Odd reaction to Griffith
Discussion
I bought the S2 as I have always fancied a TVR but didn't want to spend £10k+ on a car only to find I couldn't live with it.I have always ,since I first saw one, wanted a Griffith.Having driven the S for 6 mths I have decided I definately can live with it ( I absolutely love driving the S)and decided within the last week to go for it and buy a Griffith.(I thought about Silverbackmikes S and hesitated as ddep downI had my heart set on a Griff)
I have been watching one in the classifieds which is well within my budget and this morning went cheque book in hand to buy it subject to it being as described.I got there and the seller was really helpful ,had all the documents and the car was just as described ,possibly better.I decided within 10 mins I would give him the full asking price but obviously needed a test drive to confirm it actaully drove as well as it looked and sounded,no problem,went on a decent run and, I DIDNT LIKE IT.
I am totally Pigged off now, and to be honest confused, wether I was expecting too much I dont know, but it just didn't have the same feel to it as the S.It was certainly quicker and the exhaust note cant be ignored BUT???? weird.
It really has thrown me and I'm just wondering if anyone else has done similar.The car was a 4L model (relevance??) maybe I need to try a V8s??,or maybe Im just working too hard.To top it off ,as a result of the above my son has stopped talking to me and my wife has resumed talking to me.
I have been watching one in the classifieds which is well within my budget and this morning went cheque book in hand to buy it subject to it being as described.I got there and the seller was really helpful ,had all the documents and the car was just as described ,possibly better.I decided within 10 mins I would give him the full asking price but obviously needed a test drive to confirm it actaully drove as well as it looked and sounded,no problem,went on a decent run and, I DIDNT LIKE IT.
I am totally Pigged off now, and to be honest confused, wether I was expecting too much I dont know, but it just didn't have the same feel to it as the S.It was certainly quicker and the exhaust note cant be ignored BUT???? weird.
It really has thrown me and I'm just wondering if anyone else has done similar.The car was a 4L model (relevance??) maybe I need to try a V8s??,or maybe Im just working too hard.To top it off ,as a result of the above my son has stopped talking to me and my wife has resumed talking to me.
They are different cars. Don'r forget a certain PW was running TVR and he was looking at a 'clubman's' car - for w/end track days etc. The griff was the result, and if you felt this too uncomfortable you could by a Chim, - a better choice to move up to from the 'S' perhaps.
The Griff sold on looks - a 'to die for' shape - of the 90's.
Personal view both griff and chim have dated, mainly because of Tuscan, T350, Sag etc. which time has linked them too. The 'S' was always a retro design to pick up the 'lost sales' of the 3000S in the late seventies, after the 'wedge' killed off the last of the 'M' series.
That is why the 'S' will not date ( it has gone past the 'dated' phase) - it suits the roads today because it is 'modern' mechanics but comes straight from the pre-wedge days of the early seventies.
We went through the same loop when buying a Tiv and by-passed the griff and chim to end up with an 'S'. It is so suitable and you can make it into a 'cruiser', track car, week ender, or daily, so easily. It has rarity value as well which adds something a chequebook cannot supply.
Keep the 'S' marque (even if you change the car) you will regret selling - we would.
Remember griffs' are great, chims' are champion, S's are best.
G and H
The Griff sold on looks - a 'to die for' shape - of the 90's.
Personal view both griff and chim have dated, mainly because of Tuscan, T350, Sag etc. which time has linked them too. The 'S' was always a retro design to pick up the 'lost sales' of the 3000S in the late seventies, after the 'wedge' killed off the last of the 'M' series.
That is why the 'S' will not date ( it has gone past the 'dated' phase) - it suits the roads today because it is 'modern' mechanics but comes straight from the pre-wedge days of the early seventies.
We went through the same loop when buying a Tiv and by-passed the griff and chim to end up with an 'S'. It is so suitable and you can make it into a 'cruiser', track car, week ender, or daily, so easily. It has rarity value as well which adds something a chequebook cannot supply.
Keep the 'S' marque (even if you change the car) you will regret selling - we would.
Remember griffs' are great, chims' are champion, S's are best.
G and H
v8whiskey said:
The Griff sold on looks - a 'to die for' shape - of the 90's.
I think thats part of it, the Griff really is superbly styled, even as I was walking away from it I kept looking back at it and it is tempting.
Regardless of what else I get though I will be keeping the S2,Ive got rid of the MGB GTv8 and the Midget so rooms not an issue as a matter of fact I can actually work in my garage, now there's a novelty.
