griffith 500 or cerbera 4.5
Discussion
I have owned both. Had two 500s over the past 4 years and now have a 4.5 Cerb.
I'd say the Griff was way more useable as a daily driver, but less so in terms of weather protection. But that said, the Griff was way warmer in winter than the Cerb is.
The Griffs were much cheaper to run on a daily basis. More miles out of a smaller tank on the Griff.
Widescreen windscreen format on the Cerb means less of a view.
Getting the Cerb out of the garage seems much more of an event than with the Griff.
Much less drive-train shunt in the Cerb and way easier to drive in bad traffic. Probably due to the higher low RPM torque on the Rover engine.
Noise from a Griff is great. Lovely V8 rumble. But for fireworks and attention grabbing audio-riot the Cerb has it all
On balance, if it was my only car and it had to be used every day, then I'd go for the Griff. Unless you need to carry stuff around (including a passenger) in which case it would be the Cerb.
I'd say the Griff was way more useable as a daily driver, but less so in terms of weather protection. But that said, the Griff was way warmer in winter than the Cerb is.
The Griffs were much cheaper to run on a daily basis. More miles out of a smaller tank on the Griff.
Widescreen windscreen format on the Cerb means less of a view.
Getting the Cerb out of the garage seems much more of an event than with the Griff.
Much less drive-train shunt in the Cerb and way easier to drive in bad traffic. Probably due to the higher low RPM torque on the Rover engine.
Noise from a Griff is great. Lovely V8 rumble. But for fireworks and attention grabbing audio-riot the Cerb has it all
On balance, if it was my only car and it had to be used every day, then I'd go for the Griff. Unless you need to carry stuff around (including a passenger) in which case it would be the Cerb.
Here is what I posted on a similar, earlier thread:
The Griff and Chimera have no roll over or side impact protection. Just one layer of fibreglass between you and the incoming tree/bus. This is why I sold my Griff. There have been lots of deaths in these cars reported on here. The Cerb has a steel roll over cage and side impact beams built in. Several people on here have walked away from monster crashes in them. The Wedge models are also very strong in a crash because they are built to federal regulations. Whatever you do get some driving tuition from Ride Drive [url]www.ridedrive.co.uk/[/url], this should be compulsory for new owners. RWD with a high power weight ratio will definitely bite the unwary, people have bent TVRs on the drive home from buying them. Remember there is no ABS, no airbags and no traction control, it requires a high level of skill from the driver. This is one reason why there is so much mutual respect between TVR owners which has become part of the ethos of this site.
Older models (Wedge, Chimp, Griff) have tuned versions of the Rover V8 which is simple and easy to work on. One point to watch is that these engines were never designed for high lift cams so never rev them till they are warm or you will be paying 1500 quid for a new camshaft and rebuild. Then TVR thought they would make their own engines. TVRs own V8 in the Cerb is based on racing engine technology and has a flat plane crank instead of the pyramid crank in the Rover engine. It is very, very powerful but not quite as powerful as TVR say. It is generally quite reliable. This power is exhilarating but can very easily get you into trouble. The slightest indiscretion on a greasy road can see you sideways. The power delivery is different from the Rover motor with far less initial torque and far more high end power. You will not believe the accelerarion from 120 upwards. It is very easy to find yourself doing 140 plus on A and B road straights. The Speed six engine in all current models has had a problematic time. Many owners have had multiple rebuilds. It is supposed to have been fixed many times, maybe it is now. Having seen/heard owners giving these engines massive revs from stone cold at Supercar Sunday and Le Mans you cannot put all the blame on TVR for the failiures.
Whatever you buy look at the servicing costs on the TVR Power website [url]www.tvrpower.co.uk/[/url] then put aside a couple of thousand pounds a year extra for unexpected problems which may never happen. These cars need to be driven regularly to be reliable. Garage Queens have all sorts of problems. Also there is a huge difference in the quality of the servicing, some TVR garages out there do not know what they are doing and will do more harm than good to your car. Others are totally brilliant and will really look after your car making ownership a lot more painless. David Gerald, TVR Power and Joospeed are the obvious. Join the TVR owners club and read their magazine , Sprint. Go to a few of your local group's meetings and talk to everyone before you buy. There are regular big TVR gatherings, there is one coming up at Gaydon for yellow cars, once again you could go to these and talk to people.
Owning a TVR is a unique and fantastic lifetime experience. Do it, but with your eyes open.
