anyone know this tuscan?

[kentviking]

Hi all.

I'm a former noble owner now looking to return to the TVR fold with a second hand tuscan buy.

I've got my eye on a 2002 S in swordfish colours...reg GC51 TVR...has had four owners in its life and was apparently the show car in 02. If there is anyone on these forums who can give me any snippits of info about the car's history I would be very grateful.

According to the current owner it has been regularly serviced in Barnet, and had the engine rebuild earlier this year...this I confirmed with the garage...I guess I'm just keen to know if there is any interesting missing history that might not hit the HPI check

Thanks in advance

Morten

[cheeky]

4 owners in 4 years? Why???

[cdd]

In my experiance of TVRs which was my old Tuscan and now the Sagaris is that they do tend to change hands fairly quickly. My Sag was a year old when i got it with 6,000 miles. The original price when new was £58,000 and i bought it a year later for a touch under £45,000 from a main dealer. Lost £13,000 in a year and 6,000 miles. I can never work out why people would do this.

I suspect that a lot of people buy them and don't appreciate the running costs involved. Not that i consider them to be to high when you consider the performance you get for the price that you pay. However you can get a second hand TVR depending on condition for a relatively low price and by the time people have financed themselves to the hilt to own one they then realise that they also need tyres at £150 a go, approx 16 miles to the gallon and high insurance premiums. Particularly when i would imagine that a lot of TVR's are bought for weekend fun and second cars. I only base this on a lot of second hand TVR's having relatively low mileage when compared with your average daily run around.

I personally use mine every day to the office and back through both summer and winter. However i only do approx 20 miles a day. I believe a car should be used as designed and not used as an ornament. Mind you when you look at most TVR's in my mind they should be stuck on the wall in a gallery somewhere because to me they are art. Particularly the early Tuscans and Sagaris.

However everyone goes on about TVR residuals and depreciation and if you look at the one i bought, the original owner only lost approx 22.5% depending on what he got part exchange or what the dealer bought it from him for. This does not seem to rich to me bearing in mind that 17.5% of the original price when new went straight to the VAT man.

[kentviking]

thanks for your comments

well...saw the car Sunday....looks clean enough...actually looks a veritable bargain, but I've gone for a Griff instead (an even cheaper winter bargain)

FWIW...although the tuscan had no paperwork beyond the fully stamped logbook...TVR barnet both sold and maintained the vehicle throughtout its life and can give comfort to any potential purchaser. Oh and the log book just says Tuscan (not Tuscan S...don't know if that is normal, but it had all the external trimmings of an S and was apparently the motor show car (2002 UK?) The car looks in good condition and drove fine for me...£19k for an 02 "S"...its gonna be a steal for someone.

[lotuselan7]

KentViking
Im also interested in the car. Can you help?
I am little concerned that owner only had for 3 months, did he seem genuine?
Do you remember what condition of wheels and bodywork was like?
Thanks
Mark

[kentviking]

yeah...see he's dropped the price a bit more...almost looking unrealistically cheap now, though there's also a smart grigio titanio 03 S for not much more on PH classifieds

Bodywork looked good...no major chips at all..its been armourfended rather more extensively than any other car Ive seen. The rear screen is blacked out, which doesn't help rear visibility and the wheels are non standard and a little more bling than my taste, but not un-TVR. There is also a little excess glue on the roof to the pod which I'm sure could be cleaned up without much difficulty.

The buyer seems genuine...he works in family owned multi-cafe business which doesn't look glamourous but is plainly bringing in the money...he owns 2 porsches in addition to the TVR, so doesn't need the car, but does now need the money for a house deposit.

I would try and meet up with him at his home to view the car and check out what little paperwork he has (I saw nothing bar the logbook)...if he has the V5 and the receipt for the recent lcd pod replacement you can cross check names/addresses etc...and the full car history can be gleaned by talking to Barnet TVR centre

I'd check it out...he clearly needs the cash and the car seemed fair enough..just get comfortable all is kosher and you'll grab a bargain.