£10.5k Budget - V8S or early Chimaera?

[Midge]

Have recently sold my S3c although to be honest I feel a bit sad over this. However life goes on and in true TVR spirit, the only way forward is more power. Thing is, due to wedding/house building work commitments my budget can only stretch to £10.5k absolute max. What do I go for to get maximum enjoyment minimum grief...a sorted J/K reg V8S or an early 4.0/4.3 Chimaera....or at this budget am I asking for trouble? (Have already ruled out an early Griff before anyone suggests this!).

[dern]

V8s, Chims look horrible imo (nice to drive though).

Why did you rule out the griffith?

Regards,

Mark

[manek]

Chimaera: stretch another couple of k and get mine for the new reduced price of £12.5k.

www.pistonheads.com/ads/displayAd.asp?advertId=6079

[granty]

Last year I was thinking along the same lines.I looked at a few early Chims & Griffs,only to be disapointed by condition and high millage.In the end I bought a mint V8S with 32K and FSH for £11K.

[Podie]

manek said: Chimaera: stretch another couple of k and get mine for the new reduced price of £12.5k.

www.pistonheads.com/ads/displayAd.asp?advertId=6079

Manek! Double posting! oh, so is Midge... ah well.

As I said in the other thread. V8S gets my vote.

[chin up]

imho v8s......sooooo much more character, on a par performance-wise, and more legroom. Also, it has the 'wow, what was that' factor, something that an early chimp probably doesn't. People where I live would think,"Ahhhh, you couldn't stretch to a tuscan....never mind mate" (More a reflection on Surrey-folk than the car though....)

Chimp still beats M3 or 911 for character though...in the words of that bloke with the boring job on Blind-d Date-te..."The decision....is yours!" (Let's face it, there are worse decisions to make.....)

[Midge]

Afraid the Griff doesn't really do it for me for looks...there's both a Chimaera 4.0 and a Griff 5.0 in my village and to be honest the latter really doesn't do it for me although maybe a test drive would change that! And Manek, I know you can afford another drop judging by your address. Have pity on a bloke who's about to be dealt a life sentence....£10.5K instant cash (well, Building Society cheque more like). Seriously though, Podie knows my situation more than anyone else.

[HarryW]

Well there's the; do you want to buy one of 400 or one of 4000, to consider as well

More leg room in the V8S for the passenger if this is a factor.

Pre cat V8S's sound wonderful, on par with the 400/450SE's which are probably (this side of a SEAC anyway) the best sounding Tivs out there.

The V8S is lighter than the Chim with similar power output (pre-cat again probably has a tad more as standard) so performance is...., well you work it out .

The V8S is IMHO a more classic looking british sportscar that doesn't really date.

The Chim has a big boot.

Harry

PS Obviously all IMHO

[JSG]

Only one feels like a proper British classic sportscar - get a V8S

[rustoni]

Recently faced with the same decision and in the end i went for the v8S and haven't regretted it for a minute but i suppose at the end of the day it's down to you and the only real way is to test drive both. As said before you can drive one of 400 or one of 4000 - also think of resale value, a V8s is going to make more sense from that point of view than an early chim...not that common sense should ever be a factor when buying a TVR!

[Podie]

Midge - you thought about a big wedge? say a 400..?

Just another option to consider...!

With regards to the Chim, as Scruff would say, "do you play golf?"...

[Paul V]

Is there going to be much increase in performance going to a 4 litre? I ended up going for as Griff 500, to make sure I got sufficient power increase to make it worth changing, last French trip I had no problems staying with a 400 chimp in my S.

[shnozz]

V8S - stunning sound and that rarity value

When I bought my TVR I didnt have the budget to buy a Griff or a Chim so looked at the S. Wedges looked too dated IMHO. Since I have owned the S the looks just keep on growing on me and I have to say I think it has overtaken the Chim! Seeing M@H's profile picture of the Chim with the S in the background, the S really looks good (sorry Matt!!!) The fact that there are sod all around (especially V8S) tops it off.

Buy the V8S

>> Edited by shnozz on Tuesday 26th November 09:40

[M@H]

From a Man who has just been through this:

V8S


(and no I didn't buy one...)


Edited to add: Manek, you're just depressing me now... you were asking 14k when I was looking, I'd have bought it at 12.5k straight away...

Edited again to Add: Shnozz, no worries.. I know

>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 26th November 10:02

[manek]

M@H said: From a Man who has just been through this:

V8S


(and no I didn't buy one...)


Edited to add: Manek, you're just depressing me now... you were asking 14k when I was looking, I'd have bought it at 12.5k straight away...

Edited again to Add: Shnozz, no worries.. I know

>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 26th November 10:02

You're depressed? Think how I feel. I can't drive it or it will pick up stone chips, yet it still costs me money while it sits in the garage. And I do so badly want to drive it! Don't think I'll go any lower though.

[M@H]

Yeah. sorry mate, fairly heartless of me.. I apologise... I trust It will go soon, suffice to say it has to be the best one on the market at that money..


Cheers
Matt

[Jarcy]

There's no question that the Chimaera is a much prettier car (ducks for cover) but for the money you're spending you'll end up with the very cheapest example and probably a dog, unless you're really lucky.

V8S is the obvious choice for the money, especially if a bit of exclusivity is important to you. (Mind you, I regard it as a privilege to own any TVR).
If you can stretch another £2k then it's a Chimaera, but I understand what it's like when you've already stretched to make the £10.5k mark.

[shnozz]

Jarcy said: There's no question that the Chimaera is a much prettier car (ducks for cover)

this is an interesting one and personal opinion as is always the case. I have heard Griffs and Chims compared frequently but not S's. I think the looks of the S grow on you. Once upon a time I thought the Chim was better looking. Having owned an S for a while though the looks have grown on me, and usually I am the sort that gets bored with the looks of any car I own after a few months. Quite the opposite with the S, to the point that I think it is a prettier car than the Chim. Plus it will always look more classic British sportscar, and there can be little argument on that point i feel.

HarryW's V8S is one of the nicest examples I have seen. The dark green with wood combination make it look the complete traditional British sportscar. It also sounds pretty awesome

[M@H]

Will people stop slagging off Chims for sub 11k.. jeez.. why will a 93 Chim be any different at 10.5 -11k than a 93 V8S at 10.5 - 11k ??

Rant over!

yes there will be some dogs out there, but an early 93 Chim regardless of condition isn't going to fetch mega money, therefore you CAN buy nice cars at this money.

To some extents, due to the rarty of the V8s, you are more likely to find a better Chim at 11k than a V8S, as you'll have 20 chims to choose from (so people have to price them accordingly) v.s. 3 V8S's (so people can name their price)

Cheers
Matt.

[shnozz]

M@H said: Will people stop slagging off Chims for sub 11k.. jeez.. why will a 93 Chim be any different at 10.5 -11k than a 93 V8S at 10.5 - 11k ??

Rant over!

yes there will be some dogs out there, but an early 93 Chim regardless of condition isn't going to fetch mega money, therefore you CAN buy nice cars at this money.

To some extents, due to the rarty of the V8s, you are more likely to find a better Chim at 11k than a V8S, as you'll have 20 chims to choose from (so people have to price them accordingly) v.s. 3 V8S's (so people can name their price)

Cheers
Matt.

Well said Matt

I agree entirely