Thoughts on this Tuscan?

[leemarkadams]

Any thoughts on this, as even without a rebuild that seems a fairly good price:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/TVR+...

Thanks

Lee

[Mark A S]

This one has been up for sale for some time now, i saw it advertised when i was looking for mine, reason for sale, Hummer just arrived!
The original add said it had a rather nasty scratch on the near side rear with a photo.
Best to go have a look, it does seem cheap.
Happy hunting!

[WorAl]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[gremlin123]

There are a few cheap ones on autotrader at the moment. Remember at an engine rebuild can cost £9000 or more.

[leemarkadams]

Agree an engine rebuild can cost a fair bit, but you never know....

[Mustang Baz]

That car is indeed cheap, but as has been said many times on here before, this could well be a false economy. Tuscans are NOT £11k cars requiring an £11k cars' standard maintenance costs. If a purchasers budget can only extend to that price, leaving little behind for anything unforseen, a purchaser is asking for problems in my opinion. I spent almost £3k on a 2 yr AutoProtect warranty back last August and am thankful I did - having had to claim at least that recently. Had I not had the warranty, the cumulative effect of servicing and the various warranty claims would have been very significant from a £ perspective, especially if I had pushed myself to purchase the car @ £11k for example in the first place.

Also to remember on Tuscans is that is it not "just" the engine; a new clutch is £600-£1k, a new radiator anywhere up to £400 or more; pod repairs £50-£300; diff mounts - up to a £1k; steering rack work £200-£800+. The list goes on - and believe me, I have experienced it all but still love the car and owning it! Add to that the "discretionary" items such as nitrons, carbon cans, improved interior etc - all of which make the experience that much better - then you can be talking significant expenditure.

Not being negative and great news you are considering purchasing a Tuscan - just flagging that a potential dream purchase can easily then turn into a nightmare if not aware of the potential spend up front.

[leemarkadams]

Thanks for the advice, I would obviously prefer a Tuscan that has just had a full rebuild etc.

As for running costs, more than happy that they are expensive cars to run, as have done a fair bit of research.

In no hurry, as waiting for right one at the right price.

Lee

[gremlin123]

leemarkadams said:

Thanks for the advice, I would obviously prefer a Tuscan that has just had a full rebuild etc.

As for running costs, more than happy that they are expensive cars to run, as have done a fair bit of research.

In no hurry, as waiting for right one at the right price.

Lee

I bought the perfect one last week. Just has an new clutch, newish tires, new break pads and a rebuild engine 1000 miles ago by St8six. It was expensive for a "W" but should save in the long run. And I can enjoy the car knowing it has had all this work done and has a one year warranty.

[leemarkadams]

As said I can wait..........but for the right money it is surely worth taking a risk!

[andyoleary]

leemarkadams said:

As said I can wait..........but for the right money it is surely worth taking a risk!

That's the whole point I think - what's the "right money" and how much do you offset that in risk? It's same as buying any other car - what's your budget, what's it going to cost (potentially) to run it? If a £10K Tuscan has a potential risk of around £10K needing to be spent (as mentioned above - rebuild, clutch, radiator, coilpacks, servicing, various ECU niggles etc, etc) then you're looking at a budget of £20K. Buy a ~£18K car that has had recent work done on it and is (probably) newer by a couple of years - best of both worlds..

Also, I would recommend buying from a dedicated dealer or from an ethusiast/owner if possible,

Just my tuppence....good luck with your hunt, keep reading the forums and try to meet/talk to some owners and keep posting on here about motors you are looking at - it's always good to get feedback,

Andy

[Daston]

Here is my experience after 3 months

I paid £14,750 for a 21k mile tuscan. It had an engine rebuild in 2004 @ 15k miles as well as a new clutch and fly wheel at 19k miles. I had Rob Ingleby look over the car and he came back to say that the shocks on the front were dead, passanger window was playing up (stuck down) and there was a few stone chips but other than that it was good. So made an offer based on this and purchased the car.

With in 3 weeks had a real loud knocking noise so took it down to Dulford. They thought it was engine related but turned out to be a loose vent knocking away. So had that fixed and the window. £450.

Just had the 12k service done, came to £2400
Needed engine mounts, pads, oil pot needed rethreading, Racing Reds were put on and a new door ecu was needed. It also looks like I will need to change the diff bushes over the winter.
On the upside only 6 tappets were out and they keep a record of all the clearence settings so they can see any patterns emerging, plus the engine seemed to be quite a good un.

Yet my clutch is just starting to make a strange noise so more expense.

However it is the best car I have ever owned and really does make me grin from ear to ear!

Just make sure you get someone who knows what they are looking for to give it a check for you.

[timmybob]

Daston said:

Needed engine mounts, pads, oil pot needed rethreading. It also looks like I will need to change the diff bushes over the winter.

Yet my clutch is just starting to make a strange noise so more expense.

Just make sure you get someone who knows what they are looking for to give it a check for you.

Whilst I'd agree that getting someone who knows what they are looking for to check it over, given the list of items that needed doing on yours I'd be tempted to recommend someone else...

[gremlin123]

Here is two more cheap ones for £11,995 -

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/TVR+...

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/TVR+...

[leemarkadams]

I saw the other 2, and I like the look of the black one. Spoke to the seller and he says the service history is with Waldon Way Specialist Cars, now I have googled but can not find them. He also said the engine has not been rebuilt and the driver's seat bolster has collapsed.

I really like the dark coloured ones, as the wife and I went to Fernhursts yesterday and she was well taken with this:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/TVR+...

However a deposit had been taken, and it has not had a rebuild with the warranty only covering up to £1000 per claim.

[gremlin123]

leemarkadams said:

I saw the other 2, and I like the look of the black one. Spoke to the seller and he says the service history is with Waldon Way Specialist Cars, now I have googled but can not find them. He also said the engine has not been rebuilt and the driver's seat bolster has collapsed.

I really like the dark coloured ones, as the wife and I went to Fernhursts yesterday and she was well taken with this:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/TVR+...

However a deposit had been taken, and it has not had a rebuild with the warranty only covering up to £1000 per claim.

Its Walldonway (http://www.walldonway.co.uk) they are the Kent TVR dealer. I've used them to service my old Chimaera and reciently bought a Tuscan from them.

[leemarkadams]

Thanks for that, just spoken to them and they do know of the Black one, as they used to service it.

It has had 2 replacement engines! The first at 13000 miles on 26/10/2001, with the second being at 35000 miles on 24/1/2004. So that would mean it has done 12000 miles on the newer engine.

Thoughts on that one?

Thanks

Lee

[gremlin123]

Sounds like it could be a good buy then.

[andyoleary]

Did they say that it was the factory that did the rebuilds? Were they full top and bottom builds? Do you know what the failures were down to? Just curious,

Ta

Andy

[da_murphster]

Have a budget that either is initally higher and include recent engine rebuild etc or initally makes an allowance for remedial work (and be prepared to put in the effort).

You can find recent rebuilds for under £14k.

My ideal (do exsist but I couldn't find when I was looking to buy) would have been a sub £9k Tuscan with knackered engine then you can have a full 3 year warranty and piece of mind for £15k.

[Tuscan Wil]

I thought about getting a cheap Tuscan and be prepared to spend the money for rebuild etc. Don't forget when you get an older car, it is not just the engine, the condition of the chasis (which you can't change easily), the electrical stuff, wiring, and other bits and pieces too. I had an old Alfra before, the cost of the part that needed to be changed was not expensive, it 's the labour cost to dignose the problem with the electric that was the killer. I may be wrong, but in my opinion, the mechanical parts are straight forward, it is the wiring and electrical items can have prolonging issues when you get an older cars.