Discussion
Either will do the trick.
I found a 4.5 almost as fast as the 5.0 (though the 5 just doesn't feel as fast, until you look in the rear view mirror)... Both cars have/had lots of torque to play with, and the 4.5s I drove were ok at lower speeds as well (my 5 is too, very easy to sit in traffic in, except for a sore leg..)
I would say buy more on condition than engine size as both are fast, really fast.
I found a 4.5 almost as fast as the 5.0 (though the 5 just doesn't feel as fast, until you look in the rear view mirror)... Both cars have/had lots of torque to play with, and the 4.5s I drove were ok at lower speeds as well (my 5 is too, very easy to sit in traffic in, except for a sore leg..)
I would say buy more on condition than engine size as both are fast, really fast.
More important is the condition of the car.
4.5ltr or 5.ltr, not a lot of odds.
But, if you find two cracking cars of both sizes, buy the 5ltr!!!!!
Trouble is you probably won't find two near perfect examples of both without a hell of a search, to have a choice. So the moment you find an absolute corker, either size, buy it!!!
4.5ltr or 5.ltr, not a lot of odds.
But, if you find two cracking cars of both sizes, buy the 5ltr!!!!!
Trouble is you probably won't find two near perfect examples of both without a hell of a search, to have a choice. So the moment you find an absolute corker, either size, buy it!!!
i owned tvrs in the past, nearly 10 years since my last one, but i did demo drives and shows for my local dealer, so have spent a lot of time in these cars,but due to the fact that turnover of cars was always high you never had the chance to see how they were long term. most owners then and probably still dont do high mileages or long euro jaunts.
at present i drive a mustang powered mg zt, which is very reliable,and low maintenance.
its like a 4 door five seat chimaera.
think i will have a 4.5 , but like you guys say condition is most important , also fsh,and low number of owners.
i will be looking after christmas and hopefully will get one sorted by april.
will be taking it to classic le mans ( always go to 24 hr in june) 1st time, then down to millau ,then italy. looking forward to a good few weeks touring.
at present i drive a mustang powered mg zt, which is very reliable,and low maintenance.
its like a 4 door five seat chimaera.
think i will have a 4.5 , but like you guys say condition is most important , also fsh,and low number of owners.
i will be looking after christmas and hopefully will get one sorted by april.
will be taking it to classic le mans ( always go to 24 hr in june) 1st time, then down to millau ,then italy. looking forward to a good few weeks touring.
KarlR said:
We went over to Le Mans, down to provence, Monaco and then back up to the NE of England last year (2600 miles) in the 500. Not one glitch, apart from the fuel bill when I got back!! If you get the 500, youll never think, I must get the next engine up..
I don't know Karl there's a nice 5.3 engine for sale in the classifieds
don't recall you leaving my 400 behind either
You are looking at £300-400 for a 6000 mile service from the resonable specialists. If you can do it yourself, a fraction of that, provided you document all you do.
I'm going to do most of mine, and then have a service in between for the history.
Most running costs are things that go wrong, but if you are lucky, and some are, it could be fine for years.
Waxoil is a must, £150ish and checking the outriggers of course for rust as thats where the bills will come from.
I'm going to do most of mine, and then have a service in between for the history.
Most running costs are things that go wrong, but if you are lucky, and some are, it could be fine for years.
Waxoil is a must, £150ish and checking the outriggers of course for rust as thats where the bills will come from.
toon tvr said:
KarlR said:
We went over to Le Mans, down to provence, Monaco and then back up to the NE of England last year (2600 miles) in the 500. Not one glitch, apart from the fuel bill when I got back!! If you get the 500, youll never think, I must get the next engine up..
I don't know Karl there's a nice 5.3 engine for sale in the classifiedsdon't recall you leaving my 400 behind either
When I decided to buy a TVR I had 3 friends with Chims, one with a 400 and 2 with 4.5's and the common thinking was that the 400 was too tame, the 500 was too rough, so I bought a 450. I have to say I love it (of course) but while I was looking I was at Fennies and a guy came in and only wanted to look at 500's, I had a chat with him and mentioned the 4, 4.5, 5 dilema and he told me "once you go 500, you'll never go back" and now that I've had mine and been on tracks and learned and know what I know, I think that guy was right.
The 400 ia a fine car, for 50% of what I do, great, it has that tone, and loads of grunt, looks great and handles as they do, great car. the 450 is a step above in terms of engine performance, great on the track and superb on and fine sunny day out.
I love my 450 and won't sell it, but if I knew then what I know now, I'd have bought a 500.
The 400 ia a fine car, for 50% of what I do, great, it has that tone, and loads of grunt, looks great and handles as they do, great car. the 450 is a step above in terms of engine performance, great on the track and superb on and fine sunny day out.
I love my 450 and won't sell it, but if I knew then what I know now, I'd have bought a 500.
I kind of can't help but think that for many the wisest choice is to buy the 4.0 and learn how to drive them (they are not like other fast cars IMHO), once that is mastered without a trip to a ditch, then purchase the 4.5 or 5.0 (of course there are many who could handle the larger engines first time, but for most, I think the slower start and then build up).
Jasandjules said:
I kind of can't help but think that for many the wisest choice is to buy the 4.0 and learn how to drive them (they are not like other fast cars IMHO), once that is mastered without a trip to a ditch, then purchase the 4.5 or 5.0 (of course there are many who could handle the larger engines first time, but for most, I think the slower start and then build up).
Wise words written here and should definitely be considered depending on individuals experience. Ultimately, there is no substitute for cc`s and in turn that wondrful thing called "torque". 
Joncon,
I did 2 Euro tours this year. One to Croatia including the Stelvio and the other to the south of France. This in a Chim 450. I loved every mile. Utterly reliable. Just for security I always have some spare parts in the back.
I think the difference between the 4.5 and 5.0 is not so great, although sometimes it is claimed that the 450 is the better (read: more reliable) engine. Also it tends to use less oil. But a simple advice is to look first at condition, mainly of the chassis.
Have a lot of fun.
Hans
Netherlands
I did 2 Euro tours this year. One to Croatia including the Stelvio and the other to the south of France. This in a Chim 450. I loved every mile. Utterly reliable. Just for security I always have some spare parts in the back.
I think the difference between the 4.5 and 5.0 is not so great, although sometimes it is claimed that the 450 is the better (read: more reliable) engine. Also it tends to use less oil. But a simple advice is to look first at condition, mainly of the chassis.
Have a lot of fun.
Hans
Netherlands
I looked at 14 different Chims when buying. Coming from a rather swift (to say the least) Westfield, I was not going to go back a step performance wise. I tried a 450 which was quick, but only just quick enough, one 400 which for what I thought was a little tame, then a couple of 500s. Well! that was my mind made up. A good 450 will match a not so good 500. However, a good 500 is awesome. If I had gone for a 450, I would have sat there wishing I'd gone for a 500.
Having had my 500 for just over a year, I have no regrets. Fit the right cam and it will be punchy and smooth (like mine!) Choose carefully though, there's some garbage out there - that's why I looked at so many.
Chassis condition is very important. Don't worry about resprays as they're all prone to stone chipping.
[salesman] I am putting my '99 500 up for sale (peach) - please ask for details! [/salesman]
Having had my 500 for just over a year, I have no regrets. Fit the right cam and it will be punchy and smooth (like mine!) Choose carefully though, there's some garbage out there - that's why I looked at so many.
Chassis condition is very important. Don't worry about resprays as they're all prone to stone chipping.[salesman] I am putting my '99 500 up for sale (peach) - please ask for details! [/salesman]
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