T350 Impressions

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Discussion

bennno

Original Poster:

11,659 posts

270 months

Saturday 1st March 2003
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Got to confess I ordered a T350 because of how it looked, never really had a decent drive in one until today..

So after 150 miles....well done TVR, its well made, looks the nuts,

but.....it handles better than any other TVR I have owned, the steering is pin sharp, body control is excellent (NO FLOAT OR GROUNDING!!), ride is stiff but fairly supple, grip feels excellent and its not bouncy....all in I think its perhaps (and this is a big claim) as good as my old 996 carrera.

Seems the stiffer anti roll bar and adjustable spring platforms over the already very good Tamora have really enabled TVR to pull off something special with this one.

Look forward to the magazine reviews when they come out!

Bennno

>>> Edited by bennno on Saturday 1st March 18:36

alt

1,879 posts

283 months

Saturday 1st March 2003
quotequote all
Good news Benno glad you're pleased!
It seems ages ago now that I went through the same thing as you when I first got my Tamora!
Hope to see it soon?
Cheers.... Andrew

christof

882 posts

285 months

Saturday 1st March 2003
quotequote all
Great news and thanx for the pics. Your beastie is looking fantastic !!!

Well, seems that you are happy to be back in a TVR

Mine will be ready in 6 weeks and I'm planning to pick it up at the factory just before Easter and then running it in asap, go for the 1000m service at the factory and join the GT race over the weekend.

Anybody would like to meet up???

My specs are:

Brilliant Silver

Black half hide with Lamonta seats/doors

Few Portland Grey bits to seats, gaiter surround, dash

Anthracite Alloys

Black Air intakes and diffuser (hole area)

Some offer stuff to follow including side-/frontsplitter, T440 exhaust, etc...

Let me know if somebody is interested in getting the same mods, as I'm planning to get a few more done for the extrovert here on PH

Christof*getting very very excited (definately more than usual )*

Mrs Fish

30,018 posts

259 months

Saturday 1st March 2003
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Fish agrees with everything you have said there Bennno and I am really looking forward to driving it.

Thom

2,745 posts

274 months

Saturday 1st March 2003
quotequote all
I suppose you're already thinking of a personal bodywork aren't you Christof?
Or maybe you will leave it like it is?

christof

882 posts

285 months

Saturday 1st March 2003
quotequote all
Personal body and engine work

Thom

2,745 posts

274 months

Saturday 1st March 2003
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"Engine work"...Will you be trying that supercharger thing you were thinking of when you had the Cerb RR?

alt

1,879 posts

283 months

Sunday 2nd March 2003
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Mrs Fish said: Fish agrees with everything you have said there Bennno and I am really looking forward to driving it.

Mrs Fish, is Fish still alive or have you buried him under the patio? Show us some proof please?

Duncan

52 posts

285 months

Sunday 2nd March 2003
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Bugger! Went up to The TVR Centre yesterday to pick up a bit of door trim for my Tuscan (£2.64) and ended up swapping her for a lovely red T350 they had sitting in the showroom ready to go. Wonder if I can get my money back from the parts guy?

Seriously this is one lovely car and driving the demo car around yesterday showed how far things have come on since my early RR Tuscan was put together. Only niggle - I thought the brakes lacked the feel I have in the Tugger. Maybe it's just a question of getting used to it.

Looking forward to picking it up next weekend after the paperwork is sorted.

Duncan

bennno

Original Poster:

11,659 posts

270 months

Sunday 2nd March 2003
quotequote all

Brakes are really sharp now they have started to bed in following the first 260 miles!

My ear piercing rev limiter was kindly set to 3,000 which has been a ballache, but having passed the 250 mile mark and just checked the handbook, it now suggests a max of 4k rpm and 75% throttle bursts for up to 5secs are advised to bed the piston rings in - right back out for another blast now then.

Saw tvr centres red one being made at the factory when i went there just before the close for Christmas, it looked superb.

Guess I win the award for first person to smash their t350 windscreen from a tiny stone?

Bennno

Mrs Fish

30,018 posts

259 months

Sunday 2nd March 2003
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bennno said:

Guess I win the award for first person to smash their t350 windscreen from a tiny stone?

Bennno




Oh no not already???

Mrs Fish

30,018 posts

259 months

Sunday 2nd March 2003
quotequote all

alt said:

Mrs Fish said: Fish agrees with everything you have said there Bennno and I am really looking forward to driving it.

Mrs Fish, is Fish still alive or have you buried him under the patio? Show us some proof please?


No he's not under the patio he's at the moment mowing the grass. I'm afraid I have no proof other than there is no way I could afford a T350 on my own

fish

3,976 posts

283 months

Sunday 2nd March 2003
quotequote all
Reports of my death were some what exagerated.

The car is great, done 250+ miles and first 200 were at 24mpg on the way back. Car is sound as a pound. DAB is great although I've had to move the aerial. Reset all the contrasts, rev limiters etc. Fanatastic practical dash although I wish it would start at the last screen like the Tuscan did. The exhaust sound is superb, much better than the Tuscan.

Filling up the T350 is very much like making love to a beautiful woman....

First you must gently, lovingly open her up to get close to the inner woman. Moving your hand inwards you can gently, smoothly persuade her to open herself to you. Carefully one guides the nozzle into her inner sanctum, not too far or she won't let you play, not far enough and it spurts onto your feet. She can't handle fast, you need to be slow and gentle, eventually consumating the relationship with a small dribble from the opening.

In summary fantastic, petrol filler a bit moody but hey looks gorgeous. Already used the car to go shopping and the hatchback is very practical, will be better with a cover when it comes along so people can't see what you have got.

Can't wait for VW on the 9th.


>> Edited by fish on Sunday 2nd March 17:10

bennno

Original Poster:

11,659 posts

270 months

Sunday 2nd March 2003
quotequote all

....

First you must gently, lovingly open her up to get close to the inner woman. Moving your hand inwards you can gently, smoothly persuade her to open herself to you. Carefully one guides the nozzle into her inner sanctum, not too far or she won't let you play, not far enough and it spurts onto your feet. She can't handle fast, you need to be slow and gentle, eventually consumating the relationship with a small dribble from the opening.




do you mean that like myself you tried filling it up and irrelevant of technique fuel pissed out everywhere down the side of the car?



Bennno

flasher

9,238 posts

285 months

Sunday 2nd March 2003
quotequote all
Well, I'm back!!

I'm of the same opinion as you others. This is really something else, it's amazing. I can't believe TVR have built something this good and this beautiful too. Everywhere I have gone this weekend I have smiles, thumbs up and stunned people slowing down on the M1 to see the car...one guy veered accross all 3 lanes to get a closer look, while I cunningly checked his bird out!!!

Joolz and Rudegirl came over this afternoon and they both loved it!!

Right, I'm off out again now for my first night-time drive

260 miles are now up on the clock!!.

fish

3,976 posts

283 months

Sunday 2nd March 2003
quotequote all
Bugger I'm only at about 240odd..... you'll be quicker than me next week!!

I've improved the fuel filling technique, I nearly filled the lot up without a spill, nearly but not quite.

Bennno are you going to VW?

bennno

Original Poster:

11,659 posts

270 months

Sunday 2nd March 2003
quotequote all

planning to go to VW, only slight concern is that there is nothing illegal about the gathering that could interest the boys in blue.

fingers crossed that nothing else destructive happens to my car this week, broken windscreen is enough!

Bennno

flasher

9,238 posts

285 months

Monday 3rd March 2003
quotequote all
Bennno

Don't be a wuss, there isn't anything illegal about parking in a public car park and going into a pub for lunch. Just behave yourself on the road leading up to VW and you'll be OK. I'm sure people have paid heed to what occurred last time and will be more aware....

After successfully filling the T350 up on Sunday without a drop spilled, I failed miserably this morning and slopped it all over the back of the car... The pump just constantly clicked all the time and it took bloody ages to get £30 of fuel in.... oh well never mind, the rest of it is brilliant, just need to perfect the art of re-fuelling..

Stopped traffic driving it in to Coventry today and the schoolkids were all waving too, Maybe they though I was Matthew Kelly!!!

>> Edited by flasher on Monday 3rd March 10:22

apache

39,731 posts

285 months

Monday 3rd March 2003
quotequote all

Stopped traffic driving it in to Coventry today and the schoolkids were all waving too, Maybe they though I was Matthew Kelly!!!



impossible.....he's better looking

cerbera8

205 posts

285 months

Monday 3rd March 2003
quotequote all

flasher said: Bennno

Don't be a wuss, there isn't anything illegal about parking in a public car park and going into a pub for lunch. Just behave yourself on the road leading up to VW and you'll be OK. I'm sure people have paid heed to what occurred last time and will be more aware....

After successfully filling the T350 up on Sunday without a drop spilled, I failed miserably this morning and slopped it all over the back of the car... The pump just constantly clicked all the time and it took bloody ages to get £30 of fuel in.... oh well never mind, the rest of it is brilliant, just need to perfect the art of re-fuelling..

Stopped traffic driving it in to Coventry today and the schoolkids were all waving too, Maybe they though I was Matthew Kelly!!!

>> Edited by flasher on Monday 3rd March 10:22


I have had my T350 about a month now and had the same problem with my first fillup. Went to my local garage and used their crappy old fashioned pump and although had to regulate the flow it did not pi** out the top.

Mike