TVR T350 Wanted (Cash Buyer)

[MATTinSURREY]

There seem to be a lack of T350's advertised at the moment (when you don't want one there are bloody loads on the market!)so I thought I'd place a wanted advert on Pistonheads to see if it uncovers a gem.

What I'm after is a late T350 Coupe (targa considered), with air con, under 20,000 miles and in a more sensible colour (titanium, black etc).

I'm a cash buyer although won't pay over the top so please no dreamers.

Trade and private welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Matt

[Zippee]

Just out of interest what sort of price do you consider to be over the top? T350 prices seem to have risen over the last year or so with a decent 2004 commanding circa 22-23k.

[stimshady]

MATTinSURREY said:

...under 20,000 miles

this is interesting, 'cause would you consider a car with a rebuild?
Mine for example (although not for sale) has done just over 21K...BUT...the engine was rebuilt at 10K, so effectively, my engine has only done 11K (agreed the car itself has covered the miles, but which bits are important here, the body won't rust for example!)

Would you consider something like this?

[Andyt25]

Prices are all over the place at the moment....they have def gone up....good cars seem to range from 19k to the yellow one on PH at 28k!!!

I wouldn't get hung up on the under 20k miles...Condition and history is more important.

Edited by Andyt25 on Tuesday 9th February 19:37

[MATTinSURREY]

Guys,

Thanks for your comments. I believe T350's are selling (please note the word selling) for around £17,000-£21,000 assuming low mileage, good history and condition.

Kind regards

Matt

[5tevo]

MATTinSURREY said:

I'm a cash buyer although won't pay over the top so please no dreamers.

Trade and private welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Matt

At the risk of hijaking the thread make that x2 although I'd definately consider a car with an engine rebuild dependent on condition, age and number of owners etc.

Stevo.

[carsarecool]

Mines covered 21.5k miles, red glow pearl with tan/red leather, nitrons, power super sports exhaust, A/C, tonneau cover, painted seat backs etc etc.

Always open to offers

[Targarama]

Andyt25 said:

Prices are all over the place at the moment....they have def gone up....good cars seem to range from 19k to the yellow one on PH at 28k!!!

I wouldn't get hung up on the under 20k miles...Condition and history is more important.

Edited by Andyt25 on Tuesday 9th February 19:37

This is a quiet time of year for buyers and sellers, more will come on the market in March/April.

That yellow one has disappeared from PH, it was only there yesterday. It looked very nice indeed. I did wonder if it was Donaldosaurus' old car? How many Midas targas were registered in the later years?

[al 350i]

don't get hung up on low mileage, its all about overall condition. low mileage is not always a good thing tvr's need to be used

[bomb]

See my car in the adverts.

Its waiting for a buyer.

[TVR_owner]

al 350i said:

don't get hung up on low mileage, its all about overall condition. low mileage is not always a good thing tvr's need to be used

It is indeed about overall condition but things wear out with use - A great % of PH posters don't seem to have got their head around that fairly basic fact yet.

Low mileage one owner cars would be my start point every time.

[Andyt25]

TVR_owner said:

al 350i said:

don't get hung up on low mileage, its all about overall condition. low mileage is not always a good thing tvr's need to be used

It is indeed about overall condition but things wear out with use - A great % of PH posters don't seem to have got their head around that fairly basic fact yet.

Low mileage one owner cars would be my start point every time.

Don't agree....then we are all different.....These cars change hands alot as with most specialist machines. I am the 5th owner of mine but I new the last 3 owners so new all the history....which was better than a one owner who I have never meet before....I still maintain Condition and history is the most important.

[TVR_owner]

Andyt25 said:

TVR_owner said:

al 350i said:

don't get hung up on low mileage, its all about overall condition. low mileage is not always a good thing tvr's need to be used

It is indeed about overall condition but things wear out with use - A great % of PH posters don't seem to have got their head around that fairly basic fact yet.

Low mileage one owner cars would be my start point every time.

Don't agree....then we are all different.....These cars change hands alot as with most specialist machines. I am the 5th owner of mine but I new the last 3 owners so new all the history....which was better than a one owner who I have never meet before....I still maintain Condition and history is the most important.

Now where is the sheep smilie when you want it...

We are all different and I agree that knowing 75% of the owners is a help, but a higher mileage will still be more "worn" than a low mileage car. Cars are more than engines.

[crimpdoc]

Matt

If you don't mind I'd be interested in knowing how you get on, I'm thinking of reverting back to a TVR after a couple of year spell with the German's!!
Just been checking through my old e-mails it does seem that the prices of T350's hasn't moved much if anything, has gone up!! It seems, I may have taken the wrong route 2 years ago I was looking into a couple of T350's for £18K, I know I wont get near the 15K I paid for my boxster.

Cris

[Targarama]

bomb said:

See my car in the adverts.

Its waiting for a buyer.

Tried PMing you but your profile won't accept emails. IMO you need to put more info in your ad, and include some pictures of the interior (showing the driver's seat/footwell area especially). Look at this ad for one with more info which to me shows an anal owner (in a good way):

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1475304.htm

[Mark UB]

al 350i said:

don't get hung up on low mileage, its all about overall condition. low mileage is not always a good thing tvr's need to be used

though I'm not keen on cars with lots of owners but a S6 engine can go at 5k or 70k and 70k isn't a big mileage on a TVR if it's been well looked after with no expence spared.

IMHO TVRs need to be driven to be kept in tip top condition, it's the low mileage cars that have been sitting in garages for years that can end up being a nightmare.

[TVR_owner]

Mark UB said:

al 350i said:

don't get hung up on low mileage, its all about overall condition. low mileage is not always a good thing tvr's need to be used

though I'm not keen on cars with lots of owners but a S6 engine can go at 5k or 70k and 70k isn't a big mileage on a TVR if it's been well looked after with no expence spared.

IMHO TVRs need to be driven to be kept in tip top condition, it's the low mileage cars that have been sitting in garages for years that can end up being a nightmare.

IMHO (and that's all it is - but its based on something) TVRs need to have copious amounts of money lavished to be kept in tip top condition if they are being used hard or/and often enough to be considered higher mileage cars. I know of very few TVRs that get that appropriate amount of money spent on them in this sceanrio.

Two causes:

Lack of funds.
Owners and dealers not knowing what they dont know.

All cars can end up being a nightmare - mileage and use seem not to sway the end result.

TVRs do not have the build quality of a BMW or an Audi, and mileage soon starts to show-up the parts of your TVR that were done on the cheap.

Mileage = wear and fatigue on every part of the car.
Low mileage = less wear and fatigue on far fewer parts of the car. Sort out any little niggles and you're quids in.

[Zippee]

TVR_owner said:

Mark UB said:

al 350i said:

don't get hung up on low mileage, its all about overall condition. low mileage is not always a good thing tvr's need to be used

though I'm not keen on cars with lots of owners but a S6 engine can go at 5k or 70k and 70k isn't a big mileage on a TVR if it's been well looked after with no expence spared.

IMHO TVRs need to be driven to be kept in tip top condition, it's the low mileage cars that have been sitting in garages for years that can end up being a nightmare.

IMHO (and that's all it is - but its based on something) TVRs need to have copious amounts of money lavished to be kept in tip top condition if they are being used hard or/and often enough to be considered higher mileage cars. I know of very few TVRs that get that appropriate amount of money spent on them in this sceanrio.

Two causes:

Lack of funds.
Owners and dealers not knowing what they dont know.

All cars can end up being a nightmare - mileage and use seem not to sway the end result.

TVRs do not have the build quality of a BMW or an Audi, and mileage soon starts to show-up the parts of your TVR that were done on the cheap.

Mileage = wear and fatigue on every part of the car.
Low mileage = less wear and fatigue on far fewer parts of the car. Sort out any little niggles and you're quids in.

Lets take my 54 plate (October build) T350 as an example. 2 previous owners and 8500 mile on the clock when purchased. Within a month a faulty bottom end bearing was diagnosed as the reason for low oil pressure resulting in a bottom end engine rebuild and full top end strip down (to ensure the rest was fine) by Power, along with 2 new shocks and a new Ally rad. 6000 miles over 1 year later and I have an extremely well sorted car that is run no expense spared - so far a new alternator and clutch/slave are all that have been required along with the service and valve check.

Regular use keeps all seals, gaskets etc lubricated and ensures anything that is starting to wear is easily spotted - it's far easier to spot a difference on a component if the car is used regularly than if it's barely used. The S6 especially I feel is better as more use equals more lubrication to the engine and less chance of seized components.

Personally as long as theres evidence to back up the fact regular maintenance has been carried out and advisories have been done ASAP I'd not discount a high mileage car.
Of far more importance to me over low mileage is how the cars been treated - low mileage possibly means more short journies meaning the engine hasn't had a chance to warm through??

I'm not saying you're wrong as there good and bad elements to both high and low mileage cars but I'd never discount a well maintained higher mileage example.

[Mark UB]

TVR_owner said:

Mark UB said:

al 350i said:

don't get hung up on low mileage, its all about overall condition. low mileage is not always a good thing tvr's need to be used

though I'm not keen on cars with lots of owners a S6 engine can go at 5k or 70k and 70k isn't a big mileage on a TVR if it's been well looked after with no expence spared.

IMHO TVRs need to be driven to be kept in tip top condition, it's the low mileage cars that have been sitting in garages for years that can end up being a nightmare.

IMHO (and that's all it is - but its based on something) TVRs need to have copious amounts of money lavished to be kept in tip top condition if they are being used hard or/and often enough to be considered higher mileage cars. I know of very few TVRs that get that appropriate amount of money spent on them in this sceanrio.

Two causes:

Lack of funds.
Owners and dealers not knowing what they dont know.

All cars can end up being a nightmare - mileage and use seem not to sway the end result.

TVRs do not have the build quality of a BMW or an Audi, and mileage soon starts to show-up the parts of your TVR that were done on the cheap.

Mileage = wear and fatigue on every part of the car.
Low mileage = less wear and fatigue on far fewer parts of the car. Sort out any little niggles and you're quids in.

I used my Griff as a every day car for 7 years and never had any problems and it was only when I started using it occasionally that I started getting the odd problem, still it's a great car.

I now have a Sag as well that was a everyday car and has been maintained with no expence spared by the guys at TvR and no it ain't cheap but it's a TVR not a Ford and anybody who thinks they can run a TVR on a shoestring better think twice,

I don't use my Tivs on the road that much anymore but I certainly wasn't/wouldn't be put off by higher mileage well maintained TVRs, whether it's got 5 or 30k wouldn't effect the price I would pay as I would budget for a rebuild either way.


I'd be more concerned about where the car has been serviced and it's condition than it's mileage.

I would say a engine rebuilt S6 TVR with warranty would fetch a premium despite the mileage of car.

Edited by Mark UB on Wednesday 10th February 13:53

[BDM]

I am also looking for at T350's.

2 in the classifieds have taken my fancy at the mo