Ami I mad or what?
Discussion
BuzzLightyear said:
Now, I realise I am looking at a 20+ year old TVR (!) and it is NOT going to be like a new BMW as far as reliability is concerned but, am I going to regret it or are the times when everything's working, the weather is OK and the top's down going to make it all worthwhile?
So far my Z4 has had:Failed starter
Failed headlight washer
Warped discs after a day of spirited driving
Worn/failed bushes
New AC system
Creaking strut braces
Transmission clink
In 9 months of ownership.
In 12 years of Griffith ownership I have had:
Failed alternator.
Simpo Two said:
My advice is always to get the best one you can afford. Every TVR is born different and gets increasingly different in the hands of various owners. Buy a £12K car and sell it for £11K; buy an £18K car and sell it for £17K. The loss is the same but which do you think is likely to be the better one? Unless you're a very good judge of horseflesh and/or can get stuff done cheaply I'd take the safer option.
I won't get into an argument on this one but be careful of paying those huge premiums from dealers and question very carefully what you are getting for that premium - ie. how good is the guarantee going to be on a 20 year old car? Otherwise you may find yourself buying from a dealer for £25K and selling it privately for £17K.These are pretty simple cars and I wouldn't hesitate in buying privately if a private owner has obviously been looking after the car and has a fistful of bills and a clear history - there are many owners (like myself) who do their own maintenance and are not driven by the clock or profit. Pete
I am the OP of this thread but somehow managed to lose my password to log in and the tech support wouldn't answer my emails so I've had to re-register with a new name!
Anyway, the important thing is, as of last night, I have now bought the aforementioned Griffith 500 and am very happy with it indeed.
I had the pre-purchase inspection carried out by Dan Taylor TVR in Aylesford and, although he found a few odds and ends which will need to be sorted out, the car is very clean and well cared for.
Many thanks to Andy, the previous owner and to Gary ("Billy no brakes", on here) for their help, advice and all.
Already ordered a few trinkets including an indoor / outdoor cover and battery conditioner and plan to do a rolling "fettle" to improve a couple of tatty bits in the interior and a few paint blemishes on the exterior.
Enjoying having a nice, big V8 in the family again!
PS
Still think I may be mad but caring less...
Anyway, the important thing is, as of last night, I have now bought the aforementioned Griffith 500 and am very happy with it indeed.
I had the pre-purchase inspection carried out by Dan Taylor TVR in Aylesford and, although he found a few odds and ends which will need to be sorted out, the car is very clean and well cared for.
Many thanks to Andy, the previous owner and to Gary ("Billy no brakes", on here) for their help, advice and all.
Already ordered a few trinkets including an indoor / outdoor cover and battery conditioner and plan to do a rolling "fettle" to improve a couple of tatty bits in the interior and a few paint blemishes on the exterior.
Enjoying having a nice, big V8 in the family again!
PS
Still think I may be mad but caring less...
Ha ha!
Day 3 and the first breakdown. Dodgy alternator left me with a flat battery on the way to work this morning.
Within a couple of hours, Green Flag had me running again but the voltmeter reading is all over the place - from in the red at the bottom of the gauge to a max of about 13V. Putting on the indicators or lights had the needle doing the "can can".
Battery checked out OK so alternator is up for attention. Oh, deep joy!
Aside from that, car is great fun. Very warm driving it today though wih lots of heat getting into the cabin and it certainly is quite "physical", supplementing visits to the gym
. Does seem that people like driving up your arris though...
Day 3 and the first breakdown. Dodgy alternator left me with a flat battery on the way to work this morning.
Within a couple of hours, Green Flag had me running again but the voltmeter reading is all over the place - from in the red at the bottom of the gauge to a max of about 13V. Putting on the indicators or lights had the needle doing the "can can".
Battery checked out OK so alternator is up for attention. Oh, deep joy!
Aside from that, car is great fun. Very warm driving it today though wih lots of heat getting into the cabin and it certainly is quite "physical", supplementing visits to the gym
. Does seem that people like driving up your arris though...Dan is fitting a new alternator today and is doing a levels check and checking that the fans are coming on and working as they should. Even allowing for the recent weather, it does seem to get pretty hot and the temp gauge usually sits at about 100 / just below the red. Gauge is probably inaccurate but want to be sure it won't overheat.
I have also booked it back in with him for the other items he found on the pre-purchase inspection to be done which are:
Oil leak from oil pressure switch
Oil leak from sump gasket
Front wheel bearings
Steering gaiter
And a new MoT
Might possibly have been able to do one or two of those jobs myself but quite happy to let Dan take care of it all for me: seems like a really nice bloke and obviously knows his stuff.
Prices seem very fair too although I might see if I can source the wheel bearings any cheaper - he has quoted £360 for the pair, plus fitting and VAT, or does that sound reasonable?
I have also booked it back in with him for the other items he found on the pre-purchase inspection to be done which are:
Oil leak from oil pressure switch
Oil leak from sump gasket
Front wheel bearings
Steering gaiter
And a new MoT
Might possibly have been able to do one or two of those jobs myself but quite happy to let Dan take care of it all for me: seems like a really nice bloke and obviously knows his stuff.
Prices seem very fair too although I might see if I can source the wheel bearings any cheaper - he has quoted £360 for the pair, plus fitting and VAT, or does that sound reasonable?
BreakingBad said:
Prices seem very fair too although I might see if I can source the wheel bearings any cheaper - he has quoted £360 for the pair, plus fitting and VAT, or does that sound reasonable?
That must be fitted & inc vat. I've just done my front wheel bearings & the bits were nowhere near that amount from TVR Power.http://www.powersperformance.co.uk/store/search/Wh...
Well I've had my griff over ten years now, I haven't used it on the road for 2 years now
Due to being a bit lazy, I have probably done over 60k in it and I have never broken down as such in it though
It's failed to start on the starter a couple of times due to heat soak I bump started it instead.but more down to me not replacing it tbh, I bought mine with low miles from racing green but it had 9 previous owners
Get it bought they are great cars that have a special feel all of there own
Due to being a bit lazy, I have probably done over 60k in it and I have never broken down as such in it though
It's failed to start on the starter a couple of times due to heat soak I bump started it instead.but more down to me not replacing it tbh, I bought mine with low miles from racing green but it had 9 previous owners
Get it bought they are great cars that have a special feel all of there own
loose cannon said:
Well I've had my griff over ten years now, I haven't used it on the road for 2 years now
Due to being a bit lazy, I have probably done over 60k in it and I have never broken down as such in it though
It's failed to start on the starter a couple of times due to heat soak I bump started it instead.but more down to me not replacing it tbh, I bought mine with low miles from racing green but it had 9 previous owners
Get it bought they are great cars that have a special feel all of there own
Edited due to being a tDue to being a bit lazy, I have probably done over 60k in it and I have never broken down as such in it though
It's failed to start on the starter a couple of times due to heat soak I bump started it instead.but more down to me not replacing it tbh, I bought mine with low miles from racing green but it had 9 previous owners
Get it bought they are great cars that have a special feel all of there own
t Sorry I should really read threads properly 
BreakingBad said:
Just checked the estimate again and the pair of wheel bearings are only £66, it's the labour which is jacking the price of replacement up. I think there may be an error in the figures here so I won't comment further until I've had the chance to check them with him.
Enjoy the car though, they are great. Pete
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