T350 - Advice from owners

T350 - Advice from owners

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apex

Original Poster:

148 posts

263 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all
I've just got my car this week and am absolutely delighted with it. However as part of the "the bonding exercise" (no chains involved as yet) I've got a couple of queries which I know owners out there (and that includes you Flasher and Benno ) might be able advise about.

- ) Tyre Presures - handbook advises 28psi. Owners sticking to this or are there better settings to be had.

- ) Dipped Beam headlights - project about 20ft in front of the car (it might not be 20ft but it seems a very short throw to me), can these be adjusted at all without dismantling the car.

- ) Are you guys getting any significant wind noise (easy tiger) around the drivers door. Having a look at it the window doesn't butt up tightly to the frame completely. Can the dealer adjust this or will I have to learn to live with it

- Passenger seatbelt runs fine but had a wrestle with the drivers side which jammed. Eventually gave up (after 5 mins of gentle teasing !!!) went for a drive. Tried it again and it was fine. Ontop of that at 6ft 2 theres plenty of room but the seat backs are annoyingly squeaking on the roll bars over the door

This is not a build quality thread/gripe, quite the contrary I'm pretty impressed and expected these little things. Just wanted to see a) if others had come across the same and what if anything could be done about it before the 1000 mile service.

P.S Its very very low and already as I've learnt the hard way gentling grounding it out at a junction with different gradient slopes. Must try and avoid speed humps at all cost

Thanks for any advice.

fish

3,998 posts

289 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all

I've just got my car this week and am absolutely delighted with it. However as part of the "the bonding exercise" (no chains involved as yet) I've got a couple of queries which I know owners out there (and that includes you Flasher and Benno ) might be able advise about.

- ) Tyre Presures - handbook advises 28psi. Owners sticking to this or are there better settings to be had.

YES THEY SEEM FINE AT 28


- ) Dipped Beam headlights - project about 20ft in front of the car (it might not be 20ft but it seems a very short throw to me), can these be adjusted at all without dismantling the car.

MY DIPPED ARE GREAT, SOUNDS LIKE THEY NEED ADJUSTING PROPERLY - SUGGEST DROP IN DEALER

- ) Are you guys getting any significant wind noise (easy tiger) around the drivers door. Having a look at it the window doesn't butt up tightly to the frame completely. Can the dealer adjust this or will I have to learn to live with it

QUIETEST WIND NOISE TVR I'VE HAD. NORMAL CONVERSATION AT 90 EASY NOT TOO MUCH AT 130 (KPH OF COURSE)

- Passenger seatbelt runs fine but had a wrestle with the drivers side which jammed. Eventually gave up (after 5 mins of gentle teasing !!!) went for a drive. Tried it again and it was fine. Ontop of that at 6ft 2 theres plenty of room but the seat backs are annoyingly squeaking on the roll bars over the door

THEY ALL DO IT SIR EVERY MODEL. IF IT DOESN'T WANT TO RELEASE JUST MOVE THE CAR FORWARD AND IT NORMALY DOES.

This is not a build quality thread/gripe, quite the contrary I'm pretty impressed and expected these little things. Just wanted to see a) if others had come across the same and what if anything could be done about it before the 1000 mile service.

MY BUILD QUALITY IS THE BEST OF ALL THE CARS I'VE HAD.

P.S Its very very low and already as I've learnt the hard way gentling grounding it out at a junction with different gradient slopes. Must try and avoid speed humps at all cost

CAUGHT MINE A COUPLE OF TIMES BUT NOW AWARE SO NO PROBLEMS, THE SPEED HUMPS I'VE DONE ARE FINE.

Thanks for any advice.


SORRY NOT SHOUTINGS JUST TO SEPERATE ANSWERS TO QUERIES. THE BEST BIT IS IT DOES FLY WHEN RUN IN. BEST HANDLING TVR YET

cerbera8

205 posts

291 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all

I've just got my car this week and am absolutely delighted with it. However as part of the "the bonding exercise" (no chains involved as yet) I've got a couple of queries which I know owners out there (and that includes you Flasher and Benno ) might be able advise about.

- ) Dipped Beam headlights - project about 20ft in front of the car (it might not be 20ft but it seems a very short throw to me), can these be adjusted at all without dismantling the car.

>>>>dipped beam on mine is not very good and is a point i have put on my "stuff to do" list at 1000 mile service next week.

- ) Are you guys getting any significant wind noise (easy tiger) around the drivers door. Having a look at it the window doesn't butt up tightly to the frame completely. Can the dealer adjust this or will I have to learn to live with it

>>>> not getting wind noise but have complained about noise that occurs on both sides when windows are up caused by glass rubbing against body at the point where they both meet, sounds like "rubbing polystyrene packing".

- Passenger seatbelt runs fine but had a wrestle with the drivers side which jammed. Eventually gave up (after 5 mins of gentle teasing !!!) went for a drive. Tried it again and it was fine. Ontop of that at 6ft 2 theres plenty of room but the seat backs are annoyingly squeaking on the roll bars over the door

>>>As suggested already move off, preferably to a flat bit of road then works ok.

This is not a build quality thread/gripe, quite the contrary I'm pretty impressed and expected these little things. Just wanted to see a) if others had come across the same and what if anything could be done about it before the 1000 mile service.

P.S Its very very low and already as I've learnt the hard way gentling grounding it out at a junction with different gradient slopes. Must try and avoid speed humps at all cost

>>>Haven't grounded mine yet, much better than cerbera was.

Thanks for any advice.


By the way what colour, spec did you go for?

RichB

52,770 posts

291 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all

Tyre Presures - handbook advises 28psi.
So no longer 22/24 then Rich...

apache

39,731 posts

291 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all
28 sounds well high!

apex

Original Poster:

148 posts

263 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all
cerbera8

Yes Ok I admit it I copied you and went for Cameleon Green. All the way to the factory I wanted Lambo Orange or Spectraflair Silver but Gerbil didn't seem very impressed with the orange and the spectraflair didn't have the wow factor it had at the show. A very personnel choice colours but came down to Halcyon Blue or Green and had to make a choice. Interior is black/Oxford Blue (which was the hard bit to get past Danielle)

shoggoth1

815 posts

272 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all
28 psi is for 16" wheels, don't know what 18" should be.

Cheers.

flasher

9,238 posts

291 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all
OK, I'll break the vow of silence....

Firstly, my doors are very poorly fitted I need to get them adjusted the drivers door in particular. This is something that the dealer should be able to do. My drivers side door is whistling like a good-un.

As for tyre pressures not sure, but the 28psi quoted in the handbook is for 16" wheels so it will be different, try ringing the factory or the dealer to check this.

Finally read the threads on the fuel filler before you start pissing fuel everywhere, my chrome surround on the fuel filler fell off in the garage last night and I'm pretty sure the spilled fuel has caused the glue to become useless...

Enjoy!

apex

Original Poster:

148 posts

263 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all
Flasher,

Heys its good to see a post from you. Been very quiet on here lately. Is Benno still in excile as well!!!

Andy

barefoot

1,050 posts

291 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all
Not had any problems with the wind noise in fact best one yet. Petrol filling is an art and nearly impossible to fill without spilling no matter how careful you are.

Had a few niggles but love the car. Picking it up tomorrow from the factory it's just had the big bore exhaust and chip fitted.

**999**

286 posts

265 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all
Having borrowed a T350 demo recently and covered a fair few miles in it, I experienced the full array of what you described...apart form the speed humps and grounding - no problem here over some of the fiercest bumps in my part of the world (damaged my Cerbera anyway). The petrol filler scenario was resolved by following the advice of others i.e. insert the nozzle into the filler neck all the way, then withdraw it about an inch or so. This then gave no problems at full fuel flow. What we did experience, was petrol fumes with a full tank. Further investigation led to the discovery that some petrol had flooded back into the top of the filler neck just as the fuel filler cap was being closed. This trapped the fuel and as it expanded the pressure rose and forced fumes into the surrounding housing. When I partially opened the filler cap the petrol spurted about 5 metres!! And the chrome surround was just about to fall off .... needs to be fixed on with a couple of allen bolts perhaps ?
The seat belt problem is apparently the subject of a genral recall as it not only jams regularly (too sensitive a mechanism), but the design also encourages the belts to twist within the inertia reel housing. Additionally the upper seat belt guide is fitted too low and means that the seats when pushed back trap the belt and prevent the inertia mechanism from functioning.
But it is still the best TVR I've driven so far...

alt

1,879 posts

289 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all
Chaps, when I changed my Tamora to 18" wheels at TMS I was told to use 24psi all round.
Cheers.... Andrew

apache

39,731 posts

291 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all
that sounds much more like it

T350 Guy

138 posts

261 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all
The chrome ring around the filler has just been glued back on for the second time. I think it is only a matter of time before it becomes unstuck again though.........I have been told the Factory are working on a solution to the fuel filling problem too. Will probably mean a recall to have something changed I guess.

No problems with the seatbelts so far, but they are sensitive and lock easily. If the belt seems totally locked try moving the seat back a bit to relieve the tension (on the belt that is not you!) The squeaking at the top of the seats and roll bars was fixed by rubbing a little bit silicon spray on the offending areas. has to be re- done every few weeks but no big deal as the car is still washed and cleaned very frequently........

I have grounded at the bottom of certain multi storey car park access ramps on the way down and out, which has removed some paint from under the front. Out of sight though. Speed humps have been no problem so far if you take them slowly.

Nearly 1500 trouble free miles so far! Hope it all keeps going like this!!

Getting my 'Gang On The Green' tickets soon, might meet more of you there in the summer.



>> Edited by T350 Guy on Thursday 10th April 15:47

fish

3,998 posts

289 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all
I lied sorry I use 26psi all round, bit firmer but it does get driven realatively hard.

flasher

9,238 posts

291 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all

apex said: Flasher,

Heys its good to see a post from you. Been very quiet on here lately. Is Benno still in excile as well!!!

Andy




Cheers,

But I see that someone appears to have contradicted my post again... Then again it did say "current owners" not test drivers....

Anyway, whatever I do with my fuel filler it still wont let me put fuel in at full pelt and the angling of the petrol pump just puts stress on the chrome surround which has now fallen off. This could also be caused by the petrol going everywhere and eventually ruining the adhesive....God knows...

The standard of paintwork on the car is nothing short of a disgrace. So have a good look round it when you clean the car.

The seats will squeak unless you set them away from the rollcage, this means having the seat set further foward but there is still plenty of legroom, I'm over 6ft tall and it's fine.

griff2be

5,090 posts

274 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all

flasher said:

Cheers,

But I see that someone appears to have contradicted my post again... Then again it did say "current owners" not test drivers....




I think you need to chill out just a wee bit more Flasher. I don't care about your ding dong battle with 999. What he just posted was relevant and informative, as yours is. If someone's experience differs from yours, it does not make it a contradiction aimed directly at you. Please carry on posting your thoughts on the car, but could you ditch the negative comments, they aren't necessary.

Back to the car - its disappointing to hear of paint defects, doors not fitting and chrome parts falling off. I suppose I could forgive the chrome bit - new design and all that. But they've been fitting doors to cars for a while now...

mrs fish

30,018 posts

265 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all

**999** said: The petrol filler scenario was resolved by following the advice of others i.e. insert the nozzle into the filler neck all the way, then withdraw it about an inch or so. This then gave no problems at full fuel flow.


There have been great problems with the petrol filler, some are better than others, but the factory have been informed and they are I believe modifying it for all other cars. I know we have had problem with ours, but when it went in for its service they did something to it, (sorry I don't know what exactly) you'll have to ask Fish if it is now any better. I'm glad you found no problems when you filled up, you must have been lucky because I know of a few people who have had problems no matter how careful they are.


>> Edited by mrs fish (moderator) on Thursday 10th April 18:38

cerbera8

205 posts

291 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all
I have said this before but strongly believe that the filling up problem also varies according to the petrol pumps you fill up with. eg decent garage with modern pumps - sprays out everywhere, independant garage, preferably with crappy old pumps much easier fillup.

Mike

cerbera8

205 posts

291 months

Thursday 10th April 2003
quotequote all

apex said: cerbera8

Yes Ok I admit it I copied you and went for Cameleon Green. All the way to the factory I wanted Lambo Orange or Spectraflair Silver but Gerbil didn't seem very impressed with the orange and the spectraflair didn't have the wow factor it had at the show. A very personnel choice colours but came down to Halcyon Blue or Green and had to make a choice. Interior is black/Oxford Blue (which was the hard bit to get past Danielle)


Nice one, very pleased with the colour and gets compliments everywhere it goes. Dream Machines have a Spectraflair Silver one in their showroom, got to admit without the lights on it doesn't look much better than silver.


Mike

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