Calling T350 owners.
Discussion
Hi,
I love the look and styling on the T350. Simply awesome. The power is also incredible. However what are they actually like to live with on a daily basis? TVR has a history of poor build quality and no ABS/Airbags etc. This has been putting me off to be honest. I even hear of owners picking up brand new cars and on the drive home for example the AirCon breaks... Also having big power and no ABS sounds a bit frightening! I would love to hear from some owners and share in their experiences.
Thanks all.
I love the look and styling on the T350. Simply awesome. The power is also incredible. However what are they actually like to live with on a daily basis? TVR has a history of poor build quality and no ABS/Airbags etc. This has been putting me off to be honest. I even hear of owners picking up brand new cars and on the drive home for example the AirCon breaks... Also having big power and no ABS sounds a bit frightening! I would love to hear from some owners and share in their experiences.
Thanks all.
Edited by GT 130 on Wednesday 2nd February 14:46
No problems living with a TVR. There are plenty of stories is Mercedes and Porches going wrong and costing a frightening amount to fix. Repeatedly. Problems driving a car with no traction control are all down to the driver. Lack of ABS could be an issue, but modern TVR brakes are very powerful and have great feel/feedback through the pedal, meaning you can brake vey hard and feel the verge of locking up, and stop very quickly. You meld with a TVR over time - it takes someone who is willing to learn the car though, no someone who jumps from an over assisted German sports car and expects a TVR to be the same.
Try one. You'll either love it or not get it.
Hmm, just looked at your car history. A TVR will be VERY different to drive than what you're used to. It will either scare you to death or enthrall you.
Try one. You'll either love it or not get it.
Hmm, just looked at your car history. A TVR will be VERY different to drive than what you're used to. It will either scare you to death or enthrall you.
Don't let the car history fool you! Anyway my golf is far from slow on the road, lots of torque. I'm used to driving a M5series BMW and have had some fun in a Caterham CSR 260 which is surely more rapid that a T350?! But I appreciate the T350 is in a different league for involving the driver. Budget is no problem as I see T350's are going for as little as £15k, it will be running costs and insurance that frightens me! I like an involved drive, I would just be worried for that one occasion when it lets go and you realise there is nothing to help you out.
Edited by GT 130 on Wednesday 2nd February 15:32
I've had mine for 7 months now...
I've had a few minor issues but nothing that i didn't expect from owning a TVR.
A few examples...
The exhaust was rattling against the chassis over bumps. Easy 5 min fix.
Had some slight over heating issues when i first picked her up. Can't remember the exact cause but it was something to do with the air passing around the radiator instead of through it. Sorted under warranty.
The driver kick plate was coming loose and i kept catching it getting in the car, needs to be re-glued - again easy fix.
Air con is a bit hit and miss in all honesty, sometimes it decides to work sometimes not. Not a great problem unless it is a very hot day and you're stuck in traffic. Which i was in the summer and i was sweating my b
ks off!
Apart from that, all has been fine.
As for drivability - At first it takes some getting used to. I found the clutch slighly heavier than i was used to, but now i find it's perfecty fine and very useable around town.
I found the wing mirrors took some getting used to too, I thought it magnified everything behind me but that was an optical illusion as i had too much wheel arch on show. You have a very good view of whats around you. In fact i can see more out of my car than i can in my gf's mini!
As for ABS - I had ABS in my previous 2 cars before the T350 and it only came into play once, that was my fault in not looking where i was going and the car in front coming to a stop.
You need to remember to warm the car up before extending the revs, this causes you be much more aware of the revs than you are in normal cars.
In summary, sometimes they can be a bit of a ball ache and could become tendious if you needed it daily. I only need a car for personal use (not commuting) so is always a welcome treat when i can go out for a spin.
I've tried to be as honest as possible above. When i was looking, i took one one out for a test drive and was so bloody nervous but loved every minute.
I didn't decide there are then, i went home to sleep on it. The next day i had to give my g/f her car back, and it was driving her car back to her's when i realised i had to have the T350.
