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Discussion
Hi all,
I know these forums attract a lot of posts from people buying their first TVR looking for advice and I also know that once you have your heart set on a TVR there’s precious little that’ll dissuade you from a purchase. So with this in mind and just so that you all know; I’m going to buy one, probably a T350C (the Targa looks awkward to me and I don’t think I’d care to hit 160 in something with a B&Q bracket holding the roof on). Anyway I’m just looking for a little help from the experts, so if anyone cares to chip in on any of the following topics I’d be most appreciative:
1). The dealer (important this one)
At the moment my most likely dealer to purchase from is RacingGreen Ashvale, they’ve been really helpful when I’ve visited and certainly seem to love their TVR’s. So has anyone got anything good or bad to say about them? I’d kinda expect them to be nice before you’ve bought a car, but do they remain this way afterwards?
2). The car
Ok, it’s got to be a T350C… and at the moment I’m verging on used (that 4month wait is excessive, and there’s a very real chance the depreciation would break me) and probably asking for part of the RR upgrade (exhaust and engine tweaks I understand should set me back about £2,500 installed?). Ideally I’d keep my current car, however if I didn’t can anyone comment on the realism of using this car everyday? I doubt it’s going to give BMW a fright in terms of reliability, however I feel that in my past I’ve spent all the time I wish too stood next to a smoking car on the hard shoulder in the p###ing rain waiting for the RAC.
3). The Red Rose bit again
If I shell out for a used car am I going to be able to get my dealer to fit this package? Or is it off to Blackpool and losing the car for months on end? Is it going to be worth it? The exhaust note is a big part of a TVR and I want it to be everything it can be…
4). Balloon finance
I know this is boring; however I’m interested to know if anyone feels this method of payment is really worth it? It seems an attractive way to purchase a car, and certainly removes to need for me to shell out vast quantities up front but is it going to bite me in the ar##?
Cheers, superb forum btw…
Ian
I know these forums attract a lot of posts from people buying their first TVR looking for advice and I also know that once you have your heart set on a TVR there’s precious little that’ll dissuade you from a purchase. So with this in mind and just so that you all know; I’m going to buy one, probably a T350C (the Targa looks awkward to me and I don’t think I’d care to hit 160 in something with a B&Q bracket holding the roof on). Anyway I’m just looking for a little help from the experts, so if anyone cares to chip in on any of the following topics I’d be most appreciative:
1). The dealer (important this one)
At the moment my most likely dealer to purchase from is RacingGreen Ashvale, they’ve been really helpful when I’ve visited and certainly seem to love their TVR’s. So has anyone got anything good or bad to say about them? I’d kinda expect them to be nice before you’ve bought a car, but do they remain this way afterwards?
2). The car
Ok, it’s got to be a T350C… and at the moment I’m verging on used (that 4month wait is excessive, and there’s a very real chance the depreciation would break me) and probably asking for part of the RR upgrade (exhaust and engine tweaks I understand should set me back about £2,500 installed?). Ideally I’d keep my current car, however if I didn’t can anyone comment on the realism of using this car everyday? I doubt it’s going to give BMW a fright in terms of reliability, however I feel that in my past I’ve spent all the time I wish too stood next to a smoking car on the hard shoulder in the p###ing rain waiting for the RAC.
3). The Red Rose bit again
If I shell out for a used car am I going to be able to get my dealer to fit this package? Or is it off to Blackpool and losing the car for months on end? Is it going to be worth it? The exhaust note is a big part of a TVR and I want it to be everything it can be…
4). Balloon finance
I know this is boring; however I’m interested to know if anyone feels this method of payment is really worth it? It seems an attractive way to purchase a car, and certainly removes to need for me to shell out vast quantities up front but is it going to bite me in the ar##?
Cheers, superb forum btw…
Ian
We use our T350c everyday, it is Fish's only car and has only let us down doing something once, and that was nothing to do with the engine 
Can't help with the dealer I am afraid.
You can get the RR option fitted afterwards, but be prepared to lose the car for quite a few weeks.
btw excellent choice of vehicle sir
Can't help with the dealer I am afraid.
You can get the RR option fitted afterwards, but be prepared to lose the car for quite a few weeks.
btw excellent choice of vehicle sir
1. You can't go wrong with Racing Green in my opinion. 
2. You will have niggly problems with your TVR, but providing you maintain it correctly and treat it sensibly it should be reliable (never boring tintop reliable, but good enough
).
3. Back to Blackpool I believe.
4. If you're sensible in setting the level of the ballon payment then it is relatively safe. Again, all in my opinion, seek the advice of a financial advisor etc.
2. You will have niggly problems with your TVR, but providing you maintain it correctly and treat it sensibly it should be reliable (never boring tintop reliable, but good enough
). 3. Back to Blackpool I believe.
4. If you're sensible in setting the level of the ballon payment then it is relatively safe. Again, all in my opinion, seek the advice of a financial advisor etc.
Evening Ian and welcome!
1) Can't comment, no experience of them.
2) Good choice! I use mine everyday and was nervous at first as I'd bought BMWs for years before. Only real problem I've had is overheating due to a hole in the rad (long story). It grumbles in the cold weather but has never left me high and dry (or wet, as the case may be).
3) As said before by others, it is retro-fitable (?) and your car will be away for a few weeks. Is it worth it? Depends what you want out of it I guess. You can get a better sounding exhaust if that's what you want, for about £400. Blue printing the engine, while probably not a necessity on newer S6s, will certainly make it much nicer. And the extra horses, while not a huge amount, will certainly make a difference under the right foot. I've also heard a rumour that they'll be dropping the Tuscan brakes from the package as the cars have a tendancy to overbrake with the bigger discs. I keep thinking about RR for mine, but I'm spending my money elsewhere at the moment
4) Can't comment on the finance but look around at the 2nd-hand prices for T350s as this will give you some idea of the residuals that you'll be looking at. Dealers will always promise you optimistic residuals as they get comission on the finance deals. Be careful.
Hope that helps.
1) Can't comment, no experience of them.
2) Good choice! I use mine everyday and was nervous at first as I'd bought BMWs for years before. Only real problem I've had is overheating due to a hole in the rad (long story). It grumbles in the cold weather but has never left me high and dry (or wet, as the case may be).
3) As said before by others, it is retro-fitable (?) and your car will be away for a few weeks. Is it worth it? Depends what you want out of it I guess. You can get a better sounding exhaust if that's what you want, for about £400. Blue printing the engine, while probably not a necessity on newer S6s, will certainly make it much nicer. And the extra horses, while not a huge amount, will certainly make a difference under the right foot. I've also heard a rumour that they'll be dropping the Tuscan brakes from the package as the cars have a tendancy to overbrake with the bigger discs. I keep thinking about RR for mine, but I'm spending my money elsewhere at the moment
4) Can't comment on the finance but look around at the 2nd-hand prices for T350s as this will give you some idea of the residuals that you'll be looking at. Dealers will always promise you optimistic residuals as they get comission on the finance deals. Be careful.
Hope that helps.
[quote=maddog[uk]]I am being a bit dense as its late and I am tired. What do you mean by overbrake Neil.b?[/quote]
From what I was told, the bigger discs were prone to locking up sooner (under hard braking) whilst not actually stopping the car any quicker.
This was speculation but by someone in a position to know. If you know what I mean.
The recent 100-0 figures (as discussed here) for a T350 also should tell you that the original brakes are astonishingly good at stopping the car. I may be wrong but I'm not sure bigger ones will shave much off 3.99 seconds.
I guess the other advantage may be for track days - bigger brakes can dissappate the heat more efficiently, possibly reducing brake fade? I don't know enough to say for sure. I'm sure I'll be corrected if that's not true
From what I was told, the bigger discs were prone to locking up sooner (under hard braking) whilst not actually stopping the car any quicker.
This was speculation but by someone in a position to know. If you know what I mean.
The recent 100-0 figures (as discussed here) for a T350 also should tell you that the original brakes are astonishingly good at stopping the car. I may be wrong but I'm not sure bigger ones will shave much off 3.99 seconds.
I guess the other advantage may be for track days - bigger brakes can dissappate the heat more efficiently, possibly reducing brake fade? I don't know enough to say for sure. I'm sure I'll be corrected if that's not true
jigs said:
Stop in a negative time and distance - so if you're not careful you could end up back in bed when you stop in the office car park.
--- and don't even think about a handbrake turn!
>> Edited by jigs on Thursday 29th April 00:22
if only that were true - everyone would want to overbrake when they reached the office chainsawbod said:
Thank you... for a while it was looking like an S2 Exige or possibly the VX220Turbo. However great cars that they are there's something a little more personal and special about a TVR for me.
All great choices. Be aware that the TVR will be considerably more expensive to run than a Lotus or VX.
hobo - IMO given that less than year old well-specced T350Cs can be had for around £30K cash (£12K - £15K depreciation) then a three year old one will probably be in the £17K - £20K cash bracket(50% approx of new cost). IMO there will be no difference in the dealer demo T350C price in three years time.
Agreed - low to mid 20s for a 3 year old. Some ex demo and under 1 year old cars seem terribly overpriced at the moment - some dealers are selling cars for 39,995 which are only 35k-36k at another dealer.
Especially amusing is the pricing of a dealer in the Gloucestershire area.
There's a nice China blue targa at Harrogate HC for 39995 ... tempting. I'm looking for a brighter colour like the Spectaflair one at Peninsular.
>> Edited by trefor on Thursday 29th April 12:50
Especially amusing is the pricing of a dealer in the Gloucestershire area.
There's a nice China blue targa at Harrogate HC for 39995 ... tempting. I'm looking for a brighter colour like the Spectaflair one at Peninsular.
>> Edited by trefor on Thursday 29th April 12:50
jigs said:
hobo - IMO given that less than year old well-specced T350Cs can be had for around £30K cash (£12K - £15K depreciation) then a three year old one will probably be in the £17K - £20K cash bracket(50% approx of new cost). IMO there will be no difference in the dealer demo T350C price in three years time.
I wish jigs was a car dealer for TVR, you could pick up a fantastic car for a song then
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