Buying a Griff

[Fattrader]

Hi I am weighing up the pros and cons of a Griff over a Chim. I understand posting on the Griff site I may get a biased view, but interested in peoples feedback. One area that could sway me is boot size. How small is the Griff boot?
Could you get a weekend bag in it and could you get a set of Golf clubs in there? may be not together!!

If I went for the Griff I reckon it would be an early Griff 92-94. At this time could the cars really take the power from the 5 litre being driven through the gear box, wheels and Chasis. I think it is 96 that the gearbox upgraded and the chasis was improved, might be getting confused by the Chim.

Other area that interests me is what is the Griff like at driving in trafic and having it as your day to day car.

experience advice all welcomed.
Wih thanks
Fats

[lazyitus]

Luggage room is better than people would have you believe.

We went to LeMans last year and the stuff we got in (with the roof top in it aswell) was quite incredible.

They drive well, post 1995 (320bhp replaced 340bhp) apparently are a little less lumpy. Mine is the lumpier '95 version but the joy I get from the car far outweighs the odd transmission shunt.

Look for condition being good above all else.

Amazing cars. Great.

[RichardD]

Fattrader said:

Hi I am weighing up the pros and cons of a Griff over a Chim. I understand posting on the Griff site I may get a biased view, but interested in peoples feedback. One area that could sway me is boot size. How small is the Griff boot? Could you get a weekend bag in it and could you get a set of Golf clubs in there? may be not together!! If I went for the Griff I reckon it would be an early Griff 92-94. At this time could the cars really take the power from the 5 litre being driven through the gear box, wheels and Chasis. I think it is 96 that the gearbox upgraded and the chasis was improved, might be getting confused by the Chim. ...

I've a 93 500 and the SD1 box is fine. The T5's do have better ratios meaning longer gearing in 1st to 3rd. There have been messages on PH re: upgrading, but the SD1 box can be rebuilt many times for the cost of a T5 conversion. I'm not aware of any chassis changes from the Griffith 500's. The 500 chassis are meant to be upgraded from the 4.x, but how I don't know. My car CAN crawl (avoided if possible as I've a diesel for that), without using any throttle if gentle enough with clutch. Later cars with PAS have fatter tyres, 225 on the front and 245 on the back.
On the Chim, they are regarded as better value for money (since they are more meaning Griffs tend to be more desirable), I believe Chims have better cooling (due to vents) than the Griff.
As before though, chassis condition is the biggie..

[Painey]

Fattrader said:

Hi I am weighing up the pros and cons of a Griff over a Chim. I understand posting on the Griff site I may get a biased view, but interested in peoples feedback. One area that could sway me is boot size. How small is the Griff boot? Could you get a weekend bag in it and could you get a set of Golf clubs in there? may be not together!! If I went for the Griff I reckon it would be an early Griff 92-94. At this time could the cars really take the power from the 5 litre being driven through the gear box, wheels and Chasis. I think it is 96 that the gearbox upgraded and the chasis was improved, might be getting confused by the Chim. Other area that interests me is what is the Griff like at driving in trafic and having it as your day to day car. experience advice all welcomed. Wih thanks Fats

As for the size of the boot, I've managed to fit two sets of golf clubs and two trolleys in mine with no problems whatsoever. Mine was registered at the end of 95 so has the T5 box and supposedly 340bhp but although some people say in this spec they can be quite lumpy around town mine is as smooth as they come. Granted Griff's can be so different from car to car so some out there could be the opposite end of the scale.

Lastly, I've driven it to work in London in the summer and it was fine in the heavy traffic on the A3. Never overheated and was as good as I wanted it to be. If you liked one enough, and most people do after being in one for a short amount of time, then using it as an everyday car in my opinion would be fine. And if you really are looking to get one then I know of a very good one that's currently for sale!!

Cheers - Chris

[petros]

The main thing when buying a Griff or a Chimaera, as any knowledgeable owner will tell you is....... GET A GREEN ONE

[griffsmith]

petros said:

The main thing when buying a Griff or a Chimaera, as any knowledgeable owner will tell you is....... GET A GREEN ONE

and any 'really' knowledgeable owner will tell you by a green Griff!!

PS. if all you want is a big boot buy bloody a volvo estate!! sorry needed to be said

[griffter]

Fattrader said:

Hi I am weighing up the pros and cons of a Griff over a Chim. I understand posting on the Griff site I may get a biased view, but interested in peoples feedback. One area that could sway me is boot size. How small is the Griff boot? Could you get a weekend bag in it and could you get a set of Golf clubs in there? may be not together!! If I went for the Griff I reckon it would be an early Griff 92-94. At this time could the cars really take the power from the 5 litre being driven through the gear box, wheels and Chasis. I think it is 96 that the gearbox upgraded and the chasis was improved, might be getting confused by the Chim. Other area that interests me is what is the Griff like at driving in trafic and having it as your day to day car. experience advice all welcomed. Wih thanks Fats

The Griff boot's actually quite big - but the opening is relatively small, meaning getting the roof in is an art. The Chim is easier to load, because the opening is bigger. You lose a fair bit of room with the roof in the boot in the Griff - I imagine the same is true of the Chim.

'92 Griffs were 4.0 or 4.3. The 5.0 came in '93 (or was it '94?). Rover 'boxes are much maligned, having a notchier shift. Personally I like it. Both boxes have their weaknesses. Chassis changes were principally the addition of a rear anti-roll bar on the 500, and the provision of rear harness mounts for a three point harness.

The Griff is fine as a daily car - but if you have to RELY on it, excercise rigorous preventative maintenace or try to have a contingency.

[Fattrader]

Thanks for the input, some great posts. Sounds like the size of the boot is not an issue nor the town driving. Those were the two negative points I was suspecting to come from the Griff. V positive if they are not. Two points to the Griff.

[mrmaggit]

You also get a Growl with the Griff!

We had a long weekend in Belgium in ours last year, came back with six cases of wine, a case of whisky, a 5l petrol "can", 4l can of Mobil 1, tool kit, 4 coats, warning triangle, spare bulbs, two carrier bags full of cigars and cigarettes, some pressies, six maps, two bags of clothes in the boot, and there was still room for several cuddly toys and a pair of sliding doors, had we wanted.

[geoffvalenti]

Not a lot I can add to this really.

The Griff is a wonderful car to own and drive, personally I wouldn't have it as my only form of transport, but there are lots that do.

The Griff's boot is surprisingly capacious for its looks, I can fit more in it than I can in my Supra.

I can only speak from personal experience here, but driving the Griff in heavy traffic is a tolerable, if not so enjoyable experience, tempered by admiring glances, especially if the weather's good enough to get the roof off i.e. anytime its not absolutely not pissing down. TBH I can't think of many, high power, manual cars that are fun to drive in traffic

Driving it in the rain (in traffic, mainly) is miserable

edit
After reading my post again, everything negative I've said about the Griff would equally apply to a Chim so you may as well get the Griff and be done with it
/edit

>> Edited by geoffvalenti on Thursday 13th April 12:01

[Fattrader]

Thanks again for the replies, scales have moved towards the Griff.

The next area is engine size versus budget. What are the comments on the driving abilities of a 4ltr vs 4.3 vs 5. Understandably the 5 is the most powerful so woo must be best,but is that so. My budget is quite tight so I am looking for the best quality. Price per quality appears better on the 4ltr. But is the driving experience that much different?

Cheers

Fats

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Tis hard to explain. Try a few & find out!

[griffter]

I drove both and preferred the precat - rawer, sharper, revvier (and a 'club' within a 'club' ). If quality is paramount (a good starting point!) don't look for a particular model. People say they all drive differently anyway, so... buy the one you like the drive of! More 500 = more choice too, and (all things being relative) they're the more refined daily drive.

[Green Meanie]

Try a Pre-Cat theres no sound like it,500s great car but you cannot replace the howl of a pre-cat on full tilt.Maybe I am biased because I have one but check it out for yourself I am sure you will be HOOKED

[antonyj]

griffsmith said:

petros said: The main thing when buying a Griff or a Chimaera, as any knowledgeable owner will tell you is....... GET A GREEN ONE and any 'really' knowledgeable owner will tell you by a green Griff!! PS. if all you want is a big boot buy bloody a volvo estate!! sorry needed to be said

Hmmm seems like the "precat" club is here............



As in Green for GO !!!!

>> Edited by antonyj on Saturday 15th April 21:33

[Fattrader]

Thanks for the comments

[tvrjohn]

Had a griff 500 then a cerb for a while, now run a 4.3 pre cat griff, best sounding of all !

[Green Meanie]

Cant stress highly enough the fact that if you consider a Pre-cat,check the chassis and wishbone condition this is paramount to your purchase saw a few pretty awfull ones before I found mine.But as mine is a body off chassis rebuild. its as new condition (thats why I bought it).Good luck but be careful.

[BIG DUNC]

I would not worry too much about engine size or spec of the car at this stage.
Two things are important. Chassis condition, and how it drives.
Look at and drive as many as you can, and you will soon know if there is a particular engine you prefer.