I've had a few minor issues but nothing that i didn't expect from owning a TVR.
A few examples...
The exhaust was rattling against the chassis over bumps. Easy 5 min fix.
Had some slight over heating issues when i first picked her up. Can't remember the exact cause but it was something to do with the air passing around the radiator instead of through it. Sorted under warranty.
The driver kick plate was coming loose and i kept catching it getting in the car, needs to be re-glued - again easy fix.
Air con is a bit hit and miss in all honesty, sometimes it decides to work sometimes not. Not a great problem unless it is a very hot day and you're stuck in traffic. Which i was in the summer and i was sweating my b
ks off!Apart from that, all has been fine.
As for drivability - At first it takes some getting used to. I found the clutch slighly heavier than i was used to, but now i find it's perfecty fine and very useable around town.
I found the wing mirrors took some getting used to too, I thought it magnified everything behind me but that was an optical illusion as i had too much wheel arch on show. You have a very good view of whats around you. In fact i can see more out of my car than i can in my gf's mini!
As for ABS - I had ABS in my previous 2 cars before the T350 and it only came into play once, that was my fault in not looking where i was going and the car in front coming to a stop.
You need to remember to warm the car up before extending the revs, this causes you be much more aware of the revs than you are in normal cars.
In summary, sometimes they can be a bit of a ball ache and could become tendious if you needed it daily. I only need a car for personal use (not commuting) so is always a welcome treat when i can go out for a spin.
I've tried to be as honest as possible above. When i was looking, i took one one out for a test drive and was so bloody nervous but loved every minute.
I didn't decide there are then, i went home to sleep on it. The next day i had to give my g/f her car back, and it was driving her car back to her's when i realised i had to have the T350.
GT 130 said:
Don't let the car history fool you! Anyway my golf is far from slow on the road, lots of torque. But I appreciate the T350 is in a different league all together. Budget is no problem as I see T350's are going for as little as £15k, it will be running costs and insurance that frightens me! I like an involved drive, I would just be worried for that one occasion when it lets go and you realise there is nothing to help you out.
I am referring to the type of drive, not how fast a car you have owned is. They are very different things. A Golf is a Golf - I know I have a MKV GTi which is plenty fast, but it is so far from a TVR in nearly every dimension, and then some I've never thought of.Your question seems to be more "can I afford to buy one and fix it if it goes wrong". Well if you were about to a buy a 40-50k Porsche or BMW (say an M5) would you have the same thought? You should do. You need to allow £2k a year to run/maintain the car in good order. Once you start putting jobs off they build up and the car heads into shed territory (among TVR owners minds).
TVRs do need tinkering with, but most problems are minor. The best thing is to buy one that is regularly used, is sorted, and always buy on condition, history and how the previous owner treats the car. There are not many out there, but question why a T350 would be languishing at a dealers for very long if you find one. All the talk of engines letting go is usually 3rd hand - "a mate of a mate" etc. The British love to run their own down for some odd reason.
Running cost are Petrol less than 20 to the gallon, Sevice 6k miles sevice is £400-£700/£700-1200(for full 12k service). The Speed Six engine 3.6L or 4.0L will drive very easily around town below 4000 revs above that and you will think you have stepped on a land mine!!
Just take your time get used to it be carefull in the damp ,wet etc all comonsence really and try to do some of the work yourself you'll save a lot of cash and learn about the car at the same time. Lots of help available on here. I was unsure also but I'm on my second one after a Tuscan now a Cerbera and I would rather have done it that wondered what it would have been like in years to come. I haven't looked back and can't imagine being without one..Go On.
Just take your time get used to it be carefull in the damp ,wet etc all comonsence really and try to do some of the work yourself you'll save a lot of cash and learn about the car at the same time. Lots of help available on here. I was unsure also but I'm on my second one after a Tuscan now a Cerbera and I would rather have done it that wondered what it would have been like in years to come. I haven't looked back and can't imagine being without one..Go On.
