Discussion
I'm planning on "doing the TVR thing" within the next year.
My budget will probably be around £10k. Basically my question is should I go for a 1992ish pre-cat Griff or a 1996ish Chimaera?
Are the Griff and Chim very different to drive or is it is down to looks basically?
What kind of money will I need to put aside for servicing of such a beasty?
Will I regret doing this?
My budget will probably be around £10k. Basically my question is should I go for a 1992ish pre-cat Griff or a 1996ish Chimaera?
Are the Griff and Chim very different to drive or is it is down to looks basically?
What kind of money will I need to put aside for servicing of such a beasty?
Will I regret doing this?
Your budget is pretty limited. Seeing as the Griff and the Chim are pretty much the same car aside from the bodywork, I would say for a £10k punt, the Chim is the better bet. If you can add to your budget, then the Griff is likely to hold its value better, or has done so far. Not many Griffs around the £10k mark though, whereas Chims now plentiful.
And no, either way you won't regret it.
And no, either way you won't regret it.
thetruemackie said:
What different Chims were there and what were their specifications? Would you say a 5.0l was too much car for someone used to hot hatches? I guess they all have enough power to get you in trouble but I look forward to taming the beast.
Cheers,
Mackie
If you're not used to rear wheel drive, a 4.0l can be more than enough for some people.
Test a 4.0l before you try a 5.0l. The difference is quite marked - once you try a 5.0 you'll be hooked.
I had the same idea. For years I nurtured the desire for a TVR. Although in My case, I actually fancied an M series. Anyway, I set up a bank account, syphoning off a few quid here and there to the point where I thought I had enough. I'd got about £9000 saved up. I wanted to walk into somewhere like David Gerald's and say "I'll have that one" and wallop my wad (!) on the desk - as smug as you like. I should, at this point mention I'd been finding excuses to visit David Gerald for ages, even when they were in Redditch before the move to Inkberrow, so it's clearly deeply entrenched in my system.
There I was with my hot little pot of cash in my hand looking for the right opportunity. I make regular trips up to Newcastle, so made several detours to Hexham Horsless Carriages. That, I think, is where things went a bit wobbly. Talking to Tony Abrams, I was reminded that the M series is, at it's youngest, over twenty years old. At the time, there was one of the last unregistered LE Griffs in the showroom. I asked what it was like and was taken for a test drive in a Chimaera, which, apparently, wasn't too different to the Griff. Please, don't shoot me down in flames here. I never got to compare the two and wouldn't want to blow anyone's skirts up.
I felt strangely drawn to the red Griffith, which, at about £37,000 was a bit more than my 'whop your wad on the counter' performance would permit. But then, there's always finance....
Feeling a little misguided, I needed counselling. So, I asked the wife what she thought. I showed her a picture of the M series I was originally after. To which she said "It looks a bit old". A pic of a Griff was duly found and that went down much more favourably. My goalposts had been shifted and not completely by my own choice.
A few weeks later, I happened to call into TMS at Melton Mowbray - my local 'pusher'.
There was a second hand 5.0 Griff, which was nice, however, in the nice warm showroom, under the pretty sparkly lights, there was this chameleon Blue Tuscan. I heard the voices and asked for a test drive.
A similar (and run in) model was trundled out for a drive. Only a few miles down the road and back, I found myself saying "Well, the Griff is a discontinued model. Therefore, it's another 'old' car and the Tuscan was a totally different feel to the Chimaera and it was a lovely colour and everything. Besides, £9000 wasn't a bad figure to put down on a car, was it. I mean, I'd only have to borrow another £31000.
So much for me being able to swagger into a showroom and say "Gimme that". So, I leapt into a scary place and bought the car - the one on my profile, which I still have and that still makes me gurgle in a stupid way because it is great fun. If it wasn't such a grin, I would've moved on to something else by now. In the three years I've had it, it's residual value has plummeted to around half of the purchase price, but I don't care. To get this much enjoyment by blowing £22K, I'd either have no nose, no brain cells or be on some serious medication.
That's my story.
The moral, if there is one - be flexible, don't rule out the ridiculous, it might just be the right one for you.
There I was with my hot little pot of cash in my hand looking for the right opportunity. I make regular trips up to Newcastle, so made several detours to Hexham Horsless Carriages. That, I think, is where things went a bit wobbly. Talking to Tony Abrams, I was reminded that the M series is, at it's youngest, over twenty years old. At the time, there was one of the last unregistered LE Griffs in the showroom. I asked what it was like and was taken for a test drive in a Chimaera, which, apparently, wasn't too different to the Griff. Please, don't shoot me down in flames here. I never got to compare the two and wouldn't want to blow anyone's skirts up.
I felt strangely drawn to the red Griffith, which, at about £37,000 was a bit more than my 'whop your wad on the counter' performance would permit. But then, there's always finance....
Feeling a little misguided, I needed counselling. So, I asked the wife what she thought. I showed her a picture of the M series I was originally after. To which she said "It looks a bit old". A pic of a Griff was duly found and that went down much more favourably. My goalposts had been shifted and not completely by my own choice.
A few weeks later, I happened to call into TMS at Melton Mowbray - my local 'pusher'.
There was a second hand 5.0 Griff, which was nice, however, in the nice warm showroom, under the pretty sparkly lights, there was this chameleon Blue Tuscan. I heard the voices and asked for a test drive.
A similar (and run in) model was trundled out for a drive. Only a few miles down the road and back, I found myself saying "Well, the Griff is a discontinued model. Therefore, it's another 'old' car and the Tuscan was a totally different feel to the Chimaera and it was a lovely colour and everything. Besides, £9000 wasn't a bad figure to put down on a car, was it. I mean, I'd only have to borrow another £31000.
So much for me being able to swagger into a showroom and say "Gimme that". So, I leapt into a scary place and bought the car - the one on my profile, which I still have and that still makes me gurgle in a stupid way because it is great fun. If it wasn't such a grin, I would've moved on to something else by now. In the three years I've had it, it's residual value has plummeted to around half of the purchase price, but I don't care. To get this much enjoyment by blowing £22K, I'd either have no nose, no brain cells or be on some serious medication.
That's my story.
The moral, if there is one - be flexible, don't rule out the ridiculous, it might just be the right one for you.
thetruemackie said:
I'm planning on "doing the TVR thing" within the next year.
My budget will probably be around £10k. Basically my question is should I go for a 1992ish pre-cat Griff or a 1996ish Chimaera?
Are the Griff and Chim very different to drive or is it is down to looks basically?
What kind of money will I need to put aside for servicing of such a beasty?
Will I regret doing this?
There's a sub 10K Griffith on the Classifieds now. Doesn't look too bad.
thetruemackie said:
What different Chims were there and what were their specifications? Would you say a 5.0l was too much car for someone used to hot hatches? I guess they all have enough power to get you in trouble but I look forward to taming the beast.
Cheers,
Mackie
Have a search round the Chim area of PH, loads of info. Also look at www.tvr-car-club.co.uk/ and if you can get a copy of the Bible by steve heath (tvr car club still sells them)
I went from a chipped LCR to a 4.5 chim and speed isn't the issue but you do have to learn how to drive rwd with no driver aids what so ever (getting there but I'm far from an expert after 6months).
Just remember you need money to buy the car and approx 1.5k a year for servicing and the unknown factor I would say.
However drive one, listen to that sound and you will find a way to finance it, trust me!!
TVR's are the kind of cars you fall in love with at first sight. Keep a clear mind when buying one (it's difficult i know), take the time to look at it really good and compare with other ones before buying! Take a very good look at the chassis..... And if you have found the one, you won't stop smiling!!
thetruemackie said:
Are the Griff and Chim very different to drive or is it is down to looks basically?
I suggest you get out there, look at loads, drive a few and see how you feel. I don't think choosing a car can be put down to facts and figures or other people's opinions. You just have to decide what floats your particular boat and you can only do that by sampling what's on offer. Get along to local meets (there should be a few at Virginia Water on the 5th Feb), chat to the owners, go and see a few that are advertised and drive them. Then make your mind up.
I guarantee one thing, whether it's a Chim or a Griff, 4.0L or 5.0L, you won't be disapppointed.
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