Cascade Indigo 4.0 Tuscan Mk1

[Cascade360]

bobsavage789 said:

Thanks for the info.

No wonder you’re happy: that sounds encouraging! Also, yours is a beautiful colour!

I like the look of this one, which claims a 2019 rebuild:

https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12030285

My only concerns are 1) it’s a private sale, so no comeback if things go south; and 2) I don’t like how the spoiler and rear diffuser ruin the curves of the Tuscan shape (all subjective, of course).

This looks a really nice and well priced car. I think the powers engine rebuild comes with a transferrable engine warranty as well? Worth speaking to powers about the car.

[bobsavage789]

Cascade360 said:

My running costs have been zero other than a lot of fuel, tax and insurance (though i do have a warranty)! Approaching 4000 miles in and no problems whatsoever (touch wood) other than dodgy door electrics that were not working properly on the collection day and were quickly sorted by the selling dealer. So find a good one and it might not be too scary (again, touch wood...). It's such a fun car, i love it.

Glad you’re still enjoying it!

I guess either buying from a reputable specialist or having an inspection done will minimise the risk of massive bork.

Whom do you use for insurance? I’ve tried a few quotes with different providers, with wildly differing results!

[Cascade360]

bobsavage789 said:

Glad you’re still enjoying it!

I guess either buying from a reputable specialist or having an inspection done will minimise the risk of massive bork.

Whom do you use for insurance? I’ve tried a few quotes with different providers, with wildly differing results!

Footman James on a limited mileage classic policy, was cheap for 2000 miles, not so cheap when I increased it to 5000 after a few months as i was driving it loads!

You should definitely get an inspection if buying privately.

[bobsavage789]

Thanks: I’ll check them out.

[Squirrelofwoe]

bobsavage789 said:

Thanks: I’ll check them out.

Footman James are pretty much unbeatable if you are below 40 - above that age there is a lot more choice and the premiums tumble, but FJ will still be very good.

I'm 36 and my wife 34 and despite impeccable driving histories we couldn't find anywhere that would come close to FJ for our Tuscan and Chimaera. A couple of the places I contacted didn't even bother quoting once they established we were below 40 and were trying to beat a Footman James renewal price.

You do get a 50% discount with FJ as a member of the TVR Car Club which obviously helps, but their premiums have definitely increased quite a bit over the last few years- I do wonder if this is partly a lack of competition at that point in the market.

Our recent FJ policies have been:

£180 - Chimaera only, 5k miles, agreed valuation, commuting use
£205 - Chimaera only, 5k miles, agreed valuation, commuting use
£210 - Chimaera only, 5k miles, agreed valuation, commuting use
£360 - Chimaera and Tuscan, 5k miles, agreed valuation, commuting use
£480 - Chimaera and Tuscan, 5k miles, agreed valuation, commuting use
£340 - Tuscan only, 3k miles, agreed valuation, commuting use

The problem is the next cheapest I could find (with an alternative provider) for the last renewal was £510, which doesn't give any scope to negotiate!

[Cascade360]

Squirrelofwoe said:

Footman James are pretty much unbeatable if you are below 40 - above that age there is a lot more choice and the premiums tumble, but FJ will still be very good.

I'm 36 and my wife 34 and despite impeccable driving histories we couldn't find anywhere that would come close to FJ for our Tuscan and Chimaera. A couple of the places I contacted didn't even bother quoting once they established we were below 40 and were trying to beat a Footman James renewal price.

You do get a 50% discount with FJ as a member of the TVR Car Club which obviously helps, but their premiums have definitely increased quite a bit over the last few years- I do wonder if this is partly a lack of competition at that point in the market.

Our recent FJ policies have been:

£180 - Chimaera only, 5k miles, agreed valuation, commuting use
£205 - Chimaera only, 5k miles, agreed valuation, commuting use
£210 - Chimaera only, 5k miles, agreed valuation, commuting use
£360 - Chimaera and Tuscan, 5k miles, agreed valuation, commuting use
£480 - Chimaera and Tuscan, 5k miles, agreed valuation, commuting use
£340 - Tuscan only, 3k miles, agreed valuation, commuting use

The problem is the next cheapest I could find (with an alternative provider) for the last renewal was £510, which doesn't give any scope to negotiate!

I'm 29 and in SE London, combined with a TVR Tuscan probably makes me very unappealing to insurers. FJ was by a distance the cheapest of the specialist insurers - like you, many refused to quote. I was something like 280 for agreed value / 2k miles but then an additional 300 odd to up to 5k miles. If I wanted more than 5k miles, I suspect I'd be cheaper with a normal insurer rather than a specialist - Admiral is cheapest at 780 quid.

[bobsavage789]

Cascade360 said:

I'm 29 and in SE London, combined with a TVR Tuscan probably makes me very unappealing to insurers. FJ was by a distance the cheapest of the specialist insurers - like you, many refused to quote. I was something like 280 for agreed value / 2k miles but then an additional 300 odd to up to 5k miles. If I wanted more than 5k miles, I suspect I'd be cheaper with a normal insurer rather than a specialist - Admiral is cheapest at 780 quid.

£327 for me (33) and the wife (31 + 3 points) with 3k miles: not bad!

Sadly that turquoise Tuscan seems to have been sold. I’ve started looking at Cerberas, mainly because there seem to be so many for sale compared to Tuscans. Plus V8…

I’d still prefer a Tuscan though.

[Cascade360]

bobsavage789 said:

£327 for me (33) and the wife (31 + 3 points) with 3k miles: not bad!

Sadly that turquoise Tuscan seems to have been sold. I’ve started looking at Cerberas, mainly because there seem to be so many for sale compared to Tuscans. Plus V8…

I’d still prefer a Tuscan though.

I have no personal experience but understand Cerberas can be needier than Tuscans, and chassis rot is more of an issue. And the roof doesn't come off. But the noise of that v8 is immense...

[bobsavage789]

Cascade360 said:

I have no personal experience but understand Cerberas can be needier than Tuscans, and chassis rot is more of an issue. And the roof doesn't come off. But the noise of that v8 is immense...

Yes, I’ve read the same. I’ll just have to see what’s out there when I’m in a position to ‘fist the kumquat’ (as I believe is the appropriate PH term).

Do you have any plans for the winter months? Put the Tuscan into storage, or brave the salt/grit every now and then?

[robsco]

Cascade360 said:

bobsavage789 said:

£327 for me (33) and the wife (31 + 3 points) with 3k miles: not bad!

Sadly that turquoise Tuscan seems to have been sold. I’ve started looking at Cerberas, mainly because there seem to be so many for sale compared to Tuscans. Plus V8…

I’d still prefer a Tuscan though.

I have no personal experience but understand Cerberas can be needier than Tuscans, and chassis rot is more of an issue. And the roof doesn't come off. But the noise of that v8 is immense...

Beautiful car OP, and glad it is looking after you.

Cerberas are needier, significantly needier. The AJP is actually a much stronger engine than the Speed Six, unfortunately it’s everything else around the Cerbera that causes issues. Both cars on song and healthy… the Cerbera is leagues ahead.

[Cascade360]

robsco said:

Beautiful car OP, and glad it is looking after you.

Cerberas are needier, significantly needier. The AJP is actually a much stronger engine than the Speed Six, unfortunately it’s everything else around the Cerbera that causes issues. Both cars on song and healthy… the Cerbera is leagues ahead.

Can't take the roof off though i would love to experience the ajp v8 in a cerb though the noise some of them make at meets is incredible

[bobsavage789]

robsco said:

Beautiful car OP, and glad it is looking after you.

Cerberas are needier, significantly needier. The AJP is actually a much stronger engine than the Speed Six, unfortunately it’s everything else around the Cerbera that causes issues. Both cars on song and healthy… the Cerbera is leagues ahead.

I didn’t know the Cerbera was particularly needier than other later TVRs, so I’ve learnt something today!

[Cascade360]

So after seven months and 3,500 miles I finally needed to do some DIY!

I was getting the odd symptom that rather than cleaning my windscreen using fluid, the washer jets were steam cleaning the windscreen. Upon investigation, the washer jet hose had split and was depositing fluid directly onto the exhaust manifold, which immediately vaporised it.

I initially tried to snip the split hose shorter and rejoin, but it was clear the hose was brittle (probably from being so close to the exhaust manifold) and needed replaced. A length of 2mm silicone hose would do the job, but to get access the scuttle panel needs to come off. Turns out this is relatively straight forward - windscreen wipers off, couple of screws off, one of the bonnet catches off, and it just lifts off. I wasn't sure if it was / should be bonded to the windscreen rubber - turns out in my case the rubber trim is glued on the edges only and lifts away from both scuttle panel and windscreen with ease in the middle. Rather than disturb the existing seal, can just lift off to run the new hose:



Sadly didn't have cable ties quite small enough for the existing holes and rather than drill out the holes I will buy smaller cable ties. Hopefully back in action for the weekend, where I have signed up for a charity car show in Kent - although I can only go if I can find fuel. I don't really fancy sitting in a long fuel queue in a multi coloured fuel guzzling TVR ...

