Tuscan - Reliabilty
Discussion
Having come from a long line of Renaults this may be a slightly ironic post but please bare with me.
My Megane turbo is being used as basically a weekend car so I'm looking into buying a proper weekend car. Something that doesn't rack up the miles but will put an even bigger grin on my face.
So the TVR Tuscan is the car I'm looking at going for. It ticks all the right boxes but I have to say I'm not all that knowledgable about them.
I know its not a cheap car to run/tax/service, but having heard the typical comments about reliability being a problem. I thought this would be the place to ask. French cars have a bad reputation for breaking but mine have never been a problem, so wondered how true it was of TVRs????
Is the speed 6 a sturdy enough motor? Apart from the usual costs, should I expect anything else to pay for each year if I'm covering about 3,000 miles?
Any advice is much appreciated?
My Megane turbo is being used as basically a weekend car so I'm looking into buying a proper weekend car. Something that doesn't rack up the miles but will put an even bigger grin on my face.
So the TVR Tuscan is the car I'm looking at going for. It ticks all the right boxes but I have to say I'm not all that knowledgable about them.
I know its not a cheap car to run/tax/service, but having heard the typical comments about reliability being a problem. I thought this would be the place to ask. French cars have a bad reputation for breaking but mine have never been a problem, so wondered how true it was of TVRs????
Is the speed 6 a sturdy enough motor? Apart from the usual costs, should I expect anything else to pay for each year if I'm covering about 3,000 miles?
Any advice is much appreciated?
There are thousands of threads with an opinion on this, but I'll offer my 2p's worth...
The Tuscan is not inherently unreliable. Yes, they're in some ways badly built, but that's nothing you can't keep on top of if you're remotely handy with a toolkit, a tube of evo stick, and the Gassing Station search function! If you're none of the above, expect to establish a deep and meaningful relationship with your local specialist to fix lots of niggly problems. Mind you, the advantage of fixing these things yourself is that the car gets gradually better built than when it left the factory...
In terms of mechanical reliability, they can have an appetite for suspension components and clutches - typical life of both is under 30,000 miles, at a cost of £1-1.5k each. The jury is out on whether this is because TVR used shoddy components in the first place, but there are plenty of options for uprated clutch assemblies and shock absorbers.
Engine life is debatable. Later cars seem to be more reliable, but there's no guarantee. There are a few people who've had full rebuilds on 2005+ cars, and a lot on early cars. What's unquestionable is that the early engines had a number of top end components prone to premature wear, and many early cars have had a top end rebuild at a cost of around £6k well before 20,000 miles. My 2003 3.6 shows no sign of wear at all after 30,000 miles, which might be down to (a) it being a later engine, (b) it's a shorter stroke 3.6, (c) a rigourous warm up procedure, or (d) blind luck. No way to tell.
Running costs aren't extortionate. My services alternate between around £400 and £750 every 6,000 miles, depending on tappet inspections and other bits and bobs; tyres last as long as you make them (1 set of rears and a half-worn set of fronts in 11,000 miles with my driving); insurance is about £500; fuel economy ranges from 15-30mpg depending on the type of journey.
Regardless what people say, if you can afford not to drive it every day, can fix your own minor niggles, and accept that they have depreciated like crazy so people can budget for some mechanical gremlins, then you'll love it. Just don't test drive one until you're sure you want one - there'll be no persuading you otherwise afterwards
Cheers,
Pete
The Tuscan is not inherently unreliable. Yes, they're in some ways badly built, but that's nothing you can't keep on top of if you're remotely handy with a toolkit, a tube of evo stick, and the Gassing Station search function! If you're none of the above, expect to establish a deep and meaningful relationship with your local specialist to fix lots of niggly problems. Mind you, the advantage of fixing these things yourself is that the car gets gradually better built than when it left the factory...
In terms of mechanical reliability, they can have an appetite for suspension components and clutches - typical life of both is under 30,000 miles, at a cost of £1-1.5k each. The jury is out on whether this is because TVR used shoddy components in the first place, but there are plenty of options for uprated clutch assemblies and shock absorbers.
Engine life is debatable. Later cars seem to be more reliable, but there's no guarantee. There are a few people who've had full rebuilds on 2005+ cars, and a lot on early cars. What's unquestionable is that the early engines had a number of top end components prone to premature wear, and many early cars have had a top end rebuild at a cost of around £6k well before 20,000 miles. My 2003 3.6 shows no sign of wear at all after 30,000 miles, which might be down to (a) it being a later engine, (b) it's a shorter stroke 3.6, (c) a rigourous warm up procedure, or (d) blind luck. No way to tell.
