Went to have a look at my first Grif yesterday !
Discussion
It was an M reg 500, mica blue with grey interior and it looked soooooo good. Been passing the garage where it’s kept many times and never had the time to stop or it was closed.
Anyway, at £11,5k and nigh on 50k miles it didn’t look that bad especially with a new hood and rear window. Inside was a bit tired but nothing some TLC wouldn’t cure I think. New Potenzas all round.
All the electrics I could try worked: windows, lights. And even though the car has been kept on the forecourt for well over a month I couldn’t fell nor smell any dampness in the car.
Had a look under the bonnet, it’s got a reconditioned alternator and some new bits and bobs (i.e. HT leads), only missing the bonnet stay.
But that’s where questions start to pile in:
- What to look for? I had a look at the sub frame under the engine and cannot see any large rusted area (only minor points “sprinkled” on the frame).
- If I ask the salesman to fire the engine up, what to look for, hear for?
- When are the fans suppose to kick in?
Can you share your experience when it comes to finding a good one around this price tag?
I cannot find the dealer’s website, but if anyone knows this car, it’s in Bubbenhall (Warwickshire), and sports the reg L500GON (personalised obviously).
Thanks for you help
eta: just found the dealer's website, here's the car http://sis.virtual-showroom.co.uk/(rcnanavhh4uvos4...
Anyway, at £11,5k and nigh on 50k miles it didn’t look that bad especially with a new hood and rear window. Inside was a bit tired but nothing some TLC wouldn’t cure I think. New Potenzas all round.
All the electrics I could try worked: windows, lights. And even though the car has been kept on the forecourt for well over a month I couldn’t fell nor smell any dampness in the car.
Had a look under the bonnet, it’s got a reconditioned alternator and some new bits and bobs (i.e. HT leads), only missing the bonnet stay.
But that’s where questions start to pile in:
- What to look for? I had a look at the sub frame under the engine and cannot see any large rusted area (only minor points “sprinkled” on the frame).
- If I ask the salesman to fire the engine up, what to look for, hear for?
- When are the fans suppose to kick in?
Can you share your experience when it comes to finding a good one around this price tag?
I cannot find the dealer’s website, but if anyone knows this car, it’s in Bubbenhall (Warwickshire), and sports the reg L500GON (personalised obviously).
Thanks for you help
eta: just found the dealer's website, here's the car http://sis.virtual-showroom.co.uk/(rcnanavhh4uvos4...
Edited by FossilFuelled on Thursday 23 August 10:52
Firstly well done in your decision to buy a Griff 
, a good place to have a scan around is www.thegriffithpages.com it has a buyers guide which is very helpful- dont rush into buying one it could prove costly! Try and get to a local TVR meet and have a chat with some enthusiasts,( the best place would have been the Griff Growl last weekend 153 fantastic Griffs in one place
) You will know the right one though it will talk to you 
Had mine for nearly 2 years and just love it.
, a good place to have a scan around is www.thegriffithpages.com it has a buyers guide which is very helpful- dont rush into buying one it could prove costly! Try and get to a local TVR meet and have a chat with some enthusiasts,( the best place would have been the Griff Growl last weekend 153 fantastic Griffs in one place) You will know the right one though it will talk to you Had mine for nearly 2 years and just love it.Edited by Red G2FTH on Thursday 23 August 12:26
They've had that car since January at least - I saw it for sale there when I bought my car. Never went to look at it for some reason, probably because I bought a "talking" one beforehand...
There might be a reason why they've had it so long but then again, it could be quite innocent and the car might be great? Someone on here or one of the known inspectors may already have looked at it in the past - worth giving them a ring I guess?
There might be a reason why they've had it so long but then again, it could be quite innocent and the car might be great? Someone on here or one of the known inspectors may already have looked at it in the past - worth giving them a ring I guess?
Fossilfueled,
I visited the dealer and drove the car last November so it has likely been with them since then.
When i saw the car it was looking a little the worse for wear on the interior with some of the dash peeling away. I agree that most of the interior just needed some TLC but the dash is not a cheap fix - poss £750 to refit. It was a non PAS car and seemed to drive ok. I mostly remember hoping that no hill starts would be required as the clutch felt heavy and i'm not sure the handbrake was up to much. It is difficult to say if it drove properly or not as it was my first time driving a griff and if i'm honest - i was only using it as a chance to drive a Griff for comparision.
If its still in the same condition it would be a little overpriced at £12k when you look at whats on offer in the classifieds currently. I think the dealer was ok but TVR is definately not his thing - all Jags if i remember right. I think at one point he referred to the TVR as a Kit car!!!
I wouldn't rule it out and a drive of the car is worth it (some nice country rouads round by the dealer) but definately get an inspection from Rob Ingleby (or similar) and definately travel to see some other early Griffs to see what is about. Having been to the Growl at the weekend there are some amazing condition early cars around. Oh, and also find out what the cars been doing for ther last 9 months with no owner.
Tildo
I visited the dealer and drove the car last November so it has likely been with them since then.
When i saw the car it was looking a little the worse for wear on the interior with some of the dash peeling away. I agree that most of the interior just needed some TLC but the dash is not a cheap fix - poss £750 to refit. It was a non PAS car and seemed to drive ok. I mostly remember hoping that no hill starts would be required as the clutch felt heavy and i'm not sure the handbrake was up to much. It is difficult to say if it drove properly or not as it was my first time driving a griff and if i'm honest - i was only using it as a chance to drive a Griff for comparision.
If its still in the same condition it would be a little overpriced at £12k when you look at whats on offer in the classifieds currently. I think the dealer was ok but TVR is definately not his thing - all Jags if i remember right. I think at one point he referred to the TVR as a Kit car!!!
I wouldn't rule it out and a drive of the car is worth it (some nice country rouads round by the dealer) but definately get an inspection from Rob Ingleby (or similar) and definately travel to see some other early Griffs to see what is about. Having been to the Growl at the weekend there are some amazing condition early cars around. Oh, and also find out what the cars been doing for ther last 9 months with no owner.
Tildo
Agree with dnb - the car i eventually bought is a 2 handed job to get the handbrake on and even then i wouldn't leave it parked on a hill.....
Should edit my comments on the clutch to say that heavy wans't so much the issue - it was not smooth operating although it did work. Possibly just a little stiff from lack of use. Worse case probably just the clutch master or slave cylinder.
Should edit my comments on the clutch to say that heavy wans't so much the issue - it was not smooth operating although it did work. Possibly just a little stiff from lack of use. Worse case probably just the clutch master or slave cylinder.
Thanks all for your comments. I haven’t set my heart on this particular car. I went to see it mainly because, yes I’d like one of these in the future (or a Chim), but I am in no rush and want to do my homework first… now if someone here would have told me “go for it, I’ve seen it and it’s a cracking example” I’d have rung the bank (or maybe the Mrs first) and start sorting something out; but it doesn’t seem to be the case.
It was a good opportunity to see one for the first time since the dealer is on my way to and from work (been passing the car many times and been itching to stop for a look). At least I now know that the clutch heaviness is something to put up with. The lack of power steering concerns me though since my other half could drive the car from time to time. And I’ve had a look at the GriffithPages so now I know where to look for rust.
Next…
It was a good opportunity to see one for the first time since the dealer is on my way to and from work (been passing the car many times and been itching to stop for a look). At least I now know that the clutch heaviness is something to put up with. The lack of power steering concerns me though since my other half could drive the car from time to time. And I’ve had a look at the GriffithPages so now I know where to look for rust.
Next…
With a £12k budget it is definately worth looking into pre-cat cars. I'll not start another 4.3 v 5.0 argument, but if you want the noise, and what a noise, then pre-cat could be the way to go.
The next West Midlands TVR meet is the 3rd Sunday in September in Meriden so not far from you. If you can't wait that long and fancy a trip to Redittch i'd be happy to show you round my car and take you for a spin - Email me.
The next West Midlands TVR meet is the 3rd Sunday in September in Meriden so not far from you. If you can't wait that long and fancy a trip to Redittch i'd be happy to show you round my car and take you for a spin - Email me.
Thanks all for your input, keep them coming. I'd already noted that the TVR community was a happy and helpful bunch but the offer from Tildo and advice from others really say a lot about the whole mentality. I am quite with you on the noise front I like a good burble. I’m on holiday next week so watch out for a mail.
Will definitely try both (are there a lot of difference between 4.0 and 4.3 because I quite like that http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/214222.htm and I might be tempted to give him a ring)
I understand that all can take your head off anyway so 4.0 or 5.0 litre won’t make a difference to me I think.
David… I have heard about stories on people walking into a TVR dealer and coming out £15k lighter (albeit with a tonne or so of fibreglass and steel on tow). I’ll try and go with my head rather than heart (that mean take the OH with me).
Will definitely try both (are there a lot of difference between 4.0 and 4.3 because I quite like that http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/214222.htm and I might be tempted to give him a ring)
I understand that all can take your head off anyway so 4.0 or 5.0 litre won’t make a difference to me I think.
David… I have heard about stories on people walking into a TVR dealer and coming out £15k lighter (albeit with a tonne or so of fibreglass and steel on tow). I’ll try and go with my head rather than heart (that mean take the OH with me).
Not everyone who goes to look at a Griff parts with their cash the same day. I went back the day after and bought mine. It’s a 94 500 and I have had 2.5 years of fun driving. Just recently spent 5 months hard work with a full body off strip to ensure the chassis was in good condition. I am glad I did as the outriggers needed work. I was happy with the condition when I bought it and always intended to do a body off as I intend to keep the car a long time.
I knew what I was walking into as I had been looking (mainly on here), at what could be wrong or what could go wrong, for quite a while before I even went to look and it was from a specialist. But as the topic of chassis condition seems to come and go on here the condition of the chassis and overall car can become expensive.
If you get one in good condition or for the right price and willing to spend or capable of doing the work yourself they are in my mind a car that can make your mouth ache from the big grin factor
I knew what I was walking into as I had been looking (mainly on here), at what could be wrong or what could go wrong, for quite a while before I even went to look and it was from a specialist. But as the topic of chassis condition seems to come and go on here the condition of the chassis and overall car can become expensive.
If you get one in good condition or for the right price and willing to spend or capable of doing the work yourself they are in my mind a car that can make your mouth ache from the big grin factor
Wheels need a refurb, the interior is tired and the dash needs re-veneering... Add to that a possible new clutch plus quite a few of the springy/turny bits underneath that will have suffered from a lay up and you'll probably have to budget £2-3K to bring her fully up to scratch.
She may not need that much spending but it's wise to have some money put aside.
Best advice I can give is have a look at a few before deciding, you'll soon know what a good one looks like once you've seen a few.
She may not need that much spending but it's wise to have some money put aside.
Best advice I can give is have a look at a few before deciding, you'll soon know what a good one looks like once you've seen a few.
Well… I will go and have a look at the car again this afternoon and I’ve booked a test drive so I’ll be popping my TVR cherry. I’ve got a printout of the things to check from the GriffithPages and really going to use that one to train my eye. (and ears…since I have yet to experience “the growl” )
Watch this space for a report later on tonight… if you can be bothered
Watch this space for a report later on tonight… if you can be bothered
Hey Fossil, be warned - it may be a good idea to go without your chequebook and debit card and cash.
With either of these items in your pocket, there is a very good chance that after a test drive, you will be wanting to give the salesman some kind of deposit. That's not a bad thing of course. But if you can't physically leave a deposit, it means you can go away and have a good think.
See, the thing with driving a TVR for the first time is that you will almost certainly want it.
You have been warned.
With either of these items in your pocket, there is a very good chance that after a test drive, you will be wanting to give the salesman some kind of deposit. That's not a bad thing of course. But if you can't physically leave a deposit, it means you can go away and have a good think.
See, the thing with driving a TVR for the first time is that you will almost certainly want it.
You have been warned.
We've got a 500 and a 4.3BV and they are completely different driving experince, although both are fantastic.
500's are more common than the pre cats but both are a rare beast on the road (apart from the Growl where there were 153!)
We bought the 1st one too but it was the colour we were after and there are only 5 Griffs in that colour. The BV was a different story and a must have, irrelevant of condition.
500 is driven daily by Mrs FFG and has been very reliable. The pre cat isn't used daily and is a nightmare (all electrical) but it's a one off so there is a good reason.
FFG
500's are more common than the pre cats but both are a rare beast on the road (apart from the Growl where there were 153!)
We bought the 1st one too but it was the colour we were after and there are only 5 Griffs in that colour. The BV was a different story and a must have, irrelevant of condition.
500 is driven daily by Mrs FFG and has been very reliable. The pre cat isn't used daily and is a nightmare (all electrical) but it's a one off so there is a good reason.
FFG
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