Tuscan Newbie - Excited, a little scared, and seeking advice
Discussion
These things are like Gremlins....
Don't feed after midnight.
Don't get wet.
Avoid bright light.
Not too heavy with the right foot.
Appreciate all of the advice thus far. I am creating a notepad of Do's and Don'ts which I will memorise prior to pick up. Here's some full size pics... The full add is still on the Shmoo website. I think (I hope) I have chosen well. I was waiting bloody ages to find one of these things that had been properly cared for...
Don't feed after midnight.
Don't get wet.
Avoid bright light.
Not too heavy with the right foot.
Appreciate all of the advice thus far. I am creating a notepad of Do's and Don'ts which I will memorise prior to pick up. Here's some full size pics... The full add is still on the Shmoo website. I think (I hope) I have chosen well. I was waiting bloody ages to find one of these things that had been properly cared for...
Don't just look at the road but the road surface. Look for potholes, look for groves on hills added by heavy trucks and look for wet patches. Be prepared for the car to tramline. If you hit a pothole, the long travel accelerator will prevent the car accelerating wildly. If hailstones are forecast, take another car.
I picked up my mk 1 in August 14 and drove it straight to Holyhead, on to a ferry and back home without ever driving it! Never even had a test drive in the car i bought, but it was fully sorted from Str8six... it had a rebuild to RR spec just before i took ownership as well as nitrons on it.
Luckily, it is one of the nicer Tuscan's I've driven and is stable in comparison to some - get the right pressures, 4 wheel alignment and proper suspension set up. As advised, it is actually quiet a hard card to bin, even if you are pushing it. Think of your right foot as your traction control...the lighter you are, the less likely you are to light the rears.
In all honesty, took me about a year to be fully comfortable with it and all it's handling quirks. You will hear a lot of people talking about the PSI in the tyres - take them seriously. Mine was handling like a dog, very twitchy and the rears had a 2 PSI difference. Bit of air and handling was great again - honestly, I was surprise at the level of difference it makes.
Don't be worrying about the reliability - they are pretty much sound if you take preventative maintenance seriously. I was advised to budget about £1K per year of upkeep and it is coming in around that if I take out the few bits and bobs I have done to it.
Bottom line is enjoy, ease in to it and invest in the upkeep!
Best of luck.
Luckily, it is one of the nicer Tuscan's I've driven and is stable in comparison to some - get the right pressures, 4 wheel alignment and proper suspension set up. As advised, it is actually quiet a hard card to bin, even if you are pushing it. Think of your right foot as your traction control...the lighter you are, the less likely you are to light the rears.
In all honesty, took me about a year to be fully comfortable with it and all it's handling quirks. You will hear a lot of people talking about the PSI in the tyres - take them seriously. Mine was handling like a dog, very twitchy and the rears had a 2 PSI difference. Bit of air and handling was great again - honestly, I was surprise at the level of difference it makes.
Don't be worrying about the reliability - they are pretty much sound if you take preventative maintenance seriously. I was advised to budget about £1K per year of upkeep and it is coming in around that if I take out the few bits and bobs I have done to it.
Bottom line is enjoy, ease in to it and invest in the upkeep!
Best of luck.
RedRose123 said:
Don't just look at the road but the road surface. Look for potholes, look for groves on hills added by heavy trucks and look for wet patches. Be prepared for the car to tramline.
This is excellent advice; I found that my MK1 Tuscan could be a so and so on the inside lane of motorways where the lorries leave grooves. Keep an eye on dark patches of tarmac too, for example wet patches in shaded areas drying more slowly than the areas around it.Exactly what it has been said here. The car is really sensitive from the set up, tyre pressure and tyre/ road temperature. I have experienced them all. Str8six know how to set up the car properly, so you can't go wrong with them. Over inflated tyre or cold tyres make a huge difference on how the feels. I drove the same round about on the same day in a cooler dry summer morning and a warmed up afternoon. It is the same difference between wet and dry.
Enjoy the car and give it some respect. It is a raw car. With the current regulations and technologies we have now these day it is hard to find any alternatives with the same appearance and appeal.
Enjoy the car and give it some respect. It is a raw car. With the current regulations and technologies we have now these day it is hard to find any alternatives with the same appearance and appeal.
Well. Tomorrow is collection day. Wish me luck!
So far prior to collection, the car has had:
Powers Engine Rebuild to Red Rose Spec
New AP racing clutch
New Oil Tank (as the old one was damaged during the engine re-fit)
Nitron shock absorbers, corner weighted, and appropriate spacing to fix known bump steer issues
We should be good to go. Inaugural drive is a 200 mile stint from Devon to Kent. The sun should be shining and I cannot wait!! Will keep you all posted.
Should I get home without issues, only one challenge remains. Can I squeeze myself into it once I have squeezed it into the garage!!
So far prior to collection, the car has had:
Powers Engine Rebuild to Red Rose Spec
New AP racing clutch
New Oil Tank (as the old one was damaged during the engine re-fit)
Nitron shock absorbers, corner weighted, and appropriate spacing to fix known bump steer issues
We should be good to go. Inaugural drive is a 200 mile stint from Devon to Kent. The sun should be shining and I cannot wait!! Will keep you all posted.
Should I get home without issues, only one challenge remains. Can I squeeze myself into it once I have squeezed it into the garage!!
twoollard said:
Well. Tomorrow is collection day. Wish me luck!
So far prior to collection, the car has had:
Powers Engine Rebuild to Red Rose Spec
New AP racing clutch
New Oil Tank (as the old one was damaged during the engine re-fit)
Nitron shock absorbers, corner weighted, and appropriate spacing to fix known bump steer issues
We should be good to go. Inaugural drive is a 200 mile stint from Devon to Kent. The sun should be shining and I cannot wait!! Will keep you all posted.
Should I get home without issues, only one challenge remains. Can I squeeze myself into it once I have squeezed it into the garage!!
Fantastic and congratulations!! it sounds like the car is well sorted and it looks like the weather is on your side too. Enjoy the ownership and I still remember the excitement with my first drive in mine. Just don't forget the warm procedure before you give it the beans. So far prior to collection, the car has had:
Powers Engine Rebuild to Red Rose Spec
New AP racing clutch
New Oil Tank (as the old one was damaged during the engine re-fit)
Nitron shock absorbers, corner weighted, and appropriate spacing to fix known bump steer issues
We should be good to go. Inaugural drive is a 200 mile stint from Devon to Kent. The sun should be shining and I cannot wait!! Will keep you all posted.
Should I get home without issues, only one challenge remains. Can I squeeze myself into it once I have squeezed it into the garage!!
Have a wonderful journey back home.
Tuscan Wil said:
Fantastic and congratulations!! it sounds like the car is well sorted and it looks like the weather is on your side too. Enjoy the ownership and I still remember the excitement with my first drive in mine. Just don't forget the warm procedure before you give it the beans.
Have a wonderful journey back home.
Oh don't fully trust the petrol gauge, looking at the mileage you do. Make sure you top up half way through.Have a wonderful journey back home.
Well as a completely new & novice TVR owner, full of all of the usual anxiety about collecting a car from a manufacturer with so many known reputational issues, I am please to say that I am well and truly a TVR convert! I have driven the thing nearly 350 miles since Saturday and it literally hasn't missed a beat.
I entered into this knowing exactly what I was getting myself in to and it just goes to show that with the appropriate amount of research, and with some very dedicated dealers, engineers, and community members out there, these things can be just as reliable as any other car on the road. The lack of features in this car make it so fun to drive. It feels like driving a road legal GoKart! Great fun!!!
A beautiful drive home on Saturday from Devon, past Stonehenge, to Kent, in a beautiful machine.
I entered into this knowing exactly what I was getting myself in to and it just goes to show that with the appropriate amount of research, and with some very dedicated dealers, engineers, and community members out there, these things can be just as reliable as any other car on the road. The lack of features in this car make it so fun to drive. It feels like driving a road legal GoKart! Great fun!!!
A beautiful drive home on Saturday from Devon, past Stonehenge, to Kent, in a beautiful machine.
twoollard said:
Well as a completely new & novice TVR owner, full of all of the usual anxiety about collecting a car from a manufacturer with so many known reputational issues, I am please to say that I am well and truly a TVR convert! I have driven the thing nearly 350 miles since Saturday and it literally hasn't missed a beat.
I entered into this knowing exactly what I was getting myself in to and it just goes to show that with the appropriate amount of research, and with some very dedicated dealers, engineers, and community members out there, these things can be just as reliable as any other car on the road. The lack of features in this car make it so fun to drive. It feels like driving a road legal GoKart! Great fun!!!
A beautiful drive home on Saturday from Devon, past Stonehenge, to Kent, in a beautiful machine.
Well done I entered into this knowing exactly what I was getting myself in to and it just goes to show that with the appropriate amount of research, and with some very dedicated dealers, engineers, and community members out there, these things can be just as reliable as any other car on the road. The lack of features in this car make it so fun to drive. It feels like driving a road legal GoKart! Great fun!!!
A beautiful drive home on Saturday from Devon, past Stonehenge, to Kent, in a beautiful machine.
m3jappa said:
Zippee said:
60mph in 3rd - Dear boy you should only just be thinking of changing up to third by that point 
no no no, thats not even the middle of second 
Anyway, they can be a really sorted car, mine is really good now (haven't driven it for nearly a year mind). Bump steer isn't too bad once sorted and its actually very compliant. However just dont even try to push in the wet, it doesnt work
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