Griffith or Elise
Discussion
Thinking about what weekend car to buy ready for the spring.
Heart wants a TVR Griffith, preferably a pre-cat 4.3. Always wanted one and love the power, noise and old school hairy chested nature of the car. Not many 4.3s come to market and challenge is finding one that has seen regular use and maintenance. I accept any old car will need regular repairs but constant breakdowns and periods of inactivity whilst waiting for repairs would spoil the ownership experience for me.
Head says a S1 Elise makes much more sense. Could probably get a 111S for the price of a Griff. I know how good they are as an ex used to run a S2 as a daily. Obvious dynamic advantages, easier to sell when/if the time comes and likely to be cheaper to own (especially noting current price trends).
Which would you choose?
Heart wants a TVR Griffith, preferably a pre-cat 4.3. Always wanted one and love the power, noise and old school hairy chested nature of the car. Not many 4.3s come to market and challenge is finding one that has seen regular use and maintenance. I accept any old car will need regular repairs but constant breakdowns and periods of inactivity whilst waiting for repairs would spoil the ownership experience for me.
Head says a S1 Elise makes much more sense. Could probably get a 111S for the price of a Griff. I know how good they are as an ex used to run a S2 as a daily. Obvious dynamic advantages, easier to sell when/if the time comes and likely to be cheaper to own (especially noting current price trends).
Which would you choose?
You considered a Chimaera instead of the Griff? Same under pinnings without the Griff premium, a lot more to pick from too.
Whichever you go for if it hasn't had the chassis outriggers done then you need to consider that you'll probably need to do them at some point soon, ignore anyone that says they can do it without taking the body off.
Whichever you go for if it hasn't had the chassis outriggers done then you need to consider that you'll probably need to do them at some point soon, ignore anyone that says they can do it without taking the body off.
I have a Chimaera and an Opel Speedster (VX220) so both cars are similar to what you're considering.
Both very different cars and compliment each other well for that reason. In the Speedster I miss the engine character you get in the Chim. The Chim is preferable for a long distance drive, is more comfortable and more practical. On the other hand, it is not as precise as the Speedster in the handling dept. In fact it is in no way precise.
For a car for weekend trips away and drives in tge countryside get the TVR.
For regular trackdays and shorter weekend spins get the Elise.
My thoughts on it anyway
Both very different cars and compliment each other well for that reason. In the Speedster I miss the engine character you get in the Chim. The Chim is preferable for a long distance drive, is more comfortable and more practical. On the other hand, it is not as precise as the Speedster in the handling dept. In fact it is in no way precise.
For a car for weekend trips away and drives in tge countryside get the TVR.
For regular trackdays and shorter weekend spins get the Elise.
My thoughts on it anyway
Depends on what you intend to use the car for and how strong your back is.
We had a Chimaera, bought an Elise. Sold it to get another Chimaera.
The Elise is just incredible to drive down a country lane in, the grip is just unreal, they seem to defy physics. But any other road with even a tiny pothole? Or wanting to use it for anything other than a pleasure drive is IMHO difficult. The boot is, well, useful if you want to carry a few handkerchiefs but anything larger and forget it. And my wife has an old back injury, the Elise (and the general state of the roads) soon meant she could not travel in the car for more than 20 mins or so. Even finding enough room for her handbag and a few drinks was not easy.
That is why we went back to the TVR.
We had a Chimaera, bought an Elise. Sold it to get another Chimaera.
The Elise is just incredible to drive down a country lane in, the grip is just unreal, they seem to defy physics. But any other road with even a tiny pothole? Or wanting to use it for anything other than a pleasure drive is IMHO difficult. The boot is, well, useful if you want to carry a few handkerchiefs but anything larger and forget it. And my wife has an old back injury, the Elise (and the general state of the roads) soon meant she could not travel in the car for more than 20 mins or so. Even finding enough room for her handbag and a few drinks was not easy.
That is why we went back to the TVR.
I’ve had both. 4.3BV Griffith and S2 111S Elise.
They’re so different as to be almost incomparable to be honest. The Griffith is a massive event to take anywhere. Thrilling, visceral and full of character.
I had mine polybushed with Gaz coilovers and with a proper fast road set up it still terrified me. I tracked it and reached it’s (and my) limits very quickly. It makes a lot of noise and drama and there’s loads of appeal but the bottom line is it’s not a very good car, but that translates to character and I loved it. Doesn’t have to cost a lot to run, but needs keeping on top of. I’d always arrive home feeling thankful to be alive. I had the Griffith 7 years. It now lives in the States!
The Elise on the other hand is a very good car. Out of the box (apart from a B&C exhaust) it was awesome. I never got anywhere near its limits on track. If you want a car to elegantly weave down a B road, this is the one. Track days? Spot on. Cheap to run too. It was so good it lacked any real character (see “very good car” comment above) and I sold it after a year.
I have pictures of the Griffith on the wall in my garage. There’s a photo of the Elise on a memory stick somewhere.
They’re so different as to be almost incomparable to be honest. The Griffith is a massive event to take anywhere. Thrilling, visceral and full of character.
I had mine polybushed with Gaz coilovers and with a proper fast road set up it still terrified me. I tracked it and reached it’s (and my) limits very quickly. It makes a lot of noise and drama and there’s loads of appeal but the bottom line is it’s not a very good car, but that translates to character and I loved it. Doesn’t have to cost a lot to run, but needs keeping on top of. I’d always arrive home feeling thankful to be alive. I had the Griffith 7 years. It now lives in the States!
The Elise on the other hand is a very good car. Out of the box (apart from a B&C exhaust) it was awesome. I never got anywhere near its limits on track. If you want a car to elegantly weave down a B road, this is the one. Track days? Spot on. Cheap to run too. It was so good it lacked any real character (see “very good car” comment above) and I sold it after a year.
I have pictures of the Griffith on the wall in my garage. There’s a photo of the Elise on a memory stick somewhere.
Having run a Chimaera as an everyday car I can attest they are quite practical and potentially a lot more reliable than people suggest, with electrical problems being the most common as the mechanicals were mostly bought in. The Chimaera has a very big boot and could easily go on a touring holiday in one. 20,000 miles and a burst radiator and a dead coil were the causes of the only two occassions when I failed to reach my destination.
In terms of handling, the Lotus is a scalpel whereas the TVR is an electric carving knife. Thats not to say the TVR has bad road manners, its just not precise in the same way as the Lotus. On a longer journey on typical UK roads you'd probably prefer to be in the TVR.
In terms of handling, the Lotus is a scalpel whereas the TVR is an electric carving knife. Thats not to say the TVR has bad road manners, its just not precise in the same way as the Lotus. On a longer journey on typical UK roads you'd probably prefer to be in the TVR.
griffter said:
I’ve had both. 4.3BV Griffith and S2 111S Elise.
They’re so different as to be almost incomparable to be honest. The Griffith is a massive event to take anywhere. Thrilling, visceral and full of character.
I had mine polybushed with Gaz coilovers and with a proper fast road set up it still terrified me. I tracked it and reached it’s (and my) limits very quickly. It makes a lot of noise and drama and there’s loads of appeal but the bottom line is it’s not a very good car, but that translates to character and I loved it. Doesn’t have to cost a lot to run, but needs keeping on top of. I’d always arrive home feeling thankful to be alive. I had the Griffith 7 years. It now lives in the States!
The Elise on the other hand is a very good car. Out of the box (apart from a B&C exhaust) it was awesome. I never got anywhere near its limits on track. If you want a car to elegantly weave down a B road, this is the one. Track days? Spot on. Cheap to run too. It was so good it lacked any real character (see “very good car” comment above) and I sold it after a year.
I have pictures of the Griffith on the wall in my garage. There’s a photo of the Elise on a memory stick somewhere.
Excellent Analogy there.They’re so different as to be almost incomparable to be honest. The Griffith is a massive event to take anywhere. Thrilling, visceral and full of character.
I had mine polybushed with Gaz coilovers and with a proper fast road set up it still terrified me. I tracked it and reached it’s (and my) limits very quickly. It makes a lot of noise and drama and there’s loads of appeal but the bottom line is it’s not a very good car, but that translates to character and I loved it. Doesn’t have to cost a lot to run, but needs keeping on top of. I’d always arrive home feeling thankful to be alive. I had the Griffith 7 years. It now lives in the States!
The Elise on the other hand is a very good car. Out of the box (apart from a B&C exhaust) it was awesome. I never got anywhere near its limits on track. If you want a car to elegantly weave down a B road, this is the one. Track days? Spot on. Cheap to run too. It was so good it lacked any real character (see “very good car” comment above) and I sold it after a year.
I have pictures of the Griffith on the wall in my garage. There’s a photo of the Elise on a memory stick somewhere.
I recently wrote my Chimaera off, was only a low speed loss of control on a damp road but once it went I felt it snapped violently on me.
I had owned it 6 years and never had any issues prior to this, it was on the latest greatest blisten suspension and rainsport rubber.
This is bound to provoke comment from people saying it was the drivers fault, and yes it probably was as I was in control of the car (or not)
They are a total event of a car no doubt and I still love the marque but would I buy another?
Probably not.
Belle427 said:
Excellent Analogy there.
I recently wrote my Chimaera off, was only a low speed loss of control on a damp road but once it went I felt it snapped violently on me.
I had owned it 6 years and never had any issues prior to this, it was on the latest greatest blisten suspension and rainsport rubber.
interesting after 6 yrs. was the rubber old?I recently wrote my Chimaera off, was only a low speed loss of control on a damp road but once it went I felt it snapped violently on me.
I had owned it 6 years and never had any issues prior to this, it was on the latest greatest blisten suspension and rainsport rubber.
were you a little too familiar and rough with the throttle in 2nd?
sad loss.
CABC said:
Belle427 said:
Excellent Analogy there.
I recently wrote my Chimaera off, was only a low speed loss of control on a damp road but once it went I felt it snapped violently on me.
I had owned it 6 years and never had any issues prior to this, it was on the latest greatest blisten suspension and rainsport rubber.
interesting after 6 yrs. was the rubber old?I recently wrote my Chimaera off, was only a low speed loss of control on a damp road but once it went I felt it snapped violently on me.
I had owned it 6 years and never had any issues prior to this, it was on the latest greatest blisten suspension and rainsport rubber.
were you a little too familiar and rough with the throttle in 2nd?
sad loss.
Belle427 said:
Not really, bad piece of road and maybe a touch too much throttle as it’s sometimes difficult to modulate it on these cars.
sorry to hear that.tyres do highlight one difference with an Elise and other cars, even sporty ones. You can really feel the tyres ageing and wearing in an Elise. get to 3mm tread and it's very noticeable. you can carry one for many more miles, until bare if you want, but you're certainly aware of the change.
I'm a big believer in a multi-car garage highlighting the joy of each car by contrast. An Elise and Griff would be a fantastic 2 car start.
CABC said:
Belle427 said:
Not really, bad piece of road and maybe a touch too much throttle as it’s sometimes difficult to modulate it on these cars.
sorry to hear that.tyres do highlight one difference with an Elise and other cars, even sporty ones. You can really feel the tyres ageing and wearing in an Elise. get to 3mm tread and it's very noticeable. you can carry one for many more miles, until bare if you want, but you're certainly aware of the change.
I'm a big believer in a multi-car garage highlighting the joy of each car by contrast. An Elise and Griff would be a fantastic 2 car start.
TVR sounds awesome, never owned one let alone sat in one but I suspect they are quite an event to drive.
The contrasting comparisons with the Elise are interesting but as something a little more leftfield how about an Exige S1? They are perhaps more of an event to drive than the Elise, the looks, the sound of the K on throttle bodies and I think more adjustable perhaps on the limit with the wider track. Scalpel precison with sword like aggression
The contrasting comparisons with the Elise are interesting but as something a little more leftfield how about an Exige S1? They are perhaps more of an event to drive than the Elise, the looks, the sound of the K on throttle bodies and I think more adjustable perhaps on the limit with the wider track. Scalpel precison with sword like aggression
MorganP104 said:
Let's break this down.
Griffith = sword
Elise = scalpel
So, are you a warrior, or a surgeon? I'm not saying one is better than the other, but if you had to pick one profession from these two, which would you pick?
Is "warrior" a profession? None wanted over at indeed.comGriffith = sword
Elise = scalpel
So, are you a warrior, or a surgeon? I'm not saying one is better than the other, but if you had to pick one profession from these two, which would you pick?
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