I have just purchased this.. Require help and information!
Discussion
Hi everyone
Right well i just swapped in my Subaru Impreza STI8 350bhp 04 for a TVR T350 04 plate. I collect it in 2 weeks and i am quiet excited.
I have purchased from tvrcarparts.com 2 decats and a full sports exhaust system as i wanted it to burble and pop.
BUT recently i have had some information which has put a downer on it for me and i want to find out how true it is.
I have been told that if you get a T350 that around 20k they need engine rebuilds and they basically fall apart and are mechanically a complete waste of money. If you buy one with the rebuild already done though you are o.k.
well the one i am getting has done 19k and has had alot of servicing and parts but no rebuild. Am i going to be in for a shock in just a couple thousand miles or is this just aload of people blowing hot air?
Any information on the engine build quality and problems will be great!
Do a search of the Tuscan/T350/SP6 forums here.
You probably won't like what you find. Basically there is a pretty good chance you will need a rebuild at some point, and circa 20k is a fairly typical mileage for this.
If I had been buying then I would have been looking to discount the price of a non-rebuilt car accordingly. Of course, depending on where you have the rebuild done this will not be a one-off fix, and if you pile on the miles then you may end up needing another.
New shocks & clutch at 20k is also common.
All that said, my Tuscan has now done over 30k without major engine work (AFAIK, owned since 8k).
However, whoever told you this:
You probably won't like what you find. Basically there is a pretty good chance you will need a rebuild at some point, and circa 20k is a fairly typical mileage for this.
If I had been buying then I would have been looking to discount the price of a non-rebuilt car accordingly. Of course, depending on where you have the rebuild done this will not be a one-off fix, and if you pile on the miles then you may end up needing another.
New shocks & clutch at 20k is also common.
All that said, my Tuscan has now done over 30k without major engine work (AFAIK, owned since 8k).
However, whoever told you this:
G_Sleigh said:
I have been told that if you get a T350 that around 20k they need engine rebuilds and they basically fall apart and are mechanically a complete waste of money. If you buy one with the rebuild already done though you are o.k.
doesn't sound like they have much first hand knowledge.So you bought the car without any thought as to the running costs? I don't think so? I assume you're just looking for some confidence boosting that it won't blow its engine in 1k miles. Well it might happen. It might not. The Speed Six isn't remowned for its longetivity. Treat is gently when cold (lots of advice on here - heed this advice). Also get the car fully checked over by a TVR expert asap. If something is badly wrong take it back to the garage you bought from.
However, the car certainly won't 'fall to bits' on you. The engine is just a straight six - it is not that hard to get fixed. Just needs someone who knows TVRs.
If you're worried I suggest you take out a decent warranty. An engine rebuild would probably cost you 6-7k. Not much if you compare with a BMW M Power ot a Porsche before you comment.
However, the car certainly won't 'fall to bits' on you. The engine is just a straight six - it is not that hard to get fixed. Just needs someone who knows TVRs.
If you're worried I suggest you take out a decent warranty. An engine rebuild would probably cost you 6-7k. Not much if you compare with a BMW M Power ot a Porsche before you comment.
Hey.
Running costs dont bother me to much. My scooby cost around £500 a month in parts and clutches and drive shafts threw hard track day use regularly. BUT i dont see an engine rebuild as a running cost.. I see that as a pretty big problem So i was just checking how realistic it was that it was going to happen.
Traeting well when cold etc is fine.. Just like a scooby with a turbo you dont rev it at all untill everything has warmed up nicely to keep it in good shape so general running tips like that is fine.
I treat my cars very well so its going to get a good looking after i just wanted to know as well what the main reasons for the engine rebuild were? It seems abit drastic to me.
I was offered an additional 12 months warrenty for £500.00. Does that sound worth it for a TVR?
Running costs dont bother me to much. My scooby cost around £500 a month in parts and clutches and drive shafts threw hard track day use regularly. BUT i dont see an engine rebuild as a running cost.. I see that as a pretty big problem So i was just checking how realistic it was that it was going to happen.
Traeting well when cold etc is fine.. Just like a scooby with a turbo you dont rev it at all untill everything has warmed up nicely to keep it in good shape so general running tips like that is fine.
I treat my cars very well so its going to get a good looking after i just wanted to know as well what the main reasons for the engine rebuild were? It seems abit drastic to me.
I was offered an additional 12 months warrenty for £500.00. Does that sound worth it for a TVR?
A search on here will show two basic problems with the engine: design shortcomings in some areas and component quality. 04 plate, looked after, low miles means that you should be OK since the engines are generally thought to be pretty well put together by then. Either just enjoy your car or have the engine rebuilt with measures designed to mitigate the problems. Both approaches have been done by those posting on here.
12 months warranty for £500 sounds good to me as most appear to pay 2 or 3 times that for their warranty.
Good luck, J
12 months warranty for £500 sounds good to me as most appear to pay 2 or 3 times that for their warranty.
Good luck, J
hi there,
i bought a t350 with a full red rose sports convertion last year with 4k on the clock, and ive done 4k more. When i bought it i was advised to keep it garaged and out of the rain and not to use it in the wet.. i dont have a garage but garaged it at a friends all winter. Got it out in april for the sun and had great fun. Then it poured with rain for a month..
Broke down - the wet had blown the alternator fuse but thanks to the AA man he fixed it on the side of the road in a few hours. Then it started mis firing. Basically the wet also had got into a spark plug which had been poorly sealed, which hasled to the melting of my cats.. £400 - £500 ea, damaged some welding on the manifold and all sorts of other problems.
The car is mind blowingly fast, great handling and through the gears it has so much pull nothing really can compete with it. You get great driver satisfaction and i love it but you have to live with small iritating problems. Its not porsche quality but the whole experience is worth it.
If you want me to send you the current list that my gagarge have prepared me for things to fix i'd happily do it! just so you can see realistic bills.
I want to scrap the old cats and buy decat pipes, how much did you pay for them?
i bought a t350 with a full red rose sports convertion last year with 4k on the clock, and ive done 4k more. When i bought it i was advised to keep it garaged and out of the rain and not to use it in the wet.. i dont have a garage but garaged it at a friends all winter. Got it out in april for the sun and had great fun. Then it poured with rain for a month..
Broke down - the wet had blown the alternator fuse but thanks to the AA man he fixed it on the side of the road in a few hours. Then it started mis firing. Basically the wet also had got into a spark plug which had been poorly sealed, which hasled to the melting of my cats.. £400 - £500 ea, damaged some welding on the manifold and all sorts of other problems.
The car is mind blowingly fast, great handling and through the gears it has so much pull nothing really can compete with it. You get great driver satisfaction and i love it but you have to live with small iritating problems. Its not porsche quality but the whole experience is worth it.
If you want me to send you the current list that my gagarge have prepared me for things to fix i'd happily do it! just so you can see realistic bills.
I want to scrap the old cats and buy decat pipes, how much did you pay for them?
hey, ah right well i dont tend to use mine in the rain either and i garage my cars as i have a double garage for sport cars and just us a run about in the day time.
Your problems are well noted and i would like a read of your list if you can drop it to: G_SLEIGH@hotmail.com
I dont expect it to have Porsche quality. I did test drive a Porsche Cayman and fell in love but it just was not gripping enough or oustanding enough for me. + There are alot of Porsche 911's and Caymans where i live so i wouldnt really stand out. I guess with a hand built car in Britian i gotta accept some problems here and there.
Also my Decat pipes cost £150 for the pair from tvrcarparts.com
Your problems are well noted and i would like a read of your list if you can drop it to: G_SLEIGH@hotmail.com
I dont expect it to have Porsche quality. I did test drive a Porsche Cayman and fell in love but it just was not gripping enough or oustanding enough for me. + There are alot of Porsche 911's and Caymans where i live so i wouldnt really stand out. I guess with a hand built car in Britian i gotta accept some problems here and there.
Also my Decat pipes cost £150 for the pair from tvrcarparts.com
No aftermarket bits needed really. Not really any available either. Only your personal choice of cosmetics such as loud exhausts or modified suspension. Mine is on standard exhaust and suspension and is just fine.
Feel around/under the mats for wet = leaking. Or steaming up sooner than you'd expect in wet/humid weather.
Feel around/under the mats for wet = leaking. Or steaming up sooner than you'd expect in wet/humid weather.
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