What do I replace my 2005 TVR T350T with?

[AdvocatusD]

I have an immaculate, spectraflair silver TVR T350T, which come summer will be making way for something new.



The car has been next to faultless and a lot of fun, but I want to keep trying new things so that when the time comes to make a big investment I will know exactly what it is that I want in a sportscar.

The wonderful thing about TVRs is that they are massive bang for your buck. I am going to add about £10k to the value of the T350, which I think is about £21/22k.

That gives me a budget of about £35k if I really push it. Realistically, I want to see what I can get in to for about £33k.

There are a lot of options out there and given the TVRs amazing value/performance for money I have had to accept that I am unlikely to end up with anything faster or perhaps even as quick.

So, what do we think are decent options for me come 4 months or so?

I’ve been toying with the idea of a good, manual, nero Ferrari F355 again (even though the cars I tested were such a disappointment). Budget not good enough for a 360 Modena which I would leap into. Also up there is a Porsche 964 Turbo. Absolutely adore the shape of both these cars and performance of both is adequate for 90% of purposes.

So, what do we all suggest for £33k? Needs to be sporty and with luck, rare.

[TTwiggy]

I would consider a Porsche GT3

No idea which model your budget would get you into, but a 996 GT3 might be in budget, and is unlikely to drop in value by much, if at all, during your ownership.

Not the best (most dramatic) colour, but:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1882487.htm

[NiceCupOfTea]

996TT?

[SteveS Cup]

Erm... keep the TVR!

You're spot on, remember Top Gear going the UK vs America vs German etc race and the TVR leaving everything behind.

Plus it's rare, it has the noise, the presence and most of all look at it!!!!! I so badly want a T350 it's unreal.

Anyway, I think a 996 Turbo is within budget isn't it?

Otherwise, R34 Skyline GTR - It has the rarity, speed etc... but it's still a rice burner.

Noble?

[SteveS Cup]

Get a Noble!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2319411.htm

(I got my TT from driven image, great company too!)

[kambites]

Why are you getting rid of the TVR? What doesn't it do that you want? If you can't think of anything that a car could do better, it sounds like you might as well keep it. If there's something you don't like about it then it should help aim you at something new.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 18th January 15:07

[RWD cossie wil]

I was going to suggest 996TT, but after a TVR it would probably be a bit too sensible?

Couple of wildcards for you:

M12 GTO :http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2098590.htm
Dodge Viper: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2111119.htm
Mustang GT 500: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1463230.htm

Nice problem to have!

[TTwiggy]

kambites said:

Why are you getting rid of the TVR? What doesn't it do that you want?

I think this is the pertinent question.

If it's more creature comfort/practicality that you crave, then the 996TT is probably the best shout.

If you want something to track then a supercharged Exige is well within budget.

Nothing is going to eclipse the Tiv for go and noise of course.

[dave9]

SteveS Cup said:

Get a Noble!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2319411.htm

(I got my TT from driven image, great company too!)

do you get a warranty or anything from them?

i just know they advertise private sellers cars and put on a 2k markup so i don't normally look at their cars but if they add value then its ok

they did sound great over the phone though

[Don1]

Suck up the final £7k and get yourself a Sagaris.

[AdvocatusD]

TTwiggy said:

kambites said:

Why are you getting rid of the TVR? What doesn't it do that you want?

I think this is the pertinent question.

If it's more creature comfort/practicality that you crave, then the 996TT is probably the best shout.

If you want something to track then a supercharged Exige is well within budget.

Nothing is going to eclipse the Tiv for go and noise of course.

The genuine reason is that I simply want to try something new.

[SteveS Cup]

TVR...

Engine Size 3605 cc
Cylinders 6
0-60 mph 4.4 s
Power Output 350 bhp
Valves 24
Torque 290 lb-ft
Top Speed 175 mph



996TT...

Engine Size 3600 cc
Cylinders 6
0-60 mph 4.1 s
Power Output 450 bhp
Valves 24
Torque 457 lb-ft
Top Speed 191 mph



Noble...

Engine Size 2968 cc
Cylinders 6
0-60 mph 3.5 s
Power Output 425 bhp
Valves 24
Torque 390 lb-ft
Top Speed 175 mph


I love the TVR, really do but I guess it can be improved on performance wise.

