Just driven to Corsica and back - a quick story.
Discussion
Just driven from London to Corsica and back (18 day holiday in the middle!) and just thought i would let you guys know how i got on with the Griff 500:
As you can imagine the drive was awesome and everybody wanted to look and stare and find out what it was, don't think they have ever seen, or heard, a Griff before.
So what are my tips to anyone who wants to do a long touring holiday.....well here goes.
1. Get a GOOD map.
2. Take a large Mobile 1, at high speeds (120 - 130mph)you will burn quite a bit.
3. Take a basic tool kit e.g. pliers, fuses, duct tape, and those 'tie wrap (?)' plastic thingys. Also some window cleaner - so many bugs!
4. Make sure your cooling system is serviced before you go.
5. I have a hood cover that came with my car (I think it is Leven Tech) that was excellent. Firstly at night it adds extra security and makes the car look less flashy. But most importantly if you wanted to stop for 30 mins and leave the car you did't have all the hassle of taking the bags out of the back and putting the roof on. You can just pop the cover on and it secures under the bonnet and boot - great.
6. The french bed and breakfasts are great, I would recommend a book called 'Special Places to Stay' (I can find out the author for those interested).
So what went wrong with the Griff?:
1. The dark rectangular cover that covers the lights on the dash kept popping off when the car got hot, although this stopped after a while.
2. The glove box catch broke - 'they all do that sir..'
What a poxy device!
3. While doing about 130mph down the autoroute the rubber around the windscreen came off and started flapping!! Fixed it with some super glue from a filling station, but it was so 'super' I almost stuck my fingers together - seriously!
4. The heater fan stopped working. It is not the fuse - checked that. This was fine with the hood down, but when it is raining I had no way to get rid of the condensation apart from driving with the window down! Anyone got any ideas as to what it is?
5. The windscreen wipers did'nt seem to like running when the window was dry e.g. on the third stroke after a sqwirt of water. They kept jamming in the upright position, not what I needed when I was in hot pusuit of french cars! Again, is this a common Griff problem or is my windscreen wiper motor needing replacement?
6. I don't really think this one is a problem, but in the south of france at normal (90mph) the car was running at about 90 degrees - but if I had some long runs at 120 - 130mph the temp rose to 100-105 degrees, is this the same with all of them? And as there is no red line what is a dangerous temperature?
Apart from the little TVR niggles above, the trip was fantastic and I would do it all again tomorrow. The best road was the 'route Napoleon' from Grenoble to Nice. It was amazing driving through the mountains, like the opening to the Italian Job. Although I did struggle to keep up with a local in a diesel renault 5, I kid you not! This guy was a nutter and just did not slow down for corners - he was pulling off three car overtakes around blind corners!
So then if you have a TVR, get it out of the garage and book yourself a ferry ticket - you'll love it!
As you can imagine the drive was awesome and everybody wanted to look and stare and find out what it was, don't think they have ever seen, or heard, a Griff before.
So what are my tips to anyone who wants to do a long touring holiday.....well here goes.
1. Get a GOOD map.
2. Take a large Mobile 1, at high speeds (120 - 130mph)you will burn quite a bit.
3. Take a basic tool kit e.g. pliers, fuses, duct tape, and those 'tie wrap (?)' plastic thingys. Also some window cleaner - so many bugs!
4. Make sure your cooling system is serviced before you go.
5. I have a hood cover that came with my car (I think it is Leven Tech) that was excellent. Firstly at night it adds extra security and makes the car look less flashy. But most importantly if you wanted to stop for 30 mins and leave the car you did't have all the hassle of taking the bags out of the back and putting the roof on. You can just pop the cover on and it secures under the bonnet and boot - great.
6. The french bed and breakfasts are great, I would recommend a book called 'Special Places to Stay' (I can find out the author for those interested).
So what went wrong with the Griff?:
1. The dark rectangular cover that covers the lights on the dash kept popping off when the car got hot, although this stopped after a while.
2. The glove box catch broke - 'they all do that sir..'
What a poxy device!
