Chimaera or Tamora?

[Robertjp]

A Nice decision to have...or it will be when I am ready. First of all, hello - I am new here.

I have recently been for a test drive in a 4.5 Chimaera and it really was breathtaking, I have been in some fast cars before but quite honestly never anything that awesome. I did toy with a Lotus Elise for a while as well - but I really don’t think it offers the same type of experience as a TVR. Test drive left me disappointed.

Anyway, I am undecided on which TVR to buy. I have a daily driver so the car would be used for the odd journey to work and weekend fun. It has to be something the other half will get in too - the Elise was a very blunt response!

I always wanted a Cerbera, however I just cant live with the £3-4k annual costs to keep them roadworthy. So, this leaves two - Chimaera of Tamora.

The attractions to the Chimaera - my perception that it is one of the cheaper TVR's to own and maintain, offers huge performance and stunning looks, the top can come down. The bits that aren’t so good - interior a bit dated IMVHO. Handling - I am not sure about it.

So - can it cut it in today’s world - am I likely to be disappointed with the Chimaera if I ever get to drive a Tamora? (I think it would have to be a 4.5 or 5.0 Chimaera!)

Can a Chimaera be made to handle as well as a Tamora with nitrons and a good set-up?

Tamora - well - appears to be the modern day Chimaera. Attractions are obvious - looks, performance, handling. BUT - engine isn’t bombproof as opposed to the Rover block. I just don’t want to have to put £5k in the bank for a rebuild.

So, what are the opinions? Do others leave huge wads of cash in the bank for the sp6 rebuild or just get on with it? What are the options for contingency?

Budget - Max £25k.


>> Edited by Robertjp on Friday 1st July 15:14

[pullingpower]

Go for the V8, you know it makes sense.
IMHO I don't think the Speed6 is sorted enough yet and you should budget in major engine work at somepoint. Personally I prefer the look of the Chimaera; I can't help but think the Tamora looks a bit like an odd one out among the TVR range of the last 5 years.

[scoule]

Robertjp said:

Do others leave huge wads of cash in the bank for the sp6 rebuild or just get on with it? What are the options for contingency?

A rag, a match and a good pair of running shoes?

I've had my '94 Grif for nearly 8 years now - the most expensive items it has needed apart from servicing is a new hood at £500 and a radiator at £200. I treated it to some new fans too, since the old ones were getting a little sloppy. In all fairness, I could've had a new clear plastic screen installed in the old hood for half the cost of the new hood, but it's amazing how much better it looks with fresh mohair and a fresh rear window!

[.Mark]

Welcome, whichever you go for you will love, but unfortunately you won't get an unbiased view in this particular forum - have you posted in the Tamora one?

My completely un-biased view is the Chimaera has the classic good looks that in my opinion will never date and continue to look more and more gorgeous among the ever increasing angled body shapes. The sound of the V8 between 2.5 and 4.5k revs is hard to beat, standing between the tailpipes at tickover feeling the soil shake beneath you is unrivalled. The interior perhaps is a little out of date although still classically gorgeous and plush and is a joy to travel in.

The Tamora though is a more modern animal, with better road holding, while it looks nice now (was followed by one on run once and looks fantastic in the mirrors) may date not quite as well as the Chimaera although it will never look bad. The exhaust note can of course be tweaked with by using aftermarket systems, but the noise from the front end doesn't cut the mustard for me I'm afraid, not a great fan of the straight six bag of bolts. As for the interior, well, I can't remember what it looks like so what does that tell you?

If I was in the market again I'd definitly be looking at the Tamora but my heart says I'd still be driving home in the Chimaera.

Blue is fastest.

[scoule]

.Mark said:

Welcome, whichever you go for you will love, but unfortunately you won't get an unbiased view in this particular forum - have you posted in the Tamora one?

TVR peaked with the Griffith ... how many other 13 year old cars look (and sound) so good ???

Completely unbiased...

[.Mark]

scoule said:

TVR peaked with the Griffith ... how many other 13 year old cars look (and sound) so good ??? Completely unbiased...

Each to their own opinion my friend. Personally if the Griff was the only TVR available I'd be driving a Porsche/Aston/Masser. I just couldn't look at one sat in my garage each day.

[trinitycall]

"Chimaera or Tamora?"

It's very difficult to compare the two. It would be like Jordan getting out a magnifying glass to enable her to compare Dane Bowers to Peter Andre.

In summary, if size doesn't matter then go for the Tamora.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

N

[Nano2nd]

I've got a chim 450 and its a great car

i also have a hankering (sp?) for a Tamora, i really like the look of the thing and the fact that the roof folds proper flat (that wicks me off abit with the chim TBH) and at todays rates i could afford to buy one...

and the reason i haven't?

yup.. that fricking engine!!! while i can deal with the less that v8 sound it makes i can't deal with the worry that it will blow up or fall to bits on me! and then cost be 5k + with god knows how long off the road

i look through the classifieds on here and think, "oh man i wish i had a tamora", then i got for a quick scoot round the speed 6 forums for a refresher on how bad the sp6 is and i'm happy hehe

plus i also passed a broken down tam on the a46 the other day, i bet he wished he had a chim as i waved at him LOL (sorry if it was anyone on here )

[SharkyTVR]

Seems an obvious choice to me.....

[chris watton]

SharkyTVR said:

Seems an obvious choice to me.....

You philistine!!!

