What's owning a Tuscan like?
Discussion
Good choice! I'm over in Spencers Wood and often at the Bracknell meet so would be happy to take you out in mine. I'd be interested in the tuned M3 as well, i take it you've supercharged? I was thinking of changing out of the Tuscan and going for a Z4M Coupe and supercharging but every time I start the Tuscan up, it is the noise which just gives me the goosebumps.
Here's mine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr_eB-JlDYs
In terms of buying, the market is quite restricted in volume, and quite often you'll find a car sell privately to a dealer and then reappear with quite a large mark up. Depending on dealer, the warranty can come in handy to get a lot of any niggles/issues sorted during the first few months of ownership. if you're set on buying privately then you need to be able to move quickly as the good ones don't hang around long.
Best places are on PH, the TVRCC website, and Autotrader. There's also www.tvr-webmart.co.uk which summarises most of the current adverts although the site seems borked at the moment as it's not displaying correctly.
There are a number of cars which sell without being advertised at all, so i'd certainly put out a "wanted" advert on PH, and join a few of the TVRCC Facebook groups. A lot of the Berkshire group are active on there too so sign up and say hello
Edited to add: For your budget, don't discount a Tamora. On average they drive even nicer than the mk1 Tuscan's that i've been in, and you'll likely get a better condition car for the money. Underneath they are very similar, and the 3.6 is a peach of an engine in that it really encourages you to get involved at the upper rev range
Here's mine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr_eB-JlDYs
In terms of buying, the market is quite restricted in volume, and quite often you'll find a car sell privately to a dealer and then reappear with quite a large mark up. Depending on dealer, the warranty can come in handy to get a lot of any niggles/issues sorted during the first few months of ownership. if you're set on buying privately then you need to be able to move quickly as the good ones don't hang around long.
Best places are on PH, the TVRCC website, and Autotrader. There's also www.tvr-webmart.co.uk which summarises most of the current adverts although the site seems borked at the moment as it's not displaying correctly.
There are a number of cars which sell without being advertised at all, so i'd certainly put out a "wanted" advert on PH, and join a few of the TVRCC Facebook groups. A lot of the Berkshire group are active on there too so sign up and say hello
Edited to add: For your budget, don't discount a Tamora. On average they drive even nicer than the mk1 Tuscan's that i've been in, and you'll likely get a better condition car for the money. Underneath they are very similar, and the 3.6 is a peach of an engine in that it really encourages you to get involved at the upper rev range
Edited by MrChips on Sunday 31st January 14:53
I happen to have a Mk1 Non S for the very same reason about the looks.
Once the Geo and the Shocks are fiddled with and changed I think the early cars reputation for more wayward handling is un called for.
When I had the original shocks on there there wasn't bump steer as such but it was moving around a little more than I would like on the really bumpy stuff, and thats sorted now.
I will endeavour to make the Peacock Farm meet, I've not had the chance to meet the Berks gang of TVRCC.
I hope its ok to turn up and see if there is any interest in the car within the club before advertising it elsewhere! I've been a member for 4 years but not really been engaged with the Berks / Surrey meets as it's so hard to get to from SW London after work!
Once the Geo and the Shocks are fiddled with and changed I think the early cars reputation for more wayward handling is un called for.
When I had the original shocks on there there wasn't bump steer as such but it was moving around a little more than I would like on the really bumpy stuff, and thats sorted now.
I will endeavour to make the Peacock Farm meet, I've not had the chance to meet the Berks gang of TVRCC.
I hope its ok to turn up and see if there is any interest in the car within the club before advertising it elsewhere! I've been a member for 4 years but not really been engaged with the Berks / Surrey meets as it's so hard to get to from SW London after work!
ok next question:
How does the Tuscan compare to the others?
V8 Cerb, V8 Griff, tamora?
Lots of info im reading on the internet is telling me the engines and clutches last as little as 14k. Is this the case?
Im also reading they are dogged with electrical gremlins, the fit and finish is poor.
I dont mind tinkering and the odd mechanical job but i dont want to be fighting everyweekend for a couple of hours blast.
How does the Tuscan compare to the others?
V8 Cerb, V8 Griff, tamora?
Lots of info im reading on the internet is telling me the engines and clutches last as little as 14k. Is this the case?
Im also reading they are dogged with electrical gremlins, the fit and finish is poor.
I dont mind tinkering and the odd mechanical job but i dont want to be fighting everyweekend for a couple of hours blast.
e46m3c said:
ok next question:
How does the Tuscan compare to the others?
V8 Cerb, V8 Griff, tamora?
Lots of info im reading on the internet is telling me the engines and clutches last as little as 14k. Is this the case?
Im also reading they are dogged with electrical gremlins, the fit and finish is poor.
I dont mind tinkering and the odd mechanical job but i dont want to be fighting everyweekend for a couple of hours blast.
Just sold my MK1 (non S) clutch lasted till 41k but the upgraded replacement (AP racing) was like a hot knife through butter compared to the factoryHow does the Tuscan compare to the others?
V8 Cerb, V8 Griff, tamora?
Lots of info im reading on the internet is telling me the engines and clutches last as little as 14k. Is this the case?
Im also reading they are dogged with electrical gremlins, the fit and finish is poor.
I dont mind tinkering and the odd mechanical job but i dont want to be fighting everyweekend for a couple of hours blast.
I pick up my just purchased MK1 S on the 14th
when I purchased my first Tuscan like you my annual mileage estimate for insurance was 2.5k, after 4 months I hit that number. Changed to 5k, hit that number after 8 months ended up on 8k ist year.. so be careful they are additive as Viagra at an old folks home...
OP, bit late to the party here!
The Tuscan is a great car....if you buy a well loved example.
The clutches can fail after 15K-35K miles....but it's not usually the friction material...it's often the slave cylinder/diaphragm fingers or weak/flattened butterfly springs between the 2 plates.
There are more 'bespoke' electronic 'systems' on the Tuscan (and all T cars) than the Chims/Griffs of the 90's. As such, they are specialist repair...but there is a good network now for doing so. The electronics tend to be fragile from a weather/damp protection point of view....Porsche development it ain't!
They do get under your skin.
They do provoke "thumbs-up" from all genders and age demographic - all over Europe
I've owned mine for 7 years now. It's been to Europe every year - Spa, Le Mans, Nurburgring and Bavaria, Angouleme & general touring, and touch wood, I've always driven home.
They will not have the same 'bulletproof' feel as a BMW....but they will stand out from the crowd and bring a smile to your face when you press the loud pedal.
ETA....in terms of fit and finish...as a hand-built grp car body parts are "altered to fit" on every vehicle. In terms of interior, I'd say it's as good as any high end vehicle. The cabin IS a nice place to be - even after 500 miles in a day driving from Munich to Dijon last year!
Nick
The Tuscan is a great car....if you buy a well loved example.
The clutches can fail after 15K-35K miles....but it's not usually the friction material...it's often the slave cylinder/diaphragm fingers or weak/flattened butterfly springs between the 2 plates.
There are more 'bespoke' electronic 'systems' on the Tuscan (and all T cars) than the Chims/Griffs of the 90's. As such, they are specialist repair...but there is a good network now for doing so. The electronics tend to be fragile from a weather/damp protection point of view....Porsche development it ain't!
They do get under your skin.
They do provoke "thumbs-up" from all genders and age demographic - all over Europe
I've owned mine for 7 years now. It's been to Europe every year - Spa, Le Mans, Nurburgring and Bavaria, Angouleme & general touring, and touch wood, I've always driven home.
They will not have the same 'bulletproof' feel as a BMW....but they will stand out from the crowd and bring a smile to your face when you press the loud pedal.
ETA....in terms of fit and finish...as a hand-built grp car body parts are "altered to fit" on every vehicle. In terms of interior, I'd say it's as good as any high end vehicle. The cabin IS a nice place to be - even after 500 miles in a day driving from Munich to Dijon last year!
Nick
Edited by nawarne on Tuesday 2nd February 10:16
e46m3c said:
ok next question:
How does the Tuscan compare to the others?
V8 Cerb, V8 Griff, tamora?
V8 Cerb: very different beast with the perfect engine.How does the Tuscan compare to the others?
V8 Cerb, V8 Griff, tamora?
Breathtaking look and beautiful coupe.
The most expensive to maintain.
V8 Griff: great, quite simple and reliable allrounder.
Lacks a bit in drama lookswise (compared to Cerb and Tuscan) and doesn´t feel as special.
Feels and probably is much slower. But a very good choice on mountainroads because of huge amounts of torque.
