Should I switch to a Tuscan?

[benventura]

Hi all,

Don't get me wrong, I love my 4L Chim! Bless her! she goes well and I've spared no expense on the important stuff but she's getting on a bit now (12 years old). I just can't help getting this lustful feeling whenever I see a Tuscan - especially the black ones! And I reckon I could find the dosh to do it in the next month or so but I can't afford to keep the old girl as well - so she'd have to go to a new home.

Anybody else made the move from a Chimaera to a Tuscan? Any regrets? Was it the best thing ever?

Thanks for your thoughts.
Neville

[Nat_H]

I went from a M3 to a black Tuscan and it was the best thing i have ever done... (minus girls and beer)

[Nat_H]

Edited by Nat_H on Monday 19th February 14:31

[The Surveyor]

I switched from a 4.0l Chimaera to a 4.0l Tuscan convertible late last year. Similar in many ways, but worlds appart in others. The performance and poise is in a different league, and the Tuscan has a better cabin with more modern elements (digital dash display, air con, etc), but there is still the same TVR DNA. My 'vert is the 'touring' spec (£8,500 + VAT cheaper than an S spec when new) so it's set up slightly softer and is apparenty 15 bhp down on power, but i'd have to drive them back to back to see if there is any difference in the real world. Think of the non-visual difference between a Griff and a Chim.

The biggest difference is the sound, my Chimaera sounded fantastic, but i'm now totally taken with the Speed6. Different, and just as intoxicating.

Best advice is to drive one in your price range and see if you feel at home. The early Tuscans had very quick steering, which the later (Mark 2's) don't.

Paul

[b2tus]

Went from a 4.0 Chim to a Tuscan 2 years ago. Missed the V8 burble at first so fitted Carbon Cans. What a difference...amazing sound and what a car.
Do it now....you won't regret it.

[beano500]

Won't you miss the slow sedate pace of the Chimaera...



....and all the lack of excitement???

















Went Griff 500 to Tuscan 4.0 - you've jumped nearly a decade in design and to the next stage of "WOW". Don't get me wrong, the V8s are wonderful. Most important difference to notice day-to-day is to be really kind and give the car a steady warm up - I always used to warm the Griff up before right foot heaviness, but am even more sedate in the Tusc. I have been expecting it to cost more to run, but haven't really noticed that yet. Some "niggles"/"features" are similar, some different

[tvrtam]

I went from a 2000 4 litre Chimaera (a bit old school and rough around the edges although good low down power)to a 2002 Tamora (better drive but engine a bit noisy) to a 2005 Tuscan 2 (improved quality, engine now quiet compared to Tamora and has better traction)
I would say the Tuscan is definitely the way to go.
The downside is high servicing costs.

[yellow5]

I traded my chimaera 500 for a new Tuscan 2s convertible, only had it a couple of weeks and still running in at the minute sadly only done 500 miles but wow it's fantastic. I loved the 500 but the Tuscan, I don't need to drive it, it's wonderful. Best of luck, go and do it.

[rodmod]

DO IT YOU KNOW YOU WANT TOO !

[TOM500]

I went from a 5ltr. Chim to the Tuscan2S. As with fellow ex-v8 owners i missed the noise at first but with the carbon cans the pops and bangs are brilliant, getting a bit of over run in second is like driving a firework and the performance is another league. The best thing is the handling. My Chimera was 2001 but the workings are a decade older. The 2S feels that much more secure and modern. Make the change and you'll never look back

[benventura]

Thanks for all the helpful comments - I've got to pop the old girl into Henley Heritage for a check-up in the next week or so. As they've got a handful of Tuscans in stock I think I'll see if I can fix up a test drive while I'm there.

The more I look at that sleek Tuscan body, the more my heart tells me I need to get my hands on one! - I think I might just be able to get used to not having a V8 burbling away.

Neville

[H10TVR]

Go on do it, traded my chim 400 in for Tuscan, leagues apart although I do miss the v8 burble.

The drive brilliant, the looks brilliant, reliability (well so good so far)

Don't regret it at all

[whitey]

while I miss the torque from idle, V8 noise and reliability from my Chim 500, what I don't miss is the lack of rollover and side protection.

The only way forward is for someone to engineer an LSx swap into the tuscan, drive in, drive out etc. Then it will tick all the boxes.

Mind you, I hope my recent rebuild lasts a good few years before I have to shell out for an LSx !!

fingers crossed

Oh and to answer your question, yes you should change, just make sure you can live without the V8 noise and much much much higher service costs.