Thoughts on this T350T

[Zumbruk]

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

Pro;

- Squeeky clean service history
- Nice colour & reasonable interior
- Engine rebuild (although not TVR Power one, but likely a goody)
- Lots of power
- Hydratrack? Was this an option from new, and if so, how much was it?

Con;

- Expensive for a T350. Is it worth it?

Not sure;

- Are these really "light weight"? "Vinyl ester bodied"? What does this mean?

Thoughts, comments, etc.?

Oh, and does anyone have any pictures of the interior of the roof of a T350T? How are the panels held on? And what do you do with them when you remove them? Do you get a bag to keep them in the boot?

[Zumbruk]

jrb43 said:

It sounds as if you may be new to T350s.

Well, newish. I've sat in a couple (belonging to fellow Speed Championship competitors), although I've never driven one.

jrb43 said:

I'd suggest that you're looking at the rarest of the rare there and that you could get a more "common" (haha - there are only 65 or so and I know mine's not for sale...) T350T for a little over 50% of this price (buying privately).

There's a private one on PH presently with a Power 4.3 rebuild (I'm not even going to consider standard (i.e. unrebuilt) engined ones) for £28K, which is nearer 75%! Looking through the ones for sale, I would say ~50% is a little optimistic!

This is a retirement present to myself - I have the budget. I was going to buy a 911, but decent ones are stupid money now, so I'm thinking about a T350 (I have a Chimaera at the moment). Oh, well, I've only just started looking and there's no rush!

Edited by Zumbruk on Wednesday 15th April 15:23

[Zumbruk]

Zippee said:

Hugh, Mines at S & Design at the moment else I'd let you have a look over and see what they're like inside for the roof.

That's very kind. I may yet take you up on that, once it comes back from S&D.

[Zumbruk]

Well, went to see it yesterday. First off, many brownie points to Str8Six for staying open on Saturday afternoon so we could go and look at it.

It's gorgeous. Better than when it left the factory. Much better. And it hasn't even been PDI'd yet. Looking at the other T350s on PH, it isn't actually a bad price, since it's a one owner, low mileage car that's been looked after extremely well without regard to cost. And that 4.3 litre engine is a peach. Pottering through the village at 30mph in 4th, then storming down the motorway at 110mph, equally happy. And the noise! Glorious. I have no idea if the power figure is genuine, since I never got anywhere near the edges of the envelope, but I wouldn't be surprised - it picks up its skirts at 100mph in 5th with no effort at all.

So, did I buy it? Well, no. The wind noise from the targa top would drive me crazy. If it had been a coupe, then I would have. Someone who wants a superb T350T and is happy with the consequences of that decision is going to get a *really* nice car. If only it had been a coupe. Oh, well, the search goes on.

Anyone wanna buy a Chimaera 450?

[Zumbruk]

ShiDevil said:

Just adjust the panels or get Str8Six to add additional foam which many of us have and job done.

When I enquired if there was anything that could be done about the noise, I was told no. It's
not only the air leaks, which could likely be fixed, but the noise from the air rushing over the panels outside, which obviously cannot be changed. All things considered, I'd rather go without the targa top.

ShiDevil said:

The exhaust obviously isn't loud enough either

TBH, this desire among some TVR owners for more noise mystifies me. I think they're quite loud enough already (and a number of race tracks agree with me), even too loud in some cases. Yes, the noise is amusing for a few minutes, but it gets old (and boring and irritating) *really* quickly, especially on the motorway.

[Zumbruk]

Targarama said:

It depends on the car as all TVRs are individual, but my panels are silent up to 100mph.

The "problem" is that I'm not prepared to commit £40K on the basis of "it depends".

I haven't got my heart set on a Targa, so it's not a problem for me. A coupe will do just fine.