Which is the Best Griff 500 there is?
Discussion
Some of you may have voted for the best British person in the recent Beeb show... As a prospective buyer for a Griff 500, what is the optimum year, spec and colour. Im sure we all have opinions (i've seen the PAS/non-PAS debate)...
From serpentine engines, to T5 boxes the greatest car ever has matured over the years (and I cannot afford the last SE 100 (and the rear lights are crap anyway).
So...
Whats the answer?
Year -
Colour exterior -
Colour interior -
Options to have - PAS/AC
Full Hide or not? (what is that anyway)
, with foot to the floor 
More usefully answered (maybe!).
Whatever you like, but one thing to watch out is that one that has been cosseted and kept as a second or third car might seem attractive because it has few miles on the clock. Mine was like that and it takes a little while to sort a few bits and pieces out. Nothing serious, but not being used is a crime for a TVR! Bits and pieces included battery, starter motor, HT leads, et cetera, et cetera. Some were done by the dealer before I drove it away, some have come to light since.
Having said all that, it has been an entertainment learning its little quirks and as a daily drive it's quite easy to keep on top of things. Get hold of the service history and you'll be fine if you go into the relationship knowing what's been looked after.
PAS Yes if you're commuting/parking - there's a whole thread on its merits and anti purist, though!
AC When it's that hot have the roof off!! (I don't believe it works well anyway!).
The earlier 500s had the "not so pleasant" gearbox, I believe. Mine's a '96 with the Borg Warner - it sometimes takes somes asking nicely to engage reverse.
Build quality has generally been getting better for all TVRs over the last decade.
Oh and if you think the rear lights are "crap" - wait 'til you drive a Griff on dipped beam at anything other than full sunshine!!!! (It's a design feature
)
>> Edited by beano1197 on Tuesday 3rd December 18:16
Whatever you like, but one thing to watch out is that one that has been cosseted and kept as a second or third car might seem attractive because it has few miles on the clock. Mine was like that and it takes a little while to sort a few bits and pieces out. Nothing serious, but not being used is a crime for a TVR! Bits and pieces included battery, starter motor, HT leads, et cetera, et cetera. Some were done by the dealer before I drove it away, some have come to light since.
Having said all that, it has been an entertainment learning its little quirks and as a daily drive it's quite easy to keep on top of things. Get hold of the service history and you'll be fine if you go into the relationship knowing what's been looked after.
PAS Yes if you're commuting/parking - there's a whole thread on its merits and anti purist, though!
AC When it's that hot have the roof off!! (I don't believe it works well anyway!).
The earlier 500s had the "not so pleasant" gearbox, I believe. Mine's a '96 with the Borg Warner - it sometimes takes somes asking nicely to engage reverse.
Build quality has generally been getting better for all TVRs over the last decade.
Oh and if you think the rear lights are "crap" - wait 'til you drive a Griff on dipped beam at anything other than full sunshine!!!! (It's a design feature
) >> Edited by beano1197 on Tuesday 3rd December 18:16
A fine post indeed! I have heard about the crap lights and the obvious headlight enlargement/improvement with the last 100 SE models (its only the SE models that have shite rear lights by the way IMHO).. What about those driving/fog lights in the lower front valence?
I assume dipped/main is in the headlamp unit and I could get some of those Philips extra bright lights (or more powerful but thats a different ball game)..
Not much I can do with the lights as the gorgeous lines of the Griff cannot be abused.. the other aspects are variable
Cheers again
I assume dipped/main is in the headlamp unit and I could get some of those Philips extra bright lights (or more powerful but thats a different ball game)..
Not much I can do with the lights as the gorgeous lines of the Griff cannot be abused.. the other aspects are variable
Cheers again
simonf said: What about those driving/fog lights in the lower front valence?
I assume dipped/main is in the headlamp unit and I could get some of those Philips extra bright lights (or more powerful but thats a different ball game)..
Just the dipped under the perspex (which picks up a layer of dust inside - there's threads on the three hours you can spend on cleaning each side out!!)
The "driving" lights are wonderful. Low down enough to pick up stone damage from time to time though (Citroen part - about £60-70! - I think about them as a consumable, but, touchwood
, only had one to replace in 32k). Also useful for "reminding" anyone who's left their front fogs on...
You need to remember that a lot of the cars have been modified/upgraded over time.
i.e. My car's a '96, the '98 might have had better suspension fitted when it left the factory but mine has been upgraded with Nitrons & poly bushes.
I wouldn't get too hung up on the year of manufacture (excepting things like the T5 'box & serpantine engine), but look out for the right spec/colour/trim combo for you in a good condition.
i.e. My car's a '96, the '98 might have had better suspension fitted when it left the factory but mine has been upgraded with Nitrons & poly bushes.
I wouldn't get too hung up on the year of manufacture (excepting things like the T5 'box & serpantine engine), but look out for the right spec/colour/trim combo for you in a good condition.
Get as late a car as you can. Yes, my current 98 car is streets ahead of its 95 predecessor.
T5 box is better. PAS and A/C is high on my list. Will make the car easier to sell on and it is cheaper to get them than retrofit. The A/C does a superb job of demisting the car and it does work.
Beyond that... there are not that many later cars around so colour combinations will be limited if you want anything extreme.
Steve
T5 box is better. PAS and A/C is high on my list. Will make the car easier to sell on and it is cheaper to get them than retrofit. The A/C does a superb job of demisting the car and it does work.
Beyond that... there are not that many later cars around so colour combinations will be limited if you want anything extreme.
Steve
Cheers to all the contributers on this thread... One thing I wanted to still answer was the full/half hide issue... I assume there is more cow on side panels, dash tops etc etc... Magnolia seems to look great, although lighter colours do wear less well. Im not one of those people that think the great lines of a TVR should be black body, black leather, black wheels
Thanks Gasblaster, but was sports suspension ever an option - or just fitted to later models??
Typically this is firmer (lower) springs and sometimes different damper settings.. Maybe thicker anti roll bar (on your standard mota that is)... On a Griff? I know they revised it and some people went for harder bushes when they failed...?
Ta
PS Anyone going to comment on the Hide thing... still confused on that one
Typically this is firmer (lower) springs and sometimes different damper settings.. Maybe thicker anti roll bar (on your standard mota that is)... On a Griff? I know they revised it and some people went for harder bushes when they failed...?
Ta
PS Anyone going to comment on the Hide thing... still confused on that one
simonf said: Thanks Gasblaster, but was sports suspension ever an option - or just fitted to later models??
Yes as detailed in the bible, sports suspesnion has benn an option but exactly waht it contained has chnaged. There were even rumours that some cars had it fitted as standard.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk
The car should be Black, with a full hide black interior with Ally Dash. The SE's are a personbal choice although the rear lights are growing on me it is the different dash in the SE's which make them far better than other Griffiths IMHO. Those horrid air vents and loads of little twiddly silly knobs and that god awful wood !
As for Sports suspension these were a factory option. Stiffer springs and different dampers I believe, but knowing TVR the specs probably changed considerably. I have only driven one with the factory sports pack and I thought it was very good.
PAS in my opinion is a definite. Makes slow speed manouvreing easier and adds to the resale value.
As for Sports suspension these were a factory option. Stiffer springs and different dampers I believe, but knowing TVR the specs probably changed considerably. I have only driven one with the factory sports pack and I thought it was very good.
PAS in my opinion is a definite. Makes slow speed manouvreing easier and adds to the resale value.
simonf said:
Im not one of those people that think the great lines of a TVR should be black body, black leather, black wheels
Half hide means the seat and head rest facings are leather. Everything esle is vinyl (except the door cars which are carpet).
Full hide means the whole seat and headrest including backs, the door cards and outer, centre console, dashboard, glovebox, windscreen hoop and roll bar hoop are leather. And that's an awful lot of cow.
IMHO full hide is a must. Yes you need to feed it, but I am a firm believer that it lasts longer than the vinyl. The vinyl eventually cracks and splits over time. Hide (if fed) does not. Also the deeper 'grain' in the vinyl collects dirt more easily and is more difficult to keep clean. I have seen a number of otherwise really smart looking older cars that look a bit tatty because the vinyl is very grubby.
Full hide was a very expensive option when new, but does not add much to the secondhand value. It does make a car much more desirable though. Worth holding out for full hide if you can find it.
Not that I'm biased...
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