Have I missed something?
Discussion
I've been a devoted follower of TVRs for many years, yet it was only March of this year that I managed to get the funds together and get my first TVR.
As a fan of the M series cars, it was my intention to go for a Taimar or a 3000M. I did once imagine, if, for some bizarre reason, I had heaps of money, would I be loyal to my passions and work my way through the range to arrive at a current model or would I just go straight for the current model?
Anyway, in March, I'd amassed enough to wander into somewhere like David Gerald and whop my wad on the desk and say "Gimme that car". However, I made the mistake of showing the wife the car I fancied. The response was "It looks old". Hmm, I could feel someone moving my goalposts toward the car I longed for.
So, cutting a long story short, I showed her a pic of a Griff and everything was dandy until I got to the showroom and weighed up the Tuscan against the Griffith.
I opted for a Tuscan for a variety of reasons, not worth listing here. Don't get me wrong, I'm delighted with it, but I'm thinking I might have robbed myself of a whole heap of discovery/experiences in going direct rather than working my way up. It feels a bit like opting for a steady married life and missing out all that teenage lust.
I love getting into different cars and discovering their differences - which is why I've never gone for a Porsche.
I'd like to know, has anyone made the move from Tuscan to Griff and what were your feelings? Or should I just STFU and enjoy what I have rather than lamenting what I don't?
Apologies for the long-winded post, but I needed to tell the tale.
As a fan of the M series cars, it was my intention to go for a Taimar or a 3000M. I did once imagine, if, for some bizarre reason, I had heaps of money, would I be loyal to my passions and work my way through the range to arrive at a current model or would I just go straight for the current model?
Anyway, in March, I'd amassed enough to wander into somewhere like David Gerald and whop my wad on the desk and say "Gimme that car". However, I made the mistake of showing the wife the car I fancied. The response was "It looks old". Hmm, I could feel someone moving my goalposts toward the car I longed for.
So, cutting a long story short, I showed her a pic of a Griff and everything was dandy until I got to the showroom and weighed up the Tuscan against the Griffith.
I opted for a Tuscan for a variety of reasons, not worth listing here. Don't get me wrong, I'm delighted with it, but I'm thinking I might have robbed myself of a whole heap of discovery/experiences in going direct rather than working my way up. It feels a bit like opting for a steady married life and missing out all that teenage lust.
I love getting into different cars and discovering their differences - which is why I've never gone for a Porsche.
I'd like to know, has anyone made the move from Tuscan to Griff and what were your feelings? Or should I just STFU and enjoy what I have rather than lamenting what I don't?
Apologies for the long-winded post, but I needed to tell the tale.
I know it's the wrong way round and doesn't answer your question.........For me, personally, I couldn't sell my Griff and go on to a Tuscan even though it is a stunning car and would have my Griff for breakfast, I love it too much, the noise, the smell and the rawness of it. It was my first TVR and at the time my all time favourite car, still is. If money were no object I'd have a few more in my stable, but, seeing as it is, I'll stick with the Griff. If you feel like that about your Tuscan then you have done the right thing.
The only car that could maybe tempt me away from the Griff is the T350 and even then would try to have both.
The only car that could maybe tempt me away from the Griff is the T350 and even then would try to have both.
S1X OK said:
I'd like to know, has anyone made the move from Tuscan to Griff and what were your feelings?
I think there was a thread about this a month or two ago - or was it Cerb to Griff?
I'm impressed the way you went out looking for an M and came back with a Tuscan! As your reason for looking at the older TVRs wasn't budgetary, did you consider having two, an older one and a newish one?
The look of the Tuscan is growing on me (apart from the front grille) but, just as PW says he's never having a German engine in his cars, I'm never going to have a Speed 6 in any of mine! So a Griff is as far up the TVR ladder as I'm going. Which is good in a way becasue it stops me spending too much on cars!
I'd always wanted a TVR from an early age, and when I was finally in a position to afford one, I somehow ended up on "Wrong Car, Right Car". I had a strong suspicion that one of the cars they would bring me was a TVR and was really looking forward to it, hoping that they might have found a Tuscan that was within my budget.
When they brought out the Griff, intially I was disappointed, but within a few minutes was totally besotted. At the end of the weeks filming, I had to make my choice and out of the cars on offer, it had to be the Griff. Both Jason and Dom were sceptical that I would actually go through with the sale, and Dom even promised me that within 12 months, if I did buy it, I would have swapped it for a Tuscan, but no way. I've never been so totally amazed by a car. I'm so convinced that I made the right choice. Had I bought a Tuscan, I would have always been wondering what it would have been like to own a Griff. Well, I'm pleased to be able to say that I do know. I can always 'trade-up' to a newer model, but if I can possibly afford it, it will be a second TVR as I have no desire to get rid of the Griff. I, like most Griff owners I'm sure, swoon at the lines of these new models, and gasp at their beauty, but none will ever be able to replicate what the Griff did for TVR. Nor be such a brutal piece of TVR heritage.
The Griff is the ultimate TVR for me, and there is no way that I will ever go into a TVR dealer and put mine up for part-ex, it would be like selling my girlfriend...
When they brought out the Griff, intially I was disappointed, but within a few minutes was totally besotted. At the end of the weeks filming, I had to make my choice and out of the cars on offer, it had to be the Griff. Both Jason and Dom were sceptical that I would actually go through with the sale, and Dom even promised me that within 12 months, if I did buy it, I would have swapped it for a Tuscan, but no way. I've never been so totally amazed by a car. I'm so convinced that I made the right choice. Had I bought a Tuscan, I would have always been wondering what it would have been like to own a Griff. Well, I'm pleased to be able to say that I do know. I can always 'trade-up' to a newer model, but if I can possibly afford it, it will be a second TVR as I have no desire to get rid of the Griff. I, like most Griff owners I'm sure, swoon at the lines of these new models, and gasp at their beauty, but none will ever be able to replicate what the Griff did for TVR. Nor be such a brutal piece of TVR heritage.
The Griff is the ultimate TVR for me, and there is no way that I will ever go into a TVR dealer and put mine up for part-ex, it would be like selling my girlfriend...
Thanks for the feedback.
Simpo Two, yes, I did consider owning two, but I don't have the space. The Tuscan only just squeezes down the drive with a few inches space and I had to chisel away half a brick each side of the garage door pillar base to avoid trashing the wheels. The everyday Audi has to brave the elements and sit on the drive. If I were to have an older car, surely that would need to be cosseted more so than the new one.
I have to confess to not being totally enamoured by the cheesegrater nose, but I'm not going to get into a debate on the aesthetics.
The V8 clearly has a lasting impression on those who have lived with one, which underlines my original doubts.
Perhaps some kind of exchange scheme can be set up whereby you put your own car forward and specify an ideal temporary swap vehicle. A scary and impractical thought, but one that could work if all participants behave in a repectful manner.
I believe the HPC club have car swap days.
I just want to taste the fruit without having to go through the selling/buying process to satisfy my inquisitiveness.
Simpo Two, yes, I did consider owning two, but I don't have the space. The Tuscan only just squeezes down the drive with a few inches space and I had to chisel away half a brick each side of the garage door pillar base to avoid trashing the wheels. The everyday Audi has to brave the elements and sit on the drive. If I were to have an older car, surely that would need to be cosseted more so than the new one.
I have to confess to not being totally enamoured by the cheesegrater nose, but I'm not going to get into a debate on the aesthetics.
The V8 clearly has a lasting impression on those who have lived with one, which underlines my original doubts.
Perhaps some kind of exchange scheme can be set up whereby you put your own car forward and specify an ideal temporary swap vehicle. A scary and impractical thought, but one that could work if all participants behave in a repectful manner.
I believe the HPC club have car swap days.
I just want to taste the fruit without having to go through the selling/buying process to satisfy my inquisitiveness.
Tell you what Peter, we'll swap for a weekend 
I would dearly love a Cerbera, and a Tuscan even more so, the looks and styling are incredible....
but then I look at the Griff and, for me anyway, full convertibles are what TVR was always about... and that V8
the sound, the reliability, the simplicity, and did I mention the sound!
I have a niggling feeling I would regret it big time if I sold it.
shufflesofftobuyanotherlotteryticket
>> Edited by burriana500 on Thursday 4th December 09:24
I would dearly love a Cerbera, and a Tuscan even more so, the looks and styling are incredible....
but then I look at the Griff and, for me anyway, full convertibles are what TVR was always about... and that V8
the sound, the reliability, the simplicity, and did I mention the sound! I have a niggling feeling I would regret it big time if I sold it.
shufflesofftobuyanotherlotteryticket
>> Edited by burriana500 on Thursday 4th December 09:24
At one stage I had two Griffs and reckoned they would both go in a single garage - one above the other!
We V8 chaps like them for three reasons:
1) Low down torque, ie where you can use it - it's not always feasible to do 6,000rpm in suburbia.
2) Well sorted and not a fortune to fix
3) Oh, and this bit: [url]http://autograph.uk.com/Pix/griff.wav
>> Edited by simpo two on Thursday 4th December 09:47
We V8 chaps like them for three reasons:
1) Low down torque, ie where you can use it - it's not always feasible to do 6,000rpm in suburbia.
2) Well sorted and not a fortune to fix
3) Oh, and this bit: [url]http://autograph.uk.com/Pix/griff.wav
>> Edited by simpo two on Thursday 4th December 09:47
As those across the 'pond' say "there's no substitute for cubic inches" and there's no substitute for the V8 either! I bought a 4 year old Griff 500 and long before the first year was out, it was just sooooooo good that I just had to have my own spec so I went ordered a brand new one. Hugely indulgent and addictive but then nothing else comes close. Just past its first MOT and the feeling is just the same as day one!! Stick a V8 in the T350 and I might then be interested!!!
I also love my Griff for the V8 burble and roar and slightly retro, beasting feel to the whole experience of driving it. But I guess which path is best for TVR themselves is really about TVR's long term view of the future and the choices they make with their scarce development resources.
It seems to me they are in a transition phase on the way to being a serious manufacturer with racing pedigree who makes cars that compete properly with the best of the higher volume boys like Porsche and Ferrari. This may mean they have to leave behind some of their customers who love TVRs for the more "soulful" reasons.
However becoming race hardened through doing endurance events such as Le Mans has got to result in better performance and reliability in future production TVRs, which we'd all like to see. Wouldn't it be great to see TVR win the Le Mans GT class one day and that's more likely if they continue development of their own engines and build on a cycle of race success and production sales than if they keep looking backwards.
It seems to me they are in a transition phase on the way to being a serious manufacturer with racing pedigree who makes cars that compete properly with the best of the higher volume boys like Porsche and Ferrari. This may mean they have to leave behind some of their customers who love TVRs for the more "soulful" reasons.
However becoming race hardened through doing endurance events such as Le Mans has got to result in better performance and reliability in future production TVRs, which we'd all like to see. Wouldn't it be great to see TVR win the Le Mans GT class one day and that's more likely if they continue development of their own engines and build on a cycle of race success and production sales than if they keep looking backwards.
Ffirg 005 said:
Wouldn't it be great to see TVR win the Le Mans GT class one day and that's more likely if they continue development of their own engines and build on a cycle of race success and production sales than if they keep looking backwards.
Saw the Carroll Shelby story on BBC 4 last night - going out and beating Ferarri at le Mans.
Think you can only dream about this sort of thing today.........
Anyway, the experience for TVR must have an effect back at the ranch!
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