Tamora: Sorry, I can´t stand it lookswise.
I would choose the Tuscan, if had to decide for one TVR only.
It has got that supercar look and power.
The targa version looks equally breathtaking with or without top.
Properly maintained TVRs are quite reliable.
The clutches are not that long lasting on Speed6+8, but mainly because
of sloppy fitting.
Owning a TVR efforts some commitment,
but there is not much out there doing it the way a TVR does.
You would miss a lot if you don´t jump into ownership,
especially as they won´t get any cheaper also.
What milage are people getting out of rebuilt engines? Im in contact with a guy, lovely mk1 s, 4.0 tvr power rebuild in 06, now has 30k on engine.
Ticking time bomb? Im worried rebuilds in 06 were not as fine tuned as rebuilds today. i.e. all the weaknesses might not have been addressed.
Ticking time bomb? Im worried rebuilds in 06 were not as fine tuned as rebuilds today. i.e. all the weaknesses might not have been addressed.
e46m3c said:
What milage are people getting out of rebuilt engines? Im in contact with a guy, lovely mk1 s, 4.0 tvr power rebuild in 06, now has 30k on engine.
Ticking time bomb? Im worried rebuilds in 06 were not as fine tuned as rebuilds today. i.e. all the weaknesses might not have been addressed.
I think there are three Tuscan market categories usually reflected in the asking price.Ticking time bomb? Im worried rebuilds in 06 were not as fine tuned as rebuilds today. i.e. all the weaknesses might not have been addressed.
1. Recent engine rebuilds and valid warranty with it
2. Recent engine rebuilds and no warranty any more
3. No engine rebuild yet or long ago.
Be very very careful because there are often huge differences in the rebuilds
and the amount of work and new parts put into it.
Proper fully rebuilded or upgraded engines with top grade parts can turn out extremely expensive.
Round a track a factory 4.0 Tuscan is faster than a factory 3.6 T350.
Depending when, by who and what parts were used a rebuilt engine is as reliable as a mainstreem one. The 'big boys' test bed lumps are racking up 100k miles and a fair few customer ones are coming to that distance too.
Factory 'rebuilds' vary as to what was done so check the supporting paprework to check what was done. It could have been a top end rebuild or a complete rebuild or a head rebuild.
Taking care to warm them up and checking the oil are the only 'extra' work needed IMHO. That said BMW give similar info as part of their M range cars. What you will find is that TVRs tend to be standing for long periods as they are mainly used for high days and holidays - not all and I have a daily driver TVR before the comments start. So the oil can drain off things more. An accepted tip is to start the car, reve to 1500 and hold for 10-15 secs to help circulate the oil round an 'unstressed' engine.
Depending when, by who and what parts were used a rebuilt engine is as reliable as a mainstreem one. The 'big boys' test bed lumps are racking up 100k miles and a fair few customer ones are coming to that distance too.
Factory 'rebuilds' vary as to what was done so check the supporting paprework to check what was done. It could have been a top end rebuild or a complete rebuild or a head rebuild.
Taking care to warm them up and checking the oil are the only 'extra' work needed IMHO. That said BMW give similar info as part of their M range cars. What you will find is that TVRs tend to be standing for long periods as they are mainly used for high days and holidays - not all and I have a daily driver TVR before the comments start. So the oil can drain off things more. An accepted tip is to start the car, reve to 1500 and hold for 10-15 secs to help circulate the oil round an 'unstressed' engine.
e46m3c said:
minefield eh.
Anyone got tuscan and t350? There is a t350 in netherlands in budget. Worth the extra?
Im in two minds to just buy the lowest priced one i can find, and buget an engine rebuild. the 15k cat c in NL leaves me 10k to get it up to scratch with a fresh warrented engine?
If an engine has had a rebuild by TVR Power in its past, that's about as good as it gets. If it has been looked after since, there is no need to get the thing rebuilt again to be sure!Anyone got tuscan and t350? There is a t350 in netherlands in budget. Worth the extra?
Im in two minds to just buy the lowest priced one i can find, and buget an engine rebuild. the 15k cat c in NL leaves me 10k to get it up to scratch with a fresh warrented engine?
Additionally, buying the lowest priced TVR you can find is not a great idea in any case.
I would always buy the best condition I could find within budget, and with a (full) rebuild by TVR Power, Str8six or Racing Green.
Gassing Station | Tuscan | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff