Does it take a certain type of person to own a T350?

[honahont350]

Took my brother out in the T350 last night around the quieter roads of the docklands. I wasn’t going ‘fast’ just the odd foot plant here and there to demonstrate the power and poise of the car.

When we got back, he calmly said that if I don’t get shot of it my chances of survival are limited.
I understand that you have to show respect and work yourself into the cars unique driving characteristics, but it only takes 1 small mistake and its game over. In short, it’s about the world’s most unforgiving car and I’m inclined to agree with him.

Does anyone else have the fear of God running through them when they start the thing up? It gives me more of a buzz than a motorbike, or is this just newbie nerves? I’m thinking of getting it to a track to find out as much as possible about that car and see if it really is that bad or if I should just get shot while I’m still in one piece, going to be a dad in 3 months and really want to be around to see my daughter.

Does anyone know where the best tracks near to London are? Prices / general availability?

It’s not that I don’t trust the car, I don’t trust myself OR…the car, seriously bad combination, but I fear I have already fallen in love.

What to do, it’s become a serious love hate relationship already.

J

[targarama]

So you've never tried punting a Griffith along a windy road fast then have you? The new TVRs are much much less scarey than older models.

[honahont350]

targarama said:

So you've never tried punting a Griffith along a windy road fast then have you? The new TVRs are much much less scarey than older models.

Nope, but I can imagine.

[K18STM]

Perhaps have a look out for one of those driving training days and definately stay away from driving Griffs and Cerbs for the time being

[900T-R]

Book yourself onto a Ride Drive course or similar if you haven't done so already. Taking your brother's word for it - if you weren't going 'fast' but still managed to get yourself in situations where one small mistake would mean The End, I'd be concerned. Yes, you have to be on your wits when driving a TVR 'spiritedly'- but they're just cars. They don't tend to do anything on their own, yes they will bite when provoked but you should be able to 'see' what amounts to a provocation at all times.

Having said that, I don't believe that if you succesfully managed to stay alive and well on a bike, a TVR should bring imminent death?

[Mr.Chips]

I can agree with most of what has been said. I got very concerned after a salesman took me out in a Speed 6 Cerbera and gave it some welly. I began to have doubts as to whether I would be able to cope with so much power. However, after a bit of reflection and bearing in mind my driving experience, I decided to go ahead, after all, I am in charge, it's my foot controlling the loud pedal and provided I take it easy during the very steep learning curve, I hope to be OK.
Having said that, I'm still thinking about an Advanced driver course to enable me to make the most of my T350.
G

[tail slide]

targarama said:

So you've never tried punting a Griffith along a windy road fast then have you? The new TVRs are much much less scarey than older models.

Agree. Mainly a case of care applying accelerator at high revs and in corners (esp. don't do it unless it's dry!).

Compared to Ferraris and many other exotics, its actually a pussycat on the limit, on road or track.

[honahont350]

tail slide said:

targarama said:

So you've never tried punting a Griffith along a windy road fast then have you? The new TVRs are much much less scarey than older models.

Agree. Mainly a case of care applying accelerator at high revs and in corners (esp. don't do it unless it's dry!).

Compared to Ferraris and many other exotics, its actually a pussycat on the limit, on road or track.

I thought it was the other way around - good friend of mine has a 360 and it sticks to the road like glue, yes the traction light comes on all the time, but he spanks that thing in Jan / Feb in the ice and it still seems to grips the road. I get the impression that the T350 was far more of a beast - Yes, the 360 feels quicker (and sounds like only a Ferrari can) but I honestly think I would have far more chance in a 360 than a T350 in terms of survival (and I don’t think the 360 is 'that' much faster either)

J

[chris watton]

honahont350 said:

tail slide said:

targarama said:

So you've never tried punting a Griffith along a windy road fast then have you? The new TVRs are much much less scarey than older models.

Agree. Mainly a case of care applying accelerator at high revs and in corners (esp. don't do it unless it's dry!).

Compared to Ferraris and many other exotics, its actually a pussycat on the limit, on road or track.

