Griff 500 Faster than a Ferrari 355?
Discussion
on a ferrari owners track day a friend of mine took his griff 500 up against his mates 355 challenge spec. straight line performance was pretty identical but the ferrari had better handling, much better brakes and a very experienced track driver. oh and the 360 challenge blew them all away.
jody
jody
Well the chimaera 500 is certainly quicker than a 360 spider as proved on wednesday in real terms after meeting one comming off the M3.
Had a bit of fun down an empty dual carridge way stretch and on single lanes.
Had to back off in every gear to avoid driving into him as he refused to move over. Not alot in it but we were deffinatley faster and trust me we were both going for it (obviously within the speed limits !!!!!)
And the 355 feels slower than the 360 so I guess the answer is yes.
Had a bit of fun down an empty dual carridge way stretch and on single lanes.
Had to back off in every gear to avoid driving into him as he refused to move over. Not alot in it but we were deffinatley faster and trust me we were both going for it (obviously within the speed limits !!!!!)
And the 355 feels slower than the 360 so I guess the answer is yes.
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So A-B a 355 is a much quicker car.
Only if the driver's unconcerned about the value of his car. I reckon I'd be a lot slower cross-country in a 70 grand 355 than I am in my 20 grand Griff. The Griff's also a fair bit narrower than a 355 (despite the paper figures suggesting otherwise), which is worth a lot on British 'B' roads.
Don't get me wrong - the Dancing Donkey's probably a "better" car in most respects, but in Britain the quickest car A to B has to be something fast, cheap and narrow!
Pete
quote:
quote:
So A-B a 355 is a much quicker car.
Only if the driver's unconcerned about the value of his car. I reckon I'd be a lot slower cross-country in a 70 grand 355 than I am in my 20 grand Griff.
That's what I though but it just doesn't work like that. What about a certain nutter in a certain 360? I don't think he gives a shit! After all, if you crash, and you've got big excess on your insurance , make it a big smash!
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The Griff's also a fair bit narrower than a 355 (despite the paper figures suggesting otherwise), which is worth a lot on British 'B' roads.
355's 192cm wide, but the griff looks like a wide beast itself, so cms aren't gonna make much difference at 100MPH odd?
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Don't get me wrong - the Dancing Donkey's probably a "better" car in most respects, but in Britain the quickest car A to B has to be something fast, cheap and narrow!
Can't comment as I would be biased! I thought the Griff's looked pretty bad ass and Steve's yellow monster looked scary! I think in a straight punch up the 355 would get scared and leg it the opposite direction. A to B, with no intimidating TVR around, IMO the 355 would be quicker. It really has an amazing chassis that copes well with everything and can really be pushed with confidence.
We can always test it next time we meet?
Had a good head to head with a 355 around Oulton last month.
I've no idea about the 'rarri driver, but I'm pretty hamfisted, and I can tell you that Trevor beat the Donkey fair and square!
If I hadn't been carefully obeying the no outbraking or overtaking in bends stuff that all us responsible trac dayers need to remember, I'd have passed him even quicker. As is was, I had to wait a few stragihts 'till the guy realised he had his mirrors full of Griff.
My car is only very slightly modified, and at the time wasn;t tracking perfectly either (rear o/s toe out + rear n/s toe in = rear crabbing!).
I've no idea about the 'rarri driver, but I'm pretty hamfisted, and I can tell you that Trevor beat the Donkey fair and square!
If I hadn't been carefully obeying the no outbraking or overtaking in bends stuff that all us responsible trac dayers need to remember, I'd have passed him even quicker. As is was, I had to wait a few stragihts 'till the guy realised he had his mirrors full of Griff.
My car is only very slightly modified, and at the time wasn;t tracking perfectly either (rear o/s toe out + rear n/s toe in = rear crabbing!).
From track days, the F355s I've seen have been quite a bit slower [than the Cerb], but than again there are Griffs that seem quite a bit slower and others that go fast. I would guess with equal drivers, the Griff is probably a bit quicker, but I think the cars are near enough matched that the best driver could make either of the cars go faster than the other. F360 a bit of a different matter, not so much on power/handling, but the one I came across seemed to have seriously good and consistent brakes and could brake later, harder and for longer than the Cerb without things frying....but that was before that last brake revamp
I different matter on the road though. I guess the driver with the least concern for safety would win out well before the limits of either car were reached.
WB
I different matter on the road though. I guess the driver with the least concern for safety would win out well before the limits of either car were reached.
WB
A friend of mine sold his Griff and bought a 355 and told me he thought his old Griff was quicker in a straight line. I let him take my 500 out for a spin on his own (hoping one day he may reciprocate) and he confirmed that the Griff definitely felt quicker in a straight line. However from my point of view, in the passenger seat, the 355 felt faster to me, though I think it always feel’s quicker from the passengers point of view and we were on the twisty stuff.
Cheers,
Simon.
Cheers,
Simon.
Well I have now owned 3 TVR's a Griff 500, a 4.5 Cerb and now a Tamora plus I also have a 355. The 355 is without a shadow of a doubt the best handling car IMHO. I can carry much more speed both into and hence out of corners which easily compensates for the sheer acceleration of the 4.5 Cerb for instance.
Trackday comparisons are pretty useless because its difficult to gauge the relative standards of each driver. For instance I have a friend who regularly takes his 355 on track and trounces all TVR's every single time which is different to some of the experiences here.
Frostie
>> Edited by frostie on Thursday 26th September 17:55
Trackday comparisons are pretty useless because its difficult to gauge the relative standards of each driver. For instance I have a friend who regularly takes his 355 on track and trounces all TVR's every single time which is different to some of the experiences here.
Frostie
>> Edited by frostie on Thursday 26th September 17:55
Hot button, have to post. Sorry to have to say this but who gives a sh*t? Somebody somewhere has got a faster car than you, just the same as somebody, somewhere has more talent in any area you care to name. Does it really matter? The only real 'win' is to have the most fun, in whatever takes your fancy. James Hunt, gord bless 'im, used to hoon around in an Austin A35 and I can quite believe he had fun doing it. I was about to say 'if it's good enough for James Hunt..' before I remembered that this car looks like a loaf of bread, sounds like sh*t, and doesn't have any brakes, but you get the idea.
And by the time you read this, I will have left the building....... Good job too
And by the time you read this, I will have left the building....... Good job too
Careful when you go on a track trying to keep up with other cars cos that's tantamount to racing... and we all know we're not insured to race 
Anyway around a track I don't care if cars overtake me... cos I prefer to do trackdays when it rains... and i'm having far too much fun on the corners to care who is "beating me"!!
Anyway around a track I don't care if cars overtake me... cos I prefer to do trackdays when it rains... and i'm having far too much fun on the corners to care who is "beating me"!!
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I was driven around Goodwood in a 355 by a good racing driver, I,m afraid theres no contest , if you tried to lap near to that speed in a Griffith you would need: 1/ Large Titanium balls, 2/ about 400 bhp, 3/every mod you can think of.
Tim
:Mental note, must make sure I get a thrash round a track in a 355/360 in 2003!:
I used to have a 430SE Wedge , once in Germany coming back from Hannover i had a good old go with a 355 (this was in 94)i was two up he was on his own, my Wedge could keep up with the 355 and i know he was trying until around 200kph , from 200kph up the 355 just disapeared into the distance , i spose this would be the same with the Griff .
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