Speed Six engine rebuild - When should I start worrying?
Discussion
Hi all
I am about to venture into buying a Tuscan, the cars I have found that suit my budget all have mileage between 30-39,000. After contacting the owners and finding that the car themselves have been regularly serviced, but no major engine work has taken place. Also, they said oil pressures and temperatures are fine and consistent.
I think by the time I sell this car next summer, I shall be putting about 5000 miles on the clock. I was just wondering, is there any particular trend in mileage for when the speed six engine needs a rebuild? Should I be expecting it to happen to me during 30-45,000 miles - (bearing in mind i wont be thrashing the engine on track days etc...)
Cheers
Alex
I am about to venture into buying a Tuscan, the cars I have found that suit my budget all have mileage between 30-39,000. After contacting the owners and finding that the car themselves have been regularly serviced, but no major engine work has taken place. Also, they said oil pressures and temperatures are fine and consistent.
I think by the time I sell this car next summer, I shall be putting about 5000 miles on the clock. I was just wondering, is there any particular trend in mileage for when the speed six engine needs a rebuild? Should I be expecting it to happen to me during 30-45,000 miles - (bearing in mind i wont be thrashing the engine on track days etc...)
Cheers
Alex
rule of thumb is engines after 2003/4 were built with better components, however, if an engine is serviced regularly and warmed up properly then you`ll find a lot of cars with the early engines with no problems at all.
if its an early engined car then you could get some reassurance by looking for one for sale thats had an engine rebuild, and also check who carried the work out, plus get someone reputable to check it over for you.
if its an early engined car then you could get some reassurance by looking for one for sale thats had an engine rebuild, and also check who carried the work out, plus get someone reputable to check it over for you.
Targarama said:
So you want one with a rebuild at a non-rebuild price. Hmm.
No that is not what I mean. I want one that has been serviced regularly and is in good condition. My question was - for the TVR Tuscan, is there a mileage when these cars need an engine rebuild? I.e. when they get to 40,000, 8/10 tuscans need/dont need a full engine rebuild.
I would look at the service history and see where the last 12K service was done, if it was one of the big 3 "TVR Power, Racing Green, or Str8six" I would give them a call and see if they can shed some light on the car. They might be able to tell you if the shiming is at the limit or if they have advised additional work that the owner didn't take up. If the 12K service was done elsewhere I would be more inclined to give it a miss just for my own peace of mind. Milage is no guarantee of condition. High milage motorway driving or low milage track day car which would you buy?
ktm301p said:
No that is not what I mean. I want one that has been serviced regularly and is in good condition.
My question was - for the TVR Tuscan, is there a mileage when these cars need an engine rebuild? I.e. when they get to 40,000, 8/10 tuscans need/dont need a full engine rebuild.
50-60k miles. Not many Speed Sixes get past 50-60k without having had a rebuild - often because the owner wants to refresh before being let down. Just as you are thinking during your purchase process, many prospective buyers will be factoring in possible engine work into any offer price.My question was - for the TVR Tuscan, is there a mileage when these cars need an engine rebuild? I.e. when they get to 40,000, 8/10 tuscans need/dont need a full engine rebuild.
If you get one that hasn't been rebuilt, and have Dom at TVR Power look at it, he may be prepared to sell you a warranty, which will give you peace of mind.
My 2000 car was rebuilt at 42k miles a few months before I bought it.
You also need to check if the clutch has been replaced and the usual detailed inspection an 11 year old car will need.
IMO higher mileage cars without a rebuild give more confidence (they have gone that far whilst many have had rebuilds at 15k miles) and use seems to be good for the cars.
My 2000 car was rebuilt at 42k miles a few months before I bought it.
You also need to check if the clutch has been replaced and the usual detailed inspection an 11 year old car will need.
IMO higher mileage cars without a rebuild give more confidence (they have gone that far whilst many have had rebuilds at 15k miles) and use seems to be good for the cars.
Getsis said:
I would look at the service history and see where the last 12K service was done, if it was one of the big 3 "TVR Power, Racing Green, or Str8six" I would give them a call and see if they can shed some light on the car. They might be able to tell you if the shiming is at the limit or if they have advised additional work that the owner didn't take up. If the 12K service was done elsewhere I would be more inclined to give it a miss just for my own peace of mind. Milage is no guarantee of condition. High milage motorway driving or low milage track day car which would you buy?
^^ That's a good call.I guess short of stripping the engine down to inspect components, the best you could hope for is to take it to the "big 3" mentioned above and get them to check valve clearances and conduct compression/leak down tests on each cylinder. (Don't know if any of them do endoscopy - or wether this would tell you much more)
If the car has been serviced to schedule - and shows good oil pressure with sensible temps when hot then it should be a fair punt. Usual caveats on using eyes and ears when viewing.
Nick
nawarne said:
^^ That's a good call.
I guess short of stripping the engine down to inspect components, the best you could hope for is to take it to the "big 3" mentioned above and get them to check valve clearances and conduct compression/leak down tests on each cylinder. (Don't know if any of them do endoscopy - or wether this would tell you much more)
If the car has been serviced to schedule - and shows good oil pressure with sensible temps when hot then it should be a fair punt. Usual caveats on using eyes and ears when viewing.
Nick
I think in the TVR market you will have to pay the extra for a car in good condition..and pay even more for the peace of mind of a warranty or a previous rebuild. A warranty will only be offered on a car that is well known to a dealer and is a safe bet..I guess short of stripping the engine down to inspect components, the best you could hope for is to take it to the "big 3" mentioned above and get them to check valve clearances and conduct compression/leak down tests on each cylinder. (Don't know if any of them do endoscopy - or wether this would tell you much more)
If the car has been serviced to schedule - and shows good oil pressure with sensible temps when hot then it should be a fair punt. Usual caveats on using eyes and ears when viewing.
Nick
A cheap TVR is always a risk, so if you cannot afford it now..perhaps you should reconsider your choice of brand..
TVR's offer supercar performance..but they should not be viewed as a low budget buy and annual running cost should be factored in at around £3,000
PipeNslippers said:
I think in the TVR market you will have to pay the extra for a car in good condition..and pay even more for the peace of mind of a warranty or a previous rebuild. A warranty will only be offered on a car that is well known to a dealer and is a safe bet..
A cheap TVR is always a risk, so if you cannot afford it now..perhaps you should reconsider your choice of brand..
TVR's offer supercar performance..but they should not be viewed as a low budget buy and annual running cost should be factored in at around £3,000
To an extent, I agree with you. However the Cerbera that I currently own was bought on a low budget, and I have had no engine worries or any major mechanical faults for that matter. Only now at 30,000miles is it needing a clutch replacement. Apart from the running costs, having a TVR is definitely feasible on a low budget. You just need to find the right one . . . A cheap TVR is always a risk, so if you cannot afford it now..perhaps you should reconsider your choice of brand..
TVR's offer supercar performance..but they should not be viewed as a low budget buy and annual running cost should be factored in at around £3,000
Getsis said:
I would look at the service history and see where the last 12K service was done, if it was one of the big 3 "TVR Power, Racing Green, or Str8six" I would give them a call and see if they can shed some light on the car. They might be able to tell you if the shiming is at the limit or if they have advised additional work that the owner didn't take up. If the 12K service was done elsewhere I would be more inclined to give it a miss just for my own peace of mind. Milage is no guarantee of condition. High milage motorway driving or low milage track day car which would you buy?
Good idea, thanks. It will be the next question I ask. Mine was purchased at 29K miles and is now approaching 51K, four and a half years later.... no rebuild yet.
I think you can become obsessed with finding a car with a rebuild but you might be better off finding a nice one without imho.
If you are in to ownership for the long haul then this is a much better option than having someone else spec your rebuild just to be able to sell it with the word 'rebuild' in the history.
I would prefer a rebuild on my watch at which point, you have the choice of what to do and then you know personally how it has been done.
You will find just as many out there without a rebuild that will go on for a good while yet as you will find cars that have had a rebuild and in some cases had more than one.
Buy on condition, there are no guarantees and enjoy it while it lasts, if/when it does let go, then time to go shopping.....
Bob
p.s. I also wouldn't only look at ones serviced at the so called big 3, there are plenty of good smaller independent places out that there that are doing an excellent job of keeping our cars on the road. It is better for all us owners to make sure that they all keep going....
I think you can become obsessed with finding a car with a rebuild but you might be better off finding a nice one without imho.
If you are in to ownership for the long haul then this is a much better option than having someone else spec your rebuild just to be able to sell it with the word 'rebuild' in the history.
I would prefer a rebuild on my watch at which point, you have the choice of what to do and then you know personally how it has been done.
You will find just as many out there without a rebuild that will go on for a good while yet as you will find cars that have had a rebuild and in some cases had more than one.
Buy on condition, there are no guarantees and enjoy it while it lasts, if/when it does let go, then time to go shopping.....
Bob
p.s. I also wouldn't only look at ones serviced at the so called big 3, there are plenty of good smaller independent places out that there that are doing an excellent job of keeping our cars on the road. It is better for all us owners to make sure that they all keep going....
fat80b said:
p.s. I also wouldn't only look at ones serviced at the so called big 3, there are plenty of good smaller independent places out that there that are doing an excellent job of keeping our cars on the road. It is better for all us owners to make sure that they all keep going....
+1TrackVRoad always have beautiful cars with great history and are some of the best guys to deal with in the TVR world.
RedSpike66 said:
fat80b said:
p.s. I also wouldn't only look at ones serviced at the so called big 3, there are plenty of good smaller independent places out that there that are doing an excellent job of keeping our cars on the road. It is better for all us owners to make sure that they all keep going....
+1TrackVRoad always have beautiful cars with great history and are some of the best guys to deal with in the TVR world.
The 'big 3' may well be the best guys for rebuilds but there are plenty of independents (or former dealers) with huge experience who may be better/more convenient/more local/cheaper for the more regular servicing jobs. For 16 years and 300,000 TVR miles I've used the guys at Bespoke in Ware (formerly the TVR Centre in Barnet) for all my work and will continue to recommend them. And if you do end up needing a rebuild they'll sort it out with Power for you. As I'm sure many quality independents around the country would too.
RedSpike66 said:
+1
TrackVRoad always have beautiful cars with great history and are some of the best guys to deal with in the TVR world.
Plus Dom at TVR power also lets others do the services required to keep the warrenty intact on his rebuilds.TrackVRoad always have beautiful cars with great history and are some of the best guys to deal with in the TVR world.
When i got mine i had a little bit more than your budget but not the full 17-22k it seems you need for a fully sorted car.
Anyway, i found one which had just been given a rebuild, new suspension,clutch and lots of random little things. The downside was the interior was very tatty and the bodywork while looking stunning does have quite a few stonechips.
My car had been used as a daily driver hence the stone chips and tatty interior.
After owning the car Since April and still being in love with it i have decided to get the interior re trimmed (everything except the roll bars) in leather and alcantara, then next year if funds allow i'll get it painted.
For me though the main thing was reliability and this car certainly is that and has power warrenty so its good. What i'm saying is you may find a recently rebuilt car for near to your budget (not 13k imo) but may need some tlc to get it up to condition.
m3jappa said:
For me though the main thing was reliability and this car certainly is that and has power warrenty so its good. What i'm saying is you may find a recently rebuilt car for near to your budget (not 13k imo) but may need some tlc to get it up to condition.
Thanks, that is the general conclusion I have come to now. There are a few I have seen and will check out in more detail. I will let you all know how it goes, whether we get one now or decide to wait a bit longer and keep the Cerbera.
Thanks again
Alex
blueg33 said:
There is a Reflex Spice one on Ebay at the moment. I know the car and it's owner is known on here. Its a very good one, TVR Power rebuild, Rob Ingleby inspected. Previous owner really looked after it and it has reams of paperwork.
No - I am not being paid by the owner
Is this the one with a 'buy it now' price of £16,500?No - I am not being paid by the owner
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