Tuscan v Tamora v T350t ???
Tuscan v Tamora v T350t ???
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ILoveMondeo

Original Poster:

9,614 posts

255 months

Friday 12th July 2013
quotequote all
Evening all..

More what car pondering from me I'm afraid!

To cut a long story short, (or not probably) I'm wanting to get another TVR, possibly the "keeper" that I will have forever. top whack budget is £25k. However due to recession and the fact that if my business takes a nose dive or it needs serious work doing I'd like to keep some cash in reserve.

Hence my silly posts bargain hunting, looking at cars that are far too cheap to be any good! smile

Anyway, my budget would get me a very good mark1 Tuscan, there's a 4.3 conversion in the classifieds that' looks pretty interesting. Only the colour is a little off putting (its the white one)... "Recession white" ?

I've had a Tuscan red rosé before which as I understand it is the 380bhp s engine, it had a recent rebuild by Dom @ power not long before I got it and it really was a peach. Dom seemed confident of the power output and although I never had it on a dyno I'm inclined to believe him. I Loved it to bits, despite the handling being a bit wacky, and although I had nitrons fitted I never got around to getting it properly set up for fast road use. Was blinding on track though!

Anyway... In the ideal world I think I'd be after a properly sorted 4.0 (or larger) Tuscan.

One question, with the short steering rack can the handling for our lumpy bumpy B roads ever be that good? The S2000 I'm driving when the GF let's me is utterly fantastic and so composed with all the wobbly bits. My old Tuscan was a challenge to say the least! (An extra 140 horses probably contributed though), the s2k just doesnt really feel that special and is lacking a little in performance.

Anyway, with the hunt for a bargain in mind, late model tamoras seem remarkably cheap, there's some cracking ones in the late teens, I like a bargain remember... But would I feel a bit let down by the performance gap between a tam 3.6 and a properly fast 4.0 Tuscan? On paper it's not that big, what's it like in real life? Anyone owned/driven both?

On the plus side for the tam, it's a bit smaller and will fit easier in the garage, rag top is easier than the Tuscan roof to live with. Seems a bit more choice available...

And the wildcard... A 3.6 t350t should be in reach, I understand they are a lot more manageable than a Tuscan on the back roads but perhaps a little less "exciting" ? The nice chap I got my Tuscan from went to a t350 and did mention to me that the Tuscan was definitely a more exciting car, he eventually went to a sag... But that's way out of budget for me!

What are the targa tops like on the on the t350t, easy to live with, do they give that "convertible" feel or not really? The Tuscan did feel every bit a convertible with the roof off and back window out. Back window out was a definite must, I lost one on a blast when I was a bit lazy and didnt take it out! never again! smile

So, sorry for the ramble... Just after some options of the pros and cons of the different cars....

I could always just wait a year, save a bit more and get a Tuscan 2... I think I prefer the dash in those... Winds me up that every Tuscan 1 I've seen the bloody trim is hanging off the instrument cluster... smile

Thanks for sticking with my brain dump!

Dave

geoffphead

637 posts

230 months

Friday 12th July 2013
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Ive had all three of those:-
started with a beautiful silver spectraflair T350T loved it but even with air con it was a hot car in summer, handling was lovely and balanced.
Brief 9months with a chim 450 missed the T car experience.
Bought a bargain Tam and had everything sorted, it was fantastic more planted than the T350t in the twisties, but was never in love with the looks.
Then my dream car came up a Tuscan S in spectraflair silver, this is fantastic.She handles every bit as good as a Tam or a Sag (imho) and the noise is epic. Performance is on par with Sag.I love it that roof comes off, its an easy car to live with too.I dont feel its trying to blend me with the scenery every time i drive it either.
pm me if u want a chat mate
Each one has its own merits and at moment the Tams are a bargain.

ILoveMondeo

Original Poster:

9,614 posts

255 months

Friday 12th July 2013
quotequote all
Any suspension/handling mods on your Tuscan? Mine was always a bit skittish north of 90-100mph... I just felt I was always sawing away at the steering wheel trying to keep it in a straight line.

so called

9,160 posts

238 months

Saturday 13th July 2013
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My Tuscan Mk1 handling went from very scary to fantastic with new shocks, geometry set up and new alloys.
It's taken a little longer with my Mk2 and needed winglets fitting for the autobahn runs.

