TVR or S2000...
Discussion
I am 30 and currently own a MX-5 which I have had for 8 years and has been great to own and use as my only car.
I am now looking at getting a new motor, budget is about 10k. As I run my own business from home this is an everyday car with no commute (if that makes sense, it needs to be usable year round). I do about 6,000 miles/year. I was looking to get a second-hand Honda S2000 but then realised I could get a TVR Chimeara/Griff for the same price and insurance...
Ideally I would love a Griff but know it would be pretty old for my price. Until I have kids I want two seats and open top motoring (so no Cerbera for now).
Should I go for it and get a TVR and try to use it all year or should I get the S2000 and wait until I have a bit more cash for a newer (more reliable TVR?)
Really appreciate any thoughts, I don't want to start my TVR ownership too soon and get burned.
Cheers, Rus
I am now looking at getting a new motor, budget is about 10k. As I run my own business from home this is an everyday car with no commute (if that makes sense, it needs to be usable year round). I do about 6,000 miles/year. I was looking to get a second-hand Honda S2000 but then realised I could get a TVR Chimeara/Griff for the same price and insurance...
Ideally I would love a Griff but know it would be pretty old for my price. Until I have kids I want two seats and open top motoring (so no Cerbera for now).
Should I go for it and get a TVR and try to use it all year or should I get the S2000 and wait until I have a bit more cash for a newer (more reliable TVR?)
Really appreciate any thoughts, I don't want to start my TVR ownership too soon and get burned.
Cheers, Rus
Edited by rusgb on Tuesday 25th May 23:31
Ciao!
Honda S2000 is fantastic but I think that you're ready for a TVR. But you've to be ready to abandon the sense of modernism, technology and full reliability to plunge into the typical British tradition of a sportscar.
In my opinion a TVR could give you more intense tastes than the S2000 but maybe it could be more difficult to use them as everyday cars: more services, more consumption (they're all V8 engines), ("maybe") not the same stiffness as a japanese car. It's easy to find S2000s with more than 100.000 kms. But how many TVRs with such a mileage?
Honda S2000 is fantastic but I think that you're ready for a TVR. But you've to be ready to abandon the sense of modernism, technology and full reliability to plunge into the typical British tradition of a sportscar.
In my opinion a TVR could give you more intense tastes than the S2000 but maybe it could be more difficult to use them as everyday cars: more services, more consumption (they're all V8 engines), ("maybe") not the same stiffness as a japanese car. It's easy to find S2000s with more than 100.000 kms. But how many TVRs with such a mileage?
I used my Chimaera for everyday use including driving back and to to Germany and holidays in the South of France. Reliability was never a question with only normal servicing and the occasional change shocks, new discs etc.
Griffs hold there price better than a Chimaera so you may get more for your money in a Chimaera.
The other thing to consider is the difference between the low down rumble of the TVR V8 against the very high reving S2000.
I would try both and I'm sure you will know which way you want to go.
Enjoy your hunting.
Tony.
Griffs hold there price better than a Chimaera so you may get more for your money in a Chimaera.
The other thing to consider is the difference between the low down rumble of the TVR V8 against the very high reving S2000.
I would try both and I'm sure you will know which way you want to go.
Enjoy your hunting.
Tony.
I drove an S2000 while deciding whether or not to buy my Griff. The Honda is a superb car and was the closest thing to the Griffith I drove with regards to its overall dynamics the driving position and overall feel.
The big difference between the two is the engine, the Honda wants (and needs) to be revved all the way up to it's high rev limiter to really perform, and needs to be kept in a reasonably narrow powerband by lots of gearshifts so it's all a bit frantic really. The RV8 on the otherhand in the Chim/Griff has masses of torque really low down and that means you can either trundle along at low speeds and still pull away without much effort, it's that intoxicatring mix of sounds, sheer low down power and real sense of involvement that sent me to the Griff.
