T350T Diary Entry 1
Discussion
Hi all,
After being inspired by "The Pits'" wonderful diary entries for the Sagaris and thinking that I could have done with the same sort of thing for the 350 when I was researching my purchase I thought I would start an occasional diary of life as a new TVR owner.
Week 1: Horseman of the Apocalypse
I bought the car privately on the recommendation of Racing Green, who were due to get it in to sell themselves before the owner contacted me direct (not knowing that I had been to Racing Green.) Numerous phone calls to Chris at RG by myself and the seller created a situation that I hope all were happy with and I arranged to collect the car from RG last Saturday after having it checked over and having a refurbed alloy fitted.
Friday arrived and I eagerly checked the weather forecast on TV: heavy rain and the chance of flooding :gulp: but clearing by early afternoon. Saturday morning dawned wet and I phoned RG to see what time they shut: 3PM; should be clear by then!
We are about an hour and a half from RG so we set out in the wife's TT at about 1pm hoping the rain would stop. The quickest route to RG is along the back of the south downs and I was a little concerned as we forded 6 inch deep floods accross the road but convinced myself all would be well, in a couple of hours I would be driving a 350HP rear wheel drive sports car with a reputation of being tempre-mental and just mental, what could possibly go wrong.
We arrive at RG and sort out the keys etc. The car is in the car park and, since they did not sell me the car, they simply gave me the keys and off I went in the rain to the car to begin my homeward journey. problem number 1: the door won't open: ah I remember this when I went to see the car, bit of a tug on the window seal and it pops open and in I climb to be greted by what can only be described as a farmyard smell! Hmm, didn't smell like that when I went to see it last week in the sunshine.
Start her up, or try to: dials do their thing then nothing: ah, immobilizer. Finally get it started and it settles to what the officianados call a "grumpy idle" The next problem is navigating past the array of vinatage jags that are boxing me in: OMG this feels like a huge car. 15 point turn later (partly due to the turning circle and partly due to my ineptitude. I am !
The drive home was great until we got to Petworth and decided that the A272 would be be a better road in these conditions. 20 yards after turning on to it I am presented with a 50 yard lake in the road. Briefly considered turning round before I remembered the turning circle and just thought "go for it: what is the worse that can happen" Watched the 4WD ahead of me plough through; "god that is dep" and then go myself. I am never too sure what speed is best for fording so settle for 1st gear and about 10mph. the car gradually slows as I get to the deepest part of the lake before picking up speed again and I am out! The worst that did happen was a very steamy bonnet for the next 10 miles.
Numerous fording attempts later I finally got home feeling glad to survive the apocalyptic weather and, with the apocalyptic sounding car tucked up in the drive, I retreat to the house for a stiff drink.
Sunday dawns dry and I get the cleaning products out, I always find a god wash is the best way to get to know a new car's bodywork. The car is immaculate apart from the odd stonechip but inside the farmyard smell is still with me. I check the carpets and the driver's side is sodden: I guess it leaks then, I thought I had left that behind when I sold the Lotus.
During the week I have been taking the car to work. Amazingly easy to drive around town though filling with petrol is a bit of an event, involving me, the car, petrol and lots of kitchen towell! I have a little unibond deumidifier in the car when it is parked and it is gradually sucking the moisture out and the smell is fading, so all is good.
On Saturday I decide that we shall conquer my demons and face the A272 again, this time in the damp rather than wet. Once it is warmed up we hit a long straight, second gear, I ease the throttle to the floor: Oh my, even up to 6k revs this thing shifts. Bumpy roads however are terrifying compared to the elise and really rob me of the confidence to push too hard. The car seems all over the place, reacting to the slightest bump by shifting 6 inches left or right. Time to ivestigate suspension and geo (I put nitrons on my elise and it transformed an already good car). Looking at Racing Reds for the T350 though as the price seems a little better.
Overall I am very impressed by the car, but feel, more than any other vehicle I have owned, that I will need to take my time getting to know it before I truely appreciate it.
Now into the second week of ownership and she is tucked up in the garage as I took the Golf to work this morning. I miss her already!
To do List:
Door seals
suspension/geo
sports exhaust (maybe, gonna live with this one for a bit)
SP12's (again maybe)
Thanks if you read all that ramblinr!
Ryder
After being inspired by "The Pits'" wonderful diary entries for the Sagaris and thinking that I could have done with the same sort of thing for the 350 when I was researching my purchase I thought I would start an occasional diary of life as a new TVR owner.
Week 1: Horseman of the Apocalypse
I bought the car privately on the recommendation of Racing Green, who were due to get it in to sell themselves before the owner contacted me direct (not knowing that I had been to Racing Green.) Numerous phone calls to Chris at RG by myself and the seller created a situation that I hope all were happy with and I arranged to collect the car from RG last Saturday after having it checked over and having a refurbed alloy fitted.
Friday arrived and I eagerly checked the weather forecast on TV: heavy rain and the chance of flooding :gulp: but clearing by early afternoon. Saturday morning dawned wet and I phoned RG to see what time they shut: 3PM; should be clear by then!
We are about an hour and a half from RG so we set out in the wife's TT at about 1pm hoping the rain would stop. The quickest route to RG is along the back of the south downs and I was a little concerned as we forded 6 inch deep floods accross the road but convinced myself all would be well, in a couple of hours I would be driving a 350HP rear wheel drive sports car with a reputation of being tempre-mental and just mental, what could possibly go wrong.
We arrive at RG and sort out the keys etc. The car is in the car park and, since they did not sell me the car, they simply gave me the keys and off I went in the rain to the car to begin my homeward journey. problem number 1: the door won't open: ah I remember this when I went to see the car, bit of a tug on the window seal and it pops open and in I climb to be greted by what can only be described as a farmyard smell! Hmm, didn't smell like that when I went to see it last week in the sunshine.
Start her up, or try to: dials do their thing then nothing: ah, immobilizer. Finally get it started and it settles to what the officianados call a "grumpy idle" The next problem is navigating past the array of vinatage jags that are boxing me in: OMG this feels like a huge car. 15 point turn later (partly due to the turning circle and partly due to my ineptitude. I am !
The drive home was great until we got to Petworth and decided that the A272 would be be a better road in these conditions. 20 yards after turning on to it I am presented with a 50 yard lake in the road. Briefly considered turning round before I remembered the turning circle and just thought "go for it: what is the worse that can happen" Watched the 4WD ahead of me plough through; "god that is dep" and then go myself. I am never too sure what speed is best for fording so settle for 1st gear and about 10mph. the car gradually slows as I get to the deepest part of the lake before picking up speed again and I am out! The worst that did happen was a very steamy bonnet for the next 10 miles.
Numerous fording attempts later I finally got home feeling glad to survive the apocalyptic weather and, with the apocalyptic sounding car tucked up in the drive, I retreat to the house for a stiff drink.
Sunday dawns dry and I get the cleaning products out, I always find a god wash is the best way to get to know a new car's bodywork. The car is immaculate apart from the odd stonechip but inside the farmyard smell is still with me. I check the carpets and the driver's side is sodden: I guess it leaks then, I thought I had left that behind when I sold the Lotus.
During the week I have been taking the car to work. Amazingly easy to drive around town though filling with petrol is a bit of an event, involving me, the car, petrol and lots of kitchen towell! I have a little unibond deumidifier in the car when it is parked and it is gradually sucking the moisture out and the smell is fading, so all is good.
On Saturday I decide that we shall conquer my demons and face the A272 again, this time in the damp rather than wet. Once it is warmed up we hit a long straight, second gear, I ease the throttle to the floor: Oh my, even up to 6k revs this thing shifts. Bumpy roads however are terrifying compared to the elise and really rob me of the confidence to push too hard. The car seems all over the place, reacting to the slightest bump by shifting 6 inches left or right. Time to ivestigate suspension and geo (I put nitrons on my elise and it transformed an already good car). Looking at Racing Reds for the T350 though as the price seems a little better.
Overall I am very impressed by the car, but feel, more than any other vehicle I have owned, that I will need to take my time getting to know it before I truely appreciate it.
Now into the second week of ownership and she is tucked up in the garage as I took the Golf to work this morning. I miss her already!
To do List:
Door seals
suspension/geo
sports exhaust (maybe, gonna live with this one for a bit)
SP12's (again maybe)
Thanks if you read all that ramblinr!
Ryder
Ryder35 said:
Hi all,
After being inspired by "The Pits'" wonderful diary entries for the Sagaris
Good post. One of my dream cars so it's read things from owners. After being inspired by "The Pits'" wonderful diary entries for the Sagaris
Does anyone have a link to "the pits" diary entries? I did a few searches but couldn't find them and would like to read them. Cheers!
kicks said:
Ryder35 said:
Hi all,
After being inspired by "The Pits'" wonderful diary entries for the Sagaris
Good post. One of my dream cars so it's read things from owners. After being inspired by "The Pits'" wonderful diary entries for the Sagaris
Does anyone have a link to "the pits" diary entries? I did a few searches but couldn't find them and would like to read them. Cheers!
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/profile.asp?m...
should link to the page on his profile that has the first post on. Go forward in time using the left hand links to get more.
Ryder35 said:
Overall I am very impressed by the car, but feel, more than any other vehicle I have owned, that I will need to take my time getting to know it before I truely appreciate it.
I know what you mean, it took me a few weeks to get used to it! In fact I started a thread stating just how much I wasn't in love with it. Soon changes though as you become used to the driving experience and adapt your driving style, wouldn't want anything else now (despite the problems).I also need to change the suspension (very twitchy under full power and does get thrown around on the bumps) I've been told Ohlins are best but bloody expensive and I think I'll end up with either R/Reds or Gaz.
I also want a sports exhaust - JP I think!!
Can't wait till mid Feb when I get her back as she's currently waiting for an oil pump repair thats an engine out to Power job!
justin220 said:
Good to read, I came from an Exige and found my T350 handling very un nerving. Its getting some Gaz Proffesionals soon though.
Let me know how much it improves it. I know it will never handle like a lotus, but I really would like to make it more confidence inspiring in a straight line!If it is any comfort to you ... my Sagaris does exactly the same thing, extremely twitchy in a straight line, picking up all the tiny cambers and cracks in the road.
I also came from an Exige and to be honest it wasn't too dissimilar ... although the handling can sometimes be unnerving, somehow I feel that being told exactly what the road is doing beneath the wheels is actually a good thing, don't you?
I guess there is some sort of compromise to be had between handling that is full of feedback, and driving a dead-feeling car that simply marches straight over deformations in the road .... I think I need to drive a TVR with a suspension upgrade to test the theory
I also came from an Exige and to be honest it wasn't too dissimilar ... although the handling can sometimes be unnerving, somehow I feel that being told exactly what the road is doing beneath the wheels is actually a good thing, don't you?
I guess there is some sort of compromise to be had between handling that is full of feedback, and driving a dead-feeling car that simply marches straight over deformations in the road .... I think I need to drive a TVR with a suspension upgrade to test the theory
Great Diary-please let us know more as time goes by.
Suspension upgrade and SP12's are a great move and will settle the car, I have uprated the suspenders which were a great step forward and I am having SP12's fitted over Xmas.
One thing-watch out for cold water on a hot engine.Your engine is probably OK but don't try too many water sports with the T as a cracked casting is going to wreck your day.
Suspension upgrade and SP12's are a great move and will settle the car, I have uprated the suspenders which were a great step forward and I am having SP12's fitted over Xmas.
One thing-watch out for cold water on a hot engine.Your engine is probably OK but don't try too many water sports with the T as a cracked casting is going to wreck your day.
sidewayz said:
Great Diary-please let us know more as time goes by.
Suspension upgrade and SP12's are a great move and will settle the car, I have uprated the suspenders which were a great step forward and I am having SP12's fitted over Xmas.
One thing-watch out for cold water on a hot engine.Your engine is probably OK but don't try too many water sports with the T as a cracked casting is going to wreck your day.
Thanks, I am thinking Racing Reds first and then SP12s if necessary. I love the look of the spiders so hope the suspension alone does the trick. Suspension upgrade and SP12's are a great move and will settle the car, I have uprated the suspenders which were a great step forward and I am having SP12's fitted over Xmas.
One thing-watch out for cold water on a hot engine.Your engine is probably OK but don't try too many water sports with the T as a cracked casting is going to wreck your day.
As for water, I don't plan on anymore swimming!
What shocks have you put on?
I went for broke and put on Ohlins as the cost differential I could afford at the time.
It made the car feel much more planted and also improved the ride but I am definately of the opinion that the SP12's are an important step.I tried a T350 with standard suspension and SP12's and was impressed by how they improved the standard car so am hoping for great things. I'll let you know how I get on with them once I get the car back.
Have a good Christmas!
It made the car feel much more planted and also improved the ride but I am definately of the opinion that the SP12's are an important step.I tried a T350 with standard suspension and SP12's and was impressed by how they improved the standard car so am hoping for great things. I'll let you know how I get on with them once I get the car back.
Have a good Christmas!
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