Feedback please...
Discussion
Pas de tout - I don't expect same relability of main stream manufacturers from producers of small volume sports car - as per Lotus/TVR (but I, and you, presumably are not typical buyer). I love Brit Sportscars - but poop my pref - I'll poop yors - no prob as opinions v subjective (40000 untroubled miles in Esprit S4S -my everyday car from new)- united we stand, divided, etc, etc. At end of day v brave for TVR and Lotus to go alone and produce, albeit fragile engines - but when things go wrong merde adheres to fan - customer is king..
As regards CN it is my understanding that TVR some years ago objected to a CN Lotus franchise and this was not persued. Due to changed circumstances, allegedly, this has been reappraised and the decision changed - of course my information is gleaned from a 3rd party and is prob totally wrong.
Glad you like the car Jon, good aren't they ? Now's the time to buy (post motorshow would be best I reckon), before the first sunshine of spring when cars will be sought after.
I would recommend aircon - have it retro fitted if the car was not built originally with it. My experience is that with the lid on, on the move the inside will evetually get too cold and you'll have to turn the heat up for a bit. With the lid off - it's hard to see a difference - other than you can put your hand over the face vents to dry them off when they get sweaty!
btw on the gear knob you'll be able to tell if the insulator is not fitted as it'll be almost unbearable to touch. It does get warm in the sun though (it's metal!).
I thought the clutch was light (compared with a Cerbera). I commute every day in stop / start traffic and have found no problems. And on the subject of cooling - I've sat for many tens of minutes on the M25 in a jam, 30+ outside, roof off, aircon on, both fans blasting and the engine quite happily sits at a stable temperature (just over 90 if I remember correctly). No problem.
I'm not aware of any Tuscan that does not leak a little bit where the front of the door meets the windscreen (A pillar ?) e.g. mine only lets in a couple of beads of water when I wash it - never driving in the rain though.
In terms of performance upgrades - I think your first port of call on an older car is to have the geometry checked and to fit 18" wheels (more grip, look better, sharper ride / handling). Otherwise wait for the engine to go bang, and negotiate a price on a red rose upgrade (did I really say that ?) ? No seriously, I doubt whether an upgrade is worth it. Replacing the engine with a Tuscan R jobby might be.....
Cheers,
Andy.
I would recommend aircon - have it retro fitted if the car was not built originally with it. My experience is that with the lid on, on the move the inside will evetually get too cold and you'll have to turn the heat up for a bit. With the lid off - it's hard to see a difference - other than you can put your hand over the face vents to dry them off when they get sweaty!
btw on the gear knob you'll be able to tell if the insulator is not fitted as it'll be almost unbearable to touch. It does get warm in the sun though (it's metal!).
I thought the clutch was light (compared with a Cerbera). I commute every day in stop / start traffic and have found no problems. And on the subject of cooling - I've sat for many tens of minutes on the M25 in a jam, 30+ outside, roof off, aircon on, both fans blasting and the engine quite happily sits at a stable temperature (just over 90 if I remember correctly). No problem.
I'm not aware of any Tuscan that does not leak a little bit where the front of the door meets the windscreen (A pillar ?) e.g. mine only lets in a couple of beads of water when I wash it - never driving in the rain though.
In terms of performance upgrades - I think your first port of call on an older car is to have the geometry checked and to fit 18" wheels (more grip, look better, sharper ride / handling). Otherwise wait for the engine to go bang, and negotiate a price on a red rose upgrade (did I really say that ?) ? No seriously, I doubt whether an upgrade is worth it. Replacing the engine with a Tuscan R jobby might be.....
Cheers,
Andy.
Saw a nice W-reg the other day. I didn't have time to take it for a spin but I did notice that the clutch is a lot lighter than the one in the car I hired (which was an older model). That's one worry gone.
Anyway, I have heard that the 2000 models are still from the "dark times" of engine reliability. The bloke selling it showed me a sticker in the boot and said this means the car has been back to Blackpool for recall servicing and that I shouldn't worry about problems with the valves or followers or whatever it was that the S6 suffered from serious problems with. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Sound reasonable or should I hold out for a newer/different car? Is there some sort of inspection that can be done which will reveal anything about the state of the engine?
I understand I'm not going to get Japanese/German-level build quality and that I'm going to have to pay close attention to things like keeping the oil-level right and making sure the beast warms up properly before flexing my right foot. I'm used to having to give my cars a little TLC. My last car was a Delorean and my current car is a M-reg Jaguar XJR.
There are several sports-car rental places around that stock Tuscans. I figure they can't be universally fragile if they can survive the sort of flogging that hire cars get.
Also, what's the story with extended warranties from TVR? I'm told that they don't sell Speed-Six engine components to outsiders so if you want the lump rebuilt it has to come to Blackpool, and the cost for this can go above £5,000 if the warranty has expired. I'd be willing to pay a little "protection money" to insulate myself from this. Anyone know how much it would be or whether it is worthwhile?
Thanks.
J
Anyway, I have heard that the 2000 models are still from the "dark times" of engine reliability. The bloke selling it showed me a sticker in the boot and said this means the car has been back to Blackpool for recall servicing and that I shouldn't worry about problems with the valves or followers or whatever it was that the S6 suffered from serious problems with. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Sound reasonable or should I hold out for a newer/different car? Is there some sort of inspection that can be done which will reveal anything about the state of the engine?
I understand I'm not going to get Japanese/German-level build quality and that I'm going to have to pay close attention to things like keeping the oil-level right and making sure the beast warms up properly before flexing my right foot. I'm used to having to give my cars a little TLC. My last car was a Delorean and my current car is a M-reg Jaguar XJR.
There are several sports-car rental places around that stock Tuscans. I figure they can't be universally fragile if they can survive the sort of flogging that hire cars get.
Also, what's the story with extended warranties from TVR? I'm told that they don't sell Speed-Six engine components to outsiders so if you want the lump rebuilt it has to come to Blackpool, and the cost for this can go above £5,000 if the warranty has expired. I'd be willing to pay a little "protection money" to insulate myself from this. Anyone know how much it would be or whether it is worthwhile?
Thanks.
J
Anyway, I have heard that the 2000 models are still from the "dark times" of engine reliability. The bloke selling it showed me a sticker in the boot and said this means the car has been back to Blackpool for recall servicing and that I shouldn't worry about problems with the valves or followers or whatever it was that the S6 suffered from serious problems with.
.....
Also, what's the story with extended warranties from TVR? I'm told that they don't sell Speed-Six engine components to outsiders so if you want the lump rebuilt it has to come to Blackpool, and the cost for this can go above £5,000 if the warranty has expired. I'd be willing to pay a little "protection money" to insulate myself from this. Anyone know how much it would be or whether it is worthwhile?
First of all, the sticker means it has had the suspension checked - there was a problem with some of the suuspension components corroding and this could lead to failure - so TVR did a recall, if the car you look at hasnt got this it isnt too drastic as, being a recall, you can take it to a TVR dealer and they should do the work FOC - the sticker has NOTHING to do with the engine
Warranty, you can get a Warranty Holdings warranty for around 600/700 a year, but they do have a habit of rejecting claims as "wear and tear", you need a dealer/service agent who is willing and able to argue this for you. You can also get a warranty from TVR which is around 1,000 plus VAT I think, this is the same as the initial warranty, and so covers most things that you havent broken. If you do need the engine rebuilding outside of the warranty period then TVR look at each case individually, if you have a full dealer service booklet all stamped up on time etc then some times TVR will fix/replace the engine FOC, BUT this is NOT guaranteed, as I say, they take each case on its own merrit - so in the end, you takes your choice and spends your money - you may not need a rebuild ever in which case the money you spend on a warranty may seem a waste, then again you may need 2or 3 in which case the warranty can be a bargain!
Good luck, get a good one and enjoy it, dont worry about rebuild, if it happens it happens, as long as you warm it up and take care there is nothing more you can do to stop it
MB.
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