Tamora or Chimaera? Previously owned both....
Discussion
Having owned TVRs non stop for almost 20 years, I’m missing having one in the garage after a big car cull. I’ve owned 3x 4.0 Chimaeras and one Tamora with a T350 nose. I’m not into serious track use, more occasional fast road, sliding about and slaloms. I really liked the Tamora, but always felt (wrongly) that the Speed Six would let me down, which spoiled it. I followed this with my last Chimaera, but this felt very slow in comparison to both the Tamora and my other cars. It also had a few annoying minor faults as I didn’t drive it often - easy fixes but I don’t have spare time to fiddle.
Not sure whether to now go for a faster Chimaera, possibly a supercharged or modified one, as I do love the V8 noise. Or go more modern and get a standard Tamora - in which case is there a way to be confident in the Speed Six? (don’t seem to be any available that I like with a rebuilt engine at the moment) In the past year I’ve sold my Chimaera, SLK55 and am about to sell the Boxster S which I hoped would replace the other two. It is a superb car, but takes itself too seriously and isn’t keen to drift. I miss the drama and attitude of TVR
Not sure whether to now go for a faster Chimaera, possibly a supercharged or modified one, as I do love the V8 noise. Or go more modern and get a standard Tamora - in which case is there a way to be confident in the Speed Six? (don’t seem to be any available that I like with a rebuilt engine at the moment) In the past year I’ve sold my Chimaera, SLK55 and am about to sell the Boxster S which I hoped would replace the other two. It is a superb car, but takes itself too seriously and isn’t keen to drift. I miss the drama and attitude of TVR
Thanks, yes I was initially thinking of a Griffith, as I have never owned one and have very happy memories of blasting across London in one with my boss when they first came out. If I went for one I would probably go for a later 500, however these do seem to have their share of reliability issues compared to the smaller engined RV8s. 4.5 seems the sweet spot. I really liked the huge boot on the Chimaera (often filled with my mountain bike or two spare rear wheels and a trolly jack for slaloms) but as this is less of a priority (I now have a car trailer and a VW T5 for biking) a Griffith or Tamora would be feasible. Just seen a review of the Tamora by JayEmm and leaning in that direction.... Not only are we both IFAs, we both have EGO number plates! This one used to be on my TVRs, but now has a new home...
Thanks, yes I have two BMW E36 at the moment - and both are about to be featured in BMW Car magazine. One is an M3 coupe I have rescued and the other my full blown rally car. Anyway, back to TVR, I’ve never considered a MK1 Tuscan, wasn’t keen on the looks and not a full convertible. The MK2 answers both issues, but I want to spend less than the Boxster sells for, so no more than mid £30k. Having said that, looking at MK1s they have finally started to grow on me and there are a couple I like. No idea how the roof and rear window works - where do both go? Tamora v. Tuscan something I’d not even considered 
TV8 said:
Not sure what age your Boxster S is? In my opinion, some years/versions of the flat 6 have reliability issues, particularly in the lower mileage cars, which are worse than the remaining TVR Speed 6’s plus, they cost a small fortune to fix if they go bang.
If you were comfortable with the Porsche flat 6 986/987.1, I would put the TVR in a similar category
Sorry out of synch - just come in from working on the rally car and was half way through my previous reply when I went out! My Boxster S is a 981 manual, so one of the reliable ones.Has literally been faultless, very quick, mega convenient, heated and cooled seats, even looks nice - unlike many in my opinion. But it doesn’t have the fun factor of a TVR... Here it is, for sale very soon...If you were comfortable with the Porsche flat 6 986/987.1, I would put the TVR in a similar category
Thanks Rockits, yes lovely car, but not my preferred colour scheme sadly. The press Tamora looks good, pricey compared to others though. I think after 4 Chimaeras it is time for something different. Tamora or Mk1 Tuscan seem most likely, but also tempted by the improved reliability and year round usability of a V8S F Type, which aren’t much more. Would miss a manual change - they do offer them on the V6 but rare and rubbish apparently 
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