Difference between early and late Griffs?
Discussion
Please advise. In my quest for a Giff 500 I have looked at quite a few, from late 99 cars back to 93. Most of the early cars seem fairly tatty and not at all what I am looking for. However there are quite a number of 94-95-96 very tidy examples, with all the stamps and not too many miles. What plate it is on makes no difference to me. Is there any benefit in paying perhaps 5-6k more for a later car with the same miles and spec ? Seems to me that how the car drives is the most important issue as they do seem to all have a different feel.
Like you say, you can get great early ones and hammered later ones... but in general BUY THE NEWEST YOU CAN AFFORD 
Apart from a bigger engine and different gearbox, the Griffiths got more and more sorted as they went through their production life... the latest 100s are loads nicer in standard of finish than say my 97.
Apart from a bigger engine and different gearbox, the Griffiths got more and more sorted as they went through their production life... the latest 100s are loads nicer in standard of finish than say my 97.
It's a strange world at times is TVR and I am in the process of re-discovering this. Loads of people say go for a pre-cat Griff the 4 or 4.3lt as long as it shapes up for you. The pre-cat being more desirable than later models??? I could have gone for a 94' 95' 500 but opted for a 92' 4.3. Am I out of my tree? only time will tell. Good luck anyhow.
The general addage that age is the enemy rather mileage probably holds as good for TVRs as anything else.
My Griff was five years old when I got it and needed a few niggles sorting out. You might need a bit of patience with mid-90s cars on a low mileage, I reckon.
Later in the run the quality may be at its best and some of the extras become standard, but saving a few bob and going for a desireable pre-cat and a small fund to enhance the TLC you're going to lavish on it won't do you any harm either!!
All ways round, don't fear average and above average mileage! They get better with regular use.
My Griff was five years old when I got it and needed a few niggles sorting out. You might need a bit of patience with mid-90s cars on a low mileage, I reckon.
Later in the run the quality may be at its best and some of the extras become standard, but saving a few bob and going for a desireable pre-cat and a small fund to enhance the TLC you're going to lavish on it won't do you any harm either!!
All ways round, don't fear average and above average mileage! They get better with regular use.
TUS 373 said:
Quick question - why avoid an early 500? I'm curious.
Only that, all things being equal and given TVRs policy of 'continuous product development', a later 500 is more likely to have the bugs fixed and generally be better sorted. There also useful touches like the second fan, and cosmetic tweaks in teh cockpit. Of course there can be good early 500s as well, but I think you have to be a bit more savvy. Hence I'd either have a good 4.x, or jump a bit to a '95+ 500. All just my personal opinion of course!
(edited to add: student with Tuscan? What's your LEA
) >> Edited by simpo two on Wednesday 28th January 23:53
simpo two said:Do you mean Chimp bits, John? Rich...
Unless you can financially go for one of the last 100 you're better off with a top notch pre-cat Griffith IMO. . Though I would avoid early 500s.
RichB said:
Unless you can financially go for one of the last 100 you're better off with a top notch pre-cat Griffith IMO.
Beg to differ sir. I don't care for SEs because to me they are Griffs with Cerbera bits in them
Do you mean Chimp bits, John? Rich...
Nah... they have to be at least Cerbera bits to keep up with a Griff
and Simpo... judging by your profile pic, you reeeally need to get those eyebrows trimmed
burriana500 said:
Do you mean Chimp bits, John? Rich...
Nah... they have to be at least Cerbera bits to keep up with a Griff
and Simpo... judging by your profile pic, you reeeally need to get those eyebrows trimmed
Ally eyeball vents are Cerb territory, surely. And yes, I do have a problem with facial hair but I can see in the dark and there are no more mice round here!
simpo two said:Nope, Tuscan John.
Do you mean Chimp bits, John? Rich...
... and the heater controls are off a Chimaera.
It really depends if you want a great sports car to drive, or a classic to polish...
Some people (mainly those with a pre-cat, or a LE
)
Will try to talk up values..
BUT a Griff 500 did not change hugely throughout it's life like some cars. Instrument layout changed slightly, some of the hidden bits, etc..
BUT all 'standard' 500's from a few feet look pretty identical. The biggest difference is going to be condition, and if you like the paintjob/interior combination.
I had a 4.3, now have a 500, I really can't remember much difference, the performance is real world similar.
All this fuss about noise is imho b*****, they both ar e loud and rumble, very minor issue, want a louder 500, lots of sports exhaust out there.
A standard 500 as it gets later probably has a better suuspension set up, but so many people have improved/replaced shocks on the early one by now, probabably makes no odds. Nice to have POwer on some 500's, but was an option. NIce to have T5 gearbox, but rover OK, nice to have serpentine engine, But pre-just as good pratically.
Ultimately only about 3000 griff's were made of all variants... IN 12 years.
When you think that Ferrari build about that many 360's every year (similarly 355's), Ferrari also built 1400 F40's for example, their will be as many Enzo's (400?) as their are 4.3 griifs remaining.
Porsche sell about 1000 911's A YEAR, JUST in the UK, let alone the number of boxster and the rest of the world.
So unless people taste in a good looking car changes, any Griff's future classic status is assured.
As ANY Griffith in 10 years time is going to be quite rare. and whatever variant, one in a good condition, well looked after, will be worth more than a neglected one.
At the momemnt for about £22k you could get an aboslutely sorted car in very good condition, with less than 30k miles, and 3-4 years old.
Don't see the point of getting a LE, as they are at the momemnt still NEW car depreciating.
Or an expensive 4.3, which is now a 13 year old car, with the potential bill that go with that.(ie check chassis, v carefully)
BUT ignoring all the above if you find a griff you like for the right money for you, and look after it. I'm sure you will be very happy with it.
To finally answer the question, you already answered your own question. No real point spending 4-5 k more on a 2001 car, if you have seen a near perfect 97/98 car.
At the moment new car depreciation is still a bit of a factor on new'ish griffs, in 10 years no-one will care if it's a 98, or 2000, 2001,2002, just how good it looks.
Too those with new griff's don't despair, while I think these proces might drop a little over the next year or 2, I strongly believe continued demand for Griff's will see prices firm up/and probably rise again.
for example, looking at dealer adds over the last few years for cars similar to my own, prices have hardly budged as an average in 2-3 years
ONE very good indication of this, is very few griffs sell privately, cf Chimaeras, IE, the dealers llike to get in Griff's for stock..
Efery time I look at Adrian Blyth's site for Griff's they seem to come in and fly out of the door again. I think one comment in a thread was do they sell griff's as they never have any on the web site. and the answer was as many good ones as they acn get their hands on. they just sell v quickly. (he does price quite competively ( the main dealers still seem to be a little over optimistic values for LE's for example, so they tend to stick around a bit longer - but still sell)
B
>> Edited by bjwoods on Thursday 29th January 15:14
>> Edited by bjwoods on Thursday 29th January 15:21
>> Edited by bjwoods on Thursday 29th January 15:29
Some people (mainly those with a pre-cat, or a LE
) Will try to talk up values..
BUT a Griff 500 did not change hugely throughout it's life like some cars. Instrument layout changed slightly, some of the hidden bits, etc..
BUT all 'standard' 500's from a few feet look pretty identical. The biggest difference is going to be condition, and if you like the paintjob/interior combination.
I had a 4.3, now have a 500, I really can't remember much difference, the performance is real world similar.
All this fuss about noise is imho b*****, they both ar e loud and rumble, very minor issue, want a louder 500, lots of sports exhaust out there.
A standard 500 as it gets later probably has a better suuspension set up, but so many people have improved/replaced shocks on the early one by now, probabably makes no odds. Nice to have POwer on some 500's, but was an option. NIce to have T5 gearbox, but rover OK, nice to have serpentine engine, But pre-just as good pratically.
Ultimately only about 3000 griff's were made of all variants... IN 12 years.
When you think that Ferrari build about that many 360's every year (similarly 355's), Ferrari also built 1400 F40's for example, their will be as many Enzo's (400?) as their are 4.3 griifs remaining.
Porsche sell about 1000 911's A YEAR, JUST in the UK, let alone the number of boxster and the rest of the world.
So unless people taste in a good looking car changes, any Griff's future classic status is assured.
As ANY Griffith in 10 years time is going to be quite rare. and whatever variant, one in a good condition, well looked after, will be worth more than a neglected one.
At the momemnt for about £22k you could get an aboslutely sorted car in very good condition, with less than 30k miles, and 3-4 years old.
Don't see the point of getting a LE, as they are at the momemnt still NEW car depreciating.
Or an expensive 4.3, which is now a 13 year old car, with the potential bill that go with that.(ie check chassis, v carefully)
BUT ignoring all the above if you find a griff you like for the right money for you, and look after it. I'm sure you will be very happy with it.
To finally answer the question, you already answered your own question. No real point spending 4-5 k more on a 2001 car, if you have seen a near perfect 97/98 car.
At the moment new car depreciation is still a bit of a factor on new'ish griffs, in 10 years no-one will care if it's a 98, or 2000, 2001,2002, just how good it looks.
Too those with new griff's don't despair, while I think these proces might drop a little over the next year or 2, I strongly believe continued demand for Griff's will see prices firm up/and probably rise again.
for example, looking at dealer adds over the last few years for cars similar to my own, prices have hardly budged as an average in 2-3 years
ONE very good indication of this, is very few griffs sell privately, cf Chimaeras, IE, the dealers llike to get in Griff's for stock..
Efery time I look at Adrian Blyth's site for Griff's they seem to come in and fly out of the door again. I think one comment in a thread was do they sell griff's as they never have any on the web site. and the answer was as many good ones as they acn get their hands on. they just sell v quickly. (he does price quite competively ( the main dealers still seem to be a little over optimistic values for LE's for example, so they tend to stick around a bit longer - but still sell)
B
>> Edited by bjwoods on Thursday 29th January 15:14
>> Edited by bjwoods on Thursday 29th January 15:21
>> Edited by bjwoods on Thursday 29th January 15:29
Gassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff