Tam, Chim or 450SEAC - which is tamer?
Discussion
After 5 years or so, and kids now grown up, I find myself yearning after a TVR again.
I have found three perfect examples, low mileage with perfect chassis. A 03 Tamora, 99 Chimaera 450 and a 89 450 SEAC. All stunning but in different ways.
Previously I've had a 99 Chimaera 500 and an 04 Tuscan. If I'm honest, I found the Chimaera a much more enjoyable car to drive. It was more chilled and brought a smile to my face on every occasion. With the Tuscan, when my ears stopped bleeding, I was just grateful to get out the other end in one piece. It was beautiful, it was exciting but just so much more twitchy, I never relaxed into it.
I'm not interested in speed, I just want something that looks, sounds and drives great without a roof for those sunny Sunday afternoons.
The lack of side impact protection on the Chimaera does bother me, which is a +1 for the Tamora, but I prefer the sound of the RV8.
My question is, is the Tamora as agressive and twitchy as a Tuscan or more like the Chim/Griff it supposedly replaced?
As for 450 SEAC, I assume it is similar to the Chimaera?
As you can tell, my mind is scrambled and confused on the topic. Analysis has led to paralysis.
I welcome any words of wisdom
I have found three perfect examples, low mileage with perfect chassis. A 03 Tamora, 99 Chimaera 450 and a 89 450 SEAC. All stunning but in different ways.
Previously I've had a 99 Chimaera 500 and an 04 Tuscan. If I'm honest, I found the Chimaera a much more enjoyable car to drive. It was more chilled and brought a smile to my face on every occasion. With the Tuscan, when my ears stopped bleeding, I was just grateful to get out the other end in one piece. It was beautiful, it was exciting but just so much more twitchy, I never relaxed into it.
I'm not interested in speed, I just want something that looks, sounds and drives great without a roof for those sunny Sunday afternoons.
The lack of side impact protection on the Chimaera does bother me, which is a +1 for the Tamora, but I prefer the sound of the RV8.
My question is, is the Tamora as agressive and twitchy as a Tuscan or more like the Chim/Griff it supposedly replaced?
As for 450 SEAC, I assume it is similar to the Chimaera?
As you can tell, my mind is scrambled and confused on the topic. Analysis has led to paralysis.
I welcome any words of wisdom
Edited by Pacman1972 on Monday 5th October 13:57
Edited by Pacman1972 on Monday 5th October 13:57
If you liked the Chim before that'd be the place to start.
All wedges, including the SEAC's, are from the previous generation and I suspect you'd find them far more difficult to live with (mist up in the rain, tend to leak more, less refined suspension and steering) but nothing to beat the sound of a V8 without CAT's!
Similarly, the Tamora is the next generation to the Chim/Griff and you will find it is better put together again. Some S6 engines had issues when first made, but to have lasted this long they were either good ones or they have been rebuilt by now. The handling is pretty good, far better than the Mk1 Tuscans.
As ever, there is also some variability between each example so the advice has to be to try them all and see which you prefer as opinions will differ!
All wedges, including the SEAC's, are from the previous generation and I suspect you'd find them far more difficult to live with (mist up in the rain, tend to leak more, less refined suspension and steering) but nothing to beat the sound of a V8 without CAT's!
Similarly, the Tamora is the next generation to the Chim/Griff and you will find it is better put together again. Some S6 engines had issues when first made, but to have lasted this long they were either good ones or they have been rebuilt by now. The handling is pretty good, far better than the Mk1 Tuscans.
As ever, there is also some variability between each example so the advice has to be to try them all and see which you prefer as opinions will differ!
Having previously owned Chimaeras, Tamora and a 350i Wedge , my answer would be the Chimaera every time.
The Wedge was great and reliable, but the Jag Rear end inboard discs can be a pain.
The Tamora is a good car, plus it handles well with the correct suspension set up. Although there is always that niggle of the engines reliability and the dreaded wait until it's warmed up.
