Lot's of Chimaera questions!...

[johnhaith]

Hi everyone,
I am seriously considering purchasing a 95/96 Chimaera. Initially, I was looking at the standard 4.0 as the performance increase to the 4.5 and 5.0 didn't seem worth the extra costs and waiting (due to the 4.5 and 5.0 appearing to be rarer on AutoTrader etc)

Anyway, on to my questions!...
- Why do Chimaera's come with small 15"/16" alloys? For me, this is the car's only appearance downside.

- 0-60 dash figures seem to differ slightly from review to review. Some reviews state that even the 4.0 will blow anything away from the lights. But other reviews state that some cars maybe able to keep up. How will each of the Chimaera's go on against a VX220 Turbo, Boxster, Elise, Esprit and a F355? (I posted a message on an Elise BBS asking the same and most of them admitted that they get blown away by any Chimaera variant - so how come some magz state the 0-60 figures so close?)

- Which of the 4 engine variants is the loudest! And which is the most reliable?

- When are the major services due? Or any other hidden costs.

That's all for now!

Many thanks

[jellison]

I don't want to stir anything up - seem good at that.

Personally I hate changing cars (you could be different here - but just agro IMO). So why go for 4 when you will want a 4.5 or 5.0 (they are fron what I have read and seen ALOT quicker - and not at all intimidating - then you don't have to go through the selling - can I get what I want for it stuff and then fine a 4.5 or 5.0.

I think only the 4.0, 4.3 and 4.5 (maybe wrong on the later 4.5's?) have 15's of the 5spoke design. Just 5.0 has the Griff wheels - unless optioned fron new or retro fitted. The Front do look a bit small on the 5 - but that is only because you have the backs to compare them to. Other don't have thei disparity - but it is there for a reason - can fit bigger / fatter rubber on the rear 16's.

Not sure on 0-60 time - can only speak from my experience (5). On Power to weight (about 280 - true bhp and ~1060+kgs) and fairly low gearing a 5 should annilate a VX220 T, a 4.5 most likley as well - but a 4.0 maybe similar or slower (guessing). Boxster Same.
Esprit - depends but these can be VERY fast late turbos and V8's likley to be faster than even 5.0 and blow the doors off the rest. 355 - should be faster that all allow heavy the 5.0 may have the edge up to 60 - 70 but after that power will out. All of the above would beat the Tivs round corners though - Elise will Annilate all on the twisty bits - but unless it has serious power upgrade should be able to be caught on the straight - but should have MUch better breaking.

Service ever 6k / 12k small and big 3-400 and 500 - 700
- can't see a 5.0 costing much more than a 4.0 - more pads, discs, rubber though. All should be very reliable
- mine has not missed a beat in 15k miles and it gets a good seeing to (when the conditions allow).

Hidden cost - can't think of any other than the paint is crap - comes off real easily (slightest tap) - depends on whether you want to constantly be chasing paint chips or driving the things!

Best do some work.

Regards
Jon

[JohnHaith]

Thanks Jon.
However, this confirms what I already can't understand! If you read the magazines a lot of reviews contradict what you have said regarding the speed comparison with the other cars.

I do think that people who own the cars in question can sometimes put it down a bit because they take them for granted. For example, read a TVR BBS and you may find a thread stating how quick the Elise is, read a Porsche BBS and there may be a posting on how quick the TVR is etc etc.

I already have a nice car, and if I swap I want to be buying something that is almost untouchable - most reviews I have read confirm this to be true with the Chimaera, then you read the odd review making out a VX220T is just as quick!...

God I'm confused!

Thanks

[GingaNinga]

I've owned my 1996 N-reg Chimaera 500 (33,000 miles, full TVR service history for £14,750 (March 2002) for over a year now, likewise I looked at 4.0 and 4.5 etc but the 5.0 was the winner. Nothing has ever beaten me away from any lights / down a slip road / anything in a straight line and a quite a few bikes have been shocked too Book reckons on 0-60 in 4.1 secs, not sure I've got the power down successfully to get near that in first gear though, especially not at lights as back end out in traffic is not big or clever with Mr Plod around. My best ever pull away was when I was trying doughnut / wheelspin built the revs up, dumped the clutch and shot away like a bat out of hell. Nearly let go of the steering wheel. Nice, very nice.

[JohnHaith]

Where does this leave the Chim?...
Some say an Elise can just about keep up with a VX220T, but the 4.0l Chim blows away the Elise, but the VX220T can keep up with the Chim!...

How do you work that out?!!!

I suspect in reality even the 4.0l Chim will beat an Elise and a VX220T - am I correct in suspecting this?

[pbrettle]

I think that the major issue with 0-60 dash times for TVR's are that they can be hard to reproduce. In reality you will get damn close to the manufacturer figures so go with those - so for a 4.0 you should be aiming for about 5 seconds. This is DAMN quick and in all honesty faster than a hell of a lot of other equipment on the road.

However, its all in the gearing - all TVR's have a good spread of torque and power with a pretty normal gearbox. However, something like an Elise might have a 5.5 time to 60, but you will be bouncing off the rev limiter at that speed. A change of gear needed to go any faster (any Elise owners out there please correct me if I am wrong). Also consider where the power bands are on some of these cars - right high and peaky - the TVR is low down and therefore in the real world you are less likely to fluff it up.....

Also, dont just go on the 0-60 times - its the in gear ones that demolish other cars. Nothing, and I mean nothing this side of a Porsche 993 Turbo or Ferrari 355 gets close to a 5.0 Griff or Chimaera in gear..... Forget your Elise's and Boxsters, they wouldnt see it for dust - and this has been demonstrated many a time. Also look at the 0-100 times too. Not a fantastic guide, but something like the latest hot hatches manage a 0-60 time of 6.5 or so, yet take 18 to get to 100. A 4.0 Chimaera will get to 100 in around 11 - dramatic difference...

So, dont worry about performance - it has it by the bucket load. However, by the sounds of things I think you would be happier with a 5.0 model. Try a couple and see which you prefer - a 5.0 Griffith or Chimaera is a monster motor and significantly faster than a 4.0...

Cheers,

Paul

[jellison]

Yep - I agree with all that Paul sez...

All in the gearing - my 5 must me very low geared as in 1st, 2nd and 3rd it is V. fast - kept up with a 996 Turbo the other day (private road) up to what must have been 90 - 100 ( I think it would have left me if the raod had not stopped at lights).

Its all about Torque and the 4.5 and especially the 5.0 have Loads (top fantastic top end power). As long as the road is not TOO tight a 5.0 well driven should Murder all the cars you mention (bar poss 355).

[RCA]

I have beaten a 5.0 off the mark before but I know that it is quicker!, I think 9 times out of 10 when you are dealing with these cars which it has to be said are all quick it comes down to the driver. I would say that a really good driver in a 4.0 would beat a relatively un-experienced driver in a 5.0 round a track. If you feel that you have to have the quickest get a 5.0 otherwise go for the one which just grabs you when you look at it regardless of engine size!!.

[JohnHaith]

So the 5.0 would beat a 355 0-60? How would a 4.0 or 4.5 go on?

Basically, I only live 2 miles away from work, so I will never be using the top end. I don't care if it does 150mph or 200mph, I simply want something that will beat more or less anything from the lights, has a nice roar, and looks hot! It was my understanding from Scooby drivers and the such that even a 4.0l would kill anything from the lights... maybe you guys just take these great cars for granted and therefore only seem to class the 5.0 as very fast.

Thanks for the info so far people

[Gerrard]

I had a 400 Chim for 6 months last year and have just bought a 500. In six months I managed to get the 400 unintentionally sideways only twice. In the 500 I've already done it twice in the first week. Also, the 500 definitely feels faster than I remember the 400 being. However, the 500 sounds quiter than the 400 (a point I intend rectifying in the near future!)

[incorrigible]

Mate of mine bought a WRX last week and is very happy with it

However, he drove my Chim (4.0) back from the coast on Saturday and was still grinning when I spoke to him yesterday

It's not just about speed

Drive them all, back to back, just to make sure you made the right decision then buy a TVR . If you do a load of track days buy the 5.0. Minimal difference in day to day driving (noticable though) between that and the 4.0. The only things that will beat you from the lights are faster TVRs

[trefor]

The main difference in performance away from the lights is that in a Chimaera/Rover v8 powered car you've got tons of low down torque - you just pull away like grandma and nail the throttle. In most cars you have to feather the clutch and drop it, esp. the 4x4s. They might say 0-60 in 4.x seconds, but do it 10 times and something will break/wear out. A Chimaera will do it all day long without trying.

5.0L vs 4.0L? Not much in it to worry about to 60, up to 100 and above the 5.0L is definitely faster ... but not miles faster. Buy the model you like in terms of condition (sooo important in an older Chimaera) and the colour of your choice, if it's a 5.0L then you're a lucky blighter!

With regards to your wheel question - I think the 15/16 inch difference was for aesthetics (in Peter Wheeler and Ned the dog's opinions anyway). Many people have gone to 17 inches without many problems.

Hope this helps.

[pbrettle]

Would a 5.0 beat a F355? Could do - but in the end we are talking 4.2 vs 4.5 to 60 then 10 vs 11 to 100... at which the Ferrari will start to pull away I guess (superiour top-end power and longer spread of revs - though I could be wrong). Oh, and it would be the 5.0 that would 'technically' beat the F355, but if you can get those types of figures time and time again then you are better man / driver than pretty much all of here.... its hard, getting the right balance of power, grip, spin and clutch to get the best take off.

You are more likely to get a good take off in the 5.0 than anything else - mainly because of the spread of torque and power, so you are less likely to cock it up. But it is still a fine line and one that if crossed, you end up looking like a plonker....

Oh, and traffic light grand prix do nothing for the longevity of the car, its transmission and tyres. Too many cars (of all manufacturers) have been broken by journalists doing this type of thing...

I dont understand why you would want the fastest accelerating car? Do you regularily meet a F355 on the way to work? If so then get a 360 - they are better... alternatively get a F40 as they are faster to 100 than all of them (with the Ferrari mods that is). To be honest, if you want to 'lay rubber' then your best bet is not a TVR but get a Scooby with 350BHP and a Racelogic traction control / take-off control system installed. Select first, press the button and it revs up to peak power - stomp on the gas and it will automatically judge the power, grip and give you reproducable 0-60 times of 4 or so seconds... time and time again (until the gearbox goes pop that is)....

A TVR is about useable power, noise and driving a bit of a beast - 0-60 comes with the car, but its not all what it is about....

Cheers,

Paul

>> Edited by pbrettle on Tuesday 1st April 11:20

[RiverGirrl]

I'm not going to comment on speed and time away from the lights. The folks on here who like those numbers have already shared their findings. I agree with pbrettle: are you regularly going to meet another car at the lights and want to race them? It's all about the 'Grin Factor' IMHO I have a friend who was in a very depressed mood last week. Took her for a spin in Ruby and the smile & laughter very quickly returned. That's what these cars are about. Buy the one that most suits you: colour, engine size, FTVRSH, etc and get it vetted. And then start checking the weather forecast for driving conditions

[naith]

Seems a man so hung up on figures should be looking at the 5.0 rather than the 4.0.

Some say there isn't much in it, but I'm not so sure. I lost my TVR virginity to a 4.0, before upgrading to a 5.0. The 5.0 eats the 4.0. That's all there is to it. I mean, we're talking about a good second off the 4.0 5 second 0-60 time.

I did have an experience where a group of mates met up to go karting while I had my 4.0. At the end, with the adrenalin still pumping and everyone feeling like they were Ayrton Senna, my Elise driving mate challenged me to a standing start race over a 500m straight. The 4.0 beat him down but he was still pretty big in the rear view. 6 months later after a similar excursion and we did the same, but this time I was in the 5.0. It destroyed the Elise - and then it ate a Boxster.

But in 4 years of owning a TVR, I've only ever boy-raced it two or three times. When you know you can take most cars on the road, it gets to be pointless proving it all the time. The whole point of driving a TVR for me is not showing everyone the ar$e-end and a plume of smoke. It's working up a growl that people can hear from a hundred feet away so they can get ready to have a nice long stare while I ease by.

[mwilson]

I agree with the previous few comments. Chimaeras are very fast and that’s part of the attraction but where TVR’s leave all the rest for dead is the character and unrivalled (imo) combination of looks / sound / feel / image (and even the smell!) of the cars.

Just look at last nights “Wrong car, Right car” programme. They tried their best to drag him away from his Chimaera with a Ferrari 348 / Porsche 996 / XK8 etc but only succumbed when a Tuscan turned up.

Just do it! – you won’t regret it.

[JohnHaith]

Thanks for the comments guys...
No, I probably wouldn't meet too many 355's although there is one guy that drives around near me thrashing all the MX5's etc away from the lights and I thought it would be nice to give him a challenge and maybe even pip him to the post!

To be honest, I'm not interested in modified cars like the Scooby mentioned. It's the speed 'out of the box' that interests me. On one of Clarkson's videos a modified Ford Capri absolutely kills a Cerbera - but I know which I'd rather have ;o)

[woogie]

Ive loved TVR's for years but still haven't got one yet!! I have driven the 4.5 Chim and 4.3 Griff and been a passenger in a Cerb but I haven't quite had the nerve to buy one yet mainly because I am worried about their reliablility. Does anyone have any advice to give me here ? The time will be upon me soon though and I will have to do it. I personally like the 5 litre chim but perhaps I should start with the 4 lite hc model.

[Big Al.]

woogie said: I’ve loved TVR's for years but still haven't got one yet>

WHY? ……

BUY ONE... BUY ONE NOW!

Read these posts take and look in the Chim FAQ section for more reasons.

But above all. BUY ONE... BUY ONE NOW!

What ever you do, do not get into a "yes but" scenario with yourself.

Go and try a few, the right one will let you know when it wants to be taken home.

Happy hunting.

>> Edited by Big Al. (moderator) on Tuesday 1st April 13:05

[jellison]

If you do get a Chimera - what even cc don't ry beating anyone in a traffice light gp if you only live a few miles from home - not until warmed up - then Spank it - When the road is clear... As the saying goes - Power Sells Engines Torque Wins Races!