Would would you do?

[kmpowell]

Ok, so i have decided to buy a T350 over the S2 exige, but......

I only have a £25k max budget. And that really is the maximum, not a penny more is availbale to me as my insurance and warranty have to be paid for on top of the £25k.

This is where the problem starts - £25k would get me a private sale car but no where near enough for a garage sale which would seem to be £30k+ required. Now in all the threads i have read i keep reading advice that says that 'make sure you buy from a dealer!'. With this in mind i see that the list of T350's on pistonheads has not changed for weeks (apart from adverts expiring or being added), so is it not advisable to buy private, and if not why not? Why is there £5k+ price differences between private & dealer prices? Am i right in presuming you cant just drive into any TVR dealer for help with warranty work/servicing unless you purchased the car from them?

£25k is a hell of a lot of money to spend and i really dont want to make a mistake. So to stop my heart running over my head and me making a huge mistake, what do you think 'cos this is driving me crazy?



>> Edited by kmpowell on Thursday 5th May 20:10

[2 Smokin Barrels]

I'd buy something else.

[nickfb1]

Well i bought mine privately a year ago and ive not had a single problem, i think for 5k difference why not buy privately, theres plenty in the pot if something should go wrong and an after market warranty should cover most things, maybe not the S6.
Go for it as long as you can get a good one for 25k and keep some back just in case.

[mustard]

If you purchased privately a TVR dealer would quite happily service/maintain any car taken to them, BUT you mention warranty... buying privately the chances are the car will come with none.

The major reason why TVR dealers cars can command soo much more money for the cars they have for sale is peace of mind as these cars do get something of a bad press in terms of reliabilty (a dealer will provide a warranty and offers comeback if things go wrong)

Now comparing the running costs of an S2 Exige to a T350 is chalk and cheese (just as the way they drive is) in terms of a. fuel consumption b. cost of routine maintenace (your running a very tried and test Toyota unit with the Exige rather than a low volume specialist engine) and b. extrordanary repairs are far less likeley and less costly

running a T350 on a tight budget, could very easily end in tears

[simon@63]

kmpowell said:

Ok, so i have decided to buy a T350 over the S2 exige, but...... Why is there £5k+ price differences between private & dealer prices? >> Edited by kmpowell on Thursday 5th May 20:10

£1k warranty, £3k 'overheads' and some room to haggle?

[guymarks]

You could always get a Tamora from a dealer?!

[blueyes]

You can have mine for 25k.

[Mr Freefall]

2 Smokin Barrels said:

I'd buy something else.

Buy a Tuscan, you might even get a nice Red Rose (Tuscan S) For £25k

Mr F

[crashs2k]

Have you thought about annual running costs?

I would budget £3K - £5K a year for insurance, servicing, fuel and any unexpected problems.

[kmpowell]

Thanks for the replies chaps. I have had another think today and a £25k private sale would be ok, as long as i could get a decent warranty and find a good car, especially as plenty seem to be cropping up now around that price range, so i have good scope for a decent one without settling for an average one.

With third party warranties, can i wander into any TVR delaer to get work done, or has it got to be done by the specified garages for the area?

As i do no more than 3-4k a year milage, the plan will be to get a recently serviced car and then buy a third party warranty that will cover the essentials. Does that sound resonable and possbile?

Its all slotting into place, so as long as i dont rush things, i reckon its possible

Trefor, what do you think, you have been quiet?

[kmpowell]

crashs2k said:

Have you thought about annual running costs? I would budget £3K - £5K a year for insurance, servicing, fuel and any unexpected problems.

I anticipate to be nearer £2k with the milage i do and providing I get a serviced car.

[targarama]

kmpowell said:

Thanks for the replies chaps. I have had another think today and a £25k private sale would be ok, as long as i could get a decent warranty and find a good car, especially as plenty seem to be cropping up now around that price range, so i have good scope for a decent one without settling for an average one. With third party warranties, can i wander into any TVR delaer to get work done, or has it got to be done by the specified garages for the area? As i do no more than 3-4k a year milage, the plan will be to get a recently serviced car and then buy a third party warranty that will cover the essentials. Does that sound resonable and possbile? Its all slotting into place, so as long as i dont rush things, i reckon its possible Trefor, what do you think, you have been quiet?

Sorry, been thrashing my Speed Six around Cadwell Park all day. 7,000 revs as many times as possible during the day and the car loved it. It's running sweetly after the 200 mile thrash down the M1 to home too. Sooo much better on the track than my lardy old Chimaera.

So, Kevin - can you wait a few months? There really are not that many T350s on the road. Something ideal might turn up soon?

Personally I wouldn't be scared of buying private if you feel you can trust the owner and they treat the car right etc. etc. For instance, most people on this forum seem to know how to treat the engine right when cold.

Defo get a warranty, but you knew that... I don't think you need to budget as much as some people are saying - esp. if you get the right level of warranty. These cars are pretty solid - as long as the engine rebuild is covered by warranty...

If you see the right car without aircon you can have it retrofitted at a later date (i.e. when you have some money!).

Dealer - hmm, well they make a fat margin like any dealer (look at Porsche p/ex vs forecourt prices), but sometimes cars can lounge on the forecourt for a long time so they need to make a profit!

BTW, what is putting you off Blueyes' T350? (maybe you don't like the colour or something...)

Er, have you driven one yet (sorry, I might have missed a thread).

[TheArb]

I would never buy a car like this without a contingency fund.

[saggy]

Here, here. Expensive toys Tivs. But I don't think you will get an S2 Exige for £25K either, although they're a lot cheaper to run and great fun. The Celica engine is brill - tried one for a weekend and the power surge at 7000rpm when the vvt kicks in has to experienced.

[blueyes]

My mate who's looking after my T350 said he can get a warranty for about 1k and Offord are doing a 24k service for £500. Hope that's some help.

[kmpowell]

targarama said:

kmpowell said: Thanks for the replies chaps. I have had another think today and a £25k private sale would be ok, as long as i could get a decent warranty and find a good car, especially as plenty seem to be cropping up now around that price range, so i have good scope for a decent one without settling for an average one. With third party warranties, can i wander into any TVR delaer to get work done, or has it got to be done by the specified garages for the area? As i do no more than 3-4k a year milage, the plan will be to get a recently serviced car and then buy a third party warranty that will cover the essentials. Does that sound resonable and possbile? Its all slotting into place, so as long as i dont rush things, i reckon its possible Trefor, what do you think, you have been quiet? Sorry, been thrashing my Speed Six around Cadwell Park all day. 7,000 revs as many times as possible during the day and the car loved it. It's running sweetly after the 200 mile thrash down the M1 to home too. Sooo much better on the track than my lardy old Chimaera. So, Kevin - can you wait a few months? There really are not that many T350s on the road. Something ideal might turn up soon? Personally I wouldn't be scared of buying private if you feel you can trust the owner and they treat the car right etc. etc. For instance, most people on this forum seem to know how to treat the engine right when cold. Defo get a warranty, but you knew that... I don't think you need to budget as much as some people are saying - esp. if you get the right level of warranty. These cars are pretty solid - as long as the engine rebuild is covered by warranty... If you see the right car without aircon you can have it retrofitted at a later date (i.e. when you have some money!). Dealer - hmm, well they make a fat margin like any dealer (look at Porsche p/ex vs forecourt prices), but sometimes cars can lounge on the forecourt for a long time so they need to make a profit! BTW, what is putting you off Blueyes' T350? (maybe you don't like the colour or something...) Er, have you driven one yet (sorry, I might have missed a thread).

Thanks Trefor

A lot of valuable advice yet again.

Much appreciated

[targarama]

Bought Top Marques today. There is one blue T350 for just over 25k and another silver one for 25k. Both have aircon and appear to be private sales.