Discussion
leerandle said:
Whats the Chimera like compared to the Aston in terms of build quality, fun to drive ?
Always wanted a little TVR to play with, but always worried that once I start using it, I will find everything thats poorly designed and fitted etc.
Hi Lee?Always wanted a little TVR to play with, but always worried that once I start using it, I will find everything thats poorly designed and fitted etc.
Build quality… Aston miles ahead no real comparison… Fun to drive? Great question



baconsarney said:
Hi Lee?
Build quality Aston miles ahead no real comparison Fun to drive? Great question
cars are chalk and cheese the Aston is bog standard, has 380bhp and weighs over 1600kg. My TVR (highly modified) has a tad over 360bhp and weighs just over 1000kg. The TVR is seriously quicker than the Aston in a straight line (in the dry) has no traction control stability control ABS etc driving the Aston is an event, driving the TVR is also an event but can be a white knuckle drive as for poorly designed and fitted, depending on which TVR you get you ll be more focussed on staying alive than design and fitment
noise from both is epic, cars complement each other brilliantly (in my humble opinion) done many track days in the TVR and taken it up the strip at Santa Pod, awesome piece of kit but if I had to do a Europe road trip would have to be the Aston hope this helps 
Cheers for that, exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I fancy a little project car thats lightweight, you can modify it relatively easily and its a bit of fun. Would never track my Aston, but a nice little TVR/lotus etc. Build quality Aston miles ahead no real comparison Fun to drive? Great question



leerandle said:
baconsarney said:
Build quality Aston miles ahead no real comparison Fun to drive? Great question
cars are chalk and cheese the Aston is bog standard, has 380bhp and weighs over 1600kg. My TVR (highly modified) has a tad over 360bhp and weighs just over 1000kg. The TVR is seriously quicker than the Aston in a straight line (in the dry) has no traction control stability control ABS etc driving the Aston is an event, driving the TVR is also an event but can be a white knuckle drive as for poorly designed and fitted, depending on which TVR you get you ll be more focussed on staying alive than design and fitment
noise from both is epic, cars complement each other brilliantly (in my humble opinion) done many track days in the TVR and taken it up the strip at Santa Pod, awesome piece of kit but if I had to do a Europe road trip would have to be the Aston hope this helps 
Cheers for that, exactly the kind of information I was looking for. I fancy a little project car thats lightweight, you can modify it relatively easily and its a bit of fun. Would never track my Aston, but a nice little TVR/lotus etc. 


That said, as for 'design' they have wonderful little touches like the door openers, the scalloped doors and bonnet to simplify shut lines, and just the shape is timeless. The problem with many TVRs is that they were used and abused because people saw them as offering 911 performance for half the price rather than something like an 'Aston' which was something to be treasured and admired.
Incidentally, I get all the 'it's not got ABS or traction control' stuff but as they used to say here on Pistonheads when yet another poster said they'd just crashed their 'Tiv' exiting a roundabout, the accelerator pedal does have positions in between fully on and off, so be careful and drive appropriately.

RichB said:
I don't own a 'new' Aston, mine's a 1958, however I've experience of driving several. My Griff 500 is a '99, had it from new, and although not as powerful as BaconS's TVR, it's modified up to a genuine 325bhp and 320lb ft which still means it goes like stink. As for build, obviously one is built by chaps in a shed at £40k car the other is hand built (ish) £175k car so it's unfair to compare but to my eyes the inside of my Griff is excellent, wall to wall leather, turned aluminium knobs, Wilton carpet etc. Nothing has fallen off or broken but then I've had it from new and looked after it! In 26 years the only component that has failed is the alarm/immobiliser but as the chap who replaced it said, you wouldn't be surprised if the electronics in a 26 year old computer board started to fail.
That said, as for 'design' they have wonderful little touches like the door openers, the scalloped doors and bonnet to simplify shut lines, and just the shape is timeless. The problem with many TVRs is that they were used and abused because people saw them as offering 911 performance for half the price rather than something like an 'Aston' which was something to be treasured and admired.
Incidentally, I get all the 'it's not got ABS or traction control' stuff but as they used to say here on Pistonheads when yet another poster said they'd just crashed their 'Tiv' exiting a roundabout, the accelerator pedal does have positions in between fully on and off, so be careful and drive appropriately.
Excellent That said, as for 'design' they have wonderful little touches like the door openers, the scalloped doors and bonnet to simplify shut lines, and just the shape is timeless. The problem with many TVRs is that they were used and abused because people saw them as offering 911 performance for half the price rather than something like an 'Aston' which was something to be treasured and admired.
Incidentally, I get all the 'it's not got ABS or traction control' stuff but as they used to say here on Pistonheads when yet another poster said they'd just crashed their 'Tiv' exiting a roundabout, the accelerator pedal does have positions in between fully on and off, so be careful and drive appropriately.


baconsarney said:
...cars are chalk and cheese...
Yep...I have a TVR Cerbera (4.2 v8) and a DB9 and if I had to choose between the two, I'd keep the Cerbera. I've had the Cerbera for 15yrs... Done a body-off chassis restoration, so there's probably a bit of an emotional attachment but even my partner prefers the Cerbera; There's far more "Theatre" to the TVR, whereas the DB9 is just a "fast armchair". <<< Her words, not mine.
The TVR, whilst a very capable Autobahn cruiser, really comes alive on the 'A' roads & 'Twistys', which is why it's usually the car of choice when we head off into Europe for a road trip (which we do most years). The DB9 is rather tame and boring by comparison, though great for the long distance motorway cruising. We were also surprised at how small the DB9 boot is in comparison too.
...and as for build quality, it's a bit better on the DB9 but both cars are essentially 'parts bins specials'. I find them both to be reliable, both start on the button but that's probably coz I use them, rather than leaving them in a garage.
M
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff