Newbie requires info/advice

[JLow7]

Hi to everyone on the Wedge Forum! I am currently thinking of buying a 350, been pondering it for a while now, but with summer coming up I'm giving it some serious thought!, as I've always loved the shape (& sound!) of the wedge since I was about 15! Although I have a very good knowledge of cars & am a competent DIY'er & do the majority of stuff myself, both electrical & mechanical, I don't have much knowledge of the wedge! - all I know they are made of fiberglass, produced from 1983 - 1990 & have the Rover 3.5 V8 in them, thats about it! Really I need someone to give me a rundown on the usual stuff - buying advice, parts availability/cost, servicing/specialists etc. Oh & insurance! (I'm 30, never had a accident or claim of any kind). & last but not least - will the running costs be worth it! I was also hoping that maybe an experienced owner/forum member near me could meet up with me & show me round one of these beautiful beasts - & if I do arrange any viewings, possibly come with me to advise, there would be a couple of notes, or a crate of your favorite liquid in it for you. I would pref want to buy one from a owners club/forum member, that has been well looked after & maintained. I will be in a position to buy hopefully around mid June. But I will only have a budget of around £6K max hope to hear from you all! Jamie By the way, I'm in the midlands, about 8 miles from Coventry

[gsx600]

Do it do it do it

Superb experience, range from 2.0l to 4.5l or bigger !!

Easy to maintain (ish), cheap to insure on a classic policy - limited milage about £300 depending on insurer etc

Available from £2k to £12k so £6k should buy you a decent one only requiring some work to tidy to your own liking.

Once you buy one you get hooked, sell it then buy a bigger badder wedge. Come along to the BBWF not that far from you in July either in your new purchase or to see a really mad crowd enjoying the NOISE of that sweet V8.

PS I have a nice black 350i available in that price range, went on pistonheads last night, only selling due to a bigger badder wedge - see above !!

Not a blatant ad really

[wedge girl]

Lots around in your price range, take a good look around.

Ours has never skipped a beat, it's always the other cars that breakdown on me.

Be prepared to spend some money on Optimax though, as once you're behind the wheel you will wonder why you didn't do it sooner.

[JLow7]

Cheers guys & gals, my search won't begin though till mid june earliest, got to go to Salou for hol, spend loads come back, save some money & sell my current car!.

Know all about Optimax - use it in mine!, currently got a 235 bhp Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo, fantastic cars value for money, performance & looks wise, but fancy another rear-wheel drive soft top

[laup99]

Hello...

I wanted one for years....and I got mine last week....you will not regret it!!!!

I'm sure there are so many posts on here and lots more knowledable people so I wont go into what you should be looking for..or try..www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk

But i have to say one of the main reasons for buying my car was this Forum....when I did find the car I had a few questions before i purchased and every one was really helpful.

Good luck

Ohh...insurance...I'm 31 (Just!!!) Try Footman James, 190 quid, fully comp, Breakdown cover...bargain!!! I think they class any thing as a classic upto 1989.

Cheap as chips!!

[jon@127]

I've had mine for about 3 weeks it's Grrrrrrreat.
Only a 280 though but still sounds and goes brill.
I can beat all the insurance quotes so far £170 from AON fully comp classic policy, agreed value, unlimited mileage
www.aon-classiccar.com/
Be wary of the maintenance costs though, I bought a one owner car with just 36000 miles, spotless body chassis and interior but I've still had to spend almost £900 on brake & suspension parts to get it to a condition where I am happy. (maybe I just want to drive round corners too fast)
It could also be bad for your mariage/relationship
Had to promise my wife that I won't do any work on it this weekend and will take her out instead, trouble is the lights went out yesterday on the way home so I have to attend to this minor safety issue!
Jon

[350matt]

Might I suggest coming along to the Northants meet? Its on this coming Thursday at the Turnpike pub in Harpole see
www.tvrcc-northants.co.uk/
I'll be there with my rather heavily developed 350i and I'll happily take you out for spin in it. Theres usually a caouple of other wedges as well

Matt

[blaineuk]

iam near hinckley and hope to be getting a wedge within the next month, so if you want tosee/try one i might be able to help
cheers
blaine

[chunder]

As has been said before you won't regret it and I'm not going to offer any practical advice but - sure there will be plenty of times you wished you had something more mundane, something easier on the juice, something that doesn't leak or rattle, something that doesn't cause the neighbours to hate you and something you can leave in a car park and not worry.
Occasionally you may also wish you had something more reliable.
But every once in a while you will realise that there are no other cars this side of a lottery win that you would rather be in and it makes up for all the rest.

[jaytee1]

You will regret it if you don't buy a wedge! I've had mine about a month now and aboslutely love it. It doesn't matter if you do 30 or 71mph (come on, I know it's illegal but we've all done it!)you feel like a million dollars, and the sound is IMHO you can't get better all round value/smiles per pound. Enjoy!! Jas

[adam quantrill]

We ahould have a thread on buying advice to summarise all the tips.

These are mine (for what it's worth):

1. Road test with the hood on - that way you hear more rattles etc from the mechanicals.

2. At the end of the road test let the car idle until the fan cuts in, and make sure it then brings the temperature down.

3. Oil pressure at normal temp on a V8 should be around 2 bar at 2000rpm.

4. Jack up the back and check the wheel bearings for play and especially the driveshaft UJ's. (Rotate the rear wheels back and forward for the latter).

5. When checking the chassis don't forget the outriggers and sill tubes. Also look for cracks around the chassis tubes near the diff, not a difficult problem to fix but a useful bargaining point.

- Adam

[dickymint]

adam quantrill said:

We ahould have a thread on buying advice to summarise all the tips.

Here's a good one........www.pixeltechnology.co.uk/wedge/buyersguide.html

[mightymouse]

I have just taken the plunge and bought my first wedge a 1987 350i.
Spent a while looking and then did it !!

Can't wait until I pick it up

[JLow7]

Blaine I've sent you an email, MightyMouse give me a rundown on your wedge after you pick it up.

Cheers for the feedback - great forum!, but like I said I've got to shift my modified Fiat turbo coupe before my wedge search starts, looking to get £5200

Anyone near Nuneaton, or anywhere in midlands wants to show off their wedge & take me for a spin, get in touch!

[jmorgan]

Nuneaton? Four years too late else I would have. Get my motor serviced up there.