This one or that one
This one or that one
Author
Discussion

M15ley

Original Poster:

467 posts

299 months

Thursday 5th October 2006
quotequote all
Hi Guys, attempting to return to TVR ownership after a 15 month absence (Tuscan previously). I have seen two T350Ts that have taken my fancy, an 04 Red Rose version with 12.8k miles and an 05 standard model with 9k miles.

The Red Rose model, despite being older and with higher miles is advertised for £2k more than the standard model (is also down the other end of the country).

Questions:

1) Is the Red Rose model worth the £2k difference or has it just been unrealistically priced?
2) Is a newer, model with less miles a safer bet even without the Red Rose 'bits'?
3) As the newer model is nearing its £12k service and the Red Rose has just been done 9I believe), does that balance the cost difference out.
4) Lots more no doubt but too tired to think so please feel free to add to this.

All input, answers, questions, suggestions most welcome from you friendly, helpful chaps and chapesses.

Ta

grumbledoak

32,571 posts

263 months

Thursday 5th October 2006
quotequote all
I believe, in order

1) To some, yes -it would certainly have cost the original buyer more than that. Sure someone will be along with a figure.
2) Generally reported that fewer 3.6 engines went pop than 4.0s, and "newer the better" sounds sensible (though there are no guarantees).
3) Yes, pretty much, the 12k service is generally reported here at between £1000 and £1500.

I would add: some minor details were changed on the '05 cars, so you may or may not have aluminium stalks, air-con, a little dent to get your finger under the boot glass, the stereo was changed. There may be other little differences depending on exactly when the two were made.

Nice decision to be making !


Edited to add:
The seats are also likely to differ between the two, with the '05 car on Tuscan style seats. I seem to be alone in preferring them to those in the '03 I test drove.



Edited by grumbledoak on Thursday 5th October 16:01

_deejay_

5,057 posts

284 months

Thursday 5th October 2006
quotequote all
I'd go for the newer car every time, just for the 3 year warranty and the supposed increase in build quality.

sen 18

1,247 posts

242 months

Thursday 5th October 2006
quotequote all
Also remember the Red Rose car will have all the components carefully matched and weighed before assembley, the whole engine is blueprinted therefore giving a much smoother and balanced unit pushing up the BHP.Check if it is a factory Red Rose, if it is it will also have upgraded Tuscan S brakes & discs,larger bore exhaust system & upgraded shocks. With this package you will notice the difference - at the end of the day you get what you pay for. Both variants of the T350T are superb.Be warned their achilles heel is the take out panels they make a loud whistle over 90 MPH.

M15ley

Original Poster:

467 posts

299 months

Friday 6th October 2006
quotequote all
I have heard there is an issue with wind noise through the roof of these things. The seller of the newer model says he has had this resolved with new foam and seals fitted very recently.

I do follow the logic of newer is better, just keep thinking the Red Rose element is quite sexy.

silverT350t

90 posts

249 months

Friday 6th October 2006
quotequote all
sen 18 said:
Be warned their achilles heel is the take out panels they make a loud whistle over 90 MPH.


Was going to stay out of it as one of the cars in question is mine.......... but, if people are going to make sweeping generalisations.. rolleyes

They don't if they're fitted properly!!

nish

601 posts

242 months

Friday 6th October 2006
quotequote all
I have an 05 T350T.

Just to add the panels don't squeak/squeel/leak or anything else, to be honest I was surprised myself! (been at over 140 leptons)

If you do put them back on wrong, which is easy to do when your new to it then you will get noise. You should also notice the gaps however!

Hilti

299 posts

269 months

Friday 6th October 2006
quotequote all

Have to agree! Mine is and 04 T350t with the later style carbon panels and catches and it doesn't make any noise if fitted properly.

J