Discussion
Just thought I would share my first drive in an Griff 500. Was at the Autosport show on Sunday and my mate asked me to drive one of his cars home off his stand...I really wanted the red Sag but I new that was a long shot so opted for the yellow Griff.
Always love the Griff but never driven one and thought it would be interesting to see how it felt against my T350......what a difference between these two cars. I couldn't believe how much TVR had moved on from Griff to 350...build quality, handling, comfort (the road and wind noise was terrible and my bloody back was in pieces when I got out) my T350 is in a different league...but the area that the Griff still excelled was performnace, pulled like a steam train....this is where the difference between the two is small.
Now I'm sure on a summers day with the roof down rather than a winters night on the M5 the Griff would have been better but I'm certainly not thinking of selling the T350 for one.....Still a great car but an old great car.
Always love the Griff but never driven one and thought it would be interesting to see how it felt against my T350......what a difference between these two cars. I couldn't believe how much TVR had moved on from Griff to 350...build quality, handling, comfort (the road and wind noise was terrible and my bloody back was in pieces when I got out) my T350 is in a different league...but the area that the Griff still excelled was performnace, pulled like a steam train....this is where the difference between the two is small.
Now I'm sure on a summers day with the roof down rather than a winters night on the M5 the Griff would have been better but I'm certainly not thinking of selling the T350 for one.....Still a great car but an old great car.
Andyt25 said:
Just thought I would share my first drive in an Griff 500. Was at the Autosport show on Sunday and my mate asked me to drive one of his cars home off his stand...I really wanted the red Sag but I new that was a long shot so opted for the yellow Griff.
Always love the Griff but never driven one and thought it would be interesting to see how it felt against my T350......what a difference between these two cars. I couldn't believe how much TVR had moved on from Griff to 350...build quality, handling, comfort (the road and wind noise was terrible and my bloody back was in pieces when I got out) my T350 is in a different league...but the area that the Griff still excelled was performnace, pulled like a steam train....this is where the difference between the two is small.
Now I'm sure on a summers day with the roof down rather than a winters night on the M5 the Griff would have been better but I'm certainly not thinking of selling the T350 for one.....Still a great car but an old great car.
It's called progress - just think where they would've been in another five years Always love the Griff but never driven one and thought it would be interesting to see how it felt against my T350......what a difference between these two cars. I couldn't believe how much TVR had moved on from Griff to 350...build quality, handling, comfort (the road and wind noise was terrible and my bloody back was in pieces when I got out) my T350 is in a different league...but the area that the Griff still excelled was performnace, pulled like a steam train....this is where the difference between the two is small.
Now I'm sure on a summers day with the roof down rather than a winters night on the M5 the Griff would have been better but I'm certainly not thinking of selling the T350 for one.....Still a great car but an old great car.
Mark UB said:
Strange that, I would take a Griff 500 over a 3.6 T350 anyday. Still each to their own.
Yep, this are just my thoughts on a journey from NEC to South Wales. As I say on a bright sunny day things may have felt different...Funny you should say that as my mate who is selling the car thinks it's more comfortable than the T350......I think it was the build quality that really struck me as the biggest improvement....Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the drive...who wouldn't with all that grunt upfront.Andyt25 said:
Mark UB said:
Strange that, I would take a Griff 500 over a 3.6 T350 anyday. Still each to their own.
Yep, this are just my thoughts on a journey from NEC to South Wales. As I say on a bright sunny day things may have felt different...Funny you should say that as my mate who is selling the car thinks it's more comfortable than the T350......I think it was the build quality that really struck me as the biggest improvement....Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the drive...who wouldn't with all that grunt upfront.I came from a Griff to a T350, the Griff being more manly than a Chim (Zip 
) I drove it over 3000 miles down to Spain and back in a week and it was just as comfortable as the T350. Wind noise was a bit much but then the roof was off most the way Like Zip I find the T350 to be much more alert but I find it more relaxing to drive than the Griff because I don't think I'm going to end up in the ditch everytime I take it out. I loved my Griff and would love another but there is no way it would take the T350's place.
) I drove it over 3000 miles down to Spain and back in a week and it was just as comfortable as the T350. Wind noise was a bit much but then the roof was off most the way Like Zip I find the T350 to be much more alert but I find it more relaxing to drive than the Griff because I don't think I'm going to end up in the ditch everytime I take it out. I loved my Griff and would love another but there is no way it would take the T350's place.IMHO the Griff is by far the better looking car but each to their own, The Griff/Chim 500s are quicker in a straight line than a T350 3.6 (both cars standard factory) and my Griff handles better than any factory T350 i've ever driven, I suggest you do a few trackdays Zip before you start stating "the T350 handles Waaay better than a Griff/chim"
The Griff is miles more comfortable than a T350 to drive though the T350 seats are far better for trackdays.
The build quality of late Griffs/Chims is no worse than say a 2003 T350, I've had my Griff for over 10 years and never had any issues with build quality. I've driven T350/Tams that have had bits of dash/doorcards falling off and window seals leaking on nearly new cars.
The build quality on TVRs is a little better 05 onwards but not by much.
If I had to choose between a Griff 500 and a 3.6 T350 for a trip to the Ring I would take the Griff, the T350 3.6 is a fine car (even with it's lack of torque) but better than a late Griff/Chim I would say no just different.
The Griff is miles more comfortable than a T350 to drive though the T350 seats are far better for trackdays.
The build quality of late Griffs/Chims is no worse than say a 2003 T350, I've had my Griff for over 10 years and never had any issues with build quality. I've driven T350/Tams that have had bits of dash/doorcards falling off and window seals leaking on nearly new cars.
The build quality on TVRs is a little better 05 onwards but not by much.
If I had to choose between a Griff 500 and a 3.6 T350 for a trip to the Ring I would take the Griff, the T350 3.6 is a fine car (even with it's lack of torque) but better than a late Griff/Chim I would say no just different.
Edited by Mark UB on Tuesday 19th January 12:57
Mark UB said:
IMHO the Griff is by far the better looking car but each to their own, The Griff/Chim 500s are quicker in a straight line than a T350 3.6 (both cars standard factory) and my Griff handles better than any factory T350 i've ever driven, I suggest you do a few trackdays Zip before you start stating "the T350 handles Waaay better than a Griff/chim"
The Griff is miles more comfortable than a T350 to drive though the T350 seats are far better for trackdays.
Your choice The Griff is miles more comfortable than a T350 to drive though the T350 seats are far better for trackdays.
A 500 Chim/Griff is quicker off the line due to the monumental low down torque of the V8, to 100 and beyond the S6 has it beat.
My Chim (which I did have on track & 2 car limits days) was properly set up on poly bushes, Gaz golds and decent tyres. It handled well, but I still maintain that for me the T350, even on standard shocks, is far better. Though obviously everyone has their preferences I'm just commenting from my own experiences. I agree with you on the comfort aspect though as I mentioned above....
Both nice cars though and TBH I'd be happy with any TVR on the drive...
Edited by Zippee on Tuesday 19th January 12:59
Zippee said:
Having come from a Chimaera to a T350 (So essentially a better looking Griff) I found the Chim to be a far more relaxing and comfortable GT car. It was a very lazy car to drive and very comfy over long distances. The T350 is more alert and feels more like a proper sports car, not as comfy but better built, faster, handles waaay better and has looks to die for. I loved my Chim to bits but theres no way I'd go back....
Ditto....Zippee said:
Mark UB said:
IMHO the Griff is by far the better looking car but each to their own, The Griff/Chim 500s are quicker in a straight line than a T350 3.6 (both cars standard factory) and my Griff handles better than any factory T350 i've ever driven, I suggest you do a few trackdays Zip before you start stating "the T350 handles Waaay better than a Griff/chim"
The Griff is miles more comfortable than a T350 to drive though the T350 seats are far better for trackdays.
Your choice The Griff is miles more comfortable than a T350 to drive though the T350 seats are far better for trackdays.
A 500 Chim/Griff is quicker off the line due to the monumental low down torque of the V8, to 100 and beyong the S6 has it beat.
My Chim (which I did have on track & 2 car limits days) was properly set up on poly bushes, Gaz golds and decent tyres. It handled well, but I still maintain that for me the T350, even on standard shocks, is far better. Though obviously everyone has their preferences I'm just commenting from my own experiences. I agree with you on the comfort aspect though as I mentioned above....
I suggest you get yourself off to a V max and go up against a Griff/Chim 500 in your 3.6 S6.
Edited by Mark UB on Tuesday 19th January 13:12
Mark UB said:
Zippee said:
Mark UB said:
IMHO the Griff is by far the better looking car but each to their own, The Griff/Chim 500s are quicker in a straight line than a T350 3.6 (both cars standard factory) and my Griff handles better than any factory T350 i've ever driven, I suggest you do a few trackdays Zip before you start stating "the T350 handles Waaay better than a Griff/chim"
The Griff is miles more comfortable than a T350 to drive though the T350 seats are far better for trackdays.
Your choice The Griff is miles more comfortable than a T350 to drive though the T350 seats are far better for trackdays.
A 500 Chim/Griff is quicker off the line due to the monumental low down torque of the V8, to 100 and beyong the S6 has it beat.
My Chim (which I did have on track & 2 car limits days) was properly set up on poly bushes, Gaz golds and decent tyres. It handled well, but I still maintain that for me the T350, even on standard shocks, is far better. Though obviously everyone has their preferences I'm just commenting from my own experiences. I agree with you on the comfort aspect though as I mentioned above....
I suggest you get yourself off to a V max and go up against a Griff/Chim 500 in your 3.6 S6.
I don't want to get into any sort of argument here - we both clearly love our cars, just mines better than yours
Mark UB said:
The Griff/Chim 500s are quicker in a straight line than a T350 3.6 (both cars standard factory)
If both cars are factory standard, I doubt that. Most Griff / Chim 500's don't make anywhere near the 320 bhp factory numbers. Good standard cars I believe make more like 280 bhp. The SP6 engine on the other hand is likely to make 330-340 bhp out of the box which is must closer to the factory figures. That could mean a 50+ bhp difference between standard cars. The T350 is, I think, an easier car to launch compared to the Griff / Chim 500, so I very much doubt a standard Griff / Chim 500 would be quicker in a straight line.If you need any more evidence, have a look at the FT videos - the SP6 cars were noticeably quicker in a straight line (ceratanly they have a higher VMax). Also as a comparison, in the first FT I ran my T350 red rose against a very modified Griff which I would guess was making around 330 bhp against my cars 375 bhp. Despite getting the better of a Lambo on the day, the Griff couldn't get it's nose in front of my car at any stage and here we are looking at a similar power differential to the one I mentioned above.
s5tvr said:
Andyt25 said:
Thought it would start some 'healthy' debate...
Not much to debate really. Any Griff / Chim that has 320/340 lb ft torque as standard is going to be quicker than a 3.6 S6 which struggles to produce 280/290 lb ft torque.No 3.6 cars have ever stayed with my 500, though they do look very nice in my rear veiw mirror.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvKBXsLtcwQ
Quinny said:
There's no getting away from the fact that the Griff is "OLD" It's an old basic design...
so the design of the T350 is a new state of the art design, lol, the design of all TVRs are of the old basic design, even my Sagaris.That's why we love em isn't it.
though a newer car will always feel tighter but that's down to age not design.
Edited by Mark UB on Wednesday 20th January 14:24
Mark UB said:
s5tvr said:
Andyt25 said:
Thought it would start some 'healthy' debate...
Not much to debate really. Any Griff / Chim that has 320/340 lb ft torque as standard is going to be quicker than a 3.6 S6 which struggles to produce 280/290 lb ft torque.No 3.6 cars have ever stayed with my 500, though they do look very nice in my rear veiw mirror.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvKBXsLtcwQ
As mentioned though, even if the RV8 were the fastest car in the world now I've gotten used to the T350 (took me 4 months or so to 'get' it) I'd never go back.
Zippee said:
Mark UB said:
s5tvr said:
Andyt25 said:
Thought it would start some 'healthy' debate...
Not much to debate really. Any Griff / Chim that has 320/340 lb ft torque as standard is going to be quicker than a 3.6 S6 which struggles to produce 280/290 lb ft torque.No 3.6 cars have ever stayed with my 500, though they do look very nice in my rear veiw mirror.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvKBXsLtcwQ
it only took me 20 mins to fall in love with my 4 litre Cerbera Speed Six and 20 seconds to fall in love with my Sagaris.
Quinny said:
There's no getting away from the fact that the Griff is "OLD" It's an old basic design...
No, it's very similar underneath to the later cars to the point that two or four (I forget) out of eight wishbones are actually identical - engine apart, the main difference is a couple of inches in the wheelbase, different steering racks and suspension tuning. All can be massively improved on dynamically to the point that from the Griffith on, your starting point doesn't have that much bearing on the end result...My main motivation for going to a later model would be having rollover and side impact protection of some sort - however this is offset with vastly different running costs through the engines, more wonky electrics and less than robust bespoke parts plus the sound, while being fantastic in its own right, not being a patch on the aural satisfaction offered by an RV8 in proper fettle
. I'd also ditch the 18" wheels on Tuscans and Tamoras for 16"es.Quinny said:
Mark UB said:
Quinny said:
There's no getting away from the fact that the Griff is "OLD" It's an old basic design...
so the design of the T350 is a new state of the art design, lol, the design of all TVRs are of the old basic design, even my Sagaris.Yes the Griff is the fastest, best handling car in the world...
don't have a go at me just because your chassis has fallen to bits.
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