Buying a 2001-02 Tuscan S - any advise?

[bluebucks]

Hello -

I'm looking at buying a 2001-2002 Tuscan S, and seen a couple on here but not in the "flesh" yet.

Anyone got any info on this car, or been to see it?

This one seems pretty good value, although there are no photos and it does mention scratches: www.pistonheads.com/sales/137139.htm. Is the "swordfish" colour the flip-flop one, and it easy to find or expensive to resray the bonnet?

Also, these 2 seem pretty interesting, but a lot more than the previous one:
www.pistonheads.com/sales/111390.h

www.pistonheads.com/sales/118899.h


Any help appreciated.

Cheers.

Edited by bluebucks on Wednesday 7th March 09:49

[Nat_H]

Hmmm no pics are it seems to have been modified... Not something that I personal feel needs to be done to a Tuscan, Carbon Cans excluded.

The 2nd one looks very nice, and well looked after, as black is a bugger to keep clean, but they are the fastest...!

[bluebucks]

Nat_H said:

Hmmm no pics are it seems to have been modified... Not something that I personal feel needs to be done to a Tuscan, Carbon Cans excluded.

The 2nd one looks very nice, and well looked after, as black is a bugger to keep clean, but they are the fastest...!

Thanks for that. Yes, 19inch split rims - didnt Tuscan S's come with 18" spiders as standard anyway? Have many people tried 19"ers on their Tuscans?

[Nat_H]

I would hazard a guess at not many...

[chalky white]

Bought my 2002 Tuscan S last summer, also "swordfish" Chameleon Blue. Things to bear in mind. They are relativley cheap to buy, but you must keep a couple of grand in the bank to cover emergencies. You will get to know your local dealer/independant very well.

Find out when/if its had an engine rebuild,your probably going to need that info when it comes to resell.

Flip paints look great but are mixed to a TVR recipe, therefore v difficullt to get hold of at the moment. I needed a rear end respray on mine and paid about £450per litre. Gerbil is your man for any paint questions.

Check the LCD screen has all its lines, will cost you about £200 to sort out if not.

Check interior for evidence of water leaks.

Don't panic if it sounds like a bag of spanners from cold. TADTS.

Despite the wedges of cash i've parted with and am still parting with I don't regret the arrival of "the Beast". Nothing will make you grin as much or generate as much positive attention. It even looks great on the back of a flat bed.

Good luck and enjoy.

[ChrisA]

If you're not an expert, then I would have a chat to James Agger (see his website for contact details), he may be able to find you what you're after if he hasn't already got one. I bought my Tuscan through him a month ago and it is awesome. James's prices are on a par with a private sale as he doesn't have the overheads of a main dealer but still offers a warranty and excellent service.

Highly reccomend him, good bloke too!

[bluebucks]

Thank you for the advise, much appreciated.

I think I'm going to follow up on the 2002 Tuscan 'S' in Chameleon Blue for £17.5K. Only things that worry me are the respray cost, and why put 19" on a car with already lovely 18" spiders? How much do you reckon for a respray in Chameleon Blue - is this a TVR only colour? I heard around £500-£1000, could be wrong.

Has anyone been to see it? Its quite a treck from me to south London if its a shed.

Thanks.

[timmybob]

If you're only thinking of spraying the area with scratches, then your budget is probably OK. But what are the bonnet scratches from? And it unusual for these cars not to have some gravel rash at the front, so are you going to do these as well?
I'd echo the reommendation for James Agger. Will do his best to find you the car you want.

[FLAT 6]

Hi, Bought my 2001 4.0 about one month ago. I knocked the guy down about £1800 on the basis that the clutch hadn't been replaced in 25k miles (even though there was a top end rebuild done by the factory at 20k). Other issues were the leaking rear shocks (now replaced with Nitrons which are amazing), brake rebuild (car had covered 150 miles in 2 years!!) and scuffs on the wheels - all need repainting.

A new clutch is apparently £1k.

Only slight annoyance is the fit of the rear screen - it barely meets the rubber seals at either side. Apparently these 'older' cars had a fit problem and newer cars have a slightly larger rear screen which fixed the problem. Not sure exactly when the change was made.

Also, established after much hunting that there is not a CD changer in my boot!! In fact the car has a tape/radio. Didn't think you could still buy tapes in 2001!! Anyway, you don't buy a Tuscan for the hi-fi system.

All I've ever been told is - "if it's not had an engine rebuild factor this in to the purchase price or walk away".

Good luck

ps - wonder if I should create a new persona called Straight 6 rather than Flat 6. I'm one of those rare people who like both Porsche and TVR products!!