TVR to vette?

[T_Pot]

I have a 4.3 TVR chimaera, and while out for a spin today, called in as normal to a local car dealer, and made the fatal error of sitting in a C4 90 vette....

Im now seriously considering putting my chim for sale and going back. but ive only just spent a load of money having the underneath all done, am i mad or not?

[chimtvr]

something very similar happened to me I don't regret it

[BLUETHUNDER]

T_Pot said:

I have a 4.3 TVR chimaera, and while out for a spin today, called in as normal to a local car dealer, and made the fatal error of sitting in a C4 90 vette....

Im now seriously considering putting my chim for sale and going back. but ive only just spent a load of money having the underneath all done, am i mad or not?

I have given you an answer to your thread in the Chimaera forum.

[C6NL]

T_Pot said:

I have a 4.3 TVR chimaera, and while out for a spin today, called in as normal to a local car dealer, and made the fatal error of sitting in a C4 90 vette....

Im now seriously considering putting my chim for sale and going back. but ive only just spent a load of money having the underneath all done, am i mad or not?

I used to drive a 4.3 TVR Griffith, now I drive a manual 2005 C6 Coupe, never looked back. It's better in every way, faster and handles better on the track. Air conditioning that works even with the top cover off, ventilation that keeps the windows clear in the worst weather, I can go on and on.

[G4HKS]

I did the same. Had 5 Griffith 500's (included in that 3 brand new) but now on my 3rd Corvette. The passion is still there for TVR but when I drove past some poor guy at the turn off for Watford off the M25 today, (Saturday 14th) looking very glum standing next to his lovely looking Segaris, I remembered why I bought into the Vette.

I still love TVR but give me a Corvette any day. And yes, you'll soon get used to the left hand drive believe me!

Edited by G4HKS on Saturday 14th March 23:38

[eldudereno]

I lusted after a TVR for many years but when I had enough cash available to buy one I just couldn't do it, they're bl**dy nice cars but the muted £3k/year running costs frightened me off. I have since bought a C5 Z06 and don't regret it one bit, what a fantastic car with what must be the lowest running costs on this planet for such a high performance car.

G4HKS is right about driving a LHD car, you'll get used to it in no time at all, in fact I think it's sacrilege for anyone to convert them to RHD. Was really funny this morning, was about to give my mother a lift in my runaround, we walked up to the car and I said 'what are you doing?' She was walking to the same side of the car as me, which was the left hand side. Must admit it's the first time that I've tried to get in on the wrong side of a RHD car but must also admit to walking up to the RH door on the Vette on a few occasions, always just pretend to be putting something inside on the seat.

[300bhp/ton]

T_Pot said:

I have a 4.3 TVR chimaera, and while out for a spin today, called in as normal to a local car dealer, and made the fatal error of sitting in a C4 90 vette....

Im now seriously considering putting my chim for sale and going back. but ive only just spent a load of money having the underneath all done, am i mad or not?

I don't think you'll be disappointed tbh.

Just remember the base car is just that, American cars deserve and a built to expect a mod or two. On a C4 a nice induction kit and exhaust will make a big difference to the grin factor and worth a few horses too.

Not sure that it'll matter, but earlier C4's have the L98 5.7 V8, not a bad engine and a very much a classic SBC, only about 250hp stock though. The latter C4's got the Lt1, rated at 300hp. There's not so much difference though.

I haven't got a Chim, but I've got a modded Tr7 V8 (230hp) so a similar type of car. I got walked all over by a L98 C4 Vette a few years back. But then again my Camaro would fairly easily walk all over the TR so I can understand it.

If you want more tempting, have a browse on Youtube for some C4 video clips

Got for it!!

[LuS1fer]

A friend of mine had a TVR phase - went from a 1st Camaro Z28 to a 3rd gen Z28 to a VX220 Turbo to a TVR Griffith 500 and now has a Corvette C4 again. No regrets there, I can promise you - too many bills for the TVR and when my supercharged Mustang blew the doors off his Griff, that about sealed it. To be honest, I think my Corvette C4 was the rawest of the cars I owned and I loved it the most.

[Brummmie]

I have a TVR with a 416ci vette based motor!

Edited by Brummmie on Monday 23 March 22:16

[Pete500]

...and a Griffith with the 2007 LS2 & TKO600 here

[irish boy]

mate used to run a tvr specialist over here before they went belly up....now he's porsche.

drove most of the tvr's, enjoyed them all, so quick, different and lovely lovely cabins!

never tempted me out of american metal tho but i respect anyone who does go the tvr route!

[Ron Fellows]

Gents

Feel free to correct me if you think I'm in the wrong but I'm having a debat with a TVR driver regarding comparing them to Vettes. Apples for Apples in my case Cerb vs Z06.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

[LuS1fer]

Completely different IMHO. One is a home-made car, over-styled to no apparent advantage (doubtless to the detriment of sales being marmite)and a bit like an expanded MGB (well the Chimaera is)and the other is a production plastic sports car built down to a price and wilfully not trespassing on Italian territory. While they end up in the same market sector, they are arriving there from two different directions. As for the multi-coloured dream paint - yuk!

