A sad day…

[Robertjp]

I have just SORN’d the Tuscan for 12 months

Given the sunshine outside right now I am pretty upset about it too!!

2nd little one arrives in 1 month today …. and so I wanted to get all of this sorted before arrival. In the first year of my 1st little ones arrival I only managed to get out 4 times in the Tuscan, so I figured I couldn’t justify the running costs for 4 journeys, or less , this time round with a 2 year old girl AND a newborn!!

The plus side…I am still planning on keeping her (the Tuscan that is ) and this was really a choice of sell or store, and as I have always viewed her as a keeper, it was the only choice really.

So….will be around these forums a little less and Tuscanless for a while, just wanted to share my pain….

All the best
Rob

[TimJM]

That sucks. Is it time to go back to a Cerbera so you can take the little ones out. Your old cerb was the only thing that would stop my little boy from crying when he was a newborn. The missus didn't mind me going out for a drive with him as it meant she could get some sleep.

I have a Recardo Start seat that fits in the back of a Cerbera...


Does sorn'ing the car save much money? Is it just the car tax that is saved (£25 a month) or am I missing something?

[scotty_d]

Sad times but nice as well with a new member joining the clan. Mine is on sorn as it is every winter but for some tinkering and fettle time

[SAGTAFF]

I've done exactly the same timing with the Sagaris owing to the arrival of our new little boy - imagine it being off the road for 18 months but something to look forward too!!

[Robertjp]

TimJM said:

That sucks. Is it time to go back to a Cerbera so you can take the little ones out. Your old cerb was the only thing that would stop my little boy from crying when he was a newborn. The missus didn't mind me going out for a drive with him as it meant she could get some sleep.

I have a Recardo Start seat that fits in the back of a Cerbera...


Does sorn'ing the car save much money? Is it just the car tax that is saved (£25 a month) or am I missing something?

Hi tim,

Hmmm....i did look a the classifieds just recently, but it was just a passive glance rather than serious interest....i have put far too much into the Tuscan now to consider 'swapping'...unless im forced!

You're right - car tax itself wont save me anything big, but servicing and maintenance will be the main saving, it all adds up. I also dont want to be spending any time on it knowing my other half is looking after the two little ones on her own - the guilt would be too much! Once we get the hard bit done, i.e. the first 6 months, it becomes easier. It has been difficult finding time just to WASH the Tuscan lately!!!

At the 6 month point im hoping i will get some time to clean the chassis down and install all new nuts and bolt i have waiting, get the ARB's and diff powdercoated, ready for spring back on the road...

[TimJM]

Robertjp said:

I also don’t want to be spending any time on it knowing my other half is looking after the two little ones on her own - the guilt would be too much!

Luckily I don't suffer with guilt.

I guess everyone if different - for me, I know I am a better father and husband if once a week I go out just for an hour or two in my TVR. I come back happy, excited and relaxed and ready to spend the afternoon with the kids.

Just after my second child first arrived and I was in-between TVRs I spent about 2 years trying to spend all my time helping out but all that happened was I spent my time shouting at the kids and arguing with the wife. I was spending every hour of the week working, every evening trying to help with the kids and every weekend spending "family time" pretending I was happy. I was in fact miserable and couldn't see the point carrying on with it all, you need some time for yourself.

So, I bought another TVR and I can honestly say it may be responsible for saving my marriage (I should be a counsellor with advice like this). My wife wasn't too happy with the cost at first (and the fact I nearly killed myself in the cerbera) but I just pointed out how unhappy I was and that I didn't think we would be together for very long if I didn't have an escape and some time to myself.

2 years later and things have never been better. If fact when I am a bit grumpy or pissed of with work/life/kids my wife often says "Why don't you go out in your car for a few hours". I do and then the world seems like a good place again. Maybe I am just easily pleased but a few hours cruising around with no place to go does it for me, I feel more relaxed when I get back than if I have been on a holiday.

As I said though - we are all different and putting your family first is admirable...but for me putting my family first would have resulted in seperation and no having a family.


I give you 4 months...come spring I expect to see a message on here about taxing the car and what a wonderful spring days drive you have just had! Failing that - how about I pop round in the Griff one of the sunny spring days and take you out for a quick pint!

Take care mate.

Tim.

[Robertjp]

I was a PITA when the Cerb went, hence the Tuscan as soon as i could afford it!!!

I was miserable, checking the classifieds every day, looking for a way to fund another TVR! Finally got there and i really dont want to let it go, put way too much time and effort in to do it again and there will never be a justification to have one whilst kids are around!

Some rows inevitable about keeping it and not 'giving it up for the kids'

Will be tough next year though ... leaving her in the garage on Sunny days!!!

[Gazzab]

Keep it on the road. Use it when you have an excuse ie do the supermarket run, pop out for milk etc

[broadside]

My Daughter was 4 when I got my 450SE. Nine months after buying the TVR the wife at the time was pregnant with my son. The TVR was brilliant for taking him out for a blast in his baby seat on a Sunday afternoon. The V8 had him sleeping very quickly and on one occasion he fell asleep before I got to the end of the Cul-de sac!! It gave me some "me" time and I was with my boy and giving the missus a break too ....what's not to like!!
Advice from me is to Sorn your Tuscan over winter then get out and about with your new child in it as often as you can......it will keep you sane!!

[gerradiuk]

Dont forget you have to stop the insurance now as well while its SORNED.

[LuckyLucky]

Robertjp said:

Will be tough next year though ... leaving her in the garage on Sunny days!!!

I was just thinking that was a good idea,.........then I realised you didn't mean your wife!

I'm with the "keep the tiv on the road" crowd.

I have 4 children, some grown up now but still at home!
There was very little time when the children were young and I didn't have an outside interest, keeps you sane.
Believe me, when you have been out for the day or a whole weekend with your mates, (off road trail biking or track days in my case) the whole family thing comes together nicely!

[Tasmin200]

gerradiuk said:

Dont forget you have to stop the insurance now as well while its SORNED.

You can still insure it when it's SORNED, that way it's still covered for theft etc.

[Tonto]

gerradiuk said:

Dont forget you have to stop the insurance now as well while its SORNED.

[Druid]

Tasmin200 said:

You can MUST still insure it when it's SORNED, that way it's still covered for theft etc.

[Robertjp]

Yeah, still going to insure her!!! Lay up cover is only around £20 a month it would be foolish not too.

Maybe i will bring her back on the road in Summer next year, will see how things are going.

I fear that even if we find we are comfortable financially this may be a bit more of a battle of the opinion that i will have my 'escape' leaving other half without one in the early / difficult months...

[LuckyLucky]

Ground rules mate, men and women are different!

[TimJM]

Robertjp said:

Yeah, still going to insure her!!! Lay up cover is only around £20 a month it would be foolish not too.

Maybe i will bring her back on the road in Summer next year, will see how things are going.

I fear that even if we find we are comfortable financially this may be a bit more of a battle of the opinion that i will have my 'escape' leaving other half without one in the early / difficult months...

You've got to keep it insured (I can't believe that somebody wouldn't do this) but lay up insurance for £20 a month! I only pay £23 a month for fully comp with break down, 20k value and all of Europe cover. I didn't realize Tuscan's were more expensive to insure than other TVRs. Anyhow I like the "Maybe i will bring her back on the road in Summer next year" starting to creep in...give that a couple of months and it will be "Maybe i will bring her back on the road in Spring next year".

You may be onto something with the 'escape' thing though. My wife has horses which cost around £300 a month to look after - I put the same into my TVR (annual upgrade fund) and we both have our 'escape'. I have pointed out though to my wife that she has two horses...hardly fair I only have one TVR.

Does your other half like horses...

Tim.

[verminator]

I have a situation at the moment where I really should sell my beloved Cerb. I am
facing the possibility of redundancy. I have sorn the Aston and the Cerb, I always
do in the winter as I wont take it out when theres salt on the road. I have had the
Cerb for ten years and really love it. They are, and will become an even rarer sight
on our roads so I really would love to keep the car. I am considering just laying it
up and storing it for a few years untill things maybe sort themselves out. If I do take
it off the road it will save me about 1k per year. I do have two other toys (AM & Harley)
to play with so not to bad, but would still love to keep what will become a rare and classic
car.