Buying a Griff - any advice?
Discussion
Well, I am beginning a search for a Griff (I may go for a Chimaera, but the Griff is favourite if I can find a good one). Can anyone please give me some advice about things I should look out for, problem areas etc. ?
Also does anyone know of a good company or person who can do an inspection for me when I find one I like, I am based in the Midlands.
Also does anyone know of a good company or person who can do an inspection for me when I find one I like, I am based in the Midlands.
What are you looking for?
If your not certain then the best advice is drive lots decide what works for you and buy the best you can afford. Also remember to keep some money back (say £1,000) for "unforseen circumstances"
Personal experience was the early Griff 500 is a almost an out and out road legal race car which is why I bought one. That said I'd have choosen a Chimaera 400 if it was for everyday use.
All above are personal comments and no science involved I'm afraid.
Cheers
Dave
If your not certain then the best advice is drive lots decide what works for you and buy the best you can afford. Also remember to keep some money back (say £1,000) for "unforseen circumstances"
Personal experience was the early Griff 500 is a almost an out and out road legal race car which is why I bought one. That said I'd have choosen a Chimaera 400 if it was for everyday use.
All above are personal comments and no science involved I'm afraid.
Cheers
Dave
Sorry, I didn't say how much I have to spend or what I intend using the car for!
I'm looking for a 96/97 Griff 500 and the intention is to use it (ultimately) as my main car, although I reckon I'll keep my diesel for emergencies. I walk to work, so its purely for pleasure.
I've had TVRs since the mid eighties and I admit that until recently I had been looking at a Lotus Elise until I discovered that I couldn't get my fat arse out of the car once I had got in!
I suppose I am a power freak, which is why I want a 500, but some people have said the 4 litre Chimaeras perform pretty well, so I suppose I am still undecided.
I guess the usual TVR cooling and electrical problems still apply to Griffs and Chimaeras?
I'm looking for a 96/97 Griff 500 and the intention is to use it (ultimately) as my main car, although I reckon I'll keep my diesel for emergencies. I walk to work, so its purely for pleasure.
I've had TVRs since the mid eighties and I admit that until recently I had been looking at a Lotus Elise until I discovered that I couldn't get my fat arse out of the car once I had got in!
I suppose I am a power freak, which is why I want a 500, but some people have said the 4 litre Chimaeras perform pretty well, so I suppose I am still undecided.
I guess the usual TVR cooling and electrical problems still apply to Griffs and Chimaeras?
My main advice would be: don't get the first one you see - have some fun choosing one!
I was recently asking myself these very same questions - Griff, Chimaera or V8S? In the end I went for a Griff 500 because it was simply the best of the cars I saw (although it was a close thing, there was a V8S that I'd happily have bought if the Griff had fallen through or if I'd had twice as much to spend!).
As far as I recall, the Chim 400s I tried didn't feel as powerful as the Griff 500. One of the other cars I drive is a 911, and I'd expected the Chim to outperform that - it did I suppose, but it was a close thing. The Griff 500 left it standing. So if it's power you want, you want a 500 IMO. I didn't try any Chim 500s, so I can't comment on those.
See the thread I started yesterday...
>> Edited by SGirl on Friday 23 August 09:22
I was recently asking myself these very same questions - Griff, Chimaera or V8S? In the end I went for a Griff 500 because it was simply the best of the cars I saw (although it was a close thing, there was a V8S that I'd happily have bought if the Griff had fallen through or if I'd had twice as much to spend!).
quote:
I suppose I am a power freak, which is why I want a 500, but some people have said the 4 litre Chimaeras perform pretty well, so I suppose I am still undecided.
As far as I recall, the Chim 400s I tried didn't feel as powerful as the Griff 500. One of the other cars I drive is a 911, and I'd expected the Chim to outperform that - it did I suppose, but it was a close thing. The Griff 500 left it standing. So if it's power you want, you want a 500 IMO. I didn't try any Chim 500s, so I can't comment on those.
quote:
I guess the usual TVR cooling and electrical problems still apply to Griffs and Chimaeras?
See the thread I started yesterday...
>> Edited by SGirl on Friday 23 August 09:22
I would say that if your spending that kind of money on a 96/97 Griff, you should become an expert on the car. It wont just save you money, but will help you get a sound car. This site helped me enormously with the advice from other members. 
The first Griff viewed was in awful nick and I politely walked away, but the second just blew me away, so I bought it. Coming back to the original point of becoming an expert…the first guy “blagged” me with the following crap on a standard 96 Griff 500
---It’s the 380bhp model
---It’ll do 190mph easy (“Throw me a friggin bone here!?”)
