Contemplating a wedge
Discussion
Hi all
After selling my previous toys to move house, I am back in the market for a weekend car. Fancy something different from the Caterham's and Elise's that I have owned in the past and have given up track days too. Seems like a wedge could fit the bill for the odd sunny days out and some tinkering, plus they seem very good value at the moment given the increase other cars have experienced over the last two years.
Have been looking and seen a few 350's that look like they could fit the bill. I am aware of the outriggers being an issue but not 100% sure how you can recognise / locate that and assume electrics are a weak spot.
Would I regret a Wedge, I've owned British sports cars in the past but would the Wedge be at the side of the road with the bonnet up most of the time?.
Matt
After selling my previous toys to move house, I am back in the market for a weekend car. Fancy something different from the Caterham's and Elise's that I have owned in the past and have given up track days too. Seems like a wedge could fit the bill for the odd sunny days out and some tinkering, plus they seem very good value at the moment given the increase other cars have experienced over the last two years.
Have been looking and seen a few 350's that look like they could fit the bill. I am aware of the outriggers being an issue but not 100% sure how you can recognise / locate that and assume electrics are a weak spot.
Would I regret a Wedge, I've owned British sports cars in the past but would the Wedge be at the side of the road with the bonnet up most of the time?.
Matt
My first wedge died on me 15min after I bought it (ignition module).
Fortunately, as the front suspension on this car with 1 week old MOT was basically not connected to anything due to rust on the suspension mount tower.
That went to a long term resto state (still ongoing), so naturally I bought another.
I daily drove that for 3 weeks or so in March, with few ~1.5h journeys thrown into the mix. And still occasionally drive it to the office (like am planning to do today).
Yes, the rear wheel was one mile away from separating itself from the car (rear hub nut), CTS may need replacing (no idle when warm, terrible mileage), door won't now open via central locking (need looking into), the bottom window channels were rusted through and needed replacing (done), the mirrors wouldn't work (took many weeks and many hours of tinkering, but done now), the bonnet struts were not keeping the bonnet up (done), etc.
No, I couldn't care less. It's gotten me home every time (though with the rear hub nut case, that was close), and I've enjoyed the tinkering.
And no matter how crappy the day at the office has been, once the engine fires on the way home I couldn't care less.
And then the Sunday drives are just an icing on the cake. Sunny day, open b-road somewhere, some petrol left in the tank... Priceless.
Ironically enough I wanted a TVR as I thought Lotus wasn't Trouble (Usually Serious) enough...
Fortunately, as the front suspension on this car with 1 week old MOT was basically not connected to anything due to rust on the suspension mount tower.
That went to a long term resto state (still ongoing), so naturally I bought another.
I daily drove that for 3 weeks or so in March, with few ~1.5h journeys thrown into the mix. And still occasionally drive it to the office (like am planning to do today).
Yes, the rear wheel was one mile away from separating itself from the car (rear hub nut), CTS may need replacing (no idle when warm, terrible mileage), door won't now open via central locking (need looking into), the bottom window channels were rusted through and needed replacing (done), the mirrors wouldn't work (took many weeks and many hours of tinkering, but done now), the bonnet struts were not keeping the bonnet up (done), etc.
No, I couldn't care less. It's gotten me home every time (though with the rear hub nut case, that was close), and I've enjoyed the tinkering.
And no matter how crappy the day at the office has been, once the engine fires on the way home I couldn't care less.
And then the Sunday drives are just an icing on the cake. Sunny day, open b-road somewhere, some petrol left in the tank... Priceless.
Ironically enough I wanted a TVR as I thought Lotus wasn't Trouble (Usually Serious) enough...
Matt230 said:
Hi all
Seems like a wedge could fit the bill for the odd sunny days out and some tinkering, plus they seem very good value at the moment given the increase other cars have experienced over the last two years.
Would I regret a Wedge, I've owned British sports cars in the past but would the Wedge be at the side of the road with the bonnet up most of the time?.
Matt
Buying a Wedge is definitely a good idea. However, I'm not sure about the value for money bit as you will get what you pay for. Good ones are expensive, and a few that you see advertised needing a 'bit of tlc' may be cheap, but could turn out to be a restoration job. Spend as much money as you can afford. Get one with a good history and check the car over well. That way you are less likely to spend time on the side of the road or up on the ramps. I'm a long time Wedge owner and this is my fifth Wedge. I have enjoyed owning every single one and have no regrets. Yes, there have been a few problems along the way, but with the help of other Wedge owners on this forum and others, I've always managed to solve them. Spend the money, get a good one and you'll never want to go back to owning any other classic. Wedges are addictive.Seems like a wedge could fit the bill for the odd sunny days out and some tinkering, plus they seem very good value at the moment given the increase other cars have experienced over the last two years.
Would I regret a Wedge, I've owned British sports cars in the past but would the Wedge be at the side of the road with the bonnet up most of the time?.
Matt
Tony. TCB.
Wedges are great to drive. Not in an ultimate dynamic way. In a fun, need to be awake, think about what you're doing way. Always an occasion.
Buy on condition irregardless of model.
350i models have removable sills so outrigger repair is pretty easy.
Electrics can be hard to certify. They can just fail. They are pushing 30 years old. Weren't well made in the first place and fitted into a hostile environment.
Cost is subjective.
Are you in a rush? I would wholeheartedly recommend enquiring about the Gredge. This has had a Griffith 500 engine fitted and appropriate other upgrades to match.
Unfortunately, in need of some body work repair up front after an inattentive driver had a parking incident. Should be back though.
Buy on condition irregardless of model.
350i models have removable sills so outrigger repair is pretty easy.
Electrics can be hard to certify. They can just fail. They are pushing 30 years old. Weren't well made in the first place and fitted into a hostile environment.
Cost is subjective.
Are you in a rush? I would wholeheartedly recommend enquiring about the Gredge. This has had a Griffith 500 engine fitted and appropriate other upgrades to match.
Unfortunately, in need of some body work repair up front after an inattentive driver had a parking incident. Should be back though.
Condition is subjective, too.
You can buy an expensive one only for something expensive to go wrong, soon after, or you could buy a cheap well-used one that runs and runs.
As Tony says a cheap one will be a restoration job, but only if your standards demand it, usually a slightly tattly used one will be cheap but run well and if you're lucky just need the standard replacement parts when they wear out.
You can buy an expensive one only for something expensive to go wrong, soon after, or you could buy a cheap well-used one that runs and runs.
As Tony says a cheap one will be a restoration job, but only if your standards demand it, usually a slightly tattly used one will be cheap but run well and if you're lucky just need the standard replacement parts when they wear out.
Electrical issues are usually poor connections or poor earthing. I've routed my earth connections for the ignition, dash switches, gagues directly to the Battery Negative. If I had Efi I would route the earth there too.
As for the rest of the car it's ver easy to maintain and look after. Whilst hooning up and down my local stretch of the M25 etc I've seen countless 'Modern' cars on the side with their bonnets up....
As for the rest of the car it's ver easy to maintain and look after. Whilst hooning up and down my local stretch of the M25 etc I've seen countless 'Modern' cars on the side with their bonnets up....
When you look around at what you can get for the money a wedge costs there is nothing close to it. A v8 in any classic I.e mgb, stag are a joke. Fast fords like escorts and capris or even xr3i are also silly. A wedge has one of the best v8 engines ever made and nothing sounds like a wedge. I had a guy come up to me a couple of weeks ago to say what an awesome sound my 350i makes and he has got one of the new jag sports car thingy. One day these cars will be go the way of other classics so buy now before it happens. Any problems with chassis or running gear can be repaired and it dosent have to cost a fortune.
As with anything that isn't looked after; it will eventually let you down.
These cars are starting to be appreciated now and so eventually they will be neglected less and less. Too many folk have bought these cars historically not really knowing what they are buying, thus the cars have suffered over the years.
Mine has never let me down, (there iv'e gone and done it now) but then again i do give it lots of love :-)
Get one that's been looked after and look after it yourself, it will reward you 10 fold. Yes because of what they are, they will not have the modern day tin top reliability but they are much better than the reputations.
These cars are starting to be appreciated now and so eventually they will be neglected less and less. Too many folk have bought these cars historically not really knowing what they are buying, thus the cars have suffered over the years.
Mine has never let me down, (there iv'e gone and done it now) but then again i do give it lots of love :-)
Get one that's been looked after and look after it yourself, it will reward you 10 fold. Yes because of what they are, they will not have the modern day tin top reliability but they are much better than the reputations.
jon haines said:
When you look around at what you can get for the money a wedge costs there is nothing close to it. A v8 in any classic I.e mgb, stag are a joke. Fast fords like escorts and capris or even xr3i are also silly. .
This is what I was meaning when I said they were reasonable money, when compared to similar vehicles which have just exploded in value the last couple of years. Thank you all for the replies. Some really useful information. I have a reasonable budget for the right car and man maths can usually be applied. Time to keep an eye on the market and see what is coming up. Would be nice to tinker over the winter if I managed to source one
Ive never owned a V8 and think its time to tick that off the list
Matt
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