Now's the time for me to mortage the kids and sell the wife!
Discussion
I have faffed around for the last two years driving everything from rice powered rockets like scoobies and nissan z cars to M powered nonsense all the time wanting something really special but not having the balls to go for the cerbera or tuscan I really wanted!!!
Well I have taken the plunge, sold up and got myself a 406 diesel for day-to-day driving (god its painful) and cashed in my savings and Im now officially hunting for the perfect (within my price range!) tuscan!
I have read all the FAQs and the like so I think Im pretty clued up on what I should be looking for. But there is one thing Im not sure about, engine rebuild, are these done as a matter of course at a certain mileage (around 30ish from what I have seen on cars for sale here) or on a "as needed" basis?
I have got 20k absolute tops to spend but would like to keep some of that back for "emergencies" and the like, so spending 16k would be ideal for me. It's very much a buyers market at the moment and there seem to be plenty of cars around for that price some with the rebuild and some without, which is best to go for? slightly higher mileage without the rebuild (does that mean the car has been blessed with a more solid lump and hasnt needed one) or lower mileage that has had the work done (seen some with only early 20's mileage which have already been rebuilt.
And whilst we are on the subject, whats the ballpark figure for a "standard" rebuild if there is such a thing, Im guessing its going to be in the 1000's!!!
Best thing of all though, already done the "speculative" insurance quote, best so far £820 which for me (29 and 3 yrs no claims) I was very impressed with, especially as I pay £300 for the diesel dog 3rd party!!
One more silly question, is that purple "flip" paintjob still desirable or have all the rice burners ruined its classyness by having thier civics sprayed with it?
Anyway, I digress, hopefully will have one on the drive by this time next month and I can enjoy a nice summer of posing!
Fingers crossed I wont get a lemon and actually have to sell the wife.
Well I have taken the plunge, sold up and got myself a 406 diesel for day-to-day driving (god its painful) and cashed in my savings and Im now officially hunting for the perfect (within my price range!) tuscan!
I have read all the FAQs and the like so I think Im pretty clued up on what I should be looking for. But there is one thing Im not sure about, engine rebuild, are these done as a matter of course at a certain mileage (around 30ish from what I have seen on cars for sale here) or on a "as needed" basis?
I have got 20k absolute tops to spend but would like to keep some of that back for "emergencies" and the like, so spending 16k would be ideal for me. It's very much a buyers market at the moment and there seem to be plenty of cars around for that price some with the rebuild and some without, which is best to go for? slightly higher mileage without the rebuild (does that mean the car has been blessed with a more solid lump and hasnt needed one) or lower mileage that has had the work done (seen some with only early 20's mileage which have already been rebuilt.
And whilst we are on the subject, whats the ballpark figure for a "standard" rebuild if there is such a thing, Im guessing its going to be in the 1000's!!!
Best thing of all though, already done the "speculative" insurance quote, best so far £820 which for me (29 and 3 yrs no claims) I was very impressed with, especially as I pay £300 for the diesel dog 3rd party!!
One more silly question, is that purple "flip" paintjob still desirable or have all the rice burners ruined its classyness by having thier civics sprayed with it?
Anyway, I digress, hopefully will have one on the drive by this time next month and I can enjoy a nice summer of posing!
Fingers crossed I wont get a lemon and actually have to sell the wife.
Good luck hunting, buy the best you can with the cash you have.
Buy one that has been well looked after, i.e. lots of bits of paper with it.
I bought a 2001 in September with 10,000 on the clock, that has not had a rebuild, and is as sweet as a nut.
You will not regret it, and it will put the biggest grin on your face.
H.C.
Buy one that has been well looked after, i.e. lots of bits of paper with it.
I bought a 2001 in September with 10,000 on the clock, that has not had a rebuild, and is as sweet as a nut.
You will not regret it, and it will put the biggest grin on your face.
H.C. 
Dave...as I advised someone else on the Tuscan forum, dont get hung up on rebuilds.
There are several cars out there that have never needed one, including mine.
Mine is now up to 23K miles and runs better than ever. It has strong oil pressure and burns very little oil. Just had its big 12K service and valve adjustment and the main TVR dealer said the engine was in superb condition.
Most Speed 6 engines that have run past 20K without needing a rebuild are good strong engines and have been well cared for and treated.
Good luck in your hunt. There are some good ones out there but take your time and look at a few.
There are several cars out there that have never needed one, including mine.
Mine is now up to 23K miles and runs better than ever. It has strong oil pressure and burns very little oil. Just had its big 12K service and valve adjustment and the main TVR dealer said the engine was in superb condition.
