T350 as an everyday car?
Discussion
I currently own an elise but have always liked the T350.
Unfortuantely I have always been put off by people telling me they always breakdown/fall apart.
What are repair bills like? I currently use Horizon nr Birmingham for my elise and I know they do TVR's as well - are the prices similar?
Also, what are the service intervals?
I have aa parta and labour so that could cover 5 x £500 of repairs a year.
I can afford the car but don't have the funds to be spebding £1000 a service. Are parts expensive?
Any advice appreciated,
Tom
Unfortuantely I have always been put off by people telling me they always breakdown/fall apart.
What are repair bills like? I currently use Horizon nr Birmingham for my elise and I know they do TVR's as well - are the prices similar?
Also, what are the service intervals?
I have aa parta and labour so that could cover 5 x £500 of repairs a year.
I can afford the car but don't have the funds to be spebding £1000 a service. Are parts expensive?
Any advice appreciated,
Tom
There has been a few threads on this topic before, so do a search if you get no more replies.
I brought a new T350c which is now nearly two years old.
First the bad news.
There was the obligatory fit and finishing problems which were sorted under warranty but besides from that the only problems ive had have all come from non TVR made parts. fuel injector, clutch and alternator, but i believe all these problems have been redressed, or alternatively there are plenty of small independent after market companies that can cater for this. I use mine everyday or everyother day and love driving it, this is the best way to keep them they need to be used not locked away in a garage and only used once a week.
The only downside to this is that the service intervals do seem to come round to soon for my liking.
Now the good news
Your wife will think you having an affair, because you will always be out driving it, plus you will walking around the house with the biggest grin on your face when your not.
Its the best car I have ever owned nothing comes close unless youve got over 150,000 pounds to spend or own a superbike.
If your getting one from a dealer try to persuade them to fit a set of TVR super sports silencers as part of the deal you won't look back.
I brought a new T350c which is now nearly two years old.
First the bad news.
There was the obligatory fit and finishing problems which were sorted under warranty but besides from that the only problems ive had have all come from non TVR made parts. fuel injector, clutch and alternator, but i believe all these problems have been redressed, or alternatively there are plenty of small independent after market companies that can cater for this. I use mine everyday or everyother day and love driving it, this is the best way to keep them they need to be used not locked away in a garage and only used once a week.
The only downside to this is that the service intervals do seem to come round to soon for my liking.
Now the good news
Your wife will think you having an affair, because you will always be out driving it, plus you will walking around the house with the biggest grin on your face when your not.
Its the best car I have ever owned nothing comes close unless youve got over 150,000 pounds to spend or own a superbike.
If your getting one from a dealer try to persuade them to fit a set of TVR super sports silencers as part of the deal you won't look back.
Edited by zooooom on Sunday 15th October 16:18
Hi Tom
I went from an Elise to a Tuscan and then a T350.
I have found the T350 to be more expensive but better value for money than the Lotus. It really is a step change into a different level of performance.
Don't get me wrong, the Lotus still handles better than the T350 but the difference is now marginal. What you get is adrenalin-drenching performance and looks to die for. Your wife will love the T350-its got a very relaxing, dry, cosseting soft all leather interior that will make her look very stylish even in jeans and a T. It will turn far more heads than the Lotus and if she likes the drive you may find it difficult to get her out of it-but she has to like loud noise, belting acceleration, fast responses and a lively ride at the limit.
You will have the odd problem-as noted above usually from a non-TVR component.
You will also find criticisms on here about the engine, the sensors, the shocks, the software, the attitude of the company to owners, the current owner of the company and much more all from people who would have a limb or their first born removed before they would loose their TVR.
I did it and have never regretted it.
In my view the T350 is exactly like the autocar description- a small brutal coupe.They missed out stunning but everyone can make mistakes.
I went from an Elise to a Tuscan and then a T350.
I have found the T350 to be more expensive but better value for money than the Lotus. It really is a step change into a different level of performance.
Don't get me wrong, the Lotus still handles better than the T350 but the difference is now marginal. What you get is adrenalin-drenching performance and looks to die for. Your wife will love the T350-its got a very relaxing, dry, cosseting soft all leather interior that will make her look very stylish even in jeans and a T. It will turn far more heads than the Lotus and if she likes the drive you may find it difficult to get her out of it-but she has to like loud noise, belting acceleration, fast responses and a lively ride at the limit.
You will have the odd problem-as noted above usually from a non-TVR component.
You will also find criticisms on here about the engine, the sensors, the shocks, the software, the attitude of the company to owners, the current owner of the company and much more all from people who would have a limb or their first born removed before they would loose their TVR.
I did it and have never regretted it.
In my view the T350 is exactly like the autocar description- a small brutal coupe.They missed out stunning but everyone can make mistakes.
I went from an Elise too and agree completely with sideways mostly.
I have the wear and tear warranty and yes, I believe you do have to get the servicing etc done at TVR (worth calling the factory though to check)
It does make me feel comfortable though (even though I've had no major problems)
Main dealer servicing is about £450 for a 6,000 mile service and about double that for a 12,000.
Expensive in isolation but cheap when considering the performance (don't forget the T350 accelerates as fast as a Gallardo)
You can't compare these cars to Diesel Golfs when it comes to reliability.
They are spcialist machines and you need to understand that when you join up.
Saying that, you drive an Elise so you're obviously an enthusiast too.
On an emotional reward level, I can honestly say that the TVR is the most satisfying car I've ever owned.
Performance wise on a day to day level it is broadly similar to my old 997 Carrera S.
The enjoyment I get from driving it though is genuinely in a different league.
The ONLY thing that I would personally like (and I await the abuse) is if they had airbags and ABS.
Apart from that, pretty much perfect...
I have the wear and tear warranty and yes, I believe you do have to get the servicing etc done at TVR (worth calling the factory though to check)
It does make me feel comfortable though (even though I've had no major problems)
Main dealer servicing is about £450 for a 6,000 mile service and about double that for a 12,000.
Expensive in isolation but cheap when considering the performance (don't forget the T350 accelerates as fast as a Gallardo)
You can't compare these cars to Diesel Golfs when it comes to reliability.
They are spcialist machines and you need to understand that when you join up.
Saying that, you drive an Elise so you're obviously an enthusiast too.
On an emotional reward level, I can honestly say that the TVR is the most satisfying car I've ever owned.
Performance wise on a day to day level it is broadly similar to my old 997 Carrera S.
The enjoyment I get from driving it though is genuinely in a different league.
The ONLY thing that I would personally like (and I await the abuse) is if they had airbags and ABS.
Apart from that, pretty much perfect...
Edited by espresso on Sunday 15th October 18:20
trw144 said:
Do you have a tvr wear and tear warranty?
Do you need to have tvr dealer services for the warranty to be valid?
How much are service costs?
Thanks,
Tom
Do you need to have tvr dealer services for the warranty to be valid?
How much are service costs?
Thanks,
Tom
If you are buying a new TVR then yes you will have to have it serviced with a TVR dealer, but do remember you are now getting a three year warranty with the new cars now.
I have my car serviced at the main dealer I brought if from.
6,000 miles £ 735.86
12,000 miles £ 936.03 plus £ 352.50 for any tappet adjustments.
But they are recognized as one of the most expensive dealer in the country.
If you’re buying a used car then I would go to an independent there are some excellent ones that advertise on this site.
I've had my T350t for a week now & sold my RR Tuscan to get her.
Best TVR i have driven & pretty much agree with everyone else on this thread
A few little niggles so back to Castle's tomorrow but definitely better built than they were!
Servicing costs are what you could expect for a car like this & some dealers do vary but then again so does there customer service skills.
Take one for a test drive I don’t think you will regret it!
Best TVR i have driven & pretty much agree with everyone else on this thread
A few little niggles so back to Castle's tomorrow but definitely better built than they were!
Servicing costs are what you could expect for a car like this & some dealers do vary but then again so does there customer service skills.
Take one for a test drive I don’t think you will regret it!
Tom, I'm in the same position as you, changing my S2 Exige for a used T350T. I've been looking for about two weeks now and will make sure I drive a number of cars before I buy to make sure it is the right spec etc for me. I'm of to see three cars today.
I love my Exige but I need more room...can not get the pushchair in the Exige....but as soon as I drove the T350T I knew I had to have one. I certainly did not handle as well as the Exige but I didn't miss that as the noise and grunt from the engine was out of this world. I also expected it to be a handful to drive but it was not. Def the most usuable TVR yet IMHO.
You can expect running costs to double, at least, compaired to your Elise. From less fuel consumption to services but as long as you are aware of this you can hopefully budget for it. I have always been a little scared of TVR (as Jeremy Clarkson said "I'm to gay to have a TVR"
but the T350 will not throw you of the raod as soon as it looks at a corner or roundabout....great car.
I love my Exige but I need more room...can not get the pushchair in the Exige....but as soon as I drove the T350T I knew I had to have one. I certainly did not handle as well as the Exige but I didn't miss that as the noise and grunt from the engine was out of this world. I also expected it to be a handful to drive but it was not. Def the most usuable TVR yet IMHO.
You can expect running costs to double, at least, compaired to your Elise. From less fuel consumption to services but as long as you are aware of this you can hopefully budget for it. I have always been a little scared of TVR (as Jeremy Clarkson said "I'm to gay to have a TVR"
but the T350 will not throw you of the raod as soon as it looks at a corner or roundabout....great car. I m very tempted - i think I will have to test drive one.
Although I love the elise and prior to buying it just over a year ago, thought I would keep it for about three years, I like the 350 and think it is more practical being a hatchback as such. It also looks a bit more refined in the cockpit? Is this true, or does it still feel a bit stripped out (like my elise?). I m going to have to save a bit as the value of my elise is probably only about 12k. I think I ll save over the winter and look to get one next year sometime. Do the prices increase at the start of the summer (like the elises) or are they pretty constant all year round.
Would I get an ok car for 20k?
Also, with the wear and tear warranty, is everything covered? ie engine rebuild, tappets? Do you have to have a check done on the car after each year to get the warranty? Is it possible to get it checked prior to the warranty running out and then saying - ok, i want it all done under the warranty
Finally, is a courtesy car included when repairs are done? I need the car for everyday use so couldn't be carless.
Although I love the elise and prior to buying it just over a year ago, thought I would keep it for about three years, I like the 350 and think it is more practical being a hatchback as such. It also looks a bit more refined in the cockpit? Is this true, or does it still feel a bit stripped out (like my elise?). I m going to have to save a bit as the value of my elise is probably only about 12k. I think I ll save over the winter and look to get one next year sometime. Do the prices increase at the start of the summer (like the elises) or are they pretty constant all year round.
Would I get an ok car for 20k?
Also, with the wear and tear warranty, is everything covered? ie engine rebuild, tappets? Do you have to have a check done on the car after each year to get the warranty? Is it possible to get it checked prior to the warranty running out and then saying - ok, i want it all done under the warranty
Finally, is a courtesy car included when repairs are done? I need the car for everyday use so couldn't be carless.
Tom, I know what you mean about value of your Lotus. Mine has dropped about 8k to 9k in a year, but I did buy new...never again.
The T350 is no where near as stripped out as your Elise. The cabin is full of leather with hardly any plastic in sight. A very nice place to be sat in me thinks.
The T350 is no where near as stripped out as your Elise. The cabin is full of leather with hardly any plastic in sight. A very nice place to be sat in me thinks.
Tom, not sure about the prices on the T350 but i should imagine prices will go up as the temperature rises.
A TVR endorsed warranty should cover everything & so long as you agree to be taking out further cover they should rectify everything under the warrantee i would have thought?
By the way the interior of a t350 is far from basic, nice enclosed rollcaged cabin surrounded by leather with clear instrumentation & controls all at your fingertips!
A TVR endorsed warranty should cover everything & so long as you agree to be taking out further cover they should rectify everything under the warrantee i would have thought?
By the way the interior of a t350 is far from basic, nice enclosed rollcaged cabin surrounded by leather with clear instrumentation & controls all at your fingertips!
Hey Tom, I bought a T350C only a couple of months ago, i to had a Elise 111R which i to lost a packet on.I bought it when it was three months old. After 1 year of ownership i started pinning for a TVR, being no dealer in the IOM makes life a lot more difficult for me, but took the plunge to visit the UK for a test drive.This was also the first time i had seen a 350 in the flesh. I was hooked straight away!
As the guys have mentioned, there to me is a lot more class about a 350 interiour and exteriour. The drive is fantastic, the motor excepional. However do not expect it to handle as well as a Lotus.
I have just had a set of Nitrons fitted and all geometry set and this has made a big difference.
I to had so many people telling me not to buy a TVR and being told of horror storys! But these were mainly pre T350 models.I think from the birth of the 350 onwards TVRs have been a lot more reliable.
I just decided that i wanted one and if ownership was as bad as some people made out i would just sell it!!
Since taking ownership of my 350 and visiting this site, i see all the posts which are mainly small niggles not major proplems. All i would say to you is do plenty of research into the car you are interested in and look at genneral FAQ as i did,(i bought private) this is realy helpfull information so you know what to look out for and questions to ask the owner.
I bought my car of a TVR enthusiast (was his 5th TVR) they are the best type of person to buy from, in my opinion.
You will realy love a 350, i have not looked back since buying mine, 2 months on and runs like a dream!
Good look on your search.
Regards Paul
As the guys have mentioned, there to me is a lot more class about a 350 interiour and exteriour. The drive is fantastic, the motor excepional. However do not expect it to handle as well as a Lotus.
I have just had a set of Nitrons fitted and all geometry set and this has made a big difference.
I to had so many people telling me not to buy a TVR and being told of horror storys! But these were mainly pre T350 models.I think from the birth of the 350 onwards TVRs have been a lot more reliable.
I just decided that i wanted one and if ownership was as bad as some people made out i would just sell it!!
Since taking ownership of my 350 and visiting this site, i see all the posts which are mainly small niggles not major proplems. All i would say to you is do plenty of research into the car you are interested in and look at genneral FAQ as i did,(i bought private) this is realy helpfull information so you know what to look out for and questions to ask the owner.
I bought my car of a TVR enthusiast (was his 5th TVR) they are the best type of person to buy from, in my opinion.
You will realy love a 350, i have not looked back since buying mine, 2 months on and runs like a dream!
Good look on your search.
Regards Paul
hi,
i looked on autotrader the other night randomly and couldnt belive how much
a t350 is, shocked. i have a modified lotus esprit, had it 4 years and fancy a tvr
now, i wanted a tuscan but scared to death it will break as i also dont have 5k spare to mend the damn thing.
am i right that they dont have speed six engines? and its a totally new engine that doesnt
break in theory? my lotus is very very reliable, no hassle at all (its a gt3 thats why). but i think the t350 looks gorgeous, and i havent got sagaris money lol.
i looked on autotrader the other night randomly and couldnt belive how much
a t350 is, shocked. i have a modified lotus esprit, had it 4 years and fancy a tvr
now, i wanted a tuscan but scared to death it will break as i also dont have 5k spare to mend the damn thing.
am i right that they dont have speed six engines? and its a totally new engine that doesnt
break in theory? my lotus is very very reliable, no hassle at all (its a gt3 thats why). but i think the t350 looks gorgeous, and i havent got sagaris money lol.
karluk29 said:
hi,
i looked on autotrader the other night randomly and couldnt belive how much
a t350 is, shocked. i have a modified lotus esprit, had it 4 years and fancy a tvr
now, i wanted a tuscan but scared to death it will break as i also dont have 5k spare to mend the damn thing.
am i right that they dont have speed six engines? and its a totally new engine that doesnt
break in theory? my lotus is very very reliable, no hassle at all (its a gt3 thats why). but i think the t350 looks gorgeous, and i havent got sagaris money lol.
i looked on autotrader the other night randomly and couldnt belive how much
a t350 is, shocked. i have a modified lotus esprit, had it 4 years and fancy a tvr
now, i wanted a tuscan but scared to death it will break as i also dont have 5k spare to mend the damn thing.
am i right that they dont have speed six engines? and its a totally new engine that doesnt
break in theory? my lotus is very very reliable, no hassle at all (its a gt3 thats why). but i think the t350 looks gorgeous, and i havent got sagaris money lol.
All new TVRs have the Speed Six engine, and all T350s/Tamoras/Sagaris
My car is my everyday car, so i use it in all weathers. So long as you're careful in heavy rain etc you'll be fine. It's like any other rear-wheel drive car.
The good thing about the speed 6 engine is that it's just like any other car to drive, i.e. not massive torque, like a V8. The power only comes in if you want it, i.e. stamping on the loud pedal. So it's reasonably easy to pootle around in if you want or if you have to take it easy.
As i say though, in ice and snow it will be as tricky as any other rear-wheel drive car (personally, i don't use mine if there is snow and ice on the road).
Other things to think about if you're going to be using it in all weathers is to get the chassis waxoyled every year just to protect it and if you're leaving it outside possibly get a car cover for when the weather's really bad!
The good thing about the speed 6 engine is that it's just like any other car to drive, i.e. not massive torque, like a V8. The power only comes in if you want it, i.e. stamping on the loud pedal. So it's reasonably easy to pootle around in if you want or if you have to take it easy.
As i say though, in ice and snow it will be as tricky as any other rear-wheel drive car (personally, i don't use mine if there is snow and ice on the road).
Other things to think about if you're going to be using it in all weathers is to get the chassis waxoyled every year just to protect it and if you're leaving it outside possibly get a car cover for when the weather's really bad!
Yes, I've used mine in pretty much all conditions except heavy snow. I wouldn't want to do that mostly because of the (relatively) large footprint of the tyres more than any other reason.
The throttle has a very long travel which allows you to be as careful as the conditions require.
The throttle has a very long travel which allows you to be as careful as the conditions require.
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