Just Because You Can Doesn't Mean You Should

"Nerd-Vol" (Nerd-Vol) 09/10/2015 at 07:52 • Filed to: TVR, griffith

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The TVR Griffith is turning 25 years old next year. That means you can bring them over. But should one, buy one?

I say no:

1. Not cheap. Mediocre examples seem to go for at least $20,000 and good ones go for $30,000 or more.

2. Reliability. It’s a British car. Even worse, it’s a British car from a defunct British car company.

3. Finding parts. At least with a R32 GT-R, you have a dedicated aftermarket. I greatly doubt the same parts availability for the TVR.

What say you? Does this TVR deserve passage to the land of freedom?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 07:56

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It’s a Rover V8, so a British built V8 based off of an engine that was too mediocre for GM...

In reality, parts should be pretty easy to find. The Rover V8 was a staple of the British car industry for decades.

Scary__goongala! > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 08:03

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I saw Griffiths at a car show in the beginning of the summer.

djmt1 > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 08:07

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Just wait a year and get a Chimaera. Pretty much the same car underneath but with more space & comfort and most importantly a lot cheaper.

wkiernan > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 09/10/2015 at 08:21

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Not too mediocre, too expensive. GM could build engines with similar power output out of cast iron for a few bucks less. Of course, those cast-iron engines were larger, burned more gas and weighed 200 pounds more, but this was the early ‘60s when American customers thought of grossly bloated, fuel guzzling cars not as examples of lazy, shitty design but as especially desirable status symbols.

LongbowMkII > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 08:21

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this is a very lickable fender.

i say do it.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > wkiernan 09/10/2015 at 08:27

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That and they didn’t quite have the metalurgy down at the time, so they had casting issues and a tendency to warp and piss oil everywhere. I was mostly making it sound worse than it is because Britain and because TVR.

Seaking > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 08:49

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DO IT.

DO IT NAAAOOOWWW.

Now_looking_for_a_cheap_car > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 08:49

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Came here looking for a joke on Lucas Electrics......left dissapointed :(

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 09/10/2015 at 08:50

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If every tenth block you try to cast steel liners into cracks as a result, and people keep putting aluminum-corroding antifreeze in to clog the radiator and overheat it past ever being “right” again, it’s not unusual (if you’re GM) to just write it off. Rover decided the solution for the liners was to bore out and press them in with reliable British auto workers. YAY

Art > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 08:50

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I prefer this instead

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 08:52

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Motor and trans are easy for parts for the most part. The rest of it, maybe not as much, but given TVR’s tendency to parts-bin things, you’d likely be surprised. That being said, Chimaera is the more sane option.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 08:52

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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Jdrentarol > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 08:53

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this part makes it look like a dodge viper, but the front 40% of the car makes it look like an e-type. likeable

ape_ck > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 08:53

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The article title sums up what you should take a way from all of Tavarish’s posts.

Treemendous > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 08:53

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Too much incredible German stuff turning 25 to bother with a heap. Of course I love TVR for what it is, but it doesn't mean I ever want to own one.

calcifer302 > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 08:54

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Yes becuse that body looks sweet and you could ls swap it to remove most of the reliability issues.

Dru > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 08:54

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Agreed.

Save your money, bide your time, get a Sagaris with a pearl paint scheme and glass spoiler. It will look so much better just sitting there if, oh who are we kidding, when it's not running.

365Daytonafan > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 08:57

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Should but don’t buy unseen. The GRP body can look pretty but the chassis are well known to rust badly. You can buy replacement chassis though.

As to engines, there are plenty of companies in the UK doing upgrades on the TVR spec Rover V8s plus there is always an LS swap?

move-over-peasant-I-have-an-M5-in-the-shop > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 08:58

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Why buy a new C7 when you can get your hands on this great TVR for half the price?

Patrick Hinshaw > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 09:00

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IF I was gonna import a TVR I’d go for a Tasmin instead:

http://www.autoscout24.com/offers/tvr-oth…

http://www.autoscout24.com/offers/tvr-oth…

http://www.autoscout24.com/offers/tvr-oth…

Better looking in my opinion (I prefer ‘80s style to ‘90s style, generally). Half the price. Pop-up headlights. Drop-top. Not a V8 though so :( on that front.

Vin > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 09:05

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Unless this is your dream car, no. Not worth the hassle IMO.

smalleyxb122 > djmt1 09/10/2015 at 09:08

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I actually prefer the looks of the Chimaera to the Griffith. I might be willing to import a Chimaera (in a couple of years, of course)

I’d actually rather have a Cerbera, but the earliest of those won’t be import eligible for another 6 years (4 years later than the Chimaera).

humz > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 09:12

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Should you do it? No.

Do you want to anyway? This isn't a real question..

ricostuart > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 09:12

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Actually a very good car. Chassis is simple to fix, engines are good and tunable. Gearbox pretty bullet proof. Biggest TVR issue was electrics as they literally pulled them from the range rover straight in. Do a ecu and wiring swap (easy and not that expensive) and it’s sorted. Also recommend a lightened flywheel as the one on it is weighted for the range rover!

ricostuart > ricostuart 09/10/2015 at 09:13

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Helps that I work on these every day. I have 8 in the workshop for ecu upgrades as well as a few other stuff just now!

Cbanks1981 > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 09:16

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You buy this... Try not to wreck it...then import chimaera and sell this for profit. Problem solved.

mwverheijen1 > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 09:21

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YES! Do it. But only if you a semi-decent one and put a LS in it. Otherwise reliability is horrible. These cars are a lot of fun to drive

Nerd-Vol > mwverheijen1 09/10/2015 at 09:24

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I was wondering how nice a LS swap would be in one of these.

Battles > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 09:24

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It’s been said already but buying unseen is a bad idea unless it’s seriously cheap because of the chassis corrosion issue.

JJG > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 09:25

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So tired of hearing the “It’s British so it will break” mantra. I have a ‘80 MGB that I drive virtually every day. Properly maintained, rarely lets me down, just like any car.

punkgoose17 > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 09:26

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Honestly I'd be waiting another 8 years for the Tuscan Speed 6 because it was one of my childhood dream cars.

Hank Scorpio > calcifer302 09/10/2015 at 09:29

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I'll bet you can buy a kit car if you're just gonna gut the thing anyway.

BeO42 > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 09:30

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If you’re going to buy a TVR, buy a tow truck at the same time. Isn’t that how the joke goes? Sounds great to me, I’d love to have my very own tow truck. And TVR of course.

But my dream TVR is the Griffith 400. I’ve seen a couple at historic races and they seem to be quite a handful around a circuit.

472CID > djmt1 09/10/2015 at 09:30

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Or better yet some hot 420hp Cerbera action

djmt1 > 472CID 09/10/2015 at 09:34

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My favourite TVR but also by far and away the most expensive. To think in the late 90s you could buy a sub 4 second, 200mph 2+2 GT car for less than £50,000.

Garland - Last Top Comment on Splinter > Patrick Hinshaw 09/10/2015 at 09:34

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Nice TR7, bro.

Garland - Last Top Comment on Splinter > Now_looking_for_a_cheap_car 09/10/2015 at 09:35

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Why do the Brits like warm beer?

Because Lucas built their refrigerators.

472CID > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 09:36

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Ebay has a lot of TVRs (most younger than 25years) for under £8,000 or ~$12,000. A clean TVR for under $15k shipping/tax/etc included sounds like a good deal to me.

Schnabeltier > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 09:43

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TVR might be the most unreliable of all boutique British manufacturers. They’re a huge pain to own in the UK, you’d have to be nuts to own one in the US.

TheTyreAbuser > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 09:49

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Don’t do it... Leave them all here in Blighty so that I can dream of my future financial ruin and marvel at a 5 litre v8 in a nice little package that weighs about the same as a Knat’s fart.

rrhyne56 > ape_ck 09/10/2015 at 09:51

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and yet here you are.

Lee Screaton, Brit-ish > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 09:57

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I’ve owned two Griffiths and never had an issue with either. Yes, they are fragile but the Griff is mechanically very simple and the engine is the rover V8 from a range rover so its easy to get them worked on over here. There are reasons they are so sought after in the UK now! Speed, looks, simplicity; a true British brute of a car.

Someone mentioned a viper. When I came to the US I had to sell the Griff I had as I couldn’t realistically import it (it was a 2000 example). I looked at what was available over here and took a Viper out on a test as i thought ‘big engine, good looks, specialist - about as close to a TVR you can get over here’. I’ve never been so dissapointed on a test drive! The engine is a big slug, no character to it at all. The interior of the viper is shockingly badly designed. Again, no character. And the noise was just loud. So, no, a viper is nothing at all like a TVR.

I bought a 1967 Corvette instead ;)

MattR > move-over-peasant-I-have-an-M5-in-the-shop 09/10/2015 at 09:59

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Or you could pick up a 5 year old C6 for the same price...

Lee Screaton, Brit-ish > calcifer302 09/10/2015 at 10:00

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The griff has the rover V8 so no engine issues. The S6 cars had the engine issues. The griff is only ‘unreliable’ in that bits tend to fall off the trim such as the vent surrounds, glovebox lock, etc. Nothing you’d miss or would bring the car to a grinding halt.

move-over-peasant-I-have-an-M5-in-the-shop > MattR 09/10/2015 at 10:00

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quiet, you.

wildnotmild > Patrick Hinshaw 09/10/2015 at 10:08

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Where do you live that you would need to import a 280i? Plenty of those in the US already. P.S. I believe there is a V8 version (350i?) accross the pond though. I still don’t think it would be worth the trouble of importing one...

Bultaco's JMOD TownCar drives his pa to drinkin > djmt1 09/10/2015 at 10:10

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I’ll wait for the Cerbera with nutter inline-6! (assuming the frames haven’t all rusted apart by then)

DodgeyRammer > ricostuart 09/10/2015 at 10:13

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Do tell us more

calcifer302 > Hank Scorpio 09/10/2015 at 10:16

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Meh ls swap all the things? Would it be just as bad to throw a 2jz in there instead?

ieatbabieskotaku > ricostuart 09/10/2015 at 10:16

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What about the Sagaris? I’ve always been interested in importing one of ‘em to Canada. Are there any major reliability issues?

calcifer302 > Lee Screaton, Brit-ish 09/10/2015 at 10:17

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So epoxy the shit out of the trim then?

Skamanda > Now_looking_for_a_cheap_car 09/10/2015 at 10:19

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Lucas Electrics IS the joke...

djmt1 > Bultaco's JMOD TownCar drives his pa to drinkin 09/10/2015 at 10:19

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Oh they rusted years ago but there are a lot of companies around the UK who build chassis for old Sports cars for not very much money.

Skamanda > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 10:22

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Screw the Griffith. I’ll wait for the T350, thanks.

King Ginger, not writing for Business Insider > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 10:23

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If we had let you decide we would never have put a man on the moon.

Bring on the TVRs baby!!!

Zuzax > Now_looking_for_a_cheap_car 09/10/2015 at 10:26

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obligatory

Alex Roy > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 10:29

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I don’t always wait to buy a TVR.
But when I do-

Drive tastefully, my friends.

Dolby109 > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 10:34

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I could definitely see importing (in ~10 years time) a later, more bonkers looking TVR example. If the engine blows up like they do then just swap a friggin LS into it. Or if you want to keep with an I6 (although heavier) you could swap in a 2JZ.

adamftw > JJG 09/10/2015 at 10:50

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My Disco is my one and only car. Never has it not worked.

adamftw > Lee Screaton, Brit-ish 09/10/2015 at 10:51

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I love the 3.9 in my Disco... I can’t imagine how that motor must act with some proper parts in it and 2,000 less pounds to haul around.

Bryce Womeldurf > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 10:54

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If I want a TVR, I’d rather hold out another 15 years for the Sagaris. I think there’s even a company in the UK that modifies them to be more reliable. Green something or other? Can’t recall the exact name at the moment. In my opinion, the Sagaris might just be the best looking car of the 2000s.

ThatbastardKurtis > Patrick Hinshaw 09/10/2015 at 10:56

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You’ll also have people asking you if it is a convertible Lotus. Even though it says “TVR” on the hood.

rb1971 ARGQF+CayenneTurbo+E9+328GTS+R90S > Art 09/10/2015 at 10:57

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Right, just buy the American one in America. And I say this as a big fan of TVR design.

Dream Theater of the Absurd > Garland - Last Top Comment on Splinter 09/10/2015 at 11:02

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Lucas once built a vacuum cleaner. It's the only product they ever offered that didn't suck.

bitchfist > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 11:22

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Never was a big Griffith fan, Tuscan, maybe or a Chimaera coupe.

Nerd-Vol > bitchfist 09/10/2015 at 11:25

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The Tuscan is starting to grow on me.

bitchfist > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 11:29

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I dig two kinds of TVRs the old 60s ones and the complete batshit design era of the Tuscan, Tamora and Sagaris

472CID > djmt1 09/10/2015 at 11:29

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Yup they’re the only non-American car that comes close to the Corvette/Viper on the $/performance scale. They’re also freakishly light, but I guess that’s what happens when you’re a half step above a kit car.

Lee Screaton, Brit-ish > calcifer302 09/10/2015 at 11:33

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I carried a tube of super glue in the glovebox ;)

Lee Screaton, Brit-ish > adamftw 09/10/2015 at 11:35

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The Griff 5.0 V8 is an enlarged version of the 4.6 V8 from the Vogue with also a more aggressive cam. Some Rangie owners put the TVR cam in their engines for offroading :)

Lee Screaton, Brit-ish > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 11:41

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Youtube is your friend:

Roody > Art 09/10/2015 at 11:43

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There’s a ‘97 near me for $37k. Resisting with all my might.

Nerd-Vol > Lee Screaton, Brit-ish 09/10/2015 at 11:44

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Very nice indeed!

OKcarburetor > JJG 09/10/2015 at 11:44

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It’s pretty typical internet commenting on things they don’t know anything about and have no real experience to speak of.

I’ve heard these cars are junk as well, but the two cars I own also have that reputation. I drive one every day with no issue and the other on the weekends with no issues.

Lee Screaton, Brit-ish > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 11:46

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For sale apparently. A bit overpriced I’d say but it all depends on how well they did the job...

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/us…

Nerd-Vol > Lee Screaton, Brit-ish 09/10/2015 at 11:50

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Nicely done car, but $40,000 is no chump change.

Nerd-Vol > djmt1 09/10/2015 at 11:51

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Worth considering, no doubts there. That said I find the Griffith and cerbera to be prettier. Nice to know that the Chimaera is an option though.

T-800 > Patrick Hinshaw 09/10/2015 at 11:56

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Why import? They were sold in the US and can be had pretty cheap for nice examples, Seen clean ones sell for $7k.

T-800 > BeO42 09/10/2015 at 12:00

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Gorgeous cars, and no need to import! I’m personally a fan of wedge shaped Tasmins, One day if I’ve got a home with a garage would love to get one a nice clean one, swap in a better engine and make it a weekend car.

SaveTheClassics > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 12:05

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Call me when the TVR Sagaris is 25 years old. One of the most outrageous cars on the planet that actually looks good. Prices seem to be up there though, hopefully by the time they are 25 they’ll be around $40k or less.

GBond > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 12:07

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So the big question is, will it break down, or will it kill you first?

Nerd-Vol > GBond 09/10/2015 at 12:11

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What if it breaks down on the interstate and I’m hit and killed by a dope in a Camry texting while I try to make a repair on the shoulder?

Double points for the TVR, right?

Vincent2105 > bitchfist 09/10/2015 at 12:18

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What’s a chimaera coupe? They’re all convertibles

Vincent2105 > Schnabeltier 09/10/2015 at 12:24

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They are no more unreliable than any other sports car from the same era. I've had one for 10 years and its been absolutely fine.

DamnTheNoise > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 12:24

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I vote a resounding YES.

a) Its basically a British corvette of the same era. Fiberglass body, questionable build quality (ducks), good(ish) motor.

b) LOOK at it!

c) I hope that’s enough.

Vincent2105 > Dolby109 09/10/2015 at 12:24

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The engines don’t blow up! there were some issues with one of the engines used, the others were all bulletproof.

Vincent2105 > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 12:27

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Its not defunct.

Hank Scorpio > calcifer302 09/10/2015 at 12:30

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I’m not offended by the idea of doing it, but if you really wanna make it reliable, I suspect you’re gonna need more than an engine swap. Probably at least the transmission & diff too. At some point, it just seems like it would be more trouble to get the real thing working the way you want than to just build something that looks the same and handles better while not having to worry about that other stuff.

Ladymopar > Now_looking_for_a_cheap_car 09/10/2015 at 12:42

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Keep calm and fingers crossed because lucas................

bitchfist > Vincent2105 09/10/2015 at 12:45

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I screwed that up the Cerebra is the coupe I was thinking of.

wooopderson > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 13:13

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I live in Canada, and saw a TVR Griffith in person for the first time today. What an awesome care.

TractorPillow > Art 09/10/2015 at 13:14

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Man, that’s a steep price, miles must be really low.

Patrick Hinshaw > T-800 09/10/2015 at 13:19

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Ah, noted. I didn’t know they were sold in the US. Just read on wikipedia it was the last TVR sold in the US. Ya live, ya learn.

mwverheijen1 > bitchfist 09/10/2015 at 13:34

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I love the Tuscan, I think it is one of the best looking cars ever made. However its reliability issues are far surpassed by its suicidal tendencies. The stories do not do it justice... it is like your psychotic ex-girlfriend. Insanely hot and exciting for a while, but just not worth it in the end.

MultiplaOrgasms > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 13:54

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You are basically saying that everyone should buy a V6 Camry instead of a TVR because it is more reliable, is nearly as fast, costs less and the interior doesn’t smell like a canoe factory. But it doesn’t work like that. I don’t think anyone imports a car because it is a practical proposition. If someone is willing to import a car he is obviously doing it because he wants to. Why do people import Skylines? Because they admire and like them for their style, their technology, their historical significance or all of these reasons, and not because it makes sense. You can always get a domestically sold car that performs just as well, for less money and with less stress. Chances are if you import a car from overseas you are a true enthusiast that is willing to enjoy the ownership experience with all its drawbacks and quirks.

Don’t tell people not to import a car they like for some reason or another just because there are more sensible options out there. If they want it, they should do it and experience it for themselves.

bitchfist > mwverheijen1 09/10/2015 at 13:58

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I have had plenty of troublesome cars and exes they are always worth it at least for a while, then just hand them off.

LumberJunk > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 14:04

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The TVR Griffith is turning 25 years old next year. That means you could bring them over 10 years ago. But should one, buy one?

Fixed for Canada.

glemon > JJG 09/10/2015 at 14:05

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First, good for you for driving an MGB everyday, second I to have daily driven old British cars even though I am no currently. Like any old car, if you drive it a lot, fix or replace what breaks until it doesn’t anymore, and keep consumables and wear items (brake pads, rubber hoses and seals, etc.) From wearing or aging out and most cars will be pretty reliable, whether Honda, Alfa, Chevy or Triumph.

FiveLiters1 > Nerd-Vol 09/10/2015 at 14:08

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This looks a lot better than I remembered it.

glemon > BeO42 09/10/2015 at 14:09

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Damn, nice, there was one in a gas station service Bay (remember those) for years when I was growing up, fueled my adolescent fantasies. Can’t imagine why a 1500 pound specialty car designed for an anemic 1.5 liter 4 banger would be a handfull with a big v-8 stuffed in the engine bay.