Buying a Griff in the middle of nowhere
Discussion
I don't want this to be a 'just buy it you wont regret it' kind of thread- I'm sure that'll be the case, but it would be useful if people could offer advice/opinions on these specific things....
I'm looking to buy a 98 Griff with 36k on the clock, the thing is I live up in Aberdeen, a long way from any kind of TVR dealership/garage. I'd be looking to get a 12 month warranty with the car- how is this used in practise when I'd be several hundred miles from the garage I bought it from?? Is it wise to buy this kind of car/age when it may be diffcult to sort out any potential problems? I'd probably get the car checked out (Rob Ingleby??) before I buy it- but what kind of things should I specifically be looking for that may hit me 12 months in my ownership on a car this age??
My heart says just do it, and I hopefully will, but I need to make sure I go into it with my eyes open (and my head agrees).
Buy a copy of Steve Heath's book - it covers pretty much everything you've asked but from my personal experience:
Engine and exhaust mountings need to be carefully checked (look for the exhaust twisted looking from the back of the car and notches in the swan-neck pipe that is fitted above the drive belt)
Electrics (obvious stuff - does it all work)
Condition of the paint (and boy did I get stung on that one - if it is rosso pearl my recommendation is to just walk away regardless of how good it looks unless you like paying for full body resprays)
Coolant leaks
Rear bulb holders (wayward spare wheels can break all of the clips that hold the bulb panels in place)
Roof panel (not putting the roof in its bag while stowed results in abrasion of the fabric in the corners)
Engine and exhaust mountings need to be carefully checked (look for the exhaust twisted looking from the back of the car and notches in the swan-neck pipe that is fitted above the drive belt)
Electrics (obvious stuff - does it all work)
Condition of the paint (and boy did I get stung on that one - if it is rosso pearl my recommendation is to just walk away regardless of how good it looks unless you like paying for full body resprays)
Coolant leaks
Rear bulb holders (wayward spare wheels can break all of the clips that hold the bulb panels in place)
Roof panel (not putting the roof in its bag while stowed results in abrasion of the fabric in the corners)
Arghhhh right......
firstly you don't need a dealer
Are there any good independents near you that specialise in either TVRs or V8s.
Warranty......I just a bought a warranty from the RAC so you don't need to be tied down to a particular garage.... I only got a 3star one cos all the additional items covered by their 5 star one I dont have... (PAS,ABS,Air Con)
Yep you will get problems, but to be honest most of them are gremlins that you can sort yourself with a little help from your friends
firstly you don't need a dealer
Are there any good independents near you that specialise in either TVRs or V8s.
Warranty......I just a bought a warranty from the RAC so you don't need to be tied down to a particular garage.... I only got a 3star one cos all the additional items covered by their 5 star one I dont have... (PAS,ABS,Air Con)
Yep you will get problems, but to be honest most of them are gremlins that you can sort yourself with a little help from your friends
Unlike the other metallics you'll find rosso pearl (not actually a pearl) is a 3 layer paint. It has a silver base, red lacquer and then a clear lacquer. The red lacquer is very prone to bleaching in sunlight with the car first going a bit "bloomy" in appearance followed by it going pink and ultimately (if left) plain silver. Because of the bleaching the job of blending in paint is virtually impossible. Polishing the car will not fix it (although many good waxes now have UV blocks in them same as your sunscreen). If you get a scratch or a stonechips at the front you cant just get a small front end respray the only real option is get the whole car repainted.
The colour has been revised several times to improve UV resistance but it is still very susceptable.
Just a real shame that it is such a good looking colour when it is still in good condition...
The colour has been revised several times to improve UV resistance but it is still very susceptable.
Just a real shame that it is such a good looking colour when it is still in good condition...
It really depends on how much time it has spent in bright (or not so bright sunlight) and how good the cleaning/waxing has been. They've been putting UV filters in wax for some time but it only lasts so long so unless it is regularly refreshed the filters have little effect.
As for any car of that age? I think the answer has to be pretty much yes.
I love the colour too - which is why I have a griff in that colour but it is starting to go really badly in places and now I am looking at a full respray at the end of the year. Will be adopting a very similar lotus colour as a replacement simply because it has a much "stronger" red dye that doesn't suffer so readily.
As for any car of that age? I think the answer has to be pretty much yes.
I love the colour too - which is why I have a griff in that colour but it is starting to go really badly in places and now I am looking at a full respray at the end of the year. Will be adopting a very similar lotus colour as a replacement simply because it has a much "stronger" red dye that doesn't suffer so readily.
Gassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff