Discussion
im looking at buying a griff and i need help.
Is there any significant difference in MPG between the 4.0L cars and the 500 ?, im looking at trying to get 18-20 mpg with gentle cruising, am i dreaming or is this possible with either?
second question, is an alternative exhaust system available for the 500 to make it sound more like a pre-cat?
Is there any significant difference in MPG between the 4.0L cars and the 500 ?, im looking at trying to get 18-20 mpg with gentle cruising, am i dreaming or is this possible with either?
second question, is an alternative exhaust system available for the 500 to make it sound more like a pre-cat?
18 to 20 is possible if you drive it like a pram. But two things come to mind:
1. Driving a Griff with fuel consulmption is like visiting an Indian Restaurant and then asking for Gammon and chips. It's just not really why you go is it?
2. Once you drive one fuel consumption will be the last thing on your mind
You can have exhaust mods that will change the sound of a catted 500, and these include taking out the precats. Cam changes make a difference too. But, IMHO, you'll ever get a 500 to sound quite like a pre-cat, even if you remove the main cat (which provides you with all sorts of MOT/emissions issues.
Mine has no pre-cats, sleeved exhaust etc etc and sound much louder and more aggressive than a standard 500. But it sounds very little like a precat 4.3 or a 4.
1. Driving a Griff with fuel consulmption is like visiting an Indian Restaurant and then asking for Gammon and chips. It's just not really why you go is it?
2. Once you drive one fuel consumption will be the last thing on your mind
You can have exhaust mods that will change the sound of a catted 500, and these include taking out the precats. Cam changes make a difference too. But, IMHO, you'll ever get a 500 to sound quite like a pre-cat, even if you remove the main cat (which provides you with all sorts of MOT/emissions issues.
Mine has no pre-cats, sleeved exhaust etc etc and sound much louder and more aggressive than a standard 500. But it sounds very little like a precat 4.3 or a 4.
I must drive like a wuss, then.
Wol averages 22-24, on holiday in France we never got less than 26! And that includes 100+ on the autobahn and a hoon along the U500 in the Black Forest.
And I've just put the last of a 4ltr Mobil-1 in, 6,500 miles.
>> Edited by mrmaggit on Monday 2nd August 12:09
Wol averages 22-24, on holiday in France we never got less than 26! And that includes 100+ on the autobahn and a hoon along the U500 in the Black Forest.
And I've just put the last of a 4ltr Mobil-1 in, 6,500 miles.
>> Edited by mrmaggit on Monday 2nd August 12:09
jl34 said:
im looking at buying a griff and i need help.
Is there any significant difference in MPG between the 4.0L cars and the 500 ?, im looking at trying to get 18-20 mpg with gentle cruising, am i dreaming or is this possible with either?
second question, is an alternative exhaust system available for the 500 to make it sound more like a pre-cat?
Go along to some TVR car club meetings. You can judge the sounds for youself! My 500 averages 17 mpg, if that helps.
Removing the contents of the silencer hardens the noise a bit and makes it louder - sounds like a 60s muscle car on tickover, but not too loud to upset the neighbours. Cost, around £200.
Removing the precats hardens the noise (about £200, but you'll need to remove the manifolds as well), as does fitting Maserati injectors (£650), but ACT's new stainless manifolds and racing cats make it pretty loud and more like an SEAC (£1250).
As has been said, if you're worried about fuel consumption, a TVR may not be the car for you. If it's going to be your only car and you are going to do thousands of miles a year, you might want to think twice about the reliability of the car, plus other costs like 2 or 3 services a year at £500 - £600 plus all the other bits that will need replacing.
In my opinion, a Griff is ideal as a weekend toy to take out when it suits when you can enjoy every mile you do and to hell with the cost per mile. Keep it like that and you'll do less that 6k a year, which means you can save on the insurance as well.
Removing the precats hardens the noise (about £200, but you'll need to remove the manifolds as well), as does fitting Maserati injectors (£650), but ACT's new stainless manifolds and racing cats make it pretty loud and more like an SEAC (£1250).
As has been said, if you're worried about fuel consumption, a TVR may not be the car for you. If it's going to be your only car and you are going to do thousands of miles a year, you might want to think twice about the reliability of the car, plus other costs like 2 or 3 services a year at £500 - £600 plus all the other bits that will need replacing.
In my opinion, a Griff is ideal as a weekend toy to take out when it suits when you can enjoy every mile you do and to hell with the cost per mile. Keep it like that and you'll do less that 6k a year, which means you can save on the insurance as well.
jl34 said:
im looking at buying a griff and i need help.
Is there any significant difference in MPG between the 4.0L cars and the 500 ?, im looking at trying to get 18-20 mpg with gentle cruising, am i dreaming or is this possible with either?
second question, is an alternative exhaust system available for the 500 to make it sound more like a pre-cat?
1) I get around 27 mpg from my 4.3, that's with a Mark Adams ecu, otherwise standard. Admittedly a large proportion of the measured mileage was on the motorway (ie gentle cruising), but other driving doesn't seem to affect things catastrophically. Don't forget all Griffs must be fed expensive super and/or octane booster.
2) Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
jl34 said:Yes you should achieve 18-20 mpg. I got 22mpg on the run down to LeMans and ususally reckon on an average of 20, mind you I got 8mpg on a track day
im looking at buying a griff and i need help. Is there any significant difference in MPG between the 4.0L cars and the 500 ?, im looking at trying to get 18-20 mpg with gentle cruising, am i dreaming or is this possible with either ?
If you boot it the consumption rockets but that's obvious.jl34 said:There are various "sports conversions" available to make it louder. Depends what you want. Rich...
second question, is an alternative exhaust system available for the 500 to make it sound more like a pre-cat?
thanks for the replies, with the mpg thing, i just want economy for trips to le mans and the coast to not bankrupt me, i have a ford gt40 replica with 10mpg for that!
i was always addicted to the noise of the old 400/450 se wedges and the early griffs, so im trying to weigh up the pro's and cons of each, i think a 4.0 litre is quick enough, i just want one in good condition, not as easy as finding a good 500 i think.
i was always addicted to the noise of the old 400/450 se wedges and the early griffs, so im trying to weigh up the pro's and cons of each, i think a 4.0 litre is quick enough, i just want one in good condition, not as easy as finding a good 500 i think.
DustyC said:
I have detailed information on every TVR Griff ever produced and from this I can deduce that you will get 17.9975672346214 mpg urban and 22.74234729872287 extra urban.....
...if it's a black one, on Thursday, in April, in showery conditions, with the roof on, with tyres (SO2) at 22 front, 24 rear, and you keep within a factor of two of the posted speed limits.
You forgot to add:
With the interior fans switched on and directed at the windscreen.
With the drivers window 2" down expect a 0.045 mpg difference. You'll also need to have the stereo off and the headlights/glowworms on.
This of course all changes if you dont have the front lip spoiler and are a fat pie eating chunky muther.
I have also noticed that as soon as a Porker comes into view the MPG drops dramatically.
I have l also noticed that when the Griff comes into view knickers drop dramatically. (well, I haven't, but it sounds good and is probably the case!).
With the interior fans switched on and directed at the windscreen.
With the drivers window 2" down expect a 0.045 mpg difference. You'll also need to have the stereo off and the headlights/glowworms on.
This of course all changes if you dont have the front lip spoiler and are a fat pie eating chunky muther.
I have also noticed that as soon as a Porker comes into view the MPG drops dramatically.
I have l also noticed that when the Griff comes into view knickers drop dramatically. (well, I haven't, but it sounds good and is probably the case!
).Big Al. said:
I have l also noticed that when the Griff comes into view knickers drop dramatically.
In the a Chim you wouldn't hear knickers hitting the floor, cos the exhaust is so LOUD
In a Chim you wouldn't be able to see the old dear anyway because her big pants would obscure the view. And of course all the younger fillies would be dropping their pants at Griffs
Whats mpg 
some had too,
18-20 should be ok for both but I think you would get higher in the 4.0 maybe. I used to check what mine was doing but gave up long ago as its irrelavant to me and couldnt see the point although your case may be different,
Exhausted mods can be done as said before above/below, not sure weather these will effect your mpg though :scracthchin:
Good luck with looking and keep us all posted.
BB
some had too, 18-20 should be ok for both but I think you would get higher in the 4.0 maybe. I used to check what mine was doing but gave up long ago as its irrelavant to me and couldnt see the point although your case may be different,
Exhausted mods can be done as said before above/below, not sure weather these will effect your mpg though :scracthchin:
Good luck with looking and keep us all posted.
BB
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