Finally I am a TVR owner!
Discussion
After many many years of aspiring to own a TVR and in just over a month since looking seriously at getting one, I finally have one 
It is an early Chameleon Green T350c with Portland grey half hide interior, and I love it!
Here are some photos:
EDIT: Photos removed as no longer available
As some of you may have read in my previous posts I was originally after a Cerbera, this moved on to a Tuscan as I realised they were in my budget, and then onto a Tamora as I could just about afford one and the handling was much improved (this car is for driving after all and not to pose in!). I ended up with a T350c at the same price I was looking at spending on a Tamora. So far I have no regrets and hope I never will have
It is scarily quick but due to the weather this weekend and having to drive my Leon Cupra R which I am trying to sell on Sunday I haven't been able to drive it properly in the dry
Going to Le Mans in it in a week or so and then in a couple of months the Nurburgring! Had better get used to it soon!
No big problems so far really. Some minor things though which were all half expected from reading the forums before buying.
1. Seatbelts are a right pain sometimes with no way of releasing the lock it would seem! After a slight adjustment they seem to be behaving themselves. Think this is down to the two seatbelt lock mechanism they use (can't remember the names). Being on a flat apparently helps.
2. Air con fault codes - Seem to come on when the car is stationary for a while with the air con on. The car then blows out super heated air out of all vents, not just the top ones! Not happened today though, possibly down to me playing with the fan speed and air con settings too much!?
3. Glove box - I have the original version of the glove box and latch. Not a problem really, but the catch on the lid has been removed, or has fallen off. This I think was to make the glove box sit more flush, but means that over some bumps it bounces open. Caused much ammusement when it first happened!
4. Fuel filling - Much as expected. Had some eyefuls of fuel when opening. Not sure how big the tank is? Says in handbook 60l but there is no way I could have fitted that in, I tried but it poured out
5. Getting in and out in the garage without brushing against the seat... is it possible?
6. Glue glue everywhere - why couldn't they use clear glue?
7.Seats rubbing on roll cage - not a problem with seats pulled forward slightly (where I like my seat anyway).
8. Wipers, do they return to the bottom or are they meant to sit that high up the screen? When switching them on they sort of move down first to a position you would expect them to return to when you stop them, but when off they raise an inch or two. Is this normal? Maybe to stop fouling on the bonnet?
Here's to many happy years of TVR ownership (I hope)
Edit: Sorry I should have mentioned... although there are a few niggles as mentioned above I absolutely love it!
Driving back home last night for the first time on the motorway (in the dry) the car actually made me not only grin like a Cheshire cat but it actually made me laugh 
Stopped in the Shell garage at Stanstead to fill up for the second time and got quite a few looks. It did look sweet under the lights in the garage I wonder if anyone realises it is the same car as on the adverts for the Optimax win a dream car promotion.
>> Edited by NickT on Tuesday 20th September 15:09
It is an early Chameleon Green T350c with Portland grey half hide interior, and I love it!
Here are some photos:
EDIT: Photos removed as no longer available
As some of you may have read in my previous posts I was originally after a Cerbera, this moved on to a Tuscan as I realised they were in my budget, and then onto a Tamora as I could just about afford one and the handling was much improved (this car is for driving after all and not to pose in!). I ended up with a T350c at the same price I was looking at spending on a Tamora. So far I have no regrets and hope I never will have
It is scarily quick but due to the weather this weekend and having to drive my Leon Cupra R which I am trying to sell on Sunday I haven't been able to drive it properly in the dry
Going to Le Mans in it in a week or so and then in a couple of months the Nurburgring! Had better get used to it soon! No big problems so far really. Some minor things though which were all half expected from reading the forums before buying.
1. Seatbelts are a right pain sometimes with no way of releasing the lock it would seem! After a slight adjustment they seem to be behaving themselves. Think this is down to the two seatbelt lock mechanism they use (can't remember the names). Being on a flat apparently helps.
2. Air con fault codes - Seem to come on when the car is stationary for a while with the air con on. The car then blows out super heated air out of all vents, not just the top ones! Not happened today though, possibly down to me playing with the fan speed and air con settings too much!?
3. Glove box - I have the original version of the glove box and latch. Not a problem really, but the catch on the lid has been removed, or has fallen off. This I think was to make the glove box sit more flush, but means that over some bumps it bounces open. Caused much ammusement when it first happened!
4. Fuel filling - Much as expected. Had some eyefuls of fuel when opening. Not sure how big the tank is? Says in handbook 60l but there is no way I could have fitted that in, I tried but it poured out
5. Getting in and out in the garage without brushing against the seat... is it possible?
6. Glue glue everywhere - why couldn't they use clear glue?
7.Seats rubbing on roll cage - not a problem with seats pulled forward slightly (where I like my seat anyway).
8. Wipers, do they return to the bottom or are they meant to sit that high up the screen? When switching them on they sort of move down first to a position you would expect them to return to when you stop them, but when off they raise an inch or two. Is this normal? Maybe to stop fouling on the bonnet?
Here's to many happy years of TVR ownership (I hope)
Edit: Sorry I should have mentioned... although there are a few niggles as mentioned above I absolutely love it!
Driving back home last night for the first time on the motorway (in the dry) the car actually made me not only grin like a Cheshire cat but it actually made me laugh Stopped in the Shell garage at Stanstead to fill up for the second time and got quite a few looks. It did look sweet under the lights in the garage
I wonder if anyone realises it is the same car as on the adverts for the Optimax win a dream car promotion. >> Edited by NickT on Tuesday 20th September 15:09
Nice one Nick! It has made me eagerly want mine even more now!*
One thing though... at a guess i would say you bought it from dream machine?. I say this becasue of the stupid/slack way the front number plate has been fixed on! Why do they do this?!!!?
All in all though im well chuffed you are happy, and i hope to be following you into T350 ownership VERY soon!
*A note to my boss, if you are reading this please hurry up and confirm my salary/bonus review, so i can buy my car!!!!!!
One thing though... at a guess i would say you bought it from dream machine?. I say this becasue of the stupid/slack way the front number plate has been fixed on! Why do they do this?!!!?
All in all though im well chuffed you are happy, and i hope to be following you into T350 ownership VERY soon!
*A note to my boss, if you are reading this please hurry up and confirm my salary/bonus review, so i can buy my car!!!!!!
kmpowell said:
...One thing though... at a guess i would say you bought it from dream machine?. I say this becasue of the stupid/slack way the front number plate has been fixed on! Why do they do this?!!!?...
I did get it from Dream Machines, Ben (from DM) is getting me a nice sticker type front plate when I transfer the private reg from my Cupra R so I am not too fussed about it. It's stuck on pretty well that's for sure!
kmpowell said:
All in all though im well chuffed you are happy, and i hope to be following you into T350 ownership VERY soon!
Good luck mate, I have been following your posts carefully myself and hope you get one soon! After only a few days I am amazed that I actually have one and just can't stop grinning! It is an awesome car.
When I was waiting to pick my car up I was full of a huge mix of emotions. I was worried about the huge expense of the car, but soon after sitting in my car for the first time and starting the engine those worries all went away! I'm still a little worried about ending up in a tree, but this probably isn't a bad thing, it makes me drive well within my and the cars limits. Once I get used to the cars characteristics and find exactly what the car can do in a safe environment (airfield hopefully) I will be able to drive it "properly"
targarama said:
Welcome to the nuthouse. A few comments:
- Glue - best thing is a cloth with white spirit - clear it off nicely. The glue actually oozes through the leather in really hot weather (I was in the South of France last week and during yesterday's cleaning session after getting home I had to remove loads of newly secreted glue from the door panels).
- If you recline the seat at the right angle it shouldn't collide with the roll cage trim. I have even taken the spacers out from under my seat (notice how the seats are wonky - look underneath). This moves the top outside edge of the seat closer to the roll cage trim, but it still misses and doesn't squeak if reclined at the right degree.
- Fuelling. You must try not to have fuel pour out - it will knacker the paint down the side of the car where it runs (I know, it happened to mine after only a few such fuelling sessions). Fill it gently (as you have now learned) until it clicks once. Add a squeeze more fuel and don't try and put any more in - it will come back out. Close the filler door quickly.
Also, open the filler very slowly to release the pressure.
A trick for fuelling is to work out how many litres you need to get the tank to 50. Then aim to get that much in. Any more before it clicks off is a bonus. I had 53L once, usually get 49-51L, but with zero splashback/runnage.
Thanks for the tip on the glue. I wonder why the valeter didn't do this!? It is good to know that it is possible to remove it. One thing he did do when preparing the car was to use some nasty smelling cleaning fluid to remove some staining left from where it looks like the tyre foam can exploded around the rear hatch, it gets you high everytime you sit in it!
As far as fuel goes my plan was to do exactly as you have suggested and put in exactly what was needed to fill the tank by working out how many litres it would take, but originally I was working off the figure in the handbook of a 60l fuel tank not the actual 50l tank it has. I did stop when I realised that it was full (no fuel pouring out) but when I pulled the nosel out it seemed to push itself out. I soon wiped up the fuel and washed it off with water.
The second time I filled it up I was much more carefull and ended up putting in about 10l less fuel rather than take the rish (I also forgot to note the exact amount left when I got out of the car). No fuel spillage
I also experimented on the opening of the fuel filler that time and opened it as quickly as possible thinking it would spit less... I think next time I will get a paper towel and hold it over the fuel filler and open the valve very slowley.Quick question regarding warming the car up... (I can't seem to find an answer by searching, maybe I am using the wrong words )
What temperature should the oil reach before you rev over 3k RPM? I'm currently not going over 3k RPM before the oil reaches 55 - 60 degrees. Is this the correct thing to do, or is anything above 50 ok?
) What temperature should the oil reach before you rev over 3k RPM? I'm currently not going over 3k RPM before the oil reaches 55 - 60 degrees. Is this the correct thing to do, or is anything above 50 ok?
NickT said:
Quick question regarding warming the car up... (I can't seem to find an answer by searching, maybe I am using the wrong words
What temperature should the oil reach before you rev over 3k RPM? I'm currently not going over 3k RPM before the oil reaches 55 - 60 degrees. Is this the correct thing to do, or is anything above 50 ok?
Glad your happy with the car, ive had mine just over a year now and it still makes me grin everytime i drive it.
I always let the oil get to 60 deg before doing over 3k
WRT the glove box if you want i have some very small round magnets, i could post you a couple which do the trick nicely.
One thing i would recommend is fitted if you,ve not already had fitted, is the updated retaining brackets for the rear diffuser. The early cars were prone to the diffusers becoming detached ie the original screws and bolts came lose, i know this happened to mine, luckily one bolt stayed attached on one side but the diffuser still swung lose while driving and the exhausts ripped through the fibre glass. £750 to repair
Fitting the 2 new retaining brackets £ 60
Well worth having it done
>> Edited by nickfb1 on Monday 6th June 16:20
nickfb1 said:
WRT the glove box if you want i have some very small round magnets, i could post you a couple which do the trick nicely.
Thanks! How do you fit them? Glue one where the latch would normally be (on the lid) and glue the other over the hole where the catch would normally go? How do you open the glove box then without the cut out for your finger?
nickfb1 said:
One thing i would recommend is fitted if you,ve not already had fitted, is the updated retaing brackets for the rear diffuser. The early cars were prone to the diffusers becoming detached ie the original screws and bolts came lose, i know this happened to mine, luckily one bolt stayed attached on one side but the diffuser still swung lose while driving and the exhausts ripped through the fibre glass. £750 to repair
Fitting the 2 new retaining brackets £ 60
Well worth having it done
Ouch! I will have to look into this. Where are these brackets? Can you tell from a visual inspection if updated ones have been fitted?
NickT said:
WRT the glove box if you want i have some very small round magnets, i could post you a couple which do the trick nicely.
Thanks! How do you fit them? Glue one where the latch would normally be (on the lid) and glue the other over the hole where the catch would normally go? How do you open the glove box then without the cut out for your finger?
nickfb1 said:
One thing i would recommend is fitted if you,ve not already had fitted, is the updated retaing brackets for the rear diffuser. The early cars were prone to the diffusers becoming detached ie the original screws and bolts came lose, i know this happened to mine, luckily one bolt stayed attached on one side but the diffuser still swung lose while driving and the exhausts ripped through the fibre glass. £750 to repair
Fitting the 2 new retaining brackets £ 60
Well worth having it done
Ouch! I will have to look into this. Where are these brackets? Can you tell from a visual inspection if updated ones have been fitted?
Yes just glue the magnets in place best to have them offset to each other so its easier to open. Mine opens fine without the finger recess
WRT the bracket, not too sure if you can see from under the car, but i'll tell you where they are.
Look under neath the diffuser in the middle of the diffuser. Look as far back as you can right to the furthest edge of the diffuser and you should see 2 metal straps attached to the diffuser about 5 inches long.
TVR obviously retro fitted these because of a known problem with the original design, ie many failures, i think with the rear diffuser also being so low it can be easy to catch on a kerb or reversing on a steep slope, and maybe this could weaken the bolts were they attach to the body work.
BTW i couldnt claim for the failure even though tvr had recognised it as a fault so best to get it done.
Hope this helps
How often should you check the oil? The book says after every trip but this seems excessive!?
Ben at Dream Machines says about every third petrol fill up as the fuel is something which will get used on a par with oil (the more you boot it the more fuel you use). This sounds sensible to me, although I am not looking forward to leaning across the hot engine!
The car had a 12k major service about 1k ago (not by Dream Machines) and the receipt for that shows they used Mobil 1 0w-40 oil. DM say that they prefer to use Castrol Formula RS 10w-60 oil and this is what they used to top it up. Which should I be using? The Castrol one seems like a better one to use especially as I will be doing track days and the like! I know this is a big topic which has been covered before but thought I would ask here.
Ben at Dream Machines says about every third petrol fill up as the fuel is something which will get used on a par with oil (the more you boot it the more fuel you use). This sounds sensible to me, although I am not looking forward to leaning across the hot engine!
The car had a 12k major service about 1k ago (not by Dream Machines) and the receipt for that shows they used Mobil 1 0w-40 oil. DM say that they prefer to use Castrol Formula RS 10w-60 oil and this is what they used to top it up. Which should I be using? The Castrol one seems like a better one to use especially as I will be doing track days and the like! I know this is a big topic which has been covered before but thought I would ask here.
Does anyone make an after-market T350c badge? Mine has gone horrible around the edge as the new plastic type ones apparently all do eventually.
I know some companies have a license or something to make Tuscan badges and other TVR badges which are a big improvement over the stock TVR ones but I've been told they don't have the rights to make a T350 one yet?
I know some companies have a license or something to make Tuscan badges and other TVR badges which are a big improvement over the stock TVR ones but I've been told they don't have the rights to make a T350 one yet?
Nice One!! Bet you are reaallly loving it..
Wish that was me!
Leven sell badges but yeah i'm not sure if the T350c ones are being made by them or not.. They sell laminated ones I think? Last longer than the TVR standard ones
- Or you could get rid of it altogether and shove a chrome TVR badge on the rear so people know what hit them when you go speeding by.. Hope you have a good experience with your new Pride n Joy
Dave
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