What shall I do - TVR T350/tamora or BMW M3
Discussion
Its new car time again and after recently selling my Chimaera i need another toy. The choices are t350C / tamora or a bmw m3. Just test driven both and are still no clearer. The tvr would be a 2nd car or m3 an everyday car. Tvr blew me away performance wise and m3 was fantastic with all the optional extras. So what is it to be. Anyone out there own both that can advise. Bear in mind that i drive a passat diesel for work and m3 would replace that. So would it be more rewarding to drive an m3 everyday or a T350 occasional. My head and heart are pulling in different directions here. Thanks
What a nice choice!
M3 - do you need the practicality and rear seats.
T350 - don't you want to drive it every day?
In your position, and with the daily driver available, I'd get the TVR. You've had a Chimaera so you know the money pit risks/truth about reliability and so on...why not get a head-turning bit of fun...
M3 - do you need the practicality and rear seats.
T350 - don't you want to drive it every day?
In your position, and with the daily driver available, I'd get the TVR. You've had a Chimaera so you know the money pit risks/truth about reliability and so on...why not get a head-turning bit of fun...
OK, from someone who's had 2 M3s and now have a T350...
My head says; if you're doing a lot of daily miles, the M3 is very nimble and has plenty of creature comforts and....my mum liked it more than my TVR; "I don't like those noisy cars...." and.....erm...that's about it...
My heart says : GET THE TVR!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously.
No, seriously. TVR.
TEEEE VEEEE RRRRR (is it working yet?)
I drive mine everyday. OK, its grumpy when its cold and its not been short of a niggle or two but I've driven a fair few cars and my god, the T350 is by far the most thrilling and rewarding car to drive.
The TVR is the chick magnet too...what? I'm just saying....
My head says; if you're doing a lot of daily miles, the M3 is very nimble and has plenty of creature comforts and....my mum liked it more than my TVR; "I don't like those noisy cars...." and.....erm...that's about it...
My heart says : GET THE TVR!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously.
No, seriously. TVR.
TEEEE VEEEE RRRRR (is it working yet?)
I drive mine everyday. OK, its grumpy when its cold and its not been short of a niggle or two but I've driven a fair few cars and my god, the T350 is by far the most thrilling and rewarding car to drive.
The TVR is the chick magnet too...what? I'm just saying....
Now then - let's add something constructive!
If you can, allow yourself to go with your heart.
I used to run a reliable old BMW. Wonderful old thing, and reliable. Covered 80,000 miles in it for tuppence ha'penny.
Since then I've had three years of running a TVR as only car. Once or twice (and bearing in mind we're talking about over 1000 days of driving) I've come a bit close to the "why do I rely on a TVR to get me somewhere?" I don't think I've ever regretted the decision, though.
It's worth it for the experience, it's a way of life, it's about quality of life. It makes you smile!
If you can let your heart rule - JFDI.
If you can, allow yourself to go with your heart.
I used to run a reliable old BMW. Wonderful old thing, and reliable. Covered 80,000 miles in it for tuppence ha'penny.
Since then I've had three years of running a TVR as only car. Once or twice (and bearing in mind we're talking about over 1000 days of driving) I've come a bit close to the "why do I rely on a TVR to get me somewhere?" I don't think I've ever regretted the decision, though.
It's worth it for the experience, it's a way of life, it's about quality of life. It makes you smile!
If you can let your heart rule - JFDI.
why ask on here , its a pro TVR site so your not likely to get a pro response for the BMW no matter what model , and your only ever likely to get what some one else likes which may not suit you, just look at the facts , build quality as these cars are in a similar price field , the BMW's are very well built and some area's of the TVR's do look a bit kit car , just look at the rear window area of the t350c where the seal sits and then look at the wiring on the tvr's , performance and handling , the BMW is a very capable performer and would proberbly keep up with the TVR's dont forget most TVR owners just like BMW owners are not trained racing drivers . i think the TVR's would hold thier price better than the BMW but then how many times would the TVR have been back to the dealer for fixing, dont belive me just look on this site and read some of the stories, i know some area's of TVR's are shite because i have owned a few and knew about them from the start , how many cars would rot the outriggers on the chassis in less than ten years , not many and some seen to think it the norm for the diff to be buggered by 64k , what a load of crap for a car that cost as much as these do , but then you have to weigh this up when buying , and would you get as much fun out of the BMW as ou would the TVR .......
Ok, i'll argue the M3s side 
Guy (bluesatin) has taken me for a few rides in his M3. It has a Tubi (i think) exhaust and sounds pretty good. He's played around with the engine management to get a few more bhp.
It's honestly a great car. Fast enough, handles very well and the traction control is a nice backup but Guy was flying around some roundabouts and the traction wasn't clicking in. You can have a lot of fun, but if you get it tits up you've got that backup, which you don't have in a TVR.
So, overall, the M3 is a fantastic car which is fun, reliable, good looking etc etc
HOWEVER!!!
Guy also has an Ultima... his M3 is his daily runabout and wet-weather hooning car. It's a bit of a boring car when you compare it to TVRs, Ultimas etc. He admits it.
Therefore:
M3 - great car and fun if you've nothing to compare it with
T350 - MORE fun! but without opening a big can of worms my friends T350 doesn't like being driven hard... has been back to the dealer a lot.
I'd personally get a secondhand M3 and a Caterham Superlight
>> Edited by rico on Saturday 27th March 15:00
Guy (bluesatin) has taken me for a few rides in his M3. It has a Tubi (i think) exhaust and sounds pretty good. He's played around with the engine management to get a few more bhp.
It's honestly a great car. Fast enough, handles very well and the traction control is a nice backup but Guy was flying around some roundabouts and the traction wasn't clicking in. You can have a lot of fun, but if you get it tits up you've got that backup, which you don't have in a TVR.
So, overall, the M3 is a fantastic car which is fun, reliable, good looking etc etc
HOWEVER!!!
Guy also has an Ultima... his M3 is his daily runabout and wet-weather hooning car. It's a bit of a boring car when you compare it to TVRs, Ultimas etc. He admits it.
Therefore:
M3 - great car and fun if you've nothing to compare it with
T350 - MORE fun! but without opening a big can of worms my friends T350 doesn't like being driven hard... has been back to the dealer a lot.
I'd personally get a secondhand M3 and a Caterham Superlight
>> Edited by rico on Saturday 27th March 15:00
rico said:
Ok, i'll argue the M3s side
I'd personally get a secondhand M3 and a Caterham Superlight
>> Edited by rico on Saturday 27th March 15:00
Ignore this man, he would have a used F355... (how about that by the way?)
Second Car: T350
Only Car: T350
This comes from a man who doesnt trust the S6 engine as far as he can throw it. Lifes too short, at the end of the day they are both S6's with known issues - make sure you have a decent warrantee and enjoy.
edited: Must say I am hugely impressed at the abilities of the M3 I was fortunate enough to ride in the other day. Its just not quite a TVR. Would be a perfect garage addition to any fleet already graced with blackpools finest however....
>> Edited by BCA on Saturday 27th March 23:55
BCA said:
Ignore this man, he would have a used F355... (how about that by the way?)
Hell yeah! Although im going off the 355 shape... onto more expensive models
BCA said:
Lifes too short, at the end of the day they are both S6's with known issues - make sure you have a decent warrantee and enjoy.
BCA sticking up for the S6...
My first M3 was an E36 Evo and I thought it was a stunning car. Then a couple of years later, circumstances dictated that I had to get a 4 door saloon. At that time there was no question of having two cars so the M3 had to go. In its place I got, which I could guess you'd call the next best thing, a 330 "Sport" Saloon (auto because I fancied a change!).
Again, the 330 is a very capable car but ultimately I got frustated with the auto (even the "sequential shift" couldn't pacify me). Meanwhile the E46 version of the M3 was released. I held off for about a year and then I cracked. Having been burned by depreciation on my other M3, this time I went for a second hand one.
I thought that going from the 330 back to an newer M3 that I would be gaining more power, more excitement, more fun. The truth, however, is that 99% of the time there is little difference. Yes, driven hard the M3 would wipe the floor with it but essentially it was the same car. Same interior, same exterior, similar feel, similar power. In a word, same.
