4.3 finally reaches recognition as the 'preferred model'
Discussion
I road tested a 500 and a 4.3 back to back - in the mid nineties when 500 was young - despite similar price, it took mere mins to decide.
The 4.3 started...I fell in love..we pulled out up a steep slope in second from idle effortlessly.. drove through the gears...ohhhh, ... the sound...floored it and throttle broke needing to be trailered back..
Went straight out in 500...once through the box and once round a round about and it was glaringly obvious where my heart lay
- straight back to dealer - bought 4.3
Found the young 500 over damped, nervous over light power steering - 70% of engine character emasculated by Cat, lazier response, torque to weight ratio with the steering made negotiating roundabouts a worry not a pleasure - Not as keen to rev out - prefer the 4.3 blend of torque / bhp...and the 4.3 simply sounds sooo much better - like a race car when going under a bridge at high rpm
Then there is the warm feeling of higher exclusivity...will surely be very highly sought after very soon.
I went to see JE about adding ITBs + poss cam and BV conversion - He said that from all the variants he had built (incl 5 litre and over), the 4.3 is the sweet spot and that a cam or BV conversion would do it no favours..........still not done the ITBs cos of cost involved (I am not looking for more performance particularly, juster sharper throttle response and the glorious induction sound provided by one throttle body per cylinder)
IMHO
The 4.3 started...I fell in love..we pulled out up a steep slope in second from idle effortlessly.. drove through the gears...ohhhh, ... the sound...floored it and throttle broke needing to be trailered back..
Went straight out in 500...once through the box and once round a round about and it was glaringly obvious where my heart lay
- straight back to dealer - bought 4.3 Found the young 500 over damped, nervous over light power steering - 70% of engine character emasculated by Cat, lazier response, torque to weight ratio with the steering made negotiating roundabouts a worry not a pleasure - Not as keen to rev out - prefer the 4.3 blend of torque / bhp...and the 4.3 simply sounds sooo much better - like a race car when going under a bridge at high rpm
Then there is the warm feeling of higher exclusivity...will surely be very highly sought after very soon.
I went to see JE about adding ITBs + poss cam and BV conversion - He said that from all the variants he had built (incl 5 litre and over), the 4.3 is the sweet spot and that a cam or BV conversion would do it no favours..........still not done the ITBs cos of cost involved (I am not looking for more performance particularly, juster sharper throttle response and the glorious induction sound provided by one throttle body per cylinder)
IMHO
Interesting, I have driven both and prefer the 500, the extra grunt gives it the edge. More is well, more. It’s more enjoyable on a long ride, has a modern feel to it. The sound is also more refined with a deep bass from the pipes rather than an embarrassing racket through villages. Each to their own.
Having lucky enough to having owned both the 4.3 Griff and 500 Griff at different periods of time, my preference is the more refined 500. Somehow it feels a bigger car - perhaps a tad more luxury.
Where as the 4.3 has a more raw feel when driving it, not forgetting the more aural exhaust note. The 500 is better for touring, provided that it has a standard exhaust system fitted.
What's great about these cars is that they have a character of their own, unlike many other manufactured soulless sports cars. Long may be kept on the road and driven.
Where as the 4.3 has a more raw feel when driving it, not forgetting the more aural exhaust note. The 500 is better for touring, provided that it has a standard exhaust system fitted.
What's great about these cars is that they have a character of their own, unlike many other manufactured soulless sports cars. Long may be kept on the road and driven.
lancelin said:
Interesting, I have driven both and prefer the 500, the extra grunt gives it the edge. More is well, more. It’s more enjoyable on a long ride, has a modern feel to it. The sound is also more refined with a deep bass from the pipes rather than an ++++ embarrassing racket ++++++ through villages. Each to their own.
What???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Perhaps you should cruise through villages, not use excessive throttle and low gears!! -- I am confident this is the first time in history that such a ridiculous comment has been in the same sentence as one of the best sounding cars ever made (excluding Supercars) - You should get yourself a Golf!!How many of these 4.3 Griffs were made?
I was told there were only 9 factory built engines with the full BV heads etc and yes very special at the time.
This prompted the company through dealers to offer BV Heads as an option.
The 9 original engines being a bit more than just BV heads are the full fat 4.3 as opposed to just heads.
If you have one of those first 9 engines your on hallowed turf.
These cars are all very early examples as the Chimaera I nearly bought over a decade ago was a 92/93 maybe as it was before I knew anything about these cars. I happened to mention this at TVR Power and it was confirmed to me this was indeed one of those first 9 engines built with that special spec. It also had TVR Rocker boxes but I was also told lots of early engines came with those rocker boxes until they had used them up. So just having those boxes means little when it comes to the first 9 tuned engines.
Choosing between them now is folly. With more tuning available than ever before many 4.0 will be just as quick.
The mood music so exhaust note is also subjective.
Leaving a pub car park meet I’d want that de catt early manifold sound for the brilliance it is, soon as I’m out the gate I want the more subtle sound of Catted so my ears don’t vibrate. Having Done some long distance journeys I know which I prefer.
Just personal preference
I was told there were only 9 factory built engines with the full BV heads etc and yes very special at the time.
This prompted the company through dealers to offer BV Heads as an option.
The 9 original engines being a bit more than just BV heads are the full fat 4.3 as opposed to just heads.
If you have one of those first 9 engines your on hallowed turf.
These cars are all very early examples as the Chimaera I nearly bought over a decade ago was a 92/93 maybe as it was before I knew anything about these cars. I happened to mention this at TVR Power and it was confirmed to me this was indeed one of those first 9 engines built with that special spec. It also had TVR Rocker boxes but I was also told lots of early engines came with those rocker boxes until they had used them up. So just having those boxes means little when it comes to the first 9 tuned engines.
Choosing between them now is folly. With more tuning available than ever before many 4.0 will be just as quick.
The mood music so exhaust note is also subjective.
Leaving a pub car park meet I’d want that de catt early manifold sound for the brilliance it is, soon as I’m out the gate I want the more subtle sound of Catted so my ears don’t vibrate. Having Done some long distance journeys I know which I prefer.
Just personal preference
Edited by Classic Chim on Tuesday 24th March 08:23
griffster said:
What???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Perhaps you should cruise through villages, not use excessive throttle and low gears!! -- I am confident this is the first time in history that such a ridiculous comment has been in the same sentence as one of the best sounding cars ever made (excluding Supercars) - You should get yourself a Golf!!
Calm, calm!It's only an opinion for discussion and not something to get worked up about.
Classic Chim said:
How many of these 4.3 Griffs were made?
I was told there were only 9 factory built engines with the full BV heads etc and yes very special at the time.
This prompted the company through dealers to offer BV Heads as an option.
The 9 original engines being a bit more than just BV heads are the full fat 4.3 as opposed to just heads.
If you have one of those first 9 engines your on hallowed turf.
These cars are all very early examples as the Chimaera I nearly bought over a decade ago was a 92/93 maybe as it was before I knew anything about these cars. I happened to mention this at TVR Power and it was confirmed to me this was indeed one of those first 9 engines built with that special spec. It also had TVR Rocker boxes but I was also told lots of early engines came with those rocker boxes until they had used them up. So just having those boxes means little when it comes to the first 9 tuned engines.
Choosing between them now is folly. With more tuning available than ever before many 4.0 will be just as quick.
The mood music so exhaust note is also subjective.
Leaving a pub car park meet I’d want that de catt early manifold sound for the brilliance it is, soon as I’m out the gate I want the more subtle sound of Catted so my ears don’t vibrate. Having Done some long distance journeys I know which I prefer.
Just personal preference
I've driven a genuine 430BV. Quicker than a 500, IMO.I was told there were only 9 factory built engines with the full BV heads etc and yes very special at the time.
This prompted the company through dealers to offer BV Heads as an option.
The 9 original engines being a bit more than just BV heads are the full fat 4.3 as opposed to just heads.
If you have one of those first 9 engines your on hallowed turf.
These cars are all very early examples as the Chimaera I nearly bought over a decade ago was a 92/93 maybe as it was before I knew anything about these cars. I happened to mention this at TVR Power and it was confirmed to me this was indeed one of those first 9 engines built with that special spec. It also had TVR Rocker boxes but I was also told lots of early engines came with those rocker boxes until they had used them up. So just having those boxes means little when it comes to the first 9 tuned engines.
Choosing between them now is folly. With more tuning available than ever before many 4.0 will be just as quick.
The mood music so exhaust note is also subjective.
Leaving a pub car park meet I’d want that de catt early manifold sound for the brilliance it is, soon as I’m out the gate I want the more subtle sound of Catted so my ears don’t vibrate. Having Done some long distance journeys I know which I prefer.
Just personal preference
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