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This is it then ........
I am at the stage with my S that having had the car for 2.5yrs and 40+k I am now thinking/dreaming/wishing/needing more power and even better handling.
Problems being...to upgrade the engine to get significant power is not in line with the chassis or the character of an early S and would be a very very expensive option.
To further upgrade the suspension would mean significant money on Dampers and springs and a few other tweaks that all told would be a significant proportion of what the car is worth anyway. Plus I wouldn't have the power aswell.
I dearly love my tatty ol' S, but having been on track and the fun I had it is increasing obvious that the quest for handling and power must move on.
So the crossroads is......
1 - Forget the power and go for further suspension mods to increase the handling. We're talking specced Nitrons to achieve the ride height and performance required. Stiffer springs to eleviate the roll I still get with the uprated springs I have and uprating the front ARB and rose joint that aswell. Then get the whole thing set up properly for toe's and cambers etc and enjoy the car's handling for a while longer.
2 - Buy a Griffith. I have always wanted one, I adore the shape and the noise. This would give me both the power and supposedly better handling.
Further problems being that.....
1 - Still like my S
2 - Not long after owning a Griffith I may/would start upgrading things - more cost
3 - In the short term it would remain as my only car
4 - Which Griff to go for. (500 better suspension, brakes, build quality versus 4.3 - better sound, classic status, individual)
5 - Need to buy a house
6 - The need to own something a little more individual than just another Griff.
I'm sure there are a few of you out there who have had similar conversations with yourself. Some are going through the process now.
This is something that is plaguing me now and I want to know what the rest of you reckon.....
No, I haven't ever driven a Griff and I may not like it (I'd be heart broken). Yes I would do loads of research and wait until the right one came up.
No to a V8S (Peter I've seen you towting yours around lately and it would be no to that one aswell) The reasons being....
1 - Would need to go through the upgrade process to brakes and suspension and then would be looking at the engine. (Would ultimately do this to a Griff but have better platform from which to start IMHO)
2 - Want a Griff more than another S.
One thing though guys.....I wouldn't leave the S forum if I did change, I'd be around to hastle you
Cheers
Mark
I am at the stage with my S that having had the car for 2.5yrs and 40+k I am now thinking/dreaming/wishing/needing more power and even better handling.
Problems being...to upgrade the engine to get significant power is not in line with the chassis or the character of an early S and would be a very very expensive option.
To further upgrade the suspension would mean significant money on Dampers and springs and a few other tweaks that all told would be a significant proportion of what the car is worth anyway. Plus I wouldn't have the power aswell.
I dearly love my tatty ol' S, but having been on track and the fun I had it is increasing obvious that the quest for handling and power must move on.
So the crossroads is......
1 - Forget the power and go for further suspension mods to increase the handling. We're talking specced Nitrons to achieve the ride height and performance required. Stiffer springs to eleviate the roll I still get with the uprated springs I have and uprating the front ARB and rose joint that aswell. Then get the whole thing set up properly for toe's and cambers etc and enjoy the car's handling for a while longer.
2 - Buy a Griffith. I have always wanted one, I adore the shape and the noise. This would give me both the power and supposedly better handling.
Further problems being that.....
1 - Still like my S
2 - Not long after owning a Griffith I may/would start upgrading things - more cost
3 - In the short term it would remain as my only car
4 - Which Griff to go for. (500 better suspension, brakes, build quality versus 4.3 - better sound, classic status, individual)
5 - Need to buy a house
6 - The need to own something a little more individual than just another Griff.
I'm sure there are a few of you out there who have had similar conversations with yourself. Some are going through the process now.
This is something that is plaguing me now and I want to know what the rest of you reckon.....
No, I haven't ever driven a Griff and I may not like it (I'd be heart broken). Yes I would do loads of research and wait until the right one came up.
No to a V8S (Peter I've seen you towting yours around lately and it would be no to that one aswell) The reasons being....
1 - Would need to go through the upgrade process to brakes and suspension and then would be looking at the engine. (Would ultimately do this to a Griff but have better platform from which to start IMHO)
2 - Want a Griff more than another S.
One thing though guys.....I wouldn't leave the S forum if I did change, I'd be around to hastle you
Cheers
Mark
Mark,
An interesting point to consider. Since completing the suspension mods on my S2, I don't think have ever been beaten by a standard Griff or Chimaera on the track! I remember a CCC tack day I did about two years ago and was only overtaken once during the entire day, (5 sessions of 5 laps each) and that was by a Caterham. Pretty unbeliveable I admit, maybe they were all crap drivers on the day, but it's true. I drive very hard on the track, (when the car works properly) as you know but I think the basic design of the 'S' chassis is significantly better than most people give it credit for. I would even go so far as to say that on a like for like basis, (V8S versus 4 Litre Chimp or Griff) I would take the Pepsi Challenge on the V8S being the better handling car.
