differences: 350, 390, 400 - iS, SE, SEA etc.
Discussion
Hi,
Quick question. What (in broad terms) are the differences between all the V8 wedges? I know the SEAC was a carbon bodied special and thats about all as far as the differences go!
Put another way: what would I loose out on with a 350i as opposed for a more exotic wedge?
Could also do with finding out something of the common problems and 'things to look out for' for the various models!
Chris.
Quick question. What (in broad terms) are the differences between all the V8 wedges? I know the SEAC was a carbon bodied special and thats about all as far as the differences go!
Put another way: what would I loose out on with a 350i as opposed for a more exotic wedge?
Could also do with finding out something of the common problems and 'things to look out for' for the various models!
Chris.
Chris,
Well the first thing is : all those models look visually different.
So - it's really personal choice what you prefer.
All are basically mechanically sound with no inbuilt problems to look out for but as ever - condition is everything.
With cars being 15 ~ 20 years old - the chassis outridders need checking : if it looks bad : just walk away.
Front:
Back :
Why not pop along to an owners meeting to see a few in the flesh is a good idea.
Well the first thing is : all those models look visually different.
So - it's really personal choice what you prefer.
All are basically mechanically sound with no inbuilt problems to look out for but as ever - condition is everything.
With cars being 15 ~ 20 years old - the chassis outridders need checking : if it looks bad : just walk away.
Front:
Back :
Why not pop along to an owners meeting to see a few in the flesh is a good idea.
Ye Olde Wecg said:
Easy, just click on the link at the top of this page called 'Wedge Specs' it's all there. Well worth exploring the rest of the links while you are at it, there's loads of good information hiding there.
I take it you are in the tvrwedgepages (wedge forum linked to PH) the specs link is here.......
www.pixeltechnology.co.uk/wedge/welcome.html
dickymint said:
Ye Olde Wecg said:
Easy, just click on the link at the top of this page called 'Wedge Specs' it's all there. Well worth exploring the rest of the links while you are at it, there's loads of good information hiding there.
I take it you are in the tvrwedgepages (wedge forum linked to PH) the specs link is here.......
www.pixeltechnology.co.uk/wedge/welcome.html
That has confused me!
Do these postings appear somewhere else as well then?
I'm seeing and reading this in / on the TVR web pages, which seem to be hosted by pistonheads. Is there a parallel universe I'm missing out on? Do please enlighten me!
dickymint said:
WOW Thanks Dickie, just clicked that link
I thought Halloween was yesterday 
Ye Olde Wecg said:
That has confused me!
Do these postings appear somewhere else as well then?
I'm seeing and reading this in / on the TVR web pages, which seem to be hosted by pistonheads. Is there a parallel universe I'm missing out on? Do please enlighten me!
www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=12&t=322279&p=1
Edited by badred on Wednesday 1st November 13:24
Chris71 said:
Hi,
Quick question. What (in broad terms) are the differences between all the V8 wedges? I know the SEAC was a carbon bodied special and thats about all as far as the differences go!
Put another way: what would I loose out on with a 350i as opposed for a more exotic wedge?
Quick question. What (in broad terms) are the differences between all the V8 wedges? I know the SEAC was a carbon bodied special and thats about all as far as the differences go!
Put another way: what would I loose out on with a 350i as opposed for a more exotic wedge?
I don't think you would lose out by buying a 350i as opposed to one of the larger engine cars. Sure, performance wise it won't be as fast, but unless you're actually racing another more exotic Wedge its not going to be that noticable in the real world. We're talking about a couple of seconds difference to 100mph here between the smallest and largest V8 engined Wedges, and for ingear acceleration you can always drop an extra cog if you really need that extra shove of power on a back road. Either way, you'll still be making mince meet of most cars out there, and even if you do get beaten by someone in their new technically superior Eurobox, you can always change the mood to a relaxing drive, take the roof off to let the sun in and enjoy the effortless cruise that the V8 supplies.
There are some real plus points to owning "just" a 350 too. If your budget is a bit tight and you blow the engine up, then you can just lift one straight out of a scrapped Rover SD1 for a couple of hundred quid and drop it in. The larger engines were modified by TVR so would probably cost more to fix and keep in tune. Also, as previously mentioned on here, the chassis outriggers are prone to rusting. The 350 and some of the early 390/420's had removeable sills allowing you to paint or replace them without removing the entire body. Later cars did not have removeable sills, so the job was obviously more costly. Fuel consumption isn't normally something a Wedge owner thinks about too much, however a 350 should be able to return 23mpg up to around 30mpg in daily driving. I have seen 400SE owners quoting figures of around the mid teens though, so if running costs are an issue, it could also be another thing to think about. Is that extra bit of omph worth up to 10mpg???
I think that whatever you buy, you will enjoy it. Buy a decent 350 and you may never want to change it again, or after a few years you may want to experience something a little more exotic. The body styles may be the deciding factor on what you choose - the brash and in your face styling of the 350 compared to the more subtle and rounded 400SE. Interiors varied too, with the 400/450SE cars and some of the later SEAC's having a more rounded/ergononic dashboard. If youre on a tight budget then the slightly more "standard" 350 could be easier & cheaper to maintain & run then a 450SE/SEAC. I think it would be best for you to decide on a purchasing budget, and also on how much you would want to spend on running costs each year, and then see what you can get for your money. A cheap but scruffy 400SE at 5k with 150,000 original miles on it may seem like a bargin when compared a 350 with 40,000 miles on it, however if that engine starts to smoke the bills will roll in... If you can budget for that, then go for it. If not, then best play it safe for now in my opinion.
You can always drop a standard 4.6 RV8 in a 350i, if you think you are up to it. For me a 350i is at the moment enough, as in the car can do more then I am! So a 350i provides old fashioned and raw motoring, no doubt about it. And as said before, you will only notice differences with the more exotic wedges if you meet one. Will that happen in everyday live on the road? No. So you need to go to TVR meetings and trackdays to see, here, and feel the difference.
Try a 350i, and you have the enjoyment of a big bad wedge, until you try a badder wedge: then you probably want to 'upgrade'.
Rob
Try a 350i, and you have the enjoyment of a big bad wedge, until you try a badder wedge: then you probably want to 'upgrade'.
Rob
dickymint said:
Ye Olde Wecg said:
Easy, just click on the link at the top of this page called 'Wedge Specs' it's all there. Well worth exploring the rest of the links while you are at it, there's loads of good information hiding there.
I take it you are in the tvrwedgepages (wedge forum linked to PH) the specs link is here.......
www.pixeltechnology.co.uk/wedge/welcome.html
The 350SE wasn't built in 1984 and I'm fairly sure it doesn't have 280 bhp!
More info here if it needs updating http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TVR_350S
badred said:
Ye Olde Wecg said:
That has confused me!
Do these postings appear somewhere else as well then?
I'm seeing and reading this in / on the TVR web pages, which seem to be hosted by pistonheads. Is there a parallel universe I'm missing out on? Do please enlighten me!
www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=12&t=322279&p=1
Edited by badred on Wednesday 1st November 13:24
I am now enlightened! Thank you.
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