Jap convert, lets see !!!
Discussion
Love cars and bikes but always 'gone japanese' for performance and RELIABILITY ! However, the Tuscan is the most beautiful car on the planet so I am just about to trade in my Integra for one (after a mind blowing test drive) and take a chance on reliability. There are other threads here on the same issue but the more the merrier I reckon so I will report as others, any problems experienced from new. As a TVR convert, I'm a little tired (already !) of this 'well they are a small firm, making beautiful cars and the engine sounds great so we will put up with unreliability, things falling of and engine rebuilds ' attitude. FFS they cost £40,000 to 50,000 !!!!. First and foremost a performance car with race pedigree needs reliability !!! ( cf Ferrari F1 ) !! I want the most gorgeous car ever to start first time, rack up the miles and still be drop dead gorgeous !! By the way this is my first time ever on a site like this so be gentle !!!
Welcome John 
When reading the threads on here, listen to what the owners have to say, cos we have 1st hand experience. Please enter into your purchase with eyes very wide open. As much as things shouldnt go wrong it is regretfully a fact of life that Tuscs do have quirky probs. Most are more annoying than serious, but it is well worth you spending an evening reading various threads on this forum. Virtually anything you need to know about Tuscs has been covered.If after that you still want one then congratulations on a wise decision.
Di
When reading the threads on here, listen to what the owners have to say, cos we have 1st hand experience. Please enter into your purchase with eyes very wide open. As much as things shouldnt go wrong it is regretfully a fact of life that Tuscs do have quirky probs. Most are more annoying than serious, but it is well worth you spending an evening reading various threads on this forum. Virtually anything you need to know about Tuscs has been covered.If after that you still want one then congratulations on a wise decision.
Di
Hi John and welcome.
Like lady Topaz I am a Tuscan owner who is about to sell his car and replace it with......... another Tuscan
.
The cars are absolutely brilliant but are hand made by a small company and as a result you do get quirky problems occasionally. I have to say that mine has been pretty much trouble free (speedo stopped working twice which is a pain but hardly the end of the world) and the engine has not missed a beat.
If you want a car that gives you a little thrill every time you see it and delivers a complete sense of occasion every time you drive it then you would be hard pushed to find anything better this side of £100k. Noise, looks and performance are all breathtaking and you will hardly ever see another one when you are out in yours. Sit inside that interior and marvel at how a tiny British company can produce something so individual, from the instruments to the ally switchgear and the pedal box. Ditto the exterior. One caveat though - I would not buy one if you are a shy person.
What sort of Tuscan are you looking at?
Paul
Like lady Topaz I am a Tuscan owner who is about to sell his car and replace it with......... another Tuscan
. The cars are absolutely brilliant but are hand made by a small company and as a result you do get quirky problems occasionally. I have to say that mine has been pretty much trouble free (speedo stopped working twice which is a pain but hardly the end of the world) and the engine has not missed a beat.
If you want a car that gives you a little thrill every time you see it and delivers a complete sense of occasion every time you drive it then you would be hard pushed to find anything better this side of £100k. Noise, looks and performance are all breathtaking and you will hardly ever see another one when you are out in yours. Sit inside that interior and marvel at how a tiny British company can produce something so individual, from the instruments to the ally switchgear and the pedal box. Ditto the exterior. One caveat though - I would not buy one if you are a shy person.
What sort of Tuscan are you looking at?
Paul
Thanks both of you, the site is very informative. I'm looking at a Mk2 Tuscan from new and I'm very able to accept some 'quirky' problems which may add 'character' to the brand but I was just concerned with the number of engine re-builds and mechanical failures reported. The car is so gorgeous I will want to drive it everyday and use it as my main car. I get the impression however that the newer engines seem to be more 'sorted'. Hope so, off to see on Monday so who knows !!
fireblade2000 said:
Thanks both of you, the site is very informative. I'm looking at a Mk2 Tuscan from new and I'm very able to accept some 'quirky' problems which may add 'character' to the brand but I was just concerned with the number of engine re-builds and mechanical failures reported. The car is so gorgeous I will want to drive it everyday and use it as my main car. I get the impression however that the newer engines seem to be more 'sorted'. Hope so, off to see on Monday so who knows !!
Most engine probs occured with earlier models, not exclusively but generally. Again a subject which has been done to death on here. My car is used every day, parked outside and driven hard when road and weather conditions allow. As Paul said both of us are now embarking on 2nd Tuscs. If you read my monthly report you will note my hatred of the indicator which is awful but in no way detracts from my overall love of my car.
Let us know how you get on.
Di
Well, the deed is done !! Part-ex going ahead on a lovely MK2 and going to collect in 2 weeks !! I was amazed at the build quality inside so fingers crossed for the mechanical side !! Its going to be an everyday car so I'll keep reading your posts with interest and add some on here maybe. Thanks for advice so far.
Hoping so !!
Found some interesting things already.......Tesco's won't insure it unless I provide proof of an approved 'tracker' fitted (!!), many other companies won't quote online for 'that type of car' !! but after trawling through threads here Privilidge have taken it on cheaper than for my current 2000 Integra Type R !! (saved money already). Also been reading threads about warranties, I'm assuming its 2 years but seems to be confusion around. Ah well, 12 days and counting.
Found some interesting things already.......Tesco's won't insure it unless I provide proof of an approved 'tracker' fitted (!!), many other companies won't quote online for 'that type of car' !! but after trawling through threads here Privilidge have taken it on cheaper than for my current 2000 Integra Type R !! (saved money already). Also been reading threads about warranties, I'm assuming its 2 years but seems to be confusion around. Ah well, 12 days and counting.
Oh my !!! 4 days to go !! Got great insurance deal, and all revved up !! Hope this is the best transportation decision I've made and not the worst !! Interview with 'invisible russscie owner and report in CAR encouraging.. we'll see
PS The service seems to be definately 1yr engine and rest plus 1 year engine...........from dealer so must be true !!
>> Edited by fireblade2000 on Wednesday 9th February 23:52
PS The service seems to be definately 1yr engine and rest plus 1 year engine...........from dealer so must be true !!
>> Edited by fireblade2000 on Wednesday 9th February 23:52
OK so........Just over 250 miles and it seems superb. Still can't work it all, as no instruction manual or dealer leadership but it starts and goes like nothing else. Like others (Lady Topaz) on here the indicator falls down but thats nothing major.Been reading the Mark 1 manual but I still cant figure out how to open the bonnet to check oil etc but hey...........thats me, the car sems superb and the build quality is excellent ........(so far )...!!
I think you've been well and truly bitten now! 
Bonnet is not impossible, as is checking oil, but it takes a "TVR-attitude" to do it all without loosing the rest of your marbles
Seriously, though, well worth the piece of mind of keeping on top of the oil levels and anything else.
I had the wonderful fortune of meeting up with another Tuscaneer in the second day of my ownership. I sheepishly admitted that I'd not really opened the manual and hadn't opened the bonnet yet. True to TVR-owning form, he shared a useful bag of tricks as he showed me how the bonnet opened and how to close it without stripping all the paint round the anchor points and where the battery plug is and everything.
Welcome to the fold, and just remember there's people out here if you ever have any "interesting" developments!!!
Bonnet is not impossible, as is checking oil, but it takes a "TVR-attitude" to do it all without loosing the rest of your marbles
Seriously, though, well worth the piece of mind of keeping on top of the oil levels and anything else. I had the wonderful fortune of meeting up with another Tuscaneer in the second day of my ownership. I sheepishly admitted that I'd not really opened the manual and hadn't opened the bonnet yet. True to TVR-owning form, he shared a useful bag of tricks as he showed me how the bonnet opened and how to close it without stripping all the paint round the anchor points and where the battery plug is and everything.
Welcome to the fold, and just remember there's people out here if you ever have any "interesting" developments!!!
fireblade2000 said:
OK so........Just over 250 miles and it seems superb. Still can't work it all, as no instruction manual or dealer leadership but it starts and goes like nothing else. Like others (Lady Topaz) on here the indicator falls down but thats nothing major.Been reading the Mark 1 manual but I still cant figure out how to open the bonnet to check oil etc but hey...........thats me, the car sems superb and the build quality is excellent ........(so far )...!!
Hi John, I assume you mean the service bonnet ie front
one?. There is a catch like a briefcase lock on the drivers side bonnet. You can see it if you look down towaeds the fans. Spring this lock (praying the dealer hasnt locked it and not given you the key) This releases the centre pin on the service bonnet. Carefully then pull up each corner at the wing tip. There are two retaining sockets. Once up there is a bonnet support on the nearside wing. Your fluids will now be accessible. To close I always lock the middle ist then push each wing down. Some may do it differently.Oh and I never bother to even try and key lock it, far too fiddly.
If you need advice on oil levels, just ask. Good luck.
Di
fireblade2000 said:
Yep that was prob me, got MJU in the numberplate, saw a nice Ferrari myself on the A370 not your was it ?
Nope, I was out in the Murci this weekend. Didn't use the 360 at all. If it was a red 360 Spider you saw, it was a friend of mine.
I live in Weston, PM me if you like and we'll meet to have a coffee. Would love to have a nose around a Tuscan 2.
Tuan
PM sent !!! Must say was out and taking it carefully in the bad weather yesterday pm and it handles beautifully with a bit of care !! Only hassle were the repeated 'ice warnings' which were continual until a temp of 1' !!! Must be a way to turn this off !! All in all, 300 miles from new now and its a peach !! Thanks again to all the folks helping out the un-initiated !!
fireblade2000 said:
Only hassle were the repeated 'ice warnings' which were continual until a temp of 1' !!! Must be a way to turn this off !!
I'm not sure if you can turn it off, but you can certainly turn off the warning beeps. Check the manual on how to access the set up screen.
Have a look on the South West forum. Corin's organising a Karting Day in Exeter on 13th March. Might be a good excuse for a run...
We could convoy.
Tuan
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