Wedgies, Everyday transport?
Discussion
Sorry to repeat posts that I know come up every now and then, but I have been hankering after a Cerb for some time, and its not coming together cash flow wise.
I notice the V8 wedges are much more affordable (and better looking than Chimps, flak jacket on ;o)
How do they cope with everyday use? I don't actually use a car every day, but It will be my only car for shopping runs and so on, and have to live on the drive all weather. I can do most maintenance myself, but due to lack of time will probably end up using someone like Raven for most work. I realise that asking a group of Wedge fans means I will be told its the right thing to do, but could do with some pointers to web sites for infomation (similar to joospeed?)
What are the V8 Wedges like on motorways? are they tiresome?
I need a TVR fix!
Thanks in advance.
Mags
I notice the V8 wedges are much more affordable (and better looking than Chimps, flak jacket on ;o)
How do they cope with everyday use? I don't actually use a car every day, but It will be my only car for shopping runs and so on, and have to live on the drive all weather. I can do most maintenance myself, but due to lack of time will probably end up using someone like Raven for most work. I realise that asking a group of Wedge fans means I will be told its the right thing to do, but could do with some pointers to web sites for infomation (similar to joospeed?)
What are the V8 Wedges like on motorways? are they tiresome?
I need a TVR fix!
Thanks in advance.
Mags
I don't use mine everyday but its reliable, now. My old 350I never broke down in 7 years (watch out for problems and sort it before it happens. If you do use it for shopping put 15 or so miles of good motoring first. If its on the drive then get a dry one. My 400 is bone dry but the 350 was a sieve, mobile swimming pools.
I've been using my SEAC as everyday transport for a number of months now, and it's been fine (grasping lump of oak)
It's not exactly waterproof, it tramlines like a good 'un on lane 1 of motorways.....fuel consupmtion rarely gets above 15mpg (have I put you off yet
)
As for tiresome; it took me 6hrs to get to Norfolk just after Christmas, as a lorry caught fire on the A14...Stop-start traffic and a heavy clutch don't mix well. On the plus side, after I cleared the hold-up, there was all that empty road in front
And then there's the noise
Oh the noise !!!
It's not exactly waterproof, it tramlines like a good 'un on lane 1 of motorways.....fuel consupmtion rarely gets above 15mpg (have I put you off yet
) As for tiresome; it took me 6hrs to get to Norfolk just after Christmas, as a lorry caught fire on the A14...Stop-start traffic and a heavy clutch don't mix well. On the plus side, after I cleared the hold-up, there was all that empty road in front
And then there's the noise
Oh the noise !!!
I have been using my 350i for the last 3 1/2 years without any problem, the steering is fairly heavy so i would get one with power steering, and if they are outside through the winter they do mist up on the inside which the heater has trouble to shift ( i have a outside plug and put a 2000watt fan heater inside it for five minutes, providing its not raining - soon shifts any ice and saves having the engine on at 7 am to wake up the neighbours)
Up until 6 months ago mine was my only car for 3 years, I've done several things to try and make it more user friendly. Fitted power steering; a bit girly but you can always argue it's for getting the opposite lock on in a hurry.
Fitted an MGF door / roof seal; much better at keeping water and windnoise out.
Fitted an override switch to the cooling fan; stops you wondering exactly what point past 100° is the thing going to kick in.
Exchanged the std screen vents for Fiesta ones; as these actually distribute the air onto the screen and make a half decent job (although still slow by modern standard) of demisting it.
Tuned the engine to buggery; to help those stressfull situations when a Porsche turbo is next to you at the lights.
Generally good cars which the more you use them the better they like it.
Best of luck
Matt
PS THE NOISE
Fitted an MGF door / roof seal; much better at keeping water and windnoise out.
Fitted an override switch to the cooling fan; stops you wondering exactly what point past 100° is the thing going to kick in.
Exchanged the std screen vents for Fiesta ones; as these actually distribute the air onto the screen and make a half decent job (although still slow by modern standard) of demisting it.
Tuned the engine to buggery; to help those stressfull situations when a Porsche turbo is next to you at the lights.
Generally good cars which the more you use them the better they like it.
Best of luck
Matt
PS THE NOISE
Hello,
When my Beetle got written off last March, I had to use my 350i for work everyday which meant doing about 1000 miles each week in it for around 6 months. Apart from a few expected niggles (blown fuses and cracked exhaust), the car ran faultlessly.
The only main drawbacks were that it was constantly misted up on the wet mornings, although my heating/ventilation system aren't up to much at the mo. Opening the window every now and then cured that one, however I'm thinking about putting some extra air vents in the panel behind the seats for some extra air flow.
Fuel economy wasn't a big worry as my car always returned over 30mpg, however 90% of my driving was in a straight line down the A14 at 75mph. Certainly no worse than a big engined saloon car would do.
The biggest worry I had was parking it in strange areas in case someone took a knife to the roof or tyres. I found it difficult to park it in a back street car park and go clubbing without worrying about it all night.
On the positive side, I have never driven a better car in terms of driving position and comfort, and it laps up the motorway miles like no tomorrow. The "excessive" power can come in very handy for nipping into small gaps and overtaking too. And being able to take the roof off in those hot summer months everyday is something you could get very used to.
Regards
Daniel
PS, has anyone mentioned the noise yet...
When my Beetle got written off last March, I had to use my 350i for work everyday which meant doing about 1000 miles each week in it for around 6 months. Apart from a few expected niggles (blown fuses and cracked exhaust), the car ran faultlessly.
The only main drawbacks were that it was constantly misted up on the wet mornings, although my heating/ventilation system aren't up to much at the mo. Opening the window every now and then cured that one, however I'm thinking about putting some extra air vents in the panel behind the seats for some extra air flow.
Fuel economy wasn't a big worry as my car always returned over 30mpg, however 90% of my driving was in a straight line down the A14 at 75mph. Certainly no worse than a big engined saloon car would do.
The biggest worry I had was parking it in strange areas in case someone took a knife to the roof or tyres. I found it difficult to park it in a back street car park and go clubbing without worrying about it all night.
On the positive side, I have never driven a better car in terms of driving position and comfort, and it laps up the motorway miles like no tomorrow. The "excessive" power can come in very handy for nipping into small gaps and overtaking too. And being able to take the roof off in those hot summer months everyday is something you could get very used to.
Regards
Daniel
PS, has anyone mentioned the noise yet...
I sold an Omega Elite to buy my '84 350i 5 months ago. I've used it in all weathers, and do about 200 miles a week, split between A/B roads and motorways. It returns fair fuel consumption and despatches other "performance" cars with ease. I took the "wife" to devon in it for a weekend and it was perfectly comfortable (although she may not agree!!).
On another note watch out for Devon and Cornwall constabulary. Three points and £60. "Is that a TR8 sir!!!!!!!!
Don't miss the Omega one bit.
Ohh and I don't think anyone has mentioned the noise!! YUM!!
On another note watch out for Devon and Cornwall constabulary. Three points and £60. "Is that a TR8 sir!!!!!!!!
Don't miss the Omega one bit.
Ohh and I don't think anyone has mentioned the noise!! YUM!!
I used to use the 450 everday for a while but I'm bl**dy glad I don't have to now. Yup - I could live with it if my journey involved mainly A roads or even motorways but when, like this morning, I'm in and out of 1st gear for 4 miles on the way to Tower View it becomes not so much tiresome but painful! Left ankle now a bit sore to go with a knackered hip! The couple of hundred yards where I could put my foot down (the right one) doesn't make up for the rest of the journey :-( It's no wonder that I drive an auto the rest of the time.
When I had my two 350s however, they were fine as day-to-day transport. The 450 is that much more 'raw', stiffer suspension and heavier clutched that it is probably that that makes it difficult.
Noise? What's that then? Speak up young man.....
When I had my two 350s however, they were fine as day-to-day transport. The 450 is that much more 'raw', stiffer suspension and heavier clutched that it is probably that that makes it difficult.
Noise? What's that then? Speak up young man.....
I have a 400SE no problem with everyday use. As long as its serviced etc by a reputable person you shouldn't have a problem. Leaks!!! TVR do a brilliant cover for the 400SE if it has to sit outside in the wet. However we did forget to do this the other day when the heavens opened but atlas not a drop went inside..poor baby! As mentioned before by people on other sites under Pistonheads just watch the broker who you are buying it from. I certainly know when we brought ours we weren't told of certain faults, which we then had to pay for as the warranty didn't!! and the broker would/should have known. If you want one I know of one for sale! VGC with the rumbling noise that we all adore.
quote:
Up until 6 months ago mine was my only car for 3 years, I've done several things to try and make it more user friendly. Fitted power steering; a bit girly but you can always argue it's for getting the opposite lock on in a hurry.
Fitted an MGF door / roof seal; much better at keeping water and windnoise out.
Fitted an override switch to the cooling fan; stops you wondering exactly what point past 100° is the thing going to kick in.
Exchanged the std screen vents for Fiesta ones; as these actually distribute the air onto the screen and make a half decent job (although still slow by modern standard) of demisting it.
Tuned the engine to buggery; to help those stressfull situations when a Porsche turbo is next to you at the lights.
Generally good cars which the more you use them the better they like it.
Best of luck
Matt
PS THE NOISE
The MGF seal (got mine from a breakers yard) does the same job in that car as is does in the wedge. Only the MGF one is moulded with proper corner pieces and gutters etc, consequently it does a much better job of keeping the wind noise and water out. It's still not perfect but it is better and I should point out that you have to cut it about a bit to get it to fit, but if you see one in a breakers yard what have you got to lose?
Matt
Matt
. I've currently got a 280i fixed head (the mad orange one currently for sale in the classifieds) which is fairly noisy on the motorway, but I'm going looking at a 390se next weekend. Gassing Station | Wedges | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff