EVO - T350T is "a flawed gem"....

[neil.b]

Anyone read the mini test in May EVO?

Said the negatives were;

- wierd driving position (pedals off to one side)
- gets nervous on rough surfaces
- steering a bit over eager and vague (having to judge where the limit was rather than feel it)

Rest of the article was very positive.

[mjc]

yep, read that last night!

also said the seats were very unsupportive......

that also seems to be the summary review at the back of the mag -
"For: looks & engine ,Against: unsupportive seats, chassis lacks ultimate polish...."

[stevenleith]

Having never driven one i wouldn't know.

So whats your view on the 3 comments you posted?

[R9TUS]

I haven't noticed a problem with the driving position, I vaguley remember test driving a chim for the first time, before I bought the Tuscan and thought the pedals were pushed over a bit so maybe I'm just used to it now!
I think suspension is a bit bumpy on rough surfaces but to be fair that is the last thing you can complain about in a car that can more or less take anything (except a Tus S, or cerb RR)IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND ALSO FEELS BETTER THAN MY OLD ELISE 111s for cornering!!!
Steering also pretty responsive!
I am pretty biased though!
Seats are comfy but perhaps could do with a bit more lateral support when "hunting scoobies!"

I notice you've got a S2000 Steve, very quick car on the track.
Went with my mate in his black S2000 to a track day, and were keeping up with cars "said to be" much quicker!
My mate does drive like a nutcase though.

Happy motoring

GAV

[neil.b]

I find the driving position fine to be honest but I'm used to pedals being offset a bit from my M3 days.

Have to admit to also finding mine a little twitchy if pressing on through bends with rough surfaces.

Don't agree with the steering comment re. being vague. I think you get loads of feedback and unless you're not paying attention, it tells you exactly when its going to give. Of course you have to be pretty sharp to catch and control it but that's half the fun Having said that, I did think the steering was a bit keen when I first got the car. Mentioned it to the factory when it was back there the other month. They did some magic to it and it felt much better.

Seats could do with a bit more lateral support but I'm wondering if the test guy knew about taking out the seat cushion. Not ideal but it does grip you a bit more.

[Mrs Fish]

I find the seats very comfortable in the T350c, and have no problems with the pedals, although the steering is very twitchy when on roads with tramlines

[neil.b]

Oh, the other thing said in the test was that the car is pretty fidgety under hard braking (straight line). Have to agree with this - I find you need to constantly be fedding minor adjustments to the steering to keep it on course.

Get my car back from its health farm holiday tomorrow. Its been having some geometry testing and tweaking, maybe there'll be some improvements.

Maybe I won't care

[bumcrack]

Yes the S2000 does fly on the track and road if you've got the nerve

[paul ed]

Removing seat cushion; after test drive, thought best compromise for more support may be 1/2 height seat cushion - asked for spare one when ordered my T350, & factory seem happy to add to order. Car due this month so then I'll know - more support but sore bum??! Maybe dealers could order as spare part if it works?

[sewega]

I have to agree with the comment re the seats - they are terrible. I'm not a 'wide' guy and under heavy cornering I have half my weight on the steering wheel trying not to fall out !

Has anyone investigated having different seats retro fitted, or if the current ones can be modified?

[simon@63]

neil.b said:

Having said that, I did think the steering was a bit keen when I first got the car. Mentioned it to the factory when it was back there the other month. They did some magic to it and it felt much better.

i.e. they set it up properly.

The discrepancies between the spec-sheet and how the car is delivered, can be errr... "quite a lot" I was told.

Readings on my car at 5,000 miles for both front and rear camber and toe were comical. After a full geometry set-up it felt loads better.

[mjc]

I know this may not be to everyones taste, but I specc'd Lamonta inserts for the seats.... doesnt half "grip ya bum" in comparison to the standard leather option!! (plus I think it looks nicer!)

[stevenleith]

Yep, have an S2000 - never tracked it but had plenty of fun on the road. S2000s have many of the characteristics you have been discussing - the straight line braking problem, very twitchy on rough surfaces, very sensitive to geometry settings & a stiff chassis on bumps etc. Add to that theres no traction control and its rear wheel drive.....so for that reason i think i will be pleasantly surprised when i drive the T350.

I'm hoping i've been properly educated by the characteristics of the S2000 for my move to TVRs!!

By the way - its for sale...!
[url] here|www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=21644&s=327 [/url]

[chimhunter]

Steve,

Had an S2K for a while (were you on s2ki.com?) and made the leap to a TVR, a Chimaera in my case, after someone on s2ki.com suggested them. Absolutely love it. The only thing with the T350 is the lack of folding roof. Apart from that they are fantastic

Rob

[flasher]

Well I thought Evo's write up was pretty spot on. The brakes are juddery and the limit on the track is very hard to find, much harder than the Tamora which I could slide at will and catch when it was on the limit of slide.

The seats I thought were good, especially if you take the cushions out.

There is improvements to make, and it's a shame TVR dont push the development a bit more because it has great potential...

[stevenleith]

Chim,

yeah been on s2ki.com for a happy 2&1/2 years! its a great forum to learn about the car....

are there such forums for tvr clubs/owners etc asides from this one?

[999]

Most of the comments made in the article and in this topic are personal opinions and experiences which WILL be different for nearly every one - Owner, Test Driver, Article Writer and even ex-Owners. That's the nature of a hand made car.

What's the history of the test car? Who thrashed it last? Do TVR spend extra time preparing it for the mag test? The answer to the latter is probably not.

My brakes? well they don't judder, they just need a firm -no servo- type push. Seats grip fine with the lamonta inserts. Roof has wind noise - sometimes. Suspension can bottom out on the bolt heads on the rear under-diffuser panel when tanking along on very uneven roads, but at slow steady speeds copes with all manner of speed humps. Seat belt? Sticks sometimes....

The early cars were maybe not quite up to spec, like the early models of everything that small volume manufacturers produce and even most of the global companies.

However the later cars are nearly there, with only the odd glitch and nothing really to spoil their ability to spread driving joy and enlightenment.

Ian

[daftlad]

The car is awsome, feed-back better or worse over some road surfaces. It is almost vice free with one major exception..........The seats are dreadful, no lumber or lateral supports and worse than any TVR I have ever owned. To make things worse, no possibility of installing a harness as the seat width at shoulder level is all wrong. As for handling, its forgiving and flattering. What will I change...the seats.

[chimhunter]

stevenleith said:

Chim, yeah been on s2ki.com for a happy 2&1/2 years! its a great forum to learn about the car.... are there such forums for tvr clubs/owners etc asides from this one?

There's the TVRCC website, but you need to be a member to join. Apart from that, this one is the main one. Don't forget, TVRs are mainly British (apart from the older ones) so there are very few international sites. PH is probably the best.

Had the S2K from December 2002 to July 2003. Went to the Hullavington trackday in December if you were there and a couple of pther things besides. Went by 'Robster' on S2ki.

Take care,

Rob