I thought it was the other way around - good friend of mine has a 360 and it sticks to the road like glue, yes the traction light comes on all the time, but he spanks that thing in Jan / Feb in the ice and it still seems to grips the road. I get the impression that the T350 was far more of a beast - Yes, the 360 feels quicker (and sounds like only a Ferrari can) but I honestly think I would have far more chance in a 360 than a T350 in terms of survival (and I don’t think the 360 is 'that' much faster either)

J

The highlighted bold text gives a clue as to why you can feel more confident in the 360 - in a TVR, you have to use your own restraining system, and that needs to be worked on......

[speedyellow]

I can hold a T350 in a power slide all day... a 360 Fer I've never managed much more than getting the back out and quickly gathering it up! Don't confuse the stability program for ease of driving. Push a 360 past the electronics and it can be a REAL handful!

[RLuck]

I felt the same when I first got my Tam. If you go on one of the 'tuition' track days, you will find that the limit of the car is a lot higher/faster than you can go driving around central London! I went on this course and learnt a lot about the handling/limits of the car.

www.carlimits.com

[DJC]

Must admit I was a little surprised by this. The latest cars are completely puddytats compared to the older lot!

[chris watton]

I wonder if those of us who have come into Tam/T350 ownership after having a Chim/Griff appreciate the handling characteristics more than people's first foray into TVR ownership

[honahont350]

chris watton said:

honahont350 said:

tail slide said:

targarama said:

So you've never tried punting a Griffith along a windy road fast then have you? The new TVRs are much much less scarey than older models.

Agree. Mainly a case of care applying accelerator at high revs and in corners (esp. don't do it unless it's dry!).

Compared to Ferraris and many other exotics, its actually a pussycat on the limit, on road or track.

I thought it was the other way around - good friend of mine has a 360 and it sticks to the road like glue, yes the traction light comes on all the time, but he spanks that thing in Jan / Feb in the ice and it still seems to grips the road. I get the impression that the T350 was far more of a beast - Yes, the 360 feels quicker (and sounds like only a Ferrari can) but I honestly think I would have far more chance in a 360 than a T350 in terms of survival (and I don’t think the 360 is 'that' much faster either)

J

The highlighted bold text gives a clue as to why you can feel more confident in the 360 - in a TVR, you have to use your own restraining system, and that needs to be worked on......

That's what worries me, my own restraining system, at least the Fer would correct my bad behaviour.
Advanced drivers course sounds seriously like the way forward – where’s the nearest tack to central London?

[900T-R]

honahont350 said:

That's what worries me, my own restraining system, at least the Fer would correct my bad behaviour.

I wouldn't count on that if I were unsure about 'my own retraining system' - more likely it would throw me into the scenery eventually, at a much higher rate of knots (being lulled into a false sense of security, and all).

Edited by 900T-R on Friday 23 June 14:52

[honahont350]

900T-R said:

honahont350 said:

That's what worries me, my own restraining system, at least the Fer would correct my bad behaviour.

I wouln't count on that if I were unsure about 'my own retraining system' - more likely it would throw me into the scenery eventually, at a much higher rate of knots (being lulled into a false sense of security, and all).

This is true. But still, I think the chances of making that 1 fatal mistake are far higher in the 350.

[apache]

DJC said:

Must admit I was a little surprised by this. The latest cars are completely puddytats compared to the older lot!

I'm wondering if his geometry needs looking at

[sidecar pilot]

It's like a bike with four wheels, treat it as such. If you want to make brisk progress, be SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTH with every input, any track day god or racer will tell you, their fastest laps feel the slowest!!
Stick with it and learn, you will be rewarded again and again for ages to come.

[honahont350]

sidecar pilot said:

It's like a bike with four wheels, treat it as such. If you want to make brisk progress, be SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTH with every input, any track day god or racer will tell you, their fastest laps feel the slowest!!
Stick with it and learn, you will be rewarded again and again for ages to come.

I give the firestorm a dam good spanking!!!!! Certainly faster, but feels heaps more stable and tractable.

Another thing I have also noticed about the 350 is it rear end wobbles when applying heavy pressure, is there a method to keeping it from locking up? Dabbing the breaks etc?

[900T-R]

apache said:

DJC said:

Must admit I was a little surprised by this. The latest cars are completely puddytats compared to the older lot!

I'm wondering if his geometry needs looking at

Seconded. The racing outfit that caters for my Saab had a brand new Tuscan in last year of which the owner complained that its handling was bl**dy scary (the engineer who took it for a spin agreed with that sentiment) and as it turned out, wheel geometry was all over the place.