A long wait but finally home
Discussion
I have never really followed the herd when it comes to car ownership and have pretty much always owned and driven what I wanted to drive at the time rather than what was expected of me, not really got a particular brand favourite or type of car so my OH is not surprised when I can go from a Jaguar S Type R to a Saab 9-5 Aero to a Westfield V8 via a Clio 182 and W215 CL500.
Getting older is seeing the rate with which I change cars slowing down and rather than rushing into purchases I'm taking more time to research and consider before proceeding to buy the first car I view.
After selling the Westfield (great fun but areoscreen, 5.1 litres and 205 section tyres made it huge fun but often scary and hopelessly impractical I was without a weekend car again - the search started straight away and after discounting a number of cars:
1. CL63 - this was my first choice and will be purchased at some point in the future but decided wanted something more raw
2. E63 M6 - running costs frightened me off and already have an E64 650
3. V8 Vantage - budget would not stretch to a really nice example
A TVR was actually my OH's idea and I started the research, the original thought of a Chimera was quickly passed over, a Cerbera was a contender for a while but eventually settled on a Tuscan - just seemed to tick more of the boxes for me
Started contacting specialists halfway through 2019, all of them very helpful and giving good advice, joined the owners club and always made a beeline for the TVR section at shows to get to speak to as many owners as I could. The advice was always the same, steer clear of super low mileage examples, buy on history and condition and allow a contingency fund.
Although not in a position to actually purchase until the end of 2019 (preferably early 2020) I was contacted by the owner of a 2001 Tuscan in one of my favoured colours (Viper GTS blue) who said that his car would be available at the end of the year.
Quick trip to see the car showed it was pretty much what I was looking for, only 1 previous owner, had been in regular use throughout its life (although still only showing 44k miles), a complete history with massive folder of bills, the original invoice, all old tax discs and even a load of photos taken during the build.
It id however show a hint of white smoke on start up - the owner was completely straight with me and said it had a stuck valve the previous year and that if he was keeping the car he would be looking at a top end rebuild. A long chat with TrackvRoad who have looked after the cr for the last ten years backed this up.
A lot of thinking ensued as the car was not the cheapest around but its history was a strong draw for me and if I could get the car cheap enough I could get the engine work done before I actually had the car home - a plan was hatched.,
I agreed a deal with the owner of a holding deposit paid in July, balance paid in December and no more than 500 more miles to be put on the car, once the balance was paid the car would be dropped off at TrackvRoad who would do the engine work and I would collect from there.
July to December was a long wait but allowed me to make sure all the funds were in place and the deal was completed on 5th Dec with the car going to TrackvRoad on the 9th Dec, the plan was to get the car back by end Jan / early Feb
Due to illness of TrackvRoads head mechanic, a bit more head work than originally planned and parts delays the car was not finally ready until last week - at an early stage I had decided to have the bottom end checked over but all was found to be perfect but I did opt for a very complete top end rebuild including modified throttle bodies.
Due to collect last Friday but common sense saw me cancel collection, fortunately TrackvRoad had a trip down my way needed so they very kindly dropped the car off for me - of course keeping the 2 metre rule in place.
So 9 months after first viewing the car and nearly 4 months into owning it, I finally have her home and will try and keep the thread updated with progress
Must be one of the few who see a Tuscan as a more sensible and sober car than the one it replaced in the garage
Before some cleaning
And 3 hours later
Getting older is seeing the rate with which I change cars slowing down and rather than rushing into purchases I'm taking more time to research and consider before proceeding to buy the first car I view.
After selling the Westfield (great fun but areoscreen, 5.1 litres and 205 section tyres made it huge fun but often scary and hopelessly impractical I was without a weekend car again - the search started straight away and after discounting a number of cars:
1. CL63 - this was my first choice and will be purchased at some point in the future but decided wanted something more raw
2. E63 M6 - running costs frightened me off and already have an E64 650
3. V8 Vantage - budget would not stretch to a really nice example
A TVR was actually my OH's idea and I started the research, the original thought of a Chimera was quickly passed over, a Cerbera was a contender for a while but eventually settled on a Tuscan - just seemed to tick more of the boxes for me
Started contacting specialists halfway through 2019, all of them very helpful and giving good advice, joined the owners club and always made a beeline for the TVR section at shows to get to speak to as many owners as I could. The advice was always the same, steer clear of super low mileage examples, buy on history and condition and allow a contingency fund.
Although not in a position to actually purchase until the end of 2019 (preferably early 2020) I was contacted by the owner of a 2001 Tuscan in one of my favoured colours (Viper GTS blue) who said that his car would be available at the end of the year.
Quick trip to see the car showed it was pretty much what I was looking for, only 1 previous owner, had been in regular use throughout its life (although still only showing 44k miles), a complete history with massive folder of bills, the original invoice, all old tax discs and even a load of photos taken during the build.
It id however show a hint of white smoke on start up - the owner was completely straight with me and said it had a stuck valve the previous year and that if he was keeping the car he would be looking at a top end rebuild. A long chat with TrackvRoad who have looked after the cr for the last ten years backed this up.
A lot of thinking ensued as the car was not the cheapest around but its history was a strong draw for me and if I could get the car cheap enough I could get the engine work done before I actually had the car home - a plan was hatched.,
I agreed a deal with the owner of a holding deposit paid in July, balance paid in December and no more than 500 more miles to be put on the car, once the balance was paid the car would be dropped off at TrackvRoad who would do the engine work and I would collect from there.
July to December was a long wait but allowed me to make sure all the funds were in place and the deal was completed on 5th Dec with the car going to TrackvRoad on the 9th Dec, the plan was to get the car back by end Jan / early Feb
Due to illness of TrackvRoads head mechanic, a bit more head work than originally planned and parts delays the car was not finally ready until last week - at an early stage I had decided to have the bottom end checked over but all was found to be perfect but I did opt for a very complete top end rebuild including modified throttle bodies.
Due to collect last Friday but common sense saw me cancel collection, fortunately TrackvRoad had a trip down my way needed so they very kindly dropped the car off for me - of course keeping the 2 metre rule in place.
So 9 months after first viewing the car and nearly 4 months into owning it, I finally have her home and will try and keep the thread updated with progress
Must be one of the few who see a Tuscan as a more sensible and sober car than the one it replaced in the garage
Before some cleaning
And 3 hours later
Congratulations Andy, she looks lovely.
Your Wife is a keeper as mine is.
Unfortunately, as far as Tuscans go, the only thing we have in common is the, 'long wait'.
Back in September 2006 I bought my first after spotting it while sat in a hotel room in Chicago while scouring the internet.
It was at a used car dealer in Chester so I asked my Wife to go and have a look at it which she duly did and bought it for me.
When I got home it became apparent, after 34 miles, that it needed a rebuild.
In March 2007 I got her back along with the first repair bill of £11k.
That was my long wait.
Congrats again and I hope we get to drive them this year.
PS; I had my throttle body upgrade done a few months later and it was a fantastic improvement.
Unfortunately I wrote her off in 2009.
Your Wife is a keeper as mine is.
Unfortunately, as far as Tuscans go, the only thing we have in common is the, 'long wait'.
Back in September 2006 I bought my first after spotting it while sat in a hotel room in Chicago while scouring the internet.
It was at a used car dealer in Chester so I asked my Wife to go and have a look at it which she duly did and bought it for me.
When I got home it became apparent, after 34 miles, that it needed a rebuild.
In March 2007 I got her back along with the first repair bill of £11k.
That was my long wait.
Congrats again and I hope we get to drive them this year.
PS; I had my throttle body upgrade done a few months later and it was a fantastic improvement.
Unfortunately I wrote her off in 2009.
Edited by so called on Tuesday 31st March 13:27
Edited by so called on Tuesday 31st March 13:28
Congratulations on the latest addition.
I may have missed it but had you driven a Tuscan before deciding on one? Anything after a V8 Westfield will be tame so it will be interesting to hear your experiences and views.
Decent weather delivered at the same time as your car the automotive Gods are smiling.
I may have missed it but had you driven a Tuscan before deciding on one? Anything after a V8 Westfield will be tame so it will be interesting to hear your experiences and views.
Decent weather delivered at the same time as your car the automotive Gods are smiling.
s6boy said:
Congratulations on the latest addition.
I may have missed it but had you driven a Tuscan before deciding on one? Anything after a V8 Westfield will be tame so it will be interesting to hear your experiences and views.
Decent weather delivered at the same time as your car the automotive Gods are smiling.
I decided on one and then drove a couple to confirm it was the right choice - wanted something a bit more civilised than the Westfield (hardly difficult) but not too smooth and refined - the Tuscan kind of self selected itself. I may have missed it but had you driven a Tuscan before deciding on one? Anything after a V8 Westfield will be tame so it will be interesting to hear your experiences and views.
Decent weather delivered at the same time as your car the automotive Gods are smiling.
It was certainly interesting driving a few of them - they ranged from being poor to very good and made me realise that one with sensible upgrades (good suspension set up especially) was going to be an important consideration - the one I bought had Nitrons fitted and a full geo set-up less than 500 miles before I bought it and it drives very nicely - my Westfield had Nitrons and was surprisingly comfortable for something so extreme
After a good amount of time cleaning out all the arches and chassis sections of old anti-corrosion wax (which had done a really good job) they were re-protected with a healthy coating of Bilt Hamber UC - used Bilt Hamber products a lot over the years and won't use anything else when it comes to anti-corrosion stuff.
Moved on to the machine polishing - I bought the car because it was (is) incredibly honest, never had paint but at 19 years old it means that there was a fair amount of light stone-chipping. This was not an issue because I bought the car to drive and to enjoy, having perfect paint would have made me paranoid.
After a clay bar session, decontaminant and going over the car with my trusty Flex rotary and Megs medium cut polish I was extremely happy to see most of what I thought were stone-chips completely removed.
Still to apply fine polish, glaze and sealant before its finished but early signs are good
Moved on to the machine polishing - I bought the car because it was (is) incredibly honest, never had paint but at 19 years old it means that there was a fair amount of light stone-chipping. This was not an issue because I bought the car to drive and to enjoy, having perfect paint would have made me paranoid.
After a clay bar session, decontaminant and going over the car with my trusty Flex rotary and Megs medium cut polish I was extremely happy to see most of what I thought were stone-chips completely removed.
Still to apply fine polish, glaze and sealant before its finished but early signs are good
Few more jobs ticked off the list.
The drivers door solenoid was always triggering but not actually popping the door open, I suspected that some minor adjustment on the latch would do the trick, little bit of jiggling and now works perfectly - means the new solenoid I had bought just in case can be safely stored away.
My intention is to keep the car as OE as I can, the airbox was looking pretty badly marked and discoloured, cleaning the hinges and brackets followed by a rubbing down of the airbox itself, primed, 3 coats of gloss black, 3 coats of clear coat and its gone back on looking much better than it did
Machine polishing of paintwork completed followed by first layer of Mitchell and King Cloak.
This will be followed by a layer of Angelwax Ti-22 sealant and a couple of coats of wax, which one is not decided upon yet - I have a lot to choose from
The drivers door solenoid was always triggering but not actually popping the door open, I suspected that some minor adjustment on the latch would do the trick, little bit of jiggling and now works perfectly - means the new solenoid I had bought just in case can be safely stored away.
My intention is to keep the car as OE as I can, the airbox was looking pretty badly marked and discoloured, cleaning the hinges and brackets followed by a rubbing down of the airbox itself, primed, 3 coats of gloss black, 3 coats of clear coat and its gone back on looking much better than it did
Machine polishing of paintwork completed followed by first layer of Mitchell and King Cloak.
This will be followed by a layer of Angelwax Ti-22 sealant and a couple of coats of wax, which one is not decided upon yet - I have a lot to choose from
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