A week around 500 miles and first impressions of my new Grif
Discussion
I suspect my car may well be unique, one registered lady owner from new, but we did not get off to a good start. Picked her up from TVRSW Taunton on 23rd May and set off for my Mum’s in Axminster before heading off back up north to home in Warrington, in a massive rain storm, and a badly leaking car.
Tried putting the fan on to demist the windscreen as could not see a thing, very scary, nothing, stopped at a service station to buy a demist pad and read the manual, sure enough it said turn knob fully clockwise for demist, tried again nothing. Luckily on the way home the rain cleared at Bristol.
Read the manual at home and it said some cars had heated seats to check push in the appropriate knob to activate, tried no heated seats for me. Hold on what happens if I push the fan knob, on came the fan, why does the manual not tell you this, and before you get too smug, as my dear old dad used to say “an ignorant man is someone who does not know something you found out 5 minutes ago”.
So with around 300 miles on the clock we set off on for a weekend away in the Lake District on Friday 30th May. On the Saturday I decided to take the car up Hardknott pass which turned out to be a lot steeper than I remembered and required pulling over on a number of occasions to let faster cars and at one point rather embarrassingly a faster camper van pass.
It was here that the Griffith’s worst characteristics surfaced, suspension so hard it made me feel nauseous, ( why do spots car manufacurers feel the need to set suspension rock hard ) shunting that made it unbearable to drive at anything around 1000rpm in higher gears around town, as mentioned previously soggy musty smelling carpets due to leaks. So time to get rid of her…………………….er no.
Leak mostly cured by renovo, soggy carpets cured by saving up for replacements, rest of leak hopefully cured by advice I have been given, shunting cured by driving style change, ( just drop it down a gear ) nausea cured by taking the roof off, smiles on little and big boys and girls faces as you drive past, comments from anti car people like my mum, of “it’s got a really nice shape” , and the knowledge that even after 30 years of marriage to the current Mrs Brough I still have the ability to make her scream, even if that is more down to my lack of driving talent up Hardknott pass than anything else, and an exhaust note to die for, and finally but by no means least the supercilious fatuous look that comes across the faces of all Griffith drivers due to the knowledge that they are man or in a few cases woman enough not to drive a lesser TVR
p.s. If anyone is looking for a reasonably priced B and B in the Lake Disctrict I can highly recommend
http://www.bellegreenbedandbreakfast.co.uk/ just up the road from Hill top Farm.
Home with his new matss :-)
Tried putting the fan on to demist the windscreen as could not see a thing, very scary, nothing, stopped at a service station to buy a demist pad and read the manual, sure enough it said turn knob fully clockwise for demist, tried again nothing. Luckily on the way home the rain cleared at Bristol.
Read the manual at home and it said some cars had heated seats to check push in the appropriate knob to activate, tried no heated seats for me. Hold on what happens if I push the fan knob, on came the fan, why does the manual not tell you this, and before you get too smug, as my dear old dad used to say “an ignorant man is someone who does not know something you found out 5 minutes ago”.
So with around 300 miles on the clock we set off on for a weekend away in the Lake District on Friday 30th May. On the Saturday I decided to take the car up Hardknott pass which turned out to be a lot steeper than I remembered and required pulling over on a number of occasions to let faster cars and at one point rather embarrassingly a faster camper van pass.
It was here that the Griffith’s worst characteristics surfaced, suspension so hard it made me feel nauseous, ( why do spots car manufacurers feel the need to set suspension rock hard ) shunting that made it unbearable to drive at anything around 1000rpm in higher gears around town, as mentioned previously soggy musty smelling carpets due to leaks. So time to get rid of her…………………….er no.
Leak mostly cured by renovo, soggy carpets cured by saving up for replacements, rest of leak hopefully cured by advice I have been given, shunting cured by driving style change, ( just drop it down a gear ) nausea cured by taking the roof off, smiles on little and big boys and girls faces as you drive past, comments from anti car people like my mum, of “it’s got a really nice shape” , and the knowledge that even after 30 years of marriage to the current Mrs Brough I still have the ability to make her scream, even if that is more down to my lack of driving talent up Hardknott pass than anything else, and an exhaust note to die for, and finally but by no means least the supercilious fatuous look that comes across the faces of all Griffith drivers due to the knowledge that they are man or in a few cases woman enough not to drive a lesser TVR
p.s. If anyone is looking for a reasonably priced B and B in the Lake Disctrict I can highly recommend
http://www.bellegreenbedandbreakfast.co.uk/ just up the road from Hill top Farm.
Home with his new matss :-)
Edited by Nick Brough on Sunday 8th June 13:04
Edited by Nick Brough on Sunday 8th June 13:05
Edited by Nick Brough on Sunday 8th June 15:32
Everyone will naturally tell you that the aftermarket suspension they've fitted is the mutt's nuts (me included) but, if you've got the wedge, the bespoke Griff Nitron Ohlins setup transforms the car, both in ride comfort and handling.
(Edited to correct from Nitron to Ohlins following Matthew's post. In my defence, I have a bit of a hangover!!
)
(Edited to correct from Nitron to Ohlins following Matthew's post. In my defence, I have a bit of a hangover!!
)Edited by GlynMo on Sunday 8th June 17:50
Edited by GlynMo on Sunday 8th June 17:52
Nick Brough said:
It has recently fitted Gaz gold Pro's
Nick
That is probably the issue then. I have been in a few cars with Gaz gold shocks and I must admit I have never been impressed. You could get someone to set them up properly and this may somewhat solve the issue but I personally find them too firm and crashey in the corners. You might be better off fitting a new set of OEM Bilstiens or if you want good quality adjustable then maybe Nitrons. If you have serious wedge then Ohlins. The key with adjustables is finding someone who understands your requirements to set them up for you.Nick
Glad you are enjoying the car. I do like the Lake District, you cannot really drive too fast there as the roads are pretty narrow and bumpy but great to bumble around in and enjoy the exhaust note reverberating off the dry stone walls.
MPoxon said:
Glad you are enjoying the car. I do like the Lake District, you cannot really drive too fast there as the roads are pretty narrow and bumpy but great to bumble around in and enjoy the exhaust note reverberating off the dry stone walls.
Think it may just have been down to the Lake District roads, seemed much better on the A57 tonight.RichB said:
Love the Brough, do you display it at the NEC Classic Car Show?
We love it to but it's a bit like me, looks great as long as you don't get to close 
but it was restored around 25 years ago. Been asked by the club to display it at the NEC a few times over the years, but it is difficult to get the 4 days off work it would require.Regards
Nick
Edited by Nick Brough on Sunday 8th June 22:07
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