3. While doing about 130mph down the autoroute the rubber around the windscreen came off and started flapping!! Fixed it with some super glue from a filling station, but it was so 'super' I almost stuck my fingers together - seriously!
4. The heater fan stopped working. It is not the fuse - checked that. This was fine with the hood down, but when it is raining I had no way to get rid of the condensation apart from driving with the window down! Anyone got any ideas as to what it is?
5. The windscreen wipers did'nt seem to like running when the window was dry e.g. on the third stroke after a sqwirt of water. They kept jamming in the upright position, not what I needed when I was in hot pusuit of french cars! Again, is this a common Griff problem or is my windscreen wiper motor needing replacement?
6. I don't really think this one is a problem, but in the south of france at normal (90mph) the car was running at about 90 degrees - but if I had some long runs at 120 - 130mph the temp rose to 100-105 degrees, is this the same with all of them? And as there is no red line what is a dangerous temperature?
Apart from the little TVR niggles above, the trip was fantastic and I would do it all again tomorrow. The best road was the 'route Napoleon' from Grenoble to Nice. It was amazing driving through the mountains, like the opening to the Italian Job. Although I did struggle to keep up with a local in a diesel renault 5, I kid you not! This guy was a nutter and just did not slow down for corners - he was pulling off three car overtakes around blind corners!
So then if you have a TVR, get it out of the garage and book yourself a ferry ticket - you'll love it!
quote:
wish i had the balls to drive to france and back!
.....i just wouldnt trust my griff....
You *have* to do it! The roads on the continent are made for these types of cars and you'll have a great time.
If the Griff breaks ... don't sweat it! Stick it on the AA Eurocover van and carry on your holiday in the "onward journey" clause hire car.
My reasoning is that if its a serious problem then it would have happened sooner or later anyway. Ive done 5k miles around Europe in my Griff in 3 months and I'd do it again tomorrow - great memories!
Cheers
Marco
quote:
5. The windscreen wipers did'nt seem to like running when the window was dry e.g. on the third stroke after a sqwirt of water. They kept jamming in the upright position, not what I needed when I was in hot pusuit of french cars! Again, is this a common Griff problem or is my windscreen wiper motor needing replacement?
I had this when my wiper park switch was on the way out. It must have been causing more resistance or something. Only 6 quid or thereabouts for a new one.
quote:
6. I don't really think this one is a problem, but in the south of france at normal (90mph) the car was running at about 90 degrees - but if I had some long runs at 120 - 130mph the temp rose to 100-105 degrees, is this the same with all of them? And as there is no red line what is a dangerous temperature?
I've had this one as well travelling back from Le Mans in 30C+ temperatures. Over 100mph the fans were running constantly to keep the temperature stable. The solution was to take the front numberplate off, which immediately brought the temperature down to about 80C at speed.
Pete
Off for 2500 miles around Europe next month
quote:
You *have* to do it! The roads on the continent are made for these types of cars and you'll have a great time.
If the Griff breaks ... don't sweat it! Stick it on the AA Eurocover van and carry on your holiday in the "onward journey" clause hire car.
Cheers
Marco
Totally agree with that Marco, Youve gotta do it.
I've done Le Mans three times now and been numerous times to other places in france by car and Motorbike.
The roads are just fantastic compared to the Gridlock we have here.
Also gotta agree with getting the european cover and if something is gonna happen its gonna happen either here or there.
I beleive the best way to treat these sort of cars is to keep the services up and use them near enough daily.
Simon
lucky devil, reminds me of our trip to Monaco and then Italy in the Griff 3yrs back.
was superb, i concur about the window trim, ours blew off at about 140mph on a very hot day - i think the heat melted the glue- but superglue sorted!!
we found the French service stations brilliant though, they have scrapers and sponges for getting rid of all the bugs from your windscreen - essential if you are going to try to cover 800 miles in a day!!
Bennno
was superb, i concur about the window trim, ours blew off at about 140mph on a very hot day - i think the heat melted the glue- but superglue sorted!!
we found the French service stations brilliant though, they have scrapers and sponges for getting rid of all the bugs from your windscreen - essential if you are going to try to cover 800 miles in a day!!
Bennno
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