I might add that my mate has owned a Seat Leon FR for the same period as i've owned the T350 and his has had many sensors fail and the car go into safe mode many times!
It's a company car but has still cost a few hundred £ to sort! TVR's are pretty simple machines and don't have copious amounts of electrics to go wrong. Not that it's unheard of TVR's electrics to fail
They engage you so much more as a driver than any other car i've ever driven (not that i've driven many cars in all honesty - 10)
As for insurance, it's actually cheaper to insure my T350 than it was my Focus RS! You just need to know where to look. Also, TVR's are generally owned by enthusiasts who tend to look after their cars, and insures know this.
It's a company car but has still cost a few hundred £ to sort! TVR's are pretty simple machines and don't have copious amounts of electrics to go wrong. Not that it's unheard of TVR's electrics to fail
They engage you so much more as a driver than any other car i've ever driven (not that i've driven many cars in all honesty - 10)
As for insurance, it's actually cheaper to insure my T350 than it was my Focus RS! You just need to know where to look. Also, TVR's are generally owned by enthusiasts who tend to look after their cars, and insures know this.
It took me a few months to actually gel with mine though I've now owned her almost 2 1/2 years. The floor mounted box takes a little getting used to but I love it now.
Lack of ABS - In my 18 years of driving history I've only needed/felt ABS a handful of times and not once in my 6 1/2 years of TVR ownership have I felt I needed it, this includes track and very spirited driving both in the UK and abroad.
She's practicle, the boot is a decent size and it's a pleasure to drive on long journies, though you almost certainly will get some wind noise on the majority of cars. Fuelling can be a PITA as the filler cap is so narrow - any more than half flow on the pump will result in a V-power fountain over you so take your time filling up.
The noise with sports box
They NEED warming up so short journeys can be a pain, don't follow this rule and you'll see where TVRs perceived reputation came from.
They're not a mass produced German car so don't expect stunning build quality, that said things don't go falling off at will either, its more little niggles with earth connections etc. I reckon I spend an average of 2k a year keeping her on the road, excluding fuel, tax and insurance - this is averaging 9000 miles a year.
Buy the best you can afford, you mention seeing them at 15k - I challenge you to find a decent one at that price. 20-22k is where they start IMHO.
An engine rebuild is nice to have but don't be put off a car without one, post 2004 the S6 was pretty much sorted and there are a few owners on here with proper mileages on their cars.
Targas (like mine) are very nice and feel very open when the panels are out - a good compromise between full vert and hard top. Get the later (2004 on) panels and wind noise is not an issue.
Your comment about brand new cars doesn't apply - an enthusiastic owner will/should have sorted out those sort of niggles by now. Air-con works well in my car, though heat soak is tremendous. IMHO I wouldn't touch a car without it.
Lack of airbags? - Don't crash!
I get around 21mpg no matter how I drive.
If you're ever over towards St NEots in Cambs I'd be happy to show you mine and have a chat about ownership.
Lack of ABS - In my 18 years of driving history I've only needed/felt ABS a handful of times and not once in my 6 1/2 years of TVR ownership have I felt I needed it, this includes track and very spirited driving both in the UK and abroad.
She's practicle, the boot is a decent size and it's a pleasure to drive on long journies, though you almost certainly will get some wind noise on the majority of cars. Fuelling can be a PITA as the filler cap is so narrow - any more than half flow on the pump will result in a V-power fountain over you so take your time filling up.
The noise with sports box
They NEED warming up so short journeys can be a pain, don't follow this rule and you'll see where TVRs perceived reputation came from.
They're not a mass produced German car so don't expect stunning build quality, that said things don't go falling off at will either, its more little niggles with earth connections etc. I reckon I spend an average of 2k a year keeping her on the road, excluding fuel, tax and insurance - this is averaging 9000 miles a year.
Buy the best you can afford, you mention seeing them at 15k - I challenge you to find a decent one at that price. 20-22k is where they start IMHO.
An engine rebuild is nice to have but don't be put off a car without one, post 2004 the S6 was pretty much sorted and there are a few owners on here with proper mileages on their cars.
Targas (like mine) are very nice and feel very open when the panels are out - a good compromise between full vert and hard top. Get the later (2004 on) panels and wind noise is not an issue.
Your comment about brand new cars doesn't apply - an enthusiastic owner will/should have sorted out those sort of niggles by now. Air-con works well in my car, though heat soak is tremendous. IMHO I wouldn't touch a car without it.
Lack of airbags? - Don't crash!
I get around 21mpg no matter how I drive.
If you're ever over towards St NEots in Cambs I'd be happy to show you mine and have a chat about ownership.
I came from RS Clio -> Boxster S -> M3 -> T350. Coming from french to german was bliss, going from german to british was well..different but ultimately alot more fun. I've done 3000 miles since May 2010 and loved every one of them. I can be doing 70mph having more fun then I ever had in the M3 at 120mph.
No problems to report so far. Had a service and few bits done which were more preventative than anything.
No plans to change it for anything else, keeping her for a while yet, love it.
No problems to report so far. Had a service and few bits done which were more preventative than anything.
No plans to change it for anything else, keeping her for a while yet, love it.
GT 130 said:
Don't let the car history fool you! Anyway my golf is far from slow on the road, lots of torque. I'm used to driving a M5series BMW and have had some fun in a Caterham CSR 260 which is surely more rapid that a T350?! But I appreciate the T350 is in a different league for involving the driver. Budget is no problem as I see T350's are going for as little as £15k, it will be running costs and insurance that frightens me! I like an involved drive, I would just be worried for that one occasion when it lets go and you realise there is nothing to help you out.
Very easy to live with. One of the easiest TVRs. Beautiful drive.Edited by GT 130 on Wednesday 2nd February 15:32
Budget is where most people wanting a TVR screw up. It's easy to find the cash to buy a high performance, limited build car but it's actually the maintenance that is what people never focus on.
Purchase price is irrelevant if you cannot afford to maintain it properly. If the idea of the insurance costs and running costs make you hesitate then I would say this is certainly not the car for you.
Mine hasn't had any significant issues but I would never buy a car if I was hesitant over potential after sales costs. It's a mistake an awful lot of people make with Ferraris as well.
Had a T350 and now have a Sagaris.
Get the 'TVR' thing our of ya head and DONT listen to people who think they know but DONT and put it in cupboard shut the door and get one and drive it! Itll be awsome. Ya mates will always say." ha ha ha TVR ya gotta be jokin" when they have never owned one, driven one just heard crap from other tossers who know nothing!!!!!
Only had the 100amp fuse blow on my T350 which i posted prob on here and fixed myself. Easy peasy!! Great car!
My Sagaris throttle cable has snapped and thats it! Ill never be without a TVR and can never imagine being without my Sagaris! She is my baby and i love her to bits!
Get one now before the price goes up and up. My Sagaris is making me money while i use it. Lovely jubley!
Justyn
Get the 'TVR' thing our of ya head and DONT listen to people who think they know but DONT and put it in cupboard shut the door and get one and drive it! Itll be awsome. Ya mates will always say." ha ha ha TVR ya gotta be jokin" when they have never owned one, driven one just heard crap from other tossers who know nothing!!!!!
Only had the 100amp fuse blow on my T350 which i posted prob on here and fixed myself. Easy peasy!! Great car!
My Sagaris throttle cable has snapped and thats it! Ill never be without a TVR and can never imagine being without my Sagaris! She is my baby and i love her to bits!
Get one now before the price goes up and up. My Sagaris is making me money while i use it. Lovely jubley!
Justyn
Had a T350 and now have a Sagaris.
Get the 'TVR' thing our of ya head and DONT listen to people who think they know but DONT and put it in cupboard shut the door and get one and drive it! Itll be awsome. Ya mates will always say." ha ha ha TVR ya gotta be jokin" when they have never owned one, driven one just heard crap from other tossers who know nothing!!!!!
Only had the 100amp fuse blow on my T350 which i posted prob on here and fixed myself. Easy peasy!! Great car!
My Sagaris throttle cable has snapped and thats it! Ill never be without a TVR and can never imagine being without my Sagaris! She is my baby and i love her to bits!
Get one now before the price goes up and up. My Sagaris is making me money while i use it. Lovely jubley!
Justyn
Get the 'TVR' thing our of ya head and DONT listen to people who think they know but DONT and put it in cupboard shut the door and get one and drive it! Itll be awsome. Ya mates will always say." ha ha ha TVR ya gotta be jokin" when they have never owned one, driven one just heard crap from other tossers who know nothing!!!!!
Only had the 100amp fuse blow on my T350 which i posted prob on here and fixed myself. Easy peasy!! Great car!
My Sagaris throttle cable has snapped and thats it! Ill never be without a TVR and can never imagine being without my Sagaris! She is my baby and i love her to bits!
Get one now before the price goes up and up. My Sagaris is making me money while i use it. Lovely jubley!
Justyn
Second everything that people have said. It WILL cost an average of 2K a year on top of insurance and fuel (thankfully tax is cheap for 90% of us). If you have a few "cheap" years, it will need a rebuild the next (realism - not cynicism). At best, it will become something of a preoccupation, at worst you'll have a degree of hassle to sort. This is true of all exotica; where people get "confused" is that the entry price is comparatively accessible. A new Mondeo Zetec will cause you less grief. You should also have a backup plan for if it's off the road.
The upside is one of the most exciting driving experiences at any price. Yes, you will have to learn to drive it but get it right and you'll have a blast....
The upside is one of the most exciting driving experiences at any price. Yes, you will have to learn to drive it but get it right and you'll have a blast....
I've had my T350C for 4 years this March. I had always wanted one but like you was worried about the reliabilty side of things especially as it was going to be my main car. I was coming from a 911 as well so didn't know how i would take to the different drive.
All i can say is that it has been a very fun and eye opening 4 years. I still get the same buzz i got on the 1st day i drove her and that is sayting something as i usually get bored very quickly. The drive is fantastic - respect the car and it will drive very very well. Drive it like you stole it and you'll end up in a ditch. Seems a fair rule to me.
As for the eye opening - well i expected a number of issues, especially coming from the german build but i couldn't have been more wrong. Sure you must look after them more - warm them up properly, check the oil and water regularly but if you treat them with care and bit of TLC they will keep on performing day after day. Before i moved i had no garage so mine was left out in all weathers. Even when i only used at weekends, apart from the odd flat battery from no use it started every time and has been a tremendous car. As long as you respect the servicing needs and don't cut corners (as others have said on here) you'll have a fantastic car.
Wherever you go you'll be looked at by other cars, people on the street and especially kids....they love the noise i find. If you want to stand out for the right reasons then a TVR is perfect.
However despite all this, I'm sadly thinking selling mine as now married with kid on the way i will not use it as much as it should be used . These cars MUST be driven. Hence i'm considering if i should let it be looked after and owned by someone who can drive it as often as it should be.....
Then again....i'm not sure i can easily let go....
All i can say is that it has been a very fun and eye opening 4 years. I still get the same buzz i got on the 1st day i drove her and that is sayting something as i usually get bored very quickly. The drive is fantastic - respect the car and it will drive very very well. Drive it like you stole it and you'll end up in a ditch. Seems a fair rule to me.
As for the eye opening - well i expected a number of issues, especially coming from the german build but i couldn't have been more wrong. Sure you must look after them more - warm them up properly, check the oil and water regularly but if you treat them with care and bit of TLC they will keep on performing day after day. Before i moved i had no garage so mine was left out in all weathers. Even when i only used at weekends, apart from the odd flat battery from no use it started every time and has been a tremendous car. As long as you respect the servicing needs and don't cut corners (as others have said on here) you'll have a fantastic car.
Wherever you go you'll be looked at by other cars, people on the street and especially kids....they love the noise i find. If you want to stand out for the right reasons then a TVR is perfect.
