Opinion

[TVRIK]

Is it worth spending over 3k on a paint job on a 350i
Or do I trade mine in and put the 3k towards a 400SE
In decent condition? Bear in mind it would be as good as it gets with regards to the paint job..

Rik

[keatsie]

3k.. Oh, don't think mines going near a paint shop anytime soon!

[TVRIK]

keatsie said:

3k.. Oh, don't think mines going near a paint shop anytime soon!

There will be cheaper I guess, but a S and D paint job will be good history for the car.
Pricey job isn't it, I certainly can't afford it at the moment!

[keatsie]

It's something I have been dreading, my poor old 400se needs the body off and chassis worked on and the body is so rippled that that cost of prepping for paint is going to be sky high.. But it would probably be worth it in the end, maybe?

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Mate..I think it depends on how much you love your wedge and how long you intend keeping it..If i wasnt so attached to delilah then i would of chopped and changed until i found my ideal wedge and not spent much on tidying them up but i have come along way with mine and people may think or know that i must be mad as i have already spent well over the value of the car..My plan is to stick with delilah until such time that i can no longer drive her..By the time i have finished i should imagine i would have spent 15K but if i can have her for 15 years then its not so bad..At the moment the last job on the list is a paint job but this will only get done once i have somewhere safe nearby to keep her in even if i do use her daily as most of the shyte happens in the small hours around here..For now though i might just get her clay bar and mopped and if needed go with a blow over..Besides 3K for a paint job is not that expensive when you think about it especially if it includes all the prep..Removing doors..Pods..rear lights..Door handles...Bonnet and Hood..Also it depends on what paint you choose, My last quote for a burnt candy apple effect was 8K...The paint alone was £900 a ltr...wrapping is an alternative but as discovered it doesnt adhere that well to fibreglass...Ziga

[TVRIK]

mrzigazaga said:

Hi Mate..I think it depends on how much you love your wedge and how long you intend keeping it..If i wasnt so attached to delilah then i would of chopped and changed until i found my ideal wedge and not spent much on tidying them up but i have come along way with mine and people may think or know that i must be mad as i have already spent well over the value of the car..My plan is to stick with delilah until such time that i can no longer drive her..By the time i have finished i should imagine i would have spent 15K but if i can have her for 15 years then its not so bad..At the moment the last job on the list is a paint job but this will only get done once i have somewhere safe nearby to keep her in even if i do use her daily as most of the shyte happens in the small hours around here..For now though i might just get her clay bar and mopped and if needed go with a blow over..Besides 3K for a paint job is not that expensive when you think about it especially if it includes all the prep..Removing doors..Pods..rear lights..Door handles...Bonnet and Hood..Also it depends on what paint you choose, My last quote for a burnt candy apple effect was 8K...The paint alone was £900 a ltr...wrapping is an alternative but as discovered it doesnt adhere that well to fibreglass...Ziga

Ey up Zig.. Well at the moment it's just the model I'm attached to rather than the actuall car,
I have to say your right about the price on paint, the one I saw yesterday looked out if this world and it was still stripped,
They really don't mess about there.

I guess a should look at some good condition 400SEs and weigh things up, no doubt as time and money passes I will get more and more attached to my actual car, (Thor) yes I've named it line you! Ha ha.

[PHJayV8]

Has anyone considered that plastic coating/covering process for their wedge? Looks interesting

[TVRIK]

PHJayV8 said:

Has anyone considered that plastic coating/covering process for their wedge? Looks interesting

Hi mate, do you mean that like vinyl wrap but you spray it on?
And just peel off round the lights etc?

[mrzigazaga]

PHJayV8 said:

Has anyone considered that plastic coating/covering process for their wedge? Looks interesting

If you are talking about plastic dipping then it does look like an easy DIY job but i think they only have three colours..Black..Red and white and the finish is a flat matt..Its similar to a latex type of coating where masking off is minimal..It does look a cheaper alternative to wrapping or a full blown paint job but it doesnt have the desired effect for me unfortunately..Now if someone was to build a big enough hydrographic tank then i think that would be something else...Ziga

[PHJayV8]

TVRIK said:

Hi mate, do you mean that like vinyl wrap but you spray it on?
And just peel off round the lights etc?

I was under the impression it was like a film that's shrink wrapped onto your car bodywork? Similar to window tinting, but obviously applied to the body? I may be wrong

[mrzigazaga]

Mmmm...May well be an option as its certainly come a long way since i last looked at it...It even has a sheen now..In fact the red looks very tempting...
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=plastic+dipping+c...
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/user/DipYourCarcom?feature=...

[Trickie Dickie]

To answer the original question - yes I would put the money into a 400 personally

That is my humble opinion having owned and loved both - but much prefer the looks of the 400

If you are happy with the looks of your 350 (compared to the 400)
and you have a good car otherwise, then the choice for you is different

Hope that has helped

Trickie

[TvR Driver]

Personally id look to upgrade to an SE first :-)

I have had a 350i which was a great car and louder than hell itself but like the added bits on the SE bodyshell and we all end up spending more than we expect on our cars so as zig said just work it out over the next 5-10 years and it doesn't hurt as much !!

I figured if I spent 25K on a new car ( I never have that much to spend like most of us but if I did...) then after 10 years it would be worth maybe £3-5k ?

If I spend 25k over 10 years on my wedge also known as the growler ..... then hopefully it will be worth £10k at the end so I lose less and have loads more fun in the meantime

Oh and I haven't included fuel as that would royally fk up the sums lol

Also SWMBO wont notice the odd pound here and there as opposed to one big lump sum ( fingers crossed )

Ty

[TVRIK]

Hmmm yeah, I think I may look out for an SE
Check the prices see what I could get for mine.

And then reevaluate the situation. I wonder if Mr Tank has a SE just knocking around somewhere?! Ha ha

[gog440]

Not trying to sway you either way but I am sure I have seen 350SE number 9 for sale in the last few days,

[TVRIK]

Does the 350se have the same body as the other SE's ?
I really like the smoother nose, without that rubber bit at the front and really like the flaired arches.

Rik

[grahamw48]

No, the 350SE uses the 350i type body.

'Proper' flared arches started on the S2 390SEs.

I prefer the flared look too.

[TVRIK]

Yeah it's just the chunkyness, makes look look just that bit more angry looking.
Still live my 350i of coarse.
And for looks alone... I prefer the 390SE onwards look to the SEAC

[grahamw48]

Yes....cleaner, more planted look ?

.

[mrzigazaga]

I have to agree and say that i think TVR got it right again..As much as i like my old girl i do love the later shape as it does look a bit more aggressive..