Year 1 of the Tuscan Experience!
Discussion
Well, just paid for my tax and insurance for my second year of Tuscan ownership and i really hope i am through the woods now, been testing at times and has taken a year to get it to the stage i am happy with it!
Everything now sorted (so far as i know
) and with the good weather at the weekend took her for a :drive: and all was right with the world 
But...for those looking to buy a Tuscan and not sure because of running costs, this is an honest list of what i have done, maybe some could have waited but then again IMHO if you put things off they only build up and can lead to other things, i think you need to keep abreast of it all....so its both information and a word of warning...they can take time and effort (not to mention a huge amount of cash
)!
I bought my 2002 4.0l Tuscan with an apparent full rebuild the year before i bought it, with a great history from a well reputed garage, although...to my cost...it had been a bit neglected for the 18 months prior to me buying it, not that you could really tell from looking round / driving the car, as you will see from my list below!
In order of what's been done when since May 2009...
Maintenance
New battery
Front end respray (someone reversed into me!)
Full engine rebuild and upgrade at Str8 Six (due to high oil consumption, turned out there was also damage from prior to the earlier rebuild where the engine had eaten a shim, and things hadnt been put right)
New engine mounts
Oil, Filter and run in service
New rear wishbone bushes
New rear wishbone adjusters & locknuts
New alternator, belt, big fuse
New keys, fobs & recode
Replaced Tank - Pump Marine fuel hose, marine fittings, fuel filter
Remounted fuel pump with marine fittings & new fuel hose between pump and filter
Spark Plugs
Roller Bearing Throttle Body upgrade
New white & blue throttle pots
LCD Dash screen
Upgrades
Private plate
Sleeved exhaust
NTEL Decat
Hardwired accumate charge lead
TVR Power decat chip
Full geo set-up and New Gaz Gold Pros fitted (geo was way out and adjusters seized solid!)
New stereo head unit
wiper / washer upgrade
Still a few bits i would like to do, but for now, she is happy and so am I
Everything now sorted (so far as i know
) and with the good weather at the weekend took her for a :drive: and all was right with the world But...for those looking to buy a Tuscan and not sure because of running costs, this is an honest list of what i have done, maybe some could have waited but then again IMHO if you put things off they only build up and can lead to other things, i think you need to keep abreast of it all....so its both information and a word of warning...they can take time and effort (not to mention a huge amount of cash
)!I bought my 2002 4.0l Tuscan with an apparent full rebuild the year before i bought it, with a great history from a well reputed garage, although...to my cost...it had been a bit neglected for the 18 months prior to me buying it, not that you could really tell from looking round / driving the car, as you will see from my list below!
In order of what's been done when since May 2009...
Maintenance
New battery
Front end respray (someone reversed into me!)
Full engine rebuild and upgrade at Str8 Six (due to high oil consumption, turned out there was also damage from prior to the earlier rebuild where the engine had eaten a shim, and things hadnt been put right)
New engine mounts
Oil, Filter and run in service
New rear wishbone bushes
New rear wishbone adjusters & locknuts
New alternator, belt, big fuse
New keys, fobs & recode
Replaced Tank - Pump Marine fuel hose, marine fittings, fuel filter
Remounted fuel pump with marine fittings & new fuel hose between pump and filter
Spark Plugs
Roller Bearing Throttle Body upgrade
New white & blue throttle pots
LCD Dash screen
Upgrades
Private plate
Sleeved exhaust
NTEL Decat
Hardwired accumate charge lead
TVR Power decat chip
Full geo set-up and New Gaz Gold Pros fitted (geo was way out and adjusters seized solid!)
New stereo head unit
wiper / washer upgrade
Still a few bits i would like to do, but for now, she is happy and so am I
Edited by Robertjp on Tuesday 13th April 08:59
Diablos-666 said:
Ok, fair enough.
I'm assuming you bought her as a private sale, did you get a specialist to give her a once over and she still had all those niggles to sort out?
If you could go back in time would you have paid a bit more and bought from a main dealer with a warranty?
No, i bought from a dealer, and they covered a proportion of the rebuild, i paid for upgrades, including an engine block to the latest standards. I'm assuming you bought her as a private sale, did you get a specialist to give her a once over and she still had all those niggles to sort out?
If you could go back in time would you have paid a bit more and bought from a main dealer with a warranty?
I have had a cerby before so in a way i went in with eyes open and expecting some bills! Wasnt expecting the engine though, but in a daft kind of way, at least now its done and its not longer a big worry.
Quite honestly there would have been no way anyone could have told me about the engine without owning and driving for a while, no dealer could tell you that. The previous damage was a big shock as well...was poor practice IMHO.
The rest of the stuff, well, a result of not enough TLC or proper servicing. I bought knowing the chassis was good, bodywork and interior were v v good, and thinking the engine was too, with a recent clutch, all the biggies really.
sounds like you were just very unlucky. maybe the previous owner just didnt warm her up properly.
i think i'll probably go to main deeler too, Racing Green have a good rep or maybe visit St8six to see if they can sort me out.
Wont be until next though as the insurance just rapes me at the moment.
Do you prefer the Tuscan over the Cerb? I do like the Cerb too but feel its just too big for me. Even the Tuscan is quite large which is why i prefer the T350C.
After watching an episode of top gear i fell in love with the tuscan 2 conv.
i think i'll probably go to main deeler too, Racing Green have a good rep or maybe visit St8six to see if they can sort me out.
Wont be until next though as the insurance just rapes me at the moment.
Do you prefer the Tuscan over the Cerb? I do like the Cerb too but feel its just too big for me. Even the Tuscan is quite large which is why i prefer the T350C.
After watching an episode of top gear i fell in love with the tuscan 2 conv.
Read some of my posts from the last 12 months and you will realise why, out of the two you list above, i can only give you positive comments on Str8 Six who are excellent.
The Cerb and Tuscan are quite different actually! Cerb felt more raw and intense, think the small cabin has a certain effect and the length of the car gives it huge presence.
Tuscan actually feels quicker off the line and less stable at high speed, but can be more of a relaxed drive with the roof off just touring.
Tuscan, IMHO is more of a looker too - stops people in the street in a way the Cerb never did, you tend to get a complete jaw drop with the tuscan, with the cerb it just turned heads
who are excellent.The Cerb and Tuscan are quite different actually! Cerb felt more raw and intense, think the small cabin has a certain effect and the length of the car gives it huge presence.
Tuscan actually feels quicker off the line and less stable at high speed, but can be more of a relaxed drive with the roof off just touring.
Tuscan, IMHO is more of a looker too - stops people in the street in a way the Cerb never did, you tend to get a complete jaw drop with the tuscan, with the cerb it just turned heads
Hey Rob,
I don't want to scare anybody away from Tuscan ownership, but you are not alone ... After 2 years (9 months in workshops actually) and 12k miles of ownership, here is my listing:
Suspension leaking (replaced with GAZ Golds + geo set-up)
windscreen rubber seal (repair)
Heater ECU (repair)
Alternator No1 (refurbished one)
Driveshaft joints (new)
Engine mounts (new)
Clutch (new)
Mastercylinder (new)
Slavecylinder No 1 (new)
complete engine rebuild No 1
Battery (new)
RP Slavecylinder No.2 (new)
4 new tyres (Eagle F1 Asymetric)
Engine bottom-end rebuild No 2 (incl. new crankshaft under guaranty)
Alternator No2 (new)
AeroTwin wiper blades (new)
4 Catalysts (new)
ECU (new)
All this sums easily up to the value of a nicely sorted 2000 RHD Tuscan, but I absolutely wanted a LHD Mk1 "S" and there was only this beautiful orange one for sale in Italy at the time...
Anyway it's all sorted now providing tentatively piece of mind that not much more can (should
) happen - and hey,
all those Euros and the annoyance is forgotten after 10 miles of driving it in the sun. There is just nothing that compares on 4 wheels available at even twice the price.
I don't want to scare anybody away from Tuscan ownership, but you are not alone ... After 2 years (9 months in workshops actually) and 12k miles of ownership, here is my listing:
Suspension leaking (replaced with GAZ Golds + geo set-up)
windscreen rubber seal (repair)
Heater ECU (repair)
Alternator No1 (refurbished one)
Driveshaft joints (new)
Engine mounts (new)
Clutch (new)
Mastercylinder (new)
Slavecylinder No 1 (new)
complete engine rebuild No 1
Battery (new)
RP Slavecylinder No.2 (new)
4 new tyres (Eagle F1 Asymetric)
Engine bottom-end rebuild No 2 (incl. new crankshaft under guaranty)
Alternator No2 (new)
AeroTwin wiper blades (new)
4 Catalysts (new)
ECU (new)
All this sums easily up to the value of a nicely sorted 2000 RHD Tuscan, but I absolutely wanted a LHD Mk1 "S" and there was only this beautiful orange one for sale in Italy at the time...
Anyway it's all sorted now providing tentatively piece of mind that not much more can (should
) happen - and hey, all those Euros and the annoyance is forgotten after 10 miles of driving it in the sun. There is just nothing that compares on 4 wheels available at even twice the price.
Edited by Funky Jo on Wednesday 14th April 10:17
Well, if we're all at it, after 5 years and 22k miles of ownership, I've "invested" in the following replacements and upgrades for my 2003 Tuscan 3.6:
CCC rear cans
Gaz Gold suspension
HID headlight upgrade
Serious Genesis/MB Quart stereo upgrade
Refinished wheels in anthracite
Replaced perished fuel hoses
Anderson charging connector
Aero wiper blades and new wiper arms
New tinted rear screen
Replaced high level LED brake light
New leather gear and handbrake gaitors
One set of brake pads
Lots of tyres :-)
and the most recent upgrade, at 41k miles:
TVR Power 4.3 engine rebuild, including injectors and starter motor
New clutch and release bearing
Lightweight flywheel
Rebuilt synchro on 5th gear
Even after all that, and the depreciation, it's still cost less than I'd have lost owning a new 911 for 5 years, or even a Cayman for that matter
Pete
CCC rear cans
Gaz Gold suspension
HID headlight upgrade
Serious Genesis/MB Quart stereo upgrade
Refinished wheels in anthracite
Replaced perished fuel hoses
Anderson charging connector
Aero wiper blades and new wiper arms
New tinted rear screen
Replaced high level LED brake light
New leather gear and handbrake gaitors
One set of brake pads
Lots of tyres :-)
and the most recent upgrade, at 41k miles:
TVR Power 4.3 engine rebuild, including injectors and starter motor
New clutch and release bearing
Lightweight flywheel
Rebuilt synchro on 5th gear
Even after all that, and the depreciation, it's still cost less than I'd have lost owning a new 911 for 5 years, or even a Cayman for that matter
Pete
I think I'm catching up with you!!
Nitrons,
Spare pair of cats,
Decat and chip,
Carbon Cans,
Full respray in an emerald/ blue flip,
Full TVR Power engine rebuild,
5 new tyres,
New carpets,
Recovered seats and doorcards in leather,
New gearstick and handbrake gaitors in leather,
Geometry set up,
Gold badges front and rear,
New T440 grill,splitter and kick plates,
Chassis prep and waxoyle,
Heat shielding round the exhaust and decats,
Anderson connector,
Jump leads,
HT leads,
Accumate charger,
New battery,
New alloy radiator,
New door and roof trim,
New speakers and rear speakers fitted,
Wheels refurbed,
Steering rack refurbed,
Heater ecu refurbed,
Speedo refurbed,
Brake pads all round,
New windscreen,
Wiper blades,
Brake switch,
New keys, fobs & recode,
New high level LED brake light,
New white & blue throttle pots.
