Test Drive questions
Discussion
Am getting serious now, drove my first TVRS on the weekend, 1 Griff and 3 Chims.
I hired a Griff for the weekend and test drove, 2 4.5s and a 4, big power difference, 5 is a bit scary for me actually, but did love it!!
One question though, one 4.5 I was keen on drove really well, but stuck a little in the gears, I commented to the dealer and they said they would check it out but thought the clutch may be on the way out, clutch was a bit heavy as well.
I have very little idea with cars mechanically, so do you guys have any idea.
Love the cars though, will buy very very soon.....
I hired a Griff for the weekend and test drove, 2 4.5s and a 4, big power difference, 5 is a bit scary for me actually, but did love it!!
One question though, one 4.5 I was keen on drove really well, but stuck a little in the gears, I commented to the dealer and they said they would check it out but thought the clutch may be on the way out, clutch was a bit heavy as well.
I have very little idea with cars mechanically, so do you guys have any idea.
Love the cars though, will buy very very soon.....
If the clutch is on its way out, it would be a big bill. Don't buy one if there is any doubt on that score.
With some cars, you find that it is eaier to put them into gear when the engine is switched off - clutch drag, some call it, when the clutch in't fully disconnecting. If you get that, walk away.
Good luck!
r
>> Edited by yum on Sunday 21st July 21:46
With some cars, you find that it is eaier to put them into gear when the engine is switched off - clutch drag, some call it, when the clutch in't fully disconnecting. If you get that, walk away.
Good luck!
r
>> Edited by yum on Sunday 21st July 21:46
The Rover box (assuming that's what was in there) must be filled with ATF, not normal hypoid oil. If you use the wrong stuff, the internal oil pump can't shift it, so nothing gets lubricated and the box falls apart.
Generally though, that box is noted for a slow action, so it may just be you're not used to it. If it's the T-wassname that the later cars have, er, I haven't any experience of it. So I'll shut up.
;-)
Ian
Generally though, that box is noted for a slow action, so it may just be you're not used to it. If it's the T-wassname that the later cars have, er, I haven't any experience of it. So I'll shut up.
;-)
Ian
Thanks for that guys.
It was a 99 T Reg, and I did think it could be me, but I drove it twice, and another 4.5 just before it, and everything else was fine, just this one felt notchy and was difficult to move particularly from 2nd.
Gutted, really wanted this one, right color, late model, don't want to wait any longer for my own....
I know I know, don't buy the first one!!!!
It was a 99 T Reg, and I did think it could be me, but I drove it twice, and another 4.5 just before it, and everything else was fine, just this one felt notchy and was difficult to move particularly from 2nd.
Gutted, really wanted this one, right color, late model, don't want to wait any longer for my own....
I know I know, don't buy the first one!!!!
quote:
just this one felt notchy and was difficult to move particularly from 2nd.
Interesting - I tested an M-reg Griff 500 this weekend and I found shifting from 2nd to 3rd (but not 4th to 3rd) a bit difficult (hard to shift and also a little keen to slip into 1st!). Other gears were fine. Could this be down to the oil in there, or gate bias or something?
quote:
Ah, SGirl, I see you're trying Griffs....bet you don't buy an S now!!!
Don't put too much money on it!
I've tried one V8S (and another tonight!), a couple of Griffs and a couple of Chims. The jury is still out... Should have some news by the end of the week if my insurers ever get back to me with some prices! Thanks for all that.
I did ask the garage to have a look at the problem, and they are going to look at it and come back to me, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a start of a possible catalogue of problems. Still a bit worried on what it could be?
SGirl, yeah I drove 4 different cars on the weekend, and that was the only one where I missed a gearchange and put it back in 1st from 2nd, could be similar. Car drove fine otherwise. Did the clutch on the Griff seem a bit different?
I did ask the garage to have a look at the problem, and they are going to look at it and come back to me, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a start of a possible catalogue of problems. Still a bit worried on what it could be?
SGirl, yeah I drove 4 different cars on the weekend, and that was the only one where I missed a gearchange and put it back in 1st from 2nd, could be similar. Car drove fine otherwise. Did the clutch on the Griff seem a bit different?
quote:
SGirl, yeah I drove 4 different cars on the weekend, and that was the only one where I missed a gearchange and put it back in 1st from 2nd, could be similar. Car drove fine otherwise. Did the clutch on the Griff seem a bit different?
Not that I noticed especially. I found both the Griffs a bit harder to drive because I couldn't reach the pedals properly (must grow a bit before buying one!!), but the clutches on both of them felt about the same - the one without the shifting problem was a bit heavier, but that was it.
Got me worried now!! How much is a new clutch for a Griff?
I'm yet to start the test driving trail and to be honest I'm awfully 'green' at it....
I have not been a great one for tesing loads of a particular model and have tended to get in it. If I liked it or felt I could improve it I bought it. Including the S2.
I'm not promoting this approach you understand and have decided to drive plenty of Griffiths before I buy one...
My question therefor is how do you go about getting test drives without looking/counding/behaving like you are just looking to take it for a drive !?
'Cos if I was a slaesman that would really pi55 me off !!
Suggested dealers ?? I'm in London...
>> Edited by johno on Monday 22 July 14:49
>> Edited by johno on Monday 22 July 14:53
I have not been a great one for tesing loads of a particular model and have tended to get in it. If I liked it or felt I could improve it I bought it. Including the S2.
I'm not promoting this approach you understand and have decided to drive plenty of Griffiths before I buy one...
My question therefor is how do you go about getting test drives without looking/counding/behaving like you are just looking to take it for a drive !?
'Cos if I was a slaesman that would really pi55 me off !!
Suggested dealers ?? I'm in London...
>> Edited by johno on Monday 22 July 14:49
>> Edited by johno on Monday 22 July 14:53
quote:
My question therefor is how do you go about getting test drives without looking/counding/behaving like you are just looking to take it for a drive !?
Decide on the kind of car you like, then look for a few that meet that general plan (don't arrange to see dozens, you'll get bored!). Phone the dealer first and tell him which car of his you want to see. Then turn up and look like you've got lots of money!
Well, that's what I do and it's worked so far. I've also found that dealers are more willing to let you go for a pootle in a car if you crawl all over said car first, check out underneath, peer at the engine and make lots of "hmmm" noises. Why is this??
Clutches are not that expensive. Around 500-600 notes fitted. Not as cheap as a Fiesta, but nowhere near as expensive as anything remotely exotic.
Your 'problems' could have been caused by the master cylinder being on the way out. My clutch action is a lot smoother since having this replaced last year. They do fail on these cars (less than 50 for the part, 2ish hours to fit).
... or a lack of gearbox oil.
T/.
Your 'problems' could have been caused by the master cylinder being on the way out. My clutch action is a lot smoother since having this replaced last year. They do fail on these cars (less than 50 for the part, 2ish hours to fit).
... or a lack of gearbox oil.
T/.
quote:
Definitely book a test drive, the don't like you just turning up, even if you ring and tell them when you expect to arrive, Mole Valley, won't be going back!!!
I bought min from the Moles and test drove it after a phone call booking it etc. Bought from Redhill, you might be talking about Chessington.
For what its worth, I have just replaced the clutch fork that is operated by the slave cylinder. The pivot pin had pushed itself through the lever, this must have been happening gradually, as the clucth was getting more resistant, and gear selection was getting worse. However, just replacing the lever has made the clutch pedal much easier to depress.
Chris
Chris
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