Looking for a Griff
Discussion
Hi Guys,
I'm looking for a practical-ish weekend car and having always fancied a Griff I'm now starting to look seriously into buying one.
With a budget around £20k I want a car I can drive and enjoy without considering it too much of a garage queen.
I have seen 2 cars in classifieds that are local, in my budget and seem to have been well maintained. With that in mind I would be keen to know if the cars are known here and also what peoples reactions are to them and the work that has been done on them.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Thanks in advance,
Richard
I'm looking for a practical-ish weekend car and having always fancied a Griff I'm now starting to look seriously into buying one.
With a budget around £20k I want a car I can drive and enjoy without considering it too much of a garage queen.
I have seen 2 cars in classifieds that are local, in my budget and seem to have been well maintained. With that in mind I would be keen to know if the cars are known here and also what peoples reactions are to them and the work that has been done on them.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
Thanks in advance,
Richard
Interesting weekend.
Originally intended 2 private viewings but one cancelled as the car was in the garage for some pre sale work, however I did get to look at a few at Kerridges.
The private car was the modified one and is probably pretty good value but it left me with a range of doubts that I would need to price in including scruffy outriggers even if they had been replaced 3 yrs ago. Good bits.. Quite a few desirable mods for a drivers car rather than a garage queen but I think I want something more rounded, i.e. tidier with some more sympathetic updates. I cant say I was all that keen on the colour combo either, Blue/Grey/Plywood. The seller seemed like a really decent guy and an enthusiast I would have no problem buying from but for now this one is on hold.....
Kerridges next.. I effectively just walked in as I was close by as I now had time after the other private seller cancelled. I looked at a pale green 500 that needed jumping to get going but it idled straight away and whilst it still had the stock manifold and CATs it had some update on the exhaust and sounded better than the 8-4-2 deCAT standard rear box of the prior car. It also had PAS which was evident in its absence on the prior car when we did a U Turn at a mini roundabout. From a driving perspective it had good road manners and was smoother around town than the more modified one. But at 26k.. probably too expensive especially as the colour combo didnt grow on me.
I also had the chance to drive a Chim 400 but that also needed a jump to start but didnt drive well, it had some hesitation from the engine and vibration in the ride not to mention the feeling it was going to fall over at the first roundabout at which point I cut the test drive short and took it back.... I think air in the tyres and a decent run out would probably see it running well.
I was then out of time which was good as I fancied taking a Noble for a spin which may have been expensive. Still leaving Kerridges left me with a good feeling about the dealership, I wouldn't have any issue buying off them if the car was right, however I would need to be special to pay the premium and I dont think they have a Griff that meets that at the moment, I may however go back and drive a few other TVR's and maybe a Nobel if I dont find what I want else where.
So quite a bit for me to digest but I'm getting a better feel for what I want, at least in an ideal car..
Condition, both underneath and cosmetics need to be good, not immaculate but good.
PAS is defo a bonus
Exhaust can sound good with CAT's in situ
Standard CAM / ECU can still pull well if in good condition
LT77 / T5 not much in it, probably slight preference for LT77 from a drivers perspective.
Trim update over wood updates the car into the 1980's.............
Toyo Proxies on both Griff's felt fine, I never liked them on a E30 or Lotus but on the Griff they seem to work.
Time to look at a few further a field I think...
Originally intended 2 private viewings but one cancelled as the car was in the garage for some pre sale work, however I did get to look at a few at Kerridges.
The private car was the modified one and is probably pretty good value but it left me with a range of doubts that I would need to price in including scruffy outriggers even if they had been replaced 3 yrs ago. Good bits.. Quite a few desirable mods for a drivers car rather than a garage queen but I think I want something more rounded, i.e. tidier with some more sympathetic updates. I cant say I was all that keen on the colour combo either, Blue/Grey/Plywood. The seller seemed like a really decent guy and an enthusiast I would have no problem buying from but for now this one is on hold.....
Kerridges next.. I effectively just walked in as I was close by as I now had time after the other private seller cancelled. I looked at a pale green 500 that needed jumping to get going but it idled straight away and whilst it still had the stock manifold and CATs it had some update on the exhaust and sounded better than the 8-4-2 deCAT standard rear box of the prior car. It also had PAS which was evident in its absence on the prior car when we did a U Turn at a mini roundabout. From a driving perspective it had good road manners and was smoother around town than the more modified one. But at 26k.. probably too expensive especially as the colour combo didnt grow on me.
I also had the chance to drive a Chim 400 but that also needed a jump to start but didnt drive well, it had some hesitation from the engine and vibration in the ride not to mention the feeling it was going to fall over at the first roundabout at which point I cut the test drive short and took it back.... I think air in the tyres and a decent run out would probably see it running well.
I was then out of time which was good as I fancied taking a Noble for a spin which may have been expensive. Still leaving Kerridges left me with a good feeling about the dealership, I wouldn't have any issue buying off them if the car was right, however I would need to be special to pay the premium and I dont think they have a Griff that meets that at the moment, I may however go back and drive a few other TVR's and maybe a Nobel if I dont find what I want else where.
So quite a bit for me to digest but I'm getting a better feel for what I want, at least in an ideal car..
Condition, both underneath and cosmetics need to be good, not immaculate but good.
PAS is defo a bonus
Exhaust can sound good with CAT's in situ
Standard CAM / ECU can still pull well if in good condition
LT77 / T5 not much in it, probably slight preference for LT77 from a drivers perspective.
Trim update over wood updates the car into the 1980's.............
Toyo Proxies on both Griff's felt fine, I never liked them on a E30 or Lotus but on the Griff they seem to work.
Time to look at a few further a field I think...
My starting point of around 20k hasnt really changed. I think I can find a good private car around that number.
At the end of the day I'm not really budget limited but I do like to get a feel for value for a make/model and I dont think I'm too far off. The thing is with cars like these the cost / return isn't linear and I certainly dont want a car that will be significantly depreciated through some use.
The 26k car was in dealers, I think that's a 21-22k car in the private market. If it was a wow moment and there were only a few for sale then maybe the budget would have gone up but there seem to be a fair amount in the private market so I dont feel the need to re think yet.
That said.. if you have something shinny please feel free to tell me about it and change my mind
At the end of the day I'm not really budget limited but I do like to get a feel for value for a make/model and I dont think I'm too far off. The thing is with cars like these the cost / return isn't linear and I certainly dont want a car that will be significantly depreciated through some use.
The 26k car was in dealers, I think that's a 21-22k car in the private market. If it was a wow moment and there were only a few for sale then maybe the budget would have gone up but there seem to be a fair amount in the private market so I dont feel the need to re think yet.
That said.. if you have something shinny please feel free to tell me about it and change my mind
Sounds good. Interesting to hear what bits cost. To be fair on the one i saw i think the plywood dash was standard 
Im looking for the middle ground on mods. My ideal car would probably be...
Niton dampers, new OEM bushes, new rear exhaust for a little more v8 sound but MOT capable with CAT fitted. Subtle intake work (mild cam, inlet, valve seats etc..) update on the trim. Plenty of love underneath.
But lets see....
Im looking for the middle ground on mods. My ideal car would probably be...
Niton dampers, new OEM bushes, new rear exhaust for a little more v8 sound but MOT capable with CAT fitted. Subtle intake work (mild cam, inlet, valve seats etc..) update on the trim. Plenty of love underneath.
But lets see....
Any views on this one ?
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I guess the colour is quite marmite, I think I like it but Im not sure....
According to the dealer the history is extensive. I may go and have a look at the weekend but on the off chance anybody knows the dealer or has looked at the car any intel would be appreciated.
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
I guess the colour is quite marmite, I think I like it but Im not sure....
According to the dealer the history is extensive. I may go and have a look at the weekend but on the off chance anybody knows the dealer or has looked at the car any intel would be appreciated.
What is becoming apparent and probably isnt a surprise to many here is that a decent car is 25-30k its just a question of how you get there. Buying from a dealer could push that up another 10-20%.
The other challenge I have is getting time to see cars as they are scattered around the country or people are busy when I have time.
Anyway.. 2 more this weekend both of which will likely be project cars to some degree, both ~20k so have room for some work if most bits are good.
1st one... very local, just been in for MOT, service, condition report..
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
The other is a very similar spec and colour near northhampton, He had just taken it off the market for xmas when I asked. If I can find it online somewhere I'll post a link.
The white one I did want to look at but the dealer only opens a few hours sat which isnt going to work for me so maybe another time.
The other challenge I have is getting time to see cars as they are scattered around the country or people are busy when I have time.
Anyway.. 2 more this weekend both of which will likely be project cars to some degree, both ~20k so have room for some work if most bits are good.
1st one... very local, just been in for MOT, service, condition report..
https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...
The other is a very similar spec and colour near northhampton, He had just taken it off the market for xmas when I asked. If I can find it online somewhere I'll post a link.
The white one I did want to look at but the dealer only opens a few hours sat which isnt going to work for me so maybe another time.
I'm in the middle ground on these things. If somebody is selling a car and cant be bothered to clean it up a bit then that tells you something. That said under bonnet bling isnt really my thing either. My approach is that the mechanical aspects need to be good and that if I drive the car in all weathers it will get dirty and need more maintenance. As I already have a car that I can only use in the summer this wont be a summer only car.
To maintain the car I'm already thinking that each year I will probably lift the body 6 inches to inspect and maintain the chassis. I will also do any bushes etc at the same time.
To maintain the car I'm already thinking that each year I will probably lift the body 6 inches to inspect and maintain the chassis. I will also do any bushes etc at the same time.
Sigh...
Weekend plans thrown in the bin.
1st seller not sure if he wants to sell but happy for me to drive 2 hours to have a look at his car and then he may or may not want to sell it.
2nd seller just deemed to tell me he has received the deposit from another buyer he had already agreed to sell the car to but was happy to keep me tagging along on the off chance it fell through.
I have however put a cheeky offer in for another Griff that would be more of a restoration project, but I'm not holding out too much hope on that but you never know.
Anyway.. as I have some time away from the trouble and strife I'm going to go back to Kerridges and drive a Chim, T350 and a Nobel partly out of curiosity but mainly out of spite against all Griffith owners.
If you dont hear from me again you know what happened
Weekend plans thrown in the bin.
1st seller not sure if he wants to sell but happy for me to drive 2 hours to have a look at his car and then he may or may not want to sell it.
2nd seller just deemed to tell me he has received the deposit from another buyer he had already agreed to sell the car to but was happy to keep me tagging along on the off chance it fell through.
I have however put a cheeky offer in for another Griff that would be more of a restoration project, but I'm not holding out too much hope on that but you never know.
Anyway.. as I have some time away from the trouble and strife I'm going to go back to Kerridges and drive a Chim, T350 and a Nobel partly out of curiosity but mainly out of spite against all Griffith owners.
If you dont hear from me again you know what happened
Hi folks...
Weather stopped play but a few interesting private sales have come to light.
Any experience of this upgrade/rebuild?
http://www.powersperformance.co.uk/upgrades/50-lit...
It would be nice to be able to see before and after Dyno plot if anybody has one.
Cheers
Richard
Weather stopped play but a few interesting private sales have come to light.
Any experience of this upgrade/rebuild?
http://www.powersperformance.co.uk/upgrades/50-lit...
It would be nice to be able to see before and after Dyno plot if anybody has one.
Cheers
Richard
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