New Griffith SE nightmare, change for Tuscan S?
Discussion
After much searching last year I found a 2002 Grifith 500SE from a main dealer. The dealer is a good 250 miles from my home, but close to my daughters university so regular trips in that direction for sevicing, so made sense.
Since the end of December I had the following faults:
Speedo bulb out from collection ( 250 miles in the dark, first TVR, no idea how fast you are going)
Passanger window wound down, then jammed
Windscreen wipers intermittent
Alternater failed (with total loss of electrical powerin the rain resulting in me ending up in a ditch trying to stop when I couldent see out! Rain x now applied!
Smirking AA man to recover car
The car was trailered back to the dealer and returned after a 10 days
Passanger window now works as long as the door is open
Red LED for the heater settings (parculier to the SE I belive) not working
Dash vent hose not connected
Drivers door speaker only working when going over bumps
Door mirror only good for spotting birds (with feathers!)
Total ignition failier and another smirking "why did you but a TVR" AA man
Since the end of December I had the following faults:
Speedo bulb out from collection ( 250 miles in the dark, first TVR, no idea how fast you are going)
Passanger window wound down, then jammed
Windscreen wipers intermittent
Alternater failed (with total loss of electrical powerin the rain resulting in me ending up in a ditch trying to stop when I couldent see out! Rain x now applied!
Smirking AA man to recover car
The car was trailered back to the dealer and returned after a 10 days
Passanger window now works as long as the door is open
Red LED for the heater settings (parculier to the SE I belive) not working
Dash vent hose not connected
Drivers door speaker only working when going over bumps
Door mirror only good for spotting birds (with feathers!)
Total ignition failier and another smirking "why did you but a TVR" AA man
Continued..
So the car is going back to the dealer today
Is this what you would expect from a 10,000 mile grif from a large main dealer?
I am seriosly considering changing the car for a 2002 Tuscan S.It seems so much less "posh Kit car" than the griff and wife wont drive the Griff now having been dump on the side of the road twice in 4 weeks, but am I just letting us in for more trouble with a Tuscan S?
A TVR was and just about still is my dream car, but my one is loosing its shine!
So the car is going back to the dealer today
Is this what you would expect from a 10,000 mile grif from a large main dealer?
I am seriosly considering changing the car for a 2002 Tuscan S.It seems so much less "posh Kit car" than the griff and wife wont drive the Griff now having been dump on the side of the road twice in 4 weeks, but am I just letting us in for more trouble with a Tuscan S?
A TVR was and just about still is my dream car, but my one is loosing its shine!
get the niggles sorted and youll be fine.whichever tvr you buy you could be faced with problems like these,its just the luck of the draw im afraid,so i dont think changing is necesarily a great idea.the griff has a reputation as being one of the most reliable tvr's especially mechanically.imagine getting the problems sorted then changing it for a car with fresh problems
.
.Seconded - I'd wager the car itself is fine, but I give you the pre-sales inspection and prep by the dealer does seem to leave something to be desired in your case...
If I bought a car with the mentioned niggles from a private seller I'd be OK with it. Having bought it at a main dealer with a markup of several K, I'd indeed have inspected a better standard and complain rather loudly.
If I bought a car with the mentioned niggles from a private seller I'd be OK with it. Having bought it at a main dealer with a markup of several K, I'd indeed have inspected a better standard and complain rather loudly.
nsparey said:Nick, hand the dealer a written list of all the problems / issues you have with the car and go through each one of them with him. Tell him you do not want it back until they are all fixed. I would also insist on a TVR as courtesy car, not an Nova! And say that because of the distance you have to travel that he can deliver the car back to you and collect the courtesy car. Settle for nothing less, always be polite, don't lose you temper and be rude, but firm. Should do the trick. Oh, and for what it’s worth I would have thought a Griff 500 to be equally as reliable as a Tuscan. Rich...
Continued..So the car is going back to the dealer today Is this what you would expect from a 10,000 mile grif from a large main dealer?
Totally agree.
I've had two TVR's, one new and one nearly new. Both got their 'problems' out of their systems within the first few thousand miles of ownership - it does seem that most new TVR's will have some glitches. On the bright side, I've had the griff for 6 years now and ()other than the first few months) it's the most reliable car I've owned.
Rant at the dealer, get them to sort the problems to your satisfaction, and stick with the Griff.
Kit car? No way - the Griff is a classic.
I've had two TVR's, one new and one nearly new. Both got their 'problems' out of their systems within the first few thousand miles of ownership - it does seem that most new TVR's will have some glitches. On the bright side, I've had the griff for 6 years now and ()other than the first few months) it's the most reliable car I've owned.
Rant at the dealer, get them to sort the problems to your satisfaction, and stick with the Griff.
Kit car? No way - the Griff is a classic.
Agree with all of the above - they mostly sound like loose wires type things.
Kick the dealer's backside and lay the guilt trip on him about it not doing his rep any good - mention that you've aired your problems on PH but have, for the sake of good relations, kept his name out of it so far
Kick the dealer's backside and lay the guilt trip on him about it not doing his rep any good - mention that you've aired your problems on PH but have, for the sake of good relations, kept his name out of it so far
)you will have a car you won't want to sell! well ok you might decide it's worth upgrading to a Chimaera... Not just a problem with TVRs. I can remember collecting a BMW from a main dealer and the reversing lights weren't working!When I phoned them they said they would have to order a switch, 10 days later no switch and was told they could not get one.So I phoned up the other BMW dealer (about 4 mile from the my BM dealer) and they had one in stock, I collected it then went back to the original dealer dropped it on the service managers desk and asked him what he thought that was.From then on we had a much better relationship!
