Wedge or S early or late
Discussion
Hi All Looking for others thoughts and views. I have owned a wedge previously and a Chimaera. Loved both cars but felt the Chim was a bit flash and I loved the rawness of the wedge. However, I have a bit of a hankering to try an S. But budget will not stretch to a V8S and I am not a fan of the ford V6 especially when the alternative is a RV8. So my questions are:
Has anyone here owned both Wedge and S in the past and if so how would you compare and contrast them (I haven’t used that sentence since school).
What are the benefits, in everyday driving, of the later A frame suspension setup over the earlier trailing arm setup on the Wedge. My wedge had the A frame.
There is a Black 350i on Pistonheads for £2k presently and it sounds like the sort of condition I am looking for only downside being trailing arm suspension and the earlier traditional gauges (I much prefer the later gauges where the speedo and rev counter start at 2 oclock). I am looking for something with MOT and useable straight away but am not too fussed about paintwork condition, mileage and outrigger condition as I replaced them on my last Wedge.
Your thoughts and views would be much appreciated
Thanks in advance
Terence
Has anyone here owned both Wedge and S in the past and if so how would you compare and contrast them (I haven’t used that sentence since school).
What are the benefits, in everyday driving, of the later A frame suspension setup over the earlier trailing arm setup on the Wedge. My wedge had the A frame.
There is a Black 350i on Pistonheads for £2k presently and it sounds like the sort of condition I am looking for only downside being trailing arm suspension and the earlier traditional gauges (I much prefer the later gauges where the speedo and rev counter start at 2 oclock). I am looking for something with MOT and useable straight away but am not too fussed about paintwork condition, mileage and outrigger condition as I replaced them on my last Wedge.
Your thoughts and views would be much appreciated
Thanks in advance
Terence
Yep Wedge and S2, my first TVR was an S and led me into numerous other TVR’s. Now at the Wedge and in all honesty I do not believe you can find a V8 that packs so much fun and enjoyment for such sensible money. Of course being an 80s boy I love the wedge shape, it is such a contrast to euro boxes and if you think the Chim is flash then regardless of how old a wedge is, it still turns heads so apart from the tyres, nothing is ‘Low Profile’ about the wedge.
However to me the S is close even in V6 form, it makes a nice noise and being predominately ford components it’s easy to maintain and extremely reliable. Apart from the V6 block weighing the same as a small country it is robust, very tuneable and quite lively when pushed albeit not giving the range of the V8.
Both cars are easy to live with, handling not too much different, the wedge is a bit harder but both cars I owned had uprated suspension so maybe in standard form the difference maybe more apparent. Both cabins are cosy, less buffeting in the wedge due to the screen but essentially apart from the shape not a huge amount of difference between the cars, it really is personal preference and really it will come down to a test drive of the S, the car and its condition.
However to me the S is close even in V6 form, it makes a nice noise and being predominately ford components it’s easy to maintain and extremely reliable. Apart from the V6 block weighing the same as a small country it is robust, very tuneable and quite lively when pushed albeit not giving the range of the V8.
Both cars are easy to live with, handling not too much different, the wedge is a bit harder but both cars I owned had uprated suspension so maybe in standard form the difference maybe more apparent. Both cabins are cosy, less buffeting in the wedge due to the screen but essentially apart from the shape not a huge amount of difference between the cars, it really is personal preference and really it will come down to a test drive of the S, the car and its condition.
H2DCA thanks for your comments. I must admit the main thing I have against the Ford V6 is its weight and I am a fan of the RV8 having had a number of vehicles fitted with it. Perhaps flash was the wrong word to use for the Chim. I just felt much more comfortable/ at home in the Wedge. I would be interested to hear peoples views comparing trailing arm with the later a frame suspension. Could anyone tell me if the later 350i cars had stronger universal joints in the drive shafts?
Thanks
Terence
Thanks
Terence
Driving my mates S 1.5 was my first TVR driving experience before buying a 280i wedge and jumping up to a 450SE.
I was always impressed with the S in the way it handled. It felt taught, competent and sounded great for a V6 with the retro styling being quite cool too.
I only bought the wedge as I was not as financially flush as my mate but the styling was more distinctive. The S to me was a more competent car than the 280, but the wedge had that special something you can't quite put your finger on. My 280 was the fifth series two FHC made so the S was 8 years further down the line of development etc etc.
The 450 on the otherhand is a different beast and as you say, more raw in everyway.
I personally think whichever one you go for, you won't be disappointed.
I was always impressed with the S in the way it handled. It felt taught, competent and sounded great for a V6 with the retro styling being quite cool too.
I only bought the wedge as I was not as financially flush as my mate but the styling was more distinctive. The S to me was a more competent car than the 280, but the wedge had that special something you can't quite put your finger on. My 280 was the fifth series two FHC made so the S was 8 years further down the line of development etc etc.
The 450 on the otherhand is a different beast and as you say, more raw in everyway.
I personally think whichever one you go for, you won't be disappointed.
I can comment on trailing arm versus A-frame.
My S1 FHC 280i was of course trailing arm, and my 390 S2 and present 400SE A-frame.
The 280 was always hard and 'crashy' even after I had complete new suspension fitted and suitably adjusted. Handlingwise (and I do like to press on) not too different from the later cars....certainly no obvious weaknesses, but on a 350 possibly more noticeable.
Having said that, there are Tasmin racers out there with trailing arms and a LOT of power, but I believe they have extra location fitted, and that is probably all you would need. Would you push it that far on the road though ?
Both of my V8s have felt much more compliant and supple on the suspension and springing, but I'm sure these cars vary enormously because of the wear, or lack of it in the suspension components, later upgrading, etc.
I believe you can fit stronger joints on to the 350i shafts, if not already done.
I do like the S-Series...lovely looking car, but they don't seem as robust (if that's the right word
) as Wedges.
We're really getting more into personal taste there though, as far as shape is concerned.
At least they look less like an inflated MX5, as is the case with the Chim'...
My S1 FHC 280i was of course trailing arm, and my 390 S2 and present 400SE A-frame.
The 280 was always hard and 'crashy' even after I had complete new suspension fitted and suitably adjusted. Handlingwise (and I do like to press on) not too different from the later cars....certainly no obvious weaknesses, but on a 350 possibly more noticeable.
Having said that, there are Tasmin racers out there with trailing arms and a LOT of power, but I believe they have extra location fitted, and that is probably all you would need. Would you push it that far on the road though ?
Both of my V8s have felt much more compliant and supple on the suspension and springing, but I'm sure these cars vary enormously because of the wear, or lack of it in the suspension components, later upgrading, etc.
I believe you can fit stronger joints on to the 350i shafts, if not already done.
I do like the S-Series...lovely looking car, but they don't seem as robust (if that's the right word
) as Wedges.We're really getting more into personal taste there though, as far as shape is concerned.
At least they look less like an inflated MX5, as is the case with the Chim'...
Thanks for views broadside and Grahamw48 very useful and intereting especialy the comparrison betwen trailing arm and Aframe. My driving style is generally fairly restrained so I may not realy notice the differenc between the two suspension dsigns from a handling point of view. Although many of my journeys are 75 to 200 miles each way so the Aframe may be a little better if the trailing arm tends to be more crashy. I am on a fairly tight budget and looking through the ads I get the feeling I may get more wedge for my money than S. I do like the retro style of the S and the rawness of the edge so I think we are now getting into personal taste and as someone commented which ever one i end up with I will not be dissapinted. Thanks again folks for your input.
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