Running costs aren't extortionate. My services alternate between around £400 and £750 every 6,000 miles, depending on tappet inspections and other bits and bobs; tyres last as long as you make them (1 set of rears and a half-worn set of fronts in 11,000 miles with my driving); insurance is about £500; fuel economy ranges from 15-30mpg depending on the type of journey.
Regardless what people say, if you can afford not to drive it every day, can fix your own minor niggles, and accept that they have depreciated like crazy so people can budget for some mechanical gremlins, then you'll love it. Just don't test drive one until you're sure you want one - there'll be no persuading you otherwise afterwards
Cheers,
Pete
Thanks for the swift reply.
It sounds like a newer one may be the way to go rather than something like a Chimaera or Cerbera. As much as I love em.
Also, by the sounds of it, mileage isn't always a factor when it comes to whether the engine will break or not?? Thats the maing thing I worry about. I can have a go at fixing little niggles, its all about learning and turning your hand to things.
A big BUT is that I can't afford £6k if it needs an engine rebuilt.
Consumable parts wouldn't be such an issue, even if they are pricy but I don't want to buy a Tuscan/T350 etc then have the engine blow up and I'm left with a car I can't afford to repair.
It sounds like a newer one may be the way to go rather than something like a Chimaera or Cerbera. As much as I love em.
Also, by the sounds of it, mileage isn't always a factor when it comes to whether the engine will break or not?? Thats the maing thing I worry about. I can have a go at fixing little niggles, its all about learning and turning your hand to things.
A big BUT is that I can't afford £6k if it needs an engine rebuilt.
Consumable parts wouldn't be such an issue, even if they are pricy but I don't want to buy a Tuscan/T350 etc then have the engine blow up and I'm left with a car I can't afford to repair.
Im not sure that there is such a wide variation in quality of the engines. Some break very early, some seem to go on and on with no trouble. I think the difference is most likely to be with the owner. TVR engines need an oil and coolant check very regularly (every weekend even if its a weekend only car), a proper warm-up, 97RON petrol or above, very regular oil changes with quality oil and general care. I think if you give it these things it will last well, if not it will break very quickly. Thats my opinion, I was lucky enough to buy one from an owner who was doing these things and it shows.
On that kind of note then, it may be best to buy privately rather than dealership?? So I can make a judgement on the owner??
Its easy with my current cars because as long as they are warmed up, let the turbo cool down after a drive etc, they should last.
Sounds like I need to find one thats been very regularly serviced, mint condition and treated delicately, rather than an every day motor.
Its easy with my current cars because as long as they are warmed up, let the turbo cool down after a drive etc, they should last.
Sounds like I need to find one thats been very regularly serviced, mint condition and treated delicately, rather than an every day motor.
Have a look at my motors costs to date and you will be surprised to find they are cheap (relative) to run if you find a good one. Yes mine's early and it may have some chips and scatches here and there but they all suffer like that if they are used on motorways and most days. The worst thing and car I decided to avoid was the ultra low mileage one that only gets driven every other weekend and summer only. Rather I wanted one that had been used abeit sensibly ie warmed up and longer trips rather than the 1 mile commute to work. Having the problems that come out with time like all new cars sorted early on its life.
Look for one with a rebuild, new ish clutch, slave cylinder poss, 5th gear and thats about all i can think off the top of my head. Things like the heater ecu are known to melt out on early ones or any with poss joints, door encoders can be funny too. Things like bits of trip that may be sagging are not a reason to discount the car neither is stone chips in my opinion. Would rather people haven't hid other things by tarting up what are easy things to fix ( super glue) and let you get carried away when looking for one, thinking how clean and neat it looks and forget about the mechanical side of things. Bullsh*t baffles brains is the phrase that comes to mind.
But you will be smiling every day if you get the right one. Im still checking the classifieds 5 months later seeing if I got a good deal and its nice to see that they havent dropped in price or any better examples with all the bits done have come up within my price bracket.
Overall go post 01 to be sure the retro fits such as uprights and door release surrounds have been done along with the drilled disks rather than solid, with a recent ish rebuild or cheaper and have the rebuild cost in your budget just incase. Oh and your right about the owner bit, you do get a feel for the owner when you go to look at them even if they say they warm the car up etc, just get a good or bad feeling I found. Dealers are great but you will pay the extra. I went the private route and am happy that I did.
alex
Look for one with a rebuild, new ish clutch, slave cylinder poss, 5th gear and thats about all i can think off the top of my head. Things like the heater ecu are known to melt out on early ones or any with poss joints, door encoders can be funny too. Things like bits of trip that may be sagging are not a reason to discount the car neither is stone chips in my opinion. Would rather people haven't hid other things by tarting up what are easy things to fix ( super glue) and let you get carried away when looking for one, thinking how clean and neat it looks and forget about the mechanical side of things. Bullsh*t baffles brains is the phrase that comes to mind.
But you will be smiling every day if you get the right one. Im still checking the classifieds 5 months later seeing if I got a good deal and its nice to see that they havent dropped in price or any better examples with all the bits done have come up within my price bracket.
Overall go post 01 to be sure the retro fits such as uprights and door release surrounds have been done along with the drilled disks rather than solid, with a recent ish rebuild or cheaper and have the rebuild cost in your budget just incase. Oh and your right about the owner bit, you do get a feel for the owner when you go to look at them even if they say they warm the car up etc, just get a good or bad feeling I found. Dealers are great but you will pay the extra. I went the private route and am happy that I did.
alex
Edited by goon1001 on Tuesday 17th July 15:43
Or buy one from a dealer who is willing to give you a cast iron warranty, explicitly covering engine top end wear (the most common cause of failure, and unfortunately falling into the "wear and tear" category).
I'm not sure who out there would give you this; the factory used car warranty for around £1200 a year claimed to cover absolutely everything, but it's debatable how much this is worth without a factory. Worth researching recent threads on whether TVR Power or other engine builders are guaranteeing Speed 6 rebuilds, and if so either pay the premium for a car with a new rebuild, or factor the potential rebuild cost into the purchase price of an earlier car.
Cheers,
Pete
I'm not sure who out there would give you this; the factory used car warranty for around £1200 a year claimed to cover absolutely everything, but it's debatable how much this is worth without a factory. Worth researching recent threads on whether TVR Power or other engine builders are guaranteeing Speed 6 rebuilds, and if so either pay the premium for a car with a new rebuild, or factor the potential rebuild cost into the purchase price of an earlier car.
Cheers,
Pete
Thanks for all the info guys.
So I take it the possibility of a rebuild has no relevance to the mileage the cars actually covered.
The models I'm considering are the Tuscan, Tamora and T350. The ones I've seen are all around £20k and under 20,000 miles.
But from what I've read it seems that this isn't much of a factor regarding the possibility of a rebuild in the future.
Sounds like I need to find someone selling there's whose a total anorak about the car and whose treated it as gently as possible.
I recall looking at a RS Clio 182 when my girfriend was in the market for one. This guy had it overpriced and was some complete chav, the car was a state, alloys kerbed etc. She ended up buying a mint 182 Cup with half the miles which had clearly been looked after. Much better choice in the end, so I'll go about buying a TVR in the same way.
So I take it the possibility of a rebuild has no relevance to the mileage the cars actually covered.
The models I'm considering are the Tuscan, Tamora and T350. The ones I've seen are all around £20k and under 20,000 miles.
But from what I've read it seems that this isn't much of a factor regarding the possibility of a rebuild in the future.
Sounds like I need to find someone selling there's whose a total anorak about the car and whose treated it as gently as possible.
I recall looking at a RS Clio 182 when my girfriend was in the market for one. This guy had it overpriced and was some complete chav, the car was a state, alloys kerbed etc. She ended up buying a mint 182 Cup with half the miles which had clearly been looked after. Much better choice in the end, so I'll go about buying a TVR in the same way.
I bought my Tuscan from a dealer and checked the history with the previous owner, yes I paid a bit ove the odds but got a two year warranty.
The Dealer did nearly two grands worth of work before I picked it up and I have had itr in twice for warranty work without any questions, gearbox seals, speed sender.
Agree with the other postings about walming the engine, quality iol and lubricants and regualarily serviced.....
The Dealer did nearly two grands worth of work before I picked it up and I have had itr in twice for warranty work without any questions, gearbox seals, speed sender.
Agree with the other postings about walming the engine, quality iol and lubricants and regualarily serviced.....
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