Man maths help..

[AndyT350]

Hi All,

I've owned my T350C for about 2 1/2 years, it's an early 03 model with getting on for 60k miles on the clock - mechanically its good (touch wood) recent flywheel, clutch, radiator and it's still on its original engine.. but its starting to look a bit tired (especially when compared to some of the immaculate stunners at Chatsworth!), worn seat bolsters, faded carpets and a number of stonechips, scuffs & blemishes and some bubbling on the paint work..

Money no object I'd love to have it re-sprayed (and film protected), re-trimmed and rebuilt to an engine with warranty (str8six/power 4.2 maybe?).

using (very) round numbers..

Re-spray £5K
Film £1K
Re-trim £5K
Rebuild (4.2L) £9K

If i went down this route i'd have an 'better than new' T350 for about £20k (+ the car that I already own.. lets say worth another £20k) so £40k 'investment' all in.. how much would this car then be worth? £30k? Or would it make more sense to sell the T350 and buy a Sagaris? (I realise thats more money again.. but on the plus side their prices keep going up - I do feel that the fully restored T350 with 4.2l engine would be 'better' than a standard sag though, for less $$$..)

I love the T350 and don't plan on getting rid of it any time soon and I also don't think of it as any form of investment, but at the same time don't like to think I would be pi**ing money down the drain!

Anyone have any thoughts? And if i was going to go down refurb route which order would you do the refurbishment in? (I won't be able to afford doing it all in one go so would probably be over a couple of years)

Andy

[Walford]

At 60k miles it will need chassis painting, thats 10k with new bushes, bolts, fuel lines, brake lines, and dampers, to be back as new

[LeeT350c]

Walford said:

At 60k miles it will need chassis painting, thats 10k with new bushes, bolts, fuel lines, brake lines, and dampers, to be back as new

more like 6k for body off and new dampers etc.

http://www.willowsportscars.co.uk/chassis_repair.h...

Cheers

Lee

[SteveSPG]

ive just had a griff respray not as much as youve quoted, and a retrim with dave the trim was much less also...

if its a good car, keep it and freshen it up.

[leef44]

It is indeed man maths. You will never get your money back on whatever work you do on it given the age and mileage. But that's not what it's about. If the car is solid and you are comfortable with it then it is worth keeping and spending the money. You will get the enjoyment of putting the car "right" and knowing its history, compared to spending the money on another car where you are not so sure of the history.

To get the same level of enjoyment/entertainment for your money you would need to get a solid Sagaris (oh yes! that's what you are contemplating).

That really is a dilemma. I think if I had the money and I was really into the Sagaris (which I'm not, I actually prefer the look of the T350) then I would go the Sagaris route because you are more likely to recoup more money when it comes to selling.

[Zippee]

If it helps, last year I had my T350 fully resprayed, armourfended on the nose and sides, wilton wool recarpet (leather is perfect) and a 4.3 Power rebuild (you mention 4.2 but I guess you mean 4.3?). All this cost a lot, 10.5k for the rebuild alone. BUT theres no way it's worth 40k and mines a late 2004 targa with 31k on the clock.
Mines insured at an agreed value of 32k and is in the classifieds at 29k if that helps you at all.
It's also worth remembering a Sag is a good 20-25k above a decent 3.6 T350 - yours probably worth late teens in the state you describe, possibly mid with such mileage and no rebuild (very limiting factor for buyers) so a cost to change of 30k plus at least. Go for a 4.3 and you'll be faster than a standard Sag, sort the shocks out and you'll handle pretty much as well as a Sag, respray and tidy up the tatty bits and you'll have a prettier car than the Sag and it'll all cost a lot less and be fresher and newer - remembering most Sags will not have been resprayed or retrimmed!

[m3coupe]

Man maths work great in my head however if you are in the same boat as me you have a wife to be claiming they don't add up! Bloody woman!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SergSC]

hmmm.... I would maybe spend that much only if I never intended to sell it. Logically the resale argument is simply not a good one. The only reasonable man math argument that you can use to convince yourself to spend that much money is that after all of that you may feel it is all the car you will ever want... or not.

So, my man math conclusion is simply this. Spend 20k now or spend much more in future car purchases that will result in nothing but boring you to death... After all what the feck are you going to get after that that will be remotely as exciting whilst retaining some practicality?

disclaimer: the above man math advice has been provided whilst under the influence of a fine Chilean shiraz.

st I may have man mathed myself into spending 20k....

[Pursyluv]

Andy, assuming you don't want a colour change, the respray will be a lot less than 5k if you take it to Brendan at Concept Performance in Sheffield.

[AndyT350]

Thanks all, I realise my 'man' maths were probably a bit on the high side but thought it was better that way than the other!

Comment about chassis noted - it's serviced at RT Racing and they said it's in pretty good nick but i guess at some point inevitable as the age/milage goes up though..

I live in Sheffield so Brendan at Concept Performance is definitely high on the list when I get round to that - i'd almost certainly keep it the same colour (Lotus Lazer Blue), I have also had a brief chat to Dave (Black Alcantara and blue stitching is the future).

I haven't got a woman so it's only my conscience (and wallet) that stop me doing silly things which is why I thought i'd ask you knowledgeable lot.. I can't see me changing the car for years as honestly can see another car that could replace it (even if I started looking in the 40k+ bracket). If only they where still making new TVRs eh!?

I'll probably make a start this winter then