T350 Reliabilty

[jimmyb]

Hello all

I am toying with the idea of getting an interim car till my new toy arrives 09ish and am leaning heavily towards Lotus 111r HOWEVER I would also be quite tempted by a T350t as I saw one recently just sold in blue white with 7k for iro 26-27k and it looks stunning. However I am very concerned about the engine build quality as I have heard a lot about it. According to the dealer i spoke to the six engines are not to be pushed hard very often as they have a history of going bang easily. If this can be proven not to be the case then I am more than happy to take a punt at one as silly little niggles like glove box warping etc dont bother me.

Ps I ask not as I plan to hammer the life out of it but I dont want to live in fear of putting my foot down properly from time to time (I am a firm believer in overtaking people who dont know the speed limit or are inconsistent with their speed)

Any help and advice is much appreciated.
Thanks

[David Godfrey]

Have a read of other posts here there are plenty, also the speed 6 engine forum here: http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/forum.asp?h=0&amp...
There is allot of info on the forums

To be honest I have had mine over 2 years and only little things outside of servicing had caused any problems, speed sensor, oil presure sensor, and I damaged the boot seal.

If you warm them up properly (there are many views on this) then they should be generally fine (things still can go wrong).

Get a third party warrenty or put aside some money to get a rebuild should it need one, you could also use this as a criteria for any car your looking at, "has it already had a rebuild"

All common sense really.

ETA: I love my TVR

Edited by David Godfrey on Saturday 20th October 18:33

[YI8TVR]

some have 60k on the clock and are still going. Some had 10k on the clock when they required a rebuild.

Probably the same odds as the car you have on order.

You pays your money you take your chance.

A lot depends on how its looked after by the nut behind the wheel. Its common knowledge the older ones pre 2003/4 could have had inferior innards.

[jimmyb]

so what you are saying is 05 if possible onwards for a "reliable" engine also whilst a bit of a stupid question fuel economy whats it like, stupid thirsty or simply thirsty.

I ask as of course the 111r is able to do i believe upto 40mpg which is pretty damned impressive for a sports car

Edited by jimmyb on Saturday 20th October 18:54

[madbadger]

jimmyb said:

so what you are saying is 05 if possible onwards for a "reliable" engine also whilst a bit of a stupid question fuel economy whats it like, stupid thirsty or simply thirsty.

30 on the motorway. Not really below 20 on a run. I got 22mpg using a tank up in the Peaks when England were playing football in the world cup.

What's on order? You might not want it if you get the Tiv.

[YI8TVR]

jimmyb said:

so what you are saying is 05 if possible onwards for a "reliable" engine also whilst a bit of a stupid question fuel economy whats it like, stupid thirsty or simply thirsty.

I ask as of course the 111r is able to do i believe upto 40mpg which is pretty damned impressive for a sports car

Edited by jimmyb on Saturday 20th October 18:54

Personally I would say that 2004/5 were the golden years of TVR's speed sixes in the 21st Century.

[espresso]

My 04 plate T350 cost me £14,000 in 12 months and 9,000 miles (depreciation and endless repairs)
I bought it from a TVR main dealer but was for ever being told 'oh sorry, that's not covered on the warranty".

My Lotus never missed a beat.

A lot of it's luck I reckon...

[jimmyb]

madbadger said:

jimmyb said:

so what you are saying is 05 if possible onwards for a "reliable" engine also whilst a bit of a stupid question fuel economy whats it like, stupid thirsty or simply thirsty.

30 on the motorway. Not really below 20 on a run. I got 22mpg using a tank up in the Peaks when England were playing football in the world cup.

What's on order? You might not want it if you get the Tiv.

Doubt it. I have a v10 on order though may change in favour of v8 if and only IF i get "approved" by alfa which i am not holding my breath about as multi gazzilionaire with mega connections i am not. But I am an eternal optimist and since apparently I was one of the first to register an interest in the alfa "apparently" I am eternally and foolishly hopefull.

[mattybrown]

An Alfa 8C?
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/first_drive.php?sid=1...
You lucky lucky....( Hope you get it)

I have had my T350 since April and no problems so far, even checking it on a regular basis is showing no use of oil and water...Its more reliable than my previous Audi. It had just had an engine rebuild before I got it.

[Targarama]

I think the TVR is a much better looking car than the Alfa. Probably about as reliable as each other too.

[smithyl23]

Targarama said:

I think the TVR is a much better looking car than the Alfa. Probably about as reliable as each other too.

I've seen one in real life, they are stunning being a t350 owner i'd say they are easily as good looking as any tvr in the flesh, photos dont do them justice.

The alfa engine is bench tested at max rpm to 140,000 miles, imagine if tvr had tried this on the speed 6 engines. I have no doubt in my mind that the alfa will be more reliable.

[jimmyb]

smithyl23 said:

Targarama said:

I think the TVR is a much better looking car than the Alfa. Probably about as reliable as each other too.

I've seen one in real life, they are stunning being a t350 owner i'd say they are easily as good looking as any tvr in the flesh, photos dont do them justice.

The alfa engine is bench tested at max rpm to 140,000 miles, imagine if tvr had tried this on the speed 6 engines. I have no doubt in my mind that the alfa will be more reliable.

At the end of the day it's just a rebadged maser engine and they are a lot more reliable than they used to be.
So are you saying that a rebuild usually cures the fragility of the six engines?

[mr lock pick]

Just to let you know I have had my T350c 2005 for over a year now. Other than ironing out the niggles, the engine has been superb and it still pull like a train. She is a standard 3.6. Just check oil and water levels and try & buy the latest spec you can afford.