Should I get a Griffith 500?
Discussion
Hi everyone,
I’m currently thinking very hard about getting a Griffith 500 or a Tuscan (Ive put a similar post on the Tuscan forum) and have a few questions.
1.I know TVRs are not known for their reliability but is there anything in particular I should look out for? Are the engines reliable?
2.Does the roof leak?
3.Are they at all useable in wet or icy conditions or is that a big TVR no no?
4.At the moment I don’t have a garage just off road parking is this ok for the Griffith or would you recommend against it? Do they rust?
Thanks for your help!
I’m currently thinking very hard about getting a Griffith 500 or a Tuscan (Ive put a similar post on the Tuscan forum) and have a few questions.
1.I know TVRs are not known for their reliability but is there anything in particular I should look out for? Are the engines reliable?
2.Does the roof leak?
3.Are they at all useable in wet or icy conditions or is that a big TVR no no?
4.At the moment I don’t have a garage just off road parking is this ok for the Griffith or would you recommend against it? Do they rust?
Thanks for your help!
1 and 4 are linked in so much that the body being non ferrous does not corrode, the chassis however does if not looked after, so condition is everything when buying.
Roof leaks? Mine is tight and if seals in good condition then no they won't.
Driving in the wet is ok as long as you realise firstly that lightweight tailhappy motors are more so when conditions deteriorate
Engines yes are reliable though things do wear out and can go wrong ..... isn't that like everything?
O the answer to the original question is absolutely yes..
Roof leaks? Mine is tight and if seals in good condition then no they won't.
Driving in the wet is ok as long as you realise firstly that lightweight tailhappy motors are more so when conditions deteriorate
Engines yes are reliable though things do wear out and can go wrong ..... isn't that like everything?
O the answer to the original question is absolutely yes..
Hooning around in a Griff on an empty carpark in ice/snow with nothing to hit for 1/4 mile in all directions is a lot of fun. Crawling along the M6 in a blizzard after a long day at work less so....
The main problem for me is that ice generally leads to roads being salted - not great for the corrosion issue. Buy a car that's had chassis work done and it'll probably have been treated to a higher standard than factory.
Regular cleaning of the underside helps, but hard to do it properly without ramps etc to allow you to get at the nooks and crannies.
Same applies for the Tuscan, but worrying about your next engine rebuild will take your mind off imminent death in a crash
The main problem for me is that ice generally leads to roads being salted - not great for the corrosion issue. Buy a car that's had chassis work done and it'll probably have been treated to a higher standard than factory.
Regular cleaning of the underside helps, but hard to do it properly without ramps etc to allow you to get at the nooks and crannies.
Same applies for the Tuscan, but worrying about your next engine rebuild will take your mind off imminent death in a crash
Gravenhurst said:
Hi everyone,
I’m currently thinking very hard about getting a Griffith 500 or a Tuscan (Ive put a similar post on the Tuscan forum) and have a few questions.
1.I know TVRs are not known for their reliability but is there anything in particular I should look out for? Are the engines reliable?
2.Does the roof leak?
3.Are they at all useable in wet or icy conditions or is that a big TVR no no?
4.At the moment I don’t have a garage just off road parking is this ok for the Griffith or would you recommend against it? Do they rust?
Thanks for your help!
1. Engines, gearboxes and differential are pretty rock solid providing they are well maintained. Spares are cheap and plentiful. Bear in mind even the newest 500's are going to be 11 years old so they will not be a new car. I think the biggest annoyance will probably be the electrics, corroding terminals etc. Do not expect to get away with not carrying out a constant round of minor maintenance, these cars don't look after themselves and you can't just put it in for an annual service and expect it to run problem free. If you don't enjoy fiddling and fettling with cars, I wouldn't buy a TVR, buy a Mazda MX5.I’m currently thinking very hard about getting a Griffith 500 or a Tuscan (Ive put a similar post on the Tuscan forum) and have a few questions.
1.I know TVRs are not known for their reliability but is there anything in particular I should look out for? Are the engines reliable?