I once ran the Camaro behind a Cerbera and was quite alarmed by the way the back end hopped on quite a gentle on-ramp - maybe he was applying too much power and not enough weight at the back but it flew away like a scalded cat. Still don't do anything for me though. Not that I'm a fan of the Corvette C6 either, a wilfully dull design that tried to draw on elements of a model that was never very classic or popular, the C4.

The concept Corvette they recently showed is where Corvette needs to be right now and the TVR needs to be in production but there is a halfway house between their styling mantras that would probably appeal to both owners.

Edited by LuS1fer on Wednesday 25th March 18:14

[Ron Fellows]

LuS1fer said:

Completely different IMHO. One is a home-made car, over-styled to no apparent advantage (doubtless to the detriment of sales being marmite)and a bit like an expanded MGB (well the Chimaera is)and the other is a production plastic sports car built down to a price and wilfully not trespassing on Italian territory. While they end up in the same market sector, they are arriving there from two different directions. As for the multi-coloured dream paint - yuk!

I once ran the Camaro behind a Cerbera and was quite alarmed by the way the back end hopped on quite a gentle on-ramp - maybe he was applying too much power and not enough weight at the back but it flew away like a scalded cat. Still don't do anything for me though. Not that I'm a fan of the Corvette C6 either, a wilfully dull design that tried to draw on elements of a model that was never very classic or popular, the C4.

The concept Corvette they recently showed is where Corvette needs to be right now and the TVR needs to be in production but there is a halfway house between their styling mantras that would probably appeal to both owners.

Edited by LuS1fer on Wednesday 25th March 18:14

OK now try not to hold back this time......whats your honest opinion! Dont be shy. We'll understand if deep down you love them really

[GW65]

LuS1fer said:

Not that I'm a fan of the Corvette C6 either, a wilfully dull design that tried to draw on elements of a model that was never very classic or popular, the C4.

Edited by LuS1fer on Wednesday 25th March 18:14

Beauty's always in the eye of the beholder... I'm surprised you say the C6 draws inspiration from the C4. It's blatantly obvious when you see side-by-side shots that it actually rips off elements of the C2 and C3. I don't see that it's any more like a C4 than a C5 is. The weakest part of the C6 is that the front end looks too short - much prefer the proportions of the C5 at that end - but the rear is more successful. Of course, the C2 wins any beauty contest hands-down.

[G4HKS]

As long as no one takes a pop at Griffiths I don't mind. I would still have one in my garage if A. My wife would let me. B. I had a much bigger garage. C. I hadn't bought 4 new cars in the last 4 months....

And as for trying to stick up for Corvette on a TVR forum, are you nuts?? You are losing before you even start. Most have never sat in a modern Corvette let alone driven one.

Edited by G4HKS on Wednesday 25th March 20:15

[LuS1fer]

GW65 said:

LuS1fer said:

Not that I'm a fan of the Corvette C6 either, a wilfully dull design that tried to draw on elements of a model that was never very classic or popular, the C4.

Edited by LuS1fer on Wednesday 25th March 18:14

Beauty's always in the eye of the beholder... I'm surprised you say the C6 draws inspiration from the C4. It's blatantly obvious when you see side-by-side shots that it actually rips off elements of the C2 and C3. I don't see that it's any more like a C4 than a C5 is. The weakest part of the C6 is that the front end looks too short - much prefer the proportions of the C5 at that end - but the rear is more successful. Of course, the C2 wins any beauty contest hands-down.

I was thinking the reversion to the four big round rear lights after the ZR1 and C5 had redefined the Corvette rear end and made it something unique. Wouldn't argue it draws on other Corvettes too but that just makes it a mish mash and far too fussy in the detailing, especially the creases in the doors. From the side, it always reminds me of a big Elise. The weakest element for me is the naff headlights which lack imagination, like they suddenly realised they couldn't have pop-ups so drew them in quickly and, for that reason, the C6 looks best in black or with the headlamp nacelles painted black.

Wouldn't disagree the C2 takes the beauty prize but, for me, the C5 comes second.. surprisingly...always a very under-rated and well-balanced design. Even though I bought a C5 Z06 for the power and weight advantages it had, I still preferred the standard car's rear end.

[BLUETHUNDER]

Ron Fellows said:

Gents

Feel free to correct me if you think I'm in the wrong but I'm having a debat with a TVR driver regarding comparing them to Vettes. Apples for Apples in my case Cerb vs Z06.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

Craig. The unwritten rule is. never argue with 900-RT. He will always be right. And you will always be wrong.....

[G4HKS]

.. You've only got to search back a few months to see just how true the above statement is. The joke is, he actually never is!

[Ron Fellows]

BLUETHUNDER said:

Ron Fellows said:

Gents

Feel free to correct me if you think I'm in the wrong but I'm having a debat with a TVR driver regarding comparing them to Vettes. Apples for Apples in my case Cerb vs Z06.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

Craig. The unwritten rule is. never argue with 900-RT. He will always be right. And you will always be wrong.....

Its was just too much fun