Ok, so a tuscan is not cheap to run.
Ok, so a tuscan is not cheap to run.
Author
Discussion

G9eg

Original Poster:

177 posts

250 months

Friday 3rd June 2005
quotequote all
OK.Read alot about tuscan sp6,and alot of you are saying it is a money pit,but I really want one and because I only have the £22000 of borrowed money,I really want to know how much money you are talking about,when you say lots of niggly problems,because after the hefty mortgage and loan repayments there won't be too much money to spare.Although were not skint,if engine needs rebuilding after warranty runs out after 12 months then the car could be sitting in the drive for weeks.So should I try and squeeze another 2 or 3 grand and go for a T350 or Tamora with a little bit more reliabiliaty.

powerlord

771 posts

264 months

Saturday 4th June 2005
quotequote all
er. I hate to say it. And really... check my previous comments to see it's not my style... but really, stay away.

a tuscan may or may not be a money pit. mine has cost me about 3.5K in a year. that is about average. I needed a complete rebuilt but that was not paid by me. But I expected to have to pay it at another 4K.

Really, I'm not being standoffish. I saved and considered for 2-3 years before I bought my tuscan.... but you need to buy it with ooo I dunno 2/3 of the money you have available (commonest stuff).

If you don't.... well you may be lucky. you may not.

From your frank posting I'd suggest (and really I know how you feel) that you don't buy a tuscan...it wil most likely f#ck you, play with you and then spit yout out after a few months.

stu

UpTheIron

4,057 posts

291 months

Saturday 4th June 2005
quotequote all
Hi G9eg,

From what you have written, I would advise you not to buy a Tuscan. If you must own a TVR then look at a Griff/Chimaera.

I say this partly because you say that the money you buy the car with is borrowed. To me, that is madness indeed, but I say that having been in the lucky position that I have always bought my cars for cash.

That aside, the real issue is around the fact you do not have a reserve fund in case of emergency. For example, my next service will run to several thousand pounds - and that is without the (likely) rebuild - simply 4 tyres, 4 shocks, 4 discs/pads, big service, tappets, a bit of paint, a few other odds and sods.

But even after that, I keep the money aside to cover a rebuild (or two or three), because you never know.

The last thing you want is to have a Tuscan sitting at home because you can't afford to fix it, or worrying every time you use it in case it breaks.

Buy something for £10-£15k and enjoy it instead.

billynomates

2,101 posts

259 months

Saturday 4th June 2005
quotequote all
powerlord said:

Don't buy a tuscan...it wil most likely f#ck you, play with you and then spit you out after a few months.

stu


MMmmmm I'm doing ok for the first month ...you telling me its a good chance its going to go tits up?

( I think I know the risk re £'s )

Bloody good fun though worth every penny.

I hope




anonymous-user

77 months

Saturday 4th June 2005
quotequote all
£22k is right at the bottom of the market. If that's your budget and you're borrowing the money I wouldnt go near a Tuscan / T350 / Tamora (they are all basically the same mechanically). Thats not to say that there is anything wrong with the cars. I have had 2 Tuscans and have had no engine problems. But a big service is a grand and you have to be prepared to spend a little money on maintenance and if something does go wrong it will be expensive.

I think the advice above (spend £15k on a chim) is sound.

Cyberhuss

923 posts

258 months

Saturday 4th June 2005
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You need to be able to afford two Tuscan's to run just the one...

ggt

2,016 posts

257 months

Saturday 4th June 2005
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i must be one of the lucky one,s, had my tuscan a year and it has done 9,000 miles and only cost me
1) New fuel chip £80
2)Main service £987.00

basil brush

5,515 posts

286 months

Saturday 4th June 2005
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You do need a bit of cash for general stuff. My first year of ownership cost £700 for one service. My second year so far has included 2 services at £1300 and £2000, a clutch slave at £700 and 2 rear tyres at about £300. I haven't had any engine problems, yet. These are factory/main dealer costs so specialist route would be cheaper.

NCE 61

2,442 posts

304 months

Saturday 4th June 2005
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Have a look Here if you want to see my running cost over five years & this does not include insurance, road tax etc.

dicko34

8 posts

251 months

Saturday 4th June 2005
quotequote all
hi -i bought a tusc private for the kind of money your looking at spending (on a loan like your intending) and guess what no engine problems at all - BUT clutch etc shocks required so if you do buy a older tusc bear this in mind as these are expensive to replace.i would get the tuscan and take the risk as the chims and tamoras etc just don't have that x factor the tusc has.

hot racer

375 posts

256 months

Saturday 4th June 2005
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I whole heartedly agree with Dicko. Had mine 7 months, drive it daily, and bugger all wrong with it. I have absolutely no regrets, and would advise anyone to buy one! I've seen them for sale on here for 18.5K. All i can say is, make sure it has full history, get a comprehensive check done (RAC are excellent), get one bought and BUZZ off it, i do every day. There's no other car like it.

Tuska

961 posts

253 months

Sunday 5th June 2005
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Ive had mine a year now and its never let me down.
I did, however, source one that had a post 2002 rebuild by TVR Power.

BUT, you should be spending money on preventative maintenance.

My 2000 4.0 standard spec (with air con) was £22000 (18000 miles clocked). I have since spent £2000 on a big service (including tappit adjustment), £1200 on Nitrons, £250 on tyres, £220 on carbon cans and £300 on odds and sods.

I reckon this is as bargain as it gets for Tuscan ownership. If you buy one you should be aware of these costs as well as the possibility of another rebuild (£4000???+)

That said, its the best fun on four wheels. NO car turns heads like a tuscan................

TUS 373

5,037 posts

304 months

Monday 6th June 2005
quotequote all
I've had pretty trouble free motoring with Tuscan over the last 3 years (2000 model). But, little things do happen and if something breaks/wears, well the car can't do without the work. My minor services have beena round £650, with majors around £900. Then I got Nitrons on last week (£1350 with full setup and corner weighting), plus while it was in I also got new suspension bushes to the rear, a new speedo sensor (old one had a crack in it), and a new window encoder - approximately another £500 on top of the Nitrons it went in for!!).

With the engines, you can be lucky and be fault free (no problems with my engine, 19,500 miles and 1 rebuild at 12,000 miles in hands of previous owner), but whether you drive the cars much or not, you will get things that need attention sooner or later and the costs will mount up. Saying that though, the Tuscans, Tamoras, T350s do have supercar performance comparable to much more expensive cars - that would cost a huge amount more to purchase and maintain.

Tuska

961 posts

253 months

Monday 6th June 2005
quotequote all
TUS 373 said:


With the engines, you can be lucky and be fault free (no problems with my engine, 19,500 miles and 1 rebuild at 12,000 miles in hands of previous owner), but whether you drive the cars much or not, you will get things that need attention sooner or later and the costs will mount up. Saying that though, the Tuscans, Tamoras, T350s do have supercar performance comparable to much more expensive cars - that would cost a huge amount more to purchase and maintain.




I used to have a Ferrari 400i (dont ask, its a long story...) and the cost of replacing the head gasket, even by an independant specialist, is around £10,000. This is currently £3,000 more than the car is worth!!!

The 400i a 4.8 litre V12 (400 is the individual cc of each cylinder) and the head gasket is a relativley common problem. The obvious point is that the Tuscan IS a supercar and will occasionally come with a supercar bill. ALL SUPERCARS DO. However, i reckon Tuscans are more economical than most. SP6 or no SP6.



>> Edited by Tuska on Monday 6th June 13:09

>> Edited by Tuska on Monday 6th June 13:10

Bitter'n'twisted

595 posts

281 months

Monday 6th June 2005
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Tuska said:

The obvious point is that the Tuscan IS a supercar and will occasionally come with a supercar bill. ALL SUPERCARS DO.


Well put.

I have to say, do all you can to afford a good one.
If any of your reletives are going to die soon and leave you some money, all well and good.
If there's a lax bank near you that you could get away with robbing, all well and good.
It is worth every penny you can get hold of, but only if you can get hold of them.

As people on here have said, if it is a struggle for you to pay the £22k for the car, you are putting yourself on very dodgy ground, where if you are unlucky you will put yourself through a nightmare.

Over and above servicing, tax, petrol and insurance mine has cost me £60 to run in the last 2 years and 8 months. But then again, I have had it from new.

Tuska

961 posts

253 months

Monday 6th June 2005
quotequote all
Bitter'n'twisted said:


Over and above servicing, tax, petrol and insurance mine has cost me £60 to run in the last 2 years and 8 months. But then again, I have had it from new.



One is tempted to ask what there is to be Bitter'n'twisted about?

TUS 373

5,037 posts

304 months

Monday 6th June 2005
quotequote all


I have spent more than £60 on car polish/shampoo in a single year!

Bitter'n'twisted

595 posts

281 months

Monday 6th June 2005
quotequote all
Tuska said:

Bitter'n'twisted said:


Over and above servicing, tax, petrol and insurance mine has cost me £60 to run in the last 2 years and 8 months. But then again, I have had it from new.




One is tempted to ask what there is to be Bitter'n'twisted about?


£60 is outrageous!!!
I'm seeing lawyers about it this afternoon.
£1 a year is acceptable, and not a penny more!

No, it's other things in life, not my fantastic TVR!


B17NNS

18,506 posts

270 months

Monday 6th June 2005
quotequote all
powerlord said:
it wil most likely f#ck you, play with you and then spit yout out after a few months.


just like a good woman

Tuska

961 posts

253 months

Monday 6th June 2005
quotequote all
B17NNS said:

powerlord said:
it wil most likely f#ck you, play with you and then spit yout out after a few months.



just like a good woman


Or better still, a bad one.