The Griff and Chimera have no roll over or side impact protection. Just one layer of fibreglass between you and the incoming tree/bus. This is why I sold my Griff. There have been lots of deaths in these cars reported on here. The Cerb has a steel roll over cage and side impact beams built in. Several people on here have walked away from monster crashes in them. The Wedge models are also very strong in a crash because they are built to federal regulations. Whatever you do get some driving tuition from Ride Drive [url]www.ridedrive.co.uk/[/url], this should be compulsory for new owners. RWD with a high power weight ratio will definitely bite the unwary, people have bent TVRs on the drive home from buying them. Remember there is no ABS, no airbags and no traction control, it requires a high level of skill from the driver. This is one reason why there is so much mutual respect between TVR owners which has become part of the ethos of this site.
Older models (Wedge, Chimp, Griff) have tuned versions of the Rover V8 which is simple and easy to work on. One point to watch is that these engines were never designed for high lift cams so never rev them till they are warm or you will be paying 1500 quid for a new camshaft and rebuild. Then TVR thought they would make their own engines. TVRs own V8 in the Cerb is based on racing engine technology and has a flat plane crank instead of the pyramid crank in the Rover engine. It is very, very powerful but not quite as powerful as TVR say. It is generally quite reliable. This power is exhilarating but can very easily get you into trouble. The slightest indiscretion on a greasy road can see you sideways. The power delivery is different from the Rover motor with far less initial torque and far more high end power. You will not believe the accelerarion from 120 upwards. It is very easy to find yourself doing 140 plus on A and B road straights. The Speed six engine in all current models has had a problematic time. Many owners have had multiple rebuilds. It is supposed to have been fixed many times, maybe it is now. Having seen/heard owners giving these engines massive revs from stone cold at Supercar Sunday and Le Mans you cannot put all the blame on TVR for the failiures.
Whatever you buy look at the servicing costs on the TVR Power website [url]www.tvrpower.co.uk/[/url] then put aside a couple of thousand pounds a year extra for unexpected problems which may never happen. These cars need to be driven regularly to be reliable. Garage Queens have all sorts of problems. Also there is a huge difference in the quality of the servicing, some TVR garages out there do not know what they are doing and will do more harm than good to your car. Others are totally brilliant and will really look after your car making ownership a lot more painless. David Gerald, TVR Power and Joospeed are the obvious. Join the TVR owners club and read their magazine , Sprint. Go to a few of your local group's meetings and talk to everyone before you buy. There are regular big TVR gatherings, there is one coming up at Gaydon for yellow cars, once again you could go to these and talk to people.
Owning a TVR is a unique and fantastic lifetime experience. Do it, but with your eyes open.
From a previous thread..
I have only been into TVR's for 2 years now and started out with a Griff500, then moved on to a Cerb 4.5.
In my experience:
Griff 500 plus points:
Great sound.
very quick up to 100 ish
roof comes off
very reliable
not that expensive to service
Griff 500 - points
after 100 (ish) it was to be honest quick but not awesomely so.
handling was average on the best of days and I am not a really good driver so I didn’t have the confidence to push the car on the twisty bits.
IMHO opinion although its a gorgeous looking car - its looks/dynamics seem a bit dated now.
Cerb 4.5
Bought the car with (red) rose tinted specs. I am sure I could have bought a better car if I had looked around more. Initial thoughts were its not really that quick and def not as torquey as the Griff. I am a bit of a fiddler and I have spent a load of money on it. Some modifications and some repair works. I was beginning to think I had made the wrong decision as to be honest apart from the amazing looks and sound the performance was lacking for what is supposedly a 'supercar' fast car. A failed engine convinced me that a RR upgrade was the best way to go and this with a set of Nitrons has totally transformed the car. Now its much, much quicker, much better handling and stability at all speeds. I love it once again. It really is awesome to drive and the grunt (technical term) is amazing.. until it goes wrong again
Cerb 4.5 plus points
Looks amazing - most people will just gawk and stare, wondering what the hell is coming up the road..
sounds nuts - sets car alarms off in certain situations
Very quick - you have to adopt a different driving style with the Cerb. Rev it!
Much easier to drive hard than the Griff.
Cerb 4.5 - points
Has cost me a fortune in repairs and its let me down on a number of occasions, its the embarrassment of people sniggering as its dragged onto the back of the AA low loader.
Unreliable - see above - The car is not used regularly so what more can I expect, they need to be run very regular.
