Tuscan as a daily?
Discussion
Hi Guys,
Having been within a whisper of buying a Tuscan about 10 years ago (moving abroad for work for a while stopped it), I'm thinking about doing it now instead.
What i'm thinking about is how suitable it will be for my commute to work, I work about 5 miles from home and I'm wondering how the engine will cope with the short commute?
Any thoughts from those of you that use them regularly?
It will be an "extra" vehicle but I will use it for my commute in most cases.
Cheers
Rupert
Having been within a whisper of buying a Tuscan about 10 years ago (moving abroad for work for a while stopped it), I'm thinking about doing it now instead.
What i'm thinking about is how suitable it will be for my commute to work, I work about 5 miles from home and I'm wondering how the engine will cope with the short commute?
Any thoughts from those of you that use them regularly?
It will be an "extra" vehicle but I will use it for my commute in most cases.
Cheers
Rupert
My take on this is that you can use any car for a commute if that is what you want.
All engines need a decent warm up to bring up to temp, 5 miles may be enough without going into the technicalities.
I would rather keep my tiv for high days etc and have the comfort and lack of worry and use my daily armchair.
Just my opinion.
All engines need a decent warm up to bring up to temp, 5 miles may be enough without going into the technicalities.
I would rather keep my tiv for high days etc and have the comfort and lack of worry and use my daily armchair.
Just my opinion.
Largely depends how long your 5 miles takes and if the engine has a chance to reach normal operating temperatures. If not, as others have said, I wouldn't use any 'nice' car for the journey.
But my experience is that TVR's are far more reliable if used throughout the year. If it is salty, hose the underside off occassionally.
But my experience is that TVR's are far more reliable if used throughout the year. If it is salty, hose the underside off occassionally.
Thanks all, so my dilemma is this, I currently have a Caterham R500 and an Audi A4 Avant, one daily, one weekend. My wife is going to take over the A4 as her daily at some point soon, so I was toying between a Tuscan and a 911 C2S as the car that gets me to work and back (5 miles takes roughly 10 mins for reference) probably 3 or 4 days a week and then the other trips will be out for meetings.
Like the idea of having an armchair for the daily, the A4 has been perfect, but I'm not sure I want two armchairs with the R500 for the weekends, hence looking at something more fun as the second daily drive.
I'm leaning towards the 911 now based on these comments which is what the "sensible" me was thinking before, but then I got the urge for a Tuscan again.
I know I'll need to warm it up as well, but I suspect it may cope better with daily use and it's not got to see a track as that's what the caterham is for, it'll get a decent run across Europe from time to time though and I suspect either would do it nicely.
Like the idea of having an armchair for the daily, the A4 has been perfect, but I'm not sure I want two armchairs with the R500 for the weekends, hence looking at something more fun as the second daily drive.
I'm leaning towards the 911 now based on these comments which is what the "sensible" me was thinking before, but then I got the urge for a Tuscan again.
I know I'll need to warm it up as well, but I suspect it may cope better with daily use and it's not got to see a track as that's what the caterham is for, it'll get a decent run across Europe from time to time though and I suspect either would do it nicely.
It's all fun in the summer. Then December hits, it's pissing with rain, your steaming up like the windows of a Chinese take away, and your tired. You just want to get home, but can't risk breaking your concentration in fear the car will aqua plane like a speed boat into the nearest hedge. It's simply not relaxing.
Then you can add the salt dilemma and the chassis melting. Because you want to hose your chassis off after work. Not.
Do you have a garage.. if you don't you'll probably step into a wet footwell on a regular basis. They simply weren't everyday use cars. There's a number of fantasists on here which seemingly enjoy the winter foibles, but the reality is as above. If none of the above bothers then go for it.
Then you can add the salt dilemma and the chassis melting. Because you want to hose your chassis off after work. Not.
Do you have a garage.. if you don't you'll probably step into a wet footwell on a regular basis. They simply weren't everyday use cars. There's a number of fantasists on here which seemingly enjoy the winter foibles, but the reality is as above. If none of the above bothers then go for it.
I have loved all of my TVRs unconditionally but never in a million years would I use any of them as a daily. Poor headlights, poor to only just average ventilation systems, marginal wiper systems to name but a few. There are times when you finish work in the cold and wet and just want to get home, using a TVR in those conditions is a sure fire pass to resentment.
Thanks for the help guys, I think that's settled it in my mind, TVR when the garage becomes a double garage and I can afford two weekend toys... get something more "German" for the new daily drive.
I figured that would be the case with regard to winter but the idealist in me was suggesting it would be fine.
See you back here in a few years when I try and scratch that itch again.
I figured that would be the case with regard to winter but the idealist in me was suggesting it would be fine.
See you back here in a few years when I try and scratch that itch again.
m4tti said:
It's all fun in the summer. Then December hits, it's pissing with rain, your steaming up like the windows of a Chinese take away, and your tired. You just want to get home, but can't risk breaking your concentration in fear the car will aqua plane like a speed boat into the nearest hedge. It's simply not relaxing.
Then you can add the salt dilemma and the chassis melting. Because you want to hose your chassis off after work. Not.
Do you have a garage.. if you don't you'll probably step into a wet footwell on a regular basis. They simply weren't everyday use cars. There's a number of fantasists on here which seemingly enjoy the winter foibles, but the reality is as above. If none of the above bothers then go for it.
fully agree, I have an oil burner for those mundane trips, cycle 12 miles round trip to work each day and leave the Tuscan for days that I can enjoy Then you can add the salt dilemma and the chassis melting. Because you want to hose your chassis off after work. Not.
Do you have a garage.. if you don't you'll probably step into a wet footwell on a regular basis. They simply weren't everyday use cars. There's a number of fantasists on here which seemingly enjoy the winter foibles, but the reality is as above. If none of the above bothers then go for it.
For a 10 min commute I would have 3 modes of transport. A small cheap as chips car, you do not have time to get uncomfortable, a scooter of some description and a pushbike. Pushbike when you want to meander in, scoot when its not raining and the car for when its crap out.
The commute does not warrant anything nice - spend your money elsewhere.
I used a Tuscan as a commuter for a year for a 10 mile drive , 10% deep joy when the sun was out and traffic light (generally went the long 20 mile route home), 90% pain in the arse, but strangley even though I had access to other cars still took it
.
The commute does not warrant anything nice - spend your money elsewhere.
I used a Tuscan as a commuter for a year for a 10 mile drive , 10% deep joy when the sun was out and traffic light (generally went the long 20 mile route home), 90% pain in the arse, but strangley even though I had access to other cars still took it
.Edited by Frenchda on Wednesday 16th November 15:09
All of my previous TVR's have been daily's for part or all of there time with my, including my current Tuscan.
My Tasmin spent most of its time in Switzerland and Germany all year round.
My first Chimaera was my full time transport for 3 years, again mostly in Germany which only ended when I bought my first Tuscan.
All of these cars were driven the 6km daily round trip to the office without issues with an 80km trip to the airport every couple of weeks.
My current Tuscan spent most of its first 3 years as my daily before I bought a Chimaera to act as my winter car. That didn't prove to be very successful and so I bought a Merc for that roll.
My current Tuscan is with me in German right now but I'm taking her home next week for a winter rest and will return in the Merc.
I do take some long detours as mentioned above, firstly to get the engine up to temp but also to get some juice back in the battery.
Overall though, I've not had many problems other than flat batteries when I fly back to the airport.
Then Battaery Brain is your friend. I just returned from a 7 week business trip and the Tuscan started without issue.
My Tasmin spent most of its time in Switzerland and Germany all year round.
My first Chimaera was my full time transport for 3 years, again mostly in Germany which only ended when I bought my first Tuscan.
All of these cars were driven the 6km daily round trip to the office without issues with an 80km trip to the airport every couple of weeks.
My current Tuscan spent most of its first 3 years as my daily before I bought a Chimaera to act as my winter car. That didn't prove to be very successful and so I bought a Merc for that roll.
My current Tuscan is with me in German right now but I'm taking her home next week for a winter rest and will return in the Merc.
I do take some long detours as mentioned above, firstly to get the engine up to temp but also to get some juice back in the battery.
Overall though, I've not had many problems other than flat batteries when I fly back to the airport.
Then Battaery Brain is your friend. I just returned from a 7 week business trip and the Tuscan started without issue.
I did a similar commute for about 3 years and can't remember having any issues. In fact, I think the car really liked being used daily.
The most direct route would be about 4.5 miles, but I always went a longer (6.5m), less congested route which only added a few minutes to the journey. About 2/3 of the way there the oil would be above 40c and by the time I arrived it would be at a decent temperature.
The only downside to using the car so much was it became quite normal, although you always knew you were in a special car. When I drive it now (which is not enough!) I always get blown away with how great it is.
The most direct route would be about 4.5 miles, but I always went a longer (6.5m), less congested route which only added a few minutes to the journey. About 2/3 of the way there the oil would be above 40c and by the time I arrived it would be at a decent temperature.
The only downside to using the car so much was it became quite normal, although you always knew you were in a special car. When I drive it now (which is not enough!) I always get blown away with how great it is.
Edited by Cockey on Tuesday 22 November 15:33
I used both my TVRs as daily cars when in use.
My V8S was generally great even in all weathers but then developed an annoying intermittent overheating problem so sitting in traffic could get nerve wracking as the needle went ever higher.
My Tuscan was absolutely fine and a nice place to sit BUT the lengthy warm up routine meant 90% of journeys were "normal" and not that much fun. May as well have had a shopping car for those trips. Fantastic of course once warmed up and out on the open road.
It was one of the main reasons I sold it in the end.
My V8S was generally great even in all weathers but then developed an annoying intermittent overheating problem so sitting in traffic could get nerve wracking as the needle went ever higher.
My Tuscan was absolutely fine and a nice place to sit BUT the lengthy warm up routine meant 90% of journeys were "normal" and not that much fun. May as well have had a shopping car for those trips. Fantastic of course once warmed up and out on the open road.
It was one of the main reasons I sold it in the end.
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