Help needed, should I sell my Griff?

[griff59]

Yes, this is a difficult decision, be good to get a few different perspectives, to help me make up my mind.
I’ve had my Griff 500 for five years, really enjoyed it when I first got it, but it’s been sitting in the garage far too much lately, just not being driven, in fact, we drove it twice in the last year.
The Griff was/is still my dream car, no matter how rich I was, I’d still have the Griff, it’s the most beautiful car ever made for me.
My partner loves it, she’s going crazy at the thought of me selling it, I’m sure she’d be very upset to see it go.
I have no pressing reasons to sell it, financially, or to fund another car, I’m just concerned that it’s not being driven, and enjoyed, and also, that it could deteriorate if left unused.
I’d like to sell it someone who will really get a lot of enjoyment out of it, and use it more, if we go that far, but the thought of going out to the garage and it not being there? I’m not sure I could handle that, just not being able to look at it, also, it’s become like a member of the family.
So as you can see, it’s a bit of a dilemma, any opinions that will push me either way, much appreciated.

Edited by griff59 on Friday 25th March 08:33

[highway]

Tell yourself how the underside may be slowly eating itself. Then remember how every time you take it out you are being disrespected with fuel consumption of around 14mpg. Let someone else wet nurse it moving forward and keep lots of pictures to remind you of the good times.

[DodgyGeezer]

The simple answer is just get out in it a few more times and enjoy it. Once it's gone you'll be missing it and unhappy

[Squirrelofwoe]

My take on these situations is that it's very easy to take something for granted when you've got it, then miss it like crazy once it's gone. You don't necessarily have to drive it all the time to appreciate it- so long as on those occasions when you do take it out it reminds you exactly why you keep it.

Imagine you've sold the car, then you see / hear a similar one out an about one sunny afternoon - how does the thought of that make you feel?! It's what I do in those situations.

For what it's worth I still get weak at the knees whenever I hear a RV8-engined TVR out and about, and I only sold my Chim as my wife bought a Tuscan which for us is a more usable car in pretty much every respect. That sound of a Chim / Griff still gets me every time though

If you were thinking of moving it on so that you could tick another car off the wish list I could understand it (you'd have a new shiny thing to take your mind off it), but simply selling it so that someone else can enjoy it when there are no other contributing motivators (financial etc)- I think you'd be certifiably crazy, and would be back into the classifieds the moment the sun starts making a regular appearance at the weekend...

[NicBowman]

Hi, my tuppence worth. Having sold too many cars… Griff values are going up, sat in the garage is hardly a site for much decay, certainly less than if someone were driving it in the rain, rust wise. I would enjoy using it occasionally and looking at it more often!
I have a really nice indoor cover, it looks great even in the cover. I get great satisfaction from improving and maintaining.
Just stripped the chassis of any peeling coating, found exactly the right colour match paint and repainted. Cheap to do, very satisfying. Ditto, detailing engine bay, not expensive, but very absorbing.
Treat it as a mostly stationary investment and hobby. Return everything to original, that will be the biggest investment option for the future.

What else you going to do with the money? Numbers in a bank account are very boring.

Best

Nic

[NicBowman]

In its hoody…

[phazed]

Sell it to let someone else enjoy it. It doesn’t do the car any good just standing around.

Life is too short. Go and try something else and move on. We are lucky enough to be in a position to be able to do this.

[griff59]

Thanks a lot folks, all sensible stuff.
The issue about disrespect, and fuel economy? I did think about that in these challenging times, but we are all car enthusiasts here, and it goes with the territory, we all like to be environmentally aware, and the amount of use this car gets probably produces less pollution overall than a more economical car driven regularly.
Verbal abuse about this is one thing, but as time goes on, it is worrying, that maybe physical damage to cars may become common, that would be worrying.
Original condition? yes, mine is, I thought about upgrading brakes, lights, and suspension, I don’t know if these things would affect that aspect of the car.
Some of you are right, the sun is out now, and we will be using the car, and also, I have to be able to put myself in a position mentally, of no longer having the car, what would that feel like?
As you say, we’re lucky to have these things to deal with, it’s nothing major, by any means, in the grand scheme of things, as for photos, I can’t think of anything worse, if I did sell the car. looking at them would be awful.

[Pit Pony]

Perhaps commute to work every other Friday?

[Tyre Smoke]

In 2012 I sold my Cerbera. I used it twice in the previous year and it did about 500 miles.

I never once regretted selling it. I didn't replace it. I'd scratched the TVR itch. I'd had a Chimaera before that.

Last year, in September my wife sent me a random WhatsApp picture of a red Chimaera filling up with fuel in the local Tesco. Two days later I'd identified a 450 for sale in South London. A week later, I'd taken the train up and viewed, driven around the block and done the deal.

I already had one toy in the garage, my Trabant. The Chimaera has been great. I've got loads of bits and pieces to do on it, nothing overly taxing, but I'm loving it.

My advice? Take the Griff out more this year. Go to Tesco in it. Go to the pub in it. Have a weekend away with it. Just drive it more. If you still feel a bit 'meh' then put it away in the garage on it's battery conditioner and don't look at it until May 2023.

[R8FUN]

NicBowman said:

Hi, my tuppence worth. Having sold too many cars… Griff values are going up, sat in the garage is hardly a site for much decay, certainly less than if someone were driving it in the rain, rust wise. I would enjoy using it occasionally and looking at it more often!
I have a really nice indoor cover, it looks great even in the cover. I get great satisfaction from improving and maintaining.
Just stripped the chassis of any peeling coating, found exactly the right colour match paint and repainted. Cheap to do, very satisfying. Ditto, detailing engine bay, not expensive, but very absorbing.
Treat it as a mostly stationary investment and hobby. Return everything to original, that will be the biggest investment option for the future.

What else you going to do with the money? Numbers in a bank account are very boring.

Best

Nic

This is similar to my situation, although my Griff is in great condition I cant help spending on it & keeping it as Original as possible, more of a hobby.
But its not getting used! Iast Summer everytime we went away somewhere the Wife wanted to take the Dog!!! so we ended up in the FK8.
Don't get me wrong the Wife loves the Griff, she paid for most of it, but she loves the Dog more!
So its with Amore for sale, but if it doesent sell I won't be heartbroken to bring it home!

[Tyre Smoke]

Won't the dog fit in the Griff?

I can get both my Springer and Collie in the Chimaera on the 'dog shelf' behind the seats.

[Tasmin200]

Why don't you use it? Work commitments, away from home too much?

If it's your dream car I'd keep it. It's not going to deteriorate if you look after it. My bike only does 1000 miles a year if it's lucky but every time it gets out is an event.

[Narcisus]

Screw anyone else getting enjoyment out of it ! If you love it and only drive it twice a year what’s wrong with that ?

Different if you need the cash but you don’t.

Keep on top of the maintenance and if it needs anything doing because it’s been stood just get it done.

[R8FUN]

Tyre Smoke said:

Won't the dog fit in the Griff?

I can get both my Springer and Collie in the Chimaera on the 'dog shelf' behind the seats.

She is a Lurcher & hates being in the car, If I tried to squeeze her on the Parcel shelf of the Griff she would probably have a heart attack!

[Tyre Smoke]

Obviously being of a more refined disposition, I have no idea what the space behind the Griff seats are like, I can only speak from experience of a real gentleman's carriage.

[griff59]

Narcisus said:

Screw anyone else getting enjoyment out of it ! If you love it and only drive it twice a year what’s wrong with that ?

Different if you need the cash but you don’t.

Keep on top of the maintenance and if it needs anything doing because it’s been stood just get it done.

I do look after it, it’s fine, just a couple of little things to do on the bodywork, and a new alarm system.
My partner just came in, and she said "hang on to it, why are you even thinking of selling it?"
I think she loves it more than I do, and she’s always trying to get me to drive it.
There are two things, I’m in my late 60’s, and my confidence isn’t what it used to be, and I must admit, I do find it scary after not driving it for awhile, that feeling soon goes though, after a couple of hours, and I’m used to it again.
Another is that it’s quite high mileage, 81,000 and I'm worried about having to have an engine rebuild at some point.
The whole car was overhauled 10 years ago, new outriggers, chassis sandblasted and painted, respray, and a top-end rebuild, and it’s still in very good rust free condition, and there are no mods, all original.
Another issue, is that it’s a pain to actually get the car out, it takes about ten minutes, to move things and get it out of the garage, then I have to struggle with two sets of drive gates, I’m going to leave the car outside for a bit, insurance permitting, so it’s just more accessible, I’ll be tempted to just go to the supermarket, or shops in it, and generally use it more now the good weather is coming.

Edited by griff59 on Friday 25th March 16:14

[Tyre Smoke]

81k? It's fine! My 450 Chim clicked over 100k last weekend. Or rather it didn't. It got stuck at 99999. I had to take the bloody speedo apart to help it over. Working fine now.

Good shout to leave it out for a week or two, see how you feel by 'making yourself' drive it.

[Oldwolf]

Keep it

I know what you mean about being wary after not driving it for a while, I'm the same with my Chim but as Martin Brundle says... The throttle goes both ways (which is technically wrong but I still like it!)
I've got a shed on order to make the garage more car friendly, that might help?

[griff59]

Tyre Smoke said:

81k? It's fine! My 450 Chim clicked over 100k last weekend. Or rather it didn't. It got stuck at 99999. I had to take the bloody speedo apart to help it over. Working fine now.

Good shout to leave it out for a week or two, see how you feel by 'making yourself' drive it.

That’s reassuring, it seems to run fine, good tick over, and no strange noises, and sounds good, touch wood!

Oldwolf said:

Keep it

I know what you mean about being wary after not driving it for a while, I'm the same with my Chim but as Martin Brundle says... The throttle goes both ways (which is technically wrong but I still like it!)
I've got a shed on order to make the garage more car friendly, that might help?

I’ve just called my insurance company, only seven quid extra per year to park it in our drive, rather than the garage, so I did it, that’ll make it easier just to take it out for shopping runs etc.