What to go for

[Stev8s]

Reluctantly sold my V8s the other week and am on the lookout for a griff but do not know which to go for.I know everyone will have different opinions but any help appreciated.
Personally I like the big 4.3 pre-cats or a 500 both very nice.Everytime I went to a meet or classic car show I end up parking next to one and thought one day so now the time has come.Obviously owning a Tvr I know all about chassis and out riggers anything else to look for on griffs

[Milky400]

easy buy a chim

[Ant.]

Milky400 said:

easy buy a chim

What , and then admit it????? Nah.




Precats are the way to go, everyday...

[sunwharf]

Have you driven a 4.3 and a 500?

Speaking as a 4.3 owner, they are quite different. I prefer the 4.3 but it is a more edgy ride than the 500.

Nick

[Uncle Fester]

Milky400 said:

easy buy a chim

Do you mean people who are ‘easy’ by a Chimp; or it’s easy to by a Chimp because they’re as common as muck?

Perhaps you mean they’re easy to buy because the owners are selling them to buy a real mans sportscar?

[Mark (UB)]

Stev8s said:

Reluctantly sold my V8s the other week and am on the lookout for a griff but do not know which to go for.I know everyone will have different opinions but any help appreciated.
Personally I like the big 4.3 pre-cats or a 500 both very nice.Everytime I went to a meet or classic car show I end up parking next to one and thought one day so now the time has come.Obviously owning a Tvr I know all about chassis and out riggers anything else to look for on griffs

I've driven em all, you could get a 4.0/4.3 but I would get a proper one ie 500.

Loads more torque, better brakes, better gearbox, better interior/dash, updated parts etc, TVR used customers as test ducks so a newer car will be loads better than say a 92/93,

Go and drive em all you will see what I'm on about, a newer car will feel loads tighter and is better put together.

Edited by Mark (UB) on Thursday 20th August 08:19

[pwd95]

Just gone from a relatively tired 500 to a well set up Chim 430 & the 430 revs much harder than the 500. To the point where I think the 430 feels a bit sharper.

Now, a well sorted 500 should blow you away, if it's had the breathing sorted & a re map to suit. Best thing you can do is blag a ride/drive in a few, see what YOU think/prefer.

[laz11]

sunwharf said:

Have you driven a 4.3 and a 500?

Speaking as a 4.3 owner, they are quite different. I prefer the 4.3 but it is a more edgy ride than the 500.

Nick

yep 4.3 was my choice and ride can be sorted...I have had nitrons and 500 brakes on mine and now well set up it drives superb. plus had the cam uprated and so puts out a healthy 300bhp and flat tourque curve at 2701bft according to Austec. what i love about the 4.3 is the far revvier nature to the engine so taking it up to 6k is a joy to hear that pre cat howl....and because the torque isn't as huge as the 500 you can put the power down far easier too.

[culminator]

As above. I've also had both. Started off with a 500 in very nice condition, with a few subtle tweaks and a genuine 280bhp. Nice car, lots of power, felt like a great continental cruiser and a nice car to own/live with.

Upgraded to precat, a 4.5 big valve purely because I thought ownership would be something special. the car feels much more like a sports car, very revvy, well sorted handling via Nitrons etc and just a great experience.

Bottom line is, both cars are great, thoroughly under valued at the moment and will never fail to put a big smile on your face. The pre cat does seem to be a bit more special though. I'm sure 500 owners will have a different point of view.

[BJWoods]

culminator said:

As above. I've also had both. Started off with a 500 in very nice condition, with a few subtle tweaks and a genuine 280bhp. Nice car, lots of power, felt like a great continental cruiser and a nice car to own/live with.

Upgraded to precat, a 4.5 big valve purely because I thought ownership would be something special. the car feels much more like a sports car, very revvy, well sorted handling via Nitrons etc and just a great experience.

Bottom line is, both cars are great, thoroughly under valued at the moment and will never fail to put a big smile on your face. The pre cat does seem to be a bit more special though. I'm sure 500 owners will have a different point of view.

I had a pre cat 4.3 for 6 years, and upgraded to a 500

And to be honest, if an 18 year old 4.3, and a 11 year old 500 (ie my 2 cars)

have not both had new dampers springs, geometry set up, bushes, etc,etc,etc

then they should have...

If all these have been done, they will probably be very similar handling wise...
Similarly a good 500, JUST has the edge on the best 4.3 performnce wise.

Then again that assumes both are totally standard (unlikely now)

park a 4.3 next to a 5.0, in the same colour combos, and they are essentially identical looking, bar the slightly different nose...

I'd have my old 4.3 back if I could, but I'd keep my 500 as I think it is the slightly better car (5% in it)

an old 5.0 (93/94) griff will be VERY similar to a 4.3...

my 98, pas serpentine engine, slightly more develped is 'better' than an early 500, imho...

BUT of course, very few are totally standard any more.

Mine looks it, engine wise it is, but dampers, brakes have been improved.

Just look at a few of each, and see the differences.

B