Most irritating car?

[NicBowman]

Having a TVR Griff seems to me to be like having a beautiful wife who always has a headache! I love to look at it in the garage and go for short runs, but more than 30 mins and it is rubish. Biggest issues:-

Targa roof panel, if you want to go anywhere (eg Le Mans) it won't fit in the boot. Pain in the butt. Would be much better with a conventional soft top.

ECU, is the ECU just a nobhead? A lot of posts relate to poor running. My car is really smart, never used in the rain (except Le Mans - not much choice!), accelerates like a nutter, but tickover goes randomly up, it misfires a bit on trailing throttle, and all cars seem to snatch at low revs. Why not fit a carb and get it over with!

Can anyone persuade me that the engine can run smoothly? Or should I just grit my teeth on a long run?

Yours slightly premenstrually!

Nic

[old64er]

They were built on a budget and in some things it really shows.

I agree they look nice though

[Dave 500]

NicBowman said:

Can anyone persuade me that the engine can run smoothly? Or should I just grit my teeth on a long run?

Long runs should not be a problem. I've done two 3000 mile trips in mine and its been fine.

[GJR]

Now... my Griff's been of the road for some time now and I'm expecting a whole host of issues when it is back and running... but..

During four years as my only car and daily runner (+30K miles) it was the best. Never had a problem with the roof panel, it is a bugger to get in the boot but you get used to it. No real mechanical problems considering the type of car, certainly nothing that left me by the road side anyway. All in all a great car Which is why I'm keeping hold of it!!

G

[lazyitus]

You can sort it !

Just needs patience.

For the record, mine went to LeMans in 2005 & 2006, roof in the boot and loads of camping equipment and food. I was quite surprised how much I got in.

Have you tried the old stepper motor cleaning?

Persevere. Perhaps let a specialist have it for a week to sort the gremlins.

[griffsmith]

NicBowman said:

Having a TVR Griff seems to me to be like having a beautiful wife who always has a headache! I love to look at it in the garage and go for short runs, but more than 30 mins and it is rubbish.

Na no way, I love long trips in mine its really comfortable and relaxing (admittedly I have done a 3000 mile trip though). roofs can be a pain but they look so much better when there up or down cos of the way they are designed. Form over function on that one, mind you its also dryer than a true soft-top so more points there..

NicBowman said:

ECU, is the ECU just a nobhead? A lot of posts relate to poor running. My car is really smart, never used in the rain (except Le Mans - not much choice!), accelerates like a nutter, but tickover goes randomly up, it misfires a bit on trailing throttle, and all cars seem to snatch at low revs. Why not fit a carb and get it over with!

No they are not the best ECU's out there but then this is an older car, so its not going to be!
Yes these cars were built on a budget but that does mean it was designed to run like a bag of shite.
You have a "really smart car" great, but spend a little less time waxing it and a little more fixing it
From your symptoms you could have a air leak somewhere in the induction system is the vac advance connected? these are some of the many things you should be looking for..
Why not fit carb? well you can if you want to, but to use your analogy is that not like putting your wife on Prozac it will change her personality if you prefer that then carry on, but you will be doing for the wrong reasons. Good looking wives do require more maintenance and will only reward if you fore fill your obligations to look after them.
sorry sounding like a naggin wife but if you read your post then you have to realise something isn't right and needs sorting or just devorce her cos she aint right for you! good luck and get it sorted then you wouldn't feel like this.