Most Speed 6 engines that have run past 20K without needing a rebuild are good strong engines and have been well cared for and treated.
Good luck in your hunt. There are some good ones out there but take your time and look at a few.
not getting hung up on rebuilds, thats what I wanted to hear, thanks!
Found what might be a cracker at racing green, going to take a look tommorow, just under 15k miles and aparently a new factory engine still being run in!! if its a "new-new" engine it might even be one of the later versions with some of the wrinkles ironed out... plus the safety net of a dealer warranty...
anybody had good/bad experiences with racing green?
WIFE SPEC:
Sporty little number, well serviced, she wont let me go anywhere near her end as she fears I might damage something with my tool. not too nifty on the internet, hence why I can get away with this...
Found what might be a cracker at racing green, going to take a look tommorow, just under 15k miles and aparently a new factory engine still being run in!! if its a "new-new" engine it might even be one of the later versions with some of the wrinkles ironed out... plus the safety net of a dealer warranty...
anybody had good/bad experiences with racing green?
WIFE SPEC:
Sporty little number, well serviced, she wont let me go anywhere near her end as she fears I might damage something with my tool. not too nifty on the internet, hence why I can get away with this...
Dave,
Good luck with the hunt - take your time, look at plenty - I mean plenty - till you're 110% certain it's the one you want, you're happy with the history etc. and you're making the decision with your head not your heart - I rushed into mine a bit(heart rules head), but still, no problems as such - and NO regrets!!!
I was talking to Ian at TorqueRVT yesterday, a highly respected Indie TVR specialist, asking about Speed6 this and that, and he says he's rarely had any problems with the 3.6 engine, it's mainly the 4.0 litres he's seen most failures with, but 2003 onwards engines generally seem to be ok, and he loves the Speed6.
He did say try to find out what make/spec of oil has been used over the years - Mobil 1, Silkolene, Fuchs, (0W/40W, 5W/40W) is what you want to hear, and at least if it's a one-owner car, try to determine their driving style and attitude to 'warming up' the engine properly, checking oil/coolant levels regularly....as quite a few of the engine problems apparently occur because of a bit of neglect, causing oil starvation, overheating etc. which can ruin any engine, even ure Uber-reliable (!) germans!!
Usual disclaimer - I'm no mechanic - just what I've learnt/been told - but don't listen to all those non-TVR owners going on about reliability... they get on everyones t*ts here!!
Let us know how you get on.
Pics of the car and/or the wife most welcome
Good luck with the hunt - take your time, look at plenty - I mean plenty - till you're 110% certain it's the one you want, you're happy with the history etc. and you're making the decision with your head not your heart - I rushed into mine a bit(heart rules head), but still, no problems as such - and NO regrets!!!
I was talking to Ian at TorqueRVT yesterday, a highly respected Indie TVR specialist, asking about Speed6 this and that, and he says he's rarely had any problems with the 3.6 engine, it's mainly the 4.0 litres he's seen most failures with, but 2003 onwards engines generally seem to be ok, and he loves the Speed6.
He did say try to find out what make/spec of oil has been used over the years - Mobil 1, Silkolene, Fuchs, (0W/40W, 5W/40W) is what you want to hear, and at least if it's a one-owner car, try to determine their driving style and attitude to 'warming up' the engine properly, checking oil/coolant levels regularly....as quite a few of the engine problems apparently occur because of a bit of neglect, causing oil starvation, overheating etc. which can ruin any engine, even ure Uber-reliable (!) germans!!
Usual disclaimer - I'm no mechanic - just what I've learnt/been told - but don't listen to all those non-TVR owners going on about reliability... they get on everyones t*ts here!!
Let us know how you get on.
Pics of the car and/or the wife most welcome
Edited by RedSpike66 on Friday 27th April 09:05
Dave
Best to be 100% sure about the one you buy, 110% is impossible unfortunately :-) If you can't afford a post 2005 one best to get an earlier one that has had a proper engine rebuild with a decent warranty. Unfortunately Speed 6 engines have a notorious reputation for failing and costing 1000s to put right. Best to be wise before the event rather than after IMO.
Jay (TVR owner)
Best to be 100% sure about the one you buy, 110% is impossible unfortunately :-) If you can't afford a post 2005 one best to get an earlier one that has had a proper engine rebuild with a decent warranty. Unfortunately Speed 6 engines have a notorious reputation for failing and costing 1000s to put right. Best to be wise before the event rather than after IMO.
Jay (TVR owner)
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