You need to weigh up the pro's and con's of changing to a Griff, something I thought about before I started the restoration on my 'S', but like you, I just love my car to bits. Besides the 'S' looks more like a race car IMO, and when people say what does the 'S' series look like when you tell 'em you have a TVR, you can reply that it's loosely based on the Tuscan racer! It's true, and it always impresses 'em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jas.
An interesting point to consider. Since completing the suspension mods on my S2, I don't think have ever been beaten by a standard Griff or Chimaera on the track! I remember a CCC tack day I did about two years ago and was only overtaken once during the entire day, (5 sessions of 5 laps each) and that was by a Caterham. Pretty unbeliveable I admit, maybe they were all crap drivers on the day, but it's true. I drive very hard on the track, (when the car works properly) as you know but I think the basic design of the 'S' chassis is significantly better than most people give it credit for. I would even go so far as to say that on a like for like basis, (V8S versus 4 Litre Chimp or Griff) I would take the Pepsi Challenge on the V8S being the better handling car.
You need to weigh up the pro's and con's of changing to a Griff, something I thought about before I started the restoration on my 'S', but like you, I just love my car to bits. Besides the 'S' looks more like a race car IMO, and when people say what does the 'S' series look like when you tell 'em you have a TVR, you can reply that it's loosely based on the Tuscan racer! It's true, and it always impresses 'em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jas.
Johno as you've tasted the forbidden flesh of a Tiv on the track I suspect what ever Tiv you get upgrades will always be on the agenda 
So what about keeping the S as a 'classic' and as a shopping trolley come everyday car. Then buy a dodgy coloured Wedge, late-ish with the rear wishbone suspension, for a song and spend your money upgrading that
Harry
PS I am actually serious about the above proposal and not having fun at the expense of SH, it does make sense to do it that way.
So what about keeping the S as a 'classic' and as a shopping trolley come everyday car. Then buy a dodgy coloured Wedge, late-ish with the rear wishbone suspension, for a song and spend your money upgrading that Harry
PS I am actually serious about the above proposal and not having fun at the expense of SH, it does make sense to do it that way.
Mark,
I'd have to put my sensible trousers on as well and say buy a house.
Property is going up and it looks unlikely to come down, get on the ladder while you can.
I like you adore the Griff and would like one in a couple of years, but I'm thinking of moving house next year so will stick with my S especially since I've just replaced the bonnet and had the alloys done.
I agree with Jas, the S chassis is superb and I've heard a lot of comments regarding the V8S out handling/matching a Griff.
Decisions decisions…
Cheers,
Dave.
I'd have to put my sensible trousers on as well and say buy a house.
Property is going up and it looks unlikely to come down, get on the ladder while you can.
I like you adore the Griff and would like one in a couple of years, but I'm thinking of moving house next year so will stick with my S especially since I've just replaced the bonnet and had the alloys done.
I agree with Jas, the S chassis is superb and I've heard a lot of comments regarding the V8S out handling/matching a Griff.
Decisions decisions…
Cheers,
Dave.
Hi Mark,
Been there, pondered that.
As Jas says, a well sorted S will give you fast track times, they do handle well and all the experts advise that suspension and brakes followed by driver training are the best upgrades.
I felt the same as you and tried a Chim and a Griff before buying another S. For me me the relative exclusivity of the S was key and the classic styling is, to my mind nicer.
When I saw Jas' S at PH2 I was very impressed how great it looked and went, almost to the point where I wished I'd kept my S3 and spent the money on suspension mods (not quite though).
I would suggest contemplation over a pint or two, test drive a couple of cars and then sort your current car to give the overall performance you want.
And if you must have a V8 get a V8S
Cheers,
JSG
Been there, pondered that.
As Jas says, a well sorted S will give you fast track times, they do handle well and all the experts advise that suspension and brakes followed by driver training are the best upgrades.
I felt the same as you and tried a Chim and a Griff before buying another S. For me me the relative exclusivity of the S was key and the classic styling is, to my mind nicer.
When I saw Jas' S at PH2 I was very impressed how great it looked and went, almost to the point where I wished I'd kept my S3 and spent the money on suspension mods (not quite though).
I would suggest contemplation over a pint or two, test drive a couple of cars and then sort your current car to give the overall performance you want.
And if you must have a V8 get a V8S
Cheers,
JSG
quote:
I agree with Jas, the S chassis is superb and I've heard a lot of comments regarding the V8S out handling/matching a Griff.
Usually from S series owners that want to off load their car...
I had a V8S. Took it to Team Central for its service. It was a nice sunny day. Team Central threw some Griff 500 keys at me and said enjoy yourself. I came back after 2 hours. Swapped the V8S for the Griff there and then. Couldn't go back to the V8S as there was so much difference!
Same thing has opened a year later except it was for a Cerbera.
Steve
quote:
Then buy a dodgy coloured Wedge, late-ish with the rear wishbone suspension, for a song and spend your money upgrading that
Less of the dodgy colour. It's going down to Tower View to have lots of body TLC and be resprayed TVR Purple tonight. Finished a complete rear suspension and transmission rebuild and fitted a nice new alloy rad and have the old one repaired as a spare. New design stone guard should keep anything except armour piercing shells from hitting it as well. Using tractor spec UJs to cope with the power and about to start machining some new go faster suspension bits and pieces.
Yes it does make sense in having an expendable car if you want to have some fun on track days. The problem is that track days are great but you can't drive the 10/10s or 11/10s that you can in competition. But as the car is a second one and expendable that means you can get sucked into that which means more mods and so on.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
The answer is yes the beast will be back this year but it will be in a different class as some of the mods are not legal in B6. Does mean I'll be able to run with slicks and strip out most of the interior. The car will be road legal still and I'll carry the slicks on a boot rack or little trailer. Planning to get another 100 KG off the car, windows heater and other non-essential bits will be coming off and many bits are going to be replaced with lightweight alloy versions. Will have spoilers and bits as well. Thinking of a Speed 12 look interior with digital instrumentation, a mk III data logger that is hooked into the digital instruments and all down loads to a CF card. Going to use the rest of the season to get the car running and bedded in.
First event is likley to be Hethel in August. The car will be at Brassingbourne on the 27th for a track day to set the car up again.
Steve
and strip out most of the interior. The car will be road legal still and I'll carry the slicks on a boot rack or little trailer. Planning to get another 100 KG off the car, windows heater and other non-essential bits will be coming off and many bits are going to be replaced with lightweight alloy versions. Will have spoilers and bits as well. Thinking of a Speed 12 look interior with digital instrumentation, a mk III data logger that is hooked into the digital instruments and all down loads to a CF card. Going to use the rest of the season to get the car running and bedded in. First event is likley to be Hethel in August. The car will be at Brassingbourne on the 27th for a track day to set the car up again.
Steve
Johno... I think the sensible answer to this one is to buy the house then see what you've got left.. if you've still got spare cash coming in,then go shopping, if you haven't, keep the Twin..
I might have to sell other Twin to pay for an extension yet..
I think it should work out ok but you can never tell though, will wait and see
Cheers
Matt.
PS If you've ever up this way, pop round for the "contemplatory beer" Cheers M.
I might have to sell other Twin to pay for an extension yet..
I think it should work out ok but you can never tell though, will wait and see Cheers
Matt.
PS If you've ever up this way, pop round for the "contemplatory beer"
Cheers M. The decision has been taken Matt.
I am in a difficult position at work. I have total job security but will be moving location in the next 9 months for definite. It's not worth me buying a house at the moment due to these circumstances and the reality that the market in London has ground to a halt with the likely decline in prices starting soon.
If I'm ever near ya' I'll be seeing ya' for a beer. Don't sell the S for an extension. You'd be heart broken
The way things are going I should be able to have both the car I would like and a house. But we'll have to see. If I don't do it now then I may never do it and that I would regret considerably.
Cheers all for your suggestions
Mark
I am in a difficult position at work. I have total job security but will be moving location in the next 9 months for definite. It's not worth me buying a house at the moment due to these circumstances and the reality that the market in London has ground to a halt with the likely decline in prices starting soon.
If I'm ever near ya' I'll be seeing ya' for a beer. Don't sell the S for an extension. You'd be heart broken
The way things are going I should be able to have both the car I would like and a house. But we'll have to see. If I don't do it now then I may never do it and that I would regret considerably.
Cheers all for your suggestions
Mark
Likely to still be in London although not determined where yet. The site I am at is closing and when the new site/sites are open I should hopefully be running one.
I don't want to buy any where until I know where abouts in London I'm going to be working and what arrangements I can make as to transport other than a TVR. The job may/should come with a car or car allowance so that would help.
I want to stay living in London but the cost of property is just dumb, I will probably have to live out and commute but that's not going to happen in the whatever TVR I end up with.
It is of course possible that I could end up anywhere Nationally other than London but I will be trying to stay in the South.
Cheers
Mark
I don't want to buy any where until I know where abouts in London I'm going to be working and what arrangements I can make as to transport other than a TVR. The job may/should come with a car or car allowance so that would help.
I want to stay living in London but the cost of property is just dumb, I will probably have to live out and commute but that's not going to happen in the whatever TVR I end up with.
It is of course possible that I could end up anywhere Nationally other than London but I will be trying to stay in the South.
Cheers
Mark
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