---If you can hear a strange noise on the driver rear…its because they put the damper on the wrong way round
Just one last thing that helped me find the right car……
Go to the Autotrader web site, do a search and print off ALL Griffs. Then critique them according to your preference…eg
Start off giving the car 10/10 and minus points for things that bother you….wrong colour (minus 1), high mileage (minus 1) etc….you'll be left with a clear list of cars to view!
goodluck!
The first Griff viewed was in awful nick and I politely walked away, but the second just blew me away, so I bought it. Coming back to the original point of becoming an expert…the first guy “blagged” me with the following crap on a standard 96 Griff 500
---It’s the 380bhp model
---It’ll do 190mph easy (“Throw me a friggin bone here!?”)
---If you can hear a strange noise on the driver rear…its because they put the damper on the wrong way round
Just one last thing that helped me find the right car……
Go to the Autotrader web site, do a search and print off ALL Griffs. Then critique them according to your preference…eg
Start off giving the car 10/10 and minus points for things that bother you….wrong colour (minus 1), high mileage (minus 1) etc….you'll be left with a clear list of cars to view!
goodluck! The most important thing to look for when buying a 96/97 Griff, is that it must be Imperial blue, with Magnolia leather interior, for sale in Cheshire and available through the Pistonheads classified section.....
My brother has a Chimp 4.0, and (IMHO) it feels horrible compared to the griff. Much softer and significantly less power. As I always tell him, if you haven't got a full 5 litres then you are just less of a man!
My brother has a Chimp 4.0, and (IMHO) it feels horrible compared to the griff. Much softer and significantly less power. As I always tell him, if you haven't got a full 5 litres then you are just less of a man!
Keith
I have found Adrian Venn of Exactly TVR to be a top bloke looking after my Griff. He is based in Coventry. He does not sell cars, but may be willing to do an inspection or help find a good one. Last time I was there he was working on a Griff he had helped source for a customer. Seems to be a genuine & knowledgeable TVR nut.
Jon
I have found Adrian Venn of Exactly TVR to be a top bloke looking after my Griff. He is based in Coventry. He does not sell cars, but may be willing to do an inspection or help find a good one. Last time I was there he was working on a Griff he had helped source for a customer. Seems to be a genuine & knowledgeable TVR nut.
Jon
Second that about Adrian Venn. I travel all the way from Essex to have him work on my Griff 500 - L reg with PAS.
He will inspect any vehicle but some words of advice. As you're paying him to inspect it for you, it's worth making sure you're going to buy it if he says OK. If you're undecided, then it's probably not worth calling him out!
For your info, his mobile no is 07956 956042
Good luck,
TreVoR
He will inspect any vehicle but some words of advice. As you're paying him to inspect it for you, it's worth making sure you're going to buy it if he says OK. If you're undecided, then it's probably not worth calling him out!
For your info, his mobile no is 07956 956042
Good luck,
TreVoR
quote:
As you're paying him to inspect it for you, it's worth making sure you're going to buy it if he says OK.
And to add to that...
When you first see the car, make a list of all the things you specifically want to know about, then when your inspector comes out, ask him everything on the list. I did this when David Batty came out to inspect my Griff, it set my mind at rest on a number of points.
Thanks for the advice everyone! I drove a 4.0 Chimp today and thought it was a nice car but it didn't feel very sporty, also I thought it had a very high bonnet line compared to my old M that I just sold and the throttle felt like a truck's! Are they all like that?
It felt solid but not as lively as I expected. I think I'd better try a 500 Griff......
It felt solid but not as lively as I expected. I think I'd better try a 500 Griff......
I've just had a Cerbera inspected at Offord, for the sum of £60 they seem to have it pretty well covered.
Of course this means I might be selling the Griff I have a 96 'P' cosmos blue flint half hide, 54k on the clock., cd autochanger and rear speakers, PAS, kickplates, arial booster, brighter lights kit, fan fuse upgrade & remote switch, new AVO's on the back, new SO3's on the front. very well maintained as it was the Brundle ex-demo and I bought it at 900 miles. Interested?
David
Of course this means I might be selling the Griff I have a 96 'P' cosmos blue flint half hide, 54k on the clock., cd autochanger and rear speakers, PAS, kickplates, arial booster, brighter lights kit, fan fuse upgrade & remote switch, new AVO's on the back, new SO3's on the front. very well maintained as it was the Brundle ex-demo and I bought it at 900 miles. Interested?
David
quote:
The most important thing to look for when buying a 96/97 Griff, is that it must be Imperial blue, with Magnolia leather interior, for sale in Cheshire and available through the Pistonheads classified section.....
