average running costs???

[Leadfoot]

For my 500 but it'll give you some idea. Over 14k miles + 13 track days:

6K service @ Mole Valley = 400ish

12K service + replace steering UJs/diff bushes/rear ARB brackets/change brake fluid @ Peninsula = 950

Fuel = 22mpg or so (road).

Oil = 1L per 1k miles (road)

Tyres, on 3rd set but that's due to the track days. 450 for a full set @ Micheldever.

Problems: Leaking PAS pump = warranty parts, 60 quid labour @ Mole valley. Alternator fusible link gone (due to running over the rumble strips at Brands I think, broken not blown) = 1 pound parts, 0 labour = me. Knackered suspension bushes = see below, but not the cheapest way to rectify.

Upgrades: Nitron dampers, 4 pot front brake conversion/drilled & grooved rear discs/goodrich hoses/poly suspension bushes = 2.6k inc chassis waxoyl & fan overide switch @ Peninsula.

If you exclude the price of the upgrades I don't think it's been too bad, considering that the car has been used fairly hard. I've not included the cost of numerous brake pads that I went through before the upgrade (1 set per track day), as it's not an issue on the road.

[vodkakid]

cheers sgirl but ive already got a copy

[Podie]

As a slight aside... I might be interested in your S3 Vodkakid...

[rev-erend]

the older the car the greater the running costs ..

buying newer can save you money and be more enjoyable..

[simpo one]

'was yours the silver one with 5 spoke alloys'

Certainly was! It was at Duxford, on the stand of PR Wood Motorbodies after the new owner remodelled the front...twice!

I think some of the costs on this thread are rather high. A 4.0 is significantly cheaper to run than a 500 on insurance and fuel, and I can't imagine how you'd spend £1500 a year on servicing and repairs - unless something big goes wrong. (I'm assuming it will be a low mileage second car - obviously if you do 50,000 a year in it costs will go through the roof.) But I guess the safe option is make sure you DO have that sort of money set aside just in case, and hope you don't need it.

Incidentally, I though the EVO article was extremely fair in its report - not anti, not pro, but about right.

>> Edited by simpo one on Friday 16th August 10:20

[beritz]

griff 500
ins less than £400
service by tvr specialist £260
tryes 500 but last 2-3 years if driven ok
other than that nothing has gone wrong 25 to the gallon on a normal run down to about 8 if driven hard
i did about 6000 miles last year and have seen 145 on the speedo

[vodkakid]

sorry podie but im not selling yet i just wanted some idea so i can started on saving(ps ill give you a shout if i decide to say bugger it and get one anyway)

[steve500]

I sold my 95 Griffith 500 and brought a ford Ka. And, wait for it, its purple.... ummmm purple.

[simpo one]

'I sold my 95 Griffith 500 and brought a ford Ka.'

Don't forget to take it back for the recall then!

Mind you , can you imagine what it would be like if TVR recalled models after every fault was found???!! They'd all be in bloody Blackpool permanently!

>> Edited by simpo one on Wednesday 21st August 09:23