cerb or chim?

[sjh]

Hi All, I Am having a real dilema, all be it a very nice one, had a cerb which i sold last year, loved it , still grin just thinking about her. am in the market for another TVR this year although I'm torn between another Cerb or a Chimaera. Did have a few problems with the Cerb , none engine related though, new shocks and a few leaks to be sorted, nothing that major but the last service bill still topped 3K.

now, I've heard that Chimaeras are a little cheaper to maintain and run, and the Idea of a soft top does appeal but its not a Cerbera( taking into account the cost differences) . any comments would be welcome..

thanks

[manek]

Never owned a Cerbera so I can't comment exept to say that according to the Owners Cars page here on PH, it costs between 50-100% more to run a Cerbera -- and though they saound good at high revs, when at idle they sound like a bag of old nails as opposed to a deep V8 rumble. IMHO. :-)

-Manek-

[sjh]

not sure about that comment at idle, when cold did sound like a grandma with a 60 a day habit clearing her throat, but once it was warm,, sweet as you like.... think i could live with 50% extra but the unexpected still looms a little too large at this stage.... assuming you are a rover fan?

[manek]

Well, let's say I'd find it hard to give up the Rover V8 though the appeal of a more modern engine than that lump is strong. Imagine -- more than 50bhp/litre!

More importantly, I've started to realise that I've been upgrading my Chimaera bit by bit for three years now. What I'll end up with is a machine that's got all the bits a Tamora already has. And I'm starting to want one of those instead...

-Manek-

[cammy]

Bought a 2nd hand, 97R, Chimp 450 in Feb '01. Only had 15K miles on clock, but in 6 months did less than 1500 miles due to garage returns, including wrong fuel pump fuse (stopped at EXTREMELY busy roundabout, snapped cable to rev limiter (engine cutting out) and non-start after several Ok starts (still could'nt find problem). Put deposit down for Tamora but pulled out due to late production schedule, and the probable numerous "improvements" that would follow in ensuing months. Bought Cerbera 6 in Sept 01, and not a single problem to date. For me, there is no choice, the 6 is the better-looks, finish, performance. The engine noise is different, yeah, but I still had cars passing me (running in) with windows down. On start up the 6 sounds like a bag of nuts, told that due to nature of engine the parts expanded with heat to produce better power etc., who knows, but positively PURRS when warm!

Cammy, 71 CAM

[trefor]

quote:
Well, let's say I'd find it hard to give up the Rover V8 though the appeal of a more modern engine than that lump is strong. Imagine -- more than 50bhp/litre!

More importantly, I've started to realise that I've been upgrading my Chimaera bit by bit for three years now. What I'll end up with is a machine that's got all the bits a Tamora already has. And I'm starting to want one of those instead...

-Manek-

Manek - the CD which comes with EVO this month has some shots of them messing about in a Tamora and includes the sounds - it sounds pretty wicked once wound up!

T/.

[cerberus 1]

quote:
Never owned a Cerbera so I can't comment exept to say that according to the Owners Cars page here on PH, it costs between 50-100% more to run a Cerbera -- and though they saound good at high revs, when at idle they sound like a bag of old nails as opposed to a deep V8 rumble. IMHO. :-)

-Manek-
not with a sports exhaust and cats safely in the garage it doesnt and although my griff sounded good it doesnt come any where near those pops and bangs on the over run.....where do you get the 50 - 100 percent more from?

[pete C]

It's simple really, anyone who's owned a Cerbera that been even half decent will never be satisfied with anything else!!! I know, I've been there.

[clarky5150]

Here Here!!

[dyb]

I've had a 4.2 cerbie since 97 and tried a chimera for 2 weeks. It was like going back in time 20 years, handling was crap, it was falling apart (made in malaysia) and wasn't particularly quick no mater what the horsepower figures say. It has a few nice things - Sounded great when first started (cerbie sounds much better at higher rev's, especially with sports pipes and without cats ) and was great with roof down, even at high speeds.

Also
Why would anyone want a Tamora ? It's even worse looking than the tuscan.

[sjh]

In my eyes there are two sides to the family of TVR , you have the Cerbera/ Chmaera which are based on the same basic shape/ bullbog type stance, and you have the Tuscan/tamora??/Griffith which all seem to have a basic Griffith theme to them,just which ever style you prefer...so much is down to taste with TVR's as potentially no two are the same...just a thought...
I'll probably try the Chim for a year or so and if I like it I'll keep it if not then maybe back to a Cerb. have just checked out Peninsula(sp) site and their service charges seem very reasonable, and have heard good things about them so that might take siome of the sting out of owning a cerb after all...

S.

[sjh]

have just read my last post, my typing really is atrocious...

[MikeyT]

quote:
wasn't particularly quick no matter what the horsepower figures say.

DYB, Compared to your Cerb of course not, but to my everyday Passat, well ... don't get all blasé and spoil it for some of us who are yet to own one OK?

Mike

TVR owner in 2002

Edited by MikeyT on Wednesday 16th January 09:45

[plotloss]

Dont worry MikeyT, they're rocketship quick, like all their cousins!

So the speed is there, now all you need is to find the right one with oxblood leather...

Matt.

[MikeyT]

quote:
now all you need is to find the right one with oxblood leather...

Matt, your memory is excellent!

Mike

TVR owner in 2002

[dyb]

MikeyT

--don't get all blasé and spoil it for some of us who are yet to own one OK? --

Fair Comment.

[xenradio]

check out www.pikeynet.com click on index then cerb running costs. thats what decided me out of the two!
actually no it didnt its cos i only had 12k to spend so i guess i could get half of an old cerbie..