Griffith 500 to Tamora

[peteA]

Apologies if this has been done to death but was wondering if anyone can offer their thoughts about changing from a Griffith 500 to a Tamora?

I'm not un-happy with my Griffith but, when I get the urge I like to change my cars and try something different. I've always liked the look of Tamora's (never understood where those who say they are aestheically challanged are comingfrom?) and understand the driving experience is excellent?

My thoughts are...

- Like my TVR's - the Griff is my 3rd
- Loved my Cerbera but missed taking the roof off
- Want something that has more nimble handling than the Griff...less roll, better brakes, etc
- Don't want to spend £20K plus as its a toy / weekend car

Tamora seems to fit the bill....only other car would be Tuscan but from what I can gather the Tamora handles better?

Thanks in advance.

[Getsis]

I went to buy a Griff but came home with a Tamora it was no brainer once I had driven them both and they were parked side by side.

[DrJekyll]

Hi Pete,
You have to scratch the itch!!
The later cars are in a different league nothing wrong with earlier cars they can be absolutely fantastic, especially with some fettling but do the same to the newer models and in my opinion they are like chalk and cheese.
Ps V8s sound great and have lots of power The speed six is massively more fun to hoon around and has a wondrous sound track.
Have you spotted a car that is of interest?
Tim
Daisy says hello (woof)

[peteA]

DrJekyll said:

Hi Pete,
You have to scratch the itch!!
The later cars are in a different league nothing wrong with earlier cars they can be absolutely fantastic, especially with some fettling but do the same to the newer models and in my opinion they are like chalk and cheese.
Ps V8s sound great and have lots of power The speed six is massively more fun to hoon around and has a wondrous sound track.
Have you spotted a car that is of interest?
Tim
Daisy says hello (woof)

Hi Tim

I hate it when I get an itch! The Griff is in great nick and I really should hang on to it but lifes too short!

Like to the look of these two...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3168758.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3048318.htm

Was going to ask the pistonheads masses if anyone knew these cars and dealers...no time like the present! Any thoughts?

Pete

PS Even if I do get a Tamora I think I'll still be looking a Daisy through the rear window of your Sag!

[andy1311]

Not owned a tam as the deal i was going for fell through but did have a Tuscan 2 for two and a half years after a chim and now gone to a griff . The T cars are totally different I would describe as a good steady horse to a race horse the brakes are great , handling of my T2 was great and that engine when on song and above 4500 rpm was the biggest grin maker in the motoring world . Down sides are the do feel a bit more delicate and you have to get your head around the extra cost of bits and servicing as a £2k service is not unusual .
I could never get the reliability gremlins out of my head so I got out and bought my griff but have to say my. Straight six never let me down but I did religiously warmed her up properly ,check the oil after each run , use her regularly and have good guys maintain her .
The one thing you have to do is scratch an itch so do it

[Omerta]

I went from a Griff 500 to a Tamora - putting aside styling which is personal preference, the Tamora is a better car in every way except noise/presence (my Griff will always be remembered for its idling burble and twin coils of steam rising on a clear and frosty morning before going out for a blast in the countryside)

[peteA]

cheers andy

its not like a griff 500 could be dissapointing...love it in fact....think i just fancy another change. Interesting comments....

[geoffphead]

I went from a T350t to a 4.5 chim and back to a Tam, I loved my T350t but i love open air motoring and when hard times hit I traded in for a late 4.5 chim, I enjoyed the open air but missed the noise , handling and drivability of the speed 6 so I found a tam that needed lots of TLC.I have grown to like the looks not love but from inside its a great experience.The Tam is a very underated car.

[griffgray]

I am about to change from my Griff 500 to a T350c, as I have fallen for the beautiful looks and something a little more modern. I know I will miss the unmissable growl and being able to get the roof off at all opportunities, but as a few of you have said I have to scratch that itch. Tried to explain reason to wife who reminded my of all the things I said when buying the Griff, finished by you will never be happy!!! I do not change cars by habit but I feel it is something I must try.
Just checked dimensions and 350 is slightly narrower so bit more space in garage

[peteA]

griffgray said:

I am about to change from my Griff 500 to a T350c, as I have fallen for the beautiful looks and something a little more modern. I know I will miss the unmissable growl and being able to get the roof off at all opportunities, but as a few of you have said I have to scratch that itch. Tried to explain reason to wife who reminded my of all the things I said when buying the Griff, finished by you will never be happy!!! I do not change cars by habit but I feel it is something I must try.
Just checked dimensions and 350 is slightly narrower so bit more space in garage

ha...been there and had the same discussions with the wife! Each time ive got a tvr its been a keeper...only for some reason i cant explain i change my mind!