The Tam is completely different from the Chim, we loved our chim, and will always love them, but if I drove one now, after well over a year with the Tam, I would think the ride in the Chim would feel relatively crude, the Tam is amazing regarding pace (it has a real 350 BHP, not 250 max for the V8) and road holding, the latter making the car a lot safer.

It is a toughy, as they are both great cars in their own way, and very few 3.6 S6's have gone pop, if you look at the Tam/T350 forums, you'll find a LOT of very happy owners on there!

[sparkythecat]

I didn't find the Tam as comfortable as the Chim, which like the Griff is a proper fat blokes car.

[chris watton]

sparkythecat said:

I didn't find the Tam as comfortable as the Chim, which like the Griff is a proper fat blokes car.

Chim was definitely more comfy, the seat padding in the Tam is about 5mm thick, it seems!!!!lol

[shnozz]

if you are worried about running costs of the cerbera, buy the Chimaera.

if you are "that" worried about running costs, dont buy a TVR.

[chris watton]

Gazboy said:

Really?? I thought the Tam's seats were great, and the Chim seats were awful! No offence to anyone, but drive a Tam and a Chim, and it's a no-brainer, the Tam is 10 times the car (granted I drove a 1996 4.0) the Chim is. Engine issues would bother me though - when a SP6 hits 100k with no probs, then people can say it's "fixed".

The Tam's seats are great, but after a few hours driving non stop, the lack of padding does start to make the backside ache slightly! The Chim has more padding, but the Tam's allow you to 'feel' the road more,.
I have a S6 engined car, and TBH, the worry of it going bang is ever present, however, as I said, I've had mine for well over a year and it has been the best car I have ever owned, so much so that if I did start to have probs, the fun its given me thus far has been well worth it, I don't say that lightly either, I'm not rich, but have enough put aside 'in case'
The Tam does go through tyres a LOT quicker than the SO3's fitted on my Chim.
If you are worried about cost of ownership, go for a Chim though, as from my experience with mine, it cost me no more than £1000 over an 18 month period (I'm sure the tread on those SO3s were made of composite diamond, didnt seem to wear at all!)

[sparkythecat]

Gazboy said:

chris watton said: sparkythecat said: I didn't find the Tam as comfortable as the Chim, which like the Griff is a proper fat blokes car. Chim was definitely more comfy, the seat padding in the Tam is about 5mm thick, it seems!!!!lol Really?? I thought the Tam's seats were great, and the Chim seats were awful! .

If your profile picture is accurate, then you have only one chin and drive an MR2. You therefore perhaps cannot be considered the best judge of comfort


>> Edited by sparkythecat on Friday 1st July 20:50

>> Edited by sparkythecat on Friday 1st July 20:56

[s5tvr]

You have to test drive both cars. Looks-wise the Tamora was never an instant hit with me, but having just come back from Le Mans and being in a convoy with a Tamora there and back, it has really started to grow on me. What was noticeable was how much harder the Tamora has to work the gearbox to keep within its peak powerband to be able to keep up with the 5 litre V8's in our group - it just dosen't have the torque. Personally, I would always take the V8 over the speed 6 - it's a great shame TVR don't drop v8's into their cars anymore, though I wondered if they might be able to resurrect them if they took over MG Rover ?.

[Bob the Planner]

The overall ownership cost appear to be about the same for me whether V8 or Sp6, however I have not had the Tusc as long as the Chim. The Sp6 cars handle differently to the Chim and you do need to be well up the rev range to get the best from the engine (5-7k revs) which usually means a gear or two lower. I love the way you can stick the Chim in 3rd and just leave it there from 20 to 100 if you are feeling lazy and the V8 sound is awesome - but then again the Sp6 above 5k is fantastic too.

If money is an issue I reckon the Chim will be the better bet as you could usually do most things yourself. I keep a few k offsetting my mortgage for when the Sp6 engine needs some attention but it costs me nothing. For out and out fun the tuscan (and therfore the tamora too) has the better handling and performance IMO.

I think the answer is to drive both and decide which you prefer.

[Daftlad]

Bob the Planner said:

The overall ownership cost appear to be about the same for me whether V8 or Sp6, however I have not had the Tusc as long as the Chim. The Sp6 cars handle differently to the Chim and you do need to be well up the rev range to get the best from the engine (5-7k revs) which usually means a gear or two lower. I love the way you can stick the Chim in 3rd and just leave it there from 20 to 100 if you are feeling lazy and the V8 sound is awesome - but then again the Sp6 above 5k is fantastic too. If money is an issue I reckon the Chim will be the better bet as you could usually do most things yourself. I keep a few k offsetting my mortgage for when the Sp6 engine needs some attention but it costs me nothing. For out and out fun the tuscan (and therfore the tamora too) has the better handling and performance IMO. I think the answer is to drive both and decide which you prefer.

I think you've got about right there Bob.

Either car bought well will be a pleasure to own and drive.

[Robertjp]

Thanks for all the opinions, and the fact they are all pretty objective! I expected a lot of people to say that the Tamora left the Chimaera for dust - but actually the perception i get is that they are both fantastic cars, and one certainly isnt streets ahead of the other - in fact one reply suggests that the 5l chimaera is quicker in many situations.

It sounds like the Chimaera is the favourite, 'cause i can't justify £25k for the Tamora & £5k for a rebuild! However £20k for a 5.0 HC and ~£1k a year running is much more attractive...

I will be back, just got to save some pennies...thanks to all...

[parrot of doom]

Don't forget to include depreciation into your running costs - the newer the car, the more expensive it will be.