Griffith too much?

[davislove]

Hey guys,

I'm soon to be in the market for my first TVR and am trying to decide what to go for.

I really fancy a Griff but is it too much power for a first TVR?
also what is the insurance difference compared with a chim?

Thanks for help

[GarryM]

Should be no problem at all - unless you're a nutter with no self control

Driven with a sensitive right foot, it's a pussycat...

Insurance same as Chimaera. Get yourself to a dealer and drive them both. Have fun

[apache]

All TVRs are rear wheel drive, get that firmly embedded then the rest will become obvious. Griff is the only way to go

[Maca]

if you can drive a car, then it's not a problem...

[Painey]

I bought a Griff 500 a year ago as my first TVR and the power is no problem at all. In fact if anything I'd like it to be even more powerful!! It's just a bit of a pain having to drive like an old woman when the roads are wet/slippery.

Go on, you know it makes sense...

[Big_M]

Our Griffith was our first TVR. Previous to that we had a BMW 325 so had experience of rear wheel drive cars.

Looks like it was a good investment as well. Hardly depreciated at all in the two and a half years of ownership.

Just take it easy - especially in the wet.

[mrmaggit]

If you buy a 4.0, you'll always have that nagging "I wonder what the 500 would be like".

I now know!

[perthshiregriff]

buy one and find out, take it easy especially in the wet and ice or it might end up like this


just body damage which was lucky but still expensive

[Guillotine]

was my first TVR. No probs yet. Check insurance, you have to have "experience" with some. (R/W/D)

sign up for a ride drive or similar.

you'll see what the car can do...and how to harness it!

Get on a couple of trackdays and enjoy it

GRIFF'S best of course, anything worth while is worth paying a bit more for! but chimps are ok too.

[crankedup]

You will find a loooooooooooooooooooovely long throttle pedal so getting used to the power is not a problem. Just be sensible as others have said. Go for the Griff and enjoy.

[julianhj]

My first decent car was the Griff - as has been said, no problems if you treat them with respect.

Get one and you won't regret it.

[RAW-SEWedge]

I had a 400SE but wanted a Griff, now I have a griff and don't want for anything. Go for the Griff but treat it with respect, 3rd gear wheel spin the wet is very easy !

[simpo two]

davislove said:

I really fancy a Griff but is it too much power for a first TVR? also what is the insurance difference compared with a chim?

Sounds like you've already made your mind up, so best not to compromise. Can't think there'll be any insurance difference between Griff and Chimp (you can call them Chimps here ) as compared to a Mundaneo they're equally frightening to librarians!

On a serious note, you're right you ask questions about power; it shows you will have respect for the beast. Stamp on the gas, as you would in a 'normal' car, and you have a high chance of losing the back. (Witness the bloke who recently lost a mere BMW325 booting it out of a roundabout, somersaulted over a barrier and killed someone...). But if you accept that the right pedal is not ON/OFF but infinitely variable, depending on conditions, and you feel your way in, you have a good chance of living to enjoy your second year of Griff ownership! My view is to treat them with respect because they're better than I am, and I try to stay within the envelope. And you'll still cane anything else you're likely to meet wihtout even trying

Simpo says: Go for it, you know it makes sense.

[DustyC]

The best advice I got from here was to just go out and drive one. Its as easy as pie and leaves you grinning till...urm...the next fuel bill!

The Griff will be my first TVR, (eventually!).

Shop around for insurance and you will find a cheap deal. When you get the quote remember to ask if it can be reduced with limited mileage or higher excess.

[_DJ_]

When I last checked Griff's are marginally cheaper to insure than Chimaera's! No idea why (unless they realise Griff drivers are a cut above.. )

[davislove]

simpo two said:

davislove said: I really fancy a Griff but is it too much power for a first TVR? also what is the insurance difference compared with a chim? Sounds like you've already made your mind up, so best not to compromise. Can't think there'll be any insurance difference between Griff and Chimp (you can call them Chimps here ) as compared to a Mundaneo they're equally frightening to librarians! On a serious note, you're right you ask questions about power; it shows you will have respect for the beast. Stamp on the gas, as you would in a 'normal' car, and you have a high chance of losing the back. (Witness the bloke who recently lost a mere BMW325 booting it out of a roundabout, somersaulted over a barrier and killed someone...). But if you accept that the right pedal is not ON/OFF but infinitely variable, depending on conditions, and you feel your way in, you have a good chance of living to enjoy your second year of Griff ownership! My view is to treat them with respect because they're better than I am, and I try to stay within the envelope. And you'll still cane anything else you're likely to meet wihtout even trying Simpo says: Go for it, you know it makes sense.

many thanks for the advice.........it was hearing the story about the beemer on the news that made me think but your right I do have mega respect for them even though I haven't driven one yet!

shopping around it seems they are few and far between, may take me a while to find one i'm happy with! will be getting out there soon as!

[Ding]

Get one.
You won't regret it.

Drive with caution, take time to get to know its little foibles, remember that you need to concentrate whilst driving and have FUN.

Mine is fab. Love it.

Eli

[simpo two]

davislove said:

many thanks for the advice.........it was hearing the story about the beemer on the news that made me think but your right I do have mega respect for them even though I haven't driven one yet!

Happy to help; what's the budget, BTW?

(The BMW bloke tried to blame the road conditions - don't think they'll buy that somehow :-o )

[davislove]

simpo two said:

Happy to help; what's the budget, BTW?

[/quote]

~16K, but it appears for that money i'm going to get a car with ~40-50K on the clock which concerns me a little bit.

[perthshiregriff]

mine had 20k on the clock, a 92 4ltr for 12995