[Cascade360]

So, the windscreen washers are now working - first plastic connector melted against the manifold, but fitted a brass connector and routed under the scuttle panel so hopefully it is fine now. It keeps on trucking with no complaints, so not much to report. Obviously not being used as much now that the winter weather is appearing, but it is still getting out and about every now and again - approaching 4200 miles or so. Charity car show last weekend - the Teddy Bear Run for a local respite charity - which was a really nice thing to do.



Lots of extremely cool cars attended, from exotica to a 2CV, but the Tuscan still got plenty of attention. My favourite moment was turning into the car park at the end of the run behind a lime green Lamborghini, and a couple of kids that had waved gently at the Lambo got very excited at the Tuscan An (extremely slow) lap round Goodwood was good fun too. The only downside was how damp and miserable the weather was; forgetting that fact and dropping to second in a tunnel did lead to a slightly sketchy moment!



I do very much enjoy the community side of the TVR world - and the club near me are very active. Few marque clubs offer such an active community i suspect!

Edited by Cascade360 on Thursday 16th December 23:22

[PrinceRupert]

This thread has been extremely quiet because the Tuscan has been a great car - perfectly reliable and with nothing to report! 7000 miles and 18 months.

I did have a puncture a couple of months ago which required recovery, but that was not the Tuscan's fault.

Alas all good things must come to an end and I ended up needing recovery yesterday. On my better half's birthday, and let me tell you she was delighted to spend three hours in a layby off the A31 in the blazing sun, over an hour from home.

The red oil warning light started coming on under acceleration and oil pressure was apparently 0 PSI. It sounded fine and was driving fine, and oil levels looked fine (though it is notoriously difficult to read given the dry sump), so my strong suspicion it is merely the oil pressure sensor playing up. I would imagine that 0 PSI on a very hot engine would make it run like a bag of spanners and probably fail to proceed. However, after a bit of frantic googling, some differing opinions on whether or not I should risk driving it home, and speaking to a local specialist, it was agreed it was probably not worth the risk and we would await recovery.

Specialist will come to my house to take a look later this week. Fingers crossed...

Edited by PrinceRupert on Monday 8th August 09:58

[Andy665]

PrinceRupert said:

This thread has been extremely quiet because the Tuscan has been a great car - perfectly reliable and with nothing to report! 7000 miles and 18 months.

I did have a puncture a couple of months ago which required recovery, but that was not the Tuscan's fault.

Alas all good things must come to an end and I ended up needing recovery yesterday. On my better half's birthday, and let me tell you she was delighted to spend three hours in a layby off the A31 in the blazing sun, over an hour from home.

The red oil warning light started coming on under acceleration and oil pressure was apparently 0 PSI. It sounded fine and was driving fine, and oil levels looked fine (though it is notoriously difficult to read given the dry sump), so my strong suspicion it is merely the oil pressure sensor playing up. I would imagine that 0 PSI on a very hot engine would make it run like a bag of spanners and probably fail to proceed. However, after a bit of frantic googling, some differing opinions on whether or not I should risk driving it home, and speaking to a local specialist, it was agreed it was probably not worth the risk and we would await recovery.

Specialist will come to my house to take a look later this week. Fingers crossed...

Edited by PrinceRupert on Monday 8th August 09:58

I had exactly the same thing at the end of the parade laps at Donington Historic Festival end of April, air and track temps were very high and 3 laps of start / stop followed by short bursts of acceleration.

Oil and water temps were ok but oil pressure dipped to 0psi, quick blip of throttle saw it immediately shoot up.

Parked the car back up, oil level looked fine, not dropping any oil, left it to cool all afternoon and drove home with it perfectly ok - I did ponder recovery then applied some common sense and figured it was a mis-reading sensor - no problems since either

[PrinceRupert]

Andy665 said:

I had exactly the same thing at the end of the parade laps at Donington Historic Festival end of April, air and track temps were very high and 3 laps of start / stop followed by short bursts of acceleration.

Oil and water temps were ok but oil pressure dipped to 0psi, quick blip of throttle saw it immediately shoot up.

Parked the car back up, oil level looked fine, not dropping any oil, left it to cool all afternoon and drove home with it perfectly ok - I did ponder recovery then applied some common sense and figured it was a mis-reading sensor - no problems since either

Thanks. I'm almost certain it is just the sensor and if I had known it was going to be three hours for recovery I would have driven home. Figured it is better safe than sorry though ...

[PrinceRupert]

Great news - just a dodgy oil pressure sender. The mechanic also identified an alternator belt that has seen better days so both will be getting replaced.

[JeremyH5]

That’s a relief

[What The Deuces]

Its these kind of threads that can push a man into TVR ownership......must....resist....maybe....