Newbie advice needed
Discussion
Hi,
I'm currently the happy owner of a Civic Type-R and looking to upgrade to a Tuscan.
There's one up for sale at a local(ish) dealer which I'm off to see tomorrow (2000 plate, 29k miles, the spec I'm after). I've driven a tuscan once before (from the same dealer), but this is my first test drive of the actual car I might buy.
TO THE POINT - I'm a mechanical numpty so I'm after some advice from you guys about what to be on the lookout for... obviously I'd like to minimise the chances of a monster bill in a few months time...
1. So what questions should I be asking the dealer?
2. Is there anything I can do during the test drive to determine if there are major problems?
3. Does 29k on a 2000 plate mean it SHOULD have had a rebuild by now, or is it a better sign if it HASN'T had a rebuild?
4. Is the warranty the dealers supply worth the paper its written on, or more specifically does it cover the kind of work most likely needing to be done on the engine?
Thanks!
Mark
P.S. Sorry my first post is very "newbie-ish", I don't get much time to read the site whilst at work and the test drives in a few hours!
I'm currently the happy owner of a Civic Type-R and looking to upgrade to a Tuscan.
There's one up for sale at a local(ish) dealer which I'm off to see tomorrow (2000 plate, 29k miles, the spec I'm after). I've driven a tuscan once before (from the same dealer), but this is my first test drive of the actual car I might buy.
TO THE POINT - I'm a mechanical numpty so I'm after some advice from you guys about what to be on the lookout for... obviously I'd like to minimise the chances of a monster bill in a few months time...
1. So what questions should I be asking the dealer?
2. Is there anything I can do during the test drive to determine if there are major problems?
3. Does 29k on a 2000 plate mean it SHOULD have had a rebuild by now, or is it a better sign if it HASN'T had a rebuild?
4. Is the warranty the dealers supply worth the paper its written on, or more specifically does it cover the kind of work most likely needing to be done on the engine?
Thanks!
Mark
P.S. Sorry my first post is very "newbie-ish", I don't get much time to read the site whilst at work and the test drives in a few hours!
There's loads of advice available around here. But I'll just start you off with (hopefully) some reassurance.
I take it, if I've read between the lines properly, that this is a TVR dealer you are potentially buying from?
If this is the case (whether franchised or indie) all the well known ones have a well known reputation. Whilst there is the occasional horror story, these are few and far between. Which means that it is pretty much unlikely that anyone will set out to rip you off. This is simply down to the fact that its a small market and there's no room for that sort of behaviour.
(If you let us know who you are dealing with I am sure someone might well e-mail you off thread about them too!?)
There's just three things you should concentrate on with a Tuscan - history, history and history. (Almost) everything else is academic! Find out what's been going on in its life.
As a generality, also note that cars with low mileages or little use tend to be the ones with niggles to sort out, so be prepared. Also think about having a suitable float for any work that's needed (or any upgrades to which you succumb!!
)
Last but not least - have great fun (and take care with all that power!) once you've caught the TVR bug there may be no going back!!!
I take it, if I've read between the lines properly, that this is a TVR dealer you are potentially buying from?
If this is the case (whether franchised or indie) all the well known ones have a well known reputation. Whilst there is the occasional horror story, these are few and far between. Which means that it is pretty much unlikely that anyone will set out to rip you off. This is simply down to the fact that its a small market and there's no room for that sort of behaviour.
(If you let us know who you are dealing with I am sure someone might well e-mail you off thread about them too!?)
There's just three things you should concentrate on with a Tuscan - history, history and history. (Almost) everything else is academic! Find out what's been going on in its life.
As a generality, also note that cars with low mileages or little use tend to be the ones with niggles to sort out, so be prepared. Also think about having a suitable float for any work that's needed (or any upgrades to which you succumb!!
) Last but not least - have great fun (and take care with all that power!) once you've caught the TVR bug there may be no going back!!!
Hi Beano,
Thanks for the info.
The dealer in question is the TVR Centre in Barnet. I didn't mention their name previously as I wasn't sure if it was frowned upon to name dealers
I was hoping that with 29k miles on the clock it would have had regular use and hence be reliable.
I will be sure to ask about the history as you mention, but with 2 previous owners then I guess I just have to hope the dealer has looked after it its whole life otherwise their guess could be as good as mine
And I can't wait to get behind the wheel, even if this doesn't turn out to be the car for me!
Cheers,
Mark
Thanks for the info.
The dealer in question is the TVR Centre in Barnet. I didn't mention their name previously as I wasn't sure if it was frowned upon to name dealers
I was hoping that with 29k miles on the clock it would have had regular use and hence be reliable.
I will be sure to ask about the history as you mention, but with 2 previous owners then I guess I just have to hope the dealer has looked after it its whole life otherwise their guess could be as good as mine
And I can't wait to get behind the wheel, even if this doesn't turn out to be the car for me!
Cheers,
Mark
to shaming, for obvious legal type probs. 
