Wedge driving experience compared to a Chimera/Griffith
Discussion
In my experience they offer totally different driving experiences, both great in their own right.
My preference is the Chim, (compared to my early Tasmin, I've never driven a later Wedge...except for the racer I crashed...but thats another story). The Chimaera is a lot more refined than my Tasmin. For example, the suspension, other than the FoMoCo uprights is all custom built, as opposed to the Cortina wishbones of the Wedges and the Jag wishbone/driveshaft. The Tasmin seems more of a compromise based on what TVR could get from parts bins in the early 80, certainly w.r.t. suspension.
As has already been mentioned the driving position seems better in a Wedge, the wheel is slightly offset which is a niggle.
You could compare all sorts of facets of both cars, eg do you prefer the fell of an LT77 box or a T5 for the V8 cars etc. At the end of the day they are two cars developed many years apart. Try comparing a late 60's Shelby Mustang to the 2005 Roush Mustang, in some respects very similar, it many completly different.
Regards
Iain
My preference is the Chim, (compared to my early Tasmin, I've never driven a later Wedge...except for the racer I crashed...but thats another story). The Chimaera is a lot more refined than my Tasmin. For example, the suspension, other than the FoMoCo uprights is all custom built, as opposed to the Cortina wishbones of the Wedges and the Jag wishbone/driveshaft. The Tasmin seems more of a compromise based on what TVR could get from parts bins in the early 80, certainly w.r.t. suspension.
As has already been mentioned the driving position seems better in a Wedge, the wheel is slightly offset which is a niggle.
You could compare all sorts of facets of both cars, eg do you prefer the fell of an LT77 box or a T5 for the V8 cars etc. At the end of the day they are two cars developed many years apart. Try comparing a late 60's Shelby Mustang to the 2005 Roush Mustang, in some respects very similar, it many completly different.
Regards
Iain
I found going from a wedge to chim was like stepping into a great big wallowing bently, as when you look out the screen you can see these great big bulbous arches.
Fourtunately I was only fixing it for a friend and only had it a couple of months, was a lot easier to drive than the Wedge, but not half as much fun
Fourtunately I was only fixing it for a friend and only had it a couple of months, was a lot easier to drive than the Wedge, but not half as much fun
Handling is just a small part of it. If you want something that handles well then get one of those Elise thingies.
Its the drama, noise and exclisivity that makes Wedge ownership so great. Try going for a hoon with a SEAC a couple of 400SE's a sprinkling of 450SE's and a couple of 350i's if you wanna turn some heads!
You just don't get that with a Chimp stuffed full of golf clubs no matter how good they handle. And then of course there is the noise!
Fitting a 'sports' exhaust to a modern 'Tiv' to make it sound like a proper TVR is tantamount to pegging playing cards to your spokes of your bike when you were a kid
MikeyB
[ / aggaravating mode off ]
Its the drama, noise and exclisivity that makes Wedge ownership so great. Try going for a hoon with a SEAC a couple of 400SE's a sprinkling of 450SE's and a couple of 350i's if you wanna turn some heads!
You just don't get that with a Chimp stuffed full of golf clubs no matter how good they handle. And then of course there is the noise!
Fitting a 'sports' exhaust to a modern 'Tiv' to make it sound like a proper TVR is tantamount to pegging playing cards to your spokes of your bike when you were a kid
MikeyB
[ / aggaravating mode off ]
Mike,
A while ago a Pistonheader who owned a Chimaera died and arrived at the pearly gates, we'll call him Dave. After a quick chat with St. Peter one of the archangels gave Dave a guided tour around heaven. He was shown where the pub was, with beer taps freely flowing with real ale, he was shown the petrol station where the finest petrol was availible, all tax free, he was shown the roads where tarmac stretched miles and miles into eternity with beautiful flowing corners free of old biddies and chavs, he was shown his personal garage that housed some of the most heavenly cars ever made in all of eternity.
Towards the end of the tour Dave became curious about a certain wall that stretched high into the sky and from when alot of reving of engines could be heard, exhausts popping and banging of exhausts as throttles were closed, what lay inside this wall and not had a single mention. As the tour came to a close Dave could contain his curiosity no longer and asked the archangel what was inside the wall.
The angel replied, "Oh that wall, thats where we let the Wedge owners live to make them think they're the only ones here." Seeing the shock on Dave's face he continued "It's ok, they've never been outside the wall so don't know about the rest of heaven!"
Regards
Iain
A while ago a Pistonheader who owned a Chimaera died and arrived at the pearly gates, we'll call him Dave. After a quick chat with St. Peter one of the archangels gave Dave a guided tour around heaven. He was shown where the pub was, with beer taps freely flowing with real ale, he was shown the petrol station where the finest petrol was availible, all tax free, he was shown the roads where tarmac stretched miles and miles into eternity with beautiful flowing corners free of old biddies and chavs, he was shown his personal garage that housed some of the most heavenly cars ever made in all of eternity.
Towards the end of the tour Dave became curious about a certain wall that stretched high into the sky and from when alot of reving of engines could be heard, exhausts popping and banging of exhausts as throttles were closed, what lay inside this wall and not had a single mention. As the tour came to a close Dave could contain his curiosity no longer and asked the archangel what was inside the wall.
The angel replied, "Oh that wall, thats where we let the Wedge owners live to make them think they're the only ones here." Seeing the shock on Dave's face he continued "It's ok, they've never been outside the wall so don't know about the rest of heaven!"
Regards
Iain
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