Griff 500 vs 4.3 Pre Cat
Discussion
IMHO Generally the newer the car the better.
The 4.x generally sound better
than the 500 as the dont have the Cats.
The newer ones have the Borg warner Gearbox which is meant to be better than the SD1 uprated brakes and suspension.
But many people have fettled with there cars and some older ones may have had these uprated.
Obviously the 500 is more powerfull but thats not to say the 4.x is slow by any means.
I could go one but will let someone else add.
BB
I
The 4.x generally sound better
than the 500 as the dont have the Cats. The newer ones have the Borg warner Gearbox which is meant to be better than the SD1 uprated brakes and suspension.
But many people have fettled with there cars and some older ones may have had these uprated.
Obviously the 500 is more powerfull but thats not to say the 4.x is slow by any means.
I could go one but will let someone else add.
BB
I
Most people will advise you to buy as new as you can afford, and that will often mean a 500.
The difference in performance between the 2 cars is not that great and the noise from a pre cat 4.3 has some people in hysteria ....
Personally I would advise you drive a smany as you can practically get your hands on and decide for yourself. Get a copy of Steve Heath's bible and read it ..... it's full of good tips. Get along to your local club meeting, ask me for a drive, but most important try lots of cars.
By the nature of them being handbuilt and owners liking to upgrade and use their car's differently cars vary.
Generally the later the car the better the build, chassis, brakes and engine (serpentine) in my eperience.
There are however plenty of fantstic earlier cars which have been lovingly cared for.
Good luck, you shouldn't regret it. Simply awesome cars.
The difference in performance between the 2 cars is not that great and the noise from a pre cat 4.3 has some people in hysteria ....
Personally I would advise you drive a smany as you can practically get your hands on and decide for yourself. Get a copy of Steve Heath's bible and read it ..... it's full of good tips. Get along to your local club meeting, ask me for a drive, but most important try lots of cars.
By the nature of them being handbuilt and owners liking to upgrade and use their car's differently cars vary.
Generally the later the car the better the build, chassis, brakes and engine (serpentine) in my eperience.
There are however plenty of fantstic earlier cars which have been lovingly cared for.
Good luck, you shouldn't regret it. Simply awesome cars.
Ballistic Banana said:
IMHO Generally the newer the car the better.
The 4.x generally sound better
The newer ones have the Borg warner Gearbox which is meant to be better than the SD1 uprated brakes and suspension.
But many people have fettled with there cars and some older ones may have had these uprated.
Obviously the 500 is more powerfull but thats not to say the 4.x is slow by any means.
I could go one but will let someone else add.
BB
I
Told ya ...... hit submit before me !
I wouldn't listen to this bloke though ...... full of it in my opinion ..... careful of these types !!!
johno said:
IMHO Generally the newer the car the better.
The 4.x generally sound better
The newer ones have the Borg warner Gearbox which is meant to be better than the SD1 uprated brakes and suspension.
But many people have fettled with there cars and some older ones may have had these uprated.
Obviously the 500 is more powerfull but thats not to say the 4.x is slow by any means.
I could go one but will let someone else add.
BB
I
Told ya ...... hit submit before me !
I wouldn't listen to this bloke though ...... full of it in my opinion ..... careful of these types !!!
Griff 4.3 will blow your socks off - nail it in second under a bridge (1st if you are brave and it is dry) then you will never look at a 500 - 500 has more torque (try negotiating a greasy roundabout in 1st or second and modulating the throttle - understeeer - oversteer ? try and identify them all as you surf around on the torque wave.....
4.3 is more than quick enough for most and you wont get fed up with the sound for at least a decade.....
4.3 is more than quick enough for most and you wont get fed up with the sound for at least a decade.....
I purchased mine two years ago ,it is my first TVR i took on board that the later the model the less bother you should have so for me it had to be a 500 and so i have only driven 500s ,i got a late 2000 model i know the guys say that the pre cats sound much better but i think mine which is totaly standard sounds wonderfull and say so every time i go out in it allso you can drive all day and the noise never gets to much, my friends all agree , i have had very little bother allso Mcrea and Mansel both had 500s so you cannot argue with that i sugest you drive a few good luck Steve.
I was in the same predicament just before I bought my 4.3 Griff.
Depends what is most important to you.
If you want the most torque/bhp and a newer one, then get the 500.
If you want great noise (and I DO mean great), a bit less power (so you CAN nail it from standstill without leaving your tyres behind) and the rarity of a 4.3. Get a 4.3.
You know what did it for me: remembering what the 4.3 sounded like standing behind it at tickover.
Depends what is most important to you.
If you want the most torque/bhp and a newer one, then get the 500.
If you want great noise (and I DO mean great), a bit less power (so you CAN nail it from standstill without leaving your tyres behind) and the rarity of a 4.3. Get a 4.3.
You know what did it for me: remembering what the 4.3 sounded like standing behind it at tickover.
Gotta be a 4.3 BV, good idea to check it still has the original front end too.
While you are looking don't be put off by big mileage.
Mine has done 86000 and is excellent, apart from the old wheels being a bit porpous now and the tyres gently deflate, hence if I haven't checked them religiously the car dances around a bit!!
While you are looking don't be put off by big mileage.
Mine has done 86000 and is excellent, apart from the old wheels being a bit porpous now and the tyres gently deflate, hence if I haven't checked them religiously the car dances around a bit!!
4.3 at idle - you are right - will never forget each time they backed a demo car out of the showroom and left it idling....................still totally in love with that sound - then of course there is the .. bob, bob,bob,bob at around 1800 rpm - then the banshee wail at anything over 5000
If you drive a good 4.3 and dont fall in love instantly then you may aswell just use a taxi.....
If you drive a good 4.3 and dont fall in love instantly then you may aswell just use a taxi.....
budd said:
Buy the 500 and rip the cats out!! Enjoy the best of both worlds
I've done this and it sounds nothing like a 4.3. There's something utterly gutteral about a genuine pre-cat and it makes your hair stand up. A decatted 500 sounds unbelievable but it's not a pre-cat! My builder described my decatted 500 as:
"it sounds like..... hell...."
Higgins23 said:
I guess the decision comes down to do you go with the improved gearbox, brakes, and suspension on the 500 or the raw sound of the 4.3. Very tough decision. Will have to drive both several times to decide....
Well you're always welcome to come and sample hell
As someone already said, a 500 with just a sports exhaust, or even as standard, sounds pretty good.
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