The Chimaera feels more solidly built and comfortable, plus the V8 does give you aural enjoyment. Chimaera's tend to be considered cruisers and there is nothing wrong with that.
The Wedge was great and reliable, but the Jag Rear end inboard discs can be a pain.
The Tamora is a good car, plus it handles well with the correct suspension set up. Although there is always that niggle of the engines reliability and the dreaded wait until it's warmed up.
The Chimaera feels more solidly built and comfortable, plus the V8 does give you aural enjoyment. Chimaera's tend to be considered cruisers and there is nothing wrong with that.
Edited by citizen smith on Monday 5th October 15:47
I can concur with much of the above.
I've not had a Tamora and interested to try one. Would worry about the fabled engine probs, the looks are subjective and the boot space is no where near as cavernous.
Chimaera can be driven quick or cruise . Had 3, can get a mountain bike in the boot, comfortable if you dump the original seats, rear visibility bad with the roof down. But that V8 grumble...
Wedge. OK I only had a 350i. More comfortable, except my seats had just been renewed and were over stuffed.Easier to get in and out due to wider doors, easier to fold the rear roof down without creasing the window and easier to see rearward with it down. Poor rear 3/4 visibility with the roof up, need to approach junctions square on. Dreadful scuttle/steering column shake.
I've not had a Tamora and interested to try one. Would worry about the fabled engine probs, the looks are subjective and the boot space is no where near as cavernous.
Chimaera can be driven quick or cruise . Had 3, can get a mountain bike in the boot, comfortable if you dump the original seats, rear visibility bad with the roof down. But that V8 grumble...
Wedge. OK I only had a 350i. More comfortable, except my seats had just been renewed and were over stuffed.Easier to get in and out due to wider doors, easier to fold the rear roof down without creasing the window and easier to see rearward with it down. Poor rear 3/4 visibility with the roof up, need to approach junctions square on. Dreadful scuttle/steering column shake.
As a Wedge owner of previous 350i and current 390Se and 450SEAC, the SEACs suspension and handling is phenomenal compared to the 390 and 350i. Most SEACs have rose jointed front suspension and lighter bodies and go like a stabbed rat. Only 18 450s were made with just 14 left, in the world.. mine doesn't leak and the heater demister is brilliant. I like to be different. Also the 340 Nm of torque is rather handy....... I suspect however the SEAC will be gone very quickly as I'm aware of several interested in it. 
Edited by KKson on Monday 5th October 20:54
Decisions decisions. I realise that's another thing I miss about TVR, the community is like no other
So the combined advice seems to be to get a 450 a chim and a Tamora, if only budget, garage space and wife would allow!
In all seriousness I guess I should test drive all three. I'm always mindful of not wanting to waste anyone's time and test drive a car I'm unsure about, but in this instance I could genuinely go for any one of them.
Perhaps leaning towards another chim, but that lack of side impact protection is always at the back of my mind. Anyone know if the Tamora has side impact protection?
So the combined advice seems to be to get a 450 a chim and a Tamora, if only budget, garage space and wife would allow!
In all seriousness I guess I should test drive all three. I'm always mindful of not wanting to waste anyone's time and test drive a car I'm unsure about, but in this instance I could genuinely go for any one of them.
Perhaps leaning towards another chim, but that lack of side impact protection is always at the back of my mind. Anyone know if the Tamora has side impact protection?
KKson said:
As a Wedge owner of previous 350i and current 390Se and 450SEAC, the SEACs suspension and handling is phenomenal compared to the 390 and 350i. Most SEACs have rose jointed front suspension and lighter bodies and go like a stabbed rat. Only 18 450s were made with just 14 left, in the world.. mine doesn't leak and the heater demister is brilliant. I like to be different. Also the 340 Nm of torque is rather handy....... I suspect however the SEAC will be gone very quickly as I'm aware of several interested in it.