That's when I did what most of my friends thought was the stupidest thing in the world - swapped a perfectly good, fast and reliable car for a TVR. I had no experience of TVR. To me they were something to drool over. Sexy, powerful, enigmatic cars with a dangerous reputation (and, it has to be said, one of unreliability).
Anyway, I test drove a couple of T350s and I was simply STUNNED! Couldn't stop grinning (never have actually). I was seduced by the dark side. That's when I started to do some research. Find out the issues, find out what real owners were saying. And I know this is a generalisation but people tend to fall into 2 camps. Those that have never had a TVR and tell you how bad they are, and those that have and tell you how much fun they are despite all their faults.
And that is the key for me. If you're going to buy a T350 in the same mindset as an M3 then its a mistake. Things WILL go wrong with the T350. Things can, but statistically probably won't with the M3.
But, the T350 is stupidly fast and thrilling and stunning to look at and is an absolute joy to own (when things aren't going wrong ) and I would never EVER swap it for an M3.
As someone said before - life is too short. I may never buy another TVR (as I've found out before, personal circumstances can mean a change in life-style that forces a more sensible car) but while I can, I want a car that makes me want to drive it. I've never had this with the BMWs.
Even typing this is making me want to take the T350 out and go for a spin - for NO GOOD REASON other than the thrill of driving it! That's the worst thing about TVRs
>> Edited by neil.b on Sunday 28th March 13:31
>> Edited by neil.b on Sunday 28th March 13:36
Again, the 330 is a very capable car but ultimately I got frustated with the auto (even the "sequential shift" couldn't pacify me). Meanwhile the E46 version of the M3 was released. I held off for about a year and then I cracked. Having been burned by depreciation on my other M3, this time I went for a second hand one.
I thought that going from the 330 back to an newer M3 that I would be gaining more power, more excitement, more fun. The truth, however, is that 99% of the time there is little difference. Yes, driven hard the M3 would wipe the floor with it but essentially it was the same car. Same interior, same exterior, similar feel, similar power. In a word, same.
That's when I did what most of my friends thought was the stupidest thing in the world - swapped a perfectly good, fast and reliable car for a TVR. I had no experience of TVR. To me they were something to drool over. Sexy, powerful, enigmatic cars with a dangerous reputation (and, it has to be said, one of unreliability).
Anyway, I test drove a couple of T350s and I was simply STUNNED! Couldn't stop grinning (never have actually). I was seduced by the dark side. That's when I started to do some research. Find out the issues, find out what real owners were saying. And I know this is a generalisation but people tend to fall into 2 camps. Those that have never had a TVR and tell you how bad they are, and those that have and tell you how much fun they are despite all their faults.
And that is the key for me. If you're going to buy a T350 in the same mindset as an M3 then its a mistake. Things WILL go wrong with the T350. Things can, but statistically probably won't with the M3.
But, the T350 is stupidly fast and thrilling and stunning to look at and is an absolute joy to own (when things aren't going wrong
) and I would never EVER swap it for an M3. As someone said before - life is too short. I may never buy another TVR (as I've found out before, personal circumstances can mean a change in life-style that forces a more sensible car) but while I can, I want a car that makes me want to drive it. I've never had this with the BMWs.
Even typing this is making me want to take the T350 out and go for a spin - for NO GOOD REASON other than the thrill of driving it! That's the worst thing about TVRs
>> Edited by neil.b on Sunday 28th March 13:31
>> Edited by neil.b on Sunday 28th March 13:36
Thanks for the replies, especially neil.b second posting, you mentioned depreciation and that was one of my major concerns, that i could spend£36k on a second hand m3 and sell in 2 - 3 years and could potentially only get back £20k depending on whether a newer model has come out by then. But with the TVR only doing 3k a year on average i,m sure i,d be looking at car that wouldnt depreciate half as much.
I,m looking at a T350c on saturday so i,ll have to let you know how it goes.
By the way neil how long have you had your T350 how many miles do you do and whats your experience apart from the driving thrills.
Cheers
I,m looking at a T350c on saturday so i,ll have to let you know how it goes.
By the way neil how long have you had your T350 how many miles do you do and whats your experience apart from the driving thrills.
Cheers
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