2006 Tuscan convertible

2006 Tuscan convertible

Author
Discussion

philburch

Original Poster:

209 posts

170 months

Wednesday 29th November 2023
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2006 Tuscan with 27500miles no engine work reported as this is one of the last cars built with as i can gather better components should i be concerned that there could be a big bill just around the corner

LucyP

1,699 posts

60 months

Wednesday 29th November 2023
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If the seller is so confident, then he should take it to someone like Powers Performance, let them inspect the engine, and confirm whether all is fine or whether it's a time-bomb.

Without that, they will never sell it, unless the price of a Powers type rebuild and warranty has already been deducted from the asking price.

It's a time bomb until proved otherwise, given the history of these engines.

glow worm

5,870 posts

228 months

Wednesday 29th November 2023
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Is that the Transite Blue one from James Agger ? I think it should have been cared for if C4PNE owned it and Hexham Horseless would have serviced it . You can never guaranteed a big bill won't hit you with any car , but no reason to believe this one would. I think the price is very fair for the mileage and the spec... being an "S" . The VIN is 1050 in 2006 mine is 1061 , so a March/April car in 2006 , IIRC correctly I saw it in build at the factory..
You will find it on the register https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Lucy is talking bks with no personal experience

philburch

Original Poster:

209 posts

170 months

Wednesday 29th November 2023
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That's the car looks really clean and well looked after being one of the last cars people say the build quality is better

glow worm

5,870 posts

228 months

Wednesday 29th November 2023
quotequote all
There ae a few mods I would recommend , improvements that have occurred over the last nearly 20 years :-
i) Upgraded half time bearing
ii) Improved engine chain guide
iii) upgraded MBE ECU with anti knock sensors
iv) change diff to 4:73 ratio... i doubt it with have a Close Ratio gearbox and 4:91 diff ,which it should have since it's an S , but TVR didn't have the bits in 2006 so it's usually standard that was supplied.

I got Dom to rebuild mine as 4.5 Super Sport over 10 years ago , only because i wanted more torque at low revs and I had a bit of chain noise.

philburch

Original Poster:

209 posts

170 months

Wednesday 29th November 2023
quotequote all
thank's for the advice have a Tamora with Powers 4-3 rebuild just have an itch for the Tuscan

Bullitt 1

31 posts

10 months

Wednesday 29th November 2023
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philburch said:
thank's for the advice have a Tamora with Powers 4-3 rebuild just have an itch for the Tuscan
Had mine for 14 years, best car I ever owned, wish I never sold it, I have emailed James Agger
4 times about this car but he has never got back to me…

robsco

7,838 posts

177 months

Wednesday 29th November 2023
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James isn’t great with phone and email, which isn’t ideal. Keep chasing him smile

glow worm

5,870 posts

228 months

Wednesday 29th November 2023
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philburch said:
thank's for the advice have a Tamora with Powers 4-3 rebuild just have an itch for the Tuscan
I think you'll find the convertible boot a great plus compared to a Tamora .... it's like a bottomless pit smile and it's a prettier rear smile
But I still prefer my Chims roof in the boot option , hugging the petrol tank is more practical that it lying flat .

s6boy

1,629 posts

226 months

Thursday 30th November 2023
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Lucy, you do make me laugh and despair in equal measure. In more sober moments you do sometimes make good points....so assume may not be sober?


Gladers01

596 posts

49 months

Thursday 30th November 2023
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glow worm said:
There ae a few mods I would recommend , improvements that have occurred over the last nearly 20 years :-
i) Upgraded half time bearing
ii) Improved engine chain guide
iii) upgraded MBE ECU with anti knock sensors
iv) change diff to 4:73 ratio... i doubt it with have a Close Ratio gearbox and 4:91 diff ,which it should have since it's an S , but TVR didn't have the bits in 2006 so it's usually standard that was supplied.

I got Dom to rebuild mine as 4.5 Super Sport over 10 years ago , only because i wanted more torque at low revs and I had a bit of chain noise.
Are you sure about the diff ratios? Mine had the 3:46 fitted as standard (non S) and worked well on the road, another Tuscan had the 3:73 fitted and the acceleration was noticeably quicker, on a par with a stabbed Cheetah on performance enhancing drugs, the only downside being it revved higher in 5th on the motorway, both had the standard gearbox fitted smile

LucyP

1,699 posts

60 months

Thursday 30th November 2023
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s6boy - How many rebuilds has your Tuscan had? Any in your ownership or were they all before you bought the car? Who did the rebuild(s)?

If you went to look at a house built in the early 21st century, and 90% of the properties on the estate had suffered from subsidence at some point, some of which had been fixed more than once by the builder, who had long gone bust, would you happily buy that house, pay the full asking price, and take the risk? Or would you walk away; or ask for a report into possible subsidence; or ask for a discount to cover the risk of having to address the subsidence?


NicBowman

785 posts

239 months

Thursday 30th November 2023
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Hi, I have to lean towards Lucy in this case. Some engines last well. Most don’t. Unfortunately this is not conjecture, it is an easily proved fact. I looked at Tuscans and T350s before going for a 3000s.

The straight six engine got better later on, so that is on your side. But, they are prone to cranks breaking and finger followers failing. The risk of a £10k bill with an unrestored engine is real, percentage likelihood, who knows, 50:50? After looking at many many cars and trawling ads I decided I didn’t like the engine that much and wasn’t prepared to take the risk.

As an example Amore sold a Sagaris with low miles, it broke its crank within 10 miles after collection by the customer. Several owners have had more than one rebuild. £10k bill might be optimistic…

You pays your money you takes your choice, but realistically no one should tell you the engines are a sure fire reliable item, the evidence is very clearly to the opposite.

In saying that James Agger only sells good cars, in my experience. But even he can’t guarantee future engine issues.

Best


Nic

philburch

Original Poster:

209 posts

170 months

Thursday 30th November 2023
quotequote all
Thank you for every ones thoughts would probably struggle to sell the Tamora any way ,market is not good at the moment, trade in prices are not normally very generous maybe i should be happy with what i have got I have these mad thoughts at times

glow worm

5,870 posts

228 months

Thursday 30th November 2023
quotequote all
Gladers01 said:
glow worm said:
There ae a few mods I would recommend , improvements that have occurred over the last nearly 20 years :-
i) Upgraded half time bearing
ii) Improved engine chain guide
iii) upgraded MBE ECU with anti knock sensors
iv) change diff to 4:73 ratio... i doubt it with have a Close Ratio gearbox and 4:91 diff ,which it should have since it's an S , but TVR didn't have the bits in 2006 so it's usually standard that was supplied.

I got Dom to rebuild mine as 4.5 Super Sport over 10 years ago , only because i wanted more torque at low revs and I had a bit of chain noise.
Are you sure about the diff ratios? Mine had the 3:46 fitted as standard (non S) and worked well on the road, another Tuscan had the 3:73 fitted and the acceleration was noticeably quicker, on a par with a stabbed Cheetah on performance enhancing drugs, the only downside being it revved higher in 5th on the motorway, both had the standard gearbox fitted smile
Loss of grey cells ... meant 3:73 and 3:91 ... but i found the 3:73 much nicer , also went back to the old style diff flange and shorter prop shaft... and got rid of the diff shunt.

s6boy

1,629 posts

226 months

Friday 1st December 2023
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Lucy, my '04 3.6 is on 95k miles, bought a year old on the original engine at just over 3k.
Head replaced about 12 years ago due to detonation caused by rubbish fuel/very hot day/getting ragged by an idiot who knew better! Replacement courtesy of a rebuilt part from Dom. Half time bearing done at the same time as it made sense while the engine was out.
Clutch replaced at about 75k as the slave had given up. Still kicking myself as the original was still in excellent shape (Mat Smith for corroboration if needed) so should have kept it in.
Two alternators and two batteries. Plus lots of servicing.
Driven in all weathers with several trips to Italy including 1100 miles in a day and hoping to break the 100k mark before its 20th birthday on a trip down to northern Spain. Often driven very hard so who know what will happen between now and then?

Regarding post c21 estates I hate the cloned architecture so would never look at one in the first place. Not something you can say about TVRs' smile

As you asked that's my real world experience, now I am interested to hear about yours?


astonman

791 posts

211 months

Friday 1st December 2023
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I think overall,the shorter stroke 3.6 engine is more intrinsically sound,with the standard component materials etc.
Add that to a later build date,and they were/ are more reliable.Never any guarantees,see various Porsche and BMW issues.

8Speed

731 posts

67 months

Friday 1st December 2023
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s6boy said:
Lucy,

As you asked that's my real world experience, now I am interested to hear about yours?
scratchchin



ratboiler

437 posts

192 months

Monday 11th December 2023
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I had a 2006 Tuscan S Convertible which I sold not long ago, having owned it for 12 years.
The later models were far more reliable engine wise and have to say mine never let me down. I had minor issues with the speedo, heater matrix, and reversing light but all sorted easily.
The convertible S is a great eye catcher, but my F type R is more in line with my age now.

so called

9,090 posts

210 months

Monday 11th December 2023
quotequote all
I've had my 2006 non-S Tuscan Convertible 14 years now.
It's on 87k miles now having done many trips in Europe.
Just had a 12k service and given a clean bill of health.

In contrast, my 2000 Tuscan Mk1 had a Factory rebuild at 35k miles and then again at 70k miles when I bought it.