Onwards and Upwards: 4.5 or 5.0 as a daily driver?
Discussion
Fellow Chim owners, Ive been running my 98 Chim 400 as a daily driver for 2 years. Its been brilliant with no problems and allows me to play every single day.
Now its paid for I want to move on to a slighly newer one. Ive driven both a 4.5 and a 5 and was obviously very happy with the grunt of the 5 :nuts:. Thing is a brief test drive doesnt give you the full picture on day to day use :scratchchin:.
In your experience,is a 4.5 a better day to day bet than a 5? Ive heard a few mutterings about low rev reluctance and higher chance of overheating. To be honest although the bigger hit of the 5 was amazing, Ive only felt short changed in the 400 a few times so wouldnt be unhappy with a 4.5 in performance terms.
Any thoughts welcomed!
Cheers
Phlap
Now its paid for I want to move on to a slighly newer one. Ive driven both a 4.5 and a 5 and was obviously very happy with the grunt of the 5 :nuts:. Thing is a brief test drive doesnt give you the full picture on day to day use :scratchchin:.
In your experience,is a 4.5 a better day to day bet than a 5? Ive heard a few mutterings about low rev reluctance and higher chance of overheating. To be honest although the bigger hit of the 5 was amazing, Ive only felt short changed in the 400 a few times so wouldnt be unhappy with a 4.5 in performance terms.
Any thoughts welcomed!
Cheers
Phlap
Realisitcally you might find that the 400 is a quicker car, point to point, than the 450 or 500...
I've got a 450 and find it useable (10k since October) as a daily driver. Can get a bit entertaining in winter, but they all can. I drove a lot of 500's prior to purchase and found that in town they suffered from shunting... although I have also seen people say they have one that doesn't - just proves each car is different.
In the end I bought a 450 that I've been very happy with, after looking at 40-odd cars... I bought the best condition car within my budget.
I've got a 450 and find it useable (10k since October) as a daily driver. Can get a bit entertaining in winter, but they all can. I drove a lot of 500's prior to purchase and found that in town they suffered from shunting... although I have also seen people say they have one that doesn't - just proves each car is different.
In the end I bought a 450 that I've been very happy with, after looking at 40-odd cars... I bought the best condition car within my budget.
Have not heard of many 5.0 daily drives on here, although I am sure they exist.
I have used my 4.5 as a daily drive for a year now (c15k p.a). Its fantastic fun and have had no trouble at all (*touches wood*). In fact, it is far smoother than the 4.0 I had before. I really noticed the increase in power, but then I think my old 4.0 was not a particularly well put together car.
I guess the thing with TVR's is that they are all different, so test as many as you can.
I have used my 4.5 as a daily drive for a year now (c15k p.a). Its fantastic fun and have had no trouble at all (*touches wood*). In fact, it is far smoother than the 4.0 I had before. I really noticed the increase in power, but then I think my old 4.0 was not a particularly well put together car.
I guess the thing with TVR's is that they are all different, so test as many as you can.
Have heard that they 5.0 issue with shunting and being lumpy in traffic can be cured with a Mark Adams chip and rolling road session, may even squeeze a few extra horses out as well.
May want to ask the question in the Griffith forum as the 500's are very similar under the skin.
Personal thought is that it would be best to go for the 5.0 otherwise you may be in the same position a year down the line and end up upgrading again. Have you thought of a Griff?
May want to ask the question in the Griffith forum as the 500's are very similar under the skin.
Personal thought is that it would be best to go for the 5.0 otherwise you may be in the same position a year down the line and end up upgrading again. Have you thought of a Griff?
aaandy said:
Have heard that they 5.0 issue with shunting and being lumpy in traffic can be cured with a Mark Adams chip and rolling road session, may even squeeze a few extra horses out as well.
May want to ask the question in the Griffith forum as the 500's are very similar under the skin.
Personal thought is that it would be best to go for the 5.0 otherwise you may be in the same position a year down the line and end up upgrading again. Have you thought of a Griff?
Mines a dailyish driver, never shunts, and yes you would regret it, especially after some guy came up to me recently and mentioned how he couldnt keep up, and never realised how much quicker it was than his 4.5.
Thanks Gents. Great stuff. Aaandy, Im a big fan of the Griff also but you can get a newer, lower mileage Chim for your hard earned pennies than a Griff. I love the front styling of the Griff and the rear of the Chim. Also the Chim's boot size is quite handy when you use it every day.
I'll bear in mind the Mark Adams chip. Plenty of people on PH seem to swear by them.
Ive not discounted the idea of another 400 as I learned already to buy on condition. A few more horses however would be the icing on the cake!
Phlap
I'll bear in mind the Mark Adams chip. Plenty of people on PH seem to swear by them.
Ive not discounted the idea of another 400 as I learned already to buy on condition. A few more horses however would be the icing on the cake!
Phlap
Sounds familiar!aaandy said:
Have heard that they 5.0 issue with shunting and being lumpy in traffic can be cured with a Mark Adams chip and rolling road session, may even squeeze a few extra horses out as well.
My 5.0's a daily driver, it's used all year round (my only car) and definitely not lumpy in traffic. Never had a Mark Adams chip either, though has had a few stone ones.
I have a 500 as a daily driver. Do about 15k p.a. If you end up doing a lot of stop start slow miles it does get a bit sluggish and needs a blat to clear its tubes. Other than that no problems with over heating or shunting etc.
But if it does start to splutter a bit clean the stepper motor.
But if it does start to splutter a bit clean the stepper motor.
Hi Phil,
Great to hear the 400 is still going well!!!.
