Should i buy a wedge?
Discussion
I want a TVR but dont quite have enough cash to buy a Chimaera or Griff....so i was thinking of a 400se....around £8,500.
What do you all think.
Any info re running costs, insurance, reliability and every day use would be welcome. Im a TVR fanatic but am wet behind the ears! HELP!!
Jamie
What do you all think.
Any info re running costs, insurance, reliability and every day use would be welcome. Im a TVR fanatic but am wet behind the ears! HELP!!
Jamie
quote:
I want a TVR but dont quite have enough cash to buy a Chimaera or Griff....so i was thinking of a 400se....around £8,500.
What do you all think.
Any info re running costs, insurance, reliability and every day use would be welcome. Im a TVR fanatic but am wet behind the ears! HELP!!
Jamie
Jamie, I now run my SEAC as an everyday transport. Since buying it in '99, I've had only two real failures: new diff required shortly after getting it, and a new camshaft after the emissions went through the roof !....the servicing costs are lower than a Griff / Chim, although fuel bills may be more...depending on your area / age etc, insurance shouldn't be crippling...I keep mine garaged, which kept the premium costs down.
Most important advice I can give, is to get a TVR mechanic to inspect the car your interested in; an AA inspection won't be thorough enough. Find out as much about the history of the car you want before going any further, there are quite a few 400SE's out there, so try to get a top example.
A Griff / Chim may be quicker/newer, but they don't make the same noise
Good hunting,
Patrick.
I loved my Wedge to bits despite the fact that it constantly went wrong.
I was a bit of a fool as I didnt have the car inspected cause there were 3 people looking at the car at the same time, and once I saw it, I had to have it...
Get it inspected as suggested, by a TVR specialist. Insurance can be placed on a classic policy (I only paid £650 when I was 22) so ring around. Do keep the car in a garage overnight, I would hate to see the rear window on a Decembers morning otherwise..
I was a bit of a fool as I didnt have the car inspected cause there were 3 people looking at the car at the same time, and once I saw it, I had to have it...
Get it inspected as suggested, by a TVR specialist. Insurance can be placed on a classic policy (I only paid £650 when I was 22) so ring around. Do keep the car in a garage overnight, I would hate to see the rear window on a Decembers morning otherwise..
Several things to look for when buying wedge are:
Water damage to the interior, they ALL leak, some more than others and usually the seat bases and carpet suffer.
Check every electric function on the car - twice.
You won't be able to see them but if you can, feel behind the sill cover to check the out-rigger condition as this is one of the few corrosion points on the chassis.
Brakes aren't brilliant on any wedge std 350's are dire, but all should still stop the car with a bit of effort.
Ask if the front balljoints have been replaced, as they should be regulary changed (25-30k miles)
The gearbox will be slightly notchy and reluctant to select first when cold, semi-synthetic oil can help this, but none of them are the slickest units around.
If the car clonks when you take up drive, check the driveshaft joints.
However, they are basically well engineered and if maintained as they should be (basically keep on top of everything, don't ignore it between MOT's) then they can be very reliable, very fast, and much fun.
Best of luck
Matt
Water damage to the interior, they ALL leak, some more than others and usually the seat bases and carpet suffer.
Check every electric function on the car - twice.
You won't be able to see them but if you can, feel behind the sill cover to check the out-rigger condition as this is one of the few corrosion points on the chassis.
Brakes aren't brilliant on any wedge std 350's are dire, but all should still stop the car with a bit of effort.
Ask if the front balljoints have been replaced, as they should be regulary changed (25-30k miles)
The gearbox will be slightly notchy and reluctant to select first when cold, semi-synthetic oil can help this, but none of them are the slickest units around.
If the car clonks when you take up drive, check the driveshaft joints.
However, they are basically well engineered and if maintained as they should be (basically keep on top of everything, don't ignore it between MOT's) then they can be very reliable, very fast, and much fun.
Best of luck
Matt
"Ok
I have a budget of around £12-13k.
I want something sporty and fast that is reliable - preferably back seats....
Wish for a TVR but not willing to risk it...
I need to live with it and preferably use it every day...
Elise? RX7? WRX? Anyone??
Jamie"
I've noticed you've posted the same question in a few other forums too, from Cerbera's to Elises, & you want back seats aswell ??
If you want back seats & praticality, I'd suggest gopher a Scooby.
Patrick.
Edited by patrick on Monday 17th December 12:37
I have a budget of around £12-13k.
I want something sporty and fast that is reliable - preferably back seats....
Wish for a TVR but not willing to risk it...
I need to live with it and preferably use it every day...
Elise? RX7? WRX? Anyone??
Jamie"
I've noticed you've posted the same question in a few other forums too, from Cerbera's to Elises, & you want back seats aswell ??
If you want back seats & praticality, I'd suggest gopher a Scooby.
Patrick.
Edited by patrick on Monday 17th December 12:37
yeah - i was toying with either a single car with back seats or 2 cars - one boring and easy to run and one other - A TVR with 2 seats!!
So - i have completed stage1 and have bought a VW Golf diesel today. Now i have a sensible car i dont need back seats . That means choice of a nice 400se for around £8.5-£9.5k or a cheaper Chimaera. I have to admit that i love the classic flowing lines of the Chimaera but admire the cult status lines of the wedge....hmmmm.. If i get a Chimaera for £10-11k presumably it wouldnt be as good quality as a good 400se....maybe it all just comes down to luck of the draw in the end.
So - i have completed stage1 and have bought a VW Golf diesel today. Now i have a sensible car i dont need back seats . That means choice of a nice 400se for around £8.5-£9.5k or a cheaper Chimaera. I have to admit that i love the classic flowing lines of the Chimaera but admire the cult status lines of the wedge....hmmmm.. If i get a Chimaera for £10-11k presumably it wouldnt be as good quality as a good 400se....maybe it all just comes down to luck of the draw in the end.
'i love the classic flowing lines of the Chimaera but admire the cult status lines of the wedge'
Rock on!
Mike
www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk
Rock on!
Mike
www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk
Jamie,
If you have decided on a TVR, all you need to do now is select the model.
As you say, you may be able to get an early Chimaera privately, but you need to be careful at that price. If you look at the S series or a Wedge you will have more scope and may get a warranty from a specialist dealer (Adrian Blyth had a nice Wedge on his site) for your budget.
As to which is best, the later models are great but the S and Wedge models have rarity and 'classic' status in their favour. Many people say the V6 S is a great first TVR (me included) but a V8 Wedge sounds better. For me the V8S is the ultimate.
Whatever you get you'll love it
JSG
If you have decided on a TVR, all you need to do now is select the model.
As you say, you may be able to get an early Chimaera privately, but you need to be careful at that price. If you look at the S series or a Wedge you will have more scope and may get a warranty from a specialist dealer (Adrian Blyth had a nice Wedge on his site) for your budget.
As to which is best, the later models are great but the S and Wedge models have rarity and 'classic' status in their favour. Many people say the V6 S is a great first TVR (me included) but a V8 Wedge sounds better. For me the V8S is the ultimate.
Whatever you get you'll love it
JSG
Jamie,
No disrespect to your driving style or skills (cos I don't know you from Adam), but one thing you also gotta think about is that the big wedge cars (and the smaller ones for that matter) are also a bit of a handful to drive.
If you ain't had a TVR before, jumping straight in a getting yourself something like a 400 might catch you out, they do bite!
Also, don't dismiss the 200i, 280i's and 350i's as mearly poor mans relations to the 'big wedge cars' as they are also brilliant fun and quick cars.
Try as many as you can before you buy is the answer. I would be more than happy to scare you to death in my 350 if you want! - where about's do you live?.
Mike
www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk
No disrespect to your driving style or skills (cos I don't know you from Adam), but one thing you also gotta think about is that the big wedge cars (and the smaller ones for that matter) are also a bit of a handful to drive.
If you ain't had a TVR before, jumping straight in a getting yourself something like a 400 might catch you out, they do bite!
Also, don't dismiss the 200i, 280i's and 350i's as mearly poor mans relations to the 'big wedge cars' as they are also brilliant fun and quick cars.
Try as many as you can before you buy is the answer. I would be more than happy to scare you to death in my 350 if you want! - where about's do you live?.
Mike
www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk
quote:
Jamie,
No disrespect to your driving style or skills (cos I don't know you from Adam), but one thing you also gotta think about is that the big wedge cars (and the smaller ones for that matter) are also a bit of a handful to drive.
If you ain't had a TVR before, jumping straight in a getting yourself something like a 400 might catch you out, they do bite!
Also, don't dismiss the 200i, 280i's and 350i's as mearly poor mans relations to the 'big wedge cars' as they are also brilliant fun and quick cars.
Try as many as you can before you buy is the answer. I would be more than happy to scare you to death in my 350 if you want! - where about's do you live?.
Mike
www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk
Aint no substitute for cubes
I went from a 1600 to 3500 but took it very easy until I had some idea what was going on, especially in the wet, then from 3500 to 4200 yeeeeaaaarrrg. Still catches me out but I aint lost it yet, except for me marbles
Edited by jmorgan on Wednesday 19th December 09:58
Do it, buy a TVR, like mike says do not discount the other wedges. I had a 280 FHC which was alot of fun, cheap to run and insure and if you are lucky you could find a 2+2 which would help, you can get 350i 2+2's but I think there were only seven made. I have now progressed to a 450SE which is a different beast altogether and demands respect in the damp, never mind when its wet. This may cheese some of you off, the insurance for mine, fully comp, garaged, 3K per year is £240.00 !!!!
Regards
Broadside.
Regards
Broadside.
I love TVRs but always I've hankered after a 350i especially in S2 guise. My first car, an S1 350 was a culture shock having sold a Cav SRi to get it. Where the SRi was predictable and reliable, the TVR always gave me different experience every time I drove it. Even starting it was a buzz! The S1 was a compromise as the S2 350s were too pricey to get back then. It was probably one of the first 350s made.
Getting used to hot running temps and the occasional air lock always bothered me until I binned the thermostat which made life easier. The electrics were tempremental but these problems all disappeared once out on an open road.
The attention you get, plus the fact that they are so rare and unique makes owning a wedge very special. Find the right one, look after it and you will not forget the experience.
If you know a bit about the cars they're easy to look after and service. Forget going to a main dealer they'll fleece you when it comes to doing the work.
Hope you find what you're looking for.
Edited by Euphoria on Wednesday 19th December 16:28
Getting used to hot running temps and the occasional air lock always bothered me until I binned the thermostat which made life easier. The electrics were tempremental but these problems all disappeared once out on an open road.
The attention you get, plus the fact that they are so rare and unique makes owning a wedge very special. Find the right one, look after it and you will not forget the experience.
If you know a bit about the cars they're easy to look after and service. Forget going to a main dealer they'll fleece you when it comes to doing the work.
Hope you find what you're looking for.
Edited by Euphoria on Wednesday 19th December 16:28
thanks guys. yeah - i really being quoted stupid prices for insurance at the moment. to be honest im rather pissed off because in November 2000 i crashed mny VR6 only doing 35 mph pulling away from traffic lights (not being a prat) and slipping on newly laid tarmac strips and oil left on the road. B##tard workmen....i paid to protect my 8 years no claims but to my horror when i checked my insurance policy the final certificate was missing a tick in the protect no claims box. My faulf for not checking properyl but still pissed off.
Best quote about £1200 a year on a 400se.
I dont drive fast - love the sound and lines of the TVRs - always have. reaslly are a passion of mine and as im going through a very sad divorce i thought - right, now im gonna do it!!
Best quote about £1200 a year on a 400se.
I dont drive fast - love the sound and lines of the TVRs - always have. reaslly are a passion of mine and as im going through a very sad divorce i thought - right, now im gonna do it!!
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