Chimaera Ownership: Day 1/2
Discussion
So I had a clear goal.. I love driving my S but want someting with a bit more "go".. so the Chimaera seemed a good choice..
Having sold the S before even really registering what happened, we were on the rollercoaster of car change once more and after the "M@ needs your advice" thread (thanks all for the contribution) there were two clear messages.
1. yes the 4.3 is "better" than the 4.0
2. Buy on condition of the car, engine is secondary.
So this weekend I had a 4.3 to see and a 4.0
The 4.3 was a nice car, well priced, nothing wrong with it at all. The front was fairly shot blasted, but this was discussed beforehand, and other than that the overall condition was fine. Richard, the seller took me for a spin and I must admit I wasn't that inspired.. undeniably quick, but lacking the excitement of a sportscar, no grinning, chuckling or anything really. To be honest, he should have given it a bit more of a caning to impress me, but that's always a double edged sword for the seller (ie. god does he drive it like this all the time!?). Either way I left with the feeling that I'd made a bit of a mistake and the Chimaera wasn't the "right" car.
On the way home I reflected on the purpose of the vehicle as I need to drive it every day as my main car, and this mitigated my original decision to look at chimaera's, afterall some days you just want to get home, not do the RAC rally or similar down the B roads. With this I began to think that perhaps I'd been a bit unfair on the car, but then again for an alledged 0-60 in 4.6 seconds, the car really didn't feel fast.
Sunday dawned with a jaunt to idly look at a 4.0, expecting to be even more depresed as with 45bhp less than the 4.3, this would seem downright pedestrian. However on seeing the car sat proudly on the sellers drive there was a feeling of hope in the air. Having looked over (under, and all round) the car for about an hour, and been very impressed, I was then really not wanting to shatter the illusion by going for a drive in it. In fact the seller was probably a bit confused when on starting the car up early on, I asked him to switch it off again so I could run over its mechanicals, rather than "burn" into the sunset at first oppertunity.
So eventually we ventured out in it.. and had a nice bit of a drive round some A and B roads and I felt pretty good about it, there seemed to be a bit more crispness in the handling compared to the 4.3, perhaps something to do with the new wishbones, bushes, and gas shocks.. I just don't know. Anyway, on to my turn and it was actaully a pleasant suprise, the 4.0 puts out enough power to get you from A to B with a good sense of urgency, but without the feeling of there being too much at the back wheels (is there such a thing ! :-)). the car itself handled beautifully through the varied roads and although lacking the raw roadtyre feeling that you get with the S steering, there was still enough response going on that you felt confident on the road.
So, was I still disappointed, and had I made the right move in seling the S? Well yes and no... The S is classically a "sportscar" with very little compromises and lacking on most creature comforts. Whereas the chimaera has more "car" about it and even has bootspace !, but less of the "sportscar".
With undeniably more power the chimaera is fast, but lacks the raw excitement of the S. With the S you get the feeling that you're in a little rocket-powered go-Kart, in comparison the Chimaera you feel like your in a bond-car; just enough speed to beat the badies, but still enough gadgets and comfort to drive in a dinner suit. I think perhaps the ideal "sportscar" in this league is possibly the V8S..
A note on exhausts (pun intended).. The V8 produces the kind of noise that makes pedestrians smile, and, as demonstrated, actually IMO sounds beter from outside the car than inside (ie driveby). Inside you just get an authoritive and powerful note, but not the enthusiastic "drive me" crispness that comes from the V6 S. The V6 exhaust is like a little demon on your shoulder shouting "more, FASTER" in your ear, whereas the V8 demon says "we're so powerful, we've got nothing to prove"... Perhaps the V6 is the Jack Russel equivalent and the V8 is the Doberman.. (if that analogy works).
Suffice to say, after all this I bought the 4.0.. It should keep me out of trouble until the Cerbera calls....
Cheers
Matt.
PS thanks to ALL who posted in "Whos Selling", "M@H needs advice" and others..
>>> Edited by M@H on Monday 16th September 15:21
Having sold the S before even really registering what happened, we were on the rollercoaster of car change once more and after the "M@ needs your advice" thread (thanks all for the contribution) there were two clear messages.
1. yes the 4.3 is "better" than the 4.0
2. Buy on condition of the car, engine is secondary.
So this weekend I had a 4.3 to see and a 4.0
The 4.3 was a nice car, well priced, nothing wrong with it at all. The front was fairly shot blasted, but this was discussed beforehand, and other than that the overall condition was fine. Richard, the seller took me for a spin and I must admit I wasn't that inspired.. undeniably quick, but lacking the excitement of a sportscar, no grinning, chuckling or anything really. To be honest, he should have given it a bit more of a caning to impress me, but that's always a double edged sword for the seller (ie. god does he drive it like this all the time!?). Either way I left with the feeling that I'd made a bit of a mistake and the Chimaera wasn't the "right" car.
On the way home I reflected on the purpose of the vehicle as I need to drive it every day as my main car, and this mitigated my original decision to look at chimaera's, afterall some days you just want to get home, not do the RAC rally or similar down the B roads. With this I began to think that perhaps I'd been a bit unfair on the car, but then again for an alledged 0-60 in 4.6 seconds, the car really didn't feel fast.
Sunday dawned with a jaunt to idly look at a 4.0, expecting to be even more depresed as with 45bhp less than the 4.3, this would seem downright pedestrian. However on seeing the car sat proudly on the sellers drive there was a feeling of hope in the air. Having looked over (under, and all round) the car for about an hour, and been very impressed, I was then really not wanting to shatter the illusion by going for a drive in it. In fact the seller was probably a bit confused when on starting the car up early on, I asked him to switch it off again so I could run over its mechanicals, rather than "burn" into the sunset at first oppertunity.
So eventually we ventured out in it.. and had a nice bit of a drive round some A and B roads and I felt pretty good about it, there seemed to be a bit more crispness in the handling compared to the 4.3, perhaps something to do with the new wishbones, bushes, and gas shocks.. I just don't know. Anyway, on to my turn and it was actaully a pleasant suprise, the 4.0 puts out enough power to get you from A to B with a good sense of urgency, but without the feeling of there being too much at the back wheels (is there such a thing ! :-)). the car itself handled beautifully through the varied roads and although lacking the raw roadtyre feeling that you get with the S steering, there was still enough response going on that you felt confident on the road.
So, was I still disappointed, and had I made the right move in seling the S? Well yes and no... The S is classically a "sportscar" with very little compromises and lacking on most creature comforts. Whereas the chimaera has more "car" about it and even has bootspace !, but less of the "sportscar".
With undeniably more power the chimaera is fast, but lacks the raw excitement of the S. With the S you get the feeling that you're in a little rocket-powered go-Kart, in comparison the Chimaera you feel like your in a bond-car; just enough speed to beat the badies, but still enough gadgets and comfort to drive in a dinner suit. I think perhaps the ideal "sportscar" in this league is possibly the V8S..
A note on exhausts (pun intended).. The V8 produces the kind of noise that makes pedestrians smile, and, as demonstrated, actually IMO sounds beter from outside the car than inside (ie driveby). Inside you just get an authoritive and powerful note, but not the enthusiastic "drive me" crispness that comes from the V6 S. The V6 exhaust is like a little demon on your shoulder shouting "more, FASTER" in your ear, whereas the V8 demon says "we're so powerful, we've got nothing to prove"... Perhaps the V6 is the Jack Russel equivalent and the V8 is the Doberman.. (if that analogy works).
Suffice to say, after all this I bought the 4.0.. It should keep me out of trouble until the Cerbera calls....
Cheers
Matt.
PS thanks to ALL who posted in "Whos Selling", "M@H needs advice" and others..
>>> Edited by M@H on Monday 16th September 15:21
Lovely looking car Matt... like your blue, don't you!
It's always strange selling a car you like... bit like losing an old friend.
It may sound strange but when I sold my Cinquecento (and remember we're not exactly talking automotive finesse here!) I felt strangely sad. I'd had some good times in that car, and thoroughly enjoyed it... but I bouyed myself with the fact that it was going to a good home.
8 months later I was walking around the local scrappy, and my sorry looking Cinq was sitting there... turned out the 17 year old son of the woman I sold it to had stacked it... driving too fast it would seem... poor thing was an insurance write off (to expensive to repair apparently).
I still rue the day I sold it, but you have to move on... it's replacement brought on similar emotions when it went... and no doubt my Puma will when it goes at the end of the year.
Strange how, intelligent, grown men get attached to cars isn't it?
It's always strange selling a car you like... bit like losing an old friend.
It may sound strange but when I sold my Cinquecento (and remember we're not exactly talking automotive finesse here!) I felt strangely sad. I'd had some good times in that car, and thoroughly enjoyed it... but I bouyed myself with the fact that it was going to a good home.
8 months later I was walking around the local scrappy, and my sorry looking Cinq was sitting there... turned out the 17 year old son of the woman I sold it to had stacked it... driving too fast it would seem... poor thing was an insurance write off (to expensive to repair apparently).
I still rue the day I sold it, but you have to move on... it's replacement brought on similar emotions when it went... and no doubt my Puma will when it goes at the end of the year.
Strange how, intelligent, grown men get attached to cars isn't it?
quote:
Lovely looking car Matt... like your blue, don't you!
It's always strange selling a car you like... bit like losing an old friend.
It may sound strange but when I sold my Cinquecento (and remember we're not exactly talking automotive finesse here!) I felt strangely sad. I'd had some good times in that car, and thoroughly enjoyed it... but I bouyed myself with the fact that it was going to a good home.
8 months later I was walking around the local scrappy, and my sorry looking Cinq was sitting there... turned out the 17 year old son of the woman I sold it to had stacked it... driving too fast it would seem... poor thing was an insurance write off (to expensive to repair apparently).
I still rue the day I sold it, but you have to move on... it's replacement brought on similar emotions when it went... and no doubt my Puma will when it goes at the end of the year.
Strange how, intelligent, grown men get attached to cars isn't it?
Roop was just the same when he sold his Cinq - was nearly in tears at bedtime. Still goes on about how he wished he had kept it. Probably will be the same when he sells the Golf.
C
Very nice M@H, lovely colour too. I'm sure you two will have lots of fun 
Just don't race any white integrales that I own
.
BTW, What is the interior like on the Chim, my next car will be a Tiv but I'm still deciding what I would like to go for, liked the detailed report above, sort of makes me want an S.
Just don't race any white integrales that I own
. BTW, What is the interior like on the Chim, my next car will be a Tiv but I'm still deciding what I would like to go for, liked the detailed report above, sort of makes me want an S.
Very nice Matty old boy (sorry if that sounded a bit like batty boy 
). There is no interior like the Tuscan, on any car, ever, I love it. But the S and the Chim are very nice in a more classy and as you so rightly put it 'understated' sort of way. Is a Griff sort of on a par with a Chim? I do really like the idea of the way the S drives according to you though.
). There is no interior like the Tuscan, on any car, ever, I love it. But the S and the Chim are very nice in a more classy and as you so rightly put it 'understated' sort of way. Is a Griff sort of on a par with a Chim? I do really like the idea of the way the S drives according to you though.quote:
Very nice Matty old boy (sorry if that sounded a bit like batty boy
I don't have much Griff knowledge but from my understanding, its more of a drivers car than the chimaera..
The S / Chim choice is a difficult one.. I think a lot of it comes down to if you have another car to drive on the days when you don't want to "drive"..
I also reckon if you went from a Chimarea to an S you'd have a different opinion as of course the S has a lot less power, just more "driving" fun IMO..
I Think the S makes a great first TVR, they don’t have to many problems, they are cheap to maintain as they use so many ford bits, and they are great fun. I’ve had mine for 18 months and now want a Griffith but that tends to happen, although I'm glad I had the S first. Because the S prices have bottomed out they shouldn’t lose much money either.
If you make it to Virginia Waters on Sunday you can have a spin in mine and see if you like them.
If you make it to Virginia Waters on Sunday you can have a spin in mine and see if you like them.
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