PRE CAT GRIFF or 500
Discussion
Im Sure this subject has been covered a thousand times before but I've been hunting for a griff 500 for a few months now as i,ve been a griff fanatic for years and years,However i've made the fatal mistake of driving a pre cat and am now totally determined to buy one, The sound blew me away ,my only concern is the age of the one that i've found 92K, I really wanted something a lot newer, although the vehicle is immaculate with very low miles and appears to of been cherished, Am I Likely to regret my decision (AS I aint no Millionaire)with regard to maintaining it, would appreciate any help from pre cat owners, finally is there any difference sound wise between 4L and 4.3
I've had my 4.0 precat for 18 months and it's been totally reliable except a minor stalling problem which was fixed easily (Dirty stepper motor).
Other than servicing my only major expense has been replacment manifolds, which are a common problem on early griffs.
The precats are certainly noiser, but from my experience they all sound slightly different depending upon the condition of the exhaust/manifolds. My car was a lot quieter when I changed the manifolds.
I bought mine for it's condition, but I do wish sometimes that I should have waited for a 4.3. The 4.0 is quick but you do get used to it.
Other than servicing my only major expense has been replacment manifolds, which are a common problem on early griffs.
The precats are certainly noiser, but from my experience they all sound slightly different depending upon the condition of the exhaust/manifolds. My car was a lot quieter when I changed the manifolds.
I bought mine for it's condition, but I do wish sometimes that I should have waited for a 4.3. The 4.0 is quick but you do get used to it.
All the Pre-cats I've been in seem have there own individual awesome sound, especially at full throttle!!!!!
I think my 4.3 sounds different to my mates 4.0, despite having the same exhaust! not sure why?
Bear in mind you might need to pay a bit more for a nice 4.3.
I've no regrets whatsoever.
I think my 4.3 sounds different to my mates 4.0, despite having the same exhaust! not sure why?
Bear in mind you might need to pay a bit more for a nice 4.3.
I've no regrets whatsoever.
you get used to ALL of them.
even 300bhp 500's! (modified)
buy the best one you can! if you like kit (like me) go for a later high spec 500. if you prefer it raw, go for a pre-cat. and any variation in between.
don't buy the first one you try. try several and buy the one YOU LIKE BEST!
simple advice but true.
its going to be your car so get the one YOU are happiest with.
you can always "trade up" later and later cars "should" be more sorted.
minimum miles means minimum usage.
DO drive a car with a few miles on it (3-5k per year)...i bet you prefer it!! if its done a few miles with a couple of owners, it MUST have been reliable AND it'll be nice and loose!
>> Edited by Guillotine on Wednesday 8th September 21:45
>> Edited by Guillotine on Wednesday 8th September 21:46
even 300bhp 500's! (modified)
buy the best one you can! if you like kit (like me) go for a later high spec 500. if you prefer it raw, go for a pre-cat. and any variation in between.
don't buy the first one you try. try several and buy the one YOU LIKE BEST!
simple advice but true.
its going to be your car so get the one YOU are happiest with.
you can always "trade up" later and later cars "should" be more sorted.
minimum miles means minimum usage.
DO drive a car with a few miles on it (3-5k per year)...i bet you prefer it!! if its done a few miles with a couple of owners, it MUST have been reliable AND it'll be nice and loose!
>> Edited by Guillotine on Wednesday 8th September 21:45
>> Edited by Guillotine on Wednesday 8th September 21:46
well lets put it this way...do you want to turn heads or not?
if yes, it has to be a pre cat, you can always tweak it to make it quicker that a 500!!! I have!
just make sure that the car has been used, and was not a museum piece
>> Edited by k77-widow maker on Wednesday 8th September 22:44
if yes, it has to be a pre cat, you can always tweak it to make it quicker that a 500!!! I have!
just make sure that the car has been used, and was not a museum piece
>> Edited by k77-widow maker on Wednesday 8th September 22:44
I was originally looking for a 500 ended up with a 20K mile precat, have never looked back, true to say that later cars were more sorted, I used to tell people to buy as later car as poss, but now i would say just buy a good one, i've seen 92' cars in better condition (inc chassis) than very late models. only down side with buying a precat is that they are relatively more expensive than 500's.
Tim
Tim
Aside from an earlier thread of mine today, I love my 4.3, being an older Griff I can say that all of the issues have been dealt with long since (except I have to change the dampers and springs, well I want to)
As said earlier the manifolds are prone to cracking I have had mine welded recently but plan to replace with s/s next year.
And that exhaust noise, not as loud as my previous SEAC but not far off, sadly the 500's just don't have the same noise for me.
My feeling is that the pre-cat is now at the bottom of the depreciation curve so should'nt lose a shedload of money if you choose to sell later.
Insure the pre-cat on classic insurance too.
As said earlier the manifolds are prone to cracking I have had mine welded recently but plan to replace with s/s next year.
And that exhaust noise, not as loud as my previous SEAC but not far off, sadly the 500's just don't have the same noise for me.
My feeling is that the pre-cat is now at the bottom of the depreciation curve so should'nt lose a shedload of money if you choose to sell later.
Insure the pre-cat on classic insurance too.
Hang on until the spring when I'll probably be selling my 1992 Pre-Cat! Baby forces sale 
. Would love a Cerb replacement but cant justify the running costs.
Shpub - I dont agree at all. I know in your books it always says to buy the newest one you can afford but I know plenty of newer Griffs that have had more problems than mine - you should know, you've answered most of the problems on here
. Its all down to personal preferences, usage levels, and maintenance, rather than age. A low mileage, poorly maintained Griff (new or old) will be a lot more problematic than a well cared for, regularly used one. Theres been no expense spared on my car (FTVRSH, currently with Peninsula) and I know that mechanically its totally sound. When I come to sell it someone out there is going to be very happy with a well sorted car
>> Edited by jam1et on Friday 10th September 11:46
. Would love a Cerb replacement but cant justify the running costs. Shpub - I dont agree at all. I know in your books it always says to buy the newest one you can afford but I know plenty of newer Griffs that have had more problems than mine - you should know, you've answered most of the problems on here
. Its all down to personal preferences, usage levels, and maintenance, rather than age. A low mileage, poorly maintained Griff (new or old) will be a lot more problematic than a well cared for, regularly used one. Theres been no expense spared on my car (FTVRSH, currently with Peninsula) and I know that mechanically its totally sound. When I come to sell it someone out there is going to be very happy with a well sorted car >> Edited by jam1et on Friday 10th September 11:46
Budget is often a good way to resolve this: how much do you want to spend? If you have £13K have a nice precat; if you have £18K why keep £5K back?
There are several ways to make a 500 noisier but it will never sound quite like a precat unless you change the whole exhaust sytem, as the Y-manifold is a different shape and thus resonates differently.
Why not look at both? Eventually, like in a cat rescue centre, the right Griff will choose you
There are several ways to make a 500 noisier but it will never sound quite like a precat unless you change the whole exhaust sytem, as the Y-manifold is a different shape and thus resonates differently.
Why not look at both? Eventually, like in a cat rescue centre, the right Griff will choose you
Just like me, one drive with all that roar, and out comes the cheque book!! 
It's got to be a 500. Someone already said that you get used to the power whatever you get - so when you get a 4 or a 4.3 and you get used to the power you will then wish you got a 500 whereas if you have a 500, when you get used to the power of your 500, you have the satisfaction of knowing there's nowhere else to go - as to "tweaking" a 4 or 4.3 to make it quicker than a 500 (as someone suggested) - I'd like to know what tweak gets you from 250BHP (4.0) or 280BHP (4.3) up to the amazing 340BHP (early 500).
Whatever you buy, make sure it's a good un (I recommend getting an independent inspection by Rob Ingleby) and cherish it, oh, and keep it shiny side up at all times.
Steve
Whatever you buy, make sure it's a good un (I recommend getting an independent inspection by Rob Ingleby) and cherish it, oh, and keep it shiny side up at all times.
Steve
red griff 500 said:
It's got to be a 500. Someone already said that you get used to the power whatever you get - so when you get a 4 or a 4.3 and you get used to the power you will then wish you got a 500 whereas if you have a 500, when you get used to the power of your 500, you have the satisfaction of knowing there's nowhere else to go - as to "tweaking" a 4 or 4.3 to make it quicker than a 500 (as someone suggested) - I'd like to know what tweak gets you from 250BHP (4.0) or 280BHP (4.3) up to the amazing 340BHP (early 500).
Whatever you buy, make sure it's a good un (I recommend getting an independent inspection by Rob Ingleby) and cherish it, oh, and keep it shiny side up at all times.
Steve
I noticed a considerable difference between the 4.0's and the 4.3's that I drove.
But strangely I noticed little difference in performance between the 4.3's and the 500's despite the difference in bhp, I've driven both. Admittedly I was unable to explore the top end capability.
The 4.3 did'nt feel so refined as the 500 and had a rather raw feel about it.
But the noise !!!!!! sold it for me.
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