[clive f]

went from a griff to a t350, the best part of the griff is the v8 noise, but the t cars have everything else much better in my opinion, handling is just a joy.(and yes my griff was set up correctly)

[swanny71]

griffgray said:

I am about to change from my Griff 500 to a T350c, as I have fallen for the beautiful looks and something a little more modern. I know I will miss the unmissable growl and being able to get the roof off at all opportunities, but as a few of you have said I have to scratch that itch. Tried to explain reason to wife who reminded my of all the things I said when buying the Griff, finished by you will never be happy!!! I do not change cars by habit but I feel it is something I must try.
Just checked dimensions and 350 is slightly narrower so bit more space in garage

I went the other way, T350c to Griff.

The T cars are definately 'better' but for me it has to be a RV8 and the roof has to come off - Difficult to explain why but I blame the big Wedges that rumbled up and down Abbey Road on their way to Haughins in the 80's. I will never, ever forget the first time I heard a SEAC boot it away from the lights.

Enjoy scratching that itch

[Chimpafrolic]

swanny71 said:

I went the other way, T350c to Griff.

The T cars are definately 'better' but for me it has to be a RV8 and the roof has to come off - Difficult to explain why but I blame the big Wedges that rumbled up and down Abbey Road on their way to Haughins in the 80's. I will never, ever forget the first time I heard a SEAC boot it away from the lights.

Surely impossible to argue with that.

[griffgray]

I will keep you all posted as looking at T350 on Monday. It will be a first drive but then broke all the rules by buying the first Griff I saw.

[s5tvr]

clive f said:

went from a griff to a t350, the best part of the griff is the v8 noise, but the t cars have everything else much better in my opinion, handling is just a joy.(and yes my griff was set up correctly)

I went from a very well sorted Chim 500 to a T350 and although I do miss the convertible angle, the T350 is the better car as you'd expect. However, there are Griff owners on here who swear blind the Griff is faster and / or handles better.

[Geoff Ashcroft]

s5tvr said:

I went from a very well sorted Chim 500 to a T350 and although I do miss the convertible angle, the T350 is the better car as you'd expect. However, there are Griff owners on here who swear blind the Griff is faster and / or handles better.

s5tvr, if you miss the roof off, why did you choose T350 and not Tamora??

[Don1]

I had a chim, then got the Sag (ran both for a bit), but the Chim ended up not getting a look in. Like chalk and cheese, so I went and got a Tamora as well!

Griff (etc) are great looking and sounding cars, but the T-series cars are just so much.... more.

[jrb43]

I agree, it's another world. I had a Griff 500 and heard all the arguments about "having to rev the nuts off" the S6 etc. etc. For a while, I thought I actually owned the faster car. Then you own a T-car (it possibly does take a little more than a test drive) and it's like going 30yrs into the future. The Griff was theoretically fast but it scared me most journeys in some way or other and if it was dark/wet/wrong leaves on the road, I'd be passed by hot hatches. There's challenge available with my T350T but I ran it as my only car for a while (including a winter) and it never missed a beat. Real world, it's much much faster and I'm sure it would be too on that perfectly dry, no camber, shallow-radius-bends-only track that theoretically plays to a Griff's advantage. Just do it, you won't regret it; just make sure you add a proper exhaust - otherwise coming from the V8, it will sound like a Tesla...

Edited by jrb43 on Friday 4th November 21:42

[Zippee]

jrb43 said:

just make sure you add a proper exhaust - otherwise coming from the V8, it will sound like a Tesla...

Exactly why I have ACT de-cats going on tomorrow, should be a good pairing with the AJP rear box there already

[s5tvr]

Geoff Ashcroft said:

s5tvr, if you miss the roof off, why did you choose T350 and not Tamora??

I went for the T350 because it's simply the best looking car TVR have made IMHO. At he time I didn't think I would miss having a convertible and to be fair it's not often that I do and when I'm in the T350 never do I wish I was driving a convertible. It's just now and again on a nice bright day I fancy a drive in my old Chim - If I had a double garage I would never have sold it.