Griffith 500 Special Edition?
Discussion
I was just looking through the classifieds at Griffiths as I saw one today and have to say I have always been fond of them. I absolutely dig the sound they make!
I even thought about selling my clio to get one, but wouldn't be able to afford the bleedin' insurance!
While looking through the classifieds I came across a couple of limited edition griffiths made in 2002, apparently the last ever griffiths made. I believe they were all 500s?
Anyway there was this one:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/47403.htm and this one:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/67416.htm
They are both practically 30 grand, and it really stricks me that this is too much. Are they really worth that much? The second one looks amazing in that colour and with the light conversion. With a change of wheels I would happily take it.
But again, most Griffiths seem to be around the 20k mark.
Are they worth 30k? Or are people just asking too much?
I even thought about selling my clio to get one, but wouldn't be able to afford the bleedin' insurance!
While looking through the classifieds I came across a couple of limited edition griffiths made in 2002, apparently the last ever griffiths made. I believe they were all 500s?
Anyway there was this one:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/47403.htm and this one:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/67416.htm
They are both practically 30 grand, and it really stricks me that this is too much. Are they really worth that much? The second one looks amazing in that colour and with the light conversion. With a change of wheels I would happily take it.
But again, most Griffiths seem to be around the 20k mark.
Are they worth 30k? Or are people just asking too much?
The last 100 LE Griff's are all 500's and are essentially the same as a standard Griff, execept for a few items that make the car stand out if you know what to look for. There's nothing fundamentally different though from any other late 500 Griffith and the extra 10k is going, in my mind, to paying for the excusivity of having one of the last ones made.
Being the most recent cars they are likely to be in better condition on average than older pre LE cars, but there's lots of variation. When I bought my '99 Griff it was in better condition than a LE on sale for 10k more in the same garage.
If you want a Griffith, get one. Most of all get one that's been well looked after and is in good condition. If you can afford it and the car you wants happens to be a LE go for that. The residuals for the LE's relative to the earleir cars are holding up at the moment although who knows about the future?
Insurance need not be that bad, depends on your circumstances though.
Hope that helps a bit, but seems like you've done the hard part already (working out you need one)
Cheers
John.
Being the most recent cars they are likely to be in better condition on average than older pre LE cars, but there's lots of variation. When I bought my '99 Griff it was in better condition than a LE on sale for 10k more in the same garage.
If you want a Griffith, get one. Most of all get one that's been well looked after and is in good condition. If you can afford it and the car you wants happens to be a LE go for that. The residuals for the LE's relative to the earleir cars are holding up at the moment although who knows about the future?
Insurance need not be that bad, depends on your circumstances though.
Hope that helps a bit, but seems like you've done the hard part already (working out you need one)
Cheers
John.
There was a change to the LE's midway during their production cycle. The first one of the two you have listed I was interested in myself, but if you look carefully you can see that the rear number plate is recessed, the last few had this while the first 60 or so had the original back lit number plate. This i think spoils the looks, the backlit is much better. (James Agger recently had a drop dead gorgeous black LE but again with the recessed plate spoiling the look of the rear end)
As for the price, the first one has been on sale for nearly a year, though the price has recently gone back up to £30000 (it was a low as £28000 in November)
The number plate issue, price and the fact the thing has been sitting there for a year doing nothing (which is asking for problems) means I won't be buying this one.
As for the price, the first one has been on sale for nearly a year, though the price has recently gone back up to £30000 (it was a low as £28000 in November)
The number plate issue, price and the fact the thing has been sitting there for a year doing nothing (which is asking for problems) means I won't be buying this one.
I guess they're worth what people are willing to pay for them, the LEs are going to attract a higher price imo as there are so few of them and they're obviously newer too. Griff prices don't seem to have dropped that much which I spose shows that they are still a desirable motor.
P.S. wish I'd gone for the inferno 182, looks great.
P.S. wish I'd gone for the inferno 182, looks great.
Thanks for that.
As I said I seriously doubt I would be able to afford one and run it right now, and I'm being killed on insurance as it is on the clio.
The numberplates are backlit? That sounds like a cool little technical feature. They do look better though I know what you mean.
I think that I would have that reflex green one (is that the proper name?) Change the wheels, jobs a good'un.
I've always liked the griffith. I'm absolutely mad for anything TVR and I'm wondering how the hell I'm going to manage just having 1 car in the future, as there are so many I would love to own!
I don't know why but I seem to think that they are more reliable than the early Tuscans and similar with the SP6 engine. Am I right to think this?
Ta very much.
As I said I seriously doubt I would be able to afford one and run it right now, and I'm being killed on insurance as it is on the clio.
The numberplates are backlit? That sounds like a cool little technical feature. They do look better though I know what you mean.
I think that I would have that reflex green one (is that the proper name?) Change the wheels, jobs a good'un.
I've always liked the griffith. I'm absolutely mad for anything TVR and I'm wondering how the hell I'm going to manage just having 1 car in the future, as there are so many I would love to own!
I don't know why but I seem to think that they are more reliable than the early Tuscans and similar with the SP6 engine. Am I right to think this?
Ta very much.
Polarbert said:
Thanks for that.
As I said I seriously doubt I would be able to afford one and run it right now, and I'm being killed on insurance as it is on the clio.
The numberplates are backlit? That sounds like a cool little technical feature. They do look better though I know what you mean.
I think that I would have that reflex green one (is that the proper name?) Change the wheels, jobs a good'un.
Ta very much.
The wheels are a set of a very limited run in the Chim/Griff offset (maybe as low as 5 sets) supplied to TVR Barnet by TSW in around 2002. There are a couple of Chims (mine included) and a couple of Griff LE's running around with them on.
