TVR T350 T in Mercedes Blue (2006) help please

[Malex350]

Hi

Have just joined this evening and would like your help two mins into it!!!!

This car is on classified ads and was wondering if anyone knows it and can vouch for condition/price

Basically looking for as late a car as possible around this sort of money so over to you......

Mark

[Targarama]

Which one is it? Maybe I'm just a bit blind?

[rico23]

Think it might be this one:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3195485.htm

I don't know the car but it looks like a nice low mileage late example and the price premium for that is not excessive too. Definitely one I'd consider if I was in the market.

[Jammy Dodger]

price looks fine to me for a very late one with good miles

[rico23]

Jammy Dodger said:

price looks fine to me for a very late one with good miles

Absolutely. Think I phrased it a bit wrong. I wouldn't have been surprised to see it up for more than that.

[Jammy Dodger]

rico23 said:

Absolutely. Think I phrased it a bit wrong. I wouldn't have been surprised to see it up for more than that.

I was looking in May and would have jumped on it immediately, although I find the colour a bit bland. I wanted Targa. Beggars can't be choosers.

My only concern would be whether the factory (whoever built it) was still enthusiastic or despondent (the st was hitting the fan) when it was built - might be the difference between a good one and a bad one. We all know what they can be like...

[The Surveyor]

Jammy Dodger said:

My only concern would be whether the factory (whoever built it) was still enthusiastic or despondent (the st was hitting the fan) when it was built - might be the difference between a good one and a bad one. We all know what they can be like...

WTF.... what sort of comment is that.... 'oh don't buy a late car in case the factory workers couldn't care less' !!!! Do you not think than any build-quality issues wouldn't have manifested over the last 5 years, that's if indeed the car was actually built that late anyway. My 2006 Tuscan was actually built mid 2005 for example! There were very few cars actually completed on the line when the factory closed.

That T350T looks a good buy from the pictures, the colour may not be 'shouty' but it's certainly a stunning car.

Paul

[Jammy Dodger]

The Surveyor said:

WTF.... what sort of comment is that.... 'oh don't buy a late car in case the factory workers couldn't care less' !!!! Do you not think than any build-quality issues wouldn't have manifested over the last 5 years, that's if indeed the car was actually built that late anyway. My 2006 Tuscan was actually built mid 2005 for example! There were very few cars actually completed on the line when the factory closed.

That T350T looks a good buy from the pictures, the colour may not be 'shouty' but it's certainly a stunning car.

Paul

Sorry if you're offended Paul, but it's a fact that build quality was hit/miss at the best of times.

My 98 chim was a good build in some areas and sloppy in others. Standard Chim & griff power outputs vary widely from engine to engine. Fit & finish likewise on all TVRs

There's no question that happy = motivated = top form. Unhappy = demotivated = poor form. Robots rule out that variable, but these cars weren't built by robots.

I'm not suggesting this car was poorly built, just that it should be closely examined (as they all should). As often stated on these forums, low miles is a double-edged sword.

I stand by the overall sense of that post - I would have jumped on that car, but with an objective eye.

[clive f]

looks like a very nice example to me, definately worth a look, the only thing that looks a bit iffy to me is the speakers being positioned so high up in the doors, but something like that would`nt put me off buying a car this good

[Malex350]

Hey guys....

Thanks for all your help on this matter.

Hopefully will have a look at the car Sunday.

Nice speakers!!

[Zippee]

clive f said:

looks like a very nice example to me, definately worth a look, the only thing that looks a bit iffy to me is the speakers being positioned so high up in the doors, but something like that would`nt put me off buying a car this good

Factory fit speaker upgrade so at least it's original. I have them in mine and they don't look too bad when the doors closed.
Personally I like the colour, I prefer the T350 in the less shouty colours, those are more suited to the Sagaris

[Hexhamhc]

I wouldn't worry about the TVR workers motivation as it looks like a car that was probably built in 2004!! The 2005/2006 cars have small NXT speakers built into the door bins and the Tuscan style seats. The only way is to look at the chassis number to determine its build era. Either way it looks like a nice car but was probably stored for a while before being registered.
I hope that this helps.

[Targarama]

clive f said:

looks like a very nice example to me, definately worth a look, the only thing that looks a bit iffy to me is the speakers being positioned so high up in the doors, but something like that would`nt put me off buying a car this good

This is the standard place for the optional front speakers. You can actually hear them here, unlike the ones deep in the footwell.

[Targarama]

Hexhamhc said:

I wouldn't worry about the TVR workers motivation as it looks like a car that was probably built in 2004!! The 2005/2006 cars have small NXT speakers built into the door bins and the Tuscan style seats. The only way is to look at the chassis number to determine its build era. Either way it looks like a nice car but was probably stored for a while before being registered.
I hope that this helps.

Of course, those small front NXT speakers were introduced as standard in early 2005.

[The Surveyor]

Jammy Dodger said:

The Surveyor said:

WTF.... what sort of comment is that.... 'oh don't buy a late car in case the factory workers couldn't care less' !!!! Do you not think than any build-quality issues wouldn't have manifested over the last 5 years, that's if indeed the car was actually built that late anyway. My 2006 Tuscan was actually built mid 2005 for example! There were very few cars actually completed on the line when the factory closed.

That T350T looks a good buy from the pictures, the colour may not be 'shouty' but it's certainly a stunning car.

Paul

Sorry if you're offended Paul, but it's a fact that build quality was hit/miss at the best of times.

My 98 chim was a good build in some areas and sloppy in others. Standard Chim & griff power outputs vary widely from engine to engine. Fit & finish likewise on all TVRs

There's no question that happy = motivated = top form. Unhappy = demotivated = poor form. Robots rule out that variable, but these cars weren't built by robots.

I'm not suggesting this car was poorly built, just that it should be closely examined (as they all should). As often stated on these forums, low miles is a double-edged sword.

I stand by the overall sense of that post - I would have jumped on that car, but with an objective eye.

You're spot on with regard to the inconsistant build quality, I've had TVR's for long enough to know that you don't get Audi build quality, but the point I was making was that any of the few final run-off cars shouldn't be down-valued because of a demotivated work force. If there were any shortfalls (and i've never heard anything which supports this) then such niggles would have been sorted by now.

[Mattt]

Hexhamhc said:

I wouldn't worry about the TVR workers motivation as it looks like a car that was probably built in 2004!! The 2005/2006 cars have small NXT speakers built into the door bins and the Tuscan style seats. The only way is to look at the chassis number to determine its build era. Either way it looks like a nice car but was probably stored for a while before being registered.
I hope that this helps.

I was going to say, as mine has them down in the door bin - looks better down there IMO, and I can still hear them fine

Would be interesting to know the build date on this one though.

[bobd]

Hexhamhc said:

I wouldn't worry about the TVR workers motivation as it looks like a car that was probably built in 2004!! The 2005/2006 cars have small NXT speakers built into the door bins and the Tuscan style seats. The only way is to look at the chassis number to determine its build era. Either way it looks like a nice car but was probably stored for a while before being registered.
I hope that this helps.

As per above looks like an 03/04 build - check the chassis number, speaker position is not as per 05/06 build, (from experience)

[Malex350]

Oh bugger really........

So if it is a 2003/4 build does that mean it would have an early ... How shall we say old style engine?

Can't thank you all enough for your help. Where is the cassis number on these then I can ask him.

Went to have a look at it today...

Few stone chips

Wheel refurb needed

Slight damage on rear defuser but has been repaired by racing green to high standard.

Slight crack near wiper around 8mm long but has been that way for two years.

So now in a melt down as what to do.... Help !,,,

[WJAS]

bobd said:

As per above looks like an 03/04 build - check the chassis number, speaker position is not as per 05/06 build, (from experience)

Sounds like a good advice. Where can you find the chassis number on a T350? And wich number indicates the year it is built?

[Targarama]

It won't be as old as 2003. Where were the fixings fir the targa panels? Front/rear is 2004. Sides are a 2003 car.

Stop worrying about the engine build date and buy on condition (mechanical and body/trim).