First 5 hours of TVR ownership
Discussion
Big day today - managed to get away from work early and get a train up to the TVR dealer to collect my new car - a 1999 Griff 500 - dark blue with magnolia and blue full leather.
Very excited about this, although I was a bit concerned that the car had apparently failed its first MOT at lunchtime due to the horn not working. My concern was due to the fact that the car had just had an annual service.
Anyway, I parted with my cash and popped my bag in the very shiny Griff. Had a check round the car to make sure that the things I had asked to be done as part of the sale had indeed been done. All seemed to be in order until I opened the bonnet.
I noticed that the oil filter was dirty and covered in road film. Very odd, considering the car had been serviced the previous day. They had agreed to service the car as part of my purchase price.
I was very suspicious and asked the salesman 'has this car actually been serviced?'. Oh yes blah blah blah. So I asked to see the workshop schedule for the car.
15 minutes later they could still not find the paperwork. 5 minutes after that they admitted to a 'cock up'. The story was: when we're very busy, we subcontract some of our servicing work. Your car was sent off for the non-lubricant part of the service to our (TVR approved) subcontractor. The car came back to our workshop, but it seems that our guys repeated the same part of the service as the other guys.
I said that I really couldn't believe what they were telling me. If I had not been on the ball, I would have taken the car and not had the oil changed for another year. That would have been 24 months with the same oil and filter. I was outraged. This is a TVR franchised dealer, and they hadn't done a proper service. Not even close. In fact, I have no idea what they have and have not done.
The salesman was now apologetic and embarrased. He said that I should take the car (nice weather, long weekend) - they would then collect the car at their expense and service it and deliver it to me. I declined. Another suggestion was that I got back on the train and they would sort the car and deliver it - again declined (I had just parted with well over £20k remember). To be fair, he quickly offered the use of their demo Tamora, sort my car and deliver it - which is what has happened.
So I now have a burgundy Tamora with 'The new TVR Tamora' and 'www.******.co.uk' written all over it, instead of my intended lovely Griff.
On to the Tamora. Took 5 mins before the saleman could open the boot. The speedo doesn't work, so I have no idea how quickly I am going - nor do I know what speed I am doing at what revs. The lcd display was completely blank, so no idea of what fuel is in the car. No handbook, so no clues. Finally got a display I could read when I turned the lights on. The windscreen washer motors don't work. The bonnet rattles at idle - in fact it bangs against the bodywork. Actually, most of the panel gaps are rather dubious. The bonnet release doesn't work properly and when I finally did get under the bonnet, you could see 4 patches where the glassfibre is being rubbed away from friction where the bonnet is rubbing. The synthetic leather look alike stuff is ok, but nothing like the real thing, and various bits of trim look like they are about to fall off. (This is a demonstrator remember - one that is supposed to convince people to by one). And I had serious bum ache after an hour in the car - could not get comfortable in those seats.
Idle is really lumpy and it sounds awful when cold. Admittedly it does sound good with lots of revs (but I still prefer the V8 that I thought would be gracing my driveway this evening). What I will say is that it is seriously quick (based on the rate that the trees go past, as I have no speedo...).
So there you go. I have a Griffith sized hole in my bank account, no Griffith and a Tamora with faults is no consolation.
I'm very grumpy!!!
Very excited about this, although I was a bit concerned that the car had apparently failed its first MOT at lunchtime due to the horn not working. My concern was due to the fact that the car had just had an annual service.
Anyway, I parted with my cash and popped my bag in the very shiny Griff. Had a check round the car to make sure that the things I had asked to be done as part of the sale had indeed been done. All seemed to be in order until I opened the bonnet.
I noticed that the oil filter was dirty and covered in road film. Very odd, considering the car had been serviced the previous day. They had agreed to service the car as part of my purchase price.
I was very suspicious and asked the salesman 'has this car actually been serviced?'. Oh yes blah blah blah. So I asked to see the workshop schedule for the car.
15 minutes later they could still not find the paperwork. 5 minutes after that they admitted to a 'cock up'. The story was: when we're very busy, we subcontract some of our servicing work. Your car was sent off for the non-lubricant part of the service to our (TVR approved) subcontractor. The car came back to our workshop, but it seems that our guys repeated the same part of the service as the other guys.
I said that I really couldn't believe what they were telling me. If I had not been on the ball, I would have taken the car and not had the oil changed for another year. That would have been 24 months with the same oil and filter. I was outraged. This is a TVR franchised dealer, and they hadn't done a proper service. Not even close. In fact, I have no idea what they have and have not done.
