500 v Pre-cat

[clarkmagpie]

hi everybody!

seriously considering a griff in the next year or so and am wondering what the main differences between the 500 and Pre-cat are?

much difference in acceleration?

pro's and con's for each??

i currently own a nissan 300zx twin turbo and am planning on moving up the ladder!

thanks for the help!

nick.

[BJWoods]

All precats are at least 15 years old......

so it is really down to the condition of any individual pre-cat..

B

[The AJP Griff]

clarkmagpie said:

hi everybody!

seriously considering a griff in the next year or so and am wondering what the main differences between the 500 and Pre-cat are?

much difference in acceleration?

pro's and con's for each??

i currently own a nissan 300zx twin turbo and am planning on moving up the ladder!

thanks for the help!

nick.

Plenty of past threads on this subject in the archives for you to check out.The 500 is a further development of the original pre-cat griffs,and consequently has more power,improved chassis and suspension,improved ventilation and heating,improved brakes,improved cooling,options such as pas and a/c,and from 1994 models they had serpentine Rv8's and T5 gearboxes,both considered improvements over the pre-serp engines and rover gearbox.
Having read all the above you'd think there would be no contest,but you'd be wrong i feel.The pre-cats just have that something about them that many wouldn't trade.Try both types and make your own mind up would be my advice.The early 500 is starting to hold value well now in original condition,having reached the bottom of the market value whereas it used to be just the 4.3 pre-cats that held value in this way.

[laz11]

It's worthwhile considering that a number of pre cats have had the improvements that were originally lacking in comparison to the 500; namely uprated suspension which can in most cases make a pre cat handle much better than a standard 500, uprated brakes and leven interior upgrades if that appeals. Also there will not be a huge diference in performance between a standard 500 and a healthy 4.3 that has had some minor fettling. Of course what you won't want to lose is the pre cat noise which is superb and typically makes the car feel rawer and less refined, being more intrusive in most driving situations, in particular at motorway speeds compared to a standard 500. Of course there are a lot of 500s out there with upgrades too including cats taken out and aftermarket exhausts; rarely can you replicate the pre cat noise however! Usual advice just look at as many as possible.

[Simpo Two]

I had a 4.0 before the 500 and found the driving position was lower and more comfortable in the 4.0 - the whole seat design underneath was different.

The 4.0 was easier to drive fluently and the pre-cat sound is definitely 'right'. You can make 500s louder but it's not the same. One fialing of the 4.x is the heating/ventilation, which is virtually non-existent (at least it was in mine) - the 500 is much better sorted in this respect.

In conclusion I'd say that every Griff is different - you'll just have to get out and drive some and see what you think. Coming from your current car, it will certainly be different, more so if you don't winp out and have PAS

[clarkmagpie]

i took out a 500 from a local classics garage last year and must admit the ride quality was terrible and it smoked me out on test drive - oil leak onto exhaust manifold

not a good start!!

anyway went to the local TVR dealer (hexham) and had a chat with the bloke there who said the one i took out was possibly a track beast with trick dampers etc which would explain the harsh ride.

the main problem i have is that there are very few for sale around here (Carlisle) and not quite being in the position to buy yet i dont want to travel that far just to look.

[V8 GRF]

clarkmagpie said:

the main problem i have is that there are very few for sale around here (Carlisle) and not quite being in the position to buy yet i dont want to travel that far just to look.

Might be worth your while talking to the guys at Track V Road in Clitheroe...

[Simpo Two]

clarkmagpie said:

i took out a 500 from a local classics garage last year and must admit the ride quality was terrible

Your first trip in a TVR can be a shock. My first ride was in an S2 and it felt as rough as a bear's arse. And compared to a Mundaneo, they are