Tuscan S MK1 - Service
Discussion
Hi All,
On my second day as a pistonheads member, this is my first attempt to get some advise, so excuse my ignorance!
Over the weekend, I bought a lovely Tuscan S. It is however in need of a good service, and I am a bit confused with the different quotes I had from various garages.
Currently, the car has 22K miles, and only 2K of those done in the last 2 years (spent most of the time in a garage). There is is a slight leak from the rocker cover, that I was told it will be sorted with the service, and also needs timing chain and tappets adjustment. For the above, I was quoted just over a grand, including VAT, by the TVR specialist who did the inspection before I bought it.
Shopping around, as you do, the quotes I got ranged from £600 to £900 including VAT for the same work..
Any ideas on how reasonable the above is, and any advice to a TVR virgin like me are most welcome!
Cheers!
On my second day as a pistonheads member, this is my first attempt to get some advise, so excuse my ignorance!
Over the weekend, I bought a lovely Tuscan S. It is however in need of a good service, and I am a bit confused with the different quotes I had from various garages.
Currently, the car has 22K miles, and only 2K of those done in the last 2 years (spent most of the time in a garage). There is is a slight leak from the rocker cover, that I was told it will be sorted with the service, and also needs timing chain and tappets adjustment. For the above, I was quoted just over a grand, including VAT, by the TVR specialist who did the inspection before I bought it.
Shopping around, as you do, the quotes I got ranged from £600 to £900 including VAT for the same work..
Any ideas on how reasonable the above is, and any advice to a TVR virgin like me are most welcome!
Cheers!
Arapo said:
Hi All,
On my second day as a pistonheads member, this is my first attempt to get some advise, so excuse my ignorance!
Over the weekend, I bought a lovely Tuscan S. It is however in need of a good service, and I am a bit confused with the different quotes I had from various garages.
Currently, the car has 22K miles, and only 2K of those done in the last 2 years (spent most of the time in a garage). There is is a slight leak from the rocker cover, that I was told it will be sorted with the service, and also needs timing chain and tappets adjustment. For the above, I was quoted just over a grand, including VAT, by the TVR specialist who did the inspection before I bought it.
Shopping around, as you do, the quotes I got ranged from £600 to £900 including VAT for the same work..
Any ideas on how reasonable the above is, and any advice to a TVR virgin like me are most welcome!
Cheers!
I guess price variation could be due to a mix of TVR (ex) dealers eg Castle Racing Green etc and Indy dealers TVR power Green Star etc (mostly ex TVR populated outfits) All very good, some better than others (everybody has a fav), but you will pay for that 'main dealer' stamp.On my second day as a pistonheads member, this is my first attempt to get some advise, so excuse my ignorance!
Over the weekend, I bought a lovely Tuscan S. It is however in need of a good service, and I am a bit confused with the different quotes I had from various garages.
Currently, the car has 22K miles, and only 2K of those done in the last 2 years (spent most of the time in a garage). There is is a slight leak from the rocker cover, that I was told it will be sorted with the service, and also needs timing chain and tappets adjustment. For the above, I was quoted just over a grand, including VAT, by the TVR specialist who did the inspection before I bought it.
Shopping around, as you do, the quotes I got ranged from £600 to £900 including VAT for the same work..
Any ideas on how reasonable the above is, and any advice to a TVR virgin like me are most welcome!
Cheers!
It might also be that there are differences in what's included in the service. eg I need a 12K service and the main dealer I have used before lists coolant change (2yrs) & brake fluid change as separate items to the service, thus making it look cheaper than say a garage that might not separate this out as a separate item. Phone and ask is my advise.
If you indicated where you are based the PH community will indicate their preference for a given area
Shep
My list would include
Greenstar TVR, £325 for major service, includes an MOT
TorqueRVT, £440 for major (10% off if you join servcing club)
Str8 Six £750 (expensive but one of the best)
TVR Power £750 (if they hadnt got it very right they wouldnt be getting so much engine rebuild business!)
All of the above are trusted and known on here.
All of what you mention should be covered in a service...
I will be going up to Greenstar i think for my first service, havent heard a bad word said about them. Its 3 hour drive and will need a stopover, but i did this with my service for Automedon in blackpool and didnt regret it
p.s. i dont know how good Automedon are with speed six's - simply because i have never seen them mentioned, if they are as good on the sp6 as the Cerb they should also be near the top of the list.
Greenstar TVR, £325 for major service, includes an MOT
TorqueRVT, £440 for major (10% off if you join servcing club)
Str8 Six £750 (expensive but one of the best)
TVR Power £750 (if they hadnt got it very right they wouldnt be getting so much engine rebuild business!)
All of the above are trusted and known on here.
All of what you mention should be covered in a service...
I will be going up to Greenstar i think for my first service, havent heard a bad word said about them. Its 3 hour drive and will need a stopover, but i did this with my service for Automedon in blackpool and didnt regret it
p.s. i dont know how good Automedon are with speed six's - simply because i have never seen them mentioned, if they are as good on the sp6 as the Cerb they should also be near the top of the list.
Edited by Robertjp on Monday 11th May 19:12
Robertjp said:
My list would include
Greenstar TVR, £325 for major service, includes an MOT
TorqueRVT, £440 for major (10% off if you join servcing club)
Str8 Six £750 (expensive but one of the best)
TVR Power £750 (if they hadnt got it very right they wouldnt be getting so much engine rebuild business!)
All of the above are trusted and known on here.
All of what you mention should be covered in a service...
I will be going up to Greenstar i think for my first service, havent heard a bad word said about them. Its 3 hour drive and will need a stopover, but i did this with my service for Automedon in blackpool and didnt regret it
p.s. i dont know how good Automedon are with speed six's - simply because i have never seen them mentioned, if they are as good on the sp6 as the Cerb they should also be near the top of the list.
Notice you're in the Midlands - Why travel 3 hours when you have got TopGear Automotive www.topgearautomotive.co.uk on your doorstep. From personal experience you will not regret it.Greenstar TVR, £325 for major service, includes an MOT
TorqueRVT, £440 for major (10% off if you join servcing club)
Str8 Six £750 (expensive but one of the best)
TVR Power £750 (if they hadnt got it very right they wouldnt be getting so much engine rebuild business!)
All of the above are trusted and known on here.
All of what you mention should be covered in a service...
I will be going up to Greenstar i think for my first service, havent heard a bad word said about them. Its 3 hour drive and will need a stopover, but i did this with my service for Automedon in blackpool and didnt regret it
p.s. i dont know how good Automedon are with speed six's - simply because i have never seen them mentioned, if they are as good on the sp6 as the Cerb they should also be near the top of the list.
Edited by Robertjp on Monday 11th May 19:12
If you go to a TVR main dealer, you will probably find yourself paying the higher end of the spectrum. However, there are a lot of really good independent TVR specialists, most of which have got fans on PH. Just check some of the previous posts using the search facility.
Personally, I get my T350C serviced at Track V Road in Clitheroe. It is a 200 mile round trip but IMO well worth it in terms of quality of service, attention to detail and value for money.
Personally, I get my T350C serviced at Track V Road in Clitheroe. It is a 200 mile round trip but IMO well worth it in terms of quality of service, attention to detail and value for money.
Thanks guys!
Forgot to say that I am based in London, and the car is still with the seller in the South East, near Gatwick. I am hoping to find time and go get it by the end of the week.
But it should go straight in for a service, so need to make up my mind about where to take it.
Shep - you are right, about differences in what jobs are carried out and what is changed in the service.
The 3 I am considering are Austec Racing (most expensive), Castle (bit cheaper), and a specialist recommended by the seller called Steve Mole Motorsport who is considerably cheaper and has carried out the last service to the car a couple of years back..
Forgot to say that I am based in London, and the car is still with the seller in the South East, near Gatwick. I am hoping to find time and go get it by the end of the week.
But it should go straight in for a service, so need to make up my mind about where to take it.
Shep - you are right, about differences in what jobs are carried out and what is changed in the service.
The 3 I am considering are Austec Racing (most expensive), Castle (bit cheaper), and a specialist recommended by the seller called Steve Mole Motorsport who is considerably cheaper and has carried out the last service to the car a couple of years back..
Arapo said:
Thanks guys!
Forgot to say that I am based in London, and the car is still with the seller in the South East, near Gatwick. I am hoping to find time and go get it by the end of the week.
But it should go straight in for a service, so need to make up my mind about where to take it.
Shep - you are right, about differences in what jobs are carried out and what is changed in the service.
The 3 I am considering are Austec Racing (most expensive), Castle (bit cheaper), and a specialist recommended by the seller called Steve Mole Motorsport who is considerably cheaper and has carried out the last service to the car a couple of years back..
I use Castle (5yrs of stamps!) despite them being a little on the expensive side. I know there are others out there that might be as good or better but better the devil you know. Went Looking for Austec when I was in Crawley on Friday, they must have moved as they were not located where I was told they were!Forgot to say that I am based in London, and the car is still with the seller in the South East, near Gatwick. I am hoping to find time and go get it by the end of the week.
But it should go straight in for a service, so need to make up my mind about where to take it.
Shep - you are right, about differences in what jobs are carried out and what is changed in the service.
The 3 I am considering are Austec Racing (most expensive), Castle (bit cheaper), and a specialist recommended by the seller called Steve Mole Motorsport who is considerably cheaper and has carried out the last service to the car a couple of years back..
I have just used Castle for my 12k service and have no complaints
They charge £599 as a fixed price and then charge extra per tappet that needs doing.
I needed 4 valve shims @ £2.31 each + 112.50 additional labour costs.
At the end of the day it also depends what else they find as well. Engine mounts seem common as my last Tuscan + T350 & the SAG I have at the moment all needed replacing on their last service.
Also last tip if you join the TVR club you should get 10% discount as well.
Does anybody do upgraded mounts by the way?
They charge £599 as a fixed price and then charge extra per tappet that needs doing.
I needed 4 valve shims @ £2.31 each + 112.50 additional labour costs.
At the end of the day it also depends what else they find as well. Engine mounts seem common as my last Tuscan + T350 & the SAG I have at the moment all needed replacing on their last service.
Also last tip if you join the TVR club you should get 10% discount as well.
Does anybody do upgraded mounts by the way?
I recieve an average of 2-3 enquiries a week from people asking advice as to who they can trust the pride & joy with in the south.
The two I would recommend are;
Dan Taylor of Taylor TVR, Aylesford, Kent
Andy of APM Automotive, Liphook, Hampshire
From the feedback I recieve i.e TVR owners, both these specialists consistantly deliver what their customers expect at a resonable price & to a high standard of workmanship
The only downside seems to be that they are usually booked up for weeks in advance, even in the current financial climate, but again this gives you a good indication as to their reputation.
Only last week I was trying to help some one with an 08 plate Tuscan that needs a service & found out that Taylor TVR are booking approx 7 weeks ahead but that person is going to wait for the reasons above....something you should also consider
Bodders
The two I would recommend are;
Dan Taylor of Taylor TVR, Aylesford, Kent
Andy of APM Automotive, Liphook, Hampshire
From the feedback I recieve i.e TVR owners, both these specialists consistantly deliver what their customers expect at a resonable price & to a high standard of workmanship
The only downside seems to be that they are usually booked up for weeks in advance, even in the current financial climate, but again this gives you a good indication as to their reputation.
Only last week I was trying to help some one with an 08 plate Tuscan that needs a service & found out that Taylor TVR are booking approx 7 weeks ahead but that person is going to wait for the reasons above....something you should also consider
Bodders
SpeedBuzz said:
Does anybody do upgraded mounts by the way?
Yes, and in a couple of weeks should be fitted to mine. About £60 more than standard but been told they shouldn't need replacing, but will have to wait a couple of years to verify 
but do trust the garage fitting them (Sebring)so we'll see.JOSHKY said:
Robertjp said:
My list would include
Greenstar TVR, £325 for major service, includes an MOT
TorqueRVT, £440 for major (10% off if you join servcing club)
Str8 Six £750 (expensive but one of the best)
TVR Power £750 (if they hadnt got it very right they wouldnt be getting so much engine rebuild business!)
All of the above are trusted and known on here.
All of what you mention should be covered in a service...
I will be going up to Greenstar i think for my first service, havent heard a bad word said about them. Its 3 hour drive and will need a stopover, but i did this with my service for Automedon in blackpool and didnt regret it
p.s. i dont know how good Automedon are with speed six's - simply because i have never seen them mentioned, if they are as good on the sp6 as the Cerb they should also be near the top of the list.
Notice you're in the Midlands - Why travel 3 hours when you have got TopGear Automotive www.topgearautomotive.co.uk on your doorstep. From personal experience you will not regret it.Greenstar TVR, £325 for major service, includes an MOT
TorqueRVT, £440 for major (10% off if you join servcing club)
Str8 Six £750 (expensive but one of the best)
TVR Power £750 (if they hadnt got it very right they wouldnt be getting so much engine rebuild business!)
All of the above are trusted and known on here.
All of what you mention should be covered in a service...
I will be going up to Greenstar i think for my first service, havent heard a bad word said about them. Its 3 hour drive and will need a stopover, but i did this with my service for Automedon in blackpool and didnt regret it
p.s. i dont know how good Automedon are with speed six's - simply because i have never seen them mentioned, if they are as good on the sp6 as the Cerb they should also be near the top of the list.
Edited by Robertjp on Monday 11th May 19:12
Will wait and see how it all looks in 11 months time when i next need a service
For the OP, only have direct experience with TVR Power and Automedon and they have both been very good, but a little way away from you
Arapo said:
Shep - Apparently Austec moved across the street from where they were recently, to a larger place.
A guy from Austec called Paul checked the Tuscan I bought, and he seemed a very decent guy..
Bugger.... no time to look round Friday one of my customers said he used to see TVR's running up & down the main road and said it near pipeline centre. Never mind will have a look next time I am down that wayA guy from Austec called Paul checked the Tuscan I bought, and he seemed a very decent guy..
Edited by Arapo on Monday 11th May 20:47
shep1001 said:
Arapo said:
Shep - Apparently Austec moved across the street from where they were recently, to a larger place.
A guy from Austec called Paul checked the Tuscan I bought, and he seemed a very decent guy..
Bugger.... no time to look round Friday one of my customers said he used to see TVR's running up & down the main road and said it near pipeline centre. Never mind will have a look next time I am down that wayA guy from Austec called Paul checked the Tuscan I bought, and he seemed a very decent guy..
Edited by Arapo on Monday 11th May 20:47
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