RE: Spotted: TVR Griffith 500 SE
Discussion
zebedee said:
how much is the rebuild?
£4500+vat gets your 3.6 or 4.0 Speed 6 rebuilt with 3yr warranty. A 5yr warrantied rebuild costs £5250+vat. Then there are 4.3 and 4.5 upgrades available for those getting greedier in the power stakes. All well-documented on TVR Power's website. Other high quality engine builders in the TVR fraternity are available.... And with this level of knowledge available, engine worries are something you shouldn't be concerned about, as long as you buy with your eyes wide open.Zippee said:
That said, look in the classifieds and tell me how many decent Tuscans you see for sale at the price above.
+1, it's cheap for a reason me thinks. There seems to be scant detail in the ad which is telling, especially about when, who, and what was done on the "rebuild". Buy a cheap Tuscan at your peril or with your eyes very wide open as they can easily get into 5 figures to properly put right. Also the mileage seems low for an 11+ year old car which means it's spent a lot of time not being used for whatever reason. TVR's don't like to sit unused and all sorts of gremlins appear purely from lack of use. zebedee said:
when did the bottom fall out of the tuscan market! Tempted!
It hasn't, that's one of the very few "cheap" Tuscans. Not sure I'd trust that reworked grille either, has it been in a bump perhaps?As for the Griffith, well they're just superb. I've only ever driven one, which was a somewhat tired and ragged example on an experience day. The poor thing was sat in the car park, dejected and hadn't been started for 4 weeks because nobody was interested in driving it; everyone else had booked to drive the cliched experience day machinery, 360s/911s et al.
I booked a drive in the old Griff and she seriously impressed me. Gearbox was still as tight as new, engine felt like it had mountains of torque and the interior was a masterpiece. After I'd finished doing the laps, the old girl was driven away to be put into experience day "retirement". After just 4 instructed laps in that car, I wanted to take it home and nurse it back to full health, it was like watching a member of the family drive away into the distance. Very few cars can have such an emotional impact in both the short and long term, but TVRs certainly do.
robsco said:
It hasn't, that's one of the very few "cheap" Tuscans. Not sure I'd trust that reworked grille either, has it been in a bump perhaps?
As for the Griffith, well they're just superb. I've only ever driven one, which was a somewhat tired and ragged example on an experience day. The poor thing was sat in the car park, dejected and hadn't been started for 4 weeks because nobody was interested in driving it; everyone else had booked to drive the cliched experience day machinery, 360s/911s et al.
I booked a drive in the old Griff and she seriously impressed me. Gearbox was still as tight as new, engine felt like it had mountains of torque and the interior was a masterpiece. After I'd finished doing the laps, the old girl was driven away to be put into experience day "retirement". After just 4 instructed laps in that car, I wanted to take it home and nurse it back to full health, it was like watching a member of the family drive away into the distance. Very few cars can have such an emotional impact in both the short and long term, but TVRs certainly do.
Absolutely, 5 yrs after selling my 400se ( which i only owned for 8 months due to circumstances) i finally got the 450se. Pined and pined all that time. Drove a friends Boxster a year ago and it just left me cold. TVR's are for real enthusiasts who don't mind getting dirty hands now and then..................As for the Griffith, well they're just superb. I've only ever driven one, which was a somewhat tired and ragged example on an experience day. The poor thing was sat in the car park, dejected and hadn't been started for 4 weeks because nobody was interested in driving it; everyone else had booked to drive the cliched experience day machinery, 360s/911s et al.
I booked a drive in the old Griff and she seriously impressed me. Gearbox was still as tight as new, engine felt like it had mountains of torque and the interior was a masterpiece. After I'd finished doing the laps, the old girl was driven away to be put into experience day "retirement". After just 4 instructed laps in that car, I wanted to take it home and nurse it back to full health, it was like watching a member of the family drive away into the distance. Very few cars can have such an emotional impact in both the short and long term, but TVRs certainly do.
Jimbo
JMF894 said:
Absolutely, 5 yrs after selling my 400se ( which i only owned for 8 months due to circumstances) i finally got the 450se. Pined and pined all that time. Drove a friends Boxster a year ago and it just left me cold. TVR's are for real enthusiasts who don't mind getting dirty hands now and then..................
Jimbo
Agreed. I've been out today and bought some silicone sealant and carpet adhesive. Washed the Cerb, then cut the rear light lens covers out to get rid of the condensation, sealed them back in and then glued some carpet back on in the footwells. Thoroughly enjoyed myself. Porsche owners may cringe at the very thought, but its all part of the appeal to me. You can cope with occasional niggles because they're just so damned exciting...Jimbo
I'm not a mega fan of TVRs but I do see the point of them, and presented in this package of three options makes for a cracking article. They're always headturners, which is more than you can say for a 996 these days at similar money, if only because so few have been sold in comparison to other marques. Someone buy the challenge Tuscan immediately! Looks a lot of fun...
Would happy try all of them but unfortunately since I've had the means to have weekend/play things I do not have the time. I rarely get the time to wash my own car these days! A 90 mile round trip commute puts paid to one as a daily driver too.
I really like the Griff SE. The Tuscan is tempting though but what the ???? is that front end all about? Is that a known aftermarket grille or an early Tuscan front end? I don't know my TVRs too well but though they all came with the colander front end.
From colleagues that ran Tuscans in the past a colander boot and petrol tank too but thats another story.
I really like the Griff SE. The Tuscan is tempting though but what the ???? is that front end all about? Is that a known aftermarket grille or an early Tuscan front end? I don't know my TVRs too well but though they all came with the colander front end.
From colleagues that ran Tuscans in the past a colander boot and petrol tank too but thats another story.
Agent Orange said:
Would happy try all of them but unfortunately since I've had the means to have weekend/play things I do not have the time. I rarely get the time to wash my own car these days! A 90 mile round trip commute puts paid to one as a daily driver too.
.
Ahh, too hasty methinks. I am in a similar position to you. I was about to buy an XF or maybe an XJ then I saw sense. My main driver now is my Cerbera, OK I have a backup - its a mini cooper (great fun too I might add). They suffer niggles but these rarely put you off the road. If you want a TVR there's nothing to stop you if you have the means. A TVR would love a 90-mile round trip daily..
Griff 500's are truly wondefull things. Have to admit that there are other cars that might vie for my £30k but spend £13 - £17k ish on a well sorted, ( engine bills, chassis bills, uprated shocks/brakes etc..) 94 - 99 car and the experiene aint gonna but much different to an SE. IMO not many can come close to the thrills for this money - racey Caterfield being the other option. Warning - if you buy a good one keep it as whatever you replace it with will still leave you with a void in your life!
I miss it but will have another one one day!
I miss it but will have another one one day!
The Griff is a fabulous car to own. I've had mine 8-9 years now and will not be parting with it.
For this sort of money, I'm hard pushed to see a replacement that will give me the same thrill as the Griff does.
The only major mod I've had is a set of Nitrons which has steadied the handling up really well. I don't know what power it's kicking out but it is a seriously quick car and it's had the better of a friend's Tamora on the way down to Le Mans. Maybe it's quicker than normal or maybe his Tamora was slower than normal, who knows? But it holds it's own.
Love it !
For this sort of money, I'm hard pushed to see a replacement that will give me the same thrill as the Griff does.
The only major mod I've had is a set of Nitrons which has steadied the handling up really well. I don't know what power it's kicking out but it is a seriously quick car and it's had the better of a friend's Tamora on the way down to Le Mans. Maybe it's quicker than normal or maybe his Tamora was slower than normal, who knows? But it holds it's own.
Love it !
Diablos-666 said:
I love the griff but hate the standard wheels.
A nise set of 18" Spiders would set it off perfectly IMO.
I've never really taken to the Estorils either. Strangely they look much better without the centre cap in place in my view! Breaks up the slab sided look a little bit. A nise set of 18" Spiders would set it off perfectly IMO.
Diablos-666 said:
That looks so much nicer over the standard ones. Do you get any snide remarks from any TVR "KEEP IT STANDARD" fans?
It would be nice to see a Griff with a set of spiders on though...
I've seen both Griffs and Chims on spiders and IMHO they don't suit them. The SP12 wheels ont he other hand do.It would be nice to see a Griff with a set of spiders on though...
That said, Robs Griff looks bloody good on those Compomotives.
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