Tom Hoste - inaugural PH 'carpooler'
Let's face it, buying a TVR can be a bit of a challenge even in the country where they were made, so to choose to run one if you live abroad shows some proper minerals. That, or an acute case of masochism...
So say a big PH hello to 'Carpool' volunteer Tom Hoste, who hails from Belgium, and who runs a rather fine looking TVR T350t 'Red Rose'. Read on to hear what he's got to say about it:
"I always wanted a fast car. There was no way that I could afford to run anything exotic but I did have enough money for a good TVR. I had heard all the horror stories and followed the online discussions but still wanted one.
"Not sure what model to get, I contacted the official TVR dealership for Belgium for a few test drives. In a way I was really lucky because the guys at MF Cars did not sugar-coat anything. After my first test drive in a T350, I was hooked. Never had I expected this kind of power in a car for this kind of money. I had to have one.
"So one-and-a-half years ago I bought the car I wanted. She is a TVR T350t from 2004 with the 'Targa' roof, in Formula Red. I decided not to go for the Tuscan as the T350 is generally accepted as an easier drive. Only my T350 is a 'Red Rose' version with the four litre engine from the Tuscan S, bigger brakes, etc... Ah, and also a Sagaris spoiler which was added by the previous owner and much appreciated. For the rest the car is pretty standard for a later T350. It had about 25,000 miles on the clock and currently has done 34,000 - which isn't bad for eighteen months. I do drive my TVR as much as possible.
"Some people talk about the 'character' of a TVR, which is a nice way of saying that there are issues. Indeed, there are little issues from time to time. For example the interior light that always fell off until it was fixed (glued back on...), the lid of the glove compartment that doesn't close properly or the windscreen wipers that lift away from the screen at higher speeds... But, and personally it's a big but, try to imagine the feeling I get when I am doing about 40 miles per hour, drop to second gear and floor it.... I get knocked back into the seat while this bellowing noise from the exhaust gets overrun by the engine going hyper. I read somewhere that the car should do a 3.8 from 0 to 62mph but probably not with me driving. I do try though.
"I maintain my engine as described on several PistonHeads fora (thanks for the info!) and in my unbiased opinion it runs as smooth as theoretically possible. I treat the car with the respect it deserves. I always wait until the oil has the right temperature before I floor it and have had no issues whatsoever."
(NB. Don't read anything odd into the fact we've run an 'international' PHer first in Carpool - Tom simply got his act together quickest when we started rounding up submissions. Besides, lots of great things come from Belgium... Ed.)
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