5 litre griff with power steering
Discussion
2 questions
Right then no. 1:
I rang up a dealer in Melton Mowbray wanting to test a griff a cerb and a chimaera. Phone rang for ages and was picked up by a very helpful service guy who basically said for reliability go with a 5 litre griff with power steering and you have a great car that goes like stink. Why power steering surely that is something else to go wrong or was I getting confused with his reliability schpeel and he probably meant it will make controlling the car easier.
No. 2
On this site performances figures show the 5l griff to be faster than a 5l chimp but evo show it the other way round in their reference section. Which one is a big fat liar?
Right then no. 1:
I rang up a dealer in Melton Mowbray wanting to test a griff a cerb and a chimaera. Phone rang for ages and was picked up by a very helpful service guy who basically said for reliability go with a 5 litre griff with power steering and you have a great car that goes like stink. Why power steering surely that is something else to go wrong or was I getting confused with his reliability schpeel and he probably meant it will make controlling the car easier.
No. 2
On this site performances figures show the 5l griff to be faster than a 5l chimp but evo show it the other way round in their reference section. Which one is a big fat liar?
Basically Billy, they're both the bl**dy same, or as near as you would ever be able to tell - simply down to which body shape you prefer.
No, you don't need power steering... with that amount of acceleration you need the car to hold it's line when you take your hands off to pray
>> Edited by burriana500 on Monday 6th October 18:35
No, you don't need power steering... with that amount of acceleration you need the car to hold it's line when you take your hands off to pray
>> Edited by burriana500 on Monday 6th October 18:35
I test drove a Griff without power steering and found it extremely heavy at slow speeds. Decided on a 500 with power steering. The only downside is less feel at speed, but this can be improved if you up-grade the suspension. Had Nitrons fitted recently and this helped the steering feel. Not up to the standard of a Tuscan, but much better than before.
burriana500 said:
Basically Billy, they're both the bl**dy same, or as near as you would ever be able to tell - simply down to which body shape you prefer.
No, you don't need power steering... with that amount of acceleration you need the car to hold it's line when you take your hands off to pray
>> Edited by burriana500 on Monday 6th October 18:35
Like what he says - the 2 are near as d@mn it identical. Both are wonderful - I prefer the Griff (smooth lines and fantastic sound) but opinions vary. Power steering is nice at Tescos but on the wide road is meaningless
Billybig said:
2 questions
Right then no. 1:
I rang up a dealer in Melton Mowbray wanting to test a griff a cerb and a chimaera. Phone rang for ages and was picked up by a very helpful service guy who basically said for reliability go with a 5 litre griff with power steering and you have a great car that goes like stink. Why power steering surely that is something else to go wrong or was I getting confused with his reliability schpeel and he probably meant it will make controlling the car easier.
No. 2
On this site performances figures show the 5l griff to be faster than a 5l chimp but evo show it the other way round in their reference section. Which one is a big fat liar?
Both the Chimaera and Griffith 5000 are identical in perfomance with power steering really being vital on a later Chimaera, but really makes little difference on the Griffith as it is seen more as the `hairy chested' TVR
Hope that helps
jamer said:
with power steering really being vital on a later Chimaera, but really makes little difference on the Griffith as it is seen more as the `hairy chested' TVR
Ha!... Thank you James, that makes it official then... see? The Griff is OBVIOUSLY the blokes car
... er, oops, sorry, was it something I said?
(headsfordooratgreatrateofspeed) 
>> Edited by burriana500 on Tuesday 7th October 09:03
Enough macho b*****t... 
Power steering is he way to go... It is a more direct rack, and if the back end does let go, power steering will give you a much better chance of catching it..
Seriously though - Drive one with and one without and I'm sure you will prefer the one with.
(proviso - me 5 years non pas griff 4.3, 5 years now Griff 500 with pas)
Don't be too suspicious of dealers they do tend to give good advice, PAS is good to have, tuscan/cerbera/t350 will be virtually unsaleable used without aircon, 18 inch wheels prefered on tuscan, etc.
If they say these things don't matter (they do on resale) then they are just trying to shift stock.
B
>> Edited by bjwoods on Tuesday 7th October 09:34
>> Edited by bjwoods on Tuesday 7th October 09:35
Power steering is he way to go... It is a more direct rack, and if the back end does let go, power steering will give you a much better chance of catching it..
Seriously though - Drive one with and one without and I'm sure you will prefer the one with.
(proviso - me 5 years non pas griff 4.3, 5 years now Griff 500 with pas)
Don't be too suspicious of dealers they do tend to give good advice, PAS is good to have, tuscan/cerbera/t350 will be virtually unsaleable used without aircon, 18 inch wheels prefered on tuscan, etc.
If they say these things don't matter (they do on resale) then they are just trying to shift stock.
B
>> Edited by bjwoods on Tuesday 7th October 09:34
>> Edited by bjwoods on Tuesday 7th October 09:35
burriana500 said:
with power steering really being vital on a later Chimaera, but really makes little difference on the Griffith as it is seen more as the `hairy chested' TVR
That's right Alasdair drag me into it
Ha!... Thank you James, that makes it official then... see? The Griff is OBVIOUSLY the blokes car
er, oops, sorry, was it something I said?
