Cerbera v Chimera (Virgin Buy)
Discussion
Afternoon all.
Apologies if this has been done to death but....
I WILL myself a birthday present this year. Have been a TVR fan since my dad made me listen to a griffith 5.0 when i was a kid.
Have read and read and read but still stuck between jumping in (Chimaera)and diving in (Cerbera)
I would like your thoughts and opinions for and against both.
I drive 2 miles to work 2-3 times a week - alot of the time i could reduce this to 1-2 times per week. Is it realistic to have as only car? Weekends would then be driving day.
I live in West of Scotland, great roads and views, generally rubbish weather - does this have a bearing? Maybe shying away from a convertible.
Never owned a performance car - is the Chim really the softer, easier to drive, "sensible first TVR" option?
Seems to be a fairly diverse opinion on engines and reliability - Rover V8, solid, easy to work on sounds good. AJP8 4.2 - had its troubles, weak cranks etc, 4.5 - more solid less prone to snapping bits, both sound and go like nothing else! All electrics seem to be prone to a bit of problem but not too hard to sort, Speed Six - not a great rep unless it has been rebuilt or has had its problems and been fixed but easier to drive / control? (These are generalistations from a lot of reading)
A work colleague has plenty of experience with rover V8s so that is reassuring - not sure how he would fare with and AJP8?
Any ideas of maintenance costs etc? Im not flush but have been saving for this for a bit, what do i need in my TVR account to run the dream once im living it?
Apologies again for sounding so clueless - I am truly enthusiastic but want to make be armed with information and then i will make my decision (am very aware that there isnt a cheap way to be a TVR owner - just a best way and appreciate that 2 important things should be considered - 1) The cars state and history, 2) LUCK!!
Any input appreciated - more than likely will buy bible and join the club!
Cheers,
H
Apologies if this has been done to death but....
I WILL myself a birthday present this year. Have been a TVR fan since my dad made me listen to a griffith 5.0 when i was a kid.
Have read and read and read but still stuck between jumping in (Chimaera)and diving in (Cerbera)
I would like your thoughts and opinions for and against both.
I drive 2 miles to work 2-3 times a week - alot of the time i could reduce this to 1-2 times per week. Is it realistic to have as only car? Weekends would then be driving day.
I live in West of Scotland, great roads and views, generally rubbish weather - does this have a bearing? Maybe shying away from a convertible.
Never owned a performance car - is the Chim really the softer, easier to drive, "sensible first TVR" option?
Seems to be a fairly diverse opinion on engines and reliability - Rover V8, solid, easy to work on sounds good. AJP8 4.2 - had its troubles, weak cranks etc, 4.5 - more solid less prone to snapping bits, both sound and go like nothing else! All electrics seem to be prone to a bit of problem but not too hard to sort, Speed Six - not a great rep unless it has been rebuilt or has had its problems and been fixed but easier to drive / control? (These are generalistations from a lot of reading)
A work colleague has plenty of experience with rover V8s so that is reassuring - not sure how he would fare with and AJP8?
Any ideas of maintenance costs etc? Im not flush but have been saving for this for a bit, what do i need in my TVR account to run the dream once im living it?
Apologies again for sounding so clueless - I am truly enthusiastic but want to make be armed with information and then i will make my decision (am very aware that there isnt a cheap way to be a TVR owner - just a best way and appreciate that 2 important things should be considered - 1) The cars state and history, 2) LUCK!!
Any input appreciated - more than likely will buy bible and join the club!
Cheers,
H
Hi Welcome along great first post.
I am in the west coast too (kilmarnock) and can help you out in this question having owned both cars.
They are both great cars and both plenty quick for the road. I find the chimaera great to drive due to its flat torque curve and mine was the 4L , it was plenty car for me. The Cerb is a very quick car but i feel you need to work it more to get it moving but the speedo tells you it is very quick and the chim told you by the sound (sleeved exhaust my mate could here me heading to his over a mile away when i was playing
If your only driving it a few trips a week both should fit the bill fine. I Like the Cerbs handling better than the chim this could be due to the way i set mine up it was very firm but both awsome cars.
I would still have a cheapo snotter as a second car for winter.
Best bet is to come to the West of scotland meet and talk to owners there (think i am the only one with a Cerb that goes )but a few of the guys have owned them so can tell you as well.
There both pretty easy to work on if your handy with a spanner but if your not the Cerb will cost much more due to the AJP engine and the specialist knowledgeable to maintain them.
My chim was pretty cheap to live with and bomb proof i took it 3000 miles round europe a couple of years back and it would do it all day long and return over 30mpg on a run as well. (never see that round town more like 20mpg)
as for the chim being a softer drive no not at all they can all bite you in the back side if anything more so the chim as the Cerb has long throttle travel which aids in traction but they all need to be driven smooth and well and you will stay on the black stuff rubber side down.
If you want a look/run in a Cerb and local to Killie drop me a Pm and i will see what i can do to help you out.
Cheers Scott
I am in the west coast too (kilmarnock) and can help you out in this question having owned both cars.
They are both great cars and both plenty quick for the road. I find the chimaera great to drive due to its flat torque curve and mine was the 4L , it was plenty car for me. The Cerb is a very quick car but i feel you need to work it more to get it moving but the speedo tells you it is very quick and the chim told you by the sound (sleeved exhaust my mate could here me heading to his over a mile away when i was playing
If your only driving it a few trips a week both should fit the bill fine. I Like the Cerbs handling better than the chim this could be due to the way i set mine up it was very firm but both awsome cars.
I would still have a cheapo snotter as a second car for winter.
Best bet is to come to the West of scotland meet and talk to owners there (think i am the only one with a Cerb that goes )but a few of the guys have owned them so can tell you as well.
There both pretty easy to work on if your handy with a spanner but if your not the Cerb will cost much more due to the AJP engine and the specialist knowledgeable to maintain them.
My chim was pretty cheap to live with and bomb proof i took it 3000 miles round europe a couple of years back and it would do it all day long and return over 30mpg on a run as well. (never see that round town more like 20mpg)
as for the chim being a softer drive no not at all they can all bite you in the back side if anything more so the chim as the Cerb has long throttle travel which aids in traction but they all need to be driven smooth and well and you will stay on the black stuff rubber side down.
If you want a look/run in a Cerb and local to Killie drop me a Pm and i will see what i can do to help you out.
Cheers Scott
Edited by scotty_d on Saturday 2nd April 15:03
They're all great choices and so much depends on personal opinion. Sensible advice may be to try a Chim for a season. You may find you like the soft top and feel so much that you don't need a cerb. Or, you may fancy trying something different.
They are both powerful and fun, but remember the cerbs tend to be quite a bit more powerful so extra care is needed. As in the above post, some cerbs can be heard from about a mile away too
Both great cars, have fun
They are both powerful and fun, but remember the cerbs tend to be quite a bit more powerful so extra care is needed. As in the above post, some cerbs can be heard from about a mile away too
Both great cars, have fun
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