Chimeara or Griffith

Chimeara or Griffith

Author
Discussion

maverick dave

Original Poster:

58 posts

275 months

Sunday 9th December 2001
quotequote all
OK gonna buy one, got 20-22K to spend which one.
Am 6ft2in so don't know if ones has more leg room than the other. Need a boot to hold two sets of golf clubs
Don't need anything else special, thinking a 97/98 Griff Dark Blue or a 4.5 Chim 98?
Any thoughts??
Obviously haven't driven either yet, so don't know if they are completely different or what.
Am leaning to the Griff for some reason..... Any thoughts????

vindaloo

122 posts

275 months

Sunday 9th December 2001
quotequote all
Cerb not in the reckoning?

Dave_H

996 posts

290 months

Sunday 9th December 2001
quotequote all
I apologise if I upset any Chimeara owners, but this is only my opinion...

From previous threads there doesnt seem much different in the way of performance (engine size like for like), except the Griff has harder suspension. But I think on looks alone the Griff is the winner, there's less of them (a good thing in my book) , and between the two I think the Griff has aged far better.

This is only my opinion. Having said the above, I still like the Chimeara, in fact I like anything with a TVR badge!

PetrolTed

34,443 posts

310 months

Sunday 9th December 2001
quotequote all
If you're worried about boot space for golf clubs etc, the Chimaera wins hands down there. Its boot is enormous.

Best bet is of course to go visit a dealer and try both.

only me

353 posts

276 months

Sunday 9th December 2001
quotequote all
tried both went for chim in the end more comfortable and much bigger boot also when you put the two side by side i think the chim is better looking. although it was a close battle. I think more important question is engine size ocbviously with griff its going to be 5 ltr but if you go for a chim i would also avoid the 4 as you will soon want for more, I tested all and ended up with a 5ltr no power steering chim and i still love it 4 months later

Edited by only me on Sunday 9th December 18:32

yum

529 posts

280 months

Sunday 9th December 2001
quotequote all
It's mostly been said.

The Chimaera has a much larger boot, and people tell me that the chimaera is more comfortable on a long run. the Griff is probably better on the track.

The 4.5 Chimaera appears to be the preferred engine, as it has more power that the 4L but is more useable on a daily basis that the 5L.

NoisyGriff

576 posts

275 months

Sunday 9th December 2001
quotequote all
I ran throught this thought process just over a year ago. I settled on a Griff. Here's why:
Both cars look awesome.
Both cars go like waxed meteors.
But... if you are buying second hand, then you have to consider the way the previous owner(s) have treated their cars (hahaha - we all thrash them, right?). The Griff is slightly less practical than the Chim and slightly stiffer - a more involved drive. This makes the Griff more likely to have been a second car, wrapped up in a warm garage during the winter. As mine was.
As an aside, I can get two golf bags, the roof and a hankerchief in the boot.
Whatever you buy, you'll love it.

Brm Brm

217 posts

281 months

Monday 10th December 2001
quotequote all
Or really stand out from the croud,buy the tasty looking SEAC thats advertised in Sprint at the moment and haggle for some change (shouldn't be too difficult!) Admittedly I may be just a tad biased but peformance is similar, golf clubs will fit in the boot and SEACs are just that little bit more rare these days - chimps and griffs are both still GREAT cars though!!!

Edited by Brm Brm on Monday 10th December 00:19

Marshy

2,749 posts

291 months

Monday 10th December 2001
quotequote all
I'm still puzzled by the frequent assertion that 5 litre Chimaeras are somehow less usable day to day than a smaller-engined variant.

Can anyone tell me why? I find my 500 pretty usable in all conditions and have been using it full time for the last, er, er, six weeks or something.

GasBlaster

27,428 posts

286 months

Monday 10th December 2001
quotequote all
One is a classic design and the other was called "Project Ugly Pig No 1".

(Souce: Steve Heath, "The TVR Griffith and Chimaera", page 9)

NOTE: NOT MY WORDS!!!

See if you can guess which one is which!





GarryM

1,113 posts

290 months

Monday 10th December 2001
quotequote all
I posted Griff vs Chim a year ago asking the same question (minus the golf clubs). I wanted a no-compromise car and bought a Griff. I love the look of both and to be honest there is very little difference in the handling (to my mind at least). I think the Griff has a better interior and it doesn’t have that structural bar running across the passenger side at knee height - may be a problem for you if you’re a passenger or if you have tall friends. I agree that the Griff seems to have aged a little better than the Chim - brought home recently when the Chim was photographed alongside a Tamora and Tuscan on the cover of Top Gear magazine.

Either way, the condition of the car and its history are the most important factors. Make sure everything is standard (or if not get an explanation as to why) and that everything works!! A full history is essential and check over all the detailing - if the owner is genuine, is clearly interested in the car and has looked after it like a baby, then it’ll be a good one. Get a dealer or specialist to give it a thorough check before handing over the notes. Common sense but it’s surprising how many people just fall in love with the first one and overlook the problems - until they’ve paid for it!


Edited by GarryM on Monday 10th December 17:59