buying advice?

[mags]

I''m looking to buy a Griff 500 soon''ish and trying to do my homework. Should I be looking for one after a certain year? or does it not matter. The prices seem to vary from £15k for a ''95 to $26k+ for a ''98-9 whats the difference? (not counting mileage) I can go up to the higher end, but is it worth it as cosmetically they look identical? Anyone know of a website listing changes and/or faults/fixes I should be looking for. (already checked out joospeed) TIA Mags

[mags]

Gotta be honest, private sales worry me, my local dealer, who has been very helpful so far, has tried to put me off with stories of scary first services. Is buying private and then adding a warrenty just as sound? especially if I get the car checked out at a dealer? Mags

[dan]

Some of the specialists are worth a look. You get the peace of mind from knowing you can take the car back but the prices are better than some of the dreaming private sellers. Age is relativley unimportant what is important is how the car has been used. I would be wary of ultra low mileage cars with a number of owners. This subject comes around fairly regularly, I think the best advice is to look at a number of cars before deciding on the one you want, there are plent out their in your price range. Best of luck, they are worth ever penny. Cheers Dan

[anjago]

I've just bought a Griffith 4.0 250 and used the services of Rob Ingleby (www.findasportscar.co.uk). I was impressed with his positive attitude and am very pleased with the car he found me. Give him a ring and tell him Andy recommended you. His fee is worth the piece of mind and works out cheaper than the AA if you have every car you are interested in inspected.

[HBBT]

Hi all. I'm currently searching for my first Griff after lusting after one for 10/11 years!. I'm amazed at how the values have dropped over the last 2 years but so has everything else in the market really. I've seen about 5/6 cars so far, from the 4.0 pre cats to the 500's, both privately and at Dealers (official and specialised). All the dealers have strongly warned against a private buy even with a full TVR dealer inspection. I have spoken to around 8 dealers and they all (without exception) expect any private sale Grif to require £2,000 minimum to bring them up to top condition. I feel that the advice I've been given so far is reasonable but I am still going to see a couple more private cars that sound promising. As for prices they are still all over the place!. Any other views?.

[EdT]

I bought from a halfway chap - not a TVR dealer - just a guy that sells cars down in Surrey. I spent a few hundred quickly but no more, and he coughed up for a new rad. Was £5K less than a dealer too

[anjago]

quote: All the dealers have strongly warned against a private buy even with a full TVR dealer inspection. I have spoken to around 8 dealers and they all (without exception) expect any private sale Grif to require £2,000 minimum to bring them up to top condition. ....

It sounds to me that the dealers are trying on what they usually do, and that is to get as much money out of you as possible, if you are not happy to look yourself get a specialist to do it for you. Edited by anjago on Friday 10th August 01:06

[Tilling]

I bought my Griff privately and it has been fine so far (3000 miles in 4 weeks). I guess the way to look at it is this - Ask any of the people who are on these notes if they think their car would need £2k to get it up to standard. These cars are usually owned by people who pay them more attention than they do their nearest and dearest. IMHO if you spend time looking for the right car and check the history, (get the Chassis number and phone the factory, they will give you all the details inc any Dealer service history), HPI it and get it checked over by someone you trust you will get a better deal. Simon

[SwanJack]

I was given some good advice by an Independant specialist in the Oxford area who I don't think is operating anymore. He said to ask the vendor if the car leaked and if the answer was no then everything else he said was to be be taken with an extrememly large pinch of salt. I have had Tivs for over 6 years, both have leaked like sieves. Does not put me off one bit. He also said that I would need long arms and deep pockets, but luckily the reliabilty of both cars has been nothing to worry about.

[richb]

I've owned 2 x TVRs over the last 6 years, my S3c which I bought seconhand and my Griff 500 which was new. Neither of them leak, because I took/take the care to identify and cure any small leaks as I find them. Perhaps you ask the owner if it leaks and if he says 'yes' then he clearly can't have bothered much with the rest of the maintenance either! Rich...

[dixonat]

"I was given some good advice by an Independant specialist in the Oxford area who I don't think is operating anymore. He said to ask the vendor if the car leaked and if the answer was no then everything else he said was to be be taken with an extrememly large pinch of salt. I have had Tivs for over 6 years, both have leaked like sieves." I bought a 98 Chim 500 in May 00 and have been out in some real down pores in it and can honestly say that I've never found a leak in it. I did buy it from a dealer, although I've water proofed the hood myself. Anto Edited by dixonat on Friday 10th August 11:03 Edited by dixonat on Friday 10th August 11:04

[HBBT]

quote:[quote] All the dealers have strongly warned against a private buy even with a full TVR dealer inspection. I have spoken to around 8 dealers and they all (without exception) expect any private sale Grif to require £2,000 minimum to bring them up to top condition. ....

It sounds to me that the dealers are trying on what they usually do, and that is to get as much money out of you as possible, if you are not happy to look yourself get a specialist to do it for you. Of course I realise that dealers are in the business of extracting the maximum amount from you. But you have to remember that these are hand built 160+mph cars that have had between one and four (as an average) owners in their life and not all owners are as caring and understanding as the type of enthusiasts who frequent this board. Consequently the choice is between a) Buy from a dealer with a sense of security through the warranty and b) Look at private cars and get a professional inspection and then buy a warranty to give some secondary peace of mind. This is now the process I find myself in and I am not in any real hurry as I obviously want to buy the right car and not a money pit. Edited by anjago on Friday 10th August 01:06