Can I use a Griffith daily?

[Doctorfrag]

Hi,

I've had the need for a TVR for the last 20 yrs, I've driven several, aminly Griffith and Wedges, and its only now that I may soon be able to afford one.

My question is?

As a GP, will a Griffith be able to be used on a daily basis, 20 min to and from work and several house calls during the day?

Will it be to unreliable?
I don't want to 'have' to keep another car, two in the family is quite enough!

Thanks

Joe

[stig 69]

I use my Chimaera every day (48 mile round trip to the office) Having invested in the car I'm not going to leave it in the garage, it was made to be driven.
On the icey country roads it can be intersting

Enjoy

[Doctorfrag]

stig 69,

thanks

Has your car been reliable, because if its going to be off the road a lot, that could really screw things up, say emergencies etc?

Joe

[rev-erend]

I'd have to say it's possible - although if there is a lot of traffic then its not all that enjoyable.
They are certainly reliable enough but high milages will mean high service bills.

[stig 69]

I have done about 8k since May and have only had one non starter (starter motor packed up)but on the whole it has been pretty good.

On a different note I have had the underside coated in waxoil to hopfully keep corrosion at bay.

[edward]

quote:
On the icy country roads it can be interesting

Enjoy

mm. yes, certainly had some 'fun' this morning overtaking a tractor.. really woke me up though. Must get some S03s
Ed

[Doctorfrag]

That sounds like fun.

In fact the roads I drive are ideal TVR territory, smooth tarmac, roundabouts. also some excellent country roads!

By the way, does Chimeara/Griffith come with Air conditioning ( dont't laugh and say its a convertible!). Does it need it?

Joe

[Graham B]

quote:
By the way, does Chimeara/Griffith come with Air conditioning ( dont't laugh and say its a convertible!). Does it need it?

It's an option. There's obviously differing views on this but if caught in traffic my griff (no aircon) does a passable impression of a mobile sauna. I don't seem to be able to get any cold air in the cabin.

I don't believe the air conditioning is that effective but it at least it may take away some of the engine heat soak.

Graham

[DIGGA]

I can't see any real reason why you shouldn't use a TVR every day.

I suppose we're back to the 'TVR unreliability' issue.

My TVR has been excellent - only a couple of very minor problems.

On the other hand, I had a 'super-reliable', 'continent-crossing' Toyota Landcrusier a few years ago, and had to have it recovered twice.

Marcus
& Ocean Haze Griff 500

[Doctorfrag]

Cheers everyone

Its very tempting, I'm slowly getting my wife round t othe idea of having one,....I feel another test drive coming on!!

I've heard that some TVR's are bad and unreliable, but ..if you do your homework, getting a reliable one won't be too bad.

Thanks again

Joe

[dmanue]

I use mine most days and so far have not had a problem. As someone else said, the servicing costs can be a bit steep, but on the other hand, on the one (extended) occasion I did leave it in the garage for an extensive period it cost a shed too!!!

Go for it - buy one and drive it!!!

[shpub]

I've had eight now... including a Cerbera for three years. They have been as reliable as the other normal cars that I have. So much so, that one of them has gone and a tweaked Griff 500 is now the designated shopping trolley.

A lot of people use them everyday. They need regular servicing and TLC. IMHO a car that is regularly used and enjoyed will last far more than one that only comes out when the sun and wind are right. A lot of people run a very cheap runabout just in case.

Driving in icy conditions does require like most times a high degree of self control and restraint otherwise there is a large chance of joining the growing single vehicle incident portfolio.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[Doctorfrag]

I live in Hertfordshire, The TVR centre in Barnet is about 30mins away, the more I read, the more I want. It does sound like a reasonable proposition ( a TVR the sensible choice!!).
After test driving a Griffith without power steering, I would like one with,...any opinions power sterring or not??

Joe

[olly]

We drive our Cerbera (I know it's not a Rover Engined car, but it's still a modern TVR) usually 6 days a week. It gets used in all weather, and so far (touching a LARGE lump of wood), hasn't let is down in 7500 miles (only had the car 3 months). 2 things have gone wrong : Handbrake pickup snapped (which can happen on any car), and it was running on 7 intermittantly, which turned out ot be a dead spark plug. Neither of the problems stopped the car being used, and it's always fun to drive.

Servicing will hit hard if you do high mileage, but for the performance you get, you can't really complain.


Edited by olly on Thursday 15th November 14:46

[JeffGleed]

I have got a Griff without power steering and it's quite hard work at slow speed, parking etc. On the other hand it is pretty excellent out of town and on the track. My friend has a Chimeara with PS and reckons it's still a great drive but can do 3 point turns and parking easier. Non PS is one less thing to go wrong, besides, you could always join a gym! My Griff is 9 years old and is left on the road all of the time. It hasn't failed to go (unless you leave the lights on) but niggly things fail quite a lot. But if you are anything like me this is not a good enough reason not to buy one. As you say, Griffith ... the sensible choice!

[Doctorfrag]

Yep, thanks.

In fact I actually love tinkering with cars!
I once started a rebuild Triumph TR8, because I really wanted a TVR, and everything needed sorting in thaat. I finally sold it due to lack oftime, but a sticking window, little leak is all part of the charm.

However not starting so I can't get to work is very important....ooh..I want one now, but as I'm buying a house, it may be a year away or so...hmmm...we'll wait and see!

Joe

[Jamesk]

I have to say that imho both air-con and PAS are a waste of money. Clearly on a second hand car you're not paying that much extra for them but neither add a great deal to the basic car. the air-con is a joke really and is largely ineffective in my experience. Besides it sucks valuable BHP :E

PAS is nice for parking or 3 point turns but how many times do you wedge a TVR into a tight parking space? The engine not being directly over the front axel makes it easier to manouvre at low speed than my old XR3 lol.

If you get a good one it will be just as reliable as any other car. It will be a bugger in the frost though for sure.

[shpub]

I have had both and currently with have PAS. I simply would not go back to a non-assisted car and the reason is nothing to do with parking. It's simply due to the fact that the PAS rack is quicker and easier to apply opposite lock when the back end goes. You have a better chance of reacting because it takes less effort to apply the lock and also to remove it. It is absoluteley no co-incidence that virtually all the race Tuscans etc have PAS. The F1 boys have it. If you rely on feel through the steering wheel to work out what the car is doing then you will get the information a lot later than feeling through the seat of the pants. By which time things are probably close to being too late anyway.

A couple of years I was doing hot lap rides round Mallory for Team Central and I ended up with 3 non-PAS cars in succession. I was knackered at the end because of the effort it took to keep the car on a four wheel drift round Gerrards. The PAS car was so much easier to handle in this respect and it meant that I could get the car just that bit more on the edge as well.

In the end it is personal choice but don't get sucked into the "it's a sports car... and PAS is for hairdressers". Make your own mind up.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[ATG]

So, DrFrag, if you want to four wheel drift on the way to check little Mary's tonsils ... go for PAS.

If you are of the greasy-fingered persuasion, and it sounds like you are, then you will have a much better time using a TVR as regular transport than someone who thinks it is built in Japan. If you watch the dials and listen to the noises you should be able to spot most problems coming well before they strand you. Nonetheless, given your profession, it would make sense to have a backup transport plan in place. (Like a folding scooter in the boot )

[Doctorfrag]

ATG,.....sounds like fun with a scooter.

When I last test drove them, the non assisted setup (for me) was too heavy, and I preferred the 450se power sterring ,but it was far too light, and I believe different to that fitted to the Griffith etc. I will have to test different ones now,as a non PAS car would be easier and chepaer? to buy.

I've currently got a 206gti, after a succession of rear drive cars Alfa 75 3.0 and Nissan 200sx, Finances would dictate I'd have to sell the 206gti..shame

Here's a piccie of it anyhow
www.fotango.com/p/eba00050082f00000056.jpg

Hmmm, maybe a scooter if the TVR gives probs, thats actually an idea? because I don't want cars everywhere, no room for three!!

I'm not really a mechanic, major mechanical work, Id ask a mechanic to do, but sticking windows ,switches, even thermostats plugs etc are straight forward, the TR8 v8 is basically the same, very easy access to all the important bits.

Thanks

Joe:cowboy: