One year on and would I do it again?

One year on and would I do it again?

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Discussion

sideways mostly

Original Poster:

2,681 posts

240 months

Tuesday 28th February 2006
quotequote all
About this time last year I was cranky as hell counting down the hours to when I picked up my new T350.

After 12 months and over 10k miles I can honestly say its been a brilliant car so far.
The engine has loosened up beautifully and is now very smooth and powerfull,I just love burying the pedal on a suitable dry and open road! I have noticed I tend to hold onto a lower gear to keep the engine on song and partly to enjoy the noise.
The handling is excellent-traction is very high and steering very sharp and informative.I used to think it a little unsettled on rough surfaced roads but have learnt to trust the car and have adapted my driving style - I now let the car lead me and keeping a light touch on the wheel when the going gets choppy- the car just sorts it.
I have had a few challenges that have demonstrated how well sorted the car is - a bimer jumping out of a side street to turn tight and stopping a few few yards in front of me. I had to really jump on the brakes and she pulled up straight and true in no time at all. Completely forgot to cadence brake but the stopping distance was impressive (in the dry mind).

Cabin is as fresh as new -which you should expect after only a year- but nothing has dropped off or stopped working and it remains a really nice place to be on short blats or long hauls e.g. Liverpool and back in a day.

I have had a few niggles-oil sensors appear to be consumables and I have had the 100 amp starter motor fuse go which is a pain to get at but to be honest I have experienced nothing that dents the charm of this wonderful car.

My dealer The TVR Centre in Barnet has been entirely supportive , efficient and also very tolerant- I'm not the most organised of people!

Its been a good year!





Antrocks

35 posts

221 months

Tuesday 28th February 2006
quotequote all
Very glad to hear it.

I am two months on and 2500 miles in and have no complaints at all. Its been a joy to drive, and no trouble at all. The engine is gradually loosening up, everything works perfectly, and it handles like a dream. I have driven in the worst of the weather this year with no issues (helps driving a very safe speeds) and the dry days have been a revelation.

The T350C is my only car, it can take two sets of golf clubs, enough luggage for a week away, is easy to drive in town (I live in London) and really does work as an 'every day car'. Even my girlfriend likes it.

oldboy

21 posts

226 months

Tuesday 28th February 2006
quotequote all
Bought my T350 last Sept with 2000 miles on the clock - now at 4500 and love it. I drive it everyday even though the journey to the office is just 5 miles! Two niggles though: why no sun visors? and I have to say the driver seat belt locks up to frequently!

TheArb

446 posts

246 months

Tuesday 28th February 2006
quotequote all
sun visors came in on later T350s, around Q2 2003.

maddog-uk

2,392 posts

245 months

Tuesday 28th February 2006
quotequote all
sideways mostly said:


My dealer The TVR Centre in Barnet has been entirely supportive , efficient and also very tolerant- I'm not the most organised of people!



I so have to second that! They are so welcoming to me everytime I see them! Also my car is now 2 years to the day that I ordered it and 20 months on since I got it. It gets better every day!

purpleperil

1,212 posts

283 months

Wednesday 1st March 2006
quotequote all
Glad you're having a good time sideways. unfortunately the TVR niggles finally ground me down and I lost patience so it had to go within the year. No worries though, new car pick-up this morning

GOM

1,650 posts

227 months

Wednesday 1st March 2006
quotequote all
Great to see a positive thread with which I fully concur

chris watton

22,477 posts

259 months

Wednesday 1st March 2006
quotequote all
GOM said:
Great to see a positive thread with which I fully concur


As do I Nice on

dvpeace

611 posts

239 months

Wednesday 1st March 2006
quotequote all
chris watton said:
GOM said:
Great to see a positive thread with which I fully concur


As do I Nice on


ditto

steve11

522 posts

244 months

Wednesday 1st March 2006
quotequote all
sideways mostly said:
- I now let the car lead me and keeping a light touch on the wheel when the going gets choppy- the car just sorts it.


Probably the best advise to give to any new T350 owner.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 1st March 2006
quotequote all
Same story from me.
Picked car up in may, just had 12K service
No days off road other than services (all niggles have waited until services and been fixed then), 1 while u wait trip to dealer to fix oil sensor, (and they let me drive their T350 with upgrade suspension whilst waiting)
Great friendly service from both dealers used (Gatwick & Gorners)

Car still thrills when the loud pedal pressed, and I concur that "feel" improves with time (driver familiarity)

cheers,
sw

sideways mostly

Original Poster:

2,681 posts

240 months

Wednesday 1st March 2006
quotequote all
purpleperil said:
Glad you're having a good time sideways. unfortunately the TVR niggles finally ground me down and I lost patience so it had to go within the year. No worries though, new car pick-up this morning


Good man-have a great day and do tell all.

TVR's rock!

bevbo

49 posts

224 months

Wednesday 1st March 2006
quotequote all
Hi,

I'm Chim based at the moment but I would to be looking for a T350 in around 9-12 months time so I am now following this forum closly. I hope that there are more positive stories over the coming months!!

Bevan.

rev-erend

21,404 posts

283 months

Wednesday 1st March 2006
quotequote all
Got to say I agree too - I've had my T350 for 9 months and use it every day and it has been excellent.

Usual niggles - sunvisors (either none or just to small to work) and seat belts locking, oil & water sensors..

It really is an excellent car - TVR's best yet.

crackedfinger

1,551 posts

228 months

Wednesday 1st March 2006
quotequote all
Please keep the positive posts coming in - I have a friend reading and he has nearly made his mind up on buying one!

>> Edited by crackedfinger on Wednesday 1st March 17:26

Fly Boy

1,282 posts

240 months

Wednesday 1st March 2006
quotequote all
MODS please kill this thread otherwise evertbody will want one....

the pits

4,289 posts

239 months

Wednesday 1st March 2006
quotequote all
Only fault with the t350 I had was the passenger window got stuck open. It Otherwise as stunning to drive as it was to look at. It's such a cool size for a killer fast sports car. It's like an Exige with 350bhp and it's littleness means while it turns heads it doesn't have the 'f-off' quality of a huge f-off sports car like a Lamborghini 'look at my wad' murcielago for example. Top car.

GOM

1,650 posts

227 months

Wednesday 1st March 2006
quotequote all
Come on guys lets make this a huge thread. Keep the positives coming.

Edited to add bring on the Tams and Saggies as well.

>> Edited by GOM on Wednesday 1st March 22:10

doctor_darren

214 posts

221 months

Wednesday 1st March 2006
quotequote all
Well I wasn't going to post and repeat everyone else but GOM suggested we make this a huge positive thread so here goes!

Bought my T350C (May '03) in August '05 with 7k on. Now has 9k on and well, the grin's still there and beginning to hurt a little but I ain't complaining! Only niggle has been an oil temp sensor (this is getting repetitive!), absolutely no other problems at all. As for no sun visors a decent pair of shades sorts that out!

Darren

the pits

4,289 posts

239 months

Thursday 2nd March 2006
quotequote all
Slaggy's too?

I picked up my car last April, so we're now into 11 months of ownership. The first six months have been documented in detail on here and it's a warts and all account with a lot of shameless enthusiasm thrown in, after all the sole purpose of an expensive sports car is to bring some joy and excitement to your life, I've never once used the performance to shorten my journey yet. In fact I've gone out of my way to lengthen them.

The car is an extraordinarily intense slice of motoring nirvana and to date the most enjoyable car to drive down my favourite road. All the fantastic focus and concentration of driving a tuscan is there but the rough edges in the chassis set up have been ironed out. Meaning the balance has been tipped to the right side of the line between thrilling and scary. It's Aliens 2 compared to Alien. Less scary but more exciting. No mean feat in my opinion.

But the best surprise has been the way everything has held together and continues to work very well. I was expecting a TVR to be a nightmare after all you read and hear about them but it genuniely is at least as good as a new Lotus, if not better. I have had niggles and each and every one is well documented but none of them have persisted since the first service iron out. The only thing I've consistently gone on about is the bonnet design but I hear there's now a fix for both ends. It's far more psychological than anything but a rock solid bonnet in front of you is reassuring in a very fast car. If they can achieve that then all will be well and I'll continue to sing TVR's praises while the car contines to perform so brilliantly and reliably.