M3 for Late T350

[waddler]

Hi guys got an '04 M3 Coupe in silver grey in immaculate condition. Looking to chnge for a similar aged T350. If interested let me know.

[tuscanraider]

smashing decision. i was in 2 minds about a month ago, i spoke tony at dream machines (top guy). and i am now just waiting to pick my t350t up. I have seen 3 people in the last month change from m3 to t350. I drove my friends m3 and thought niceeeee. but then the t350 . its the only car i could imagine buying in its class. good choice and good luck

[waddler]

Any ideas what kind of deal you can cut on a preregistered example. My M3's mint with only 3500 miles on the clock so should get decent trade in value?

[tuscanraider]

if you can wait sell private or contact dealer and get some prices, dream machines are selling a 04 car at the moment , give them a buzz and see what they say

[rep900]

Dream machines gave me best price by far for my M3 conv, close to swap for new 350T.
One TVR dealer was bid £32k for my BM..ouch..! Cost 47k new in July, now with 3k miles(loaded smg etc..).
By the way Tuscanraider, what did you go for in the end..?

[tuscanraider]

t350t all day and all night. it is sooooooo much better than an m3. m3's are so common no, residuals on t350t's is very good.

[bennno]

you would have to be mad to swap an m3 for a t350.

the t350 is a terrible car, under developed and over powered with none of the finesse or qualityu of the bm.

I would suggest that over yourr average b road a t350 would be pogo'ing away at the rear whilst the m3 drove off in to the distance.

From an M3 it has to be a 996 or 997.

Bennno

[waddler]

Don't get me wrong the M3 is a brilliant car. It's got all the performance you need and is built like tank and apart from fuel/tyres costs nothing to run. It's also very comfortable and refined when you want it to be. If I did lots of miles i'd be keeping for sure but I don't.

Hence i'm looking for something a bit special and different and the T350 fits the bill. Had a speed 6 Cerb before and really missed it once i'd got rid. 996/997 not an option for the same reasons as above. It's just more of the same but better all round package.

I understand the T350 might not the quickest or easiest to drive in the twisties but i'm not that bothered. Versus an M3 i'm sure it would have more to do with the skill of the driver than the cars.

Anyway called dream machines who were very helpfull. They advised new would be my best bet so gonna see what the cost to change looks like tomorrow. Also got in touch with a member on the site for an 03 trade plus cash.

Let you know how I get on.

[flasher]

What Bennno is saying is that he would swap if he still had his T350.......

Alas he is correct, like his mine was awful. As for residuals tuscanraider, you are talking loudly straight out of your arse. The T350 will lose £10K in the first 10 months....

[waddler]

Flasher what was so wrong with it would obviously like the benefit of your experience before taking the plunge.

[_DJ_]

flasher said:

What Bennno is saying is that he would swap if he still had his T350....... Alas he is correct, like his mine was awful. As for residuals tuscanraider, you are talking loudly straight out of your arse. The T350 will lose £10K in the first 10 months....

That looks to be the case (re: depreciation). You can pickup a good '03 for under 30k judging by the classifieds. I suppose the introducing of air-con and better paint as standard won't help older cars either.

Having said all that, if you sell yours privately and buy a 7k miler for 29k then I doubt it'll depreciate any worse than an equivalently priced M3.

D

[tail slide]

waddler said:

I understand the T350 might not the quickest or easiest to drive in the twisties but i'm not that bothered. Versus an M3 i'm sure it would have more to do with the skill of the driver than the cars.

You'll be surprised. Agree far more driver interaction than standard 911's or BeeMs in my experience. M3's have just about kept up twice on A-roads and twisty B-roads...until one slid a bit & he backed off. You'll stay in front and have FAR more fun; Lotus-like handling but with TVR power, and no Germanic boredom.

[flasher]

My advice would be to wait longer. The T350's will bottom out at £25k soon like the Tamoras and Tuscans. I can only give direct advice based on my ownership although several friends have the "T" version and have had even more problems with wind noise, badly fitting panels etc.

In direct comparison with the other TVR's I had (Griff, Cerb, Tamora) it was poorly stuck together and trim quality is nowhere near that of the older cars. Benno had a full respray so did I and I can name (although I wont) three others who had to have paint jobs purely because the nose is so low it chips the paint off at an alarming rate. I'm guessing (and hoping) that things have improved....

After owning a BMW M3 you are going to well brassed off when bits start falling off....

I'm not slagging TVR's off as I'm secretly planning another, but be warned it's not an everday car, it's a weekend toy, unlike the M3.

[AllTorque]

Flasher - pray tell what next...?

[waddler]

Thanks Flasher. I was expecting trim quality like my old Cerb which was rock solid. Only downside was useless handbrake but not a problem.

The car will essentialy be a weekend toy but will be run regularly enough to keep it in check.

Anyone else got anything to add. I alsi though about a Tuscan maybe i'll put a post on their forum too??

[flasher]

waddler

Dont expect Cerb trim qualities....it's not in the same league. If it was I'd still have it now. Paint problems are a certainty as I said before but this (in my opinion is down to design. I reckon if you shop around you will easily get one for £27K. Tuscan doesn't handle as well but always seemed quicker in a straight line to me (I had one for almost a month as a courtesy car)and is far more of an occasion.

Alltorque

Its a secret for now mate...

[tail slide]

Flasher & Benno; sorry to hear you had annoying probs with your '03 T350's, it does appear that '04 models are higher quality 'out of the box'; like most others I know of mine only had a few minor running-in niggles. IMO this is typical TVR/Lotus etc. that the quality leaps up after they've built them for 12mths.

[t350c]

Mines an elderly 03 / 52 and have had very few problems and can strongly recommend the t350, but know from my own experience that buying a good tvr is a lottery. My previous cerb 4.2, again owned from new was a source of constant grief and needed to be resprayed and have all its trim restuck at the factory on one of its return visits. My t350 on the other hand has so far (8000 miles) only suffered a few very minor niggles; ignition barrel seized in first week, and timing belt needed adjusting. Usual glue, and squeaks and rattles stuff.

Mike

[simon@63]

tail slide said:

:IMO this is typical TVR/Lotus etc. that the quality leaps up after they've built them for 12mths.

Indeed. Anyone that has lived with an early Elise S1, part of the batch that came fitted with a clutch that didn't work on hot days, has probably also cursed Lotus for letting it off the farm unfinished. At least they were honest enough to tell people there was a problem and retro-fit the fix. There is a lesson there...

[sfx]

It always makes me laugh when people talk about residuals.

If you buy any car thats 40-50k then in 12 months you are going to loose £10k minimum. That applies to BMW
Noble TVR Porsche Ferrari and the rest

Point - If you are worried about loosing money dont buy a sports car costing £50k as you clearly cannot
afford it.