Shall I buy it?
Discussion
Get it up on some ramps and check the chassis, the outriggers on the chassis rust for fun and are fairly expensive to repair. Also check the hood isnt damaged. Otherwise treat it like any other used car purchase.
Oh and the back brakes and handbrake are inboard jaguar ones so are difficult to change and not cheap
Oh and the back brakes and handbrake are inboard jaguar ones so are difficult to change and not cheap
wedggie said:
A little purchasing advice needed please...
I've been offered a 1989 390se which sounds good value at £4,500. I have owned a Chim before the dreaded kids came along and have been waiting until the right car came up before buying another Trevor. I've driven and tinkered with a 400 but have no idea what to look for on this car when buying. The coating on the dash panel is peeling and there's a small ding on the front, but everything else sounds great. Very comprehensive service record etc...
Any advise wedgers?
This would be my order:I've been offered a 1989 390se which sounds good value at £4,500. I have owned a Chim before the dreaded kids came along and have been waiting until the right car came up before buying another Trevor. I've driven and tinkered with a 400 but have no idea what to look for on this car when buying. The coating on the dash panel is peeling and there's a small ding on the front, but everything else sounds great. Very comprehensive service record etc...
Any advise wedgers?
When stationary
1. Entire Chassis (Welded joints where visible)
2. Suspension mounts front and rear upper and lower
3. Engine once warm - Blue smoke/oil pressure/cooling/hot & cold starting)
4. Gearbox (All gears engage/disengage)
5. Clutch operation.
6. Front & Rear Bearings
7. Driveshaft & Prop UJ integrity
8. Exhaust & Manifolds
9. Electrics (Everything switched on or used when fan cuts in and is running)
10. Brakes disks & pads.
11. Body (stress cracks)
12. Interior trim
13. Hood
On the road
14. Gear changing up & down range
15. Braking
16. Steering
17. Handling
18. Ride
19. In gear performance (Pinking/engine knocks)
There's a number 20 somewhere but I have covered what I would look for. Oh by the way....make sure you don't ask Mr Tank. He'll probably insist there should be a tea stain on the carpet when the factory trimmer first fitted the carpet...
Good luck and happy hunting
GV said:
This would be my order:
When stationary
1. Entire Chassis (Welded joints where visible)
2. Suspension mounts front and rear upper and lower
3. Engine once warm - Blue smoke/oil pressure/cooling/hot & cold starting)
4. Gearbox (All gears engage/disengage)
5. Clutch operation.
6. Front & Rear Bearings
7. Driveshaft & Prop UJ integrity
8. Exhaust & Manifolds
9. Electrics (Everything switched on or used when fan cuts in and is running)
10. Brakes disks & pads.
11. Body (stress cracks)
12. Interior trim
13. Hood
On the road
14. Gear changing up & down range
15. Braking
16. Steering
17. Handling
18. Ride
19. In gear performance (Pinking/engine knocks)
There's a number 20 somewhere but I have covered what I would look for. Oh by the way....make sure you don't ask Mr Tank. He'll probably insist there should be a tea stain on the carpet when the factory trimmer first fitted the carpet...
Good luck and happy hunting
You need to go to a new car showroom !!!!!When stationary
1. Entire Chassis (Welded joints where visible)
2. Suspension mounts front and rear upper and lower
3. Engine once warm - Blue smoke/oil pressure/cooling/hot & cold starting)
4. Gearbox (All gears engage/disengage)
5. Clutch operation.
6. Front & Rear Bearings
7. Driveshaft & Prop UJ integrity
8. Exhaust & Manifolds
9. Electrics (Everything switched on or used when fan cuts in and is running)
10. Brakes disks & pads.
11. Body (stress cracks)
12. Interior trim
13. Hood
On the road
14. Gear changing up & down range
15. Braking
16. Steering
17. Handling
18. Ride
19. In gear performance (Pinking/engine knocks)
There's a number 20 somewhere but I have covered what I would look for. Oh by the way....make sure you don't ask Mr Tank. He'll probably insist there should be a tea stain on the carpet when the factory trimmer first fitted the carpet...
Good luck and happy hunting
It's a 390SE. At most there were only ever about 93 of them built and now there are probably half that. If you want one, you don't have a lot of choice!
Nothing is insurmountable on these cars, whether it's a leaky roof, clattery engine or rusty chassis.
But the main thing is, you don't choose a 390SE. A 390SE chooses you
Go and see it, you'll soon know 
Nothing is insurmountable on these cars, whether it's a leaky roof, clattery engine or rusty chassis.
But the main thing is, you don't choose a 390SE. A 390SE chooses you
Go and see it, you'll soon know Number 20 is: drive it with the top down, then on the way back, with the top up.
When the top is up you can hear unwanted noise from underneath and the engine bay and also check the top fits properly at speed.
When the top is down you can hear the exhaust better and it's more enjoyable ;^)
When the top is up you can hear unwanted noise from underneath and the engine bay and also check the top fits properly at speed.
When the top is down you can hear the exhaust better and it's more enjoyable ;^)
Have you ever driven a TVR?My top tip is check the chassis.
Then check the chassis again.
Then, to be sure, check the chassis again.
Under no circumstances should you fire the engine up until you're sure that the chassis is OK.
Once you hear the V8, you'll sell your first born in order to have that rumble in your life.
Then check the chassis again.
Then, to be sure, check the chassis again.
Under no circumstances should you fire the engine up until you're sure that the chassis is OK.
Once you hear the V8, you'll sell your first born in order to have that rumble in your life.
Convert said:
My top tip is check the chassis.
Then check the chassis again.
Then, to be sure, check the chassis again.
Under no circumstances should you fire the engine up until you're sure that the chassis is OK.
Once you hear the V8, you'll sell your first born in order to have that rumble in your life.
Yes this^^^Then check the chassis again.
Then, to be sure, check the chassis again.
Under no circumstances should you fire the engine up until you're sure that the chassis is OK.
Once you hear the V8, you'll sell your first born in order to have that rumble in your life.
even my lowly v6 sounds bloody excellent (when it works)
Wedg1e said:
But the main thing is, you don't choose a 390SE. A 390SE chooses you Go and see it, you'll soon know
I'll second that Go and see it, you'll soon know 
I'm on my second wedge, my first being a 350i.
No comparisson, the performance difference is HUGE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Had my 390 on Austec's dyno recently, was very impressed with the results
Would put a lot of chimps to shame
390 SE's are awesome, much rarer (and dare I say it better
) than 400's anyway All the above IMHO anyway, don't want to upset anyone.
GV said:
wedggie said:
A little purchasing advice needed please...
I've been offered a 1989 390se which sounds good value at £4,500. I have owned a Chim before the dreaded kids came along and have been waiting until the right car came up before buying another Trevor. I've driven and tinkered with a 400 but have no idea what to look for on this car when buying. The coating on the dash panel is peeling and there's a small ding on the front, but everything else sounds great. Very comprehensive service record etc...
Any advise wedgers?
This would be my order:I've been offered a 1989 390se which sounds good value at £4,500. I have owned a Chim before the dreaded kids came along and have been waiting until the right car came up before buying another Trevor. I've driven and tinkered with a 400 but have no idea what to look for on this car when buying. The coating on the dash panel is peeling and there's a small ding on the front, but everything else sounds great. Very comprehensive service record etc...
Any advise wedgers?
When stationary
1. Entire Chassis (Welded joints where visible)
2. Suspension mounts front and rear upper and lower
3. Engine once warm - Blue smoke/oil pressure/cooling/hot & cold starting)
4. Gearbox (All gears engage/disengage)
5. Clutch operation.
6. Front & Rear Bearings
7. Driveshaft & Prop UJ integrity
8. Exhaust & Manifolds
9. Electrics (Everything switched on or used when fan cuts in and is running)
10. Brakes disks & pads.
11. Body (stress cracks)
12. Interior trim
13. Hood
On the road
14. Gear changing up & down range
15. Braking
16. Steerng
17. Handling
18. Ride
19. In gear performance (Pinking/engine knocks)
There's a number 20 somewhere but I have covered what I would look for. Oh by the way....make sure you don't ask Mr Tank. He'll probably insist there should be a tea stain on the carpet when the factory trimmer first fitted the carpet...
Good luck and happy hunting
t,how many of ours would pass this?
ha hawooly350i said:
GV said:
wedggie said:
A little purchasing advice needed please...
I've been offered a 1989 390se which sounds good value at £4,500. I have owned a Chim before the dreaded kids came along and have been waiting until the right car came up before buying another Trevor. I've driven and tinkered with a 400 but have no idea what to look for on this car when buying. The coating on the dash panel is peeling and there's a small ding on the front, but everything else sounds great. Very comprehensive service record etc...
Any advise wedgers?
This would be my order:I've been offered a 1989 390se which sounds good value at £4,500. I have owned a Chim before the dreaded kids came along and have been waiting until the right car came up before buying another Trevor. I've driven and tinkered with a 400 but have no idea what to look for on this car when buying. The coating on the dash panel is peeling and there's a small ding on the front, but everything else sounds great. Very comprehensive service record etc...
Any advise wedgers?
When stationary
1. Entire Chassis (Welded joints where visible)
2. Suspension mounts front and rear upper and lower
3. Engine once warm - Blue smoke/oil pressure/cooling/hot & cold starting)
4. Gearbox (All gears engage/disengage)
5. Clutch operation.
6. Front & Rear Bearings
7. Driveshaft & Prop UJ integrity
8. Exhaust & Manifolds
9. Electrics (Everything switched on or used when fan cuts in and is running)
10. Brakes disks & pads.
11. Body (stress cracks)
12. Interior trim
13. Hood
On the road
14. Gear changing up & down range
15. Braking
16. Steerng
17. Handling
18. Ride
19. In gear performance (Pinking/engine knocks)
There's a number 20 somewhere but I have covered what I would look for. Oh by the way....make sure you don't ask Mr Tank. He'll probably insist there should be a tea stain on the carpet when the factory trimmer first fitted the carpet...
Good luck and happy hunting
t,how many of ours would pass this?And still its not sold, I just dont understand!
Stu
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