However despite all this, I'm sadly thinking selling mine as now married with kid on the way i will not use it as much as it should be used . These cars MUST be driven. Hence i'm considering if i should let it be looked after and owned by someone who can drive it as often as it should be.....
Then again....i'm not sure i can easily let go....
TVR newbie said:
I've had my T350C for 4 years this March. I had always wanted one but like you was worried about the reliabilty side of things especially as it was going to be my main car. I was coming from a 911 as well so didn't know how i would take to the different drive.
All i can say is that it has been a very fun and eye opening 4 years. I still get the same buzz i got on the 1st day i drove her and that is sayting something as i usually get bored very quickly. The drive is fantastic - respect the car and it will drive very very well. Drive it like you stole it and you'll end up in a ditch. Seems a fair rule to me.
As for the eye opening - well i expected a number of issues, especially coming from the german build but i couldn't have been more wrong. Sure you must look after them more - warm them up properly, check the oil and water regularly but if you treat them with care and bit of TLC they will keep on performing day after day. Before i moved i had no garage so mine was left out in all weathers. Even when i only used at weekends, apart from the odd flat battery from no use it started every time and has been a tremendous car. As long as you respect the servicing needs and don't cut corners (as others have said on here) you'll have a fantastic car.
Wherever you go you'll be looked at by other cars, people on the street and especially kids....they love the noise i find. If you want to stand out for the right reasons then a TVR is perfect.
However despite all this, I'm sadly thinking selling mine as now married with kid on the way i will not use it as much as it should be used . These cars MUST be driven. Hence i'm considering if i should let it be looked after and owned by someone who can drive it as often as it should be.....
Then again....i'm not sure i can easily let go....
There are only really two absolute reasons to own a TVR.All i can say is that it has been a very fun and eye opening 4 years. I still get the same buzz i got on the 1st day i drove her and that is sayting something as i usually get bored very quickly. The drive is fantastic - respect the car and it will drive very very well. Drive it like you stole it and you'll end up in a ditch. Seems a fair rule to me.
As for the eye opening - well i expected a number of issues, especially coming from the german build but i couldn't have been more wrong. Sure you must look after them more - warm them up properly, check the oil and water regularly but if you treat them with care and bit of TLC they will keep on performing day after day. Before i moved i had no garage so mine was left out in all weathers. Even when i only used at weekends, apart from the odd flat battery from no use it started every time and has been a tremendous car. As long as you respect the servicing needs and don't cut corners (as others have said on here) you'll have a fantastic car.
Wherever you go you'll be looked at by other cars, people on the street and especially kids....they love the noise i find. If you want to stand out for the right reasons then a TVR is perfect.
However despite all this, I'm sadly thinking selling mine as now married with kid on the way i will not use it as much as it should be used . These cars MUST be driven. Hence i'm considering if i should let it be looked after and owned by someone who can drive it as often as it should be.....
Then again....i'm not sure i can easily let go....
The first is if you have a wife and the second is if you have a child. Once you have both, it is essential to have a TVR. There is no other way to escape the carnage and feel free once in a while.
And even if you are never allowed to use it, you still have it, you still know that whenever you must, you can escape.
DonkeyApple said:
There are only really two absolute reasons to own a TVR.
The first is if you have a wife and the second is if you have a child. Once you have both, it is essential to have a TVR. There is no other way to escape the carnage and feel free once in a while.
And even if you are never allowed to use it, you still have it, you still know that whenever you must, you can escape.
I thought I was the only one taking this approach...The first is if you have a wife and the second is if you have a child. Once you have both, it is essential to have a TVR. There is no other way to escape the carnage and feel free once in a while.
And even if you are never allowed to use it, you still have it, you still know that whenever you must, you can escape.
Agree with all of the above..but don't go for the cheapest you can find...get a car that someone else has loved and lavished money on...and you'll never look back..get it from one of the recommended dealers..with a warranty and you will get real peace of mind..
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