2.Does the roof leak?
3.Are they at all useable in wet or icy conditions or is that a big TVR no no?
4.At the moment I don’t have a garage just off road parking is this ok for the Griffith or would you recommend against it? Do they rust?
Thanks for your help!
The chassis, as in all TVRs is a major issue if rusty. Whichever one you buy, make sure the chassis is in good nick and make sure the car has a new MOT, otherwise you could be buying yourself a real headache.
2. I don't really trust the seals around the doors and the roof so in torrential rain I think you are likely to get some water in the car. Having said that, get yourself a good cover (Hamilton is good) if you are going to leave it outside
3. Yes but as someone else says, treat the car with respect in wet and ice otherwise you may find your tail catching up with you.
4. As 2. get yourself a good cover. I have both my 500's outside whilst I finish off their garage. I bought two of these covers and they seem to have proven themselves:
http://www.hamiltonclassic.co.uk/acatalog/OutdoorC...
I think the 500 is the ultimate for me in terms of looks, performance and sheer fun for your money and will not drop in value, having said that I really like the Tuscan as well. If you are starting with a TVR and all the above suits, I would start with a 500 and perhaps move to a Tuscan later but there again I am biased.
Get yourself to the Growl in 2 weeks (see thread below) and you can see loads of Griffs plus speak to owners which may help reduce your fears.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I'm sure you could blag a run our or two.
FFG
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I'm sure you could blag a run our or two.
FFG
.. a 4.3 Griff is a lot more fun (imho) as it is pre-cat and sounds infinitely more exciting - it is also the config preferred by the tuners
I drove the two back to back and voluntarily curtailed the 500 drive havin first been out in the 4.3 as it was simply not as soulful
The reduced torque is also easier to manage around slippery roundabouts
I drove the two back to back and voluntarily curtailed the 500 drive havin first been out in the 4.3 as it was simply not as soulful
The reduced torque is also easier to manage around slippery roundabouts
Lone Granger said:
.. a 4.3 Griff is a lot more fun (imho) as it is pre-cat and sounds infinitely more exciting - it is also the config preferred by the tuners
I drove the two back to back and voluntarily curtailed the 500 drive havin first been out in the 4.3 as it was simply not as soulful
The reduced torque is also easier to manage around slippery roundabouts
Ditto, Ditto, Ditto.............I drove the two back to back and voluntarily curtailed the 500 drive havin first been out in the 4.3 as it was simply not as soulful
The reduced torque is also easier to manage around slippery roundabouts
Thanks for all your help!
Strange how i just decided on a 500 without even considering the rest, as with most things in life biggest and most expensive is not always best.
Is it a general consensus that the 4.3 are the ones to go for? I'm sure they are plenty fast enough.
What years were they produced?
Although i will still check out a 500
Strange how i just decided on a 500 without even considering the rest, as with most things in life biggest and most expensive is not always best.
Is it a general consensus that the 4.3 are the ones to go for? I'm sure they are plenty fast enough.
What years were they produced?
Although i will still check out a 500
People with pre-cats generally say they are the most desirable etc. people who own 500s will say they are more powerful, which they are, and have several years of refinement built into them. No one yet has said about the batteries going flat after 2 weeks if you don't use it so many people keep them on an intelligent charger like an Accumate. Most owners tend to reproof the roofs each year because they are not the most water tight. And everyone has mentioned that the chassis outriggers tend to rot. Having said all that they're cracking good fun so yes you should get one!
Pete Mac said:
If you don't enjoy fiddling and fettling with cars, I wouldn't buy a TVR, buy a Mazda MX5.
I don't know about that. A boyfriend of one of my mrs friends bought an MX5 for the head gasket to go after a month. He's a bit of a dick so I don't speak to him much but there are basically three MX5s on their driveway, two of which were robbed of parts to make the first one decent.ADM06 said:
If you don't enjoy fiddling and fettling with cars, I wouldn't buy a TVR, buy a Mazda MX5.
Not true, I don't fiddle or fettle, I'm not ashamed to say I pay someone I trust implicitly to look after my car (and will admit to being overly confident in someone who previously looked after my car and in recent times hasn't). I have a vague idea as to what to look out for and know my car intimately so if it feels wrong at any point I know something isn't right. I can do the basic checks etc but don't think if you aren't a technical car person you shouldn't own a TVR for a minute. There are plenty of specialists out there who are just as passionate as you are and will take good care of your pride and joy for a small fee.eta. Having worked for Mazda for 9 years up until last summer I can categorically say that I would rather be running a well looked after TVR than an old MX5 / Miata that hasn't had the love it deserves. Reliable as they are, they ain't bullet proof let me tell you. Cheap maybe to put right, but they have their fair share of issues too, as you'd expect any older car to have. Most of the bad cars just get scrapped nowadays.
Edited by Mr MoJo on Saturday 22 June 02:35
Mr MoJo said:
ADM06 said:
If you don't enjoy fiddling and fettling with cars, I wouldn't buy a TVR, buy a Mazda MX5.
Not true, I don't fiddle or fettle, I'm not ashamed to say I pay someone I trust implicitly to look after my car (and will admit to being overly confident in someone who previously looked after my car and in recent times hasn't). I have a vague idea as to what to look out for and know my car intimately so if it feels wrong at any point I know something isn't right. I can do the basic checks etc but don't think if you aren't a technical car person you shouldn't own a TVR for a minute. There are plenty of specialists out there who are just as passionate as you are and will take good care of your pride and joy for a small fee.eta. Having worked for Mazda for 9 years up until last summer I can categorically say that I would rather be running a well looked after TVR than an old MX5 / Miata that hasn't had the love it deserves. Reliable as they are, they ain't bullet proof let me tell you. Cheap maybe to put right, but they have their fair share of issues too, as you'd expect any older car to have. Most of the bad cars just get scrapped nowadays.
Edited by Mr MoJo on Saturday 22 June 02:35
One thing I just realised in my previous post though, is that he was quite easily able to buy cheap MX5s for spares. That's not going to be happening with a Griff.
ADM06 said:
Mr MoJo said:
ADM06 said:
If you don't enjoy fiddling and fettling with cars, I wouldn't buy a TVR, buy a Mazda MX5.
Not true, I don't fiddle or fettle, I'm not ashamed to say I pay someone I trust implicitly to look after my car (and will admit to being overly confident in someone who previously looked after my car and in recent times hasn't). I have a vague idea as to what to look out for and know my car intimately so if it feels wrong at any point I know something isn't right. I can do the basic checks etc but don't think if you aren't a technical car person you shouldn't own a TVR for a minute. There are plenty of specialists out there who are just as passionate as you are and will take good care of your pride and joy for a small fee.eta. Having worked for Mazda for 9 years up until last summer I can categorically say that I would rather be running a well looked after TVR than an old MX5 / Miata that hasn't had the love it deserves. Reliable as they are, they ain't bullet proof let me tell you. Cheap maybe to put right, but they have their fair share of issues too, as you'd expect any older car to have. Most of the bad cars just get scrapped nowadays.
Edited by Mr MoJo on Saturday 22 June 02:35
One thing I just realised in my previous post though, is that he was quite easily able to buy cheap MX5s for spares. That's not going to be happening with a Griff.
Just be wary that Many Griffs will have been run on a shoe string by previous ignorant owners. With both of mine it is me who has had to fork out my hard earned for new wish bones,,ball joints, shocks, steering u / Js, wheel bearings, discs and pads, replace ment seat belts, pas pumps, steering racks, light switches, fuel pumps and lots more. Luckily, I can do most of the work myself, if I had had to pay some one, forget it.
For me it just has to be a de catted 500. the later cars are more developed, are better finished and it's torque that matters.
For me it just has to be a de catted 500. the later cars are more developed, are better finished and it's torque that matters.
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