A similar thing happened to me recently - I decided that having come from M Series to an S3 I would move up and go for Chim / Griff - I test drove a Chim and just did not like it at all !!! I climbed back in the S and set off for home feeling very dissapointed but just a couple of minutes of driving I realised just how great the S is !!
Thanks a 'kin lot ! I have had my S for 4years or so now and always anticipated moving on to a BV Griff by the sounds of it I had better forget it , I could not keep both cars ! But seriously 'tho this comment comes up time and time again on this forum everbody who has had an 'S' whether with 6 or 8 pots always remember them with fondness and regret ever having let them go ! Many ex 'S' owners still lurk and will often pop up saying just that .
Guy
Guy
Many people have gone from an S to a Griff and I'm sure they'll be along soon to post their comments.
I would suggest that you don't make up your mind after only driving one, remember they're TVR's so all Griffs are slightly different, also you have three different engine options and PAS/non-PAS.
I would suggest that you don't make up your mind after only driving one, remember they're TVR's so all Griffs are slightly different, also you have three different engine options and PAS/non-PAS.
profstoff said:
Many people have gone from an S to a Griff and I'm sure they'll be along soon to post their comments.
Indeed, I went from an immaculate S3c which I treasured to a new Griff 500. Certainly when I first went hunting Griff's I was impressed with the all-round improvement in the Griff. Although I eventually purchased a new one I drove several demo cars and used cars to decide if I wanted PAS or not (decided not as the Griff's steering is lighter than the S anyway so non-PAS felt fine) and the Griff felt like a better car than the S. Its good to get a mixed response to my post,at least I know I've not lost the plot.Maybe it is worth trying another i see one of the comments mentioned the non PAS being lighter than the S,the one I drove was definately heavier so maybe a problem there somewhere,best I dont tar them all etc.I am definately going to look at a V8s now before buying anything.As always its down to personal likes/dislikes and if we all liked the same there'd only be a need for one model of car.
I was in the same position I sold my 8 month old Porker due to needing a practical car when my son was born but wanted to keep a sports car and my first thoughts were to buy a Griff. I still love the shape of them, one of the design classics IMHO but as my wife had just given birth and finding a good one meant travelling around the country which she wasnt keen on me doing apparently 
An S2 came up for sale 5 miles away so I thought I will buy that to use while I look for a good Grif! I loved the S2 such a fun car, then I test drove a few Griffs but they didnt have the same sense of occasion as the S, missing that rawness that brings a smile because of the seat of the pants drive. I just couldnt part with the S so I went and drove the V8S, that was it I was sold the rest as they say is history! I hope to never sell my V8S I absolutely love it, it just gets better and better the longer I keep it. It also gets just as much attention as the newer Tivs at any meet we go so the rarity factor of the V8S (around 2-300 left) keeps interest and prices high.
I would certainly drive a V8S IMHO its the best compromise especially as a second car, it cannot be beaten. OK mine has been rebilt and is a strong example but on runs I keep up with the Tuscans and Cerbs as in normal driving there isnt really that much in it!
Go on you know you want to.
IMHO
Mike
An S2 came up for sale 5 miles away so I thought I will buy that to use while I look for a good Grif! I loved the S2 such a fun car, then I test drove a few Griffs but they didnt have the same sense of occasion as the S, missing that rawness that brings a smile because of the seat of the pants drive. I just couldnt part with the S so I went and drove the V8S, that was it I was sold the rest as they say is history! I hope to never sell my V8S I absolutely love it, it just gets better and better the longer I keep it. It also gets just as much attention as the newer Tivs at any meet we go so the rarity factor of the V8S (around 2-300 left) keeps interest and prices high. I would certainly drive a V8S IMHO its the best compromise especially as a second car, it cannot be beaten. OK mine has been rebilt and is a strong example but on runs I keep up with the Tuscans and Cerbs as in normal driving there isnt really that much in it!
Go on you know you want to.
IMHO
Mike
I've never understood the 'upgrading of an S to a Griff/Chim' myself, I really beleive the V8S to be the best compromise for a rag top TVR.
They can be bought for pennies at present, which on rarity value alone cannot continue, as MIke said there are probably less than 300 on the road.
Go and try a V8S you might be pleasantly surprised. I'm plotting to get another one day, once the dust has settled on the Cerb
.
They can be bought for pennies at present, which on rarity value alone cannot continue, as MIke said there are probably less than 300 on the road.
Go and try a V8S you might be pleasantly surprised. I'm plotting to get another one day, once the dust has settled on the Cerb
.
Depends what you didn't like about the Griff really. If it was less fun than the S then I think you will find they are all like that. If it didn't feel as well put together then look at some more as good Griffs/Chims should feel much more 'refined' if thats what your after.
V8S sounds like the best of both worlds.
V8S sounds like the best of both worlds.
clarenceboddiger said:
Just had a glance at yours on your profile Mike,really nice car,no wonder you are happy with it.I dont suppose..... 
only kidding.
only kidding.Just sold it
New owner is picking it up at the end of the month.....My advice is to get one, yes they have quirks and foibles, but for grin factor you can't get better...HarryW said:
I've never understood the 'upgrading of an S to a Griff/Chim' myself...
Well, as I said my S3c was well looked after but the Griff's still felt better put together - obvious differences would be; the Griff's exhaust layout is improved so the centre box isn't sitting just 2" above the road, consequently it doesn't ground so often. The suspension is improved with rear wishbones as opposed to trailing-arms giving a better ride which although firm is less rugged. The Griff has discs all-round which only the S4 and V8S had. The bonnet on the S can become misaligned over the years causing it either not to shut properly or to scrape the road on the lower edge of the nose when you open it up fully, the Griff won't do this. The general quality of fittings is improved in the Griff, e.g. the roof stays are alloy not black painted steel, Griff has that loverly machined alloy ball gear-knob, the swirl tank is alloy as opposed to a plastic overflow tank, the interior door handles are neat designed alloy pieces rather than (Ford?) items etc. etc. It's clear to see the love that Peter Wheeler put into the Griffith. A decent Griff will shake and rattle less than an S and I would suggest that the panel fit should be slightly better, e.g. the doors have the signature TVR scalloped leading edge and wrap around the sill meaning only the shutting edge needs to be aligned, unlike the S which has all 3 edges needing alignment (same idea for the bonnet lid which I have mentioned.) There is probably many other refinements and don't read this to mean I didn't like my S because I did but believe me, the Griffith is an improvement. Rich... Edited by richb on Tuesday 24th October 10:03
richb said:
HarryW said:
I've never understood the 'upgrading of an S to a Griff/Chim' myself...
Well, as I said my S3c was well looked after but the Griff's still felt better put together - obvious differences would be; the Griff's exhaust layout is improved so the centre box isn't sitting just 2" above the road, consequently it doesn't ground so often. The suspension is improved with rear wishbones as opposed to trailing-arms giving a better ride which although firm is less rugged. The Griff has discs all-round which only the S4 and V8S had. The bonnet on the S can become misaligned over the years causing it either not to shut properly or to scrape the road on the lower edge of the nose when you open it up fully, the Griff won't do this. The general quality of fittings is improved in the Griff, e.g. the roof stays are alloy not black painted steel, Griff has that loverly machined alloy ball gear-knob, the swirl tank is alloy as opposed to a plastic overflow tank, the interior door handles are neat designed alloy pieces rather than (Ford?) items etc. etc. It's clear to see the love that Peter Wheeler put into the Griffith. A decent Griff will shake and rattle less than an S and I would suggest that the panel fit should be slightly better, e.g. the doors have the signature TVR scalloped leading edge and wrap around the sill meaning only the shutting edge needs to be aligned, unlike the S which has all 3 edges needing alignment (same idea for the bonnet lid which I have mentioned.) There is probably many other refinements and don't read this to mean I didn't like my S because I did but believe me, the Griffith is an improvement. Rich... Edited by richb on Tuesday 24th October 10:03
Perhaps I should have said upgrading from a V8S...........
yes there are improvements but the step up is less marked. 
Oh yes, I have drove a 4.0 Chimaera for a few weeks and it is certainly comparable to a V8S in terms of performance but without rarity value or cache of being the top of it’s range (as opposed to being the entry level Chimaera).Went from a nice V8S to a Griff 500 about 6 months ago. Always wanted a Griff but couldn't afford a good 500 at the time hence the V8S.Enjoyed the V8S, but have to say the Griff is superior in all respects.
Find a good 500 Griff and you will be hooked Find a bad one and you will wish you had gone for the S. Whatever you do get a V8, you know it makes sense.
Find a good 500 Griff and you will be hooked
Find a bad one and you will wish you had gone for the S. Whatever you do get a V8, you know it makes sense.Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff