Driven one and loved it!

Driven one and loved it!

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The GMan

Original Poster:

2,508 posts

256 months

Monday 10th February 2003
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Test drove the Tuscan that I've been posting about! Loved it!!!! The car has just over 4000 on the clock not 6000 as orginally told. This was because the dash was not working when they bought it. It has now been serviced and fixed and 4000 was on the clock! Also they have put Spiders on the car now!
A few more questions if you don't mind.

1) The electric window controls are a bit unusal, can these be changed in anyway?
2) The front lower grill is cracked. If I buy it I'm going to get the garage to sort this out! Is this a common thing? Should I expect this to happen to me again, along with stone chips.
3) The turning circle is quite big! Whats is it like trying park in a multi-story car park?
4) This is the most important question to me! Mrs GMan will be driving it at some point (Take the car to pub together I drive there she drives me back if you know what I mean). She is a an excellent driver but has never driven anything like this before and it's got me worried. Also I don't want her to be getting hasle from the Max'd w@nkers, has anyone any experience of this.

Thanks for your help.

apache

39,731 posts

285 months

Monday 10th February 2003
quotequote all
had the loan of a lexus silver Tuscan this weekend and wifey loved it, drove it through Cambridge, on the motorway and on the twisty stuff. The car is a pussy cat compared to a 500 Griff, go for it

Beano500

20,854 posts

276 months

Monday 10th February 2003
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apache said: The car is a pussy cat compared to a 500 Griff


That's a disappointing endorsement......

Beano500

20,854 posts

276 months

Monday 10th February 2003
quotequote all
I had the opportunity to drive an early Tuscan last year (coming from a Griff 500). I found it quite different from the point of view of driving position which seemed quirky. That was mainly because of the pedals I suppose.

Otherwise it seemed quite easy to drive "sensibly", and I reckon any other quirks and things like turning circle will easily be forgiven.

I remember the hassle I had on changing to a Ducati - couldn't turn it round on anything narrow than the length of a runway, 'cos it had crap steering lock! you just learn to plan what you're going to do!!

All Tivs have the propensity to catch stones - it's an occupational hazard of hugging the ground at the front end - "they all do that, Sir!"

Otherwise I think that your biggest problem is more likely to be if Mrs GMan gets to like driving it!

apache

39,731 posts

285 months

Monday 10th February 2003
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Beano500 said:

apache said: The car is a pussy cat compared to a 500 Griff


That's a disappointing endorsement......




maybe.....The Griff is like a Pit Bull compared to the Tuscan, loud, edgy, unpredictable. I don't mean to diss the Tuscan, it just seems so much more civilised than a Griff and it is seriously quick

Beano500

20,854 posts

276 months

Monday 10th February 2003
quotequote all
Maybe I'll just stick with the Griff then!

apache

39,731 posts

285 months

Monday 10th February 2003
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Beano500 said: Maybe I'll just stick with the Griff then!


I know what you mean beano, the Griff is a hard act to follow and I do have some qualms about not having a V8 with all that torque and noise, but.......

Beano500

20,854 posts

276 months

Monday 10th February 2003
quotequote all
...and having studied the Tamora and the Tuscan I am convinced that the Tuscan is the spiritual successor to the Griff....
...with a level of "sophistication" (if it's in TVR's vocabulary) built in.

agerrard

21 posts

285 months

Tuesday 11th February 2003
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4) This is the most important question to me! Mrs GMan will be driving it at some point (Take the car to pub together I drive there she drives me back if you know what I mean). She is a an excellent driver but has never driven anything like this before and it's got me worried. Also I don't want her to be getting hasle from the Max'd w@nkers, has anyone any experience of this.

Thanks for your help.


Have you thought of getting her/you/both some advanced driving experience, particularly with some hi-performance cars (if you have already - apologies for the suggestion). I did the IAM in my Spider and it completely changed my driving style/habits. IMHO I'm a much better driver now & I always try to remember that a car is only as fast as your right foot and only as dangerous as the person behind the wheel !! Can't do much about other people though, except to try and anticipate the stupid things they might do on the roads. Sometimes, it feels as if the car is invisible - don't quite know how .Stay safe. Andrew - Tuscan.

Beano500

20,854 posts

276 months

Tuesday 11th February 2003
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agerrard said: Sometimes, it feels as if the car is invisible - don't quite know how .Stay safe. Andrew - Tuscan.


Spooky - I thought that was just black Griffs with the "Blackpool magic cloaking device"...

21TVR

655 posts

257 months

Tuesday 11th February 2003
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The GMan wrote:


1) The electric window controls are a bit unusal, can these be changed in anyway?


The whole car is a bit unusal! It reminds me of an aircrsft, you need to think about what you want the car do before you alter any of it's controls. But the windows are great - you'll get used to them Sir! Just remember to make a decision on where you want the window to be, then operate the control in one increment. If that's wrong - wait - then alter it by one increment. If you want the window to run top to bottom - run your finger over the control in one full roll !! (something like that anyway!)


2) The front lower grill is cracked. If I buy it I'm going to get the garage to sort this out! Is this a common thing? Should I expect this to happen to me again, along with stone chips.


This is the 'Cheesegrater' I'm guessing somebody has touched it when parking. They don't normally crack.
As to stone chips, they go with the territory - have resprayed each year!


3) The turning circle is quite big! Whats is it like trying park in a multi-story car park?


Parking is fine, you just have to allow for the lock and make a three point turn! Punters behind will enjoy the wait!! Try selecting fifth first before reverse each time to avoid the crunch


4) This is the most important question to me! Mrs GMan will be driving it at some point (Take the car to pub together I drive there she drives me back if you know what I mean). She is a an excellent driver but has never driven anything like this before and it's got me worried. Also I don't want her to be getting hasle from the Max'd w@nkers, has anyone any experience of this.


This car is a technical drive. You will get hassle from other motorists from time to time - just last night it was a BMW M3 that just had to max it past me into a corner, it was raining hard, although I knew i'd leave him behind on the straight, he would have more control into the corner - it was a country road and at your going to reach a 3 figure speed in no time, stopping may be different though

The day before it was a Jap C**p WXD or something, millimetres from the rear end - don't these people have any respect. As we reached a town, coming up to the 30, i slowed down and he bass boxed it past me at maybe 80 into the built up area - very good, well done!


Don't take the bait - they know you can blitz them, that's why they hassle you

Read up on the braking issues on this forum, especially about the idea of NOT using the gearbox to slow you down - or you may find the back end will be the front end!!! Best thing is to take it on an Airfield Day this time of year and learn about how to control it in the wet

hope this helps

sp

JonGwynne

270 posts

266 months

Tuesday 11th February 2003
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apache said: had the loan of a lexus silver Tuscan this weekend and wifey loved it, drove it through Cambridge, on the motorway and on the twisty stuff. The car is a pussy cat compared to a 500 Griff, go for it


Really, maybe there was something wrong with the 500 Griff I drove. I found it to be much more docile than the Tuscan.

JonGwynne

270 posts

266 months

Tuesday 11th February 2003
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3) The turning circle is quite big! Whats is it like trying park in a multi-story car park?



Did it have 18" wheels? I'm told they seriously compromise the turning circle. The one I drove had the more conventional 16" wheels and it seemed quite sharp. I've never driven one with 18"s though.

Anyone try 17" wheels as a compromise?

apache

39,731 posts

285 months

Tuesday 11th February 2003
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JonGwynne said:

apache said: had the loan of a lexus silver Tuscan this weekend and wifey loved it, drove it through Cambridge, on the motorway and on the twisty stuff. The car is a pussy cat compared to a 500 Griff, go for it


Really, maybe there was something wrong with the 500 Griff I drove. I found it to be much more docile than the Tuscan.


jon, I seem to have used a bad analogy with this remark, I think it might be the shorter throttle travel on the Griff that makes it seem so eager. We both love the Tuscan, it is more sophisticated and easier in traffic, not as torquey (not the Fawlty Towers type)but really flies once 'on cam'

JonGwynne

270 posts

266 months

Tuesday 11th February 2003
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apache said:

JonGwynne said:

apache said: had the loan of a lexus silver Tuscan this weekend and wifey loved it, drove it through Cambridge, on the motorway and on the twisty stuff. The car is a pussy cat compared to a 500 Griff, go for it


Really, maybe there was something wrong with the 500 Griff I drove. I found it to be much more docile than the Tuscan.


jon, I seem to have used a bad analogy with this remark, I think it might be the shorter throttle travel on the Griff that makes it seem so eager. We both love the Tuscan, it is more sophisticated and easier in traffic, not as torquey (not the Fawlty Towers type)but really flies once 'on cam'


You've got a point there. One of the things I love about the Tuscan is that long, linear throttle. That's what makes the car so easy to control and is the main reason I don't understand why people would fault it for lacking traction-control.

Plus, this may be a bit heretical, but I've never understood that insane lust some people have for the sound of a V8. To me, a straight-six (or V-12) sounds so much more musical and purposeful. And, for all the waxing lyrical about a Ferrari's exhaust note, I think that the best Maranello ever produced doesn't hold a candle to Blackpool's Speed Six.

How sweet must the Speed Twelve sound? Perhaps one day, TVR will produce a smaller, reasonably-powered one for road cars.

Note to TVR's engine boffins: Just because you can make over 900bhp with a 7.7 liter engine doesn't mean you have to. How about one that displaces ~4.5 liters and makes about 550bhp? That would be worth having...

apache

39,731 posts

285 months

Tuesday 11th February 2003
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Jon, have you heard the T350c? angry little f**ker!

JonGwynne

270 posts

266 months

Wednesday 12th February 2003
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apache said: Jon, have you heard the T350c? angry little f**ker!


No, I haven't. I have heard a Tamora though. Does it sound appreciably different?

The Tam didn't sound as overwhelmingly savage as the 4.0 liter Tuscan. I don't know if there's a different exhaust system or the longer stroke changes the engine note but I thought there was a noticeable difference.

I've heard a few Lambos that sounded mild and refined compared to the Tuscan I drove. ;->

apache

39,731 posts

285 months

Wednesday 12th February 2003
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yeah the exhaust is all new apparently and sounds terrific......get yerself to a dealer Jon