So, condition or mileage
Discussion
Well I'm about to start the search for a T350. Having sold a BEC kit car last year I had hoped to do this earlier, but better late than never.
Im looking for a car that will be a keeper for some time, likely to do low miles in it really, maybe a couple of thousand a year as it would be for weekend jaunts. Think Id prefer a targa, a later one with the better fixings?
Couple of questions I have, I know that a lot of folk swear by condition not mileage, but if a long term keeper, wouldnt it be worthwhile starting off with something low miles? If there are a few little things to sort then thats easily done, whereby the mileage can't be wound back on higher mileage cars.
Im open to having a Cat D too, one which went late last year was great value at 17k, with 16k miles on.
Looking at what is for sale, there are some superb examples, mainly dealerships which command strong money.
On opposite ends of the scale:
A burgundy targa from Holland, a cat d, with low miles looks good value.
A similar car to the above, but not Cat D, is around 32k which is top money but very low miles.
Anyone know of the history of either of these cars?
Anyone any experience of owning a cat d?
Is there a "best" time to buy? Going to try to view a few of the ones of the classifieds and see how they look up close!
Thanks in advance.
Im looking for a car that will be a keeper for some time, likely to do low miles in it really, maybe a couple of thousand a year as it would be for weekend jaunts. Think Id prefer a targa, a later one with the better fixings?
Couple of questions I have, I know that a lot of folk swear by condition not mileage, but if a long term keeper, wouldnt it be worthwhile starting off with something low miles? If there are a few little things to sort then thats easily done, whereby the mileage can't be wound back on higher mileage cars.
Im open to having a Cat D too, one which went late last year was great value at 17k, with 16k miles on.
Looking at what is for sale, there are some superb examples, mainly dealerships which command strong money.
On opposite ends of the scale:
A burgundy targa from Holland, a cat d, with low miles looks good value.
A similar car to the above, but not Cat D, is around 32k which is top money but very low miles.
Anyone know of the history of either of these cars?
Anyone any experience of owning a cat d?
Is there a "best" time to buy? Going to try to view a few of the ones of the classifieds and see how they look up close!
Thanks in advance.
I just bought a T350 a week ago and I went on condition over miles, but it's a personal choice almost always based on opinions and past experiences 
I previous had a Sagaris (which I still regret selling, deeply regret lol), but my local TVR garage (there's only one in Ireland :P) maintained the T350 as well my Sagaris and he spoke very highly of it.
Whilst it has 33k miles on it (no rebuild) his advice on its condition and knowledge of the previous owner was enough to ensure I went with the car. Therefore I would break it down into..
1) How understanding of Speed 6 engines were the last owner(s)
2) What does an independent garage think of the engine
and 3) Get it up on a ramp and investigate under and around it for damage, rust, etx.
J
I previous had a Sagaris (which I still regret selling, deeply regret lol), but my local TVR garage (there's only one in Ireland :P) maintained the T350 as well my Sagaris and he spoke very highly of it.
Whilst it has 33k miles on it (no rebuild) his advice on its condition and knowledge of the previous owner was enough to ensure I went with the car. Therefore I would break it down into..
1) How understanding of Speed 6 engines were the last owner(s)
2) What does an independent garage think of the engine
and 3) Get it up on a ramp and investigate under and around it for damage, rust, etx.
J
MrWillfin said:
Well I'm about to start the search for a T350. Having sold a BEC kit car last year I had hoped to do this earlier, but better late than never.
Im looking for a car that will be a keeper for some time, likely to do low miles in it really, maybe a couple of thousand a year as it would be for weekend jaunts. Think Id prefer a targa, a later one with the better fixings?
Couple of questions I have, I know that a lot of folk swear by condition not mileage, but if a long term keeper, wouldnt it be worthwhile starting off with something low miles? If there are a few little things to sort then thats easily done, whereby the mileage can't be wound back on higher mileage cars.
Im open to having a Cat D too, one which went late last year was great value at 17k, with 16k miles on.
Looking at what is for sale, there are some superb examples, mainly dealerships which command strong money.
On opposite ends of the scale:
A burgundy targa from Holland, a cat d, with low miles looks good value.
A similar car to the above, but not Cat D, is around 32k which is top money but very low miles.
Anyone know of the history of either of these cars?
Anyone any experience of owning a cat d?
Is there a "best" time to buy? Going to try to view a few of the ones of the classifieds and see how they look up close!
Thanks in advance.
TVR T350 Owners Group on FB which has over 120 owners might be able to offer advice too Im looking for a car that will be a keeper for some time, likely to do low miles in it really, maybe a couple of thousand a year as it would be for weekend jaunts. Think Id prefer a targa, a later one with the better fixings?
Couple of questions I have, I know that a lot of folk swear by condition not mileage, but if a long term keeper, wouldnt it be worthwhile starting off with something low miles? If there are a few little things to sort then thats easily done, whereby the mileage can't be wound back on higher mileage cars.
Im open to having a Cat D too, one which went late last year was great value at 17k, with 16k miles on.
Looking at what is for sale, there are some superb examples, mainly dealerships which command strong money.
On opposite ends of the scale:
A burgundy targa from Holland, a cat d, with low miles looks good value.
A similar car to the above, but not Cat D, is around 32k which is top money but very low miles.
Anyone know of the history of either of these cars?
Anyone any experience of owning a cat d?
Is there a "best" time to buy? Going to try to view a few of the ones of the classifieds and see how they look up close!
Thanks in advance.
Agree with Jims comments. Tbh Cat cars are great options if they have been repaired to a high standard and documented. Some of our FB members have seen the cars and can provide better advice. Edited by ShiDevil on Tuesday 7th April 11:39
Fish said:
Hope the T350c is going well. I'm still excited about the Sag... Should get it next week..
Sure is, nothing to report after a week of enjoying her Hope you get as much fun from the Sag as I did, I think I will be changing the exhaust and ECU mapping to get more pops and bangs - the T350 is a little quieter :P
.. in terms of car's I would have no issues with a Cat D, assuming I was buying it to enjoy and not interested in "investing".. It does depend on who did the fixing, and the type of damage but I've known a few Cat D's who are so well repaired that the people servicing and sorting them (for years...) didn't even know.
Interesting question. If you are buying the car purely for your enjoyment then I wouldn't worry about a Cat D because so long as you are convinced that the car has been repaired properly, no-one else need know. There is also no need to worry then about the miles - lower miles tend to push prices up, but my experience of TVRs (one Cerb and one T350T) is that when they are used regularly they are much happier! My Cerb did 15,000 miles in the year I had it, and didn't miss a beat.
If, however, you are looking to sell the car on at some point, you do need to think about such things. My opinion (and others will no doubt be better informed) is that specification, provenance, and demonstrable care are all more important with regard to the saleability of a car. There is a 5,000-mile T350 in the classifieds at the moment, at a big premium over the more normally used cars, but it strikes me that there are very few people in the market for a pristine T350. If you drive it, you reduce the value. If you don't drive it, you are dependent on finding someone else who values that to realise any appreciation.
But if you find a well looked-after, reasonable miles example with good service history and the usual essential things done, and one of the better workshops willing to vouch for it, then you have a car that will not only hold value, but appeal to the widest possible market when you do come to move it on. If it has something special about it, you can then ask for a premium, like a Targa or a Red Rose, but the basics will still apply.
If, however, you are looking to sell the car on at some point, you do need to think about such things. My opinion (and others will no doubt be better informed) is that specification, provenance, and demonstrable care are all more important with regard to the saleability of a car. There is a 5,000-mile T350 in the classifieds at the moment, at a big premium over the more normally used cars, but it strikes me that there are very few people in the market for a pristine T350. If you drive it, you reduce the value. If you don't drive it, you are dependent on finding someone else who values that to realise any appreciation.
But if you find a well looked-after, reasonable miles example with good service history and the usual essential things done, and one of the better workshops willing to vouch for it, then you have a car that will not only hold value, but appeal to the widest possible market when you do come to move it on. If it has something special about it, you can then ask for a premium, like a Targa or a Red Rose, but the basics will still apply.
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