[SteveS Cup]

dave9 said:

SteveS Cup said:

Get a Noble!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2319411.htm

(I got my TT from driven image, great company too!)

do you get a warranty or anything from them?

i just know they advertise private sellers cars and put on a 2k markup so i don't normally look at their cars but if they add value then its ok

they did sound great over the phone though

They took my TT in as p/x against a T350 and to them it was a px to clear so I didn't get a warranty... to me at 20 it was my £13k pride of joy!!!!!!!

I'm pretty sure all their other cars came with warranty. Really nice guys though, picked me up from the train station, showed me round a load of their cars, they had a 700bhp+ Nismo R34 GTR, loads of TVR's, Atom, Aston's, Porsche's and were genuinely nice to deal with.

[TTwiggy]

AdvocatusD said:

TTwiggy said:

kambites said:

Why are you getting rid of the TVR? What doesn't it do that you want?

I think this is the pertinent question.

If it's more creature comfort/practicality that you crave, then the 996TT is probably the best shout.

If you want something to track then a supercharged Exige is well within budget.

Nothing is going to eclipse the Tiv for go and noise of course.

The genuine reason is that I simply want to try something new.

Well, if you're the kind of person who changes cars regularly (and I applaud that), and you're looking to drop £35k, then I reckon you'd want something that's going to hold its value - because as the saying goes 'you only spend the depreciation'. So, IMHO, that brings us back to the 996 GT3, though I guess a Ferrari F355 is close to bottom of its depreciation curve (though likely to cost a lot more to run...)

[harryowl]

SteveS Cup said:

TVR...

Engine Size 3605 cc
Cylinders 6
0-60 mph 4.4 s
Power Output 350 bhp
Valves 24
Torque 290 lb-ft
Top Speed 175 mph
Looks 10/10


996TT...

Engine Size 3600 cc
Cylinders 6
0-60 mph 4.1 s
Power Output 450 bhp
Valves 24
Torque 457 lb-ft
Top Speed 191 mph
Looks 3/10



Noble...

Engine Size 2968 cc
Cylinders 6
0-60 mph 3.5 s
Power Output 425 bhp
Valves 24
Torque 390 lb-ft
Top Speed 175 mph
Looks 3/10

I love the TVR, really do but I guess it can be improved on performance wise.

EFA

[Don1]

TVR is listed as a 3.6?
So... Sagaris.
Engine Size 3998 cc
Cylinders 6
0-60 mph 3.4 s
Power Output 370 bhp (unrebuilt- new head and exhaust with chip will see around 470)
Valves 24
Torque 290 lb-ft (again, a lot more with a rebuild)
Top Speed 190+ mph
Weight 1050kg
Looks 10/10

[SteveS Cup]

harryowl said:

SteveS Cup said:

TVR...

Engine Size 3605 cc
Cylinders 6
0-60 mph 4.4 s
Power Output 350 bhp
Valves 24
Torque 290 lb-ft
Top Speed 175 mph
Looks 10/10


996TT...

Engine Size 3600 cc
Cylinders 6
0-60 mph 4.1 s
Power Output 450 bhp
Valves 24
Torque 457 lb-ft
Top Speed 191 mph
Looks 3/10



Noble...

Engine Size 2968 cc
Cylinders 6
0-60 mph 3.5 s
Power Output 425 bhp
Valves 24
Torque 390 lb-ft
Top Speed 175 mph
Looks 3/10

I love the TVR, really do but I guess it can be improved on performance wise.

EFA

EFA?????

[AdvocatusD]

I would have lept all over this, CatD or not.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2085307.htm

Black GT2 (996) for 36k. 550 bhp mod does put me off a bit - fan of a stock factory engine in a car as powerful as that.

[SteveS Cup]

Don1 said:

TVR is listed as a 3.6?

Power Output 370 bhp (unrebuilt- new head and exhaust with chip will see around

On Parkers it is yeah.

Plus - 100bhp out of a head, exhaust and remap on a NA engine... really? That's bloody impressive and I bet with an extra 100bhp the Sag would be monsterous! It's not exactly tame standard is it!

[SteveS Cup]

AdvocatusD said:

I would have lept all over this, CatD or not.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/2085307.htm

Black GT2 (996) for 36k. 550 bhp mod does put me off a bit - fan of a stock factory engine in a car as powerful as that.

Tec Art wheels puts me off... I guess they were cheaper than a new set of GT2 wheels after a bit of a bump?????