Will I get fed up if I buy a Tuscan?

[essexstu]

I have had my Tuscan for 7 years now. Last year I used it last in September then had it insured as laid up over the winter whilst it sat in my garage with trickle charger attached. Went out 6 months later in March and she fired up immediately and I drove to the MOT station without issue to then have it serviced for summer use.

Going for a 20 mile journey once a month isn't going to be great though. It can easily take 10-15 minutes driving to get the oil up to the required 60 degrees before you can exceed 3000 rpm so you want to be doing more like 50-60 miles each journey to make it worth while. Like any high performance car, I would say the more you use it the better for the car. I have never had anything seize up on the car from just sitting in my garage and over winter it has regularly sat for 3-4 months without being used but then I try to use it more from March to October and do about 1500-2000 miles including a trip or two to Europe.

[mk1fan]

jonah35 said:

Thanks but that doesn't interest me.

From what you guys are saying I think you're alluding to the fact that it wouldn't be reliable?

As already pointed out, I don't think any car (which are essentially designed to be used) is going to 'enjoy' being used so sporadically.

I suppose it all comes down to how you plan to lay the car up in the intervening periods. TVRs should be owned with your eyes wide open. They require attention and (sometimes) patience to sort out niggles. You also need to accept that they are not a modern car. If this isn't you then a TVR is not for you.

Truth be told, until it is actually done there's no way to give any informed decision as to a whether it would be reliable or not. A specific car could quite happily live laid up in an appropriate way. Likewise, a specific car could detonate if used on a weekly basis.

I made some comments on the 'should I buy a Cerbera' thread yesterday that are relevant.

My opinion based on the very limited info you're providing, is that a TVR is not for you. If you only have time for a 30-minute drive, every 8-weeks then you certainly don't have the time to lay it up suitably in the intervening period. That said, if you have a/c garage and a dedicated mechanic who knows their stuff, then it would be as reliable as any other TVR.

My primary concern would be that the engine would have drained completely dry during the laid up periods.

[dvs_dave]

m4tti said:

If it's not the bills get an apr rs TT with over 600bhp it'll do sub 3 seconds to 60, drive for 100 miles and be put away like a normal car.

http://www.goapr.co.uk/products/stage3_25tfsi.html

Edited by m4tti on Sunday 2nd November 22:00

Bloody hell, that is one heck of an engine - 665hp/585 lbft!! Would be a cracking motor for a reborn TVR!

[Dischordant]

jonah35 said:

Sorry gents please could we stick to the original question.

I want it in my garage to drive when I want to buy the one I want in the colour i want and not to hire one, to bother with forms, to bother getting it delivered, to have the hassle of renting etc because by the time I know I want to take it out I don't want to have to call up a company to get one delivered etc.

I don't want to hire a car!

Thanks all.

To stick to the original question then - any car will perform poorly - may have trouble starting when left for very long periods of time and is far more likely to have problems due to lack of use. So to answer the original question.Yes if you can't be bothered with a car not starting don't buy a tvr. But don't buy any other car either that you only plan to drive for 160miles a year as you will also get exactly the same problems. All cars get flat batteries through lack of use. All cars break down sometimes.

Your original question hasn't asked if a tvr is more likely to do either of these things than other cars so I will avoid answering a question you haven't asked.

Would you end up wanting to flog it after 5minutes? - I expect so.

[J J]

Buy an Elise or Alfa 4c

Great fun to drive good looks more every day practical so hope better reliability. Think I just put Alfa and reliability in the same sentance !

Realy 160 miles, forget it, dont want to sound a KnXb or start an argument, but get real.

[m4tti]

dvs_dave said:

Bloody hell, that is one heck of an engine - 665hp/585 lbft!! Would be a cracking motor for a reborn TVR!

It really looks like a monster and sounds pretty good too.. more powerful than an R8 LM edition, 4wd, drives like a normal car, and your going to need something really special to get anywhere near it. Just awesome, minus the hairdresser factor

Edited by m4tti on Tuesday 4th November 14:00

[Milky400]

J J said:

Realy 160 miles, forget it, dont want to sound a KnXb or start an argument, but get real.

I've been keeping quiet on this one so not to offend, but I agree.... Not sure that the OP is for real or just taking the pish

[BluePurpleRed]

If you only have 2 people, maybe just man up and use the car on some of the other trips. It has a giant boot and rear shelf for stuff. I went all round Europe in mine with the missus, loads of luggage and wine purchases without any drama, and its not too bad on the motorway either.

Mine lives on the street in London and I try to use it as much as I can.

[nevm3]

Had mine 2 years lives outside covered up, trickle charger, can be 1 week can be 6 weeks left standing, always starts never broken down, basically it's a car like any other 4 wheels, engine etc with modern oils the risks by lack of use are minimal. Just buying one and looking at it is satisfying enough to know you own such a fantastic looking car, ignore the nay sayers and buy one and enjoy it when you can!!

[jayemm89]

Another thing to consider, if I was looking at a car with such little usage, I would be possibly worried.

Almost certainly unnecessarily in your case, but as a buyer I don't like the idea of a car sitting and going nowhere, then being used for a very short period at a time. Especially with something like a TVR. There are a lot of issues that might never manifest themselves 20 miles at a time.

Again, totally psychological, but important nonetheless come resale time. I've sold two cars which I've done thousands of miles around Europe in and on both occasions that was a real positive to the people buying them.

[BobE]

A slight hijack of the thread - has anyone got real world experience of installing and using one of these:
https://www.wolverineheater.com/Model-16CSACE-Engi...
I find it really frustrating having to go maybe 10 plus miles before the oil warms up sufficiently to really start using the revs - but as most journeys are not spur of the moment events I don't have a problem pre-heating things. (With the opening bonnet mod now done fitting and plugging in such a device is now much easier).

[swisstoni]

OP - my usage is pretty low. I enjoy owning a TVR but don't have the opportunity to exercise them much. I stick religiously to the annual service no matter what the annual mileage.

I do not see much evidence for the lack of use causing issues tbh. The Tuscan always runs like a top no matter if it has stood for months. When I do use it however, I make sure it gets up to full temps and of course never push it until it has. I keep the battery trickle charged and it lives in a Carcoon Veloce which I think contributes to preventing deterioration.

Only you know if you have temperament to own a TVR. They are not a BMW or an Audi and odd things do crop up but they are all fixable. As they say in the Army "if you can't take a joke, you shouldn't have joined".

[S6PNJ]

BobE said:

A slight hijack of the thread - has anyone got real world experience of installing and using one of these:
https://www.wolverineheater.com/Model-16CSACE-Engi...
I find it really frustrating having to go maybe 10 plus miles before the oil warms up sufficiently to really start using the revs - but as most journeys are not spur of the moment events I don't have a problem pre-heating things. (With the opening bonnet mod now done fitting and plugging in such a device is now much easier).

I'm sure there was a group buy last year/2 years ago - more info on the device here