My brother has a Chimp 4.0, and (IMHO) it feels horrible compared to the griff. Much softer and significantly less power. As I always tell him, if you haven't got a full 5 litres then you are just less of a man!
Nice car m8, but my missus won't let me buy any Griff older than a P reg.
quote:
I've just had a Cerbera inspected at Offord, for the sum of £60 they seem to have it pretty well covered.
Of course this means I might be selling the Griff I have a 96 'P' cosmos blue flint half hide, 54k on the clock., cd autochanger and rear speakers, PAS, kickplates, arial booster, brighter lights kit, fan fuse upgrade & remote switch, new AVO's on the back, new SO3's on the front. very well maintained as it was the Brundle ex-demo and I bought it at 900 miles. Interested?
David
I'll have a think about it, but the mileage is a bit higher than I want really.
Keith
4ltr Chimp and 5ltr Griff are chalk and cheese. Personal preference but I think the Griff is 10 times the car the chimp is for driving pleasure. There is no such thing as a TVR compromise really when you think about it. Buying a Chimp cos their more practical is admitting defeat from day 1. Lets face it we buy these cars for the sheer joy and outrageousness of them compared to the "norm".
Dont compromise and regret it later - especially if you dont need it every day.
Dont compromise and regret it later - especially if you dont need it every day.
Keith .. higher miles are not a bad thing .. they show the car has been used and is reliable .. ie a 1996 car with 10k on the clock .. i.e hmm why would anyone have a car like a griff and only do 10k in it over 6 yrs?
the higher miles usualy mean the car has had the niggles etc sorted and TVR V8's like to be used reglar to keep things moving.
Dont let miles put you off, If I had I wouldnt have a great griff now!
History with full maintenence details are the key to looking at how the car been behaving and looked after
>> Edited by CleG on Friday 23 August 16:35
the higher miles usualy mean the car has had the niggles etc sorted and TVR V8's like to be used reglar to keep things moving.
Dont let miles put you off, If I had I wouldnt have a great griff now!
History with full maintenence details are the key to looking at how the car been behaving and looked after
>> Edited by CleG on Friday 23 August 16:35
I think the point about high miles is valid, I can understand people being put off but a car my car with 54k on the clock has still doen less than 12k per year, it has a very full service history and has been very 'de niggled'. It also depends how it's been driven, I have never had a major failure on my car, it had a new (recon) steering rack 3 years ago. Apart from the usual wear and tear (suspension bushs, shocks, brakes tyres ) etc it has been perfect. Only letting me down once and that was electrical.
This is not an ad for my car as I'm not sure I'm selling it yet, what I'm trying to say is do not be put off by a few miles, a TVR which sits about week in and week out with no action will deteriorate pretty quickly. The best ones are the ones that are driven regularly.
Just make sure the history is good.
If you want to come and have a look at mne before I clean it up to sell it, I can take you through all the bits you need to look for when you are looking at others...give you a benchmark. Just let me know.
Cheers
D.
This is not an ad for my car as I'm not sure I'm selling it yet, what I'm trying to say is do not be put off by a few miles, a TVR which sits about week in and week out with no action will deteriorate pretty quickly. The best ones are the ones that are driven regularly.
Just make sure the history is good.
If you want to come and have a look at mne before I clean it up to sell it, I can take you through all the bits you need to look for when you are looking at others...give you a benchmark. Just let me know.
Cheers
D.
As mentioned here already, Rob Ingleby is a top bloke.
I saw a Griffith which he inspected for me & he will give the car a really good going over.He mentioned to me that he knows of a couple of Griffs for sale at the moment that would suit you im sure. hes based near Northampton.
I think hes on holiday at the moment but should be back soon.
By the way, I bought the car two weeks ago & its fantastic...got to go, Im off for a silly grin transplant!!
Nick
I saw a Griffith which he inspected for me & he will give the car a really good going over.He mentioned to me that he knows of a couple of Griffs for sale at the moment that would suit you im sure. hes based near Northampton.
I think hes on holiday at the moment but should be back soon.
By the way, I bought the car two weeks ago & its fantastic...got to go, Im off for a silly grin transplant!!
Nick
quote:
If you want to come and have a look at mne before I clean it up to sell it, I can take you through all the bits you need to look for when you are looking at others...give you a benchmark. Just let me know.
That is a very kind offer, I may well take you up on that.
NCS - I would be most interested in seeing any Griffs that he thinks are good uns and are P R or S registered, but red and yellow ones are out as the wife isn't keen on the colour.
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