Your work situation is the same as mine and it works perfectly, so go for the TVR but just follow the usual rules and you'll still get a great car for the money although its unlikely that you'll get a Griff that doesn't need some work for £10k in the market but you'll find some decent Chims at that price.
Join the TVRCC and go to some regional meets and chat to members who'll be more than happy to show you round their cars and someone will probably take you out fo a run as well.
The big difference between the two is the engine, the Honda wants (and needs) to be revved all the way up to it's high rev limiter to really perform, and needs to be kept in a reasonably narrow powerband by lots of gearshifts so it's all a bit frantic really. The RV8 on the otherhand in the Chim/Griff has masses of torque really low down and that means you can either trundle along at low speeds and still pull away without much effort, it's that intoxicatring mix of sounds, sheer low down power and real sense of involvement that sent me to the Griff.
Your work situation is the same as mine and it works perfectly, so go for the TVR but just follow the usual rules and you'll still get a great car for the money although its unlikely that you'll get a Griff that doesn't need some work for £10k in the market but you'll find some decent Chims at that price.
Join the TVRCC and go to some regional meets and chat to members who'll be more than happy to show you round their cars and someone will probably take you out fo a run as well.
i can help, i had a s2000 a few years ago, sold it, bought a lotus carlton, swapped that for a speed six cerbera and had a brilliant 6 months with it,anyhow after getting worried about every strange noise i heard coming from the engine i decided it was time for a change so i bought an elise, then a boxster and now im back with another s2000.
the cerbera was a proper event, every time i got in it and pressed the started buttons it made me smile, the noise was awesome, the way it makes you feel is like no other car ive owned, yes it was loud, yes it was crap on fuel, yes the build quality isn't like a normal mainstream production car, and yes you know sooner or later your bank balance and patience is going to be tested, we all know this, yet theres something about them that makes us forget this when we drive one. overall the cerbera is my favourite car ive owned (and theres been close to 100) however...........ive had the pleasure of 4 s2000's over the years, currently a 2002 model, its built well, goes well, feels like a race car at 9k rpm, yes the steering could do with a little more feel at speed but it goes sideways on demand and is great fun, the gearbox is close to perfect, standard brakes are pretty good, the interior is a nice place to be (if your not the other side of 6ft) and of course if they are looked after they do not break, my old one had done 140k when i sold it and still felt nice and tight.
for me its simple, heart says tvr, head says s2000
the cerbera was a proper event, every time i got in it and pressed the started buttons it made me smile, the noise was awesome, the way it makes you feel is like no other car ive owned, yes it was loud, yes it was crap on fuel, yes the build quality isn't like a normal mainstream production car, and yes you know sooner or later your bank balance and patience is going to be tested, we all know this, yet theres something about them that makes us forget this when we drive one. overall the cerbera is my favourite car ive owned (and theres been close to 100) however...........ive had the pleasure of 4 s2000's over the years, currently a 2002 model, its built well, goes well, feels like a race car at 9k rpm, yes the steering could do with a little more feel at speed but it goes sideways on demand and is great fun, the gearbox is close to perfect, standard brakes are pretty good, the interior is a nice place to be (if your not the other side of 6ft) and of course if they are looked after they do not break, my old one had done 140k when i sold it and still felt nice and tight.
for me its simple, heart says tvr, head says s2000
I've owned a Chimaera 4.0 for a couple of years and went through the same dilema at purchase time, S2000 or Chimaera? Both briliant cars to drive but very different. Depends what you want but if you are used to an MX5 go for the Chimaera. You get such a contrast in perfomance that it blew me away. Honda is very fast and capable, but was just a bit ordinary. The Chim on the other hand is loud,fast and makes me laugh out loud sometimes when I give it some beans overtaking or just for the fun of it (safely of course).I always want to drive it in preference to the other cars on my drive (all boring I hasten to add) but only really use the Chim weekends and on the occasional drive to work when the sun is shining. I am sure I could use it every day without a problem but winter snow and ice would make me very nervous. Only one small hot start problem since I bought this one and have driven it all over the UK and France without a hitch so it is reliable despite what people will tell you.
