Griff 400 Road Test

[lavingp]

Can anyone point me in the direction of a road test for the Griff 400 please? All the ones I have seen have been for the 430/500, and I need to get some objective idea of the difference in performance.
Thanks,
Paul.

[simpo one]

Call me cheeky but I'd take the 4.3 report and subtract 3-5%. Not sure you'd really notice the difference. But why read about it when you could take one for a test drive?

[lavingp]

quote:
Call me cheeky but I'd take the 4.3 report and subtract 3-5%. Not sure you'd really notice the difference. But why read about it when you could take one for a test drive?

Yep, thats the next move, but it would be good to get some facts and figures to back up my impressions.
Paul.

[dan]

Steve Heaths bible gives a fairly objective view of each of the cars. If you are seriously planning to buy a Griff Its worth getting it in advance as there is a buying tips section. (commision can be cheque or cash steve )

[tivhead]

Go to dealerships. Thats what I did when looking for a Griff.

The question about the difference between 400, 430 & 500 I can answer, as I drove all three whilst looking.

There IS a noticable difference between all three. Although they are all quick, the 400 is abviously slower of the three. And you DO notice the reduction of grunt as you descend from 500 to 400.
But, the 400 & 430 are pre-cat, so they sound better than the 500 as standard(but its all relative).

IMHO the best compromise is the 430. Its the rarest, sounds the best and has more grunt than the 400.

But if huge power & torque is your poison, the 500 is king.

Hope this helps

Tiv

[lavingp]

Thanks for all the well-meaning replies. Its just that I have seen a 400 advertised which meets my requirements exactly, apart from engine size, and I would like to see some hard figures.
There aren't many 4.x cars in dealerships now, in fact there aren't many Griffs for sale at all. Adrian Blythe seems to have given up on them completely! Must be the better weather.
If anybody has a copy of Steve's book handy, could they please take a look and see if Steve quotes the source of any figures for the 400.
Thanks,

Paul.

[shpub]

I really can't remember seeing any 400 road tests that have any figures. All the griff ones were for the 4.3 engined type. Apart from the BV cars there are more 4.3s around than plain 4s on the ground that the 4 is a bit of a wussy car and had worse resales. So it is a pretty rare car. It is like the 4.3 only slower. For performance you could look at the Chimaera 4 litre reviews and there were some test in Perf Car around 1992.

Steve

[lavingp]

quote: For performance you could look at the Chimaera 4 litre reviews and there were some test in Perf Car around 1992.

Steve

Thanks, Steve.
I've got the Chimaera 400 test in the May 93 issue of Fast Lane. The figures don't look too shabby compared to a 4.3 Griff.
Anyone got the 92 Performance Car test of a Chimaera they are prepared to sell/photocopy/email/stick on a CD ? Costs refunded obviously.
Thanks,
Paul.

[simpo one]

'Its just that I have seen a 400 advertised which meets my requirements exactly, apart from engine size, and I would like to see some hard figures.'

I understand that, but why not go and *drive* the thing? If it's a decent example I think you will suddenly realise that you have worrying needlessly. I had a 4.0 for four years and it was great. While you're fretting for a road test and the opinions of some bloke 10 years ago, someone else will buy it. Summary: do your own roadtest, and do it tomorrow! Faint heart never won fair TVR!

[dougal]

I've got a 4 and did (for around six months) run a 5 at the same time, had the opportunity to keep one or the other, I kept the 4, the wife and I liked it more, not as fast granted, but not far off.
Drive it and see what you think, they are a classic.

[lavingp]

quote:
I've got a 4 and did (for around six months) run a 5 at the same time, had the opportunity to keep one or the other, I kept the 4, the wife and I liked it more, not as fast granted, but not far off.
Drive it and see what you think, they are a classic.

Thanks, Dougal & Simpo One. Much common sense.

[scruff400]

You could always have the 400 4.3'd later on. Oh and bigger brakes and bigger plenum and Mark Adams ECU and uprated suspension and...
Still - i've started with some brighter lights and nice shiny footplates