4.0 4.3 or 5.0
Discussion
Had a slightly tired 500 Griff followed closely by a very well sorted Chim 430 & the Griff felt faster but the 430 was a great engine too. A well sorted 500 will always 'feel' head & shoulders quicker than a 430 because of the torque, even though some 430's make similar figures to some 500's on the rollers. 
You have to try some for yourself. Only you will know.
You have to try some for yourself. Only you will know.
cliffords said:
Hi
I am looking to buy a Griffith I think as my first TVR. I have owned three performance vehicles to date the last a 400bhp Cobra replica.
Apart from the obvious answer as power output, what are the pros and cons of the engine sizes available ?
Many thanks
David
I wouldn't have thought any of them would match you 400BHP AC Cobra replica..... better make it the 500 in your case. I am looking to buy a Griffith I think as my first TVR. I have owned three performance vehicles to date the last a 400bhp Cobra replica.
Apart from the obvious answer as power output, what are the pros and cons of the engine sizes available ?
Many thanks
David
I personally have a soft spot for the pre-cat Griffs but I could not find one in the right condition / colour combo when I was looking. I am more than pleased with my 500.
I'm biased, but when I was looking I tried maybe a dozen cars. Quickly eliminated the 400s. One of the first cars I tested was my car but I was looking for a newer, better condition 500 really. After several months and many tests I went back to it because it was head and shoulders above anything else at the time. Maybe it was a poor time to be looking and all the good 500s were in hiding.
It's old and rough around the edges but it's mechanically sound and easily the quickest of all the 500s I tried. It revs like no 500 ever could and sounds glorious.
When I get to the Growl and places like that where there are many better looking cars I think mine's rather tatty - which it is.
It'd be nice to have one of the newer, shiny, low mileage garage queens. But they don't have the character of a good precat.
It's old and rough around the edges but it's mechanically sound and easily the quickest of all the 500s I tried. It revs like no 500 ever could and sounds glorious.
When I get to the Growl and places like that where there are many better looking cars I think mine's rather tatty - which it is.
It'd be nice to have one of the newer, shiny, low mileage garage queens. But they don't have the character of a good precat.500 everytime!!!!
T5 Box, Antiroll bar, power steering on most cars out there, I personally prefer the open nose of the 500,s.
I have driven the smaller engine cars and the 400 is a very smooth drive but is not even close to the 500 on power. The 430 is a good car with good performance and very deep sound Both are a bit heavy when parking also the OZ wheels on some cars look great. Must admit i have never driven a 430 BV so maybe this would sway me?
Mark
T5 Box, Antiroll bar, power steering on most cars out there, I personally prefer the open nose of the 500,s.
I have driven the smaller engine cars and the 400 is a very smooth drive but is not even close to the 500 on power. The 430 is a good car with good performance and very deep sound Both are a bit heavy when parking also the OZ wheels on some cars look great. Must admit i have never driven a 430 BV so maybe this would sway me?
Mark
a sorted 430 has plenty of torque for most but also loves revs and is such a pleasure to use higher up the rev band and of course has that unique pre cat howl. A sorted 500 has more than plenty of torque and feels seriously quick in any gear....but will rarely rev like a 430 or 400 unless its been fettled with. best bet is to get to try both. oh and the 400 is also nice with same characetristics as a 430 just noticably slower all round really. oh i'm in brighton and very happy to give you a passenger ride or drive just email me
LordGrover said:
When I get to the Growl and places like that where there are many better looking cars I think mine's rather tatty - which it is.
Didn't we see pictures of your Griff looking absolutly gleaming (with a little bloke peering over from behind the driver's seat) having just been detailed to within an inch of it's life? Didn't look tatty to me Thanks for all the advice chaps. I have moved away from the Cobra because although it was hugely powerful it was unusable power and very rough.
It is feeling like a 430 or a 500 for me then . I would like power steering and the sun to go in , as looking at cars in this weather cant be good for the price as a buyer!
Many thanks for the comments keep them coming.
David
It is feeling like a 430 or a 500 for me then . I would like power steering and the sun to go in , as looking at cars in this weather cant be good for the price as a buyer!
Many thanks for the comments keep them coming.
David
non pas on pre cat cars is usually not a problem as they have narrower tyres up front compared to the 500...which improves the steering feel even more compared to pas. i never notice heaviness apart from parking and find thats pretty managable. If the rack is in good nick that helps too
I have a 4.3 and wanted a pre-cat partly because I prefer the shape around the grill - IMO its a purer shape than the 500 but that's a personal view. I also prefer the 5 spoke wheels to the Estorils
I tried a 400 too but there is a significant performance difference when stepping up to the 4.3. I haven't driven a 500 but the 4.3 certianly makes a better noise
I think the pre-cats are also better value at present for cars in similar condition. As with any TVR, condition is all
I tried a 400 too but there is a significant performance difference when stepping up to the 4.3. I haven't driven a 500 but the 4.3 certianly makes a better noise
I think the pre-cats are also better value at present for cars in similar condition. As with any TVR, condition is all
When I was looking, my creteria initially was I don't want red, and bigger is better.....
at the time my max budget was £15k, so in reality I was looking at cars around £13k leaving a few k in the bank to spend on the car however this, at the time, was early 500 terrritory..... I test drove a few and just didn't like them in traffic, also the good/excellent condition impied in the adverts was not my idea of what was described.
Somewhere along the line my mind swithched to the precats, and especially the 4.3's .... got taken for a spin in one (alas was not allowed to drive it) but the noise got me, the low down shunt I had expereinced in the early 500's didn't seem apparent, so to me the car seemed to be the total package as a road car.... ohh and I blew the full £15k budget
Now 5 years on, the car has been well used on the roads...... it is well known for being a noisy bugger, and when cleaned catches a lot off attention even amongst TVR owners. The car will keep up with the bigger boys, won't leave them in cloud off dust, but also won't be left n your own at the back struggling to keep up.... infact my car has as many bhp as most the standard 500's REAL figures, not TVR quoted figures.
I've followed Griffs with the magic 320 bhp +, and yes they do have the edge but in reality it comes into play around 130mph.... as my car is road car I am more the happy with mine, and it aint for sale you'd have to chop my toes n fingers off first
at the time my max budget was £15k, so in reality I was looking at cars around £13k leaving a few k in the bank to spend on the car however this, at the time, was early 500 terrritory..... I test drove a few and just didn't like them in traffic, also the good/excellent condition impied in the adverts was not my idea of what was described.
Somewhere along the line my mind swithched to the precats, and especially the 4.3's .... got taken for a spin in one (alas was not allowed to drive it) but the noise got me, the low down shunt I had expereinced in the early 500's didn't seem apparent, so to me the car seemed to be the total package as a road car.... ohh and I blew the full £15k budget
Now 5 years on, the car has been well used on the roads...... it is well known for being a noisy bugger, and when cleaned catches a lot off attention even amongst TVR owners. The car will keep up with the bigger boys, won't leave them in cloud off dust, but also won't be left n your own at the back struggling to keep up.... infact my car has as many bhp as most the standard 500's REAL figures, not TVR quoted figures.
I've followed Griffs with the magic 320 bhp +, and yes they do have the edge but in reality it comes into play around 130mph.... as my car is road car I am more the happy with mine, and it aint for sale you'd have to chop my toes n fingers off first
domV8 said:
gizzer said:
But that is the BEST engine bay I have seen yet. I am impressed...
Dom
Edited by domV8 on Tuesday 25th May 22:14
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