Griffith Values
Griffith Values
Author
Discussion

chris52

Original Poster:

1,560 posts

212 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
I know this has been discussed a thousand times but it does seem the values are going up very quickly. I rember a year or so ago that you could if you searched find a reasonable mileage (60kish) 96/97 griff for circa £11k now your looking at £13k and its the middle of winter. Hope the values keep going up and up. Not that I am thinking of selling but its always good to know that your P&J is also acting as a small investment.

lazyitus

19,931 posts

295 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
You're right, I think clean Griffs will appreciate well.

It helps that it's pretty well documented in popular car magazines too. Hopefully, EVO's recent new ownership of a TVR Griffith will be a great experience and that the thoughts of Metcalf will be conveyed through the written word.

A good running report will do wonders for the Griffith.

SonicHedgeHog

2,790 posts

211 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
I think a great idea would be to invite Harry Metcalfe to the Griff Growl this year. The extra exposure would do wonders for the marque in general and maybe give us the opportunity to explain to the readers the realities of TVR ownership and dispell a few of the myths. It could also help secure a few discounts if the event is covered by such a popular motoring mag.

Barreti

6,689 posts

266 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
And it seems from reading through forums that more people now realise the muppets at Top Gear really do talk out of the back of their heads and what used to be a great car program has degenerated into nothing more than 3 kids talking bks in the playground.
Their 'stinky canoe' jibes were in complete contrast their earlier ravings about the cars introduced from the 90's onwards but everyone seemed to latch onto the comedy comments rather than the serious test reports. Thank god common sense has prevailed at last and people are taking the Griff and Chim seriously.

Don't forget our very own Garlick has a golf cart too, and raves about it, so that must be speaking volumes for us.

Odd that prices of T cars aren't doing so well. I do still love the T350 and its the only car I'd consider moving out of the Griff for.

SonicHedgeHog

2,790 posts

211 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
Barreti said:
And it seems from reading through forums that more people now realise the muppets at Top Gear really do talk out of the back of their heads and what used to be a great car program has degenerated into nothing more than 3 kids talking bks in the playground.
Their 'stinky canoe' jibes were in complete contrast their earlier ravings about the cars introduced from the 90's onwards but everyone seemed to latch onto the comedy comments rather than the serious test reports. Thank god common sense has prevailed at last and people are taking the Griff and Chim seriously.

Don't forget our very own Garlick has a golf cart too, and raves about it, so that must be speaking volumes for us.

Odd that prices of T cars aren't doing so well. I do still love the T350 and its the only car I'd consider moving out of the Griff for.
The "T cars" are more expensive to begin with and it's going to take time to build confidence in the engines (not that I have a problem with them).

If we get the kind of inflation some people are predicting it could be that TVRs turn out to be absolutely belting investments.

culminator

618 posts

238 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
They certainly do seem to be appreciating and now attracting a lot more interest. I've been watching the market for a few months now and looking at what Griffs are advertised for and which ones are selling.

I printed out a full list of PH adverts back in July and just had a look at how prices compare today. Interestingly, there are 3 cars still for sale, 6 months down the line. But also very interestingly, there are now very few sub £11k cars available, whereas back in July there were quite a few around the £8k to £11k mark.

Considering that we are mid winter and the weather has been atrocious, Griffs do seem to be selling quite well if they are in good condition and of a desireable colour combination. If Fernies are anything to go by, good Griffs are now starting to command stronger premiums.

As the UK stock reduces further through write offs and cars being sold to overseas buyers, I can see prices driven higher. Overall, the Griff is still a cheap car considering performance and looks however.

I wonder how long it will be before we see the first £25k Griff being advertised or the first £22k Griff thats not an SE model.

lazyitus

19,931 posts

295 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
SonicHedgeHog said:
The "T cars" are more expensive to begin with and it's going to take time to build confidence in the engines (not that I have a problem with them).
Absolutely. We're still at a time where the "T cars" are still relatively new and so people possibly have a mental attitude that they are still prime to go wrong if they haven't already done so.

Give it a few more years and people will gain confidence and go by common sense, thinking that surely all probematic cars must be sorted by then. I reckon another 5 years and this will start to be reflected in the market.

SonicHedgeHog

2,790 posts

211 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
culminator said:
however.

I wonder how long it will be before we see the first £25k Griff being advertised or the first £22k Griff thats not an SE model.
Already there, mate.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1347402.htm

I'm not sure whether Fernies are simply corning the market in low mileage Griffs and therefore artifically increasing their prices or whether they are very forward thinking and know their (good) cars will sell eventually.

culminator

618 posts

238 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
Doh, forgot about that one!!

I've just conducted some crude but nevertheless, accurate market analysis and it indicates that Griffs really are increasing to a greater degree than I had first thought.

In July 2009 there were 39 cars for sale or marked as sold on PH
Today, there are 35.

The average advertised price in July 2009 (having added up the total of the 39 cars asking prices and divided by 39) was £13,548

Today, the average is £15,506.

That's quite a sizeable increase of circa 15%!!!!
It will be interesting to do the same comparison in the summer, when prices will surely be even higher.

