Tuscan 2 convertible - more questions
Tuscan 2 convertible - more questions
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thepickle

Original Poster:

975 posts

250 months

Friday 14th October 2011
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As per my speed bump thread, I have a Tuscan 2 convertible for the weekend for my birthday treat (!!). Now I have the car and have been driving it today I’ve got a couple of questions, and the search function doesn't seem to be working. All I can say is I’m sorry if these sound stupid paperbag

Shift lights...green, amber, red? Is seeing a red a bad thing? Are they each set to a certain rpm? What is the standard setting? Can you change the settings? Can I look at the settings without plugging anything into the car? Just out of interest really this one.

Filling with petrol...I’ve been told these cars have a habit of spitting petrol back when filling (get near full?) and to wear those disposable glove things. Any experience of this?

The Surveyor

7,619 posts

261 months

Friday 14th October 2011
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The shift lights can be adjusted by scrolling through the menus using the buttons behind the steering wheel. Green is fine, amber is exciting and red is where the fun is..... seriously, you'll know when it's time to change up just from the feel of the engine and the levels of vibration. There isn't much more after 7,000 rpm, but it will go to 8,000 for very short spurts... but only when the oil is warm!

Don't rev it beyond 3,000 rpm until you get the oil temp over 60 degrees if you have any sympathy for the lump up front!

As for filling with petrol, it's not a problem and the filling issues with TVR's tend to come from the T350's, not the Tuscans.

Hope you enjoy it, for me they are the best all-round TVR...

Paul

so called

9,157 posts

233 months

Friday 14th October 2011
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Pickle, I see your from Cheshire.
I live just outside Crewe not that this helps you this week as my Tuscans at the doctors and I'm in the US.
If you go on the Tuscan convertible register here on the Tuscan site,
You can download a handbook.
It's not exactly the same as your targa Tuscan but will give you an idea on the setings.
Happy driving.
Tony

thepickle

Original Poster:

975 posts

250 months

Saturday 15th October 2011
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Thank you both thumbup Regarding cold starts, I've been told to let the engine idle for at least "3 or 4" minutes....so I'm sat here at home now, weather is perfect, and I'm just wondering how early I dare go out to avoid upsetting the neighbours! That handbook sounds like exactly what I want, cheers.

Paul

NCE 61

2,448 posts

305 months

Saturday 15th October 2011
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It's not good to let the engine idle too long when cold, best to drive off as soon as possible. Have a good day smile

Jurgen Schmidt

834 posts

225 months

Saturday 15th October 2011
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I too drive off straight away and am probably a little over cautious by allowing the oil to warm up to 65 before going over 3,000 rpm. Only takes 10-15 mins of driving.

As for petrol, I don't fill to the brim. Capacity is 56 litres, so I simply deduct what's in the tank from this, and that's how much I put in.

Most of all though, enjoy it!!! You'll be hooked and you'll be asking Santa for a T2 for you to keep.

Cliffedge

221 posts

202 months

Saturday 15th October 2011
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I agree, don't let it idle for too long, some (I'm not sure if all) have self cleaning spark plugs that can clog up if left to idle for to long; just start it and drive, but check the sympathy start procedure, as below:

When starting, do not rev the engine. Make sure that you do not apply more than a tiny bit of throttle while cranking the engine and then lift off as soon as it fires. Then try to avoid more than 3,000 rpm until the oil (not water) temperature has exceeded 40C, 4,000 rpm until 60C and 7,000 rpm until 80C. If it climbs above 110C, please keep the revs below 5,000 rpm until the oil temperature returns to normal.

That's what it says in the manual, but like already mentioned in previous posts, I to keep it below 3k revs until the oil temp is above 60; when it gets to 70, then you can really rev it, but keep an eye on the lights.

Edited by Cliffedge on Saturday 15th October 15:03

thepickle

Original Poster:

975 posts

250 months

Saturday 15th October 2011
quotequote all
Again, thanks. That's very useful. The exact wording of what I was given with the car is;

“When starting from cold, the engine must be left to idle for no fewer than 3 to 4 minutes so that the oil has a chance to circulate throughout the engine before setting off. A further 5 minutes of driving at no more than 2500rpm is recommended to fully warm up the engine.”

