Advice on buying T350 for 1st time TVR owner

[Muz_Wez]

Hi,

I'm considering buying my first TVR in the next few weeks & it's likely to be a T350.

I've got a budget of £20-£23k, any advice on what to look for / avoid would be very useful.

[Marki]

Apparently its recomended not to need a new rear screen as they are impossible to get

[ChopperTVR]

I have a 350 and i can honestly say it is the best tvr i have owned or driven. some may disagree but as a big tvr fan a 350 will be a good first buy!! good luck

[TGJR]

I've been looking at T350's for a while now and my recommendation would be to find a 2005 car with sub 10k miles which should be acheivable privately for circa £24k. I have noticed a significant improvment in the finish and quality on 2005 cars over say a 2003 car. My other tip is not to compromise on colour. There is a rainbow of variety with TVR's but know what you like and wait until you find it. There may well be a 'bargain car' at an amazing low price but it may be priced low due to a garish colour and ice-cream parlour interior. The targa v. coupe argument is another factor but either way I think air-con is a must. If you want it easy and total peace of mind then try a TVR dealer but even after hard haggling expect to be paying £3k more than private money. The T350 though is a great performance bargain and although the chassis can feel a bit nervous on a bumpy B road it is superb on track. Happy buying!

[Muz_Wez]

Thanks for the advice so far guys. It was indecided between an Exige S2 or a T350, but the T350 just ticks more boxes!

[TGJR]

Muz_Wez said:

Thanks for the advice so far guys. It was indecided between an Exige S2 or a T350, but the T350 just ticks more boxes!

I was also giving some consideration to an Exige as they are undoubtably one of the best drivers/track cars out there. The main factor that swings me to the T350 is the decent hatchback boot for longer trips away, plus (dare I say it) the golf clubs! Oh, the small matter of a beefy sounding engine too!

[Targarama]

TGJR said:

I've been looking at T350's for a while now and my recommendation would be to find a 2005 car with sub 10k miles which should be acheivable privately for circa £24k. I have noticed a significant improvment in the finish and quality on 2005 cars over say a 2003 car. My other tip is not to compromise on colour. There is a rainbow of variety with TVR's but know what you like and wait until you find it. There may well be a 'bargain car' at an amazing low price but it may be priced low due to a garish colour and ice-cream parlour interior. The targa v. coupe argument is another factor but either way I think air-con is a must. If you want it easy and total peace of mind then try a TVR dealer but even after hard haggling expect to be paying £3k more than private money. The T350 though is a great performance bargain and although the chassis can feel a bit nervous on a bumpy B road it is superb on track. Happy buying!

You can't be too picky on colour - there are less than 300 of them out there (not sure of the exact number).

[arran]

TGJR,
You said this to me before, 24k for a 2005 T350... Yet trade are selling those cars for 28k to 30 somthing... Unless the color is just plain wrong I think you'd really struggle... As I said, TVR Henley offered me £24,500 for mine so I can't that 24k is possible, but then mine is the targa ;o)... Unless you've seen one I haven't ?

[TGJR]

arran said:

TGJR,
You said this to me before, 24k for a 2005 T350... Yet trade are selling those cars for 28k to 30 somthing... Unless the color is just plain wrong I think you'd really struggle... As I said, TVR Henley offered me £24,500 for mine so I can't that 24k is possible, but then mine is the targa ;o)... Unless you've seen one I haven't ?

I think £24.5k is a very good offer on your car from Henley and I would be very tempted for a quick and aesy sale if I were you. You could hang out for the extra £1k privately but there is the risk of time-wasters, test-pilots etc. I have looked at a few cars in dealers priced at £28-£30k and they are pretty much all available at nearly 10% less than advertised for a straight purchase and still with warranty. I would personally stretch to £25k for a private 2005 car with very low miles, single owner and an appealing colour combo. I would say that targas and coupes are worth about the same as it just depends on what a buyer wants from the car. I'd consider either.

[tricky 100]

TGJR said:

arran said:

TGJR,
You said this to me before, 24k for a 2005 T350... Yet trade are selling those cars for 28k to 30 somthing... Unless the color is just plain wrong I think you'd really struggle... As I said, TVR Henley offered me £24,500 for mine so I can't that 24k is possible, but then mine is the targa ;o)... Unless you've seen one I haven't ?

I think £24.5k is a very good offer on your car from Henley and I would be very tempted for a quick and aesy sale if I were you. You could hang out for the extra £1k privately but there is the risk of time-wasters, test-pilots etc. I have looked at a few cars in dealers priced at £28-£30k and they are pretty much all available at nearly 10% less than advertised for a straight purchase and still with warranty. I would personally stretch to £25k for a private 2005 car with very low miles, single owner and an appealing colour combo. I would say that targas and coupes are worth about the same as it just depends on what a buyer wants from the car. I'd consider either.

Yeah , i agree 24k is about right in todays climate Arran .

[arran]

I have a warranty to Sept but Henley have told me that their warranty is £600 for a year.... Anyway... I'll either sell and be happy or be stuck with it and have to eat humble pie....

[SEN 18]

This is it for what its worth Mark.Don't buy one thats not got air con,the only downside is its not a convertible.

Edited by SEN 18 on Wednesday 20th June 14:30

[earlyriser]

I bought one 5 months ago. 2003, 22k miles and £20k + a 1 year warranty.

My advice, in order of preference -
1. Budget - if your absolute max is 23-24k DON'T buy a car for that amount, have a cash reserve
2. History, history, history (not miles) 1 owner and cherished, preferably.
3. Colour - DO NOT compromise on colour, there are some hideous combinations out there
4. Air-con - only if 1, 2, and 3 are right. Unless you were born on the sun and weigh 16 stones! It has NOT been necessary for 80% of the driving I've done - its an iffy system anyway, apparently. I chose without for the right car at the best price.

Oh and ...

5. Buy one, no regrets

Edited by earlyriser on Wednesday 20th June 21:55

[bobrush]

hi i have had my t350t now for around 2 weeks and up to now all ok i sold a lotus exige s1 to get my new car and like you said if you are going to use the car for track days then a exige is the 1 but for style and comfort the t350 is the 1. my last but 1 car was a ultima now there is a car which fits all the boxes so which ever 1 you get have fun

bob

[TGJR]

bobrush said:

hi i have had my t350t now for around 2 weeks and up to now all ok i sold a lotus exige s1 to get my new car and like you said if you are going to use the car for track days then a exige is the 1 but for style and comfort the t350 is the 1. my last but 1 car was a ultima now there is a car which fits all the boxes so which ever 1 you get have fun

bob

Any problems with wind noise/whistling from the targa panel?

[tricky 100]

arran said:

I have a warranty to Sept but Henley have told me that their warranty is £600 for a year.... Anyway... I'll either sell and be happy or be stuck with it and have to eat humble pie....

Huh , i dont get it ? you've put the price up . Your supposed to drop the price when it wont sell .