the extra money without any doubt, if you buy a 4.0,4.5 there will allways be that nagging doubt in the back of your mind saying what if I bought a 5.0L.
Only trouble is they seem harder and harder to find i.e. 1999 onwards

>> Edited by R6CKT on Wednesday 11th September 11:03

[rwalker1]

I toyally agree with you alt.

jeremyadomson STOP CALLING IT A CHIMP! As I've said in other threads it's not a bleedin' MONKEY!

Almost as bad as calling a Griff a GRIFFIN!



Roar on.

[jeremyadamson]

"Both the later 98 onwards I think Chimaera and Griff 500's are identical under the skin.
I had a 4.0L and spent 12 out of the 14 months of ownership looking for a late 5.0L (in the right colours) needless to say it is fantastic and well worth the extra money without any doubt, if you buy a 4.0,4.5 there will allways be that nagging doubt in the back of your mind saying what if I bought a 5.0L.
Only trouble is they seem harder and harder to find i.e. 1999 onwards

>> Edited by R6CKT on Wednesday 11th September 11:03"

Hi ya - thing is, I had a 5.0 last time, so I know what I'm missing!

Anyway, cheers for your help all - much appreciated...thankyou and goodnight. J.

[Simpo One]

I guess you could buy an earlier model and get the light fairings from somewhere, so it looks the same?

[craigalsop]

quote:
I guess you could buy an earlier model and get the light fairings from somewhere, so it looks the same?

Might as well go the whole Zertec route - both would involve bodywork modification....

[zertec]

quote:

quote:
I guess you could buy an earlier model and get the light fairings from somewhere, so it looks the same?

Might as well go the whole Zertec route - both would involve bodywork modification....

We are about to do a retrofit conversion like the latest model that doesn't need paint.

[markh]

Hello Clive
can you keep me on the list for info for this head light conversion.

thanks Mark

[shpub]

quote:

quote:As far as the running gear is concerned the 2001 model is effectively now identical to the Griff.

As it always has been on the Chimaera 500.

As the Griff is no longer in production what this really means is that they have used the last of the Griff bits on the last of the Chimaera.

If you want a Chimaera that handles like a Griff get a Griff. If you want a Griff that handles like a Chimaera get a Chimpari. I have driven several Griff spec Chimpari and they don't handle like a Griff. They don't handle like a standard Chim either. I believe the reason is the fact that they have different bodies and this effects the aerodynamics which in turn effects the handling. Or and the fact that there is no such thing as a standard car except for the last one of the production. Policy of continual improvement.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk