How does a Tuscan handle on less than perfect road surfaces?
Discussion
Your thoughts, I live on the Isle of Wight and have my S3, it's fantastic and am looking for a change. Must say I've driven a couple of Chimaera's and they feel tighter and better on bumpy/rough roads than my current S, and was wondering what are Tuscans like?
Chances are I'll never track it or drive it within an inch of it's life, but would like to use it (nearly) daily in the summer months and go going out in the evenings and weekends. What is ground clearance like, I know Chimaera's are better than the S because the way the exhaust runs.
Also general ownership, what are they like to live with? How driveable? Parkable? Would it be pointless owning one of the IOW as there is little places to actually use the power?
Thanks guys.
Chances are I'll never track it or drive it within an inch of it's life, but would like to use it (nearly) daily in the summer months and go going out in the evenings and weekends. What is ground clearance like, I know Chimaera's are better than the S because the way the exhaust runs.
Also general ownership, what are they like to live with? How driveable? Parkable? Would it be pointless owning one of the IOW as there is little places to actually use the power?
Thanks guys.
The Tuscan, like all TVR’s are not at there best on bumpy roads, lack of suspension travel being the main culprit.
With the Geo set up correctly and a decent set of shocks, then there a lot better, but do suit smoother surfaces where they really come into there own.
General running around, and parking, easy enough, ground clearance is OK ish, just be aware.
As for using one on the IOW, I would imagine your get a bit frustrated
With the Geo set up correctly and a decent set of shocks, then there a lot better, but do suit smoother surfaces where they really come into there own.
General running around, and parking, easy enough, ground clearance is OK ish, just be aware.
As for using one on the IOW, I would imagine your get a bit frustrated
Anyone who says their Tuscan tramlines and feels like you're along for the ride needs to get off their arse and get the suspension and geometry set up properly. It transforms the car totally and makes it very relaxing and confidence inspiring on all but the worst road surfaces, as you'd expect with any high performance car.
If your roads are particularly bad you can raise the ride height and soften the dampers (assuming you've got aftermarket shocks) a little to compensate and it'll handle sweetly. Tuscans have a tendency to bang the exhausts at the rear if set too low.
If your roads are particularly bad you can raise the ride height and soften the dampers (assuming you've got aftermarket shocks) a little to compensate and it'll handle sweetly. Tuscans have a tendency to bang the exhausts at the rear if set too low.
Daston said:
Mine tramlines quite a bit and to be honest you almost feel along for the ride on really crap roads yet my old mans Griff feels much more planted on the same bit of road. I am guessing its down to low profile wide tyres compaired with higher profile thinner tyres.
It's also partly down to the steering being better set up on the Griffs regarding bump steer. There are a couple of guys on the Cerbera forum looking at this currently and a kit being produced to invert the track rods. I'll let you know if it works when I get mine.Huge leap forward from the Griff. So they clearly learnt something in 10 years. It's quite "refined" in comparison. But, 
, it does depend upon being set up right, like any specialist car.
As for tramlining in particular, hardly noticeable on all but the worst of roads with new to newish rubber.
And clearance? Used to ground out the Griff on anything and everything. Never in the Tuscan!
, it does depend upon being set up right, like any specialist car.As for tramlining in particular, hardly noticeable on all but the worst of roads with new to newish rubber.
And clearance? Used to ground out the Griff on anything and everything. Never in the Tuscan!
Edited by beano500 on Friday 29th January 12:49
thats an interesting comment as I sooo wanted a Tuscan after my Chimaera, tried numerous Tuscans and Cerbs and none of them handled the bumps as well, some were better than others and these consequently were fitted with Nitrons (as were my chimaeras) but even the best of these did not handle the rough stuff as well as either of my Chimaers. tram lining wise, from memory the Chimaeras steering rack is different again to the Griff (but maybe that was ratio rather than geo)
Did the geo differ again on the Tamoras and T350s? as they seem to handle bumps quite well.
Did the geo differ again on the Tamoras and T350s? as they seem to handle bumps quite well.
Edited by Pvapour on Friday 29th January 12:55
I took a fellow Chimaera owner out for a spin last weekend - before mine gets sold (on Classified now), and to get some shots - I had forgotten how it felt moving up to the Tuscan. I say "up" - it's all sideways for a TVR 
But anyway, Chimaera owner was surprised at how the Tuscan isn't the rough, raw beast that you'd expect. And, TBH, I had forgotten how it seems like a complete pussycat, whether townwork, bumpy stuff or generally cruising around, compared to my expectations many years ago.
Tip: like all TVRs, try several/plenty of examples if you can. I expect that (with the first owner breathing down the neck of the guys at the factory) mine was screwed together quite well. And we all know that they come out of the box in differing states of cohesion!
But anyway, Chimaera owner was surprised at how the Tuscan isn't the rough, raw beast that you'd expect. And, TBH, I had forgotten how it seems like a complete pussycat, whether townwork, bumpy stuff or generally cruising around, compared to my expectations many years ago.
Tip: like all TVRs, try several/plenty of examples if you can. I expect that (with the first owner breathing down the neck of the guys at the factory) mine was screwed together quite well. And we all know that they come out of the box in differing states of cohesion!
Pvapour said:
thats an interesting comment as I sooo wanted a Tuscan after my Chimaera, tried numerous Tuscans and Cerbs and none of them handled the bumps as well, some were better than others and these consequently were fitted with Nitrons (as were my chimaeras) but even the best of these did not handle the rough stuff as well as either of my Chimaers. tram lining wise, from memory the Chimaeras steering rack is different again to the Griff (but maybe that was ratio rather than geo)
Did the geo differ again on the Tamoras and T350s? as they seem to handle bumps quite well.
It did and, along with the electric power steering, was then adopted on the Mk11 Tuscans as I understand it.Did the geo differ again on the Tamoras and T350s? as they seem to handle bumps quite well.
Edited by Pvapour on Friday 29th January 12:55
Tuscan 2s are calmer down a bumpy road and providing you're not trying to go too fast, no problem at all. Things can get unruly if you're really pushing on though. The sagaris is better still but is so low I kept grounding mine (especially with a full tank of gas). But most fast cars aren't up to much down a really bumpy road. The Jaguar XK and Lotus Elise would be among the better ones. Generally though you're better off with a british car for british roads. It's no co-incidence that they are set up better for our roads. I had a nissan skyline and that really knocked your fillings out and tramlined far worse than the Tuscan. It was 2 hands on the wheel at all times.
Thanks everyone
I can always make a few trips off the Island if necessary. So with Nitron suspension with the right setup, hopefully I won't get too exasperated. Another worry of mine is damage to the car. What other modifications would be good to look out for to make the ride better?
Also, for the temporary inconvenience, is it worth it?
I can always make a few trips off the Island if necessary. So with Nitron suspension with the right setup, hopefully I won't get too exasperated. Another worry of mine is damage to the car. What other modifications would be good to look out for to make the ride better?
Also, for the temporary inconvenience, is it worth it?
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