>> Edited by puffsorted2 on Thursday 30th March 14:05
puffsorted2 said:
Thanks for that.
As I said I seriously doubt I would be able to afford one and run it right now, and I'm being killed on insurance as it is on the clio.
The numberplates are backlit? That sounds like a cool little technical feature. They do look better though I know what you mean.
I think that I would have that reflex green one (is that the proper name?) Change the wheels, jobs a good'un.
Ta very much.
The wheels are a set of a very limited run in the Chim/Griff offset (maybe as low as 5 sets) supplied to TVR Barnet by TSW in around 2002. There are a couple of Chims (mine included) and a couple of Griff LE's running around with them on.
>> Edited by puffsorted2 on Thursday 30th March 14:05
Thats cool, they really didn't look like OEM wheels to me. They aren't really my thing but they are growing on me.
Insurance isn't that bad...
For example, I suppose I pay about 550 pounds (limited to 5000 miles on a classic policy), which might be about the same as your Clio? Running costs, if nothing major goes wrong say another 500-1000 quid again you could spend that on a Clio, I'm sure.
The Rover V8 cars in general have have higher reliability reputation than the SP6 engined. RV8's been around a while.
The back lit number plate is one of the many pleasures of the Griffith, not many cars designed by a couple of blokes and a dog (well almost) look as good as a Griffith in my view.
Cheers
John.
For example, I suppose I pay about 550 pounds (limited to 5000 miles on a classic policy), which might be about the same as your Clio? Running costs, if nothing major goes wrong say another 500-1000 quid again you could spend that on a Clio, I'm sure.
The Rover V8 cars in general have have higher reliability reputation than the SP6 engined. RV8's been around a while.
The back lit number plate is one of the many pleasures of the Griffith, not many cars designed by a couple of blokes and a dog (well almost) look as good as a Griffith in my view.
Cheers
John.
Polarbert said:
Thanks for that.
As I said I seriously doubt I would be able to afford one and run it right now, and I'm being killed on insurance as it is on the clio.
The numberplates are backlit? That sounds like a cool little technical feature. They do look better though I know what you mean.
I think that I would have that reflex green one (is that the proper name?) Change the wheels, jobs a good'un.
Ta very much.
The wheels are a set of a very limited run in the Chim/Griff offset (maybe as low as 5 sets) supplied to TVR Barnet by TSW in around 2002. There are a couple of Chims (mine included) and a couple of Griff LE's running around with them on.
>> Edited by puffsorted2 on Thursday 30th March 14:05
Thats cool, they really didn't look like OEM wheels to me. They aren't really my thing but they are growing on me.
Yeap they were a TVR-Centre special. From my conversations with the guys at TVR Barnet about them I guess they were done to help shift the last remaining Griff's and Chimaera's at the TVR Centre in 2001/2002 as they are very 'spider' looking so would have looked good in the showroom next to the then new Tuscan
cv1040 said:
Insurance isn't that bad...
For example, I suppose I pay about 550 pounds (limited to 5000 miles on a classic policy), which might be about the same as your Clio? Running costs, if nothing major goes wrong say another 500-1000 quid again you could spend that on a Clio, I'm sure.
The Rover V8 cars in general have have higher reliability reputation than the SP6 engined. RV8's been around a while.
The back lit number plate is one of the many pleasures of the Griffith, not many cars designed by a couple of blokes and a dog (well almost) look as good as a Griffith in my view.
Cheers
John.
You really have no idea how much my insurance is. Think 4 times what you pay and your spot on. Clio is under warranty so don't have to think about spending any undue money on it.
I bet tax for a Griffith is 190 now isn't it?
Polarbert said:
Insurance isn't that bad...
You really have no idea how much my insurance is. Think 4 times what you pay and your spot on. Clio is under warranty so don't have to think about spending any undue money on it.
I bet tax for a Griffith is 190 now isn't it?
PB - If that's your insurance on a clio, then I guess the fact that the tax is exactly the same for a Griff, aint no consolation once you've paid the insurance. Then again, as a second car the Griff may work out nicely. Different insurers do cover for different mileage limits on classic insurance, with 5k being the max but as to lowest, you'd be advised to ring around. There's links on here.
If you're getting stung on insurance for you Clio to that amount then I'd not expect the Griffith to come out as the 'cheap' option.
Tax will as much as Gordon can charge us, it was 170 before the budget, not sure what it is now, but don't expect and discounts for the forseeable future on that count.
Cheers
John.
Tax will as much as Gordon can charge us, it was 170 before the budget, not sure what it is now, but don't expect and discounts for the forseeable future on that count.
Cheers
John.
If total cost is a problem, why plan to spend £30K and then have nothing left for the insurance? You can get very tidy Griffs for £15-20K, and that will leave you plenty of change for an insurance policy and fixinng any unexpected hiccups. You could even have it painted in your favourite colour and have change.
I agree that £30k is a bit much for the SE, unless it has some very major mods done to it, £25k is nearer the mark. I bought one last August and looked at several others at around the £25-29k mark which is a bit more reasonable, but I guess you have to love Griffs to pay that sort of premium when you can get a Tamora or Tuscan for the same money.
Mine is a completely standard one, no mods, 500 wheels (though 16" all round). I love it & wouldn't have anything else. I think that since one of those advertised has been sitting around for a year, it would be worth a punt at £24-25k. I offered £2.5k less than the sticker price and was pleasantly surprised to have my offer accepted!
Mine is a completely standard one, no mods, 500 wheels (though 16" all round). I love it & wouldn't have anything else. I think that since one of those advertised has been sitting around for a year, it would be worth a punt at £24-25k. I offered £2.5k less than the sticker price and was pleasantly surprised to have my offer accepted!
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