That is absolutely beautiful!! Love that colour combo. Edited by KKson on Monday 5th October 20:54
Pacman1972 said:
That is absolutely beautiful!! Love that colour combo.
Thanks. It looks great from 20 yards. I dragged it out of a barn last year after 15 years in very poor storage. The entire body is micro blistered so strip and respray is in order. The car is the 450 featured on Wikipedia. Picture was taken in 2003 at the Goodwood Festival.Edited by KKson on Tuesday 6th October 08:17
It’s like asking how longs a ball of string when asking TVR owners this question. The answer to this debate is clearly a late 450 Chim. Has the best build quality and 10 years production to get it right 
I own a late 450 Chim
But no ordinary 450 Chim. It has the beauty of a MBE ecu management system, It’s blindingly fast yet a total pussy cat around town.
If it’s not speed your after I’d stick with the V8 models as that feels great at any speed and especially cruising speed and a well known cheap engine that’s reliable enough for a sportscar.
I own a late 450 Chim
But no ordinary 450 Chim. It has the beauty of a MBE ecu management system, It’s blindingly fast yet a total pussy cat around town.
If it’s not speed your after I’d stick with the V8 models as that feels great at any speed and especially cruising speed and a well known cheap engine that’s reliable enough for a sportscar.
Pacman1972 said:
I'd heard they have them but that's the 1st pic I've seen. Why on earth TVR thought no follow suit with the chim/Griff is a mystery.
Light is right and what does not kill you make you stronger ;-)Perhaps also that the less boxy style of the body makes it harder?
Or maybe that it saves hours of settings to have everything perfectly aligned?
My thought would be a Tamora. I've a friend with one and it sounds glorious, especially through tunnels. There's no issues these days with the Speed 6 engines after they've been rebuilt by one of the specialists and they are a step above the others.
The T cars also still don't look dated
The T cars also still don't look dated
Zeb74 said:
Pacman1972 said:
I'd heard they have them but that's the 1st pic I've seen. Why on earth TVR thought no follow suit with the chim/Griff is a mystery.
Light is right and what does not kill you make you stronger ;-)Perhaps also that the less boxy style of the body makes it harder?
Or maybe that it saves hours of settings to have everything perfectly aligned?
Quite how much help door bars would be in a crash if there's no metal (roll hoop/cage) on either end like on the Cerbs and T-cars, remains to be seen...
900T-R said:
Simple answer is they didn't have to as they weren't exporting to the US anymore.
Quite how much help door bars would be in a crash if there's no metal (roll hoop/cage) on either end like on the Cerbs and T-cars, remains to be seen...
Between both the A posts and B posts there is also a substantial cross bar that bolts to either side. One runs inside the dash and the other just behind the seats, so it's not just fibreglass to take any side impact. Even so, I'd rather not think of the consequences from a hefty side shunt. Quite how much help door bars would be in a crash if there's no metal (roll hoop/cage) on either end like on the Cerbs and T-cars, remains to be seen...
Tamora is the best of the three handling and comfort wise. Also just as practical luggage wise as the Golfers TVR.
As already mentioned, try one with 16-inch wheels and sorted suspension by someone who knows what they are doing. Second best handling TVR behind the Sag.
As for the engine, well plenty of RV8s go bang. Doesn't take a lot of searching to find the rebuild threads. Rebuild costs aren't that far off AJP ones either. Both are still way cheaper than Porsche though
If the soundtrack is more important than the original question. There are a couple of LS powered Tams around. One being advertised for sale at the moment.
As already mentioned, try one with 16-inch wheels and sorted suspension by someone who knows what they are doing. Second best handling TVR behind the Sag.
As for the engine, well plenty of RV8s go bang. Doesn't take a lot of searching to find the rebuild threads. Rebuild costs aren't that far off AJP ones either. Both are still way cheaper than Porsche though
If the soundtrack is more important than the original question. There are a couple of LS powered Tams around. One being advertised for sale at the moment.
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