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
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.
@@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...
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.
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.
@@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 👍
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.
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
@@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!
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.
@@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!!
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
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!
@@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.
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.
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?
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 !!.
@@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....
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
@nickbrotherton5804 How was it to drive in wet & winter conditions? My mk3 MX5 is undrivable in slush & snow!
@@paulwood6729 I never drove my TVR in slush or snow and was always respectful in the wet 👍
@@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...
Ive had 2 Griffs, never broken down, done heaps of miles, changed a cam tatsall
service them and reap the rewards !
Good to know. I must confess it felt more reliable than I was expecting.
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.
Glad to hear it. I was surprised how amenable it was given what “they” all say about TVR.
My Favourite car of all time and I don't drive. But I had a fleet of them on Grand Turismo!
Haha - that’s a good way of “owning” lots of cars you can’t afford or have nowhere to store! Thanks for watching.
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.
It’s a great car for sure.
@@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 😂
@@ianashton1593 alas I think I’m too geometrically challenged to even try a Caterham!
@@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 👍
Regret the divorce?
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.
My legs are very long - I’m not sure if I’d adjusted the steering properly though, it was a while ago.
One of my dreams cars hope to own one some day. Greetings from Palm Beach Florida
Hi Mackenzie - I hope your dream comes true!
I knew Jack Griffith when he and his wife, Marge, lived in Jacksonville, Florida.
@@sundbyd wow - I bet he got around in some interesting cars
Great show. Thanks for posting, what an exhaust sound!
Liked and sub’d.
Thank you very, very much!
To make it colder you can open the window. That's the best way.
If it weren’t for the sound, I would have. Although the windows aren’t the fastest up and down.
@@SportsandGT if that is the case they need servicing - corrosion in the connectors is a common problem in the doors
The sexiest thing to come out of Blackpool.
I’m sure there’s a joke in there somewhere 😂 thanks for watching.
@@SportsandGT 🤣
Good video, informative and to the point.
Thank you for watching.
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
I don’t recall the suspension being overly hard but I only had it for about 30 mins so you may well be correct.
4.3 was a bit sluggish , has to be the 500!
@@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!
Fair enough each to their own, both TVR’s!
@@RobertGoldsworth ;)
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?
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.
@@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!!
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
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
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!
@@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.
@@CX06 thanks, I’d love to - finding time (and weather) around work is always tricky - where are you based?
@@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.
@@CX06 thanks - I’m near Oxford so not impossible 👍🏻
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.
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?
@@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?
@@matthewchannel9981 good shout - I know which I'd rather have though
@@SportsandGT not less powerful or torquey - same engines available in both.
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 !!.
what a brilliant car!
Much better than I expected
2017 ones never arrived despite people putting down deposits....
I have zero hope that it will ever arrive
If you have zero hope… you won’t be disappointed!
@@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
@@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....
I had one for 13 years, apart from a new cam at 55k it was pretty reliable.
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.
@@SportsandGT Spot on, the build quality was never good but you are buying a hand built car, I do miss mine.
Yes
I’d not driven a TVR before but I would definitely consider ownership in the future.
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
Certainly less common than a Porsche or BMW.
heart: YES
brain: no, but actually yes
It isn’t completely rational but there is a lot to like from a brain point of view too.
@@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
@@jmirsp4z brave!
That's a very beige trim.
Officially it’s “biscuit” 😉
@@SportsandGT not your cup of tea....?! ;)
@@davidstuart4915 :D
yes.
Short and to the point! Thanks for watching.
@@SportsandGT I'm a man of few words.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
No
Short and sweet, Messiah! Many would disagree.
Nodded off while watching zzzzzzz
Happy to help you get some rest! ;-)
The steering rack looks a little high and upright. Is it adjustable?
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.
@@SportsandGT No problem. Thanks for the reply. Happy motoring
@@staceymcgrath890 yes it is adjustable
The original Griffith was scary. It would
do a wheelie with the right surface traction.
I can imagine - adding huge power to a lightweight car!
It had a 289 HIPRO engine somewhere over 300 hp. I drove a demonstrator. It was amazing.
@@jackkelly9022 Wow - lucky boy!