What to look for in a wedge?

[A900ss]

Hi,

Having a bit of a mid life crisis and want to buy a toy.

Looking at prices I think I should be putting a 350i on my potential list. I've always loved TVR's and never had a V8 and it might be time to kill two birds with me stone.

Way should I look out for? How reliable are they? I'm happy to do basic spannering but it would be a second car anyway.

I could spend upto £5k but would like to spend less. How much does an ok/decent car cost?

Thanks all.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Mate..Unfortunately TVR's have had a bad rap for years which has scared a lot of people away from them..Yes they can have intermittent electrical issues as they do suffer from bad earth's..ECU's play up and sometimes they can conk out and not start and then all of a sudden they are ok again..The chassis is a must to inspect but the outriggers which run on the outer edges behind the side sills are a bit of a rust spot..In most cases its not the end of the world..5K is a good budget and you should be able to get a bargain for that or even less..It is sometimes a good idea if you have spotted one you would like to write the reg down and to ask on here if there is any info..Or keep an eye on the classifieds..There is a Red 350i on there at the moment which was used as a hill climber and comes with some optional parts..A bargain at just over 3K..

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

The main thing is that you are getting a whole lot of car for little money..Fun and admiration..Loads of people pointing and saying "Wow" nice car mate..Or the odd "Nice TR7" which is really annoying.....You will also become part of a good bunch of helpful and knowledged people..Beware though a wedge will get under your skin and you will find yourself in love with a car for the first time..Sleepless night's if its in the garage and boyish grins when you drive it..I highly recommend it..But then im biased......Ziga

[Mr Tank]

A900ss said:

Hi,

Having a bit of a mid life crisis and want to buy a toy.

Looking at prices I think I should be putting a 350i on my potential list. I've always loved TVR's and never had a V8 and it might be time to kill two birds with me stone.

Way should I look out for? How reliable are they? I'm happy to do basic spannering but it would be a second car anyway.

I could spend upto £5k but would like to spend less. How much does an ok/decent car cost?

Thanks all.

Hi

Welcome to mad world of wedges (That's if you buy one)

A 350i is obviously the starter of the V8 wedges. (Its 30 years old this year) There are one or two nice 350is for sale at present, so you have a choice! What to look for, well the thing to look for are all the obvious things you look for in second hand cars condition of body work , interior, and engine. Plus the most important is the chassis with the outriggers the most important part. The beauty of a 350i is the sills are removable should you ever need to replace the outriggers1
Don't be to put off if you notice one or two cracks around the headlight areas as that is quite common. The body in general apart from there will be crack free (Unless its had a checkered past) The interiors are fairly hard wearing, the main differances is the S1 cars have a different door trims to the S2 (All one piece) So the S2 looks neater!
Which model to have is down to personel choice.
Value is a hotley debated thing but you can pick up a good car from around £3K+ and an extremly good car for around £5K+
You have come to the correct place to get advice on the cars!
If you are uncertain about a car and any thing you need to know just ask, I am certain somebody will help you.
People on here will also go and look for you!

Andy

[RCK974X]

As I've been away from UK for almost 20 years, a question...

How do the 2.8 /280 compare in price to the 350 et al. in UK nowadays ?

[A900ss]

A900ss said:

Hi,

Having a bit of a mid life crisis and want to buy a toy.

Looking at prices I think I should be putting a 350i on my potential list. I've always loved TVR's and never had a V8 and it might be time to kill two birds with me stone.

Way should I look out for? How reliable are they? I'm happy to do basic spannering but it would be a second car anyway.

I could spend upto £5k but would like to spend less. How much does an ok/decent car cost?

Thanks all.

I posted this last night (sober I should add) and then I had a sleepless night thinking about it.

I am not excited in that way to get a 4x4 but I am excited about a Wedge. THAT is what it should be like for a fun car.

So I guess prices of Wedges will firm up a bit when it starts to warm up, my money to spend is available from end Feb so I need to research and get looking.

Who is the best for classic car insurance?

