Buying a second hand T350

[dubel]

HI All,

Just new to all of this and thought you may be able to help.
Really got my heart set on buying a T350 and wanted to know if you could point me in the right direction, What things should I be looking out for and what are the most common faults.

I went down to my local TVR dealer on the weekend and test drove a T350T and they insited I should only buy from them and ensure to have warrenty and extended warrenty is this aload of **** what do you think?
Also has anyone come up with a way of reducing the noise from the T-Top pannels?

[TheHobbit]

Not all the panels make a noise, some are better than others. You can try different seals if they whistle. Also, its important to make sure the panels are in straight.

<shameless plug> You could buy mine </shameless plug>

As for warranty, personally, I always like to have a warranty on a second hand car of this type and value. There is no right or wrong answer - only you can decide if you want the reassurance of a warranty.

[zooooom]

Well if your going to buy a new car then you should be ok as they all now come with three years warranty as standard,
With regaurds to second hand then I'd say do not buy without a warranty.
Also whether you buy new or second hand be prepared to lose the car for a minimum of 6 weeks a year for servicing and minor niggles, thats not including any other major problems you my encounter.

[TheHobbit]

I don't think mine's been away for 6 weeks, and I'm doing 18k a year in it (so 3 services), and my dealer is 100 miles away.

[dubel]

Thanks for the offer, but wanting to pick one up from 5-7K on the clock, at least you give me reasurance that driving the car daily is a good thing. I had heard that these cars are better to drive daily than have them sitting around.

[zooooom]

TheHobbit said:

I don't think mine's been away for 6 weeks, and I'm doing 18k a year in it (so 3 services), and my dealer is 100 miles away.

Only quoting from my experience so far had the car 15 months been of the road for nearly 4 months for servicing and problems, and that does'nt include the lastest clutch problem plus no engine rebuild yet.

[targarama]

So to balance all the off-the-road for months folks (unlucky), some of us have been more lucky. Mine was at the dealers for the 1,6 and 12k services (1 day, 1 day and 2 days respectively). Then it was there for a week on three separate occassions for paintwork/rear light sealing type snags, and I spent half a day getting an oil pressure sensor replaced 3 times until one worked. Apart from that its not been to a dealers at all. If you buy a car with good paintwork and no steamy light clusters that has been treated well then there is a good chance you'll not lose it to a dealers for too long. But there is a chance - buying a TVR is a heart over head decision.

Targa panels - should be quiet up to 90-100mph with careful adjustment. Get one with panels which clip in place with latches front/rear of the panel, not left/right hand side (revised design).

IMO I'd rather know the last owner and how the car's been treated. Buying private isn't too much of a minefield so long as you get a good indie or dealer to give the car a once over. If you go for a test drive (private or dealer), watch how they rev the engine when cold (oil below 40deg). If they use more than 3000 revs and drive it hard while cold then walk away.

Remember you can take a private car to somewhere like TVR Power and get a tip to tail warranty on it yourself so long as the car is less than 5 years old and subject to a £200 odd checkover/fault remedy.
Check the FAQs for the rest.