New owner joining the fold.

[robsco]

Hello all.

Looking forward to collecting my new Tuscan, hopefully in time for the BNG. It is a lovely example in BMW Estoril Blue, 1 owner from new and 28k miles. My current 1997 4.2 Cerbera is making way for it, so I'm all too familiar with the TVR foibles! The car will be provided by the best boys in the business, Track V Road, so I'm hoping to have many happy miles in the old girl.



http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4059928.htm

One question I could do with answering is this... Can somebody identify the exact name of the colour of the carpets photographed below? The ones in mine are currently grey, but have been sun and/or heat damaged as per usual, so she'll be getting a full recarpeting prior to collection. I think I'm decided on this colour here with Portland binding to match the seats, but feel free to add any ideas if anyone has another suggestion.



Thanks.

[robsco]

No rebuild that we know of Ropps. It was serviced at the factory up to its closure, so there's nothing to say it hasn't had a factory rebuild and TVR have given no paperwork for it, as usual. Obviously it's safer to work on the proviso that it hasn't.

[robsco]

Hi Robert, thanks for the welcome. Strange, I got the impression that the Tuscan was a bigger car, despite the shorter wheelbase and 2 seats. It just looks more bulbous. I'm looking forward to spending some time with the car and comparing how living with each car differs. Immediately the Tuscan feels better finished inside, everything feels more modern etc. The engine also seems more urgent, although that could be more to do with my familiarity with the Cerbera's power delivery. I understand what you mean about the Cerb, they do test you physically when driving. After a run of more than a few hours or a couple of hundred miles, the first thing I end up doing usually is having a nap.

The first phase of the Tuscan process is underway. She's gone to the trimmer today for the new carpets fitting in the above colour (Oxford Blue). Should look the bees knees when complete.

[robsco]

Thanks Colin. I spoke to Dave on the telephone yesterday. When you say the speedo wasn't working, you mean the reading or the odometer? It's only got 28500 showing on the clock now.

[robsco]

A slim, handsome (bespectacled) man in his early 20s? That would have been me.

[robsco]

Now then Graham. Yes we'll be there all being well. I'll PM you my number if you want to have a look around it. We missed each other at the last meet.

Verminator, I'll keep the thread updated.

[robsco]

Some photos at last.

[robsco]

Tricky to say really, as they're both completely different cars. The Tuscan is certainly the easier of the two to drive and live with. Little things like proper heaters, brighter headlights, better windscreen wipers, improved build quality, and all the things we take for granted in the "dailys". The Tuscan also feels quicker, and rather surprisingly, feels marginally more urgent from lower revs. That said, I'm torn. For all the Cerbera's flaws (of which it has many), it had an indescribable something which I can't put my finger on. The fact that a 100 mile drive in the Cerb left me tired out and aching almost added to its appeal in a strange sense.

The last drive in the Cerbera was an 80 mile journey to collect the Tuscan. During it, I had no windscreen wipers as the motor had burnt out, and it was pissing it down. Through the motorway speed limits, the Rain-X did its job just fine. Through the average 50 zones, there I was, hanging out of the window with a waterblade every 30 seconds to clear my view. And that kind of sums the Cerb up for me. It was never ever a boring car, and although the bloody thing had me pulling my hair out sometimes, everything we did, we did together somehow.

Not sure whether the bond will be so strong with the Tuscan, but only time will tell...

[robsco]

Cockey, I'm actually quite keen on the orange indicators on this car, but who knows. Interesting you mention the expense of the side repeaters... Aren't they only MK3 Fiesta? As for the fronts, they're just military Land Rover reverse lights like the Cerb, about 25 quid for the pair.

Edited by robsco on Wednesday 10th October 19:22

[robsco]

Thanks Cockey. One other thing I forgot to mention are the brakes. They are absolutely phenomenal; the pedal feels so solid under your foot. Without wanting to sound like a Dicky Meaden wannabe, I genuinely enjoy the feeling transmitted through the pedal under braking. I imagine it's similar to what unservo'd brakes feel like.

[robsco]

Hi Toady. No, I part-exchanged it with Track V Road in the end as there was not a great deal of interest from the Classifieds. I think the words "needs outriggers" scared a lot of people off, naturally.