A loaded question

[Englishman]

I just can't stop lusting after the sound of big-engined wedges having owned a number previously.

But has anyone else sold a later car and gone 'back' to a wedge? If so, was it a good or bad experience?

[Mike Brewer]

Hi David .Cant help sorry .Love lotus and Tvr.Allways looking at images for 390.Your old car looked fantastic ....Mike

[KKson]

I've not personally but I think there are several on the forum that have tried other TVR's etc and gone back to the Wedge. Glen's last car was a Chimp but his new toy is a 420SE, although he does change his TVR's more often than my 13 year old lad changes his undies...... I think I smell him approaching right now.

[Englishman]

Mike Brewer said:

Hi David .Cant help sorry .Love lotus and Tvr.Allways looking at images for 390.Your old car looked fantastic ....Mike

Off topic, but as it's mine, who cares. A couple of pics of my favourite old wedge Lotuses:

[TVRinBFG]

Sort of. I was asked to sell a friends 390SE recently and thought it pretty awful to drive and not at all how I remembered. It "felt" big and cumbersome compared to the Chimaera/Griffiths I had in stock. However, one of my customers, who has a T350C and a Cerbera, did like it and bought it.

[Englishman]

And to balance things up, here are a couple of my old favourite wedge TVR's:

[Mike Brewer]

Thanks for the pictures of the lotus and Tvr .Got to admire both companyMike

[Englishman]

TVRinBFG said:

Sort of. I was asked to sell a friends 390SE recently and thought it pretty awful to drive and not at all how I remembered. It "felt" big and cumbersome compared to the Chimaera/Griffiths I had in stock. However, one of my customers, who has a T350C and a Cerbera, did like it and bought it.

I know what you mean, I went to look at a few last year and was dissapointed, but think that was largely down to condition/the owners expectation of price. But I'm still thinking there must be a really good original one out there at a realistic price. Trouble is I then have to sell a more recent car to make room, probably my Cerb.

[Terence]

I had a 350i (so not the bigger engined wedge) back in the early 2000s sold it and bought a 400 chimp which was a lovely car and more refined that the wedge, but I never really got on with it. Sold the chimp after a year or so and went wedge hunting again. Found one that sounded perfeect on paper but when I drove it, it just did not give me the same feeling as the first wedge (which Keith now owns). Went and saw a locally advertised 350i last year that ticked very few of my boxes but when I saw it and heard it I bought it.

So in answer to the original question "yes I have" and am very please with current car.

[KKson]

Terence said:

I had a 350i (so not the bigger engined wedge) back in the early 2000s sold it and bought a 400 chimp which was a lovely car and more refined that the wedge, but I never really got on with it. Sold the chimp after a year or so and went wedge hunting again. Found one that sounded perfeect on paper but when I drove it, it just did not give me the same feeling as the first wedge (which Keith now owns). Went and saw a locally advertised 350i last year that ticked very few of my boxes but when I saw it and heard it I bought it.

So in answer to the original question "yes I have" and am very please with current car.

And I thank you for my Wedge which puts a smile on my face every time I drive it. It may not be the fast Wedge out there but is sounds superb, pops and bags like no other and is as comfy as an old pair of slippers. I love it and MOT passed yesterday so two decent runs planned both tomorrow and Sunday. Cheers.

[gmw9666]

KKson said:

I've not personally but I think there are several on the forum that have tried other TVR's etc and gone back to the Wedge. Glen's last car was a Chimp but his new toy is a 420SE, although he does change his TVR's more often than my 13 year old lad changes his undies...... I think I smell him approaching right now.

Right then.....pretty qualified to answer this one as my TVR history is as follows

1995 400 HC Chim - blue
2001 Tuscan 4.0 Speed Six - light blue
1999 500 Chim - silver
1998 400 Chim - green
1999 400 Chim - grey
1978 Taimar - white
1973 5000M - burgundy (more of a pile of bits vs a car lol)
1981 350i super charged wedge - silver (RIP)
1986 420SE wedge - red
1985 350i wedge - white
1998 400 Chim - silver
1993 430 Chim - green
1988 420SE wedge - grey

I'm sure I'm missing one lol

So old vs newer, my view

The chimaera is a really nice car, to be honest you could use it every day, pop to the shops etc and there is my first point. It's a little bit "nice". Now compare to the Tuscan and the fat boy 420 wedges its like going out with a bear......all cuddly and nice but will not hesitate to rip your head off at a moments notice

Randomly the most attention I have got in public by far is the wedges. The noise is to die for :-) especially when you run with zero silencers lol

All in all its a totally different drive but I can't say it's better or worse. If you are in the Midlands, swing by and I'll take you out. 286bhp with Granada brakes is something to experience once in your life lol

Ps apologies for any gramma / spelling I've been on the corona all night ;-)

Edited by gmw9666 on Friday 22 April 21:26

[KKson]

gmw9666 said:

Ps apologies for any gramma / spelling I've been on the corona all night ;-)

Edited by gmw9666 on Friday 22 April 21:26

A few ciders for me and now on the red. You heading to Oswestry Sunday?? Midlands Breakfast club is looking interesting. Catch up soon. Cheers.

[gmw9666]

KKson said:

A few ciders for me and now on the red. You heading to Oswestry Sunday?? Midlands Breakfast club is looking interesting. Catch up soon. Cheers.

Zero car action this weekend :-(

Wife got me decorating booooooo!!!!!!

[mrzigazaga]

gmw9666 said:

Zero car action this weekend :-(

Wife got me decorating booooooo!!!!!!

Just tell her your nipping out for some brush cleaner...

[Nick Brough]

I came somewhat late in life to TVR’s and have only owned 2, over the last 2 years a Griffith and my current 400SE bought in February this year. I did drive the Griffith to Croatia and back last year so got to know it quite well.

In my opinion the Griff is the best looking car TVR made, and if it were not for the fact I have two other expensive hobby cars I would probably have hung the expense and kept it. Having found TVR I did not really want to be without one so bought a 400SE.

I actually prefer driving the Wedge, that may be due to the fact it has a newer very sweet engine fitted rather than the standard one. It is defiantly more archaic than the Griff but I am no racer and am used to driving even more archaic pre war cars. The Wedge to me actually feels more fun to drive than the Griff, strangely it seems to get a lot more attention, not that that particularly concerns me just an observation.

Also, at the risk of sounding somewhat petty, the Griff roof did not fold particularly flat, and its stowage method in the boot was particularly irksome compared to the simplicity off the Wedge.

Finally, the Griff was 2 ½ times the cost of the Wedge when it sold, and I really don’t think it is 2 ½ times the car. Just wish I had bought it before wasting money on an EVO 5 and Honda S2000 (no torque), there again if I had done that I may never have had the chance to own a Griff.

Edited by Nick Brough on Saturday 23 April 02:24

[adam quantrill]

When I had my first wedge I bought an SD1, extracted the engine and gearbox and sold it to the scrappy, does that count???

I also once looked at buying a Grief, but it "wasn't' for me".