I owned a pre-cat 4ltr for 18 years. Extremely reliable, reasonably quick and fun. The noise from the V8 is amazing. One of the best cars l have had the privilege to own and drive
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
I was surprised by how good it was. I think opinions of later TVRs are certainly tainted by earlier model unreliability. Chims and Griffs seem a good buy.
@paulwood67297 ай бұрын
@nickbrotherton5804 How was it to drive in wet & winter conditions? My mk3 MX5 is undrivable in slush & snow!
@nickbrotherton58047 ай бұрын
@@paulwood6729 I never drove my TVR in slush or snow and was always respectful in the wet 👍
@davidstuart49152 ай бұрын
@@paulwood6729 it would be unwise to drive a short wheel base, super light car with over 300lbft torque / ton in slush and snow - rain is hazardish enough! - Even the dry...
@kencharlesworth68732 жыл бұрын
Ive had 2 Griffs, never broken down, done heaps of miles, changed a cam tatsall service them and reap the rewards !
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
Good to know. I must confess it felt more reliable than I was expecting.
@SNORKYMEDIA2 жыл бұрын
We've had our Chim for 19 years and have travelled all across Europe with it. Never experienced any of the "terrible reliability" that is reported (mainly by people who have never owned or driven one). These are small volume hand-built cars but ironically mine has been more reliable than my mainstream company cars - my Hyundai i40 needed its rear suspension replacing twice in 3 years! If you look after a TVR (they aren't complicated to own) it will reward you with the TVR Grin every time you take it out.......I will NEVER sell mine.
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
Glad to hear it. I was surprised how amenable it was given what “they” all say about TVR.
@louispeel99196 ай бұрын
My Favourite car of all time and I don't drive. But I had a fleet of them on Grand Turismo!
@SportsandGT6 ай бұрын
Haha - that’s a good way of “owning” lots of cars you can’t afford or have nowhere to store! Thanks for watching.
@ianashton15932 жыл бұрын
Had three TVR’s, an S, a V8S and a Griffith 500. All were great fun to drive and reliable, had to sell the Griffith when I divorced and still regret it to this day.
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
It’s a great car for sure.
@ianashton15932 жыл бұрын
@@SportsandGT Retired now and been looking at Caterham 7’s need to move quickly though while I can still get in and out of one 😂
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
@@ianashton1593 alas I think I’m too geometrically challenged to even try a Caterham!
@ianashton15932 жыл бұрын
@@SportsandGT Ha ha, Am 6’ 2” so a standard one is out of the question so I tried an SV which is slightly wider and longer. It was pretty easy to get in and out of even though I’m 68 👍
@seanganesh4212 жыл бұрын
Regret the divorce?
@simonh870 Жыл бұрын
I loved my Griffith 500. Has the driving position including the position of the pedals been changed on that one? it seems your legs are very bent and the steering wheel is up a long way. I am pretty big chap and I can't remember beng seated like that. Power steering is certainly worth having, it makes the steering much easier to get along with without robbing too much feel.
@SportsandGT Жыл бұрын
My legs are very long - I’m not sure if I’d adjusted the steering properly though, it was a while ago.
@mackenzienowak63462 жыл бұрын
One of my dreams cars hope to own one some day. Greetings from Palm Beach Florida
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
Hi Mackenzie - I hope your dream comes true!
@AdrianMareEWEASANTE2 жыл бұрын
The sexiest thing to come out of Blackpool.
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
I’m sure there’s a joke in there somewhere 😂 thanks for watching.
@AdrianMareEWEASANTE2 жыл бұрын
@@SportsandGT 🤣
@davidstuart49152 жыл бұрын
dont forget the pick of the bunch, the 4.3 which has all the pre-cat burble with similar acceleration and an exhilarating top end wail that will alarm you every time you go under a bridge! Your 500 appears to have after market suspension, harder than std - certainly harder than 4.3
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
I don’t recall the suspension being overly hard but I only had it for about 30 mins so you may well be correct.
@RobertGoldsworth11 ай бұрын
4.3 was a bit sluggish , has to be the 500!
@davidstuart49158 ай бұрын
@@RobertGoldsworth I disagree, drove them back to back - returned (standard ) 500 within minutes - A lot of the engine character had vanished, reluctance to rev - 'all torque' one might say!
@RobertGoldsworth8 ай бұрын
Fair enough each to their own, both TVR’s!
@davidstuart49152 ай бұрын
@@RobertGoldsworth ;)
@sundbyd5 ай бұрын
I knew Jack Griffith when he and his wife, Marge, lived in Jacksonville, Florida.
@SportsandGT5 ай бұрын
@@sundbyd wow - I bet he got around in some interesting cars
@johnclark19252 жыл бұрын
Great show. Thanks for posting, what an exhaust sound! Liked and sub’d.
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
Thank you very, very much!
@LawrenceTimme2 жыл бұрын
To make it colder you can open the window. That's the best way.
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
If it weren’t for the sound, I would have. Although the windows aren’t the fastest up and down.
@SNORKYMEDIA2 жыл бұрын
@@SportsandGT if that is the case they need servicing - corrosion in the connectors is a common problem in the doors
@CX069 ай бұрын
Yes! That's the only obvious answer! Fun, reasonably practical, quick, and beautiful sounding and looking. Also pretty reliable. I'm on my second Chimaera as a daily car. Great video btw
@SportsandGT9 ай бұрын
Thanks - shot a while ago now but I recall being pleasantly surprised by how well put together and reliable it felt - not to mention sounding awesome and being great to drive. My previous understanding of TVR was of unreliability and poor construction by men in sheds in Blackpool - probably Top Gear to blame for that!
@CX069 ай бұрын
@@SportsandGT I bought the Chimaera because it's the only fun sports car I can actually get into. At 6'8 and 26st it's difficult to find anything, but thankfully Peter Wheeler was a tall man and built accordingly! If you fancy doing a video on a Chimaera, you're always welcome.
@SportsandGT9 ай бұрын
@@CX06 thanks, I’d love to - finding time (and weather) around work is always tricky - where are you based?
@CX069 ай бұрын
@@SportsandGT I know that feeling! I'm based in either South Wales or the Bristol area, but I'm happy to travel for a good cause.
@SportsandGT8 ай бұрын
@@CX06 thanks - I’m near Oxford so not impossible 👍🏻
@rogercorley4452 жыл бұрын
I have a ‘95 Griffith 500 but not with the odd setup you mention about the speedo/tacho offset positioning. Is that original on yours?
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
Hi Roger, I don’t know, they certainly looked original. Is yours a UK market car? Maybe there were some differences during production - I know that other low volume manufacturers like Lotus used whatever parts they could get supply of at a given time.
@rogercorley4452 жыл бұрын
@@SportsandGT yes mine was supplied by Mole Valley dealership. The technician I use has never commented about speedo/TACHo arrangement in which case you might be right!!
@darrensykes486510 ай бұрын
It's because it's a very early car. The same can be said for the gearbox which was changed a year into production of the 500
@matthewchannel99812 жыл бұрын
I think the sensible choice would be the chimaera. Pretty much the same car, considerabley cheaper but not as nice to look at (subjective of course). I think another alternative to this in the 20 - 30k would be an Aston DB7 or DB9 (albeit auto) if you're looking for British muscle. Not sure if a low mileage TVR is comparable to a high mileage 911 though? especially with the chassis rot worries you have with this period of TVR.
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
Yes, not much to choose between the Griffith and Chimaera - the latter less powerful and torquey (so easier to tame in the wet) and there are more of them around. To be fair there wasn't much competition for TVR - what other two-seat, V8 powered sports cars were there in the 90s?
@matthewchannel99812 жыл бұрын
@@SportsandGT I can only think of the MG RV8, had a rover lump aswell. Probably a very different car to the TVR, might need a comparison video?
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
@@matthewchannel9981 good shout - I know which I'd rather have though
@SNORKYMEDIA Жыл бұрын
@@SportsandGT not less powerful or torquey - same engines available in both.
@colingregson8653 Жыл бұрын
My Chim had a full body off chassis restoration 7 years ago by James Agger. No issues with the chassis and wax oil it regularly . Been everywhere in it and no issues at all and thw noise !!.
@knoxyish Жыл бұрын
what a brilliant car!
@SportsandGT Жыл бұрын
Much better than I expected
@BombSponge2 жыл бұрын
Good video, informative and to the point.
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching.
@trashyspeeds2662 жыл бұрын
2017 ones never arrived despite people putting down deposits.... I have zero hope that it will ever arrive
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
If you have zero hope… you won’t be disappointed!
@trashyspeeds2662 жыл бұрын
@@SportsandGT very true. It just sucks people have lost their deposits without much of a reason on why their car is not ready for pick up
@SNORKYMEDIA2 жыл бұрын
@@trashyspeeds266 they have NOT lost their deposits - sorry that is just untrue. A massive part of the delay in getting the new factory up and running was EU Nanny state rules for tendering for work....
@rhettcorcoran28792 жыл бұрын
I had one for 13 years, apart from a new cam at 55k it was pretty reliable.
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
I guess it’s a bit like Lotus where the earlier cars’ reliability affected perceptions of the later ones. I was pleasantly surprised when I drove it.
@rhettcorcoran28792 жыл бұрын
@@SportsandGT Spot on, the build quality was never good but you are buying a hand built car, I do miss mine.
@LawrenceTimme2 жыл бұрын
Yes
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
I’d not driven a TVR before but I would definitely consider ownership in the future.
@andreaziz54992 жыл бұрын
FAR BETTER THAN A 911OR BMW. IRACED A 911 WITH 300ZX BUT WAS OUT MENUARED NEXT TIME I RACED A 6.5 CHEVEY TAHO THAT ONE WAS OUT MANUVERED AND I WON FAIR -SQUARE
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
Certainly less common than a Porsche or BMW.
@jmirsp4z Жыл бұрын
heart: YES brain: no, but actually yes
@SportsandGT Жыл бұрын
It isn’t completely rational but there is a lot to like from a brain point of view too.
@jmirsp4z Жыл бұрын
@@SportsandGT luckily i don't have such money... but i do daily a Honda Beat in the finnish winter so brain has already left the chat :D
@SportsandGT Жыл бұрын
@@jmirsp4z brave!
@paulbennett50662 жыл бұрын
That's a very beige trim.
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
Officially it’s “biscuit” 😉
@davidstuart49152 жыл бұрын
@@SportsandGT not your cup of tea....?! ;)
@BombSponge2 жыл бұрын
@@davidstuart4915 :D
@cyborgbadger10152 жыл бұрын
yes.
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
Short and to the point! Thanks for watching.
@cyborgbadger10152 жыл бұрын
@@SportsandGT I'm a man of few words.
@SeanRocketPepper Жыл бұрын
The dullest test of a Griff by the dullest tester. It’s not about how fast it goes it’s about how they go fast. This test shows non of its true performance being driven by Miss Daisy.
@SportsandGT Жыл бұрын
Thank you for your honesty. As I don't own the cars I get to review I can't exactly thrash them. I try and be myself rather than put on an act like some reviewers do but point taken.
@gairnmclennan58769 ай бұрын
Good answer. I think they drive with so much visceral feedback that going the speed limit is way more fun. I mean you don't need to push any limits that are high for smiles. The noise the roof off etc etc all add so much to the experience.
@jesuschrist22842 жыл бұрын
No
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
Short and sweet, Messiah! Many would disagree.
@hillstephen62 жыл бұрын
Nodded off while watching zzzzzzz
@SportsandGT2 жыл бұрын
Happy to help you get some rest! ;-)
@contingency9 Жыл бұрын
He could do with lowering the steering wheel it's up in the air, and never drive resting your hand on the gear stick this over time can actually damage the gear box linkage.
@SportsandGT Жыл бұрын
Due to the length of my legs, I think I had to have the wheel up there to give my left knee room to operate the clutch. As for the hand on the gearstick - you’re right, it’s a bad habit too. Thanks for watching.
@staceymcgrath890 Жыл бұрын
The steering rack looks a little high and upright. Is it adjustable?
@SportsandGT Жыл бұрын
Hi Stacey - I don't remember to be honest, sorry. I usually notice because I need extra legroom but the Griff had loads of that.
@staceymcgrath890 Жыл бұрын
@@SportsandGT No problem. Thanks for the reply. Happy motoring
@SNORKYMEDIA Жыл бұрын
@@staceymcgrath890 yes it is adjustable
@jackkelly90228 ай бұрын
The original Griffith was scary. It would do a wheelie with the right surface traction.
@SportsandGT8 ай бұрын
I can imagine - adding huge power to a lightweight car!
@jackkelly90228 ай бұрын
It had a 289 HIPRO engine somewhere over 300 hp. I drove a demonstrator. It was amazing.