I loved my Mk1 and was gutted when I wrote her off but the Mk2 is something else.
As much as the Russian kid is disliked, he did a great job on quality.

I heard the 3,6 S6 is easier reving and suffered fewer rebuilds.

gutu12

606 posts

305 months

Saturday 13th July 2013
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so called said:
My Tuscan Mk1 handling went from very scary to fantastic with new shocks, geometry set up and new alloys.
It's taken a little longer with my Mk2 and needed winglets fitting for the autobahn runs.

I loved my Mk1 and was gutted when I wrote her off but the Mk2 is something else.
As much as the Russian kid is disliked, he did a great job on quality.

I heard the 3,6 S6 is easier reving and suffered fewer rebuilds.
Did the winglets make a big difference. I find the front end gets a bit light over 100 (in Germany biggrin) and have been mulling over getting winglets fitted.

ILoveMondeo

Original Poster:

9,614 posts

255 months

Saturday 13th July 2013
quotequote all
I always had a front splitter in mine... No idea if it helped with front end lift, it didn't help with speed bumps, I know that much...

I think I've made my mind up.

Tuscan!

A mark 2 is dreamland for me really, going to find a decent mk1... In fact I'm off to view one that just happens to be 5 miles from home very soon!

Have the stars aligned and my perfect Tuscan is on my proverbial doorstep????


GTrr

1,627 posts

311 months

Saturday 13th July 2013
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In terms of handling the order would be:

Tuscan MKII(S)
Tamora
T350
Tuscan MKI

with some suspension mods the MKII(S) is really brilliant.

ILoveMondeo

Original Poster:

9,614 posts

255 months

Saturday 13th July 2013
quotequote all
Whoops, I've just gone and put a deposit on a Tuscan mk1..

All in all I think it's a good-un, seems to have had all the right bits and bobs done.

It's got nitrons and has had a road setup/geometry done.

Haven't even driven it yet (private sale, no insurance) so will find out what it's like next weekend! Can always drop it into one of the experts for tweaks if needed!


so called

9,160 posts

238 months

Saturday 13th July 2013
quotequote all
gutu12 said:
so called said:
My Tuscan Mk1 handling went from very scary to fantastic with new shocks, geometry set up and new alloys.
It's taken a little longer with my Mk2 and needed winglets fitting for the autobahn runs.

I loved my Mk1 and was gutted when I wrote her off but the Mk2 is something else.
As much as the Russian kid is disliked, he did a great job on quality.

I heard the 3,6 S6 is easier reving and suffered fewer rebuilds.
Did the winglets make a big difference. I find the front end gets a bit light over 100 (in Germany biggrin) and have been mulling over getting winglets fitted.
Yes they did. Before at 120 in Germany I could hardly stay in lane. It was rather scary.
With the winglets it doesnt seem to start feeling light at all up to about 140.
I was very please at the result.

macky17

2,239 posts

218 months

Saturday 13th July 2013
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Don't forget mk1 tuscan S. Mine has standard suspension with 3mm front spacers and is epic though the twisties - quick rack becomes an advantage when you're used to it as its so effortlessly responsive. I can drive hard and fast with one hand on the wheel.

GTrr

1,627 posts

311 months

Saturday 13th July 2013
quotequote all
ILoveMondeo said:
Whoops, I've just gone and put a deposit on a Tuscan mk1..

All in all I think it's a good-un, seems to have had all the right bits and bobs done.

It's got nitrons and has had a road setup/geometry done.

Haven't even driven it yet (private sale, no insurance) so will find out what it's like next weekend! Can always drop it into one of the experts for tweaks if needed!
Don't worry, with Nitrons and the right setup it should be great.
Enjoy!

ILoveMondeo

Original Poster:

9,614 posts

255 months

Saturday 13th July 2013
quotequote all
GTrr said:
Don't worry, with Nitrons and the right setup it should be great.
Enjoy!
Hope so! smile

Determined to get this one a bit more sorted than the last and I've budgeted for various odds and sods I may want / need to get done. Provided it doesn't st it's engine that is! smile had a fairly recent full power rebuild so in sure it will be fine! Can't wait!

Basil Brush

5,609 posts

292 months

Saturday 13th July 2013
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Get the rack height set properly to get rid of the bump steer. It makes a big difference.

geoffphead

637 posts

230 months

Saturday 13th July 2013
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Enjoy it mine is a mk11 S and handling is planted with nitrons