Old school against SE Models ?
Discussion
Which do you guys prefer ? I personally love the original pre-cat cars. I’m not doubting how nice an SE is to drive, but I just prefer so many things about the early cars, from engines, no PAS, noise, wheels, seats, dash. I have other modern very quick cars, but just love jumping into my 4.3. I bought a 500 back in 93 after my 1st 4.3 but always said I would get another pre-cat car. All just my opinion of course, but interested to hear others view on why they bought certain models of Griffs.
I am biased as I have an early precat
I love the noise and the character.
However, I have no doubt that in the real world, one of the last SE’s is a far better car. Bigger engine, power steering, better gearbox, even better headlights. & 10 years younger. 10 years of TVR development so simple things like demisting should be so much better.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my precat and I won’t be swapping it for a later model, but in the real world, I am sure the later cars are an improvement on the early ones.
I love the noise and the character.
However, I have no doubt that in the real world, one of the last SE’s is a far better car. Bigger engine, power steering, better gearbox, even better headlights. & 10 years younger. 10 years of TVR development so simple things like demisting should be so much better.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my precat and I won’t be swapping it for a later model, but in the real world, I am sure the later cars are an improvement on the early ones.
BIG DUNC said:
I am biased as I have an early precat
I love the noise and the character.
However, I have no doubt that in the real world, one of the last SE’s is a far better car. Bigger engine, power steering, better gearbox, even better headlights. & 10 years younger. 10 years of TVR development so simple things like demisting should be so much better.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my precat and I won’t be swapping it for a later model, but in the real world, I am sure the later cars are an improvement on the early ones.
All of those reasons is why I love the pre-cat early cars. They are raw and they drive nothing like modern cars, that all drive very similar unless you are in a high performance sports car. I love the noise and the character.
However, I have no doubt that in the real world, one of the last SE’s is a far better car. Bigger engine, power steering, better gearbox, even better headlights. & 10 years younger. 10 years of TVR development so simple things like demisting should be so much better.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my precat and I won’t be swapping it for a later model, but in the real world, I am sure the later cars are an improvement on the early ones.
Ducati0 said:
Which do you guys prefer ? I personally love the original pre-cat cars. I’m not doubting how nice an SE is to drive, but I just prefer so many things about the early cars, from engines, no PAS, noise, wheels, seats, dash. I have other modern very quick cars, but just love jumping into my 4.3. I bought a 500 back in 93 after my 1st 4.3 but always said I would get another pre-cat car. All just my opinion of course, but interested to hear others view on why they bought certain models of Griffs.
I prefer the sound of a non cat 4 / 4.0 over my 500. I have a non-pas 500 and really love the feel of the steering, and the weight. Not heavy at all to drive and only mildly heavy to park. Using original spec front tyres which probably helps.I had a K reg. 4.3, and apart from the roof not fitting in the boot, the fuel tank leaking, the a/c belt coming off and taking the other belts off too, the overheating...it was a wonderful car.
I also had an N reg 500 which was much better as expected, but not memorable.
Last year I bought a nice 4.3 BV, hoping to roll back the years...big mistake. All the faults of a 25 year old car and the BV engine is not nearly as smooth or free revving as the standard 4.3.
Strangely I found the Chimaera a much better car.
I also had an N reg 500 which was much better as expected, but not memorable.
Last year I bought a nice 4.3 BV, hoping to roll back the years...big mistake. All the faults of a 25 year old car and the BV engine is not nearly as smooth or free revving as the standard 4.3.
Strangely I found the Chimaera a much better car.
Set out to buy a Pre Cat, looked at two 4.3BV but bought a lovely no pas Dec 1996 500 instead. Also one of the last silver powder coat chassis that seems to have held up better than white chassis cars.
Have modified the 500 exhaust and now don't worry about any sound differences.
For me the later gauges, better (but still a bit of a joke) heater controls, serp belt and various other refinements have made the car more usable.
Was so set on buying a pre cat but think a 500 is a better car for me.
Agree I don't like the SE car's looks, although think the chim style heater controls are step forwards.
Have modified the 500 exhaust and now don't worry about any sound differences.
For me the later gauges, better (but still a bit of a joke) heater controls, serp belt and various other refinements have made the car more usable.
