Tuscan or Tamora?
Discussion
Having owned an Elise for the last couple of years, it is time for a change.
Given that I want an English sports car and I don't want another Elise, it looks like it has to be a TVR or a Noble. The Noble is out because I don't want to wait for a year and a half to get it and also because I want a roadster.
So - and here is the big question - do I go for a very recent used Tuscan for around 33k or get on the waiting list for new Tamora and take the initial depreciation hit?
It strikes me from a reliability point of view that a newish Tuscan will be more sorted than the Tamora. However the Tamora is probably the better drivers car.
I have used my Elise a fair bit on the track and would continue to do so with any replacement. I am particularily interested in any experience Tuscan owners have had on the track - are they actually fun or is it too scary to use the power?
Any comments, rants, thoughts would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Matt
Given that I want an English sports car and I don't want another Elise, it looks like it has to be a TVR or a Noble. The Noble is out because I don't want to wait for a year and a half to get it and also because I want a roadster.
So - and here is the big question - do I go for a very recent used Tuscan for around 33k or get on the waiting list for new Tamora and take the initial depreciation hit?
It strikes me from a reliability point of view that a newish Tuscan will be more sorted than the Tamora. However the Tamora is probably the better drivers car.
I have used my Elise a fair bit on the track and would continue to do so with any replacement. I am particularily interested in any experience Tuscan owners have had on the track - are they actually fun or is it too scary to use the power?
Any comments, rants, thoughts would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Matt
You should obviously go and drive both. I suspect that the Tamora will appeal more after coming from an Elise. In terms of handling the Tamora seemed more rewarding than a standard Tuscan to me. A Tuscan S would be a different proposition though as people are raving about the handling of those too.
They're both lovely looking, they both sound marvellous and they both snap knicker elastic at 50 paces.
Drive them both, see what you think and I guarantee money will be prised from your wallet.
As there seems to be some negative speculation how about some positive:
They are reliable, waterproof, fun, great handling, equal but different to Porsches and on the whole great cars
Matt.
Edited by plotloss on Tuesday 18th December 12:02
Drive them both, see what you think and I guarantee money will be prised from your wallet.
As there seems to be some negative speculation how about some positive:
They are reliable, waterproof, fun, great handling, equal but different to Porsches and on the whole great cars
Matt.
Edited by plotloss on Tuesday 18th December 12:02
I have to say that this question was somewhat prompted by my having to drop my Elise off at HR Owen's service depot. Always worth a visit as they usually have a pretty sexy collection of kit stored there.
There were a number of Tuscans there, parked next to the likes of Ferrari 360s and 550s and I have to say that the Tuscans were by some margin the best looking car - especially a rather splendid looking black one.
I very nearly got my cheque book out then
.
Matt
There were a number of Tuscans there, parked next to the likes of Ferrari 360s and 550s and I have to say that the Tuscans were by some margin the best looking car - especially a rather splendid looking black one.
I very nearly got my cheque book out then
. Matt
I imagine you had something akin to the devil and angel scene in Animal House going on in your head at about that time.
I was looking for a sporty motor circa £20K, after spending less than an hour in a TVR dealer they managed to convince me to part with almost double that for a new Chim.
Havent looked back since mind you!
Matt.
I was looking for a sporty motor circa £20K, after spending less than an hour in a TVR dealer they managed to convince me to part with almost double that for a new Chim.
Havent looked back since mind you!
Matt.
Tuscan - Okay, so I freely admit that I'm biased, having had one for the past 7 months.
At the end of the day you should choose the one that gives you the most goose-bumps.
As far as I can tell, logic and reason only amount to a minority percentage of the decision to buy a TVR. If I'd have spread-sheeted it then I'd probably have something German parked outside now.
I'll probably get slated for this, but when I see the Tamora my instant reaction is Lotus Elise - I know they're different categories, but their size, balance and attitude are very similar.
To me the Tuscan is a step up, like a Cerbera is a step up from a Tuscan.
Mine's a standard 4.0 Tuscan and I find the performance quite adequate(!) and the handling is just down to common sense - sure if you put your foot down hard on a wet roundabout you do a fine impression of Torville and Dean.
In the immortal words of Graham from Blind Date...The choice is yours!
At the end of the day you should choose the one that gives you the most goose-bumps.
As far as I can tell, logic and reason only amount to a minority percentage of the decision to buy a TVR. If I'd have spread-sheeted it then I'd probably have something German parked outside now.
I'll probably get slated for this, but when I see the Tamora my instant reaction is Lotus Elise - I know they're different categories, but their size, balance and attitude are very similar.
To me the Tuscan is a step up, like a Cerbera is a step up from a Tuscan.
Mine's a standard 4.0 Tuscan and I find the performance quite adequate(!) and the handling is just down to common sense - sure if you put your foot down hard on a wet roundabout you do a fine impression of Torville and Dean.
In the immortal words of Graham from Blind Date...The choice is yours!
quote:
You should obviously go and drive both. I suspect that the Tamora will appeal more after coming from an Elise. In terms of handling the Tamora seemed more rewarding than a standard Tuscan to me. A Tuscan S would be a different proposition though as people are raving about the handling of those too.
I have it from a very reliable source that the Tuscan S is using the chassis set-up from the Tamora, so that might explain the handling being improved.
I may have ordered a Tamora but if you are open to choice then pick the one you enjoy driving best.
quote:
sounds like the Tamora is a better drive than the Tuscan which is not 'logical' : the 'higher' you get into the range, the 'better' the cars should handle.
Ok, but you could say that if you use the example of a MX5 and a fully loaded 626, then why does the MX5 handle better?
I would suggest that the reason it appears the Tamora is better (I don't know as I haven't driven one) is that the design and chassis setup has benefited from the extra development and lessons learnt from earlier models.
There's no law that says the smaller model can't handle better.
Nubbin is correct.... We are all very lucky in having such great decisions to make 
BTW I used to own a Chimaera and am now driving the Tuscan S. I can't really comment too much on the handling as I haven't had chance to push the car yet. However when the roof and glass comes of you get an awful lot of sunshine coming in! (When the sun shines of course!!!) Plus the added "Safety" features of the roll protection!.
BTW I used to own a Chimaera and am now driving the Tuscan S. I can't really comment too much on the handling as I haven't had chance to push the car yet. However when the roof and glass comes of you get an awful lot of sunshine coming in! (When the sun shines of course!!!) Plus the added "Safety" features of the roll protection!.quote:
quote:
Ok, but you could say that if you use the example of a MX5 and a fully loaded 626, then why does the MX5 handle better?
Because one is a sports car (seems to be...) and the other one is not
Wasn't the Tuscan supposed to be a "GT" car, and the Tamora a "roadster". I'm sure I heard it referred to as such in the past. They're not exactly the same thing, so maybe they're not actually in competition with each other?
Take (if you must!
), the Ferrari 355 and the Ferrari 456? Which is the "step-up" there...?
-andy-
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