G40r Looking to buy

[Justin S]

Hi guys. I am going to have a look at a G40r tomorrow at Mole Valley, as this is the nearest dealer to me and they seem to have one in stock. Not sure on the blue , but maybe it will look better in the flesh. I did email the factory last week about popping in on the way up to the North East in a few weeks time, but never got a response back, which isn't how it should be. There is a black one up north at the moment which looks great and is a preferred colour, but currently want to sit in one and decided if its as much an arse getting in and out like my Elise with the roof on was.
Reading between the lines on various threads here, I do question the cabin noise remarks and the fumes issues. I understand the british hand built thing from my TVR days and Westfields, but I am hoping its not relentless noise. Also engines and gearboxes. Are they all 5 speed boxes and are they all Mazda engines or the Ford Duratec versions etc.
Any help on these matters, as the factory shroud in silence will be great.

[Justin S]

Well went to look at the baby blue one today and I must admit we were quite shocked at the quality of the car. Yes its low production, yes its hand made, yadda yadda, but I don't understand how anyone would want to pay £27k for it. The doors didn't fit, the rear windows black finish was worming off, the bonnet didn't fit, the exhaust rattled on start, the airbox fell apart, the carbon box on the steering column was unfinished and poor, the steering column which you could see through the screen was orange with rust, the door had sharp burrs and unfinished and didn't shut properly, the gel was scuffed by bad panel fit, general gel finish was poor and my Westfield was 20 times better. It put me off driving it, so I didn't. Didn't want to waste his time any more. For a car of that cost, my TVR from '91 had a better fit and finish and that was 25 years older. Shame really, but for the money would rather have had one of the Porkers for an extra £5k. Shame really as had my heart set on something like this, but have taken that off the list now.

Edited by Justin S on Saturday 20th February 14:06

[ceebmoj]

I'm looking to buy one at the moment and hoping to see one soon, I'm disappointed by your post. Does any one have any good pictures of the interior and other bits and bobs the standard press photos don't show?

[stormcloud123]

Spot on assessment of the G40R IMO, the fitting is poor. The interior on mine is pretty nice though, it's a race car, so they could have just left it bare like the GRDC cars.

Really though, although mine is currently residing at Hexham and I had 2 early issues that resulted in factory visits, the G40R is exactly as described. Not sure the factory care about the fit when it is derived from the GRDC race version, a race series I imagine that make quite a bit of cash from replacement panels.

It's not a Porsche, TVR or even a Caterham. It's a race car that they have managed to make road legal by doing as little as possible to it, which to me makes it unusual and interesting. It also makes a great noise and corners superb, which is always a draw, a Yorkie bar version of an elise.

Now I've been there and done that, Ariel Nomad on order, as ya do.

[Justin S]

Ceebmoj, the seats look nice, when you get in and bolt the fuse box back in to stop it hitting your shins on the passenger side ! Thought the seats, although unboltable were too low in relation to the dash pod. It just wasn't worth the £27k second hand, let alone buying new. Reminded me of a reliant robin body ! It has made us realise that the only way to do it better is to build my own, so I am going to embark on a lifes tick list now and build a Westfield S2000, which should end up with 7k still in the bank , in relation to the blue Ginetta. I am glad we went there, if only to see the other stunning cars he has on offer there. All way out of my price range though and a great guy to talk to. Just don't mention supercharging the Ginetta !!

[simonjwalker]

If you are going to race it, or do lots of track days, then its a great car. As its built as a race car its not easy to make a direct comparison to road cars such as Porsche and Lotus (unless you have the budget for a track ready model).

[ceebmoj]

I purchased the orange one that was up on hear and love it so far. Is there a wiering diagram and manternance manual any where?

[jwoffshore]

I have some info I can email you. It's a bit "ad hoc" that I have acquired both from the factory and web searches, but some of it might be useful to you. Send me a PM and then I can mail you back with file attachments.

[ceebmoj]

Message sent.

At the moment side lights work but when I push the button again for dipped beams the indicators come on and stay on also the main beam does not work.

[Call-ma6a7]

^+1 please on manual. Will send PM

Edited by Call-ma6a7 on Friday 11th March 07:33

[Justin S]

Well, I haven't pursued this any further, but I did get an email from the Ginetta factory yesterday , saying that the road car isn't made anymore and the only way to buy is through the race way now. I have ordered a Westfield Mega S2000 kit to build now and await a chassis and basically a whole car to appear in boxes in the next 8 weeks.

[ceebmoj]

Intreating to hear that the road car is not made any more.

I fixed a couple of the issues with mine last night. Fuel gauge was fixed by plugging the gauge in. Headlights fixed by running through the 3 connectors under the bonnet and identifying the corroded contact quick clean and all good. I ordered some other odds and sods from the factory aiming sort out some buzzing from around the cat. Service from the factory is the best I have ever had from a small volume manufacture, all parts in stock and shipped with next day delivery.

I might take the dash out at the weekend and give it a tidy up back there checking if any thing other than the fuel gauge was missed last time the dash was removed.

I'm south Manchester based is there any one local who fancy a run out Saturday AM or is there a Ginetta stand at Tatton classic / sports car thing and do many people go?

[G40R_JL]

Who do you email / speak to at the factory. I need a few bits for mine. Pleased to hear they are responsive! 😄

[ceebmoj]

Just phoned the factory and went through to the parts department. Does anybody have the wiring diagrams for the back half of the car?

[Jellinek]

Disappointed but not surprised to hear the G40R is not available any more. AOBTD. I suspect the road car aspect has been a thorn in the side of the organisation since early days of the G40 and G60 with which they had similar problems. Without doubt the right decision to withdraw the road car and concentrate on the GRDC race cars given their track record on Quality and Customer Service posted in these forums in the past. Conversely, the company obviously has a real flair and ability for racing at all levels, so it makes too much sense not to.

[mauricegb]

I went to see the same light blue G40 last summer, it's been there a long time. I think they'd shift it if the price was cut £4k, as it is an Elise makes much more sense.

[dunc_sx]

Spent ages considering and researching G40R's and got close to ordering a new one (leadt time changed my mind) but in the end got an S2 Exige. On paper they are very similar but the exige has better quality (and looks imo) and is mid-engined which I'm a big fan of. The ginetta certainly has the FIA cage and LSD on its side though.

Started looking at them again now as I'd like a change from the exige but getting put off them again, not too sure what to go for as an alternative. I've already got a pretty handy race/track car so it's just a fun toy really I'm after. Think it'll be a Cayman tbh.

Cheers,

Dunc.

[andy97]

Justin S said:

Well, I haven't pursued this any further, but I did get an email from the Ginetta factory yesterday , saying that the road car isn't made anymore and the only way to buy is through the race way now.

It's a pity but not really a surprise that they have stopped the road car production; it's just too difficult for them to achieve the required quality control for the road only, I think.

What is a real shame is that those that appear to be available for the GRDC (which still seem to be road legal?) are Zetec engined versions, whereas I would have thought that the lighter weight 2 litre Duratec/MZR engine would have suited the car perfectly.