thinking of swapping chim 500 for tuscan sp 6

[singh]

Have already posted this on the chim forum but felt it would be wise to ask you Tuscan drivers.
Have any of you been through this process(chim 500 trade up to Tuscan) what do you feel have been the major pro's and con's apart from the obvious expense of trading up in the first place! I do completely love the Chim but the look of the tuscan has got me besotted.

Thanks for any and all advice.

Sher Singh black chim 500

[RUF 3]

Suggest you read "My S6's engine has left the building" on "General TVR Stuff and Gossip". It may relate to a Cerbera but the engine's the same.
On Friday I swapped my 4.2 Cerbera for a 500 Griff and the relief to be out of the wallet emptying possibilities of TVR's own engines was immense.
OK the 500 may go bang, but any competent engineer can sort it and get the parts. The whole idea of being trapped where only the factory can sort it is scary,especially when you realise that half the time they are no better than a poor engine shop.
I have run Cosworth BDM and Hart engines in racing cars for years so have some experience of highly stressed race engines - my current 2.8 Hart Turbo produces 600 bhp on 1 bar of boost - that is stress!!
Every AJP engine I have heard sounds like a bag of spanners, hot or cold. My race engines (not built by me!) are much quieter and smoother. Strikes me that something is far from right.
Personally I want to use my road cars. I am not prepared to pay money to be a guinea pig in TVR's developement - I would expect to be paid for this.
Good luck if you buy the Tuscan, I suspect you may need it !

[johnwilk]

Singh,
I made the change in September last year. Chimaera 500 to Tuscan TU51TVR. The car is fantastic. It goes like a rocket ship and has suffered little in the way of niggles (windscreen wipers became disconnected, and gear lever fell off) Dealer fixed immediately. Handling, performance, looks and shear driving experience are streets ahead of the Chimp. If you feel inclined go for a test drive, but be warned, once bitten you won't leave in the Chimaera!


Wilks

[singh]

Thanks for the advice fella's, i suppose its representative that i get one favourable opinion and one from someone who has suffered.I must admit that the potential of the car to be a complete disaster takes the joy out of the buying experience. When I bought the Chim i was excpecting it to be far worse than it was, so when it leaked and the windscreen wiper fell off i wasn't too miffed but it seems from the various things i have read that this sp6 engine is a bit of an unknown quantity. Some of the view's expressed are just so contradictory, now i know a thread discussing the "virtues" of the sp 6 engine are as welcome as a pork chop at a jewish wedding so i wont harp on.
The damn thing is i just want the car to be right because its so bloody beautiful and sounds IMO great. Why can't life be simpler?

If i was to buy should i look privately or is this one occasion that you really need the back-up of a dealer?
I bought the Chim privately and am v.pleased with that decision also what safeguards could i follow to ensure (as far as is possible) that i get one that is quite well sorted? Is their a particular year or engine ie. 4L that is the best bet?
Was the 3.6 put in earlier cars?
What upgrades have there been (if there is a site where i could find out that would be well appreciated)

Thanx again

Sher Singh Black Chim 500

[davids]

I have recently swapped a Chimaera for a Tuscan and bought the Tuscan privately. I did quite a lot of research before buying and the results could fill up a encyclopedia! If you want to give me a call directly I will talk you through the information that I gathered.

Simon - 07779702223

[singh]

Simon,

Thank's a lot i will take you up on your kind offer and give you a bell one evening this week, if its not convenient just let me know and i can call you at the w/end or whenever suits.

Cheers