Purple rocker covers
Discussion
I went to have a look at and test drive a 99 T reg Griff yesterday and noticed it had purple painted rocker covers. Is there any significance to this, was this how they came out of the factory?
Also, if buying from a main dealer is it safe to assume that the car has been fully checked is 'a good one' - or is an independent check still advisable?
Cheers
Andy
Also, if buying from a main dealer is it safe to assume that the car has been fully checked is 'a good one' - or is an independent check still advisable?
Cheers
Andy
I know that the 5 litre Chims have the purple rockers and presume all the 5.0L Griffs do too. Can't see TVR Power supplying engines with differing finishes to covers for Griffs and Chims – surely they just supplied them and TVR fired 'em in a Griff or Chim, whichever came next rolling across the floor (so to speak).
From my experience (limited) if you're buying a two-year-old TVR from a main dealer and obviously getting a warranty, depending on the mileage, I'd say the car would be a sound one. Can you talk to the previous owner, presumably if it's a dealer, the car has full TVR service history.
Anyway, what didi you think – does it compare favourably to your old Bavarian machine?
Mike
>> Edited by MikeyT on Sunday 10th March 12:28
From my experience (limited) if you're buying a two-year-old TVR from a main dealer and obviously getting a warranty, depending on the mileage, I'd say the car would be a sound one. Can you talk to the previous owner, presumably if it's a dealer, the car has full TVR service history.
Anyway, what didi you think – does it compare favourably to your old Bavarian machine?
Mike
>> Edited by MikeyT on Sunday 10th March 12:28
It was the first Griff 500 I've looked at, and I wasn't expecting purple!
I was slightly surprised to find numerous 'faults' from my very cursory 'idiots' look round the car. E.g. it needed at least 2 new tyres (preferably 4), the windscreen was delaminating at the edge, the windscreen washer pipe had split and come off, the oil filler cap was cracked etc etc... Not exactly 'prepared for sale'. The dealer has had it since January and he said they don't service them until a customer is about to buy it (presumably to preserve the time between services). But surely if a service is due, its due.... I was also surprised when the guy gave it full throttle 3 minutes from a cold start - not terribly sympathetic to the engine (and you never know, that could be my future car he was thrashing!!).
Very different to the M Roadster.
First impressions: it has an endearing, frayed carpet, wonkey speedo, lots of windnoise charm to it (the sort that would have the BMW back to the dealer pronto to get it all sorted!!). But somehow you forgive it all that stuff.
As for how it drives: the main difference is in the way it delivers the power - fantastic grunt from very low down the rev range, whilst the M engine needs revs. Great noise from the sports exhaust - I do love a bit of pop and bang on decceleration!!
Unlike the Chim 450 I drove, this Griff felt very secure on the road - didn't bounce around. It would take me a while to feel comfortable driving it quickly, but not too long! The torque is just fantastic.
Its funny, I first looked at the car and wondered if I was doing the right thing when I saw the carpet coming away and things like that. But when I drove it I knew it was the way to go.
If it was to be my only car, I'd still stick with the M, but as a weekend car - I'm sold on the Griff!
As an aside, those on the anti-horse campaign (see General Gassing) will be amused to hear that I managed to fall off a horse three times this morning. I'm on my 7th lesson, and this time a couple of two foot jumps were introduced. Everything was fine until landing, when my wayward boots did the equestrian equivalent of stamping on the accelerator - and boy does that horse have some low down torque!! Ooops!
I was slightly surprised to find numerous 'faults' from my very cursory 'idiots' look round the car. E.g. it needed at least 2 new tyres (preferably 4), the windscreen was delaminating at the edge, the windscreen washer pipe had split and come off, the oil filler cap was cracked etc etc... Not exactly 'prepared for sale'. The dealer has had it since January and he said they don't service them until a customer is about to buy it (presumably to preserve the time between services). But surely if a service is due, its due.... I was also surprised when the guy gave it full throttle 3 minutes from a cold start - not terribly sympathetic to the engine (and you never know, that could be my future car he was thrashing!!).
Very different to the M Roadster.
First impressions: it has an endearing, frayed carpet, wonkey speedo, lots of windnoise charm to it (the sort that would have the BMW back to the dealer pronto to get it all sorted!!). But somehow you forgive it all that stuff.
As for how it drives: the main difference is in the way it delivers the power - fantastic grunt from very low down the rev range, whilst the M engine needs revs. Great noise from the sports exhaust - I do love a bit of pop and bang on decceleration!!
Unlike the Chim 450 I drove, this Griff felt very secure on the road - didn't bounce around. It would take me a while to feel comfortable driving it quickly, but not too long! The torque is just fantastic.
Its funny, I first looked at the car and wondered if I was doing the right thing when I saw the carpet coming away and things like that. But when I drove it I knew it was the way to go.
If it was to be my only car, I'd still stick with the M, but as a weekend car - I'm sold on the Griff!
As an aside, those on the anti-horse campaign (see General Gassing) will be amused to hear that I managed to fall off a horse three times this morning. I'm on my 7th lesson, and this time a couple of two foot jumps were introduced. Everything was fine until landing, when my wayward boots did the equestrian equivalent of stamping on the accelerator - and boy does that horse have some low down torque!! Ooops!
Reading the threads on here it seems that the 5.0L, whether Griff or Chim, seems to give you torque right through the rev range whereas the 4 litre delivers its torque more in the lower revs only (am I right 5 litre guys?). All relevant tho' the 4.0 is still DAMN quick!!
I'm surprised that even after all you hear on here, there are still dealers no less who will thrash a cold engine ... amazing! Was this a franchised dealer or an independent – no names!
I couldn't run my Chim as my only car – I want to own it for a number of years and simply can't afford nor would want to put 15k on it a year and so I'd think it was very different to the M. Amazing that we all say we can forgive it certain things – is this just becasue it's a TVR – more character etc? Must be – although it's not logical in a BMW/Dr Spock type of way.
Mike
I'm surprised that even after all you hear on here, there are still dealers no less who will thrash a cold engine ... amazing! Was this a franchised dealer or an independent – no names!
I couldn't run my Chim as my only car – I want to own it for a number of years and simply can't afford nor would want to put 15k on it a year and so I'd think it was very different to the M. Amazing that we all say we can forgive it certain things – is this just becasue it's a TVR – more character etc? Must be – although it's not logical in a BMW/Dr Spock type of way.
Mike
Sports exhaust, so quite intrusive at full throttle, thank you for asking. Amusing, as the dealer is near a motorway junction and you have to pass one of the police's motorway patrol HQ's. Rude not to do it with the loud pedal set to 'window rattling' mode!
As for the dealer, it was a franchised dealer. I wouldn't describe it as thrashing the car, but he did use rather a lot of revs within minutes of leaving the showroom, and that did surprise me a little.
As for the dealer, it was a franchised dealer. I wouldn't describe it as thrashing the car, but he did use rather a lot of revs within minutes of leaving the showroom, and that did surprise me a little.
These things (esp 500s) warm up pretty quickly though, and 2K is not a lot of revs. You're probably not far off labouring it! (bad news)
Personally I really distrust this "tickover for 5 minutes from starting" nonsense. Sounds like a fine way to coke up your engine. However, flooring it from cold is not good. 3 minutes, that may be enough heat for slightly more oomph though. This posh oil we pay through the nose for is pretty viscous even cold, and mine hits 70degs in about 4-5 mins. So it should be able to cope as long as you're sensible.
Just my twopence.
Personally I really distrust this "tickover for 5 minutes from starting" nonsense. Sounds like a fine way to coke up your engine. However, flooring it from cold is not good. 3 minutes, that may be enough heat for slightly more oomph though. This posh oil we pay through the nose for is pretty viscous even cold, and mine hits 70degs in about 4-5 mins. So it should be able to cope as long as you're sensible.
Just my twopence.
its OK as the 1st few minutes of any journey are down my lane - so 2K all in 1st gear at jogging pace. You're quite right about not labouring - I find 2K revs ample though - as long as you're gentle enough with the throttle the engine wont be stressed (ie not flooring it in any higher gear).
Regards
Ed
Regards
Ed
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