Thanks all

[A900ss]

mrzigazaga said:

Hi Mate..Unfortunately TVR's have had a bad rap for years which has scared a lot of people away from them..Yes they can have intermittent electrical issues as they do suffer from bad earth's..ECU's play up and sometimes they can conk out and not start and then all of a sudden they are ok again..The chassis is a must to inspect but the outriggers which run on the outer edges behind the side sills are a bit of a rust spot..In most cases its not the end of the world..5K is a good budget and you should be able to get a bargain for that or even less..It is sometimes a good idea if you have spotted one you would like to write the reg down and to ask on here if there is any info..Or keep an eye on the classifieds..There is a Red 350i on there at the moment which was used as a hill climber and comes with some optional parts..A bargain at just over 3K..

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

The main thing is that you are getting a whole lot of car for little money..Fun and admiration..Loads of people pointing and saying "Wow" nice car mate..Or the odd "Nice TR7" which is really annoying.....You will also become part of a good bunch of helpful and knowledged people..Beware though a wedge will get under your skin and you will find yourself in love with a car for the first time..Sleepless night's if its in the garage and boyish grins when you drive it..I highly recommend it..But then im biased......Ziga

Not sure I'd want one that has been used for hill climbs and has stickers over it even though I am sure it has been expertly maintained.

I'd like a standard looking vehicle inside and out. I know stickers would come off....

This is defo a route I am exploring though.

[A900ss]

A900ss said:

Who is the best for classic car insurance?

Blimey. Just looked on Money Supermarket and a 350i fully comp for me is less than £120 a year and I have no NCB as I drive a company car.

For comparison a Shogun is over £400 a year TPF&T

Get in.

[Convert]

As Andy has said, check the chassis, then check the chassis again, then check it one more time.


DO NOT fire the car up before checking the chassis, as once you hear that glorious V8, you'll open up your wallet and ask the seller to pass the KY...


£3K should by a good running example, that may be a little rough around the edges.

I paid just over that for my white 350i S2 (1988 on an F) just under 7 years ago.
Since then, other than basic servicing, I've had to replace the track rod ends, and bottom ball joints on the front, the lower wishbones on the rear, and the springs and shocks all round. (My choice). I've fitted some leather seats from a Griff, and a set of dashboard veneers from Hotty.

All in all, it's cost me bugger all to keep on the road, and insurance (Through RH specialist insurance) costs me £112 for 3K miles, inclusing UK and European breakdown and recovery.


I keep her taxed and insured throughout the whole year, and she only really stays in the garage when there is salt down.


Best of all, the Wedge owners really are the greatest bunch of guys (and gals) that you could wish to meet, this forum provides fantastic advice, and everyone mucks in to help each other.

My Wedge is the best purchase I've ever made. Go for it, buy a good one and you'll never regret it.

[jmorgan]

Second the chassis check. But depends, if you see what I mean. Few years trouble free (??... chassis at least) then check it and check it again. It is not an insurmountable problem though. I have had all four corners at the outriggers replaced for a very modest sum and in a competent way so it is not the end of the world. I have had it for a long time though and did not consider that particular part as the water trap it was. It would hold debris and that kept it damp.


Second the "do not start it yet", that way, the dark side lies.....

[A900ss]

What's the best way of checking the chassis when you look over a car? I'm guessing it will be by the side of a road or on somebody's drive so it will be difficult to get under the car with a screwdriver to poke about.

This help is really appreciated.

[hallsie]

Dont discount the 280 V6...

Irellevant of what the rest of them keep banging on about with the V8, a good V6 will not be far off of a 350i V8.

Stu

[A900ss]

hallsie said:

Dont discount the 280 V6...

Irellevant of what the rest of them keep banging on about with the V8, a good V6 will not be far off of a 350i V8.

Stu

Fully take that on board and I'm not averse to a V6 after having a 'loud' 3.0 Capri when I was 18 but....

I have never had a V8. If I don't get a V8 when I get a TVR, I'll never own a V8....

My fave cars from the 80's was the TVR wedge and the Rover Vitesse SD1 and its easy to spot the common theme.

The more I think about it, the more I'm going to do it.

Please help and advise how to check the chassis.

Thanks.

[pjac67]

Hi A900ss - I see you're in Tetbury. Your decision isn't based on the fact that yesterday a LOUD convoy of a dozen or so of Britains finest brought Tetbury to a standstill ....? - Yes the Bristol TVRCC were out in force for a quick 120 mile blast - what weather !!

I have just purchased a 'project' 350i which may be for sale once it is 'up together'. There is another one in WSM that may be for sale.

Put 30 March in your diary if you haven't already done so - Neil Garners open day just up the road from you... were a few Wedgers there last year.

Good luck, Paul.

[A900ss]

I did see them from afar whilst I was out on a run. I could hear them easily though!!!!

Too far away to see what cars they were but I thought mostly Chimaera's and Griffiths.

Couldn't see any wedges but I was along way from them.

Sounded amazing. You were all turning left onto the Ciren to Tetbury road when I saw you and all giving it the beans from the junction.

Like I said, it was a TVR symphony and I want to play.

[A900ss]

pjac67 said:

Put 30 March in your diary if you haven't already done so - Neil Garners open day just up the road from you... were a few Wedgers there last year.

In diary now but I didn't even know they were there!!!! I often ride my bike out that way as well.

30th March.... If I can find one between 28th feb (money) and then, I could be driving a TVR there rather than my eurobox.

It's my birthday tomorrow so will break the news to my wife then as she needs to be nice to me on my birthday.

[Mr Tank]

pjac67 said:

Put 30 March in your diary if you haven't already done so - Neil Garners open day just up the road from you... were a few Wedgers there last year.

Good luck, Paul.

Hi Neil Garners open day will have a few wedges there, I hope to be there with the "Yellow Beast" it just depends how I recover from another opp on the 9th March!

Ref Chassis and how to inspect them.
The best way is to get the car into the air some how. But that may not be possable so its on you back with a torch and look, The place the wedge and most other TVRs rust is the outriggers which on a 350i wedge are covered by the sills so all you can do is look were the outriggers go into the sill and see the condition from there.





Just a couple of pics of a rustie outrigger. It was simple to deal with, material cost around £125 to 150 plus welding etc £250 so you can see its not the end of the world if you do find any at a latter date. This car chassis looked great it was only after the sills had been removed this was found, the other side was perfect!

Andy

[pjac67]

A900ss said:

I did see them from afar whilst I was out on a run. I could hear them easily though!!!!

Too far away to see what cars they were but I thought mostly Chimaera's and Griffiths.

Couldn't see any wedges but I was along way from them.

Sounded amazing. You were all turning left onto the Ciren to Tetbury road when I saw you and all giving it the beans from the junction.

Like I said, it was a TVR symphony and I want to play.

I am the only 'Wedger' who goes out on the Bristol runs although I was in the Griff... we had a few Griffs and Chims as well as 2 Tamoras a Cerb and an 'S' (and a SLK 55 AMG) although I did meet another chap in his Sag on the way home...

[chj]

A900ss said:

I could spend upto £5k but would like to spend less. How much does an ok/decent car cost?

There was an excellent condition red 350i for sale last summer at £4.5k and I'm not sure it ever sold - it was at the wedgefest - I can't recall the guy's name but somebody on here might be able to.
You should be able to get a top 350i within your budget.

Chris

[hallsie]

If its the red one it was colinanddonna.

Stu

[Dave Meredith]

I'm not that far away from you (Tewkesbury) if you want to have a good look at one
and take it for a spin

I did my outriggers for about £150 a side and that included the tubing, plate and
paying a mobile welder to do the clever bit. The sills come off fairly easily.
Chances are if they haven't been done yet then they probably will need doing -after
all we're talking about a 30 year old car.

I had a good look round the market and the TVR seemed a heck of a lot of car for
the money. As for reliabilty, mine has never let me down in 7 years of ownership.
Once you get it sorted it's a low maintenance car. If I had bought a TR6 (for
twice the money) I'd now be forever chasing rust around the bodywork

Try and get a flapper rather than hot-wire, -you'll gt lots of pops and bangs
on the overrun.

Good bunch of guys on here - what more could you ask for?
A car that smells good, sounds good and has real presence on the road!

As with any purchase - buy the best you can afford. 5K is more than enough
for a good 'un. If you see one you like - ask around on here. Chance are someone will
know the car

Happy hunting!