T350T targa roof panels?
Discussion
I would be interested to hear owners veiws on the T350T's Targa roof. Do they whistle? If so is this easily fixed?
What are they like at high speed - with panels both on and off?
Are they really worth it in the summer ie do you get much of that convertible sensation or not?
Warts and all replies much appreciated.
Having owned Convertibles for the past 4 years, when i made the move to the T350 I insisted I got a Targa to keep the 'sky feeling', and this may sound daft to some but i actually prefer the look of the 'T' to the 'C'. See my profile for pics. I certainly have no regrets in my choice either way. The amount of "it looks very 'batman!' comments i get (as they point to the targa panels) is incredible, and they are always positive! 
The targa panels have gone through various modifications in the past few years including moving the 'butterfly' clips to the back and a new 'seal' on 2004> models. If fitted incorrectly, they will whistle badly, but it only takes a few gos at getting the correct way of fitting them to 'your' (each car is different because the seals may be glued in a slightly didferent place, roof curvature etc) car, and you will know how to fit them perfectly. It takes a good 5 minutes to fit them both properly IMO. Also wind buffeting is only slight when you have them off, meaning you get a lovely open roof feeling without all the noise.
There is a rumour floating around that the 'T' has been discontinued, but this is incorrect. It has simply been removed from the pricelist for some reason. But if you were to go into a dealer and ask for a new T350T to be built, they can do it for you no problem, with the usual premium for the 'T' model.
HTH
The targa panels have gone through various modifications in the past few years including moving the 'butterfly' clips to the back and a new 'seal' on 2004> models. If fitted incorrectly, they will whistle badly, but it only takes a few gos at getting the correct way of fitting them to 'your' (each car is different because the seals may be glued in a slightly didferent place, roof curvature etc) car, and you will know how to fit them perfectly. It takes a good 5 minutes to fit them both properly IMO. Also wind buffeting is only slight when you have them off, meaning you get a lovely open roof feeling without all the noise.
There is a rumour floating around that the 'T' has been discontinued, but this is incorrect. It has simply been removed from the pricelist for some reason. But if you were to go into a dealer and ask for a new T350T to be built, they can do it for you no problem, with the usual premium for the 'T' model.
HTH
I'm another who thinks the Targa looks a lot better than the coupe (although the coupe is still lovely). One thing I enjoy about TVRs is the open-top experience and the T350 with the roof panels out in the summer is great, but still still get the safety of the roll cage. You get more headroom in a Targa (roof on) with cool looks and none of the "honest there's enough headroom" look of the Sagaris roofline.
I concur with Kevin's comments about fitting. Sometimes you need to fiddle around for a minute to get them perfect (for silence at higher speeds).
Buffeting isn't too bad, but I find long journeys with the roof out best if I remove the seat base (I'm really lanky though).
I concur with Kevin's comments about fitting. Sometimes you need to fiddle around for a minute to get them perfect (for silence at higher speeds).
Buffeting isn't too bad, but I find long journeys with the roof out best if I remove the seat base (I'm really lanky though).
I think in some colours the C looks better but I agree that the roof panels look really cool on the black one in kmpowell's profile.
I ran a T350C for a while and absolutely loved it to drive and to look at. In fact I couldn't take my eyes off it. Such a nicely proportioned car in the flesh.
Thanks for your comments, hopefully a few more T owners will come forward as if I was to get another T350 I think it might have to be a 'T'.
I ran a T350C for a while and absolutely loved it to drive and to look at. In fact I couldn't take my eyes off it. Such a nicely proportioned car in the flesh.
Thanks for your comments, hopefully a few more T owners will come forward as if I was to get another T350 I think it might have to be a 'T'.
the pits said:
I think in some colours the C looks better but I agree that the roof panels look really cool on the black one in kmpowell's profile.
If you don't mind, it's not black, It's 'Sapphire Pearl' !