Johno

8,593 posts

311 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
The mos timpressive thing about that price is to consider the colour of the car !

Certainly nto everyones choice, I'd be intrigued to see what Blue/Magnolia or Green/Biscuit combo of the same age/condition would command . .

SonicHedgeHog

2,790 posts

211 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
I agree, July prices will be very interesting. What may also push up prices is the increase in price of new cars. You can spec a Golf R up to over £40k while you can buy and totally rebuild a Griff for £25k. In fact, probably a better comparison would be a Golf diesel that can easily be specced to £25k. Different cars for different purposes and the old new vs old argument, but Griffs are such simple cars that you can effectively have a new one for the price of something very mundane.

steve-V8s

2,924 posts

277 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
Have to say that the market value doesn’t really interest me all that much. When buying a car, particularly a toy one I always consider the money as gone, spent, no more. If I decide to sell it and move on any recouped value is an unplanned bonus. More important is that a majority of the cars remain with enthusiastic owners that understand what spanner is rather than people who buy because they are a cheap fast sports car. Having the right sort of owners helps maintain a good base of people who understand how to fettle and fix. To that end a slightly higher value perhaps helps keep a better balance of owners. The downside is more valuable cars cost more to insure.

That said if you want a front engine rear drive open car with understandable mechanicals and have already done the Stag, MGB, TR6 thing what else is there ?

SonicHedgeHog

2,790 posts

211 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
steve-V8s said:
That said if you want a front engine rear drive open car with understandable mechanicals and have already done the Stag, MGB, TR6 thing what else is there ?
Nothing. And there will continue to be nothing until the end of time.

kenny.R400

1,212 posts

269 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
steve-V8s said:
That said if you want a front engine rear drive open car with understandable mechanicals and have already done the Stag, MGB, TR6 thing what else is there ?
A Caterham, possibly the easiest to look after and cheapest to run beast of all time.

As for the Griff it's another true and great classic which will just go on rising in price......depreciation is now a thing of the past as far as they are concerned IMHO.

Seeing I've just bought a Chim off one of the 7 lads on Blatchat I hope and assume they will follow suit.

If I can persuade the OH to let me keep them both I can't wait for the dilemma in summer of which one to use.

It's funny really, I class the 7 and the TVR as "free cars", ie borrow them, then if needs be cash them back in for no loss and maybe a small gain................although Mrs. still doesn't subscribe to that oneroflrofltumbleweed

TV8

3,529 posts

204 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
[quote=SonicHedgeHog][quote=culminator]however.

I'm not sure whether Fernies are simply corning the market in low mileage Griffs and therefore artifically increasing their prices or whether they are very forward thinking and know their (good) cars will sell eventually

I looked at a couple of cars with Ferhurst back in the summer 09. I really wanted to buy from a dealer. The sales guy was great on the day but didnt follow through. Working in sales, thats a big no-no imho. Of course the people who want to buy always phone back but....the Grif I looked at was like a pimp mobile inside and he was confident it would sell at the asking price.
Its still for sale...

Edited by TV8 on Wednesday 20th January 22:39

culminator

618 posts

238 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
Ahh, Kenny, another ex sevener with a passion for TVR's.

I must admit, although i sometimes miss my 7, I would not sell my Griff in order to get another. I've had 5 7's, from series 2 cars to a JPE and loved them all but there is just something about the Griff. It's a stageringly good looking car and so usable.

Best bet would be to have both in the garage as you say.

SamPet

485 posts

225 months

Friday 22nd January 2010
quotequote all
Johno said:
The mos timpressive thing about that price is to consider the colour of the car !

Certainly nto everyones choice, I'd be intrigued to see what Blue/Magnolia or Green/Biscuit combo of the same age/condition would command . .
I don't think you'll need to wait long to find out.

My car's off to Fernie's soon to be hopefully sold. Its a year 2000 (W) with 23,000 on the clock in Blue with magnolia!

Edited by SamPet on Friday 22 January 10:14

SonicHedgeHog

2,790 posts

211 months

Friday 29th January 2010
quotequote all
SamPet said:
Johno said:
The mos timpressive thing about that price is to consider the colour of the car !

Certainly nto everyones choice, I'd be intrigued to see what Blue/Magnolia or Green/Biscuit combo of the same age/condition would command . .
I don't think you'll need to wait long to find out.

My car's off to Fernie's soon to be hopefully sold. Its a year 2000 (W) with 23,000 on the clock in Blue with magnolia!

Edited by SamPet on Friday 22 January 10:14
I think you might be in the money pretty soon. I know it's low mileage and in great nick, but it makes me wonder when Griff values are going to stop rising when I see adverts like this:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1465733.htm

culminator

618 posts

238 months

Saturday 30th January 2010
quotequote all
Well there we have it then, the first £25k non SE Griff advertised and it sold pretty immediately. A firm stake in the ground as far as values are concerned I'd say and I'm sure they'll just keep on going up as the majority still represent enormous bang for the buck.

I see the pre cat 4.3 sold very quickly too!

BliarOut

72,863 posts

268 months

Saturday 30th January 2010
quotequote all
I've just taken mine out in the sun, it's value just doubled drivingbiggrin