I've lusted after them for years and this year is THE year i'm gonna take the plunge and run one for the spring/summer as a 2nd car.

My budget is £16k with which I need to buy the Griff and also a daily driver for the 30 mile round trip work hack. I was thinking £14k TVR and a £2k daily runner. I think the Griffith 500 is favourite judging by what peeps say on Pistonheads etc. although if a 4.3BV came up at the right price I could be swayed.

Tell me i'm doing the right thing . I've been at this point over the last 3 years and decided to play safe. I have previously had a Honda S2000 & BMW Z3 over the last 2 summers but need the real deal this year. My fear is that I will like the Tiv so much, I will leave the £2k hack at home and use the Griff for work etc.. This will of course increase the possibility of breakdown thereby increasing running costs and ruining ownership experience. Oh the dilema!!!!!

Opinions and ownership experinces please.

 

Do it.

Never had one, nor know anyone that did, but if you don't, you'll always think "Should have bought one".

I would have been the same if I hadn't bought an Impreza.

It's all about what you want, if you want one that much, don't listen to what others say, if you get one and it breaks, at least you had one (easy for me to say, I'm not going to spend 14k on one, but I'm sure you know what I mean).

Andy.

 

Mates dad had a chimera a few years back - same deal, TVR at weekends, 1.4L Escort during the week!!

I say do it - the chimera was a beast, and the Grith 500 will be even more of a handful!! You'll always think "I wish I'd gone for the TVR" if you don't!!

Plus think of all the beer money you'll save from cruising down to the pub in the TVR instead of knocking back the ale!!

 

Cerbera'a are getting cheaper.

 

Biggins ....... the de-cat 4.3BV or 4.0 are better sounding beasts for definate and will ultimately be worth more money in the future IMHO but if you only want it for a year have the 500 and fill your boots matey....... Get one with plenty of receipts and you will be assured that all the little niggles have probably been ironed out

 

You've got to do it mate! I ran a 390se (275bhp) for over two years as a second car. Had an old polo to use daily. Polo cost £90.00 to insure!! TVR £150.00 fully comp limited to 3000mls/year (more than enough as it only went out on dry days!!). It did over heat once so I fitted an 'otter' switch from an Austin Allegro!! which brought the fans in earlier. Only did about 12 to the gallon though and of course it was at least super/optimax. But when you heard that v8 at full chat WHO CARED!!!! someone once said "happiness is a deserted roundabout and a 390se" How very very true. Get it bought!!!
dave

 

daft idea- i ran a chim 450 last year.

run it as a weekend car and it will break down as it doesnt get used- run it regular and it will breakdown anyway.

cant run it on a hot day (overheats) cant run it on a wet day (leaks) cant run it during traffic (over heats) etc etc etc

looks cool, sounds cool but in reality its a crap kit car.

T

 

So you really loved that car eh??
dave

 

..... with a passion .......

 

I had mine for 7 years and it let me down by overheating ONCE ..... all I did was wire the fan in full time, never had another problem again....great car and totally reliable for 20,000 miles. Cheap to insure, cheap to service and only lost 4 grand on it after 7 years ...cant be bad.

As I said before find a good one and you will smile for a long long time

 

You can get a griffith 500 for 16 grand????

My god and i was going to get a bike engined smart roadster for that price...

How much do griffiths cost running wise? assuming i were to do something foolish and try and run it every day....

actually, it would be a case where i couldnt afford to run it (just thinking of rear tyres alone!). But oh, if i could....

 

Jeez Tiggs

Just cos ya had a bad one

Had both a scoob and currently have a 450. Also now have a CTR.

The scoob was the least reliable. Does not a bad car make!

Maybe you just didnt talk to it enough

PS Most Low volume sports cars hav raided that major manufacturers bins. This does not make it a kit car...

Vive la differance!

 

i agree...my scoob was also cack and to go with it had support from dealers/IM that was grim.

but when i bought the tiv i listen to the "ohhh, get a good one..." stories....and i was done, i lost thousands in a few months....evil car.

T

 

Had a Cerbera for 3 years (Chimera before that) and ran an old Vauxhall Omega for the work mileage. Tried a Griff 500 once and had the biggest smile ever. Everyone should own a TVR at some point in their lives but 3 things:

1. Something will go wrong with it at some point - be prepared!
2. TVRs are no fun in the winter
3. If you are going to get it dealer serviced make sure you have savings - Cerbera was never less than £600, and if I remember rightly that was every 6000 miles.

Do it anyway - enjoy!

Paul

 

Thanks for all the input guys.

Tiggs,

Sounds as though you picked a wrong 'un there buddy. There is some logic in what you have said regarding running a Tiv frequently/infrequenty, but there are many enthusiasts running them as 2nd cars with no problems. I think the word "enthusiast" is the key to it all. If it was going to be my only car, it would be a foolish choice as it will need attention at some point and sods law states that it will breakdown at the most inconvienient time. However, running it as a hobby/fun car, the continual TLC and improvements are part of the fun in ownership IMHO. Back to the good old days of British Sportscars, tinkering in the garage, balancing carbs. etc. etc.

I'm starting to shortlist colours etc. and get insurance quotes on limited mileage which look good , so I think my mind is made up. Might play it safe and get a TVR guru like Rob Ingleby to source a good Griff for me.

Starting to salivate at the thought of things to come!

 

Biggins.
I'd strongly suggest (if you haven't done it already) spending time on Pistonheads.com.
It is THE place for all current and future owners of TVR cars.

 

Why not go for something a little more entertaining than a TVR....

http://www.findit.co.uk/cars/westfield/1033496.htm

 

TVR as a 2nd car is doable but your 2nd car is gonna be worth 2K and its what you'll be in most of the time.

i had a 20k tvr and planned to buy a 5k daily.....when i realised i'd be sat in a 5k car most of the time i dumped the tvr and spent 25k on a decent car.....much happier!

 

Man you have no soul!

Jeez ya must have had a bad one.

I must admit I took advice off PISTONHEADS and engaged the Services of a Mr Rob Ingleby who searched for about 3 months for the best car for my money and desired Spec. Cost me 500 squids as a flat fee and got me a fully certified TVR with a report that arguably will stand me in good stead when I upgrade to a....mmmm......Tuscan S...mmmm....copper cascade...og bugger, just come!

Biggins - Mail me offline and I will get ya the contact details of Mr Ingleby. He is happy to talk things over B4 you take the plunge.

Seriously mate, wouldnt be without mine, period........well ok maybe for 360, but then agian....Fiat switch gear....bloody kit cars! ;-)