Buying a Crash Repaired Griff >>
Discussion
Hi
I've been looking for a Griff 500 for a while and recently found a 1998 model in the exact spec/colour I wanted (private sale).
Thing is, 6 months ago the owner had a 30mph/new to TVR/wet roundabout moment which sent him off the road. Damage (he says) was limited to a bent front wishbone, cracked nose and some cracks on the rear from the kerb and grass bank.
It was all properly repaired via a main dealer/Insurance company with all the bits repaired, a new nose fitted and a near complete respray - total cost around £10k.
A subsequent inspection apparently concluded a proper repair and it does not now appear on any HPI register.
Question is -
- Crash damage scares me in general cus of chassis cracks etc. Is this a valid concern?
- I know that £10k doesn't go such a long way when repairing TVR bodys so does this sound like a cosmetic, don't worry about it thing?
- Does not being on the HPI register today mean it will never be a concern when selling the car later (assuming a full and proper repair has occured)
- I'll call Blackpool and the Dealer with the VIN number and check the story out. Any other checks anyone can think of?
Although my initial thought is to walk away, other than this the car seems ideal and the seller very straight. I also wonder how many people would sell me a car like this without mentioning any such history - lots of Griffs have had "offs" at some point in their lives!
Note that I havn't seen it yet (don't want to waste my/his time), please excuse the long post but I'd appreciate any opinions.
Cheers
Marco
I've been looking for a Griff 500 for a while and recently found a 1998 model in the exact spec/colour I wanted (private sale).
Thing is, 6 months ago the owner had a 30mph/new to TVR/wet roundabout moment which sent him off the road. Damage (he says) was limited to a bent front wishbone, cracked nose and some cracks on the rear from the kerb and grass bank.
It was all properly repaired via a main dealer/Insurance company with all the bits repaired, a new nose fitted and a near complete respray - total cost around £10k.
A subsequent inspection apparently concluded a proper repair and it does not now appear on any HPI register.
Question is -
- Crash damage scares me in general cus of chassis cracks etc. Is this a valid concern?
- I know that £10k doesn't go such a long way when repairing TVR bodys so does this sound like a cosmetic, don't worry about it thing?
- Does not being on the HPI register today mean it will never be a concern when selling the car later (assuming a full and proper repair has occured)
- I'll call Blackpool and the Dealer with the VIN number and check the story out. Any other checks anyone can think of?
Although my initial thought is to walk away, other than this the car seems ideal and the seller very straight. I also wonder how many people would sell me a car like this without mentioning any such history - lots of Griffs have had "offs" at some point in their lives!
Note that I havn't seen it yet (don't want to waste my/his time), please excuse the long post but I'd appreciate any opinions.
Cheers
Marco
Marco,
The main thing is that the chassis is ok, as not only is this the structual bit, a twisted one can lead to "interesting" handling and abnormal tyre wear.
The GRP, although costly to repair, it's pretty easy for the professionals to fix.
I made equiries about a new S3 bonnet for my car to a dealer and he said "Why do you want to replace it?, I've never known one we couldnt fix"
I've also done some GRP work myself, and it's amazing just what you can fix
Check for panel gaps and ease of doors/bonnet/boot closing etc, and also if they are fouling other panels when you open/close them - the paint will be worn if so.
Cheers,
Dave.
The main thing is that the chassis is ok, as not only is this the structual bit, a twisted one can lead to "interesting" handling and abnormal tyre wear.
The GRP, although costly to repair, it's pretty easy for the professionals to fix.
I made equiries about a new S3 bonnet for my car to a dealer and he said "Why do you want to replace it?, I've never known one we couldnt fix"
I've also done some GRP work myself, and it's amazing just what you can fix
Check for panel gaps and ease of doors/bonnet/boot closing etc, and also if they are fouling other panels when you open/close them - the paint will be worn if so.
Cheers,
Dave.
theres nothing wrong in my opinion of buying a damage repaired recorded on hpi TVR, providing it has been autolign inspected. The autolign inspection costs about £300 and they check absolutely everything, if the car passes it is recorded on hpi as being correctly repaired. If someone is selling a hpi recorded repaired car that hasnt been inspected i would ask myself why.
£10000 repairs costs sounds very suspicious to me. If you go to the TMS website you can check out parts pricing yourself but they are as follows:
Front body complete back to mid wheelarch - £2150
Pair of wishbones - £136
4 wishbone bushes - £18
This totals £2304 inc VAT.
OK, lets suppose damage was a little more severe
Front Damper - £229
Front Spring - £44
Pair Headlight inner covers - £26
Pair headlight clear outer covers - £54
Headlight and mount - £92
Now we are up to £2749 inc VAT
Depends where you go of course but a front end cut back, prep & respray back to the doors (to deal with stone chips and a rear wing repair & respray (silly parking damage on a stone pillar but it was bad) cost me £820 all in from Ewelme(execellent and approved repairer). This was on a cerbera in Halcyon Pearl - a very expensive paint.
That takes us to a total of £3569.
Now there is the labour for ripping off the old front end and suspension bits and replacing.Changing the wishbones, damper, spring and bushes on one side has a book time of around 2.5 hours @ say £60/hour = £150.
Total now £3719
Out of curiosity I phoned for a quote on the cost of just replacing the front body section as described on a Griffith, excluding respray which is covered above. The repairer has done plenty and reckoned that, assuming no major nasties the labour would come to around 25 hours at £60/hour - £1500.
Add £500 for assorted sundries, forgotten bits and pieces etc and you are talking about £5700.
So where did the other £4300 go?? New rack, anti roll bar, chassis outriggers, chassis straightening, crossmember, wheel and tyre, etc. etc.
could a been a big front end smash. As I say, be suspicious.
Regards
John
Front body complete back to mid wheelarch - £2150
Pair of wishbones - £136
4 wishbone bushes - £18
This totals £2304 inc VAT.
OK, lets suppose damage was a little more severe
Front Damper - £229
Front Spring - £44
Pair Headlight inner covers - £26
Pair headlight clear outer covers - £54
Headlight and mount - £92
Now we are up to £2749 inc VAT
Depends where you go of course but a front end cut back, prep & respray back to the doors (to deal with stone chips and a rear wing repair & respray (silly parking damage on a stone pillar but it was bad) cost me £820 all in from Ewelme(execellent and approved repairer). This was on a cerbera in Halcyon Pearl - a very expensive paint.
That takes us to a total of £3569.
Now there is the labour for ripping off the old front end and suspension bits and replacing.Changing the wishbones, damper, spring and bushes on one side has a book time of around 2.5 hours @ say £60/hour = £150.
Total now £3719
Out of curiosity I phoned for a quote on the cost of just replacing the front body section as described on a Griffith, excluding respray which is covered above. The repairer has done plenty and reckoned that, assuming no major nasties the labour would come to around 25 hours at £60/hour - £1500.
Add £500 for assorted sundries, forgotten bits and pieces etc and you are talking about £5700.
So where did the other £4300 go?? New rack, anti roll bar, chassis outriggers, chassis straightening, crossmember, wheel and tyre, etc. etc.
could a been a big front end smash. As I say, be suspicious.
Regards
John
My neighbour crashed his chim and did no chassis damage atall, but he did need a new front half bodyshell, new wishbone, new wheel + tyre and a radiator. Main dealer repaired and it cost £15K!!!!!!!
I know this is true cos:
a) I sold him the car - so I knew it well!
b) I knew the dealer
c) I saw the estimate prior to repair
d) I saw the car when it came back
£10k might be about right for the damage you described!
Cheers
Andy 400se - Going to PH3 and Le Mans! Yeeeehaaaaa!
I know this is true cos:
a) I sold him the car - so I knew it well!
b) I knew the dealer
c) I saw the estimate prior to repair
d) I saw the car when it came back
£10k might be about right for the damage you described!
Cheers
Andy 400se - Going to PH3 and Le Mans! Yeeeehaaaaa!
Why do things seem to jump in price when insurance companies are mentioned?
I crashed many cars before I was 20 – nothing serious, into the back of people, over a junction and onto a roundabout, spun it on a dual carriageway and crossed the other two lanes etc – the normal stuff
Because I was young, I had to get the repairs done either by myself or local garages depending on the complexity (what is complex on a 1969 Hillmna Hunter tho?).
Anyway, if I really overdid it and had to claim, as soon as insurance co's were mentioned the price seemed to go through the bloody roof!!
OK, I'd much repair a metal bodied car than a GRP one if I was doing it myself but surely it can't be that difficult can it? Difficult: read expensive.
Mike
I crashed many cars before I was 20 – nothing serious, into the back of people, over a junction and onto a roundabout, spun it on a dual carriageway and crossed the other two lanes etc – the normal stuff
Because I was young, I had to get the repairs done either by myself or local garages depending on the complexity (what is complex on a 1969 Hillmna Hunter tho?).
Anyway, if I really overdid it and had to claim, as soon as insurance co's were mentioned the price seemed to go through the bloody roof!!
OK, I'd much repair a metal bodied car than a GRP one if I was doing it myself but surely it can't be that difficult can it? Difficult: read expensive.
Mike
As far as insurance goes, bodyshops do hike their labour if they know a massive organisation is going to pay the bill.
I got clouted in the Mustang in the US. Hit in front of the drivers side rear wheel causing visible damage to the rear wing, wheel, tyre and bumper.
After 9 weeks of labour they put in, just to make sure.
New rear wing
New wheel and tyre
New bumper and stabiliser (block of polystyrene!)
New disc assembly and wheel hub
New rear axle
New diff (as the old one sounded funny!)
Total cost to the insurance company of the woman who hit me (who had her license for 2 weeks and car for 4 days) including 9 weeks worth of Lincoln rental car - over $12K!!!
Matt.
I got clouted in the Mustang in the US. Hit in front of the drivers side rear wheel causing visible damage to the rear wing, wheel, tyre and bumper.
After 9 weeks of labour they put in, just to make sure.
New rear wing
New wheel and tyre
New bumper and stabiliser (block of polystyrene!)
New disc assembly and wheel hub
New rear axle
New diff (as the old one sounded funny!)
Total cost to the insurance company of the woman who hit me (who had her license for 2 weeks and car for 4 days) including 9 weeks worth of Lincoln rental car - over $12K!!!
Matt.
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