>> Edited by burriana500 on Tuesday 7th October 09:03
From the ones I've driven I've found that the main difference between the Chim and Griff (mechanically)is ride quality rather power/speed. I think this is also mentioned in 'the bible'. The Griff 400 is by far the stiffest ride, the chim is much softer. Thats one of the reasons why its more popular as an everyday car. The Griff 500 is somewhere between the two. Some people have fitted different shocks, e.g. Nitrons to alter this setup and of course there is a power difference between the 4 and 5ltr's. Although having said that I found I can pretty much keep up with 500's in my 4 litre on the queens highway (probably different story on a track!).
Regarding PAS, well my bro has a 500 with PAS and I find it makes little difference when at significant speed. In a non PAS car the steering has more feel and soon lightens up when you get going (especially when aquaplaning
). The only time I prefered the PAS was when parking - makes it a whole lot easier.
Regarding PAS, well my bro has a 500 with PAS and I find it makes little difference when at significant speed. In a non PAS car the steering has more feel and soon lightens up when you get going (especially when aquaplaning
). The only time I prefered the PAS was when parking - makes it a whole lot easier.I have PAS on my Griff, it was a mandatory option for my wife to able to drive, but she still wont.
The steering feels great to me, more feel that any other road car I have ever seriously been likely to own or drive on a daily basis and yes it helps when parking.
I don’t do track day’s or sprints etc. (I know I should, have not yet got round to it) but this time of year the back end starts to get a bit twitchy, after being used to those dry and sticky roads of summer, and the ability to quickly catch even low speed slides is definitely improved with PAS. If you’re a track day demon then I expect with all the sideways action either PAS or arms like tree trunks must be mandatory for Griff.
Cheers,
Simon.
The steering feels great to me, more feel that any other road car I have ever seriously been likely to own or drive on a daily basis and yes it helps when parking.
I don’t do track day’s or sprints etc. (I know I should, have not yet got round to it) but this time of year the back end starts to get a bit twitchy, after being used to those dry and sticky roads of summer, and the ability to quickly catch even low speed slides is definitely improved with PAS. If you’re a track day demon then I expect with all the sideways action either PAS or arms like tree trunks must be mandatory for Griff.
Cheers,
Simon.
simon.b said:
it was a mandatory option for my wife to able to drive, but she still wont.
I know that feeling well. I just rang Mannings for an insurance quote and they asked how many miles Vicki had driven in the car... "er
about two I think!" Surprisingly they wouldn't offer to cover her as a named driver
burriana500 said:
it was a mandatory option for my wife to able to drive, but she still wont.
I know that feeling well. I just rang Mannings for an insurance quote and they asked how many miles Vicki had driven in the car... "er
Surprisingly they wouldn't offer to cover her as a named driver
I'm with Sunninghill. They didnt ask how much experience either of us had in performance cars and certainly had no problems getting my wife as named driver. Our premium seems comparable to Mannings from what I've heard and all the usual track day/european cover.
PS. My wife is 6 months pregant and still happily drives our non-pas griff! And no, she doesnt look at all like Geoff Capes
The key part of your decision is what your car would be used for.
Daily drive- I would go for PAS because it can be wearing on the arms at constant slow speeds and I would grow to dislike mine (non PAS) if I HAD to drive it everyday.
Weekend car- with or without- history/condition and colour/combination figured higher up my list so when the right one came up without (I really wanted PAS) then I took it.
As regards feel etc unless you drive it on the edge all the time then I do not beleive there is much difference on public roads between non and PAS
Daily drive- I would go for PAS because it can be wearing on the arms at constant slow speeds and I would grow to dislike mine (non PAS) if I HAD to drive it everyday.
Weekend car- with or without- history/condition and colour/combination figured higher up my list so when the right one came up without (I really wanted PAS) then I took it.
As regards feel etc unless you drive it on the edge all the time then I do not beleive there is much difference on public roads between non and PAS
Griff/Chimp reliability the same IMHO, as they're the same car in a different skirt. As for PAS, useful for parking but that's not why I bought a TVR! MIne is a non-PAS Griff 500; I like something to fight with at the weekends. I test drove a Chimp 450 with PAS and it felt like a normal car, ie why bother?
Having said that, geometry makes a big difference.
Having said that, geometry makes a big difference.
I'm speculating, but didn't PAS become standard kit on the later (so possibly slightly more sorted) models, perhaps that is what the dealer was getting at? Also, I imagine that it will possibly add to residual value.
I drove a 4.3 non-PAS before I bought mine and there is a definate difference, and in my opinion improvement. Even with PAS, if I've had a long day in the seat on, shall we say fast and twisty roads, I still find that the following day my chest and shoulders are a little tight. I'd dread to think how stiff I'd be without PAS.
I drove a 4.3 non-PAS before I bought mine and there is a definate difference, and in my opinion improvement. Even with PAS, if I've had a long day in the seat on, shall we say fast and twisty roads, I still find that the following day my chest and shoulders are a little tight. I'd dread to think how stiff I'd be without PAS.
No 1 said:
I'm speculating, but didn't PAS become standard kit on the later (so possibly slightly more sorted) models, perhaps that is what the dealer was getting at?
AFAIK it's always been an optional extra, though increasingly popular. (Especially amongst Chimp owners - which I can say here as this is the Griff forum, heh heh)
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