As you know, I bought my Chimaera 500 around a year ago now and there is virtually no difference with respect to practicality/ usability. Yes, it has noticeably more grunt which means that you may want to be a bit more careful in the wet, but apart from that, I have no complaints at all.
There is a slight difference between your current car and the 500 at low revs (below 1500). You may notice that its a little less smooth when pulling away or in traffic but this isn't (or should not be) hugely different to the 400 and certainly wont be enough to put you off!!
As for overheating, if it does this, there is something wrong. The 500 cooling system is closer to its limits than the 400 so it only takes a small problem to cause an overheat. As long as the cooling system is full of coolant, with no air locks or leaks and has the correctly rated fan switch fitted, this will not be an issue.
Overall I would go for a 500! They feel considerably quicker and in general, they don't really cost any more to maintain. Only problem may be finding a good one as they are fairly rare in the first place but when you do, you can expect it to hold its money better as long as its kept in good condition.
All the best,
Matt.
Great to hear the 400 is still going well!!!.
As you know, I bought my Chimaera 500 around a year ago now and there is virtually no difference with respect to practicality/ usability. Yes, it has noticeably more grunt which means that you may want to be a bit more careful in the wet, but apart from that, I have no complaints at all.
There is a slight difference between your current car and the 500 at low revs (below 1500). You may notice that its a little less smooth when pulling away or in traffic but this isn't (or should not be) hugely different to the 400 and certainly wont be enough to put you off!!
As for overheating, if it does this, there is something wrong. The 500 cooling system is closer to its limits than the 400 so it only takes a small problem to cause an overheat. As long as the cooling system is full of coolant, with no air locks or leaks and has the correctly rated fan switch fitted, this will not be an issue.
Overall I would go for a 500! They feel considerably quicker and in general, they don't really cost any more to maintain. Only problem may be finding a good one as they are fairly rare in the first place but when you do, you can expect it to hold its money better as long as its kept in good condition.
All the best,
Matt.
Hey Matt, Good to hear from you! Last I heard you were looking for a 500 after your Cerbie so Im glad you got sorted out.
Your old 400 has done me proud for the last 2 and a bit years so Im more than happy to take your advice.
Id better start looking for a 500 then!
My ad for the 400 is in PH now so you may recognize it! I'll have to see how many pennies it fetches but a nice 450 or 500 should be in budget.
Cheers
Phil
Your old 400 has done me proud for the last 2 and a bit years so Im more than happy to take your advice.
Id better start looking for a 500 then!
My ad for the 400 is in PH now so you may recognize it! I'll have to see how many pennies it fetches but a nice 450 or 500 should be in budget.
Cheers
Phil
I use my 98 5 Ltr Chim daily.
20 Mile trip down the A40 from Abergavenny to Brecon and the miles fly by. As a daily grind, nothing beats it and yes you will use more petrol, yes tyres need replacing etc etc but so what - you only live once.
It is serviced by an excellent indie in Cardiff, the chassis is treated as and when required and I adopt the prevention rather than cure approach to keeping her on the road.
I drive in snow, rain, sleet, fog and only once have I come a cropper and it was my fault!!
The car runs as sweet as a nut, just returned from a long zap down to Epernay and appart from the Odometer sticking she was sweet.
5 has to be better than 4!!
20 Mile trip down the A40 from Abergavenny to Brecon and the miles fly by. As a daily grind, nothing beats it and yes you will use more petrol, yes tyres need replacing etc etc but so what - you only live once.
It is serviced by an excellent indie in Cardiff, the chassis is treated as and when required and I adopt the prevention rather than cure approach to keeping her on the road.
I drive in snow, rain, sleet, fog and only once have I come a cropper and it was my fault!!
The car runs as sweet as a nut, just returned from a long zap down to Epernay and appart from the Odometer sticking she was sweet.
5 has to be better than 4!!
tvrmadmarc said:
I use my 98 5 Ltr Chim daily.
20 Mile trip down the A40 from Abergavenny to Brecon and the miles fly by. As a daily grind, nothing beats it and yes you will use more petrol, yes tyres need replacing etc etc but so what - you only live once.
reminds me of a story I was told by a fellow PH'er... Someone was saying that their car was better (
) as it "on;y had 6000 miles on the clock" to which the reply came back as... Why? What's so wrong with it, that you don't want to drive it?" 
These cars were made to be driven... so use 'em
matt101 said:
Overall I would go for a 500! They feel considerably quicker and in general, they don't really cost any more to maintain. Only problem may be finding a good one as they are fairly rare in the first place but when you do, you can expect it to hold its money better as long as its kept in good condition.
I echo all the above points, so i bought one that needed a bit of TLC and have just spent 2k fixing it up, whilst there was nothing massively mechanical wrong with it there were lots of niggles, Play in the Suspension, Leaky sump gasket, slightly leaky rad (not picked up till service) news discs and pads all round but everything else is A1, a good 500 will cost you, and are rare as i know only too well, but keep an eye out and as long as you know what you are doing and getting into you should be fine...
Go for the 500!
I have a 97 chim 500 which I use every day. In the last 4 weeks I have covered nearly 3000 miles! with no problems at all. (due an oil change in-keeping with previous services by the previous owner Steve T. RO Surrey TVRCC)
drive a few 4.0 & 4.5's first. Then if you can find one, a 500. I'm sure then your decision will be a whole lot easier!
500 all the way!
I have a 97 chim 500 which I use every day. In the last 4 weeks I have covered nearly 3000 miles! with no problems at all. (due an oil change in-keeping with previous services by the previous owner Steve T. RO Surrey TVRCC)
drive a few 4.0 & 4.5's first. Then if you can find one, a 500. I'm sure then your decision will be a whole lot easier!
500 all the way!
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