Chimaera to Cerbera?
Discussion
I love my Chim 500 to bits but I've been thinking about maybe one day trading it in for a Cerb 450. I fancy a bit more power and the extra seats would come in handy. However, I would miss getting the roof off and I love the sound of the Rover V8 but ya can't have everything. Has anyone else gone from Chim or Griff 500 and switched to a Cerb. Is there really much difference in performance? Do they really cost much more to service ect?
gazzab said:
went form chim 450 to cerb.
Cerb feels massively quicker to me.
I wouldnt want a rover lump anymore (but used to love them).
I still like the torque of a Chim.
Cerb handles much better etc....
The Cerb will cost you twice as much to run.
I went Chim 4.0L to Cerb 4.5.
Would agree wholeheartedly with this.
Don't miss rooflessness at all.
Nothing, and I mean nothing sounds like a decatted and sports exhausted AJP V8.
P.S. What's a Cerb 450 then???
Tyre Smoke said:
went form chim 450 to cerb.
Cerb feels massively quicker to me.
I wouldnt want a rover lump anymore (but used to love them).
I still like the torque of a Chim.
Cerb handles much better etc....
The Cerb will cost you twice as much to run.
I went Chim 4.0L to Cerb 4.5.
Would agree wholeheartedly with this.
Don't miss rooflessness at all.
Nothing, and I mean nothing sounds like a decatted and sports exhausted AJP V8.
P.S. What's a Cerb 450 then???
4.5 Ya know what I mean
. Is there much difference between the 4.2 and 4.5 in real terms?
, absolutely...... 
I went from Griff 4.3 to Cerb 4.2. Cerb is way quicker, but a totally different character. The Griff would pull like a train almost from tickover, with all the low down torque. The Cerbera (mine has clatter cams) might need you to drop a gear to get going at lower revs, but once it is going it is truely awesome, especially at the upper end of the rev range where the griff was running out of steam. Sometimes I miss the roof off option, but I drive a lot with both windows down in the summer and you get most of the effect without getting the top of your head sunburnt! The back seats were the big reason for change for us, as the Griff got used less and less once our daughter was born.
Jon H
Jon H
it depends entirely on your driving style.
the 5l v8, has bags of torque and just pulls and pulls from 0-100+
where as to enjoy the cerb you need to rev it.
the cerb does feel more stable, but even with sports exhuast, the sound is different to the RV8 (to me not as good as the rover)
both great cars, and not that much in it upto 100mph (real world driving)
the 5l v8, has bags of torque and just pulls and pulls from 0-100+
where as to enjoy the cerb you need to rev it.
the cerb does feel more stable, but even with sports exhuast, the sound is different to the RV8 (to me not as good as the rover)
both great cars, and not that much in it upto 100mph (real world driving)
My last car was a Chim' 500 and I loved it, but I probabally love my Cerb' even more!
I changed from 2 to 2+2 seats because of the arrival of my son.
They are completely different beasts, as has already been said the 500 has so much torque it was obscene, stick it in 5th and drive it like an auto! However, the Cerb' needs to be driven, when it comes on cam, hang on, it's a ride you'll want to keep reliving, but it's quite docile at the bottom of the rev range, somtimes a tad 'lumpy' around town, but maybe that's just mine.
Go drive a Cerb' it's the only way you'll know if you want one or not.
Tim
I changed from 2 to 2+2 seats because of the arrival of my son.
They are completely different beasts, as has already been said the 500 has so much torque it was obscene, stick it in 5th and drive it like an auto! However, the Cerb' needs to be driven, when it comes on cam, hang on, it's a ride you'll want to keep reliving, but it's quite docile at the bottom of the rev range, somtimes a tad 'lumpy' around town, but maybe that's just mine.
Go drive a Cerb' it's the only way you'll know if you want one or not.
Tim
Driven Both, chose the Cerb, IMHO its a very personal thing.
Cerb is more intense, drive one, you will know exactly what i mean. Its more effort to drive one, more involving, but takes your breath away
I found the Chim to be absolutely fantastic, and its what sold me a TVR, but its is a different style; its relaxed cruising rather than houliganism at its best
, my friends at work keep telling me its suited to those with a screw loose 
Drive one, you won't know until you try it...
Cerb is more intense, drive one, you will know exactly what i mean. Its more effort to drive one, more involving, but takes your breath away
I found the Chim to be absolutely fantastic, and its what sold me a TVR, but its is a different style; its relaxed cruising rather than houliganism at its best
, my friends at work keep telling me its suited to those with a screw loose Drive one, you won't know until you try it...
Byff said:
Don't know where in the North East you are, but if you want to feel the difference between Chim and Cerb, drop me an e-mail.
Cheers mate, I'll take you up on that if you still have it when the weather is better so we can give it some to see the difference in performance. I'm near Hartlepool by the way.
And to add some balance, I went from a Chim 450 to a Cerb 4.5 and prefer the Chim. Unless you're planning to do a bunch of track time (or to lose you licence very quickly), you'll not use any of the increased power the Cerb offers. The power delivery of the Chim is much more to my taste too (you've got to work harder to get the Cerb to deliver).
I also miss the simplicity of the Rover V8 burble, and absolutely hate the "bag of spanners" sountrack from the AJP8 (it gets better when warmed up of course, but still sounds crap in comparison - even with a sports exhaust).
I definitely miss the convertible, and the Cerb is ludicrously hot in the summer (even with the so-called air conditioning working).
For me, the Chim is simply a better overall package and is easier to own in real-life conditions. I do prefer the looks of the Cerb though.
Ho hum.
gixxer
I also miss the simplicity of the Rover V8 burble, and absolutely hate the "bag of spanners" sountrack from the AJP8 (it gets better when warmed up of course, but still sounds crap in comparison - even with a sports exhaust).
I definitely miss the convertible, and the Cerb is ludicrously hot in the summer (even with the so-called air conditioning working).
For me, the Chim is simply a better overall package and is easier to own in real-life conditions. I do prefer the looks of the Cerb though.
Ho hum.
gixxer
gixxer1000 said:
I also miss the simplicity of the Rover V8 burble, and absolutely hate the "bag of spanners" sountrack from the AJP8 (it gets better when warmed up of course, but still sounds crap in comparison - even with a sports exhaust).
gixxer
totally spot on about soundtrack
. reminded me why i stuck with my griff. both great cars though, but different methods of delivery. the griff reminds me of an american muscle car, and the cerb, more of a racer.
Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff