TVR350 or TUSCAN

[lifes.too.short]

I'm new to the TVR scene but am sooooo pleased to say that in the first time in my life i can begin to seriously start thinking about buying one. Unfortunately I made the mistake in November of buying a Z4. Not a bad looking car and drives very well but, after previously owning a Westfield, it just doesn't have the spark or pizzazz that I want from a car.

So... some advice please; Tuscan or 350? They both look like wonderful cars and am sure they drive equally as well. It may be down to personal choice but it would be appreciated if you "experts in the field" could let me have your views on drivability, problems, comfort etc... Cheers.

[anonymous-user]

Both fantastic motors obviously. Performance wise barely a fag paper between them. Looks are a matter of taste. Ownership costs likely to be similar.

When I bought my first Tuscan it was Tuscan or Cerbie and when I bought the Tuscan II it was Tuscan or Sagaris.

On both occasions I ended up going for the Tuscan for the simple reason that it is 2 cars in one. I'm not a big fan of rag tops but I do like to feel the wind in my hair from time to time. With the roof on its a coupe and with the roof in the boot it's a convertible. Plus if you like touring it has a huge boot, ideal for mooching through the continent. We had a fortnights luggage and the roof and rear window in the boot last year.

[Bob the Planner]

lifes.too.short said:

...let me have your views on drivability, problems, comfort etc... Cheers.

I don't know if you are looking for new or second hand - if new you will be looking at a Tuscan Mk2 vs a T350. I have had a Tuscan Mk1 for over 3 years and love it. Like unrepentant I like the idea of being able to have a hard top and the associated roll bar built in. It does however have the most important feature for me - a removable roof and rear screen which the T350 does not have. The other advantage (for me) is a proper boot which is separate from the interior of the car - the T350 has a cover which fits over the luggage to stop it hitting the windscreen on hard braking but is in effect a hatch back (No offence meant to T350 owners). The chassis of the T350 is slightly stiffer than the Tuscan Mk1 and the steering a little slower - the early tuscans had a very quick steering rack which made them very direct but a bit twitchy in some circumstances. Many Tuscans have had poor suspension set up which leads to tramlining and bump steer - a proper setup reduces these dramatically and transforms the car and the drive becomes awesome (for a few 100 quid its worth doing). I don't know whether T350s suffer from the same problems.

You will hear all sorts of doom and gloom about the engine and mine lasted 28k before any problems surfaced. The cost of putting it right was not excessive IMO and the later cars (2004 onwards) are supposed to have upgraded components which prevent the problems. In this respect there are no differences between the Tucan and T350 - you pay your money and take your chances. Other problems are more niggles than anything else - oil pressure sensors and lambda sensors are a regular replacement part on my car.

As far as comfort is concerned, I have done a number of 300 mile trips in the car and not found it a problem - they are softer sprung than something like an elise or a westfield. On occasion I have returned the next day and still not suffered. A number of people from Yorkshire did the trip back from LeMans via Calais in a day and I have not heard any serious complaints about backache, muscle spasm etc. If you have a car decatted and/or CCC cans then there may be ear issues unless you wear plugs.

I would suggest that you drive each and decide which environment you prefer. With the Tuscan try with the roof on and off and with window in and out (You can even do roof on and window out - useful for when you have a sunburnt forehead but still want the air rushing past your ears).

I know that this is very Tuscan biased but have not owned a T350 (yet ?)

Bob

[lifes.too.short]

Cheers guys. Very useful. I took the T350 out this afternoon. With the car having done only 2700 miles i was asked not to take it past 3500-rpm which is annoying when more than half the reason for buying the car is what's under the bonnet! It seems comfortable and capable and itching to be pushed!! It was a 2003 in blue (redbull i think its called). It was a shame because the looks are the first thing you like about it and then you just hope it drives as well as it looks. I'll have to take your word for it until money changes hands!!

I was a little put off by the smell of petrol in the car. It's probably one of those traits you get used to.

Now it's the Tuscans turn and (much to the mrs's annoyance) a few hours (or days) trawling through the t'internet is on the cards for tonight. After then (gazboy - he'll know what i mean) its off to play on line pool.

I'll keep you posted and thanks for your advices. Off to the 350 forum now to see what those guys have to say. Happy motoring.

Edited by lifes.too.short on Saturday 5th August 17:26

[targarama]

Shouldn't smell of petrol - mine doesn't. Either there's something wrong with the tank breather or someone has been carrying some in the car and spilt it.

As for keep the revs down - sounds a bit too conservative. Once fully warmed up the odd foray into high revs won't hurt it - in fact it will help it. An engine that's been treated like miss daisy won't give the power in the long run (IMO). I don't mean redline it in every gear BTW, just wide open throttle to 6,000 and something once in a while for a few seconds.

[Cyclone1]

lifes.too.short said:

Cheers guys. Very useful. I took the T350 out this afternoon. With the car having done only 2700 miles i was asked not to take it past 3500-rpm which is annoying when more than half the reason for buying the car is what's under the bonnet! It seems comfortable and capable and itching to be pushed!! It was a 2003 in blue (redbull i think its called). It was a shame because the looks are the first thing you like about it and then you just hope it drives as well as it looks. I'll have to take your word for it until money changes hands!!

I was a little put off by the smell of petrol in the car. It's probably one of those traits you get used to.

