Anyone gone from a Griffith to a 400SE
Discussion
I went from a 350 I to a 500 griff and back to a wedge 450SE
Its all personal preference........
My griff was quick and great looking and easy to drive ....
The wedge is quick and noisy and I love the looks and once you have driven it you get out and have to click everything back into place ( back and knees etc ) but the smiles and feeling of having to drive the car wins hands down for me
Try one and then see what you think
Ty
Its all personal preference........
My griff was quick and great looking and easy to drive ....
The wedge is quick and noisy and I love the looks and once you have driven it you get out and have to click everything back into place ( back and knees etc ) but the smiles and feeling of having to drive the car wins hands down for me
Try one and then see what you think
Ty
I have a 1985 350i FHC and a 1994 Griffith 500.
Emotional attachment is stronger with the 350i, as I have owned it for 15 years.
The Griffith is technically the better car, better performance, better handling.
The 350i is more comfortable, prefer it on long drives (other than the green house effect being a fixed head). Reality is they are so different from each other that to compare may not be fair.
If possible try to have ownership of the two cars overlap for a couple of months, then forget to sell the Griffith.
Emotional attachment is stronger with the 350i, as I have owned it for 15 years.
The Griffith is technically the better car, better performance, better handling.
The 350i is more comfortable, prefer it on long drives (other than the green house effect being a fixed head). Reality is they are so different from each other that to compare may not be fair.
If possible try to have ownership of the two cars overlap for a couple of months, then forget to sell the Griffith.
UKAuto said:
If possible try to have ownership of the two cars overlap for a couple of months, then forget to sell the Griffith.
Thanks for all the replies,Problem is I already have 1 other classic and an expensive replica nearing completion. Love the TVR wish I had found them years ago but not sure I can justify it's cost My thinking is sell the Griff and use half the money to stay in TVR ownership
or buy an M100 with a third of the money. 
Regards
Nick
I'm fortunate enough to have a 400se and a Tuscan and the Tuscan is a far "better" car than the wedge, far easier to live with but which do I prefer??? Wedge every time.
Don't get me wrong...I love my Tuscan but I adore my wedge.
Could be down to 9 years of ownership and countless hours of work I've done on it but I can't put my finger on why I love it so much!
Don't get me wrong...I love my Tuscan but I adore my wedge.
Could be down to 9 years of ownership and countless hours of work I've done on it but I can't put my finger on why I love it so much!
If I can my two pennyworth
I've had a Wedge (350i) and 3 Chimaera.
Chimaera a far better sorted car then the Wedge in my case anyway.
The Wedge had been a "rolling restoration" after a long lay up but it felt like it was flexing over the poor North Yorkshire country roads, despite decent shocks etc.
it did however sound fantastic and the hood folded down properly unlike the Chimaera.
Of the 3 Chimaera there are bad 'uns and good 'uns
First car 14 year ago, a 4.0HC was my everyday car for 3 years and brilliant.
Second car two years ago had been poorly maintained and little used and whilst it felt better designed (apart from the roof) than the Wedge over the poor roads (more like a production car you could see where 10 years of development had gone into it) it still rattled and clanked.
Third car, currently owned, still lacks the rawness of the Wedge but it's smooth, doesn't rattle and clank, has a great soundtrack and looks a million dollars too. So good a previous owner wants to buy it back.
I've had a Wedge (350i) and 3 Chimaera.
Chimaera a far better sorted car then the Wedge in my case anyway.
The Wedge had been a "rolling restoration" after a long lay up but it felt like it was flexing over the poor North Yorkshire country roads, despite decent shocks etc.
it did however sound fantastic and the hood folded down properly unlike the Chimaera.
Of the 3 Chimaera there are bad 'uns and good 'uns
First car 14 year ago, a 4.0HC was my everyday car for 3 years and brilliant.
Second car two years ago had been poorly maintained and little used and whilst it felt better designed (apart from the roof) than the Wedge over the poor roads (more like a production car you could see where 10 years of development had gone into it) it still rattled and clanked.
Third car, currently owned, still lacks the rawness of the Wedge but it's smooth, doesn't rattle and clank, has a great soundtrack and looks a million dollars too. So good a previous owner wants to buy it back.
I've never driven a Griff but a few T cars and I love the looks but the sound is a little diluted for my taste but still a very nice sound and im sure they are better built better handling and all that.
I've got a 420 SEAC, its raw lowed and in your face and there is no way you can creep around in this car, I've spent countless hours working on it, changing things trying to make it a little for friendly and for a car of 26 years old needed some tlc on the fuel tank and dif bearing department... don't we all... but there is something about these wedges that keep up captivated and coming back to them, they really don't fit in at most places.. you get the comment.. What is it!
but when people hear you fire it up they well most of them start to smile.
I love and hate the way the wedge gets down the road but one thing is for sure its rewarding, interesting and a head turner.
I've also got a Taimar, now that thing is a real gokart to drive, I've lead groups of TVR's out over the roads in my area and the owners of Cerbs and Griffs coming up to me and asking what I have under the bonnet as they could not keep up on the bends with me and are shocked when I tell them about 130hp and a 4 speed box
and mine was built in 1977 with proper suspension and so much fun to drive and very easy to live with every day.
If you could have both to pay with I'm sure they both have there merits and I know I would love to have another TVR in the garage to play with.
Cambelt
I've got a 420 SEAC, its raw lowed and in your face and there is no way you can creep around in this car, I've spent countless hours working on it, changing things trying to make it a little for friendly and for a car of 26 years old needed some tlc on the fuel tank and dif bearing department... don't we all... but there is something about these wedges that keep up captivated and coming back to them, they really don't fit in at most places.. you get the comment.. What is it!
but when people hear you fire it up they well most of them start to smile.I love and hate the way the wedge gets down the road but one thing is for sure its rewarding, interesting and a head turner.
