Service costs with a TVR 350c
Discussion
Hi
Does anyone know what the service costs (normal/small, medium, and full service etc) are like with a TVR 350c?
How reliable is this TVR model? I know there may be very small things like a glove compartment door not staying closed but in my eyes this is very small. What other things are poor reliability wise?
Also has anyone had the front of their car paint stone chip protected? Is this something that can only be done when the car is brand new (or had a respray) or can it be done mid-life? What is the approx cost?
Thanks for any help and info.
Cheers
Matt
Does anyone know what the service costs (normal/small, medium, and full service etc) are like with a TVR 350c?
How reliable is this TVR model? I know there may be very small things like a glove compartment door not staying closed but in my eyes this is very small. What other things are poor reliability wise?
Also has anyone had the front of their car paint stone chip protected? Is this something that can only be done when the car is brand new (or had a respray) or can it be done mid-life? What is the approx cost?
Thanks for any help and info.
Cheers
Matt
Edited by matth76 on Saturday 8th March 12:19
Hi there,
Apologies if you're not new to the TVR game and that I'm teaching you to suck eggs:
1) Best advice on the reliability front would be to dedicate a good few hours to reading this forum. If you ask one individual, you'll find the reliability of one car. If you read PistonHeads, I suspect you'll find something on the majority of vehicles ever produced. Full service history is vital obviously, you'll probably find most cars have had a lot of work but that doesn't mean they've been unreliable - TVR owners tend to care A LOT and get every little thing attended to. The 2004 MY engine was, in my understanding, better than those that preceded it but a 2003 but do not be scared by an engine rebuild, it's much more common in TVRs than other marques. Remember you're essentially buying a nicely trimmed race car. That's not a criticism - they are AMAZING cars and you will not find similar performance for less than 3 times the price. It just means they need treating with TLC, proper warm ups, driven with mechanical sympathy and plenty of attention. Ironically, I don't think the glove box is a major problem - it was the only thing that went wrong on my Griff as it was gravity assisted but that isn't true on the T350.
2) I haven't had mine long enough to work out service costs yet but remember that you'll probably never get away with just the basics. I should think £600 minimum but others will help you out more
3) This is the area in which I have most recent experience. A complete front end respray cost me 1k locally, remembering that my car is a "simple" black. Although not everyone likes it, I swear by Armourfend and that's just cost me a further couple of hundred. There are other options but in answer to what I think you're asking - yep it can be done after the car has left the factory.
Best advice is to read, ask questions, meet people. Knowledge is power and while owning a T350 will never be risk free, you can reduce that risk by hanging out here.
Apologies if you're not new to the TVR game and that I'm teaching you to suck eggs:
1) Best advice on the reliability front would be to dedicate a good few hours to reading this forum. If you ask one individual, you'll find the reliability of one car. If you read PistonHeads, I suspect you'll find something on the majority of vehicles ever produced. Full service history is vital obviously, you'll probably find most cars have had a lot of work but that doesn't mean they've been unreliable - TVR owners tend to care A LOT and get every little thing attended to. The 2004 MY engine was, in my understanding, better than those that preceded it but a 2003 but do not be scared by an engine rebuild, it's much more common in TVRs than other marques. Remember you're essentially buying a nicely trimmed race car. That's not a criticism - they are AMAZING cars and you will not find similar performance for less than 3 times the price. It just means they need treating with TLC, proper warm ups, driven with mechanical sympathy and plenty of attention. Ironically, I don't think the glove box is a major problem - it was the only thing that went wrong on my Griff as it was gravity assisted but that isn't true on the T350.
2) I haven't had mine long enough to work out service costs yet but remember that you'll probably never get away with just the basics. I should think £600 minimum but others will help you out more
3) This is the area in which I have most recent experience. A complete front end respray cost me 1k locally, remembering that my car is a "simple" black. Although not everyone likes it, I swear by Armourfend and that's just cost me a further couple of hundred. There are other options but in answer to what I think you're asking - yep it can be done after the car has left the factory.
Best advice is to read, ask questions, meet people. Knowledge is power and while owning a T350 will never be risk free, you can reduce that risk by hanging out here.
Thanks for your reply.
There seems to be very little information on the web regarding the 350c but lots about previous TVRs. Top Gear rated it as the best TVR they've driven but I'd be interested to know how the reliability (especially electrically wise) has improved as I know this was a poor point with earlier TVRs.
If anyone does have information on average servicing costs please let me know. I did read somewhere that it was around £2k-£2.5k for a full service. Is this realistic?
Thanks again.
There seems to be very little information on the web regarding the 350c but lots about previous TVRs. Top Gear rated it as the best TVR they've driven but I'd be interested to know how the reliability (especially electrically wise) has improved as I know this was a poor point with earlier TVRs.
If anyone does have information on average servicing costs please let me know. I did read somewhere that it was around £2k-£2.5k for a full service. Is this realistic?
Thanks again.
I have a 2004 Tamora, which is mechanically identical to a T350, albeit I have the roofless option.
There are 2 "types" of service: 6,000 miles and 12,000 miles.
I had a 12,000 mile service a year ago (at 8,500 miles on the clock). Carried out by a VERY respected TVR specialist in Scotland. Cost of the service was approx £1200, but I had a couple of bits'n'bobs done (e.g. suspension geo improved) and so my total bill was closer to £1600. It should be noted that this service includes stripping down a chunk of the engine and doing all sorts of detailed mechanical stuff with the tappets (can you tell I'm not a mechanic!)
My 6,000 mile service was carried out at the end of January (same garage, 12,500 miles) and cost about £600. Nothing else needed done so that was the total cost.
MoT cost me £40 last month. I replaced a window switch a few months ago for £250. Other than that its just been consumable costs.
I suspect the the £2-3K is someone's thoughts on the cost of running a TVR T350/Tamora for a year. Possibly includes insurance, road tax, tyres, oil and servicing.
Its possible to spend a lot more than that just getting the car "just so" - when I first bought my car I had the roof re-finished with a new window, installed an accumate circuit, had the bonnet off for realignment, etc etc. All of this work could be considered non-essential, but then if logic came into it I'd probably own a diesel passat......
Best of luck.
Neil
There are 2 "types" of service: 6,000 miles and 12,000 miles.
I had a 12,000 mile service a year ago (at 8,500 miles on the clock). Carried out by a VERY respected TVR specialist in Scotland. Cost of the service was approx £1200, but I had a couple of bits'n'bobs done (e.g. suspension geo improved) and so my total bill was closer to £1600. It should be noted that this service includes stripping down a chunk of the engine and doing all sorts of detailed mechanical stuff with the tappets (can you tell I'm not a mechanic!)
My 6,000 mile service was carried out at the end of January (same garage, 12,500 miles) and cost about £600. Nothing else needed done so that was the total cost.
MoT cost me £40 last month. I replaced a window switch a few months ago for £250. Other than that its just been consumable costs.
I suspect the the £2-3K is someone's thoughts on the cost of running a TVR T350/Tamora for a year. Possibly includes insurance, road tax, tyres, oil and servicing.
Its possible to spend a lot more than that just getting the car "just so" - when I first bought my car I had the roof re-finished with a new window, installed an accumate circuit, had the bonnet off for realignment, etc etc. All of this work could be considered non-essential, but then if logic came into it I'd probably own a diesel passat......
Best of luck.
Neil
Edited by neilboyd on Saturday 8th March 18:56
tuscan s said:
I have noticed that 2 main dearlers have halved there servicing costs (castles( and (tvr power) the latter even do an low mileage service for about £250.00
Thanks for your replies guys. Tuscan S, £250 seems very good. Do you know what they would quote for a full/normal service for an average (say 30-40k) miler tvr?Sounds good value and worth it for the paint fender. Does it seem to work well?
How often are oil changes and services recommended?
Edited by matth76 on Sunday 9th March 20:36
A very good source of informed opinions would be your local TVRCC group. I'm sure they would be very happy to see you at one of their meetings. You could also pop along to a local TVR dealer and discuss servicing costs with them as labour rates do vary across the country.
If you buy from a dealer it is possible sometimes to get "wear and tear" warranties, which should give you a fixed price for a couple of years at least.
Nick
If you buy from a dealer it is possible sometimes to get "wear and tear" warranties, which should give you a fixed price for a couple of years at least.
Nick
My T350 has the armourfend plastic on the front, didn't do it myself but i can definately recommend it. Not a chip in sight as opposed to my mates Chimaera which was susceptible. If you have an expensive aint option (reflex etc), then I think at the price the other chap quoted it would be money well spent.
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