Now it's the Tuscans turn and (much to the mrs's annoyance) a few hours (or days) trawling through the t'internet is on the cards for tonight. After then (gazboy - he'll know what i mean) its off to play on line pool.

I'll keep you posted and thanks for your advices. Off to the 350 forum now to see what those guys have to say. Happy motoring.

Edited by lifes.too.short on Saturday 5th August 17:26

Sounds like you haven't really tested the T350 yet, 2700 miles on a 2003 car? I'd leave it be an go and test drive one with a few more miles on it, only when you take it past 3500rpm will you appreciate what it is capable of. Out of the two I'd go for the T350, both look superb in the styling department but for me the T350 just feels so much more planted.

Jules.

[shorts!]

I agree, a 3 year old car with so few miles on it will, IMO, almost certainly not be representative. Try and take a drive in one with a chunk more miles on. If you want a 3 year old car, one that's been used regularly will have less niggles remaining and the engine will feel sweeter. Mine definitely felt better from about 30,000 onwards though some people might consider that excessive.

[Bob the Planner]

Gazboy said:

Bob the Planner said:

''the Tuscan Mk1 and the steering a little slower - the early tuscans had a very quick steering rack which made them very direct but a bit twitchy in some circumstances.
Bob

I'm sure I've asked this before, but can't find the answer though searching- did all mk1's have the 'faster' rack or did only the first few years of production have it?

After about 2002/3 the rack was changed for the Tamora one at 2 turns lock to lock (?) rather than the earlier 1.7 TtoT IIRC. Personally I like the quick rack but it does make the car more nervous.

[Bob the Planner]

lifes.too.short said:

... i was asked not to take it past 3500-rpm ...

I was a little put off by the smell of petrol in the car. It's probably one of those traits you get used to...

If you do not get into the 6000s you are not getting a proper comparison although the T350 is supposed to be more planted at those revs than Tuscan 1 (made up for by the sheer beauty of the Tuscan IMO).

No car should ever smell of petrol - if it does walk away and find another one to play with.

Happy hunting

[GOM]

Gazboy said:

Bob the Planner said:

Gazboy said:

Bob the Planner said:

''the Tuscan Mk1 and the steering a little slower - the early tuscans had a very quick steering rack which made them very direct but a bit twitchy in some circumstances.
Bob

I'm sure I've asked this before, but can't find the answer though searching- did all mk1's have the 'faster' rack or did only the first few years of production have it?

After about 2002/3 the rack was changed for the Tamora one at 2 turns lock to lock (?) rather than the earlier 1.7 TtoT IIRC. Personally I like the quick rack but it does make the car more nervous.

Ah- that's handy to know- I prefer the later rack although I suspect the geometry of the Tam/t350 makes them feel more planted than the Tuscan?

As has been discussed on numerous other threads, the T350 can feel very twitchy with over-inflated tyres. Factory/dealers tend to say 28 all round but a lot of people run 23/24 all round and find the car is much much better. I presume this also applies to the Tamora.

[lifes.too.short]

Thanks for your replies. I think the T350 will win the day but i do want to take a Tuscan out before money changes hands. With hindsite though I wish my topic was "which TVR shall I buy" as the Cerbera and Tamora are wonderful looking cars as well.

Looking forward to being on here daily helping me out with my TVR joys and problems soon.

[rfisher]

Tamora.

[madbadger]

rfisher said:

Tamora.

Well, without being too predictable, it does have a lot of the advantages of both the Tuscan (1) and the T350, (Boot space, handling, dials that tell you more than just speed. As well as all it's own advantages - convertable, lighter weight than the other two, much better looking ()

As I said on the other thread, it's a nice choice to make.

[Daftlad]

lifes.too.short said:

Thanks for your replies. I think the T350 will win the day but i do want to take a Tuscan out before money changes hands. With hindsite though I wish my topic was "which TVR shall I buy" as the Cerbera and Tamora are wonderful looking cars as well.

Looking forward to being on here daily helping me out with my TVR joys and problems soon.

If you want the best package available, buy a Tamora.

[anonymous-user]

madbadger said:

rfisher said:

Tamora.

Well, without being too predictable, it does have a lot of the advantages of both the Tuscan (1) and the T350, (Boot space, handling, dials that tell you more than just speed. As well as all it's own advantages - convertable, lighter weight than the other two, much better looking ()

It has disadvantages too.

Its v v girly.

Girls drive them.

So does daftlad.

[Daftlad]

unrepentant said:

It has disadvantages too.

Its v v girly.

Girls drive them.

So does daftlad.

Only when MrsS lets him

[madbadger]

Daftlad said:

unrepentant said:

It has disadvantages too.

Its v v girly.

Girls drive them.

So does daftlad.

Only when MrsS lets him

Only when he has been very good.

[anonymous-user]

Gazboy said:

unrepentant said:

madbadger said:

rfisher said:

Tamora.

Well, without being too predictable, it does have a lot of the advantages of both the Tuscan (1) and the T350, (Boot space, handling, dials that tell you more than just speed. As well as all it's own advantages - convertable, lighter weight than the other two, much better looking ()

It has disadvantages too.

Its v v girly.

Girls drive them.

So does daftlad.

As I look like I have shares in hair products maybe the Tamora is the car for me!

Their natural habitat is parked outside "salons".