8 days, 2000 miles and still the grin.....

8 days, 2000 miles and still the grin.....

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johno

Original Poster:

8,427 posts

283 months

Monday 21st October 2002
quotequote all
A week ago Saturday I collected number 5 of the last 100 Griffiths , that was at midday...by 11 o'clock English time I was sitting enjoying a beer in Auxerre in France after 650 miles of sheer fun and enjoyment. The memory of racing round the peripherique with the roof off at night with Paris all lit up and through all those tunnels is something that will be hard to beat.

I have had the Griffith now for 8 days and have clocked 2000 miles in it and still can't get rid of the grin.

It has lived up to being everything I wanted it to be and more. Even today when we were stuck in traffic and a 1.5 hr journey turned into a 4 hr slog she behaved herself, although getting rather hot, well ..very hot.

She is rock solid at speed, very good in the wet, even better in the dry and stupendous on the Autoroute. I have done several cross country runs on A roads in the wet and the dry, at night and in the day and have been able to make massive progress very quickly. Through Bury St Edmunds onto Diss from the M11 to Scole on the A140 on Friday evening a prime example.

It never ceases to make me smile when I get in it. I have waited for 8 years to own one...I have the one with the exact spec. I wanted aswell.

I have no illusions or doubts that it will bite back one day, but I also know I am never going to push this car to its limits on the public roads. So off to the track we go.. I can't wait.

Have I had it sideways yet...yes. Have I managed to provoke wheel spin in second in the dry .... yes. In the wet in third.... yes.. But it has been much more of a composed car than most of the reports tell you.

Maybe it is because I come from driving a TVR previously that I understand how they work a little more than others who may have just jumped into a Griffith and expected it to behave like their Impreza's.

This car is not a monster, none had been through the test drives and the one I own isn't. You can get it out of a wet roundabout quickly, you just have to take the right line and apply the angry pedal correctly.

This car is awesome ! I love it. I hadn't posted when I got it as I hadn't driven it. I knew I liked it, I liked it on the test drive as it was the best I had driven. 2000 miles later having covered most types of road England and France can chuck at you in all weather I know I have a new mistress

I will post piccies tomorrow for those who are interested.

Cheers

Mark
A very happy new Griffith owner...

EdT

5,103 posts

285 months

Monday 21st October 2002
quotequote all
very jealous as you've reminded me that's exactly how I felt 3 years ago when we got ours. And you only get your 1st Grffith once!

Happily 3 years on I still love it to bits, and expect I always will. Trait of a car with big character I suppose.

And congratulations!

Regards
Ed

Paul V

4,489 posts

278 months

Monday 21st October 2002
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Glad your still enjoying it mate, I’m still waiting for a ride!

apache

39,731 posts

285 months

Monday 21st October 2002
quotequote all
I'm tellin ya...these things are special, and destined to become a much sought after car, I usually get bored with a car after 6 months, I've had this one for 2 years and still love it to bits (not in a literal sense mind)

tivhead

6,071 posts

267 months

Monday 21st October 2002
quotequote all
Glad to hear Griff is behaving like she should. Hope you have many more miles of stress free driving mate.

BTW, what colour is it? Not red by any chance? Red 5...

Tiv

johno

Original Poster:

8,427 posts

283 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2002
quotequote all

tivhead said: Glad to hear Griff is behaving like she should. Hope you have many more miles of stress free driving mate.

BTW, what colour is it? Not red by any chance? Red 5...

Tiv


Moonraker Black Metallic with a Full Hide Interior and Ally dash.



beano1197

20,854 posts

276 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2002
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Moonraker Black Metallic with a Full Hide Interior and Ally dash.




Excellent choice, look forward to seeing the "Mistress".

My Griff has just had another service* (having covered 30,000 in 21 months) and it still gives an incredible score on the grin-factor-scale.


*Details logged on PH - £170 for the basic service, although a few extras were done, how's that for a performance car?!!!!!

Gaffer

7,156 posts

278 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2002
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See you and the "Mistress" on Sunday.

Swap my Speed Machine for yours.

Claire

johno

Original Poster:

8,427 posts

283 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2002
quotequote all

Gaffer said: See you and the "Mistress" on Sunday.

Swap my Speed Machine for yours.

Claire


Lookin forward to it....

And yes, what a cracking idea. We could swap cars. Then you could get your dad to make me a Tuscan R and we'd all be chuffed !!


jellison

12,803 posts

278 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2002
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So were you driving it in the P**sing rain today in London?

johno

Original Poster:

8,427 posts

283 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2002
quotequote all

jellison said: So were you driving it in the P**sing rain today in London?


Yep ! Its my only car as was my previous TVR. I will probably get a runaround later this year or early next year during the winter.



jellison

12,803 posts

278 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2002
quotequote all
The old Polo seems to be a popular choice for Chim / Griff owner / second cars - Awesome - will be in mine for a long work run to Poole early tomorrow - hope no copper reading this!

johno

Original Poster:

8,427 posts

283 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2002
quotequote all
Have had a couple of Polo's in my time. Great cars. May have a 205 diesel coming my way cheaply though and that would be a goer aswell..

Paul V

4,489 posts

278 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2002
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Looks like I'm getting another mini, 34 bhp to 300

johno

Original Poster:

8,427 posts

283 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2002
quotequote all
Well, let be fair. It is only a claimed 300.

You can sit in my slipstream on the way home on Sunday !!

Paul V

4,489 posts

278 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2002
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Got a tow hook?

Can just see it now, mini spotted tailgating Griff at 140 mph

pilot_ian

45 posts

266 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2002
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Hmmmm 2000 miles in 8 days

6000 miles in 24 days

15 services per year

I guess the servicing dealer will be grinning as well

bloggs

35 posts

273 months

Tuesday 22nd October 2002
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Thought I was having fun having done 400 miles in the 4 days since I bought the Griff but Johno that's some going but hey that's what they're here for driving and how are your cheeks after 2000 miles of grinning ????

johno

Original Poster:

8,427 posts

283 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2002
quotequote all
Off to Anglesey this weekend from London, the onto Birmingham on Sunday for the motorshow and then back to London. Few more miles I reckon !!

My cheeks will need a rest by then !!

beano1197

20,854 posts

276 months

Wednesday 23rd October 2002
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My cheeks will need a rest by then !!



Which ones