Tuscan Newbie Advise plz

[HazRA]

Hi all, just been to look at my 1st tuscan today, looking for some advise, have checked the mytuscan site and others. Test drove the car and have to say I was plesantly surprised, currently drive a subaru type RA. A few things to be sorted by the garage, like EFI warning on LCD dash, condensation in the car (not sure where from)and heaters not working. Also had an engine rebuild in 05 and has had 4 throttle cables in its life. Does anyone know the car at all?

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2282387.htm

Thanks in advance folks

Regards

Haz

[nrick]

Hi and welcome

I wouldn't worry about the throttle cables, I keep one in the car. It is important to know who rebuilt it, besides that just enjoy it.

Some things it is worth knowing

Get spacers from Matt at SP
Check geometry and get set up
tyre choice is important, check wheels are round and not buckled
Clips for the screen - Do not open the windows with the roof on, although Blueg33 lost his with the windows closed :-(
Check the fluids regularly and service
Warm up routine is essential on these engines but they will do 100k treated well (and rebuilt)
Check windows work and come down on the door release.
Check the anderson socket, they corrode and can catch fire, either replace or remove.

and be prepared to constantly grin......

Car club can save you some money on the insurance, Pay just over 300 a year.

Ask if you want to know anything.....

Neill

[HazRA]

nrick said:

Hi and welcome

I wouldn't worry about the throttle cables, I keep one in the car. It is important to know who rebuilt it, besides that just enjoy it.

Some things it is worth knowing

Get spacers from Matt at SP
Check geometry and get set up
tyre choice is important, check wheels are round and not buckled
Clips for the screen - Do not open the windows with the roof on, although Blueg33 lost his with the windows closed :-(
Check the fluids regularly and service
Warm up routine is essential on these engines but they will do 100k treated well (and rebuilt)
Check windows work and come down on the door release.
Check the anderson socket, they corrode and can catch fire, either replace or remove.

and be prepared to constantly grin......

Car club can save you some money on the insurance, Pay just over 300 a year.

Ask if you want to know anything.....

Neill

Cheers Neill,

I read something about spacers, take it they improve the handling?
Tyres on it are goodyear F1's all round.

When you say do not open the windows with the roof on, do you mean the side windows?

My scooby is serviced every 3k so that wont be a problem same with the warm up proceedure.

Windows work ok on release of door and will check the anderson socket for sure before i def buy.

Excellent smiles is what i'm after, can't believe how easy it was and soo nice to drive and cheers for the advice on insurance.

[nrick]

The MK1's were originally fitted with 16" wheels, when the 18's go on the offset is wrong. The spacers reset the difference. Must do for 20ish quid. Check if they are on there, fitted to the fronts. It takes some of the twitchiness out of the front end.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TVR-Tuscan-SP-Wheel-Spacers-...

SP is nothing to do with me, but I bought some from Matt, top man.

The encoders in the doors can play up. When you press the button it should drop 4" approx to miss the sides of the pillar. When you press the button they should close fully. Mine don't on the passenger side.

There is a great bunch of blokes on here to ask if you need anything.

Main thing is to get an view on the engine.

[More Steam]

I test drove your car back in September. I'm guessing it's been sitting outside most of the winter, so it's bound to get a bit damp. These cars are never 100% water tight. It'll soon dry out when you get the roof off.

If theres anything you require for or done to the car I would recommend you get in touch with Barry from http://www.tvrecosse.co.uk/. He has a great knowledge of these cars and can get you sorted for most things. Plus he's almost local (Dundee).

[Smooth Smith]

Welcome to the Tuscan club (hopefully).

As above, check who did the rebuild. Those from the likes of TVR Power or Str8t Six are preferred, however an 05 rebuild from the factory should have the upgraded parts fitted.

Check if and when the clutch was replaced also. They tend to last around 20-25k and cost in excess of £1,000 to replace.

I expected it to be an alien car to drive but am surprised how easy it is. Steering is very precise and only 1.7 turns lock to lock so takes concentation. Don't drive it like your Subaru or it will bite. Above all, enjoy it!!

[Allandwf]

Hi, It does look quite nice, but just to confirm what Duncan said, it has sat out through the winter, I pass it each time I go to the airpark and back. A bit of use should hopefully see it all right though.

[HazRA]

Cheers guys, some really helpfull advise there. Going to give it a good check over next wknd. I'm half way between aberdeen and dundee so will be really usefull to have a garage nearby. Yeah it has been sitting since september last year so hopefully if i do take it it will be garaged and the sumer should see it dry out. Have to say I really do love the car, looked at a few boxsters but seen the tuscan and it was definatly love at first sight lol

[Allandwf]

YHM

[nrick]

Couple of other things to check

Dash LCD - about £150 for replacement - Should be perfect with no missing lines.
Valve clearance service is about £500 so you need to know when they were done last.

N

[HazRA]

Allandwf said:

YHM

replied Allan

How often do the valve clearances need to be done?

[More Steam]

IIRC the rebuild was done by TVR, as was mine. Mine was given a clean bill of health recently by str8six which is nice to know.

[blueg33]

That car was for sale when I bought mine in October, the good ones seem to go quite quickly. It looks nice though, main thing to check is who did the rebuild. One car I was told had been rebuilt had only had 4 finger followers and 1 cam shaft replaced (I had to phone the people who did the supposed rebuild to find that out, and they were one of the main names you associate with rebuilds)

The lost rear window with roof on and windows closed my have been an operator error on my part!

[Smooth Smith]

HazRA said:

looked at a few boxsters but seen the tuscan and it was definatly love at first sight lol

There's no comparison IMO. Took mine on a run to Southport last weekend. There were a number of people giving it admiring looks when it was parked up & others hanging around waiting for me to start it & drive off. You don't get that with a Boxster :-)

[nrick]

Smooth Smith said:

There's no comparison IMO. Took mine on a run to Southport last weekend. There were a number of people giving it admiring looks when it was parked up & others hanging around waiting for me to start it & drive off. You don't get that with a Boxster :-)

+1

[Blues]

HazRA said:

Hi all, just been to look at my 1st tuscan today, looking for some advise, have checked the mytuscan site and others. Test drove the car and have to say I was plesantly surprised, currently drive a subaru type RA. A few things to be sorted by the garage, like EFI warning on LCD dash, condensation in the car (not sure where from)and heaters not working. Also had an engine rebuild in 05 and has had 4 throttle cables in its life. Does anyone know the car at all?

http://pistonheads.com/sales/2282387.htm

Thanks in advance folks

Regards

Haz

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[bobcuth]

Re Earlier warning about wheels being out of round.
Recommend you check inside rims too.
I missed bucked wheel when buying mine, and it was checked with all 4 wheels in the air!

Side issue/question for others - is there any chance of repairing wheel so damaged - or is this just scrap?)
i have kept it as an "emergency" wheel.

[blueg33]

bobcuth said:

Re Earlier warning about wheels being out of round.
Recommend you check inside rims too.
I missed bucked wheel when buying mine, and it was checked with all 4 wheels in the air!

Side issue/question for others - is there any chance of repairing wheel so damaged - or is this just scrap?)
i have kept it as an "emergency" wheel.

I am surprised, I thought all Tuscans would have had new wheels by now, or do new ones bend too?

[Allandwf]

Spiders are soft and easily buckled. I trashed one on the Cerb not long after I got it by hitting a pothole. Buckled on the inside. Garage tried to repair it, but recommended no more than 10mm, didn't manage though, I was going to use it as a spare. Picked up a new one for £120 instead. I would think the wheel would always be weaker at that point, so decided to err on the side of caution.

[HazRA]

Spoke to Paul at X works today as the phone number on the reciept was from the factory and longer in use and as X works were not far away, I wondered if they cold point me in the right direction.Turns out all invoices from the factory were sent to Germany 2 yrs ago and no way of getting them Some good advise from paul, just need to check the reciept again for what exact work was done.

Been offered 5k for my scooby as a trade in so looking promising, just really nervous about ending up with a lemon lol, cheers guys for all the advise, given me plenty to think (or is that worry) about lol.

cheers

Haz