So not knowing any better, that’s what I’ve done. I’ll definitely keep a closer eye on the oil temp tomorrow. Every car I drive I drive with a lot of mechanical sympathy, people revving cold engines makes me cringe and it’s no different with this Tuscan.

Some thoughts after today...

Now I’m getting comfortable with the car I’ve had the chance to stretch its legs a bit...I see exactly what you mean about the vibration being a good indication of when to change up.

That sodding roof...how the censored do you fit that in the boot? I’d swear it is not possible...if the delivery driver hadn’t shown me how to do it and slotted it in first time!! I just ended up leaving it in the middle of the living room carpet hehe

Filled up no problems, I just stopped when it clciked and no splash-back or spitting I was warned of.

My left arm is aching badly. I’ve been finding 2nd gear a bit reluctant unless you’re really positive with the shift, which is fine 1st to 2nd, but 3rd to 2nd has been a bit ponderous at times. I’d probably get used to it over time but I feel like I’ve done a left-arm-only workout. No doubt you lot think I should just man up!

I went to the Manchester airport tunnels this afternoon. All I can say is, it was everything I'd hoped it would be like laughears I think even the police sat in the gap between the two main tunnels appreciated a bit of second gear Tuscan action...oops! They didn’t seem to mind...so I went back through the opposite way hehe




edit - pic host problem

Edited by thepickle on Sunday 16th October 20:34

B.J.W

5,868 posts

239 months

Sunday 16th October 2011
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You need to go out and buy one now.

Ref the hard top. The way to get it in is to place the right top corner in first and the kinda pivot the rest round by turning it clockwise slightly. Keep you hand covering the left hand corner (bottom) as if you are not careful you will scratch the wing top (like I did without realising it)

thepickle

Original Poster:

975 posts

250 months

Tuesday 18th October 2011
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Thanks for the roof tip, unfortunately I didn’t get chance to try it due to the changeable weather. I went out in the car Sunday morning in the wet. I drove very gently but still managed to have a slight moment (with my mother in the passenger seat...of all people!! laugh) But would only describe it as a mild low speed wiggle and was progressive and easily caught...nothing dramatic. The whole point of going out in the wet was to see what it was like specifically in the wet and to see how willing it was to wag its tail so that gave me a little taster. Exciting car to drive whatever the conditions, in the way I expected it to be. Obviously I’ve been looking at the classifieds, as you do, but I’m just dreaming. Thanks for the input.

Paul

glow worm

7,090 posts

251 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
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That looks like Simon Lindley's old car Spindley Vin 1053 on the register.

thepickle

Original Poster:

975 posts

250 months

Wednesday 19th October 2011
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glow worm, I’m way out of my depth talking about the subtleties of factory colours but the colour was described to me as “ Fireglow red” as opposed to “formula red pearl”? Feel free to shoot me down smile For your interest, the plate is FJ06OJL. edit to add - just searching online it def looks more formula red than fireglow so just ignore me!

Paul




Edited by thepickle on Wednesday 19th October 21:59

glow worm

7,090 posts

251 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
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Its not the car I thought...No carbon fibre on the A'frame,cans have changed and yours was first registered May'06.... Have you any more details about the car ...interior specification... It looks like an 'S' with the front winglets...and current owner...I'll add it as a new car to the register.

so called

9,157 posts

233 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
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thepickle said:
lovely cloud9

thepickle

Original Poster:

975 posts

250 months

Thursday 20th October 2011
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I only got a couple of pretty poor interior pics, black leather with red stitching throughout, any more detail than that you'll have to spell out exactly what you're after, and even then it's not a certainty I'd know! The car was hired from Bespokes so assume they are down as the current owner.



Full size interior pic here with better detail

....





Edited by thepickle on Thursday 20th October 20:30