No roof off! Can’t have it all ways
I have only been into TVR's for 2 years now and started out with a Griff500, then moved on to a Cerb 4.5.
In my experience:
Griff 500 plus points:
Great sound.
very quick up to 100 ish
roof comes off
very reliable
not that expensive to service
Griff 500 - points
after 100 (ish) it was to be honest quick but not awesomely so.
handling was average on the best of days and I am not a really good driver so I didn’t have the confidence to push the car on the twisty bits.
IMHO opinion although its a gorgeous looking car - its looks/dynamics seem a bit dated now.
Cerb 4.5
Bought the car with (red) rose tinted specs. I am sure I could have bought a better car if I had looked around more. Initial thoughts were its not really that quick and def not as torquey as the Griff. I am a bit of a fiddler and I have spent a load of money on it. Some modifications and some repair works. I was beginning to think I had made the wrong decision as to be honest apart from the amazing looks and sound the performance was lacking for what is supposedly a 'supercar' fast car. A failed engine convinced me that a RR upgrade was the best way to go and this with a set of Nitrons has totally transformed the car. Now its much, much quicker, much better handling and stability at all speeds. I love it once again. It really is awesome to drive and the grunt (technical term) is amazing.. until it goes wrong again
Cerb 4.5 plus points
Looks amazing - most people will just gawk and stare, wondering what the hell is coming up the road..
sounds nuts - sets car alarms off in certain situations
Very quick - you have to adopt a different driving style with the Cerb. Rev it!
Much easier to drive hard than the Griff.
Cerb 4.5 - points
Has cost me a fortune in repairs and its let me down on a number of occasions, its the embarrassment of people sniggering as its dragged onto the back of the AA low loader.
Unreliable - see above - The car is not used regularly so what more can I expect, they need to be run very regular.
No roof off! Can’t have it all ways
Mike, everything the others have said is true. I'm fortunate in as much as I currently have both cars. I drive the Cerbera as my daily driver and the Griff 500 as my weekend car. Why? Peace of mind really - if nothing else I can leave the Cerbera in a car park and have a little less concern about the risks.
1) No door handles to bugger about with, ever seen a non cerbera person trying to get in a car - hillarious
2) No soft top to slash or enter through
3) No keys to use/lose - again anyone not used toa cerb really is buggered to try and start one
4) So in your face no one is going to nick it as they will be 'seen' in 2 minutes flat.
BUT - it really is your choice both are excellent cars and buying well will give you tons of fun whichever you choose.
1) No door handles to bugger about with, ever seen a non cerbera person trying to get in a car - hillarious
2) No soft top to slash or enter through
3) No keys to use/lose - again anyone not used toa cerb really is buggered to try and start one
4) So in your face no one is going to nick it as they will be 'seen' in 2 minutes flat.
BUT - it really is your choice both are excellent cars and buying well will give you tons of fun whichever you choose.
I just never understand these comparisons, it seems to me that it's like comparing chalk with cheese.
Griff: Classic British beef soft top muscle car
Cerb: Italian type high revving hard top super car
You may argue with the comparisons but IMHO the two cars cannot be compared and fulfill different criteria on an ownership level
Griff: Classic British beef soft top muscle car
Cerb: Italian type high revving hard top super car
You may argue with the comparisons but IMHO the two cars cannot be compared and fulfill different criteria on an ownership level
Where is the comparison?
The Cerby is just another fast tin top.
The Griff is the ultimate British roadster. Must ask why a 500 though? Save your dosh, buy an earlier 4.3 pre-cat, shove some GAZ/AVO/Nitrons/Ohlins on her, spent a grand with Mark Adams & Austec tuning her up and for roughly the same money as your 500 you have a just as fast 4.3, that sounds vastly superior to the 500 and is stuck to the road by proper suspension.
The Cerby is just another fast tin top.
The Griff is the ultimate British roadster. Must ask why a 500 though? Save your dosh, buy an earlier 4.3 pre-cat, shove some GAZ/AVO/Nitrons/Ohlins on her, spent a grand with Mark Adams & Austec tuning her up and for roughly the same money as your 500 you have a just as fast 4.3, that sounds vastly superior to the 500 and is stuck to the road by proper suspension.
Id suggest you drive both, try your local dealer first, post a new thread in the griff and cerb forums asking if anyone local will take you for a ride (very friendly bunch the TVR lot ) and experience the chalk and cheese for yourself.
Bruciebabie and andysgriff have made good summaries. It really is horses for courses!
What I can say though after 2 months of Cerbera ownership, if you buy one, be prepared! The fun factor is imense, immeasureable, and insane! You cant pass through a city without having less than 6 eyeballs upon you, people stop, stare, look back, clap, cheer, shout, photograph, make enthusiastic mike tyson like arm gestures hinting that they want you to put the pedal to the mat and lay down some rubber. The fun never stops from that point of view.
The cerb has got more fun built into it than a barrel full of performing circus midgets. It pops and bangs so loud young girls shriek when you go by (happened many times) you set of car alarms daily
and when you do give it some welly it just goes, and goes, and in seconds you're doing tripple figures having run out of road and bottle. A V8 cerbie will pull like a train in any gear. The engine comes alive at 4k revs and goes on past 7k, the sound (just in my opinion) is far more exciting than a rover (I had one, love it, its different and cant be compared other than to say I personally prefer the cerb) and did I mention the pops and bangs? 
Bottom line for me is looks. The griff is a stunner, but (once again, just in my opinion) the cerbera is a truly stunning car. A cerbera will look like its doing 100 when it standing still
Heavily biased, both are great, drive a few of each and follow your heart.
) and experience the chalk and cheese for yourself. Bruciebabie and andysgriff have made good summaries. It really is horses for courses!
What I can say though after 2 months of Cerbera ownership, if you buy one, be prepared! The fun factor is imense, immeasureable, and insane! You cant pass through a city without having less than 6 eyeballs upon you, people stop, stare, look back, clap, cheer, shout, photograph, make enthusiastic mike tyson like arm gestures hinting that they want you to put the pedal to the mat and lay down some rubber. The fun never stops from that point of view.
The cerb has got more fun built into it than a barrel full of performing circus midgets. It pops and bangs so loud young girls shriek when you go by (happened many times) you set of car alarms daily
and when you do give it some welly it just goes, and goes, and in seconds you're doing tripple figures having run out of road and bottle. A V8 cerbie will pull like a train in any gear. The engine comes alive at 4k revs and goes on past 7k, the sound (just in my opinion) is far more exciting than a rover (I had one, love it, its different and cant be compared other than to say I personally prefer the cerb) and did I mention the pops and bangs? Bottom line for me is looks. The griff is a stunner, but (once again, just in my opinion) the cerbera is a truly stunning car. A cerbera will look like its doing 100 when it standing still
Heavily biased, both are great, drive a few of each and follow your heart.
No, no, no - save money all round and buy a 500 Chimaera!
Much better value and looks than a Griff, the Cerbera is a great car in it's own right, I love the Cerb but roof comes off on the RV8 TVRs and they are more cost effective to run.
Take the money from the 4.3 Griff complete with mods, buy the Chimaera and blow the rest on a nice holiday!
Job done!
Much better value and looks than a Griff, the Cerbera is a great car in it's own right, I love the Cerb but roof comes off on the RV8 TVRs and they are more cost effective to run.
Take the money from the 4.3 Griff complete with mods, buy the Chimaera and blow the rest on a nice holiday!
Job done!
Griff 500
Expensive to run. £1K - £4K pa avg £1.5K
Unreliable.
Dangerous in a crash.
Unusual handling.
But great engine warble and lovely in the summer.
A classic (but maybe was a bit old when it was born).
Not bad every day car.
Engine runs out of puff.
Appreciating!
Cerbera
Astronimcally expensive to run. £1.5 - £5K pa ! Avg £3K.
Very unreliable.
PRetty safe in a crash.
Not bad handling for a TVR.
Race Engine (4.2 and 4.5) character is fab (flames, pops, revvy)
An all time amazing looking car.
Great if you have a couple of small kids.
S6 engine is a nightmare in Cerbs.
Appreciating!
All IMHO
Expensive to run. £1K - £4K pa avg £1.5K
Unreliable.
Dangerous in a crash.
Unusual handling.
But great engine warble and lovely in the summer.
A classic (but maybe was a bit old when it was born).
Not bad every day car.
Engine runs out of puff.
Appreciating!
Cerbera
Astronimcally expensive to run. £1.5 - £5K pa ! Avg £3K.
Very unreliable.
PRetty safe in a crash.
Not bad handling for a TVR.
Race Engine (4.2 and 4.5) character is fab (flames, pops, revvy)
An all time amazing looking car.
Great if you have a couple of small kids.
S6 engine is a nightmare in Cerbs.
Appreciating!
All IMHO
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