running cost

[eddie 4.2]

Hello chaps iam getting shot of my cerbera and thinking of buying a tuscan up to £25000, whats the running cost on a tuscan and what should i look for.

Thanks ed

[anonymous-user]

Service - small approx £500, large approx £1000 through main dealer.

Insurance - whatever the thieving bastards can get you to pay.

Petrol - lots and lots of cash cos you won't be able to resist driving it all the time.

[MTY4000]

When I was looking for a Cerbera I was advised that you should budget twice the running costs of my then car - a Chimeara 450. From experience the running cost of a Tuscan is about twice my experience with the Chim.

So I'd expect that you are looking at similar costs to the Cerb. In my case the difference with the Tuscan is that I have stayed within the official dealer network for servicing just in case I need some goodwill from the factory along the way. I am also very happy with the service I have received from my dealer.

Absolute costs - ignoring insurance and petrol I think you should budget £3k a year for servicing and maintenance - 6k miles per year. In all likelyhood you will spend less (I'm sure a lot of people do), but if you are prepared for £3k all the better. All IMHO.

The work you do when selecting the car is key to keeping the running costs low, and I believe it is a buyers market at the moment so shop around: I'd look for one with a recent rebuild and prefereably a new clutch (both of which I have experienced.. ouch!). Nitron supension much prefereable to the standard issue and rebuildable. Wheels are not the strongest design so have them checked to make sure that they are not bent - if you feel any vibration when driving (or see "pod shake") this is the likely cause. If the car also has a recent set of tyres then I'd expect low running costs for 2 blissfully happy years.

Finally get a full laser alignment on the car to make sure it's set up correctly and start to grin.

Well worth the money IMHO.

[J_S_G]

MTY4000 said:

Wheels are not the strongest design so have them checked to make sure that they are not bent - if you feel any vibration when driving (or see "pod shake") this is the likely cause.

Hmmmm. Would say that it was far more likely that a wheel + tyre had only been balanced at low speeds. And that many, many of them suffer from this without having any stuffed wheels.

MTY4000 said:

Finally get a full laser alignment on the car to make sure it's set up correctly and start to grin.

Would recommend just getting anywhere "in the know" to set it up, rather than a random laser alignment from a place that potentially doesn't know Tuscans. Had a (rather expensive) laser alignment done locally, and it ended up no better than when it went in. 1/2 an hour at TVR Power and it was totally sorted...

MTY4000 said:

If the car also has a recent set of tyres then I'd expect low running costs for 2 blissfully happy years.

Would agree that the running costs (engine issues aside) are pretty much inline with the Cerb. And, as such, that I wouldn't expect low running costs for 2 blissfully happy years... I'd expect at least one irritating gripe per year (and I'm not talking blown fuse/damp footwell here) unless EVERYTHING's already been taken care of. I.e. Dash pod electrics/worn throttle bodies/clutch/etc. The usual "That'll be £1k on the nose, sir" bill.

[TSS]

J_S_G said:

MTY4000 said: Wheels are not the strongest design so have them checked to make sure that they are not bent - if you feel any vibration when driving (or see "pod shake") this is the likely cause. Hmmmm. Would say that it was far more likely that a wheel + tyre had only been balanced at low speeds. And that many, many of them suffer from this without having any stuffed wheels.

J_S_G is right. Although it’s still possible to bend wheels, only the early cars had wheels that bent easily. The design was modified (probably around the end of 2000 or in early 2001). Low mileage 2000 cars may still have the old wheels on. Nowadays the most likely cause of vibration is balancing.

I know from lengthy experience that you need to get the wheels balanced by somebody with top notch balancing equipment – i.e. not a monkey at ATS/Kwik Fit, etc.

Eddie 4.2, I produce a Tuscan Buying Guide which I distribute for free. It lists pretty much everything you need to look for. Mail me through my profile for a copy.

[anonymous-user]

TSS said:

Eddie 4.2, I produce a Tuscan Buying Guide which I distribute for free. It lists pretty much everything you need to look for. Mail me through my profile for a copy.

An excellent and invaluable guide.

[MTY4000]

..well maybee it's because I live in the East-end of London and the roads here are about as smooth as they were just after the blitz, but I had the strengthened design wheels and have just replaced two of them - one bent one cracked. It's possible I have been unlucky there, but I'd still check them.

And yes, you need the laser alignment from someone who knows what they are doing - Topcats did a very nice set-up on mine.

Good luck with the hunt.

[silvertuscan]

I had a 4.2 Cerbera for 8 months and it was fantastic as my only everyday car. Changed to a Tuscan RR 6 months ago, again as my only car.
Been back with lots of problems (every month) and as my warranty company has gone bust had to pay for everything.

What do you intend to use the car for ... everyday or weekend !?

My only advice is get one with 12 months warranty!!!
Also, try to get one which has already had a rebuild.
The factory are no longer assisting with these and it could potentially cost 8-10k. Most warranty companys offer 2k max claim limit .... worth considering.

I would estimate having spent more like 4k on mine in the last 6 months, but again that is using it every day.

What not stick with the Cerb ?
My experience is the Tuscan is far faster, turns heads wherever it goes, looks better but is not as sorted as the Cerb was.
Only comparing the 2 cars, but thats my opinion based on my experience.