5.0 Chimera and Griff 500 - essentially the same?

[willdew]

Is the 5.0l Chim and Griff 500 essentially the same car with a different shaped body bolted on?

I've been looking at Griff 500's and thinking that was definitely what I was looking for. I've seen a few adds about for 5.0l Chimeras with PAS for £2k - £3k less than the equivalent Griff. I'm going to test drive a Chim to get a feel for it, but fundamentally, what's the difference between the two?

I do think the Griff looks more attractive, but handling and drivability are my priority and I'm not sure if it looks £2k - £3k better.

[whitechimp500]

AFAIK thats correct,the "500" cars are fundamentally the same underneath.
At the time i was looking for sub 20,000 mile 4 year old Tiv 500,it came down to;

Griff 500 @ circa £24000.
Chim 500 @ circa £22000.
or a white Chim 500 that the dealer could'nt shift for £20,000

Actually the best value car purchase ive ever made , although subsequent 7k worth of upgrades negate that somewhat....

but it's been worth it .

[willdew]

whitechimp500 said:

or a white Chim 500 that the dealer could'nt shift for £20,000

I quite like the idea of a white one... with black wheels.

[shpub]

Nope. They are very different car despite sharing the basics. The Chimaera is a bit softer in terms of handling. The Griff is a bit more edgy. All down to the different shocks/springs and the body aerodynamics. Yes they have the same engine, brakes etc but having driven a lot they do behave differently.

Both are great car but if you want a Griff get a griff. If you want a Chimaera get one of those. If you want a Grifff, don't get a Chimaera and vice versa. It's a tough call but go drive some and then make your own mind up.

BTW there are far less Chim 500s than Griff 500s.

[tvr4ever]

shpub said:

Nope. They are very different car despite sharing the basics. The Chimaera is a bit softer in terms of handling. The Griff is a bit more edgy. All down to the different shocks/springs and the body aerodynamics. Yes they have the same engine, brakes etc but having driven a lot they do behave differently. Both are great car but if you want a Griff get a griff. If you want a Chimaera get one of those. If you want a Grifff, don't get a Chimaera and vice versa. It's a tough call but go drive some and then make your own mind up. BTW there are far less Chim 500s than Griff 500s.

A wise man speaks, nothing to add.

Fred

[jellison]

Chim 500s hane the same shocks and springs as Griff though - I have swapped a front with flipflop before now - same same, before got the adjustables.

Like shpub said though which every take you fancy - don't be THAT swayed by what you hear on here, both the Nuts and easy to upgrade later.

[willdew]

If, when new, they shared the same chassis, engine, suspension (although there's clearly some debate), brakes and wheels & tyres, it strikes me they can't be much different at all.

Is there really much difference between the weight distribution, drag and lift/downforce the two bodies? I think it might take a more in tune driver than me to tell the difference between the two. I also suspect that different or worn tyres and/or dampers and springs would make a much bigger difference than the slight variation in body shape between the two.

Guess I'll know more then I've driven the Chim for myself.

Cheers, Will.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

willdew said:

If, when new, they shared the same chassis, engine, suspension (although there's clearly some debate), brakes and wheels & tyres, it strikes me they can't be much different at all.

Wrong

As Shpub says, drive 'em & see. (Mind you, one Chimaera can drive very differently to another)

[225]

I thought the late 2001 spec model chims were basically the same as a griff?

[Gaffer]

225 said:

I thought the late 2001 spec model chims were basically the same as a griff?

The last chims came out of the factory with Cerb brakes, cerb seats, cerb dash and 16 inch wheels all round.

Claire

[225]

I know about the seats/wheels etc (got one ) just thought I had read somewhere that they shared more Griff compoents.

[purple helmut]

The following points are also worth noting :-

There were many more Chimaera's made than Griffiths
According to Shpub's book there were 5,676 Chims, whereas only 2445 Griffs (of which 716 were pre cats).

Also it was the Griff that created the 'storm' at the 1990 motor show therefore it could be said that it was the Griff that created the turning point for TVR in the early 90's.

I think for these reasons the Griff is more likely to be a classic in furure years and will hold its value better (this is already showing in the £ figures.

For me it had to be the Griffith, there was just something 'special' about the car that the Chim just did'nt have for me.

but at the end of the day its all down to personal choice and how much money you have.

[Gaffer]

purple helmut said:

The following points are also worth noting :- There were many more Chimaera's made than Griffiths According to Shpub's book there were 5,676 Chims, whereas only 2445 Griffs (of which 716 were pre cats). Also it was the Griff that created the 'storm' at the 1990 motor show therefore it could be said that it was the Griff that created the turning point for TVR in the early 90's. I think for these reasons the Griff is more likely to be a classic in furure years and will hold its value better (this is already showing in the £ figures. For me it had to be the Griffith, there was just something 'special' about the car that the Chim just did'nt have for me. but at the end of the day its all down to personal choice and how much money you have.

Ahhh but the popularity of the Chim compared to the Griff proves its a better car it will become a classic as well. It still looks modern today as does the cerb where as IMO the griff looks very dated.

[macdeb]

Had two Griff' 500's. Then scratched my S6 itch. Came back to V8. Wanted another Griff' but a particularly nice Chimaera came along [450]. Underneath it all looks exactly the same. Though it does seem a little easier to live with. [especially the bigger [much] boot]. I've always tinkered with 'em and have to say that the Chim' looks as if it's been bolted together better. If that's because they built a lot more of them, or because I have a good one, who knows? But pound for pound you can get a better car for the same money if you get a Chimaera. Even though I am still a big Griff fan I am more than pleased with the Chim'. Good luck with whatever you choose.

[mongoose]

shpub said:

Nope. They are very different car despite sharing the basics. The Chimaera is a bit softer in terms of handling.

Cant agree with that i'm afraid,having owned both i can honestly say theres no real difference in the handling,and youd have to be going some for the difference due to the body shape to make much affect on the handling!!If your comparing 500's of the same year then they will have the same suspension(suspension changed several times throughout prodution on griffs and chims) as jellison points out,mine did.You also have to bear in mind that many will have been altered from standard by now,both with poly bushes and/or different shocks and springs.
I found the most noticeable difference to be in the feel of the driving position funnily enough.It all comes down to which you prefer the looks of,and if you want the practicality of the chim or not,but essentially you will definately be getting the same car either way.

[JonRB]

purple helmut said:

There were many more Chimaera's made than Griffiths According to Shpub's book there were 5,676 Chims, whereas only 2445 Griffs (of which 716 were pre cats).

Yes, but an aweful lot of those Chimaeras were 400s.

There were less Chimaera 500's produced than Griffith 500's.

[petros]

The roof fits into the boot of the Chimaera and still leaves some room

[Gaffer]

And you can fit a Griff engine in the boot of a Chim, and a windscreen.



Claire

[shadowfax]

Gaffer said:

And you can fit a Griff engine in the boot of a Chim, and a windscreen. Claire

True

You can also get a couple of exhaust manifolds and a steering rack in a Griff boot and still have the parts man wondering where the white van has gone to

[griffter]

I found there was more left leg room in the Griff - important if you're very tall.
(Yes I'm sure there are many tall Chim drivers and a Chim will accomodate a tall driver very well - but there's more leg width in a Griff).