Do I sell my Tuscan?

[fimbo]

Hi folks? Bit down at the moment and want your advice. For many years I wanted a TVR and in June year, after much due diligence, finally took the plunge. The car is breathtaking - an absolute beauty and runs very sweetly. The plan was to sell my daily driver (which had by then reached the end of its shelf life) and use the TVR instead. I bought the Tuscan and was then told (by previous owner and others) not to use the TVR for the short journeys I had in mind (4 miles to my local train station and 4 miles back every day). So the Tuscan went in the garage and there it sits Mon - Fri. I had to change my daily driver because it was knackered so ended up replacing it. I also run an Audi A6 for my wife and little ones. I have recently had to pay for the intermediate service on the Tuscan, a service on my daily driver and I am about to be faced with a £700 service on the Audi! On top of all this, I have a young family so actually I'd rather spend the weekend with them than sat on my own in the Tuscan grazing up and down the roads of Hertfordshire. The reality is kicking in that I've bought a car that's a museum piece - the odd blast at a weekend here and there but that's it. I can't really justify that no matter how good the thrill. I think I'm livin a 20's something dream in a 30's something life so have two choices - either I sell the Tuscan and behave sensibly for the next few years to the point where either money is no object or until the children have left home OR I run it as a daily driver. Trouble is I don't want to ruin the car, spend 100's on it and end up regretting my foray into TVR for ever.

Just interested in people's views.

ps I'm not worried about leaving it at the station as it is full of german exotica.

[dvs_dave]

Do you want to? We can't answer the question for you!

[micky g]

Just drive the fecker and stop whinging ffs.

You bought it to experience a dream - live it a little and stop worrying!

[tuscanx1]

Ignore what people say, ditch the daily and start driving it to the station! If it goes you know you'll regret it the minute you see it disappear around the first corner!!

[Tuska]

Short journeys are not a reason to leave your p & j in the garage!
I would worry a lot more about leaving mine in a station car park. (i've just paid £4500 for a winter re-spray LOL!!)

Providing you follow the correct warm up proceedure then a Tuscan can make a great daily drive. It does need more TLC than your average euro-box or beamer and you should deffo have the AA programmed into your mobile, but, hey, shite happens.

[lady topaz]

It seems to me you have already made up your mind and are asking for a sympathetic response. I fear this is the last place you will get one as you are amongst the most rabid Tuscan supporters.
Seriously at the end of the day it is a car to be used and not, unless you are mega rich, a "museum piece" I used my Mk1 as a daily drive 10 miles there and 10 miles back through summer sun and winter snow. Yes it hardly got warmed up but it didnt half put me in a good frame of mind to start the day.
Now my circumstances have changed and I cant use it for work (mainly parking issues and grid locked roads) so mine too has become eves and weekends. A very expensive luxury, but hey I weigh up the pleasure I get in return.
So really its simple. If you can afford it keep it. If not then get rid and go and hide in a dark corner and wallow in your regrets.

Good luck

Di

[rejn]

Keep it and use it!!!

You have one of the best cars ever made (and also in the best colour - see my profile ) - even if your normal journey to the station is only 4 miles, I guarantee most summer evenings you'll find a longer route home - just get out there and use the thing!!!

[lucozade]

rejn said:

Keep it and use it!!!

You have one of the best cars ever made (and also in the best colour - see my profile ) - even if your normal journey to the station is only 4 miles, I guarantee most summer evenings you'll find a longer route home - just get out there and use the thing!!!

Agreed - just make your journey a bit longer

[big lee]

i work about 5 mins away from my house, and plan to use mine as the daily drive.

will this be ok for the engine if i keep the revs below 3k? i know it won't warm up by the time i get to work, but just checking it'll be ok?

[andyoleary]

surely the answer is simple - leave earlier and go for a longer run!

Seriously though, whilst keeping the rev's below 2500/3000 until the oil is up to temp is good but I would have thought prolongued short runs like this with no "blow out the cobwebs" at normal temps in-between can not be good for the engine or the car in the long run. I would imagine that the fueling would be too rich for too many miles and maybe things like the cats would start to suffer. I could be wrong, of course, perhaps someone more knowledgeable will be along to put us right...

Andy

[YKB]

I have a Tuscan, a wife and two children (not listed in any particular order!) so I know how it is just using it at weekends. I end up driving a Volvo all week to work via nursery and school. However I'd never dream of selling the Tuscan. I love it and my children would cry for a week if I sold it. My 7 year old daughter just loves going in it at weekends especially if I have to pick her up from one of her friends. My son, aged two, carries models of Tuscans with him everywhere and shows them to everyone. My wife talks to it when she goes to garage to get something out of the freezer. The Volvo is a good car, the Tuscan is kind of part of the family.

[Tamster.]

Fimbo, my weekly shop to the supermarket,1 mile away, always turns into a 20 mile blast, set the alarm clock earlier to extend the commute to the station by another 5 miles each way,if you want more mileage during the week leave it with me to give my Tuscan a rest, alternatively sell it and look forward to the next one, keep an eye on those valve clearances though to avoid further impact on the wallet.