Now I need a new exhaust from the cats back...bl**dy speed humps!
Worth it?...Yes every penny!
Nitrons,
Spare pair of cats,
Decat and chip,
Carbon Cans,
Full respray in an emerald/ blue flip,
Full TVR Power engine rebuild,
5 new tyres,
New carpets,
Recovered seats and doorcards in leather,
New gearstick and handbrake gaitors in leather,
Geometry set up,
Gold badges front and rear,
New T440 grill,splitter and kick plates,
Chassis prep and waxoyle,
Heat shielding round the exhaust and decats,
Anderson connector,
Jump leads,
HT leads,
Accumate charger,
New battery,
New alloy radiator,
New door and roof trim,
New speakers and rear speakers fitted,
Wheels refurbed,
Steering rack refurbed,
Heater ecu refurbed,
Speedo refurbed,
Brake pads all round,
New windscreen,
Wiper blades,
Brake switch,
New keys, fobs & recode,
New high level LED brake light,
New white & blue throttle pots.
Now I need a new exhaust from the cats back...bl**dy speed humps!
Worth it?...Yes every penny!
I guess if nothing else these lists are good check points for a potential buyer, given there is so much repeated between cars!
Never heard of the LED brake light being a prob tho?!
Just in process of getting stereo sorted as its pretty pathetic and i do like some music when just sat in traffic and not hooning!
HID's and possibly better ratio'd Diff on the car at some point...
Never heard of the LED brake light being a prob tho?!
Just in process of getting stereo sorted as its pretty pathetic and i do like some music when just sat in traffic and not hooning!
HID's and possibly better ratio'd Diff on the car at some point...
I admit my Tuscan is not the mintest out there but it aint bad - but in 2 years my costs have only been servicing, tyres and Nitrons (my choice)
In a perfect world it would get a repray, interior retrim, sterio upgrade.
Suppose what I'm saying is they don't always cripple you.....just be buy with your eyes open!
In a perfect world it would get a repray, interior retrim, sterio upgrade.
Suppose what I'm saying is they don't always cripple you.....just be buy with your eyes open!
In a year and a half of ownership I have had the following done -
1) Gold wheel center cap replaced (missing when purchased)
2) Two 6,000 mile services and one 12,000 mile service (no issues)
3) Replace leaking powersteering seal (inexpensive)
4) Two rear tires
Car had engine full rebuild by Str8six before purchase and came with FSH from supplying dealer. It's been a cheap car, much cheaper to run then the Chimaera.
1) Gold wheel center cap replaced (missing when purchased)
2) Two 6,000 mile services and one 12,000 mile service (no issues)
3) Replace leaking powersteering seal (inexpensive)
4) Two rear tires
Car had engine full rebuild by Str8six before purchase and came with FSH from supplying dealer. It's been a cheap car, much cheaper to run then the Chimaera.
Edited by RedRose123 on Wednesday 14th April 13:40
RedRose123 said:
In a year and a half of ownership I have had the following done -
1) Gold wheel center cap replaced (missing when purchased)
2) Two 6,000 mile services and one 12,000 mile service (no issues)
3) Replace leaking powersteering seal (inexpensive)
4) Two rear tires
Car had engine full rebuild by Str8six before purchase and came with FSH from supplying dealer. It's been a cheap car, much cheaper to run then the Chimaera.
I hope my list looks like that for the next 12 months 1) Gold wheel center cap replaced (missing when purchased)
2) Two 6,000 mile services and one 12,000 mile service (no issues)
3) Replace leaking powersteering seal (inexpensive)
4) Two rear tires
Car had engine full rebuild by Str8six before purchase and came with FSH from supplying dealer. It's been a cheap car, much cheaper to run then the Chimaera.
Edited by RedRose123 on Wednesday 14th April 13:40
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