It looks blacker in those pics, but its actually a VERY dark blue colour produced by Bentley. Some dealers call it Black, some call it Blue, but the offical name is just 'Sapphire Pearl'. 
Sapphire Pearl - of course it is! How could I have missed it! Saying that I have seen a Sapphire pearl car at Peninsula and it did look even better than black, but unfortuately it's a subtlety the internet fails to capture!
If you're from Bristol my guess is that you bought the car from Peninsula so I may well have seen your actual car and I don't mind admitting I was seriously thinking of buying it!
If you're from Bristol my guess is that you bought the car from Peninsula so I may well have seen your actual car and I don't mind admitting I was seriously thinking of buying it!
the pits said:
Sapphire Pearl - of course it is! How could I have missed it! Saying that I have seen a Sapphire pearl car at Peninsula and it did look even better than black, but unfortuately it's a subtlety the internet fails to capture!
If you're from Bristol my guess is that you bought the car from Peninsula so I may well have seen your actual car and I don't mind admitting I was seriously thinking of buying it!
I certainly did get mine from Allan Williams at Peninsula - good guess sir!
I went to buy a second hand one, but I struck a deal on the new one that was too good to refuse! I have taken so many photos of it, but it always comes out looking blacker than it's true colour. For some reason the blue in the paint never shows in pictures.
I think my original thread shows it the best way possible in picture, when it was under the PDI area lights. www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=194622&f=7&h=0&hw=pearl
>> Edited by kmpowell on Thursday 1st December 10:15
kmpowell said:
Kev - have you got your car back yet?
I've been told the part they are waiting for should be with them this week, so i'm hoping to get it back this w/e early next week, fingers x'd!
Sorry to hear its taken so long. As least the weather has been crap in the meantime.
stag said:
Mines crap thats why I am selling it
Somehow I don't think I or any other ph'er will be making you an offer for your car then! Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!
Would you be so kind as to elaborate on why your car is 'crap'? I was interested in people's experiences of the T roof and whether they think it's worth it over a C. Do you think the T roof is crap too or just the whole car, TVR in general, british engineering and the weather?
>> Edited by the pits on Friday 2nd December 08:51
Put it this way the 350 any any other tvr could be a great car, and I always thought that they were. But I am now at an age that I am being realistic and realise that 42k for a car that you have to work on is too much to live with. I enjoyed working on cars when I was younger but now find that I do not have the time or the inclination. I have built and raced kit cars in the past. Tvr's could be fantastic cars if the build quality was improved and reliability issues addressed.
I will not mention problems that I have had but they were acceptable to me when I new that I would have time to work on it. As I did with my previous Cerb. Anyone who knows about cars will know that if they buy a tvr it will have to be worked on.
Yes the t panels are very noisy when going over 70. Throw them away and drive bare back!
I will not mention problems that I have had but they were acceptable to me when I new that I would have time to work on it. As I did with my previous Cerb. Anyone who knows about cars will know that if they buy a tvr it will have to be worked on.
Yes the t panels are very noisy when going over 70. Throw them away and drive bare back!
My own experience with the Targa was not a good one. With the panels off, apart from some buffeting, it was great. With them on, I found it to be totally frustrating and annoying. I had an early (one of the first) Ts and, eventually, after continuously trying DIY fixes (silicon sealant, draft excluder, gluing pieces of rubber onto the underside of the metal locating brackets to make the fit tigheter etc.) my car went back to the factory to be "fixed" by having bigger rubber seals fitted. Didn't improve things at all. In desperation I asked the factory if they'd look into filling in the appertures and making it into a proper (coupe) roof, or chopping off the old roof, anything. But the answer was no, even though I offered to pay half of the cost. And before anyone suggests that I was cheeky to ask this - I actually ordered a C but the factory made me a T instead and only realised the mistake when the car was nearly built. I eventually accepted the car with some free extras as compensation. In hindsight I shouldn't have accepted it. Life is a lesson.
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