Discussion
http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00438946f00000001.jpg
I’ve now racked up 500 miles in my new T350 with 100% driving satisfaction, no rattles and just a minor electronics fault – as good as mass-produced cars then, and excellent for a hand-built sports car.
I settled on Jaguar Antigua Blue pearl paint, by means of variation from R.Bull (more pics below).
I’m very picky with sports cars, but am already seriously impressed with the T350. It’s the driving entertainment served up at sensible road speeds that is way ahead of others I’ve tried; even while running-in there are playful, finely-controlled wriggles of nose and tail to relish even at low revs and part-throttle. This fun is viewed from a typically enveloping and stylish TVR interior, which has managed to remain stylish despite my attempts to sabotage it with contrasting leather trim.
Handling is as involving as my hyperactive Ginetta hillclimb car, and much more alive than my earlier 993 at licence-retaining speeds. In the 911, corner line adjustment with the throttle could only be achieved by entering corners at risky velocities and above 5000rpm – tractors often lurk around Shropshire corners, and even a 911 can’t shed 70mph in less than 50 metres!
Most cars are not set up with throttle-steering in mind, but this is really rather dull, like riding a sledge compared to a snowboard. You can steer a sledge quickly down a slope with a few stabs of directional control from your feet, which achieves speed but with disappointingly little finesse or control. By comparison a board will react to your every move, shift of weight, speed and angle of edge through both feet and your body’s position, so you feel that it is truly an extension of your body. This is the interaction that many of us crave, and I’m delighted that the T350 has even more of it than previous TVRs, in my opinion. To heighten the experience, Neil Anderson suggested opting for the standard plate-type differential rather than the hydratrac for more response to the throttle in low-speed corners – the advice was spot on (of course) as the cornering line can now be tweaked by the throttle to my heart’s content. Which is nice. Hope it’s not too lairy on the odd trackday though – any comments welcome from other pilots who have the standard diff!
What about the competition? The Griff 500 and Cerbera S6 that I ran several years ago were good fun, but the T350 is a leap forward in styling and handling. Test drives of 4wd’s, 911’s, the Elise and even a Noble revealed them to be good weekend fun or trackday cars, but endowed with so much grip and tenacious neutrality that I found my involvement was minimal at licence-retaining speeds. The Elise and Noble were also just too basic for daily and occasional long distance driving for work, with colleagues appearing resistant to passengering for more than a few minutes, and with slightly kit-car exterior styling, uninspiring engine note and basic interiors. TVR have long mastered interiors that are comfortable and stylish enough that you can almost enjoy sitting back in a traffic jam or motorway trudge, with the aid of a good sound system ( promptly turned off whenever the Six is given a chance to sing along a good road).
The buying process was fairly painless for once, H.L.Gorners enthusiastically coped with numerous detailed adjustments to personalise the car, despite my determined efforts to test them with unusual requirements, in fact they rather unwisely offered even more variations than I had originally thought of.
They appeared to use their adopted ex-factory mechanics to good effect to provide a thorough PDI.
Can anything be improved? TVR have honed the car a little since the earliest models, with tweaks including a luggage cover, sunvisors and improved rollerball petrol filler. The seats are not as grippy as is needed in corners, although the half-height seat cushion supplied by TVR has improved matters, as has an alloy left foot rest that I’ve made. I do miss the aural treat of the Griff’s low-speed woofle mounting through muscular roar to angry bellow, but then the Speed 6 plays an entertaining tune at higher revs, which may become too raucous if I was tempted by a sports exhaust.
My long-range forecast for this year is that all my journeys will be just fine!
http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00438946f00000003.jpg
http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00438946f00000002.jpg
http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00438946f00000004.jpg
http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00438946f00000005.jpg
http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00438946f00000006.jpg
I’ve now racked up 500 miles in my new T350 with 100% driving satisfaction, no rattles and just a minor electronics fault – as good as mass-produced cars then, and excellent for a hand-built sports car.
I settled on Jaguar Antigua Blue pearl paint, by means of variation from R.Bull (more pics below).
I’m very picky with sports cars, but am already seriously impressed with the T350. It’s the driving entertainment served up at sensible road speeds that is way ahead of others I’ve tried; even while running-in there are playful, finely-controlled wriggles of nose and tail to relish even at low revs and part-throttle. This fun is viewed from a typically enveloping and stylish TVR interior, which has managed to remain stylish despite my attempts to sabotage it with contrasting leather trim.
Handling is as involving as my hyperactive Ginetta hillclimb car, and much more alive than my earlier 993 at licence-retaining speeds. In the 911, corner line adjustment with the throttle could only be achieved by entering corners at risky velocities and above 5000rpm – tractors often lurk around Shropshire corners, and even a 911 can’t shed 70mph in less than 50 metres!
Most cars are not set up with throttle-steering in mind, but this is really rather dull, like riding a sledge compared to a snowboard. You can steer a sledge quickly down a slope with a few stabs of directional control from your feet, which achieves speed but with disappointingly little finesse or control. By comparison a board will react to your every move, shift of weight, speed and angle of edge through both feet and your body’s position, so you feel that it is truly an extension of your body. This is the interaction that many of us crave, and I’m delighted that the T350 has even more of it than previous TVRs, in my opinion. To heighten the experience, Neil Anderson suggested opting for the standard plate-type differential rather than the hydratrac for more response to the throttle in low-speed corners – the advice was spot on (of course) as the cornering line can now be tweaked by the throttle to my heart’s content. Which is nice. Hope it’s not too lairy on the odd trackday though – any comments welcome from other pilots who have the standard diff!
What about the competition? The Griff 500 and Cerbera S6 that I ran several years ago were good fun, but the T350 is a leap forward in styling and handling. Test drives of 4wd’s, 911’s, the Elise and even a Noble revealed them to be good weekend fun or trackday cars, but endowed with so much grip and tenacious neutrality that I found my involvement was minimal at licence-retaining speeds. The Elise and Noble were also just too basic for daily and occasional long distance driving for work, with colleagues appearing resistant to passengering for more than a few minutes, and with slightly kit-car exterior styling, uninspiring engine note and basic interiors. TVR have long mastered interiors that are comfortable and stylish enough that you can almost enjoy sitting back in a traffic jam or motorway trudge, with the aid of a good sound system ( promptly turned off whenever the Six is given a chance to sing along a good road).
The buying process was fairly painless for once, H.L.Gorners enthusiastically coped with numerous detailed adjustments to personalise the car, despite my determined efforts to test them with unusual requirements, in fact they rather unwisely offered even more variations than I had originally thought of.
They appeared to use their adopted ex-factory mechanics to good effect to provide a thorough PDI.
Can anything be improved? TVR have honed the car a little since the earliest models, with tweaks including a luggage cover, sunvisors and improved rollerball petrol filler. The seats are not as grippy as is needed in corners, although the half-height seat cushion supplied by TVR has improved matters, as has an alloy left foot rest that I’ve made. I do miss the aural treat of the Griff’s low-speed woofle mounting through muscular roar to angry bellow, but then the Speed 6 plays an entertaining tune at higher revs, which may become too raucous if I was tempted by a sports exhaust.
My long-range forecast for this year is that all my journeys will be just fine!
http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00438946f00000003.jpg
http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00438946f00000002.jpg
http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00438946f00000004.jpg
http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00438946f00000005.jpg
http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00438946f00000006.jpg
Your car looks lovely.
Can you tell me more about those front speakers you have? I'm looking to fit some myself and I am currently investigating options. I don't like the std fit TVR front speakers which are a bit 'in your face'.
Have you uprated the rear speakers too?
I pick my car up one day this week hopefully ... can't wait.
Can you tell me more about those front speakers you have? I'm looking to fit some myself and I am currently investigating options. I don't like the std fit TVR front speakers which are a bit 'in your face'.
Have you uprated the rear speakers too?
I pick my car up one day this week hopefully ... can't wait.
Hi Trefor & MJC, glad you like it. Sound system sounds great too.
Front speakers are dual-cone Kenwood KFC 1369S, 120W / 130mm , the largest that would fit into that section of door, which provides a good rear enclosure for them
Rear speakers are Kenwood subwoofers KFCWDA69RC 6” x 9”, a new type with their own slim 200w amp that has all been fitted neatly behind a panel flush with the normal rear interior panel.
http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00438946f00000009.jpg
Head unit is the new type Sony Mex 1HD that avoids need for a CD stack, running 1 CD or recording up to 4k tracks on it’s 16gb hard drive like an i-pod. Front opens up & drops down automatically, but clearance over T350's centre console is non-existent & needs adjusting!
>> Edited by tail slide on Tuesday 1st June 08:15
Front speakers are dual-cone Kenwood KFC 1369S, 120W / 130mm , the largest that would fit into that section of door, which provides a good rear enclosure for them
Rear speakers are Kenwood subwoofers KFCWDA69RC 6” x 9”, a new type with their own slim 200w amp that has all been fitted neatly behind a panel flush with the normal rear interior panel.
http://photos.fotango.com/p/eba00438946f00000009.jpg
Head unit is the new type Sony Mex 1HD that avoids need for a CD stack, running 1 CD or recording up to 4k tracks on it’s 16gb hard drive like an i-pod. Front opens up & drops down automatically, but clearance over T350's centre console is non-existent & needs adjusting!
>> Edited by tail slide on Tuesday 1st June 08:15
Maddog - haven't used MP3 facility yet myself but book says can play MP3 files recorded on CD-ROMs, CD-Rs & CD-RWs. Further details on Sony website www.products.sony.co.uk
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