The road to TVR Tuscan ownership
Discussion
One of the first things I did when I got the Tuscan home after purchase was to replace the original Pioneer stereo with something a little more modern, opting to go for the Pioneer SPH-10BT, the headunit that uses your phone as the main operational interface (although still usable without it)
This was fine but I quickly realised that the phones screen size was just too small, I liked how subtle the headunit was when the cradle was pushed inside but eeded to do something about the screen size. A bit of research saw the purchase of a Samsung Tab A 8" tablet and a pair of magnets - these being required as the phone cradle would not expand enough to accommodate the tablet. The larger magnet fitted inside the cradle but crucially still allowed the crade to slide back into the headunit when not being used and one on the back of the tablet.
Initially this worked quite well, the tablet never flew off during spirited driving but the Pioneer SmartSync app (that provides most of the headunits functionality) seemed very flaky and the tablet itself took forever to boot up - so, whilst overall an improvement to the use of my phone it still did not really hit the mark.
This week has seen me make a big upgrade, I was initially looking at an Alpine Halo 9 but at around £900 I simply could not justify it. Still liking the idea of the tablet solution I checked dimensions and prices and ended up ordering a Samsung Tab S8 with 5G (Android 12, 128GB capacity with microSD slot and a lovely big 11" screen) - the price was good, sweetened by the £150 old tablet trade in deal and free keyboard / cover so it was ordered at 8pm on Sunday.
9.30am on Monday and the tablet arrived (fantastic service from Samsung and the courier), a quick charge, downloading of my preferred apps and went off to see how it looked / performed in the car. Lightning quick boot up speed, the extra processing capacity means the Pioneer SmartSync app runs perfectly - finally I have the solution I was looking for.
With trade in discounts the tablet has cost me £650, so a good £200-250 less than the Halo 9 would have cost and I have a fully fledged tablet that can be used for the 98% of the time I am not in the car,
This solution gives me everything I could possibly need in the car plus the ability for it to look very subtle with the screen detached.
Headunit with cradle not in use
Top screen
Main control screen with Pioneer SmartSync app
System running through Pioneer SmartSync app
This was fine but I quickly realised that the phones screen size was just too small, I liked how subtle the headunit was when the cradle was pushed inside but eeded to do something about the screen size. A bit of research saw the purchase of a Samsung Tab A 8" tablet and a pair of magnets - these being required as the phone cradle would not expand enough to accommodate the tablet. The larger magnet fitted inside the cradle but crucially still allowed the crade to slide back into the headunit when not being used and one on the back of the tablet.
Initially this worked quite well, the tablet never flew off during spirited driving but the Pioneer SmartSync app (that provides most of the headunits functionality) seemed very flaky and the tablet itself took forever to boot up - so, whilst overall an improvement to the use of my phone it still did not really hit the mark.
This week has seen me make a big upgrade, I was initially looking at an Alpine Halo 9 but at around £900 I simply could not justify it. Still liking the idea of the tablet solution I checked dimensions and prices and ended up ordering a Samsung Tab S8 with 5G (Android 12, 128GB capacity with microSD slot and a lovely big 11" screen) - the price was good, sweetened by the £150 old tablet trade in deal and free keyboard / cover so it was ordered at 8pm on Sunday.
9.30am on Monday and the tablet arrived (fantastic service from Samsung and the courier), a quick charge, downloading of my preferred apps and went off to see how it looked / performed in the car. Lightning quick boot up speed, the extra processing capacity means the Pioneer SmartSync app runs perfectly - finally I have the solution I was looking for.
With trade in discounts the tablet has cost me £650, so a good £200-250 less than the Halo 9 would have cost and I have a fully fledged tablet that can be used for the 98% of the time I am not in the car,
This solution gives me everything I could possibly need in the car plus the ability for it to look very subtle with the screen detached.
Headunit with cradle not in use
Top screen
Main control screen with Pioneer SmartSync app
System running through Pioneer SmartSync app
Edited by Andy665 on Wednesday 19th October 19:40
Only just seen this thread. Car looks great I love the colour. I aren’t to far from you (in stoke)and I may of seen you in the peaks with a few other tvr’s earlier in the year. Maybe not but saw a blue and yellow Tuscan and I think a green griff. It was a while ago though so I may be wrong!
I drove a Tuscan on an experience track day for my 21st. I loved it. I remember the instructor warning me not to take liberties before we set off outside the car. My mum was there “make sure you listen James!” Haha
The instructor was great though and let me take it down the straight for a top speed run twice.
TVR is just a brand I have never got around to owning unfortunately.
I drove a Tuscan on an experience track day for my 21st. I loved it. I remember the instructor warning me not to take liberties before we set off outside the car. My mum was there “make sure you listen James!” Haha
The instructor was great though and let me take it down the straight for a top speed run twice.
TVR is just a brand I have never got around to owning unfortunately.
The car is just used and enjoyed although it is going in for a full repaint this winter, being done by a TVR specialist and seen plenty of their work so very comfortable that it will be in good hands
Serviced and MOT'd last week, full service so plugs, filters, coolant, gearbox and diff oil change - 1800 miles only since last service but want / need to maintain its service every year history but not too badly priced at just under £900.
Decided to splurge and bought a Powers Performance carbon airbox been waiting for them to be available and could not resist
Serviced and MOT'd last week, full service so plugs, filters, coolant, gearbox and diff oil change - 1800 miles only since last service but want / need to maintain its service every year history but not too badly priced at just under £900.
Decided to splurge and bought a Powers Performance carbon airbox been waiting for them to be available and could not resist
Edited by Andy665 on Thursday 8th June 08:52
robsco said:
I’d be interested to hear your views on the induction noise Andy. I saw this airbox advertised by Power in this month’s Sprint, and it does declare an increase in induction noise. If so I may well treat the Sag to one.
Had a short (20 mile) run out this morning.Throttle response seems a little crisper and the induction noise seems a little harder edged - be in a much better position to confirm first thoughts next Sunday after the Peaks to the Beach event
Great run out yesterday with in excess of 100 other TVRs on Sunday. doing Day 2 of the Peaks to the Beach event
Started just outside Whitchurch then across to Ponderosa Cafe and Horseshoe Pass, Ruthin, Bala, Betws Y Coed, Bangor and ending up at the Arena in Rhyl.
Someone managed to skirt some pretty torrential rain and thunderstorms.
Not sure if its the new carbon airbox, recent major service or combo of both but car is running super smooth and strong as well as returning nearly 26mpg over 270 pretty lively miles.
Some great cars out, difficult to pick a favourite
https://youtu.be/2imGJ0pgwUY
|https://thumbsnap.com/pYWDvuDN[/url]
[url]
Started just outside Whitchurch then across to Ponderosa Cafe and Horseshoe Pass, Ruthin, Bala, Betws Y Coed, Bangor and ending up at the Arena in Rhyl.
Someone managed to skirt some pretty torrential rain and thunderstorms.
Not sure if its the new carbon airbox, recent major service or combo of both but car is running super smooth and strong as well as returning nearly 26mpg over 270 pretty lively miles.
Some great cars out, difficult to pick a favourite
https://youtu.be/2imGJ0pgwUY
|https://thumbsnap.com/pYWDvuDN[/url][url]Did not want the Tuscan feeling unloved with the arrival of the Alpine so Saturday spent taking off all wheels and re-coating them, Lano Shield applied to all chassis rails (V70 and Vantage done last week) and a light polish.
Really impressed with the Lano Shield, seems to be very much like LanoGuard but noticeably cheaper. Developed for the marine industry so confident it will do the job intended and certainly very easy to apply, done the Vantage, V70 and Tuscan with about 1/2 of the 2 litres still left
Soon had her looking all smooth and shiny again, just in time for a TVR Car Club Breakfast Run I organised from Telford down to Ludlow Farm Food shop for breakfast this morning.
Shropshire really does have some superb driving roads and scenery with very low traffic levels - was expecting 3-4 cars to turn up, ended up with 12
Really impressed with the Lano Shield, seems to be very much like LanoGuard but noticeably cheaper. Developed for the marine industry so confident it will do the job intended and certainly very easy to apply, done the Vantage, V70 and Tuscan with about 1/2 of the 2 litres still left
Soon had her looking all smooth and shiny again, just in time for a TVR Car Club Breakfast Run I organised from Telford down to Ludlow Farm Food shop for breakfast this morning.
Shropshire really does have some superb driving roads and scenery with very low traffic levels - was expecting 3-4 cars to turn up, ended up with 12
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