Swapping to a similar car, am i crazy?

[MrChips]

Having seen a post on one of the FB groups of someone swapping out of a T350T into a Tamora, it got me thinking about changing mine. I've had it for just over 5yrs, and have slowly over time carried out almost every single upgrade that would normally be on someone's list (4.3, nitrons, brakes, exhaust, CF airbox, the list goes on and on)....

The driver of me wanting to change.. well a little bit due to the amount of rattles my car has now developed over the years but mainly colour..I fancy something different, preferable reflex charcoal or dark fantasy, and preferably a full convertible of some sort (either Tuscan or Tamora).

So, am i mad? If it were a BMW or Audi etc then i'd have no hesitation, but having got to know my own car over the years, would I regret it just swapping for another one? Given the upgrades on mine, it's unlikely i'd find a straight swap so would effectively be accepting a car without as much time/money spent on it.

Anyone on here changed to another TVR similar to their old one? Any regrets?

[QBee]

Suggest you contact Mac on the Chimaera forums. His very low mileage, immaculate, highly sorted, turbo Chimaera (550 bhp) may be available, possibly even as a straight swap.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[m4tti]

The problem is contrary to popular belief after (roughly) September 2001 they're all the same car except the sagaris, just with a different skin.

There's nothing to say that any other car you swap for won't rattle. You've done enough to make it a tricky place to be if wanting to get in another speee six Tvr. You know the engines been rebuilt and how it was treated post rebuild. Sometimes it's better the devil you know.

If you were leaving Tvr's for a bit, then that's a different decision.

[so called]

Your Tuscan looks fantastic and a great colour.
I've moved from a Tasmin to a Chimaera which was a great move.
Then bought a mk1 Tuscan which turned out to need a rebuild and forced the sale of my Chimaera but when sorted, I was delighted with the change.
A wrote that Tuscan off and when looking for a replacement test drove a Tamora.
I thought it felt really well planted compared to my Tuscan BUT the boot was way to small for me.and my Wife was I distant I got another Tuscan.
In fact, my Wife then set about finding my next, a convertible, which I was again delighted with. Apart from getting my hands on a convertible, I was delighted with the improved build quality.

I think one problem that you have to consider is the build quality.
You have a 2005 Tuscan which, I think it's generally agreed, the last two years production produced better finished cars.

You could do what I did a couple of years ago and go for a re-spray and retrim.
What are your rattles?
Mines on 70k miles now and no rattles. Squeaky shocker but no rattles.

Edited by so called on Monday 20th February 00:04

[phazed]

I remember meeting you at Odiham soon after you bought the Tuscan. Pipped me at the post!

http://youtu.be/xUWNKEgrwPk

Apart from that, no advise apart from now and then we need a change...............

[glenrobbo]

I had an early S Series and after 5 years bought an S3c, but kept them both.
My daughter wanted to know why I had bought an identical car to the one I already had??? .
The two cars are the same shape and similar shades of blue, but that's where the similarity ends. They are completely different under the skin and the way they perform, sound and handle. I love them both.

I would say keep your Tuscan and sort out the rattles. You will struggle to get a car that someone has fully sorted to the same standard as yours.

For a change of colour, have you considered a wrap?
Good luck whatever you decide OP.

[pb450]

Better the devil you know! If you changed, you could find it's a major step back. In which case you'd have to spend more than you anticipated getting it how you want it. Argueably a little pointless. That's a highly respectable looking Tuscan from your profile pic and if I'm not mistaken, the subject of a multi-page spread in Sprint last year?

So... in my opinion, if you have these feelings - and the rattles would drive me nuts, always have, ask my wife - I'd suggest to invest some time and money 'tightening up' your car. As you say, you have most upgrades already, so you'd never find a similar spec'd car - and it would probably rattle! (But not on the test drive.) Getting rid of those rattles could well give This Tuscan a whole new lease of life for you.

Failing that, give it to me! I'd give you my very nice 450 Chimaera (everything done) in return!

[LeeHodges]

I did a similar thing, I'd had my Griffith for 16 years and had fancied a change for a S6 car for at least the last 5 of that. In the end, I bought a lovely Tamora with a plan to sell the Griff. However, I couldn't part with it (it's a cliche but it really is a part of the family). Hence the parking lift going into my garage soon!



I guess it's easier to justify for me as the two cars are different beasts in terms of engine, etc.

[ochten]

What about swapping to another Brand? f.e a BMW Z4 M; Nissan 270Z or SLK AMG? I would swap it only for a Aston Martin Vantage N 430. ( Manuel Aston; green with Yellow nose) but far to expensive for me!
So keep the Tuscan for another 10years.

[Jurgen Schmidt]

If the funds and space permit, just by a second one, as I did.
Now that I have two, when I'm asked if I had to choose between the Tuscan or Griffith, I simply can't... so, as it turns out, swapping was clearly not an option for me.
At least by purchasing a 2nd to sit alongside, you can make a rational choice. However, swapping and then regretting leaves no way back...
Just my thoughts...
Good luck!

[QBee]

I need a nice, bright, shiny Tuscan for car show days and a Chimaera for track days.
If I can ever afford the Tuscan, it certainly won't be at the expense of the Chimaera.

[ochten]

For the price of a new LE TVR you have 2 Tuscan,s, one Chimaera and a Wedge + trailer for Trackdays.

[MrChips]

LeeHodges said:

I guess it's easier to justify for me as the two cars are different beasts in terms of engine, etc.

See that pic just makes me want to buy a chameleon green Tam

It's a really odd position to be in, budget doesn't get anywhere close to buying another car, and I suspect if it did I'd be off to search for a gallardo.

The upgrades to mine won't increase the value to anywhere close to what they've cost me I know, and I think I'd be the first to be pissed off if I bought another and needed to spend the same money/time doing it all again.

I had a quote for a retrim a year ago and it was quite a few thousand, plus I've struggled to find someone to tackle my service bonnet alignment, so in combination with the rattles I think I'm just feeling like the car has lost its mojo, even though all the ingredients are there.

I spent a long while sorting some of the rattles and squeaks with some good results but it's still the rear window, roof, doors and one major one in the dash. Basically if I drive over a bump in the road, the whole car sounds like it's jangling around!

If I could give someone a few hundred quid and get back a car that feels similar to when I first bought it then I think that would do the trick

[MrChips]

phazed said:

I remember meeting you at Odiham soon after you bought the Tuscan. Pipped me at the post!

http://youtu.be/xUWNKEgrwPk

Apart from that, no advise apart from now and then we need a change...............

I wish they still ran those days at odiham!! I remember that one as your car launches like a rocket whilst I'm still looking at the lights

[phazed]

MrChips said:

I wish they still ran those days at odiham!! I remember that one as your car launches like a rocket whilst I'm still looking at the lights

You set a really good time in the end, I just looked it up, 12.28 seconds. I have got mine down to 11.83 at the moment but don't plan to better that due to wear and tear, ha ha.