TVR Chimaera (1993 - 2003) 4.0 2d Owner Review

I'd always been drawn to TVR and so a 4 litre Chim is the obvious starting point, and a perfectly balanced one it is too. This car really is all things to all men- the romantic appeal of a British sports car blended with the lightweight V8 muscle car hooliganism that combines to provide impressive performance. You could even suggest a dash of grand tourer thrown in too, as this car is surprisingly comfortable. Even for me, being vertically challenged, getting in requires a minor act of contortionism, but once cocooned in the car you're transported to a world of leather and surprising relaxation. As long as you don't turn the key that is.. Having been converted to run on carburettors my car is encouraged into life with a small pump of the noise pedal, and as soon as the big beastie fires up it makes its presence known, roaring in anger at being woken from its slumber before settling into a low grumble. Selecting a gear is an enjoyable affair, with the low seating position and wide transmission tunnel providing a comfortable elbow resting position and the short throw of the stubby snick-snick gear lever always satisfying. At sensible town driving speeds the experience is for the most part pretty serene- but potholes are not your friends. The big lump up front does seem happy to potter along at speeds which won't engage plod, but the occasional rumble and lump reminds you that really it wants you to be stretching its legs a bit. If you are encouraged to bury your foot a bit deeper into the carpet, it responds like an excited Alsatian that's spotted a kid kicking a football- it goes. Propelled by a mountain of torque, you have to really be south of 1500rpm to not get an instant kick in the arse. The noise is easily the most engaging factor though- seemingly exactly proportional to the amount of accelerator you apply, it just keeps coming. A colossal roar emerges from within the bowels of the engine bay that seems to be rattling the fibreglass bonnet from its hinges- TVR build quality which only adds to the grin factor. Right as the expletives start to slip from your mouth, you find that extra half-inch of pedal travel which amplifies the sound to a degree which drowns out everything. The upshift comes early as a reminder that this is a brute, not a thoroughbred. But this only serves to bring you back into the peak powerband and as soon as you lift the clutch you surge forward yet again. In my experience this moment is usually accompanied by a pensioner in a rapidly approaching Peugeot which causes you to hit the anchors, which again is an involving thing- the brakes on my car in particular are not the strongest feature and locking up is a very real possibility to the uninitiated spoilt by ABS. The car also holds the road well through the twisties but at lower speeds caution is best applied so as not to lose rear traction against the wicked torque of that wonderful V8. You don't need to be a racing driver to handle this thing, but it helps to be switched on. More power is of course available, and there are faster cars out there, but for fans of TVR or anybody with petrol in their veins, this much entertainment rarely comes this accessible. Hence why this review has been all theatrics- because that's exactly what the Chim is. A wave of noise, fun, hysteria and laughter. To those who are dedicated, I cannot recommend it enough.