Go for a Chimaera, if it doesn't work out you can always sell it on and get something else. Just buy the very best you can find with full history and you won't go far wrong IMHO!
Oh, and for everyday use a 4.0 is a good bet as it is probably the easiest to live with on a day to day basis and is still fast enough.
Good luck anyway.
Go for a Chimaera, if it doesn't work out you can always sell it on and get something else. Just buy the very best you can find with full history and you won't go far wrong IMHO!
Oh, and for everyday use a 4.0 is a good bet as it is probably the easiest to live with on a day to day basis and is still fast enough.
Good luck anyway.
To the OP
I have owned both an Honda S2000 and a TVR Griffith, they are both very different cars.
The S2000 is a fantastic car. The combination of front engined RWD makes for great handling, but can catch you out in the wet. The clutch and gearbox are fantastic. The problem for me was my previous car was a Honda Civic Type R which was almost as quick but half the price to buy, half the price to insure and half the price to tax. The S2000 was definitely not twice the car. The insurance on the S2000 is ridiculously expensive (costing twice as much as my TVR Griffith 500). The cabin is very cramped. I really wasn't keen on the digital dials, reminded me of playing a computer game rather than driving a sports car. The lack of torque I also found disappointing, the only real feeling of acceleration you get is by watching the numbers increase on the LCD read out. Being a petrol head the S2000 felt a bit bland and did not satisfy me.
The TVR Griffith 500 I have now is a completely different animal, it makes the S2000 feel like a Ford Focus. The performance is in a different league and the sound from the V8 is incredible even when just pootling around town. The insurance is half the price of the S2000 and so is the tax.
The S2000 is a excellent compromise between combining mainstream reliability into a sports car. The reason I sold the S2000 is because I did not see the point of driving an expensive to run sports car every day. I did not get any enjoyment sitting in traffic every morning going to work in the S2000. For this reason I use the Griffith as a weekend car and a sub £1000 car as the daily hack. This way I have a no compromise British sports car to use whenever I want and I save over £40 in fuel each week by using the normal car. This approach also means that miles on the TVR are kept low so it keeps its value and it only requires 1 service a year.
The following thread may also be of interest to you:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I have owned both an Honda S2000 and a TVR Griffith, they are both very different cars.
The S2000 is a fantastic car. The combination of front engined RWD makes for great handling, but can catch you out in the wet. The clutch and gearbox are fantastic. The problem for me was my previous car was a Honda Civic Type R which was almost as quick but half the price to buy, half the price to insure and half the price to tax. The S2000 was definitely not twice the car. The insurance on the S2000 is ridiculously expensive (costing twice as much as my TVR Griffith 500). The cabin is very cramped. I really wasn't keen on the digital dials, reminded me of playing a computer game rather than driving a sports car. The lack of torque I also found disappointing, the only real feeling of acceleration you get is by watching the numbers increase on the LCD read out. Being a petrol head the S2000 felt a bit bland and did not satisfy me.
The TVR Griffith 500 I have now is a completely different animal, it makes the S2000 feel like a Ford Focus. The performance is in a different league and the sound from the V8 is incredible even when just pootling around town. The insurance is half the price of the S2000 and so is the tax.
The S2000 is a excellent compromise between combining mainstream reliability into a sports car. The reason I sold the S2000 is because I did not see the point of driving an expensive to run sports car every day. I did not get any enjoyment sitting in traffic every morning going to work in the S2000. For this reason I use the Griffith as a weekend car and a sub £1000 car as the daily hack. This way I have a no compromise British sports car to use whenever I want and I save over £40 in fuel each week by using the normal car. This approach also means that miles on the TVR are kept low so it keeps its value and it only requires 1 service a year.