) lady topaz said:
You do realise its a rule on here to post pics when you get it!
Don't worry, IF I get it then pics will be up very shortly. Don't expect professional quality though because I'll be spending all my time driving it!
I'll also do my best to get along to local meets etc. I'm based in South London and I know there's a few tuscans about (including another one in my underground garage!) so I'll be sure to wave hello.
Mark
Hi TallMark,
I produce a free Tuscan Buying checklist which you may find useful. To download the latest version go to www.carfurniture.co.uk and click on the small grey link at the very bottom right of the homepage.
Good luck,
TSS
I produce a free Tuscan Buying checklist which you may find useful. To download the latest version go to www.carfurniture.co.uk and click on the small grey link at the very bottom right of the homepage.
Good luck,
TSS
Hi Mark...it seems that you have had most of your questions answered...I was wondering, have you had a look in the classifieds of Piston Heads to see what your money can actually get you?
It could be a high-spec newer car with half the mileage ;-)and an engine rebuilt...
E-mail me if you want to know more...
It could be a high-spec newer car with half the mileage ;-)and an engine rebuilt...
E-mail me if you want to know more...
He's got a point if you ask me.
Bare in mind that any warranty the dealer gives you, you can get privately.
All you get from the dealer is a non contracural 'good will' period of a month or so where you can reasonably expect anything to be fixed (clutch, brakes, anything).
And obviously the ability to make sure everything is fixed before you buy it (service, paint sorted, tyres replaced, etc, etc).
At 29K if it's not had a clutch it's gonna need one anytime (1200-1500 quid).
I'd have a long hard think about the premium you are paying to a dealer.
I did.
When I bought my 2000 last year, dealers were putting about a 3k premium on similar cars.
I bought privately.
I bought a 3 year warranty (2 years longer than a dealer will give you and for the same price).
I looked about and got a car owned by a true enthuisiast (and imho those sort of folk usually sell privately).
I got it professionally inspected.
As it's got full service history, etc, etc. AND had had a rebuilt I had more come back for engine problems down the line than I would have had with a dealer car (which hadn't had a rebuild recently, etc)..
and after all that I was still 2K up.
stu
Bare in mind that any warranty the dealer gives you, you can get privately.
All you get from the dealer is a non contracural 'good will' period of a month or so where you can reasonably expect anything to be fixed (clutch, brakes, anything).
And obviously the ability to make sure everything is fixed before you buy it (service, paint sorted, tyres replaced, etc, etc).
At 29K if it's not had a clutch it's gonna need one anytime (1200-1500 quid).
I'd have a long hard think about the premium you are paying to a dealer.
I did.
When I bought my 2000 last year, dealers were putting about a 3k premium on similar cars.
I bought privately.
I bought a 3 year warranty (2 years longer than a dealer will give you and for the same price).
I looked about and got a car owned by a true enthuisiast (and imho those sort of folk usually sell privately).
I got it professionally inspected.
As it's got full service history, etc, etc. AND had had a rebuilt I had more come back for engine problems down the line than I would have had with a dealer car (which hadn't had a rebuild recently, etc)..
and after all that I was still 2K up.
stu
TSS,
Wow! A lot of effort there, thats really useful
Mercurius, Powerlord,
I did look through the classifieds but a couple of points... Firstly I REALLY like the reflex/chameleon type paint on the one I'm going to look at, and secondly I'm quite nervous about buying privately. I know that I shouldn't be provided I do my homework, but I would prefer someone to have some comeback to if there were problems. Also there is the convenience of part exchange which saves lazy people like me from having to deal with grubby chavs turning up wanting to test drive my Type-R
I can see that Vassilis' car has had some work done on it recently which is of course good. But the one I'm looking at is up for £23,500 which is enough of a saving to give me a confidence factor of if it needs say a grands work doing at least I've still saved a little and I KNOW that the work has been done.
I think the biggest problem I have is that I'm impatient and tend to make big decisions like this on the spur of the moment...
Thanks for the help guys! Any more comments get them in quick because I'm off soon
Cheers,
Mark
Wow! A lot of effort there, thats really useful
Mercurius, Powerlord,
I did look through the classifieds but a couple of points... Firstly I REALLY like the reflex/chameleon type paint on the one I'm going to look at, and secondly I'm quite nervous about buying privately. I know that I shouldn't be provided I do my homework, but I would prefer someone to have some comeback to if there were problems. Also there is the convenience of part exchange which saves lazy people like me from having to deal with grubby chavs turning up wanting to test drive my Type-R
I can see that Vassilis' car has had some work done on it recently which is of course good. But the one I'm looking at is up for £23,500 which is enough of a saving to give me a confidence factor of if it needs say a grands work doing at least I've still saved a little and I KNOW that the work has been done.
I think the biggest problem I have is that I'm impatient and tend to make big decisions like this on the spur of the moment...
Thanks for the help guys! Any more comments get them in quick because I'm off soon
Cheers,
Mark
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