Discussion
Hi David and welcome to PistonHeads 
First point do not rush into anything until you have read loads of the useful information on this site.
Use the search tab center right for any specific questions since most of them have been asked on hear many times before.
Join the TVRCC and find out where your local meet is if you have not done this before also bare in mind it is a buyers market at the moment and the choice is wide and varied.
As for me the Griff is the car i would choose but take your time to weigh up the pros and cons.
Buy a copy of Steve Heaths Bible this will answer loads of questions and may save you a small fortune.
Good luck in your quest but one thing is for sure you will not stop Grinning
Hope this is of help to you
Pasco
First point do not rush into anything until you have read loads of the useful information on this site.
Use the search tab center right for any specific questions since most of them have been asked on hear many times before.
Join the TVRCC and find out where your local meet is if you have not done this before also bare in mind it is a buyers market at the moment and the choice is wide and varied.
As for me the Griff is the car i would choose but take your time to weigh up the pros and cons.
Buy a copy of Steve Heaths Bible this will answer loads of questions and may save you a small fortune.
Good luck in your quest but one thing is for sure you will not stop Grinning
Hope this is of help to you
Pasco
What he said.
Try them both. Try a few more and a few more on top of that for good measure.
Both are fantastic cars, just don't rush in, it is definately a buyers market out there. - Only buy when you are extremely happy with the cars condition.
Enjoy your TVR ownership whichever one you choose.
Try them both. Try a few more and a few more on top of that for good measure.
Both are fantastic cars, just don't rush in, it is definately a buyers market out there. - Only buy when you are extremely happy with the cars condition.
Enjoy your TVR ownership whichever one you choose.
The general feedback is whether I prefer the looks of the Griff or the relative newness of the Chim for similar money. I agree with some of you - the Griff looks nicer, but a later model Chim seems a better choice. I am considering a nice Griff 400 on 1992 plate for 10.5K against a 1999 Chim 500 for 13.5k. Although the Chim is quite a lot more, it is from TVR power so would expect the quality to be higher.
One of my main concerns is parts and reliability for both.
Obviously I appreciate that the looks of the car are personal taste and maintenance and cost isn't too much of an issue.
Dave
One of my main concerns is parts and reliability for both.
Obviously I appreciate that the looks of the car are personal taste and maintenance and cost isn't too much of an issue.
Dave
I have had my Chim since Nov and not had any reliability issues to speak of.
TVR's had a bad reputation, but all the little niggles should have been sorted by now.
Great cars which are ready to enjoy.
Don't worry to much about the age difference. As long as it is in good working order. - Might be an idea having a look at
www.findasportscar.co.uk
A lot of people recommend this guy, and if you are serious on either, might be worth that little extra cost to get him to have a look. May save a lot of money in the long run.
TVR's had a bad reputation, but all the little niggles should have been sorted by now.
Great cars which are ready to enjoy.
Don't worry to much about the age difference. As long as it is in good working order. - Might be an idea having a look at
www.findasportscar.co.uk
A lot of people recommend this guy, and if you are serious on either, might be worth that little extra cost to get him to have a look. May save a lot of money in the long run.
davedavies said:
One of my main concerns is parts and reliability for both.
Obviously I appreciate that the looks of the car are personal taste and maintenance and cost isn't too much of an issue.
Dave
Don't worry all the TVR specific parts are still available form Power as they bought the jigs off the company, and a lot of the components on these cars are poached from somewhere else ( ford, vauxhall etc ), see the alterantivie parts lists on Chimera pages and Griffith pagesObviously I appreciate that the looks of the car are personal taste and maintenance and cost isn't too much of an issue.
Dave
They can be quite cheap to run if looked after and you do your own spannering
Matt
My copy of 'the bible' has just been delivered despite the postal strike - lots of reading ahead for me
Chim I mentioned before has sold but would anyone have concerns with a 1998 chim 430 with 68000 miles with full s/history.
Interior looks OK from the pics - one of my main hates is cracked, shiney or worn seat leather. I've never been able to get a good repair without having total recover.
Dave.
Chim I mentioned before has sold but would anyone have concerns with a 1998 chim 430 with 68000 miles with full s/history.
Interior looks OK from the pics - one of my main hates is cracked, shiney or worn seat leather. I've never been able to get a good repair without having total recover.
Dave.
davedavies said:
My copy of 'the bible' has just been delivered despite the postal strike - lots of reading ahead for me
Chim I mentioned before has sold but would anyone have concerns with a 1998 chim 430 with 68000 miles with full s/history.
Interior looks OK from the pics - one of my main hates is cracked, shiney or worn seat leather. I've never been able to get a good repair without having total recover.
Dave.
1998 chim 430?? Don't think such a beast exists - were all 4, 4.5 or 5's but this 1998Chim I mentioned before has sold but would anyone have concerns with a 1998 chim 430 with 68000 miles with full s/history.
Interior looks OK from the pics - one of my main hates is cracked, shiney or worn seat leather. I've never been able to get a good repair without having total recover.
Dave.
OscarT said:
Both are fine sports cars BUT the market favours the Griffith so the wise buyer would go for a good Griffith.
Depends on your intentions, the Chimaera may well be a wise buy at the moment, especially if you intend on keeping it a few years. Chim prices have dropped significantly in the last year, while Griffs have softened a little. I changed from a Chim to a Griff last year but put in the same position this year I don't think I would as the price for an equivilent year/condition Griff has widened significantly. A good conditon late Chimaera, especially the last face lift model, is looking a canny buy at the moment. The rarity of the last models will keep their values up, while they are cheap to run and currently offer outstanding value.Edited by puffsorted2 on Friday 27th July 16:46
Go for the later car - it'll have the serpentine engine and unbreakable Borg Warner gearbox. There were some problems on earlier cars. I went for a 98 Chim 450 & haven't regretted it. IMO the Chim knocks the socks off the Griff in the looks dept. Why pay more, or the same, for an older car when you can't really get a cigarette paper between them in terms of performance.
Ever wondered why so many Griff owners study the Chim forum so closely? - probably the same reason that married men look at porn!
Ever wondered why so many Griff owners study the Chim forum so closely? - probably the same reason that married men look at porn!
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