The following thread may also be of interest to you:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
They are VERY different to drive. I'm sure driving them will make your mind up as to which you prefer. You really have to rev the Honda to get much out of it wheras a chimaera is very torquey all the way down the rev range.
That plus the noise were 2 main reasons I got a Chimaera.
I drove mine as an everyday car for more than 2 years with few problems, had more since I bought another car.
and used the TVR less frequently.
I believe you can repair a Chimaera cheaper than an s2000
That plus the noise were 2 main reasons I got a Chimaera.
I drove mine as an everyday car for more than 2 years with few problems, had more since I bought another car.
and used the TVR less frequently.
I believe you can repair a Chimaera cheaper than an s2000
I think my views echo those of most of the other posters really.
I recently sold my 1999 TVR Chimaera and bought a 2005 S2000.
Aside from being two seater convertibles, they are very different in character.
The Chimaera is all low down torque whereas the S2000 is all high up in the rev range.
The Chimaera is bigger (interior and boot)but is more thirsty.
I find insurance more expensive for the S2000 but then again, the TVR was on a classic policy with limited (5000) miles.
If I priced the Chimaera on a normal policy then I think they were similar.
I love the S2000 but no one has yet commented on the car (as they did with the TVR) and the Chimaera has a soundtrack to die for.
Reliability 'should' be better with the S2000 but then I never really had a problem with the Chimaera.
I think servicing is cheaper on the S2000.
A bit of a ramble I guess but my advice would be to try both and go with the one you feel most comfortable with.
In my eyes, you're on to a winner whichever one you buy.
I recently sold my 1999 TVR Chimaera and bought a 2005 S2000.
Aside from being two seater convertibles, they are very different in character.
The Chimaera is all low down torque whereas the S2000 is all high up in the rev range.
The Chimaera is bigger (interior and boot)but is more thirsty.
I find insurance more expensive for the S2000 but then again, the TVR was on a classic policy with limited (5000) miles.
If I priced the Chimaera on a normal policy then I think they were similar.
I love the S2000 but no one has yet commented on the car (as they did with the TVR) and the Chimaera has a soundtrack to die for.
Reliability 'should' be better with the S2000 but then I never really had a problem with the Chimaera.
I think servicing is cheaper on the S2000.
A bit of a ramble I guess but my advice would be to try both and go with the one you feel most comfortable with.
In my eyes, you're on to a winner whichever one you buy.
Hi guys, I am amazed by the number (& quality) of responses to my question, thanks! I have just got back from viewing a selection of Chimaeras. A silver Chimaera with 30k on the clock (’99 plate) for £12k does seem like a great option at the moment (thankfully heart leads head). Will also take a closer look at the S2000 next week but suspect my MX-5 on a good day would not feel a million miles from the Honda given what people have said on here.
My bro has a Pug 307 diesel he is about to get rid of, I could maybe keep that for the short/wet/winter runs...
I am planning a week’s drive round the north-west coastline of France during early July, approx 1,500 mile round-trip... suspect this could make me love/hate the TVR if I got it (maybe I should keep the MX-5 for this trip?)
Rus
My bro has a Pug 307 diesel he is about to get rid of, I could maybe keep that for the short/wet/winter runs...
I am planning a week’s drive round the north-west coastline of France during early July, approx 1,500 mile round-trip... suspect this could make me love/hate the TVR if I got it (maybe I should keep the MX-5 for this trip?)
Rus
Russell
Sorry to make life difficult.
I have driven both Griffith 500 and S2000(both the wifes)and loved both carsfor all the reasons already mentioned above.
The problem is she now drives a 350Z Roadster and I love it more.
The steering is more precise on the Nissan than the S2000,and the controls obviously a lot lighter than on the TVR.
I know it may be slightly more expensive but it is a very good compromise.
Similar speed to Honda with an exhaust note all its own.
I know this wasn't in the initial question,but from experience I think you would like it.
Good luck with them all.
All great cars .
Dvay
Sorry to make life difficult.
I have driven both Griffith 500 and S2000(both the wifes)and loved both carsfor all the reasons already mentioned above.
The problem is she now drives a 350Z Roadster and I love it more.
The steering is more precise on the Nissan than the S2000,and the controls obviously a lot lighter than on the TVR.
I know it may be slightly more expensive but it is a very good compromise.
Similar speed to Honda with an exhaust note all its own.
I know this wasn't in the initial question,but from experience I think you would like it.
Good luck with them all.
All great cars .
Dvay
rusgb said:
I am planning a week’s drive round the north-west coastline of France during early July, approx 1,500 mile round-trip... suspect this could make me love/hate the TVR if I got it (maybe I should keep the MX-5 for this trip?)
Rus
That's the ideal kind of trip for a Chim/Griff... can't imagine why you'd want to do it in an MX5 in preference to a TVR Rus
I drive a Chimaera...and absolutely love it.
But, honestly, take a close look at the S2K. It's stunning. And it came TOP in a J.D. Power survey IIRC.
Also compare running costs: real running costs of the two cars. At a £10K budget will you mind spending a couple of K a year on top to fettle your new P&J? That's pretty much what a Chimaera will cost to run not including insurance and fuel etc. Oh..not every year. But on average.
This is based on ten years of ownership. So I know what I'm talking about.
...and fuel: my God these things drink. High teens mpg to mid twenties on a run.
If you are OK with that level of maintenance get a Griff/Chim as they are the most cracking fun. We love ours...but we don't use it as a daily driver.
But, honestly, take a close look at the S2K. It's stunning. And it came TOP in a J.D. Power survey IIRC.
Also compare running costs: real running costs of the two cars. At a £10K budget will you mind spending a couple of K a year on top to fettle your new P&J? That's pretty much what a Chimaera will cost to run not including insurance and fuel etc. Oh..not every year. But on average.
This is based on ten years of ownership. So I know what I'm talking about.
...and fuel: my God these things drink. High teens mpg to mid twenties on a run.
If you are OK with that level of maintenance get a Griff/Chim as they are the most cracking fun. We love ours...but we don't use it as a daily driver.
Hi Guys, not sure if your interested but my decision has been made. The S2000 is a great car and I agree with the feedback on here. However... I have to admit it feels a million miles away from the Chimaera... which is currently sitting in my garage. I covered 125 miles in my first afternoon of ownership, awesome. Just starting the engine brings a massive grin to your face, I would have to cover quite a few miles in the S2000 to even match that. Now on my second day of ownership I have my first issue (the thermostat is broken and the fans are not kicking in, eek when the temp almost hit 110!). It really doesn't bother me though, the garage up the road will fix it and we're off again! Hoorah!
For anyone else facing the same S2000 v TVR issue just drive them, the decision will be easy.
For anyone else facing the same S2000 v TVR issue just drive them, the decision will be easy.
Thought you'd do that once you'd driven both!Ah, the sticky otter switch problem! Get your garage to make you up a bit of wire with connectors on both ends so when it happens again and you're miles away, you can deal with it yourself! (The wire can be used to bypass the switch and have the fan on all the time).
rusgb said:
Hi Guys, not sure if your interested but my decision has been made. The S2000 is a great car and I agree with the feedback on here. However... I have to admit it feels a million miles away from the Chimaera... which is currently sitting in my garage. I covered 125 miles in my first afternoon of ownership, awesome. Just starting the engine brings a massive grin to your face, I would have to cover quite a few miles in the S2000 to even match that. Now on my second day of ownership I have my first issue (the thermostat is broken and the fans are not kicking in, eek when the temp almost hit 110!). It really doesn't bother me though, the garage up the road will fix it and we're off again! Hoorah!
For anyone else facing the same S2000 v TVR issue just drive them, the decision will be easy.
Congratulations on your purchase and welcome to the TVR Mad House. For anyone else facing the same S2000 v TVR issue just drive them, the decision will be easy.
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