While I sympathise with you its easy to get very anoyed about niggly little problems which I would say yours were.Bear in mind
1.It is not the dealers fault you are 250 miles away,but they could have presented the car alot better.
2. Not all alternator failures result in cars ending up in ditches.
3.The alternator is not made by TVR, and alternators do fail.
Hang in there and you will have a wonderful car when its sorted.
While I sympathise with you its easy to get very anoyed about niggly little problems which I would say yours were.Bear in mind
1.It is not the dealers fault you are 250 miles away,but they could have presented the car alot better.
2. Not all alternator failures result in cars ending up in ditches.
3.The alternator is not made by TVR, and alternators do fail.
Hang in there and you will have a wonderful car when its sorted.
quote "Is this what you would expect from a 10,000 mile grif from a large main dealer?" I would say most definitely no, you have had some bad luck and I am sure your dealer will see you right. Once it is sorted you will have a reliable car. The windows and speakers etc are very annoying but at the end of the day it will only be a loose wire which they can easily fix.
I am the 2nd owner of a 1998 Chimaera which has done 24k and after speaking to the 1st owner I can honestly say that it has never, reapeat never, broken down leaving either of us stranded. Lots of other owners will also tell you how reliable these cars can be.
Stick with it. You've now got your dream car and you will have a great summer with it.
I am the 2nd owner of a 1998 Chimaera which has done 24k and after speaking to the 1st owner I can honestly say that it has never, reapeat never, broken down leaving either of us stranded. Lots of other owners will also tell you how reliable these cars can be.
Stick with it. You've now got your dream car and you will have a great summer with it.
nsparey said:
Continued..
So the car is going back to the dealer today
Is this what you would expect from a 10,000 mile grif from a large main dealer?
I am seriosly considering changing the car for a 2002 Tuscan S.It seems so much less "posh Kit car" than the griff and wife wont drive the Griff now having been dump on the side of the road twice in 4 weeks, but am I just letting us in for more trouble with a Tuscan S?
A TVR was and just about still is my dream car, but my one is loosing its shine!
I have recently done the opposite and gone from a Tuscan S to a Griff 500 LE. Much prefer the Griff as it is so much easier to drive and not so twitchy. Have had the odd fault with it, but no more than the Tuscan. Now that I've had a few tweaks done, the Griff is actually faster!!!
Sounds like you have been really unlucky. My advise would be to stick with the Griff, up-grade the brakes and suspension and if you're feeling really flush, go for a twin plenum and Tornado chip. You won't regret it.
OK, how about this... first day of ownership - seized steering, within four months - total ECU shut-down (twice, in traffic), water leaking onto my head at every corner, indicators packed up intermittently, brakes squealing even after dealer 'repairs', wheel bearing had it (sub 40,000 mile car), paint flaking off roof, rattles, squeaks and god knows what else... oh yeah, drivers window juddering and sticking, handbrake almost useless, and the list goes on... until I gave it back to the dealer... what car is it...
MERCEDES BENZ...
stick with the Griffith, once the little niggles are sorted it won't let you down - my 4.3's had a few 'characteristics' rear their little heads but it's never failed to get me home in getting on for 18 months. It's worth it
MERCEDES BENZ...
stick with the Griffith, once the little niggles are sorted it won't let you down - my 4.3's had a few 'characteristics' rear their little heads but it's never failed to get me home in getting on for 18 months. It's worth it
An unfortunate set of problems ...
I would suggest that it won't get any better with a Tuscan though. If you are looking to buy a 2002 model why would the production standards be soooo much better.
Same factory, same people ???
Stick with it and give the dealer some stick. Once it's sorted you'll love it.
Mine let me down 2 in 6 days. Bottom pully bolt sheered and holed the oil filter... you can imagine my anxiety whilst at considerable velocity it started to spray oil. Turning the engine off only meant that I had one go at the brakes ... fun. 6 days later the bottom pulley fell off as the dealer who had highlighted as a possible cause of the first problem did not spot it missing it's bolt !!
I could have given up there and then, after having already had a new steering rack and problems with the heater controls. The car however just gets better and better. The niggly stuff has gone now.
I bought a Griffith as I just do not yet trust the S6 engine enough for the mileage I do. I could not live with it returning to Blackpool every 10,000 miles to have the chocolate fingers replaced.
I would suggest that it won't get any better with a Tuscan though. If you are looking to buy a 2002 model why would the production standards be soooo much better.
Same factory, same people ???
Stick with it and give the dealer some stick. Once it's sorted you'll love it.
Mine let me down 2 in 6 days. Bottom pully bolt sheered and holed the oil filter... you can imagine my anxiety whilst at considerable velocity it started to spray oil. Turning the engine off only meant that I had one go at the brakes ... fun. 6 days later the bottom pulley fell off as the dealer who had highlighted as a possible cause of the first problem did not spot it missing it's bolt !!
I could have given up there and then, after having already had a new steering rack and problems with the heater controls. The car however just gets better and better. The niggly stuff has gone now.
I bought a Griffith as I just do not yet trust the S6 engine enough for the mileage I do. I could not live with it returning to Blackpool every 10,000 miles to have the chocolate fingers replaced.
jigs said:
Your problems just sound like easily remedied niggles - the dealer should have fixed these before sale - perhaps the car sat for a while unused - is it a nice subtle colour? Griffiths are known to have feelings and they can object to having to wear hideous colours.
Mmmm sound like you know the car rather well???
The main reson im going to give the car another chance is because its not Starmist Green or Blue
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