I've also got a Taimar, now that thing is a real gokart to drive, I've lead groups of TVR's out over the roads in my area and the owners of Cerbs and Griffs coming up to me and asking what I have under the bonnet as they could not keep up on the bends with me and are shocked when I tell them about 130hp and a 4 speed box
and mine was built in 1977 with proper suspension and so much fun to drive and very easy to live with every day.If you could have both to pay with I'm sure they both have there merits and I know I would love to have another TVR in the garage to play with.
Cambelt
nick, I had a late 400SE for 7 years and have had my early griff 500 for 6 years. To be honest there is very little difference between the two.
The griff 5 litre is obviously quicker than the 4 litre wedge.
The wedge engine revs better. Mine went happily to 7000 whereas as the larger griff engine only really goes to 6200
The wedge gearbox is the LT77 and is not as good as the T5 in the griff but it works just fine
The griff chassis is a little stiffer
The griff brakes are better. The inboard brakes on the jag rear axle on the 400SE can overheat if you really push it on the track for an extended period but you have to try very hard to get them to catch fire.
The 400SE sounds so much better and in my opinion looks more brutal. I absolutely loved mine and it never went wrong despite years of proper abuse on the track.
The griff 5 litre is obviously quicker than the 4 litre wedge.
The wedge engine revs better. Mine went happily to 7000 whereas as the larger griff engine only really goes to 6200
The wedge gearbox is the LT77 and is not as good as the T5 in the griff but it works just fine
The griff chassis is a little stiffer
The griff brakes are better. The inboard brakes on the jag rear axle on the 400SE can overheat if you really push it on the track for an extended period but you have to try very hard to get them to catch fire.
The 400SE sounds so much better and in my opinion looks more brutal. I absolutely loved mine and it never went wrong despite years of proper abuse on the track.
Hi,
This is all very interesting, I think I would be OK with a wedge for a couple of reasons.
If I were a Top Gear presenter I would be Mr Captain Even Slower, so performance should not be an issue as my talent would run out way before reaching the cars limit.
I have a Pre War car so crashing and banging over pot holed roads is not an anathema for me.
My early cars where mini's Hilman Avengers, MGB's, MK2 RS2000 etc our newest car is still ten years old a 2005 fiesta so a TVR can seem luxury although perhaps not as luxurious as my 1999 Volvo V70 Chugaboom, a truly awesome car.
Of course this all depends on my selling the Griff and finding the right car to replace it, but I tend to plan well in advance it took me 5 years and two other cars that did not suit, (both cars had no torque and I just can't rev a car to 8000rpm as it's cruel) whilst intending to buy a Griff hence this thread.
Nick
This is all very interesting, I think I would be OK with a wedge for a couple of reasons.
If I were a Top Gear presenter I would be Mr Captain Even Slower, so performance should not be an issue as my talent would run out way before reaching the cars limit.
I have a Pre War car so crashing and banging over pot holed roads is not an anathema for me.
My early cars where mini's Hilman Avengers, MGB's, MK2 RS2000 etc our newest car is still ten years old a 2005 fiesta so a TVR can seem luxury
although perhaps not as luxurious as my 1999 Volvo V70 Chugaboom, a truly awesome car.Of course this all depends on my selling the Griff and finding the right car to replace it, but I tend to plan well in advance it took me 5 years and two other cars that did not suit, (both cars had no torque and I just can't rev a car to 8000rpm as it's cruel) whilst intending to buy a Griff hence this thread.
Nick
Great thread, wedges look awesome, this is having me want to drive a bloody Wedge, if I really just wanted a toy I'd go for a wedge allday long, so unique.
A Griff is a special car so I'd be inclined to look at a good few wedges and drive them all to determine if it's really what you want.
I've always probably wrongly assumed that a Wedge would be even more unreliable than the later cars,,,, now that's saying something,,
Someone please tell me I'm miles off.
As the Wedge is getting on a bit can you still get all the spares you need,,,,
More to the point what bits are getting hard to get hold of?
Another assumption of mine is you might buy a Wedge for a third of the price of a Griff but you'll spend just as much putting it right,,, are they the usual Tvr money pit,,
It's hard to beat a good Chimeara so I'm safe I'll watch this space with avid interest.
A Griff is a special car so I'd be inclined to look at a good few wedges and drive them all to determine if it's really what you want.
I've always probably wrongly assumed that a Wedge would be even more unreliable than the later cars,,,, now that's saying something,,
Someone please tell me I'm miles off.
As the Wedge is getting on a bit can you still get all the spares you need,,,,
More to the point what bits are getting hard to get hold of?
Another assumption of mine is you might buy a Wedge for a third of the price of a Griff but you'll spend just as much putting it right,,, are they the usual Tvr money pit,,
It's hard to beat a good Chimeara so I'm safe
I'll watch this space with avid interest. The biggest problem potential (just like the rest of them) is the chassis. That being said, once you replace it then you are pretty much sorted for life with that issue!
Other little dramas can include rear brakes which aren't fun, exhaust manifolds...etc...but no, wedges are really very reliable as they are basic, straightforward engineering!
Get to the wedge fest as there are Griff's coming too!
Other little dramas can include rear brakes which aren't fun, exhaust manifolds...etc...but no, wedges are really very reliable as they are basic, straightforward engineering!
Get to the wedge fest as there are Griff's coming too!
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