T350 Dodgy Handling
Discussion
the t350 as with any other high performance car needs to be set up properly. recently i read a thread about the LACK of wheel balancing from the factory(hopefully not any more). simple tracking and wheel balancing make a massive difference. anyhow 90% of articles i have read praise the handling of the t350 so the odd bad car setup and boring monotone w***** like brundle i am sure we can deal with. 
Try driving one. They're actually rather good.
Car Magazine have always had their heads up their arses with regards to TVR. I have stopped buying it for this reason and because you can never read the bl00dy text due to crap colour combinations.
If the T350 is so bad then how come EVO Magazine have it lapping quicker than a lot of serious metal including a 996 Turbo and EVO? (I think) on their test circuit (Bedford Autodrome). Now I would expect Car Magazine's drivers to be reasonably handy, but are EVOs that much better?
Car Magazine have always had their heads up their arses with regards to TVR. I have stopped buying it for this reason and because you can never read the bl00dy text due to crap colour combinations.
If the T350 is so bad then how come EVO Magazine have it lapping quicker than a lot of serious metal including a 996 Turbo and EVO? (I think) on their test circuit (Bedford Autodrome). Now I would expect Car Magazine's drivers to be reasonably handy, but are EVOs that much better?
Brundle actually said he found 'shocking' the fact that the 'engine wouldn't pull in 2nd' through Radar corner; he obviously hadn't taken the time to learn that the power band is from 5500 to 8000rpm.
The T350's 1.6 secs between 40-60 should be perfect for Radar - surely a 2500rpm band is not too narrow for you, Martin?!
I've competed at Anglesey in my V8 Ginetta (and won) but several corners are certainly a wild switchback ride that will expose any softness in the rear-end, that they complained about, that you would hardly ever find on even the most challenging B-road.
Their timing muddle may be symptomatic of their whole assessment; 'It's slower than the SLK350...'
Erm, no actually, printed in several places was T350 53.15, SLK 53.80
My T350 with standard diff. seems well mannered on road, even when traction is breached in a slow or fast corner, tho' once the softish rear bottomed out on very sharp B-road dips. Presumably others who have opted for the stiffer RR suspension option have found handling optimised for extremes of grip, with a little loss of comfort?
The T350's 1.6 secs between 40-60 should be perfect for Radar - surely a 2500rpm band is not too narrow for you, Martin?!
I've competed at Anglesey in my V8 Ginetta (and won) but several corners are certainly a wild switchback ride that will expose any softness in the rear-end, that they complained about, that you would hardly ever find on even the most challenging B-road.
Their timing muddle may be symptomatic of their whole assessment; 'It's slower than the SLK350...'
Erm, no actually, printed in several places was T350 53.15, SLK 53.80
My T350 with standard diff. seems well mannered on road, even when traction is breached in a slow or fast corner, tho' once the softish rear bottomed out on very sharp B-road dips. Presumably others who have opted for the stiffer RR suspension option have found handling optimised for extremes of grip, with a little loss of comfort?
Their timing muddle may be symptomatic of their whole assessment; 'It's slower than the SLK350...'
Erm, no actually, printed in several places was T350 53.15, SLK 53.80
Yes, but surely TVR weighs 1000 kilos and has (in the press car) at least 375 bhp, and the Mercedes must weigh 1500 kilos, and have 275 bhp, which suggests it was quicker through the corners than the TVR !?
Also, isn`t Brundle an experienced driver ? Ex F1 and Le Mans winner ?
If you also look at the car facts, it states the top speed on the T350 as '150+ mph' 
Now don't get me wrong, it is 150+, but why did they not put 175+ like they themselves do in the lists at the back of the magazine.
They didn't do similar on the Noble, Porsche, or any other car in the test.
Now don't get me wrong, it is 150+, but why did they not put 175+ like they themselves do in the lists at the back of the magazine.
They didn't do similar on the Noble, Porsche, or any other car in the test.
Agree we should probably ignore CAR. 
Still wonder 'what might have been'; Brundle's impressions may have been rather different if TVR had supplied one with the Red Rose sports options ticked, as anyone intending to major on trackdays can do - like the most extreme versions of the Noble / 911 / Lotii etc. in the test.
Roll on Sagaris!
Still wonder 'what might have been'; Brundle's impressions may have been rather different if TVR had supplied one with the Red Rose sports options ticked, as anyone intending to major on trackdays can do - like the most extreme versions of the Noble / 911 / Lotii etc. in the test.
Roll on Sagaris!
hobo said:
If you also look at the car facts, it states the top speed on the T350 as '150+ mph'
Now don't get me wrong, it is 150+, but why did they not put 175+ like they themselves do in the lists at the back of the magazine.
They didn't do similar on the Noble, Porsche, or any other car in the test.
probably for the same reason that my cerbera had a top speed of 130+.
Never went above this as the wipers and bonnet both lifted dramatically.
I have never seen figures for a t350 top ended.
Bennno
bennno said:
If you also look at the car facts, it states the top speed on the T350 as '150+ mph'
Now don't get me wrong, it is 150+, but why did they not put 175+ like they themselves do in the lists at the back of the magazine.
They didn't do similar on the Noble, Porsche, or any other car in the test.
probably for the same reason that my cerbera had a top speed of 130+.
Never went above this as the wipers and bonnet both lifted dramatically.
I have never seen figures for a t350 top ended.
Bennno
Never had that problem with the Cerbera. I saw 160 on the clock (so 145+ really) without an issue.
Didn't Evo also do a top speed run on a badly running Tuscan S and get far quicker than that?
_dj_ said:
Didn't Evo also do a top speed run on a badly running Tuscan S and get far quicker than that?
(in anorak mode tonight ) Issue 82; 180.85 mph; no doubt would be more once fully loosened up with more mileage on engine. Autocar tested 4.2 Cerb to actual 185mph & Tamora to 'calculated' 175mph, so reduced drag of T350 body should put another, say, 5mph on that? Undoubtedly need a long run-up tho'.
>> Edited by tail slide on Tuesday 9th November 21:55
sacha said:
I found the slightest over inflation, scr~~ed up the handling, also if the geometry is out, too many donuts?
I totally agree with Sacha, when I first got my car the geometry war WAY out, and it handled like a complete dog...(read "Scarey!") a few adjustments later and it was like a different car.. It was still fairly skittish on back roads though, and then a few weeks ago I dropped the tyre pressure a couple of PSI to 24 all around and again a noticable improvement. Its still not ideal in my opinion, and I am considering the Nitron upgrate route sometime in the future, but as has been said, correct set-up is essential on these cars....
Matthew
sammi said:
Their timing muddle may be symptomatic of their whole assessment; 'It's slower than the SLK350...'
Erm, no actually, printed in several places was T350 53.15, SLK 53.80
Yes, but surely TVR weighs 1000 kilos and has (in the press car) at least 375 bhp, and the Mercedes must weigh 1500 kilos, and have 275 bhp, which suggests it was quicker through the corners than the TVR !?
Also, isn`t Brundle an experienced driver ? Ex F1 and Le Mans winner ?
Thats very impressive figures for the little Merc jezz what will the SLK 55 be like
Marki said:
Their timing muddle may be symptomatic of their whole assessment; 'It's slower than the SLK350...'
Erm, no actually, printed in several places was T350 53.15, SLK 53.80
Yes, but surely TVR weighs 1000 kilos and has (in the press car) at least 375 bhp, and the Mercedes must weigh 1500 kilos, and have 275 bhp, which suggests it was quicker through the corners than the TVR !?
Also, isn`t Brundle an experienced driver ? Ex F1 and Le Mans winner ?
Thats very impressive figures for the little Merc jezz what will the SLK 55 be like
Judging by the SLK32, very fast, with a horrible semi-auto box and intrusive "anti-doughnut" electronics.
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