Still can't wipe the grin off my face
Alarm sounding, bad siren fixed no problem.
Kicks the ass of any Cosworth. Fast furious fun, just watch their faces.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 21st April, 2001
AJP stands for All Junk Parts
Paint runs.
Water leaks everywhere.
Electrical failure (ECU).
Fading roof.
Wheel bearing.
The attitude of TVR once I had bought the car was "they did not want to know".
Dealer service was non-existent.
I would not recommend a TVR to anyone.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 17th March, 2000
I have owned a Griffith 500 from new. The car is designed for enthusiasts who have an empathy with motor cars. My car has been superb and my dealer, The TVR Centre excellent, I just wish they had a branch nearer to my home! I would never recommend a TVR to a former BMW or Porche owner, the ownership experience is neither better or worse.. just different.
The Griffith doesn't use the AJP...
You have to understand that when you are buying a used TVR, you are buying a machine that was made with performance in mind and sheer thrills. You are also buying a car that will embarrase the likes of Porsche and Ferrari when it comes to performance, at half the price.
Bearing that in mind, the car will demand some level of pampering and patience, sometimes.
If you want reliability buy a VW Golf.
If you want rock solid build quality buy a Mercedes, BMW or Volvo.
If you want a convertible that may never leak but a Mercedes, etc convertible.
But, if you want a car that has all the above AND the performance of a TVR, win the lottery first.
I am sorry to hear you have had bad dealings with the dealer you bought the car from. It is a real shame, and it should not be a reflection of TVR.
I own a Mitsubishi EVO 5 Lancer and a TVR Griffith, both different beasts, both stunning car's. If you find owning a TVR problematic, buy a Rover!!!...
When it's good, it's very, very good but when it's bad, it's horrid
Total electrical failure after owning 3 weeks. Horn fuse blew - also feeds ECU. Cause never found; problem has never recurred.
Goes off tune very quickly.
Alarm runs battery flat in about two weeks (easily fixed by regular charging).
Much better on petrol than you would ever think (23mpg ave, 27mpg on a run).
Gearbox stiff but sure.
Handling good if twitchy.
Wonderful V8 noise, sadly sanitised by those who think they know best.
Poor low speed running round town with lots of driveline shunt, which make the diff and driveshafts clank and knock.
Completely evil in the wet - hates standing water.
Incites total envy from large proportion of other road users, a sad number of whom want to try and prove something. Normally in a 30 mph limit.
Never, ever leave it unattended anywhere (see envy above).
Probably the most beautiful car in the world.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 14th March, 2000
Only very minor bedding in problems from new, easily dealt with by the dealer.
This car is all I wanted it to be and more. It's very fast, reliable, comfortable, and eye catching.
Keep your Italian stallions!
"Buy British Beef Instead"
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 1st June, 1999
Nothing, and this is my second TVR in a row, the previous one (an S2) I owned for 2.5 years and it only visited the dealer once for repairs.
Awesome performance, 0-60 in 4.2 seconds fast enough for you?
Don't let comments about reliability put you off, they suffer if not cared for, so go and find a clean low miler with full TVR service history and get a warranty! The usual things that fail are electrical related. The engines a well proven Rover V8 (tweaked!) and the gearbox (on newer Griffs) is a BorgWarner T-5 so there's no problem there.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 21st December, 1998
Nothing so far.
Awesome power for the money. If you want to burn off 911's for half the price then get a TVR. It can be used as an everyday car but will drink petrol and is not over happy about traffic jams. Never the less a monster of a car and British as well. Excellent.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 16th March, 1998
Nothing as yet.
Awesome performance. The 4.0 High Compression engine really flies with stacks of torque. You do need throttle control in 3rd gear! Handles well, though tail happy. Brakes very good -due to being lightweight car. Fab gearbox. I recommend this car! Though quite pricey.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 10th December, 1997
7th Dec 2000, 10:42
Which dealer did you go to?
Some are better than others, and it is worth shopping around rather than going for your nearest.