Was so set on buying a pre cat but think a 500 is a better car for me.
Agree I don't like the SE car's looks, although think the chim style heater controls are step forwards.
urquattroGus said:
Set out to buy a Pre Cat, looked at two 4.3BV but bought a lovely no pas Dec 1996 500 instead. Also one of the last silver powder coat chassis that seems to have held up better than white chassis cars.
Have modified the 500 exhaust and now don't worry about any sound differences.
For me the later gauges, better (but still a bit of a joke) heater controls, serp belt and various other refinements have made the car more usable.
Was so set on buying a pre cat but think a 500 is a better car for me.
Agree I don't like the SE car's looks, although think the chim style heater controls are step forwards.
Where did you manage to find two 4.3BVs for sale at the same time? They seem to be super rare nowHave modified the 500 exhaust and now don't worry about any sound differences.
For me the later gauges, better (but still a bit of a joke) heater controls, serp belt and various other refinements have made the car more usable.
Was so set on buying a pre cat but think a 500 is a better car for me.
Agree I don't like the SE car's looks, although think the chim style heater controls are step forwards.
Lights look fine to me. The SE interior is much better and the bigger headlights bring a small improvement to the dismal headlights on the earlier cars. The headlights on my Chimaera were so bad you could hardly tell when they were on.
But is the SE worth the premium over the standard? No it's not but it's always the first and last of the line that are the most valuable and that's why I bought one.
But is the SE worth the premium over the standard? No it's not but it's always the first and last of the line that are the most valuable and that's why I bought one.
It’s really interesting reading the different views on older cars to later models. As previously mentioned, for me it was all about keeping it as raw/original as possible. If it was my only car or plus 1 car, would I have felt the same, ....I don’t know. But because of other cars I have, that made a difference as I can put up with the foibles.
lockhart flawse said:
Lights look fine to me. The SE interior is much better and the bigger headlights bring a small improvement to the dismal headlights on the earlier cars. The headlights on my Chimaera were so bad you could hardly tell when they were on.
But is the SE worth the premium over the standard? No it's not but it's always the first and last of the line that are the most valuable and that's why I bought one.
Talking about the rear lights.But is the SE worth the premium over the standard? No it's not but it's always the first and last of the line that are the most valuable and that's why I bought one.
Fronts are the same as the mk3 Chimaera are they not?
Area of a circle is Pi x Radius squared.
For ease of comparison, it doesn't matter if you square the radius or the diameter, the ratio between the two is the same.
So the ratio of the area of a 7 inch diameter light to a 6 inch diameter light is 49 to 36, or 36.1% bigger.
Hope this helps
For ease of comparison, it doesn't matter if you square the radius or the diameter, the ratio between the two is the same.
So the ratio of the area of a 7 inch diameter light to a 6 inch diameter light is 49 to 36, or 36.1% bigger.
Hope this helps
I really like the older cars, they do seem to have more character with and I love the old dials which start at 2 o'clock. You cannot beat the 4.3 for sound either, the 500s did sound very muted with the cats fitted. Not that most of this matters now as most cars have been modified in some shape or have had replacement parts fitted.
The main thing that sold me on a late 500 with the was the T5 gearbox and the torque.
Regarding the SE's I liked the Cerbera seats, the tuscan eyeball dash vents and the larger from lights. I prefer the original rear lights, dashboard, and I prefer the nose down stance of the 15"s on the front and 16"s on the back.
When I had my car resprayed I asked S&D to incorporate some of the SE features on my 500. Including the lights, and wing mirrors (without extenders)
Pictures here:
https://matthewpoxon.wordpress.com/2017/11/17/resp...
The main thing that sold me on a late 500 with the was the T5 gearbox and the torque.
Regarding the SE's I liked the Cerbera seats, the tuscan eyeball dash vents and the larger from lights. I prefer the original rear lights, dashboard, and I prefer the nose down stance of the 15"s on the front and 16"s on the back.
When I had my car resprayed I asked S&D to incorporate some of the SE features on my 500. Including the lights, and wing mirrors (without extenders)
Pictures here:
https://matthewpoxon.wordpress.com/2017/11/17/resp...
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