The salesman was now apologetic and embarrased. He said that I should take the car (nice weather, long weekend) - they would then collect the car at their expense and service it and deliver it to me. I declined. Another suggestion was that I got back on the train and they would sort the car and deliver it - again declined (I had just parted with well over £20k remember). To be fair, he quickly offered the use of their demo Tamora, sort my car and deliver it - which is what has happened.
So I now have a burgundy Tamora with 'The new TVR Tamora' and 'www.******.co.uk' written all over it, instead of my intended lovely Griff.
On to the Tamora. Took 5 mins before the saleman could open the boot. The speedo doesn't work, so I have no idea how quickly I am going - nor do I know what speed I am doing at what revs. The lcd display was completely blank, so no idea of what fuel is in the car. No handbook, so no clues. Finally got a display I could read when I turned the lights on. The windscreen washer motors don't work. The bonnet rattles at idle - in fact it bangs against the bodywork. Actually, most of the panel gaps are rather dubious. The bonnet release doesn't work properly and when I finally did get under the bonnet, you could see 4 patches where the glassfibre is being rubbed away from friction where the bonnet is rubbing. The synthetic leather look alike stuff is ok, but nothing like the real thing, and various bits of trim look like they are about to fall off. (This is a demonstrator remember - one that is supposed to convince people to by one). And I had serious bum ache after an hour in the car - could not get comfortable in those seats.
Idle is really lumpy and it sounds awful when cold. Admittedly it does sound good with lots of revs (but I still prefer the V8 that I thought would be gracing my driveway this evening). What I will say is that it is seriously quick (based on the rate that the trees go past, as I have no speedo...).
So there you go. I have a Griffith sized hole in my bank account, no Griffith and a Tamora with faults is no consolation.
I'm very grumpy!!!
Thanks.
Already joined the club, bought the Griff/Chim bible, consulted with Thames Valley Racetech, took a Griff owner to see the car (hi Ed!). It was all going so well.
Didn't count on the TVR main dealer not changing the bloody oil and filter though!!!!
I was so looking forward to having the Griff this weekend....
Already joined the club, bought the Griff/Chim bible, consulted with Thames Valley Racetech, took a Griff owner to see the car (hi Ed!). It was all going so well.
Didn't count on the TVR main dealer not changing the bloody oil and filter though!!!!
I was so looking forward to having the Griff this weekend....
Yes - same area, but no, not the stealer you mention. Having said that, they did their bit by refusing to divulge any of the previous service history of my Griff to me (they supplied the car new and serviced it through its life). I got comfortable on the car by phoning the previous owner.
The dealer who has cocked up is further up the M40. Following Ted's strict no naming policy I am unable to say more than the name may be the masculine version of 'Queens' in a location that might rhyme with 'Hemington Bar'. You must draw your own conclusions though...
The dealer who has cocked up is further up the M40. Following Ted's strict no naming policy I am unable to say more than the name may be the masculine version of 'Queens' in a location that might rhyme with 'Hemington Bar'. You must draw your own conclusions though...
Nubbin
I believe the car is sound and I have spoken at length with the guy who owned it previously and who traded it in with this mob for an Exige. I know the history to within the last couple of hundred miles. The only bit I don't know about is what happened in these last hundred miles that have gone on the clock whilst the dealer has had the car since December.
My gripe is that they were supposed to service it but either hadn't done it at all, or hadn't done it properly (i.e. no oil or filter change).
I am going to have the car inspected by an independent I trust the moment I get the car. If it is not as described, it will be money back time under the sale of goods act.
I also have a retail price warranty too, so I think I am reasonably well covered.
I hope it turns out just to be a mistake on their part- albeit an unacceptable one....
I believe the car is sound and I have spoken at length with the guy who owned it previously and who traded it in with this mob for an Exige. I know the history to within the last couple of hundred miles. The only bit I don't know about is what happened in these last hundred miles that have gone on the clock whilst the dealer has had the car since December.
My gripe is that they were supposed to service it but either hadn't done it at all, or hadn't done it properly (i.e. no oil or filter change).
I am going to have the car inspected by an independent I trust the moment I get the car. If it is not as described, it will be money back time under the sale of goods act.
I also have a retail price warranty too, so I think I am reasonably well covered.
I hope it turns out just to be a mistake on their part- albeit an unacceptable one....
One last thing - sold as seen doesn't apply to dealers - they are covered by the sale of goods act which requires the goods to be of merchantable quality and fit for purpose.
They are also part of a larger (non TVR) group which values its reputation, so although I might face an uphill battle if the worst came to the worst, I reckon I'd recover my money.
They are also part of a larger (non TVR) group which values its reputation, so although I might face an uphill battle if the worst came to the worst, I reckon I'd recover my money.
Gassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff