Buying a Tuscan.... again!?

[justinp1]

Hi Guys,

After just over a year being Tuscanless I have seemingly lost my senses and memories of how much petrol and time was spent going back and forth to garages getting it fixed, and are serously thinking about buying another!

The one I am looking at is a 2000 and has had an engine rebuild 4000 miles ago carried out by the previous but one owner, but for some reason did not pass on the paperwork to prove it, thus the new owner has no proof of what work was carried out. Me being a cynic and careful with my money will be looking to double check this before I buy. Is there a way of checking with TVR if and when the rebuild was caried out and what work was done? If someone has the department, and even better a phone number this would be most appreciated!

The current owner has also noted that there is some rippling of the paintwork above both rear wheel arches. I have not had a look myself yet, but is this common, and is it bad news?

The current owner has only had the car a couple of months, and thus is not quite au fait with the 'joys' of owning such a beast but does sound genuine, but I do want to make sure that the reason for sale is not that it is a time-bomb waiting to happen. It was last serviced at a 'specialist in Middlewich', does anyone know who this might be, and if they are reliable? Thus if there are any gremlins would/should it show up on the service report? He has been honest with me in the fact that it needs a new oil pressure sensor and sender, but this is pretty much part of the course, there isnt a silly lead time on them though?

Many thanks in advance to anyone who can help shed some light, as I am going to have a look tomorrow!

Cheers!

[dodgyviper]

I'd guess the Middlewich specialist will probably be Ian who runs Middlewich MOT / Torque RVT

ian's number is 01606 831 244.

Give him a bell, he'll help out as much as poss

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

justinp1 said:

Hi Guys,

The current owner has only had the car a couple of months,

Does that not concern you?

[justinp1]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

justinp1 said:

Hi Guys,

The current owner has only had the car a couple of months,

Does that not concern you?

Yes, which is why although I believe his story about being left in the lurch with regard to his company recinding his company car offer, I am asking the above questions to be able to as much as possible check the cars provenance.

[Wacky Racer]

My advice would be look before you leap....

There are plenty more Tuscans (and other TVR's) out there....

If in doubt.....pass.....

Also, selling after two months rings alarm bells....

[dvs_dave]

Sounds like it's got rather a chequered past and is being sold under some suspicious circumstances (after 2 months ownership). Walk away. There's MANY more well loved and presented cars with full history and documentation.

Is it very cheap......if so it may be worth the gamble?

[Mustang Baz]

justinp1 said:

Is there a way of checking with TVR if and when the rebuild was caried out and what work was done?

When I bought mine from a fellow PHer, I got in writing from the dealer who had provided the car new to him that there had been no engine rebuild/rework or body work prior to my purchase. Gave me additional comfort - although as mentioned before, still did not stop it going south 3k miles/months later!

[TUS 373]

I would be interested to know this too. I have had my car almost 4 years to the day. The original owner had a rebuild, but I never saw any evidence of that. I tracked down the owner and spoke to him to get the history instead and I accepted that he was telling the truth and would have no reason to do otherwise.

Now that I am coming to sell, it may be helpful to have the evidence to pass on to the next owner - but I have always found the factory lacking in providing this kind of detail. It would be good to know this.

[Mats]

You can always buy mine. I have the re-build documentation to prove it too Rebuilt 4K ago.

[basil brush]

Early goodwill rebuilds didn't come with any documentation from the factory, but I would hope if paid for then the work would be documented.

[justinp1]

Hi again,

Thanks everyone for their input.

I went to see the car today so i thought I would give an update. Looks great from far off, but some of the worst paint marks I have seen closer up. The roof is covered by paint cracks and crazing. At the stress point around the A-frame not only is the paint cracks there are some splits into the fibreglass. Further to this all along the three quarter panel are what can only be described as very noticable blisters which really spoil the Moonraker Black paint.

I have never seen anything like this before, does anyone know what it is!? The owner assures me that it should be cheap to repair.... but Im not sure I agree!

The engine had a goodwill rebuild at some time in the past (i believe this on trust) thus there is no paperwork. The current owner has had the car for only two months and also took this on trust... The other strange point is that in the last three years it has covered 3000 miles, and in this time never serviced! The service book as stamped by the aforementioned specialist for a major service only a few miles ago and apparantly he fixed a number of niggles, but the owner does not remember what these niggles were despite paying for them a month ago, and when I asked to see the paperwork for the service where I would expect at least a basic report of faults etc, I found that this was never supplied...

My gut feeling is that there are too many strange occurances for me to risk even a cheap offer. Does anyone have any input or ideas about the background to any of the above!?

Cheers again in advance for your help!

[J_S_G]

justinp1 said:

A dozen things that don't add up

If it's more than £15k, walk away. Quickly. If it's less than £15k, walk away sligthly slower, calculating the potential bills.

Full respray: £3k+. Might get a partial one done for £1k if the problems are in isolated areas. If it's a fancy paint job (you might be lucky with black), "touching it up" isn't a great option. And that's without dealing with fibreglass damage.
3 years virtually standing still: All rubber perishables are likely to be screwed. Clutch seals included. Would factor in another £1k+ for this.

Years off the road, dodgy paintwork and cracked bodywork, plus a distinct lack of paperwork would generally lead me to think "accident victim". In the niche world of Tivs, you never can tell, though.

I'd get in touch with the specialist that's serviced it and ask for their opinion. Assuming their summary doesn't include the phrase "barge pole", I'd make an offer of up to £10k, as respray + clutch + (potential if no paperwork?) engine + sundry electrical niggles/etc. could easily total a bill North of £7k, bringing it up to the price of early Tuscs with known history, etc. It may be a bargain, you just never know!

Edited by J_S_G on Wednesday 12th July 00:35

[justinp1]

J_S_G said:

justinp1 said:

A dozen things that don't add up

If it's more than £15k, walk away. Quickly. If it's less than £15k, walk away sligthly slower, calculating the potential bills.

Full respray: £3k+. Might get a partial one done for £1k if the problems are in isolated areas. If it's a fancy paint job (you might be lucky with black), "touching it up" isn't a great option. And that's without dealing with fibreglass damage.
3 years virtually standing still: All rubber perishables are likely to be screwed. Clutch seals included. Would factor in another £1k+ for this.

Years off the road, dodgy paintwork and cracked bodywork, plus a distinct lack of paperwork would generally lead me to think "accident victim". In the niche world of Tivs, you never can tell, though.

I'd get in touch with the specialist that's serviced it and ask for their opinion. Assuming their summary doesn't include the phrase "barge pole", I'd make an offer of up to £10k, as respray + clutch + (potential if no paperwork?) engine + sundry electrical niggles/etc. could easily total a bill North of £7k, bringing it up to the price of early Tuscs with known history, etc. It may be a bargain, you just never know!

Edited by J_S_G on Wednesday 12th July 00:35

Cheers,

This is what I thought. When I talked about price, the owner instantly took a grand off the asking price bringing it down to £16k but told me that he wouldnt take a pound lower. He also told me that this was prices competitavely to sell and that he has already had 4 phone calls in as many days.

To be honest I think I know the Tuscan market a bit better than him and he is trying to get rid ASAP as he has found out that the fun car he bought for the summer is going to cost a bomb. For example, it is advertised as having 4 new tyres. From what I can see this is not quite true - they only have 2-3000 miles of wear on them but the outside of all the tyres have started to crack, so I am guessing these are the same tyres that have been sat on the car for 3 years plus whilst it sat going nowhere!

I did say that at £16,000 I would have to spend £1000-£2000 on paint, £1200 on shocks (rears leaking from what I can see), £800 on new clutch (1st and 5th starting to stiffen), and 2-4 new tyres at £400-£800. There is also the fact that the engine rebuilt was a 'goodwill' rebuild, and i know these stopped some time ago, thus if it has been rebuilt more than 2-3 years ago, and without any paperwork I dont think this adds value at all.

I did compare his car plus all the wok done being over £20,000 to others on the market with a proven rebuild and better condition at less and after getting over the disappointment of going all that way with deposit money in my wallet I walked. He did say he would ring me about him getting a quote to fix the paintwork, but I am doubtful if this call will happen, as he is probably banking on some of the other interested parties coming to view the car with paintwork he describes as 'good' (!?) over the phone coming to view and paying the asking price.

Its a good cheap car for someone who hasnt got a clue what they are buying who thinks that the cosmetic work will be easy and cheap. However I have a sneaking suspicion that this is the reason why it was bought 2 months ago and now trying to be sold on...

[J_S_G]

justinp1 said:

...

However I have a sneaking suspicion that this is the reason why it was bought 2 months ago and now trying to be sold on...

That'd be my take on it, too! If first & fifth are feeling a bit shoddy, it could be the 'box rather than the clutch. It's usually second and fifth that'll go first, but a couple of dodgy down-shifts can hurt first quite badly. If that is the case, it won't be a cheap bill! May be nothing, mind - but I wouldn't take it on faith there are no problems here.

Wonder where he bought it from & how much for...

[justinp1]

J_S_G said:

justinp1 said:

...

However I have a sneaking suspicion that this is the reason why it was bought 2 months ago and now trying to be sold on...

That'd be my take on it, too! If first & fifth are feeling a bit shoddy, it could be the 'box rather than the clutch. It's usually second and fifth that'll go first, but a couple of dodgy down-shifts can hurt first quite badly. If that is the case, it won't be a cheap bill! May be nothing, mind - but I wouldn't take it on faith there are no problems here.

Wonder where he bought it from & how much for...

Funnily enough I did ask this exact question. I am a businessman so would not be offended if he was going to be making a bit but I did ask 'If you dont mind, how much did you pay for it?' and I got the reply: 'Er.... um.... well..... (long pause) If i add what I have spent on it in the last couple of months (which before of course he couldnt remember before.... hmm....) well um if I sold for £16,000 (longer pause) well I wouldnt be losing too much.'

Not really an answer to my question at all really which only told me that there was something *more* to hide....!

[J_S_G]

Just remembered... think I saw a couple of photos of it in an ad:

[dickkark]

J_S_G said:

Just remembered... think I saw a couple of photos of it in an ad:

NO that`s a picture of my last cerbera!