Discussion
Getting very near to moving up from my Wedge to a Griff. I've had a dealer tell me to forget the early 4 & 4.3 and go straight for the 5.0
My budget will stretch to about 16k. I'll have to sell my Wedge first or PX it. Thing is, I'm a bit confused as to what I should go for having not driven a Griff before as I understand they all vary to some degree.
Your ideas and tips will be greatly appreciated.
Andrew
My budget will stretch to about 16k. I'll have to sell my Wedge first or PX it. Thing is, I'm a bit confused as to what I should go for having not driven a Griff before as I understand they all vary to some degree.
Your ideas and tips will be greatly appreciated.
Andrew
It all depends on what you want.... This is a very frequently asked question, and the answers are always pretty much the same. 500 owners say go for the 500, 4.x owners say go for the 4.x
Just go out and drive them all. They all have plus and minus points. The dealer who said steer clear of the 4.x's was either NOT a TVR enthusiast and just out to shift one of his 500's, or has had a bad experience with ONE 4.x and painted them all with the same brush.
Yes the 500's do have fantastic grunt. After driving one for the 1st time, I thought this is the one!
But ended going for a 4.3, even though the first Griff I drove in a 2 week adventure to find the one was a 4.3 and handled pretty bad. I just fell in love with the noise, amongst other things.
You will find the one, and it might not be for the reason/s you originaly thought it would be.
ALL Griffiths are special and I would'nt sway you one way or the other. So just go out and test drive them all.
Hope you find what you are looking for.
Tiv
Just go out and drive them all. They all have plus and minus points. The dealer who said steer clear of the 4.x's was either NOT a TVR enthusiast and just out to shift one of his 500's, or has had a bad experience with ONE 4.x and painted them all with the same brush.
Yes the 500's do have fantastic grunt. After driving one for the 1st time, I thought this is the one!
But ended going for a 4.3, even though the first Griff I drove in a 2 week adventure to find the one was a 4.3 and handled pretty bad. I just fell in love with the noise, amongst other things.
You will find the one, and it might not be for the reason/s you originaly thought it would be.
ALL Griffiths are special and I would'nt sway you one way or the other. So just go out and test drive them all.
Hope you find what you are looking for.
Tiv
You're damn right, they're all great!Depends what your after and intended use. 500 is probably a better bet day to day as it's the most sorted in every respect. However given the choice I'd would try and hunt out a mint 4.3BV (or even a 4.5BV if you can find one).
Graham (also a 500 owner).
>> Edited by Graham B on Monday 30th September 18:30
Graham (also a 500 owner).
>> Edited by Graham B on Monday 30th September 18:30
.
I'm just wondering how different they'll be to a Wedge...!
Andrew
They are quite different, they feel smaller, have less rattles, lighter and whilst driving cabin and front bonnet are very easy on the eye.
500s seem to be the favourite, late pre-cats are worth a look, but go for updated suspension .
If you can't find a pre-cat to compare with, i have a good 4.0L that your welcome to sample, Its not for sale though ! thats if your ever in the west London area.
Tim
If you are in North London why not pop up to Cambridge and have a look at mine..
www.pistonheads.com/ads/displayAd.asp?advertId=5726
I get it back today from getting the stonechips removed and a new MOT on it. I'll then readvertise and drop drop the price. Even if you don't want it I can let you have a good poke about so you can see what a good one owner, well maintained Griff is like.
Cheers
D.
www.pistonheads.com/ads/displayAd.asp?advertId=5726
I get it back today from getting the stonechips removed and a new MOT on it. I'll then readvertise and drop drop the price. Even if you don't want it I can let you have a good poke about so you can see what a good one owner, well maintained Griff is like.
Cheers
D.
I agree with all comments so far. Especially about going and driving all models of Griff until you find the car for you. Forget the engine size etc. You really will know when it's "your" car.
There are lots of differences over the years as with all TVR's but beware of the following.
1. Most 4.3BV's aren't and there is no easy way to be certain unless someone has paperwork proving a BV upgrade.
2. Very low mileage early cars. They tend to still have some things that need sorting. Also, although not much will have worn out through use quite a few bits maybe corroded or break due to lack of use.
3. The only real suspension change between early and later cars is spacers at the end of the suspension bushes to reduce wear. This does change the handling slightly as a by product. Most early cars will have had this done by about 30-35K miles as the original bushes wore.
4. Pre-cat cars tend to sound better. Even than sports exhausts (IMHO of course ).
Good luck,
Ian
Red 4.3 Griff - E945 TVR
There are lots of differences over the years as with all TVR's but beware of the following.
1. Most 4.3BV's aren't and there is no easy way to be certain unless someone has paperwork proving a BV upgrade.
2. Very low mileage early cars. They tend to still have some things that need sorting. Also, although not much will have worn out through use quite a few bits maybe corroded or break due to lack of use.
3. The only real suspension change between early and later cars is spacers at the end of the suspension bushes to reduce wear. This does change the handling slightly as a by product. Most early cars will have had this done by about 30-35K miles as the original bushes wore.
4. Pre-cat cars tend to sound better. Even than sports exhausts (IMHO of course
). Good luck,
Ian
Red 4.3 Griff - E945 TVR
quote:
3. The only real suspension change between early and later cars is spacers at the end of the suspension bushes to reduce wear. This does change the handling slightly as a by product. Most early cars will have had this done by about 30-35K miles as the original bushes wore.
Not quite as simple. They have had more changes than Michael Jackson plastic surgery... The bible goes into a lot of detail but the Griff has had about 6 sping/shock combination changes in its first 2-3 years and many since then. It gained a rear antiroll bar with the 500. This has appeared on 4.x cars as a retro fit. Then there is the sports suspensions in various guises including the 1995 standard cars that were fitted with it.
The thrust washes are a dealer after thought although a good idea. I've seen cars as late as 1999 that haven't had them.
Don't even ask when all the changes occurred as noone really knows. I gave up tracking the spring/shock changes after the first five...
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
>> Edited by shpub on Wednesday 2nd October 10:10
quote:
quote:
3. The only real suspension change between early and later cars is spacers at the end of the suspension bushes to reduce wear. This does change the handling slightly as a by product. Most early cars will have had this done by about 30-35K miles as the original bushes wore.
the Griff has had about 6 sping/shock combination changes in its first 2-3 years and many since then. It gained a rear antiroll bar with the 500.
Okay, apart from the above there is no real difference.....
. IE like everything else on TVR's they have changed so often that there is no "standard" and if the originals have worn out they may well have been changed to something different again. Also, as you say, alot of cars have had the "upgrades" retro fitted so there is no real way to say the suspension setup will be better on newer cars - it's just likely to be different.Gassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff