I have a TH Exec, with stock lights. I've been tossing up between getting a set of parabolics or keeping the factory ones. I've head that the parabolics are worse than the standard lights, but I was wondering if anyone has before and after shots and even can explain how the two light setups differ? I wouldn't mind the wank factor of parabolic lights, but if the light from them is seriously bad, then I will give them a miss. But another query rises, if I was to get parabolics and say, get some better quality bulbs, would the difference be less noticable/almost invisible?

Cheers guys.

I have a TH Exec, with stock lights. I've been tossing up between getting a set of parabolics or keeping the factory ones. I've head that the parabolics are worse than the standard lights, but I was wondering if anyone has before and after shots and even can explain how the two light setups differ? I wouldn't mind the wank factor of parabolic lights, but if the light from them is seriously bad, then I will give them a miss. But another query rises, if I was to get parabolics and say, get some better quality bulbs, would the difference be less noticable/almost invisible?

Cheers guys.

They can't be to much worse otherwise the TOP of the range 3rd gens wouldn't have come with them.....

They can't be to much worse otherwise the TOP of the range 3rd gens wouldn't have come with them.....

Mate they have a ****ing awful light beam, fact.

Mate they have a ****ing awful light beam, fact.

Plus one.....

best performing magna para's (Butt ugliest) TL to KW for the win...
Mind you, TE - KJ paras, come up well with +100 globes..
Ice Warrior just did his, I noticed the difference, and I was driving behind him....

Standard lights give off a better light output than the parras.I have used both and the std lights are better IMO but i put up with the parras for the over all look of them and i have the angel eyes fitted to them also.The light output is not terrible by all means just not as good as the std.

Parabolics are worse than the low spec lights???

the first time I noticed how bad they were, I was driving 100 meters behing IceWarrior and he started going round a bend, I high beamed him from behind just so he could see where he was going.

He did complain later at the meet-up point, he bitched that I turned mine off....

Parabolics are worse than the low spec lights???

Parabolics are low spec light output and beam compared to normal headlights

But another query rises, if I was to get parabolics and say, get some better quality bulbs, would the difference be less noticable/almost invisible?
Better quality globes will make it... better. It still won't be fantastic though.

I have paras, and put a set of Philips Power2Night (+50) bulbs in. It was a noticeable upgrade, but the light output was still pretty crappy. I spoke to my auto electrician, who recommended I upgrade to HIDs. So I have 35w HIDs in my low beam and high beam. High beam is pretty reasonable (having them aimed properly definitely helps), but low beam is still meh. My mum's VE Commodore with stock bulbs has better lighting.

If you want looks + performance, get a set of paras, ditch the standard reflectors, and add a set of projectors. maggie3.5 did it - it looks hot and I imagine it'd be brilliant to drive with.

The best third Stock Gen Lights I've seen are fitted to QMD///801's TJ exec that his mum uses.. It was incredible for a third gen... As good as the TW easy..

Mate they have a ****ing awful light beam, fact.

I wouldn't say awful just a little bit worse than the Executive ones.

However im using standard globes, ive raised the adjustment screws and ensured the casing is clean, I wouldn't say im dissapointed with light output, well worth the visual upgrade.

I agree with the above - the parabolics have much worse light output than standard lights. I've had both in the past and the standard lights wins hands down. While I enjoyed the looks of classy one-piece parabolics while I had them (someone smashed my front end when they drove my car) the light output was poor. The throw was weak and they barely lit up anything beyond 2-3m infront of me. Almost seen nothing on the side of the roads either. I used high beams heaps as well.

I'm back onto standard lights now with a nice set of Phillips Xtreme power bulbs. Switching away from my current setup is hard! Not only because it'll cost me money to buy para's but because it has such a crap light dispersion & vision. How much do I sacrifice for good looks? Beauty vs. Brains - always a hard choice!!