Discussion
I don't understand. Why is it that a Mk1 Tuscan in great condition is worth £25k to £30kish but a car thats 3 to 5 years younger can ask £50k.
Surely the vast majority of these cars are really loved vehicles and over the last 20 years any faults or manufacturing issues that a Mk1 might have had have been well and truly sorted and both cars are likely to be equally reliable by now. Personally I prefer the design of the Mk1 front end but must confess the back end of the later models is an improvement apart from the larger spoilers which appear to collect water when stood in the rain. Will we at some point see the price gap narrow? Perhaps when the Mk1 reaches 25year and becomes available to the Americans!!!
Surely the vast majority of these cars are really loved vehicles and over the last 20 years any faults or manufacturing issues that a Mk1 might have had have been well and truly sorted and both cars are likely to be equally reliable by now. Personally I prefer the design of the Mk1 front end but must confess the back end of the later models is an improvement apart from the larger spoilers which appear to collect water when stood in the rain. Will we at some point see the price gap narrow? Perhaps when the Mk1 reaches 25year and becomes available to the Americans!!!
chrishart54 said:
I don't understand. Why is it that a Mk1 Tuscan in great condition is worth £25k to £30kish but a car thats 3 to 5 years younger can ask £50k.
Surely the vast majority of these cars are really loved vehicles and over the last 20 years any faults or manufacturing issues that a Mk1 might have had have been well and truly sorted and both cars are likely to be equally reliable by now. Personally I prefer the design of the Mk1 front end but must confess the back end of the later models is an improvement apart from the larger spoilers which appear to collect water when stood in the rain. Will we at some point see the price gap narrow? Perhaps when the Mk1 reaches 25year and becomes available to the Americans!!!
1) Perceived issues of early cars, especially engines & handling. Altho you state 'surely' the early cars are now sorted, they might not be, so leaving new owner with potential large bills.Surely the vast majority of these cars are really loved vehicles and over the last 20 years any faults or manufacturing issues that a Mk1 might have had have been well and truly sorted and both cars are likely to be equally reliable by now. Personally I prefer the design of the Mk1 front end but must confess the back end of the later models is an improvement apart from the larger spoilers which appear to collect water when stood in the rain. Will we at some point see the price gap narrow? Perhaps when the Mk1 reaches 25year and becomes available to the Americans!!!
2) Later models perceived less risky, better built & handle better without money spent on them.
3) Less of the later models = supply & demand.
4) Later styling (inside & out) appeals to more people.
Will price gap narrow, possibly, especially the Mk1 cars that have had work done, but we'll have to see if later cars value reduces, or earlier cars values increase.
I suppose it depends if you're buying or selling 
I like some of the untruths in some adverts
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13118586
"One of 16 produced" when there were at least 45 !!!
The Targa at £50k one has a Racing Green FFF but isn't a MK3
Of course the convertible is the most desirable and will always command a premium price
I like some of the untruths in some adverts
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13118586
"One of 16 produced" when there were at least 45 !!!
The Targa at £50k one has a Racing Green FFF but isn't a MK3
Of course the convertible is the most desirable and will always command a premium price
Supply and demand I guess.
Although the Mk2s and MK3s tend to take longer to sell judging by repeat ads...but on the flip side I guess the higher the price of any vehicle the fewer folks there are in the market to buy them.
I've been tempted to take a couple of the MK2/3s for a test to see if there is that much of a difference to a MK1.
Although the Mk2s and MK3s tend to take longer to sell judging by repeat ads...but on the flip side I guess the higher the price of any vehicle the fewer folks there are in the market to buy them.
I've been tempted to take a couple of the MK2/3s for a test to see if there is that much of a difference to a MK1.
Bias mk1 owner I know but the law of diminishing returns is in play in my opinion.
I expect many will disagree but all the later TVR cars where based on roughly the same chassis/body/engine. Their performance was all in spitting distance of each other. Main factor is how many where made and if that makes them rarer that others (condition aside). I suppose 50bhp from bottom to top of the range is a factor but I have seen many dynos of standard engines outperforming mk2 s motors ( and visa versa).
I get that the later cars where apparently better made but they are all 20 odd years old now so how much validity that holds I'm not so sure at this stage of life.
Saying the interior/exterior of the later models is preferred is a pretty contentious issue. Thats fighting talk! ; P The Mk1 is held by many as the pretty one inside and out but this is subjective, eye of the beholder and all that.
I would say that in a sane world the later cars should command a 10-15% premium ( like for like maintenance, condition history etc) but rarity is the key and pushes up the price. I'm not complaining because this enabled me to buy my car for a song. Im not selling mine until the petrol runs out and then I will get them to bury me in it. I like my Tuscan a little too much........ .
I preferred the mk1. The S and mk2/s got uglier and fussy IMO ( although I wish I could get its aero without the spoilers and splitters). The convertible is lauded but that's my lest appealing pick. The Tuscan is all about flowing lines and chopping the roof of lost a lot of beautifully shapes for me.
Also the later cars are more expensive because they have generally been looked after better. The mk1 price was in the pan 8-10 years ago ( like 12-15k) because the reliability issues in the early 00s meant people were bailing out on their mk1 Tuscans in droves. People bought them at barging basement prices and they got run on small budgets and/or run into the ground.
Bottom line is the later cars where better cars. 30-50% better cars......I don't think so?
Buy what you want I guess. There is always a premium in life, its up to you to decide if its worth it.
PS The MK1 has to be the definitive Tuscan seeing as its the only Tuscan in Gran Tourism 7. he he he
(Even if it is on the 15" spiders! There you go, that should be the most expensive rare model! A Tuscan 3.6 mk1 on 15" spiders he he he. Do any
even exist anymore?)
I expect many will disagree but all the later TVR cars where based on roughly the same chassis/body/engine. Their performance was all in spitting distance of each other. Main factor is how many where made and if that makes them rarer that others (condition aside). I suppose 50bhp from bottom to top of the range is a factor but I have seen many dynos of standard engines outperforming mk2 s motors ( and visa versa).
I get that the later cars where apparently better made but they are all 20 odd years old now so how much validity that holds I'm not so sure at this stage of life.
Saying the interior/exterior of the later models is preferred is a pretty contentious issue. Thats fighting talk! ; P The Mk1 is held by many as the pretty one inside and out but this is subjective, eye of the beholder and all that.
I would say that in a sane world the later cars should command a 10-15% premium ( like for like maintenance, condition history etc) but rarity is the key and pushes up the price. I'm not complaining because this enabled me to buy my car for a song. Im not selling mine until the petrol runs out and then I will get them to bury me in it. I like my Tuscan a little too much........ .
I preferred the mk1. The S and mk2/s got uglier and fussy IMO ( although I wish I could get its aero without the spoilers and splitters). The convertible is lauded but that's my lest appealing pick. The Tuscan is all about flowing lines and chopping the roof of lost a lot of beautifully shapes for me.
Also the later cars are more expensive because they have generally been looked after better. The mk1 price was in the pan 8-10 years ago ( like 12-15k) because the reliability issues in the early 00s meant people were bailing out on their mk1 Tuscans in droves. People bought them at barging basement prices and they got run on small budgets and/or run into the ground.
Bottom line is the later cars where better cars. 30-50% better cars......I don't think so?
Buy what you want I guess. There is always a premium in life, its up to you to decide if its worth it.
PS The MK1 has to be the definitive Tuscan seeing as its the only Tuscan in Gran Tourism 7. he he he
(Even if it is on the 15" spiders! There you go, that should be the most expensive rare model! A Tuscan 3.6 mk1 on 15" spiders he he he. Do any
even exist anymore?)
Edited by Snaaakeey on Tuesday 17th May 15:21
Edited by Snaaakeey on Tuesday 17th May 15:23
glow worm said:
I suppose it depends if you're buying or selling
I like some of the untruths in some adverts
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13118586
"One of 16 produced" when there were at least 45 !!!
The Targa at £50k one has a Racing Green FFF but isn't a MK3
Of course the convertible is the most desirable and will always command a premium price
Just for gigles I got a quote from We Buy ..... last week for my Tuscan Convertible.................£11,230. I like some of the untruths in some adverts
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/13118586
"One of 16 produced" when there were at least 45 !!!
The Targa at £50k one has a Racing Green FFF but isn't a MK3
Of course the convertible is the most desirable and will always command a premium price
I have been into classic cars for a lot of years and what always happens is that over time the early original versions will always eventually overtake the values of the later cars. If you have a pristine early car, hang on to it!! The attraction to enthusiasts of the original 'as designed' cars will always win. The more standard the better too. Regardless of all the mods we make thinking that they improve the car, ultimately they will damage the value.
Snaaakeey said:
I preferred the mk1. The S and mk2/s got uglier and fussy IMO ( although I wish I could get its aero without the spoilers and splitters). The convertible is lauded but that's my lest appealing pick. The Tuscan is all about flowing lines and chopping the roof of lost a lot of beautifully shapes for me.
Completely agree with this ^^^Interior on the Mk2 onwards was a significant step backwards over the Mk1 for me- just can't get onboard with the later style dashes. Also can't get onboard with the revised front headlight design- makes them look like they are wearing mascara. I don't mind the rear light design of the mk-2 so much, but still prefer the cleaner lines of the Mk-1. The convertible does nothing at all for me- I love that the Tuscan looks superb as both a coupe and with the roof off. Turning it into a convertible spoils the proportions.
As mentioned above I presume the biggest factor with pricing of the later models is down to the much smaller numbers produced.
It does seem crazy how cheap they have been at times though- looking through the history of our Mk-1 I can see it sold for £14.5k as recently as 2011ish, then £19k in around 2017, before we bought it for £23k in 2020. Although if you also take into account the service receipts, none of us have done very well!
Squirrelofwoe said:
Completely agree with this ^^^
Interior on the Mk2 onwards was a significant step backwards over the Mk1 for me- just can't get onboard with the later style dashes. Also can't get onboard with the revised front headlight design- makes them look like they are wearing mascara. I don't mind the rear light design of the mk-2 so much, but still prefer the cleaner lines of the Mk-1. The convertible does nothing at all for me- I love that the Tuscan looks superb as both a coupe and with the roof off. Turning it into a convertible spoils the proportions.
As mentioned above I presume the biggest factor with pricing of the later models is down to the much smaller numbers produced.
It does seem crazy how cheap they have been at times though- looking through the history of our Mk-1 I can see it sold for £14.5k as recently as 2011ish, then £19k in around 2017, before we bought it for £23k in 2020. Although if you also take into account the service receipts, none of us have done very well!
Indeed, I am totally on the same page and sharing the same sentiment. As mentioned before it is the eye of the behold and it is all subjective of course. I really like the front cheese grille, all the alloy interiors dash and knobs, the smooth curve rear without the lights running on the sides - it actually reminds me of Kylie's. I often do Justin Timberlake's move on my Tuscan Interior on the Mk2 onwards was a significant step backwards over the Mk1 for me- just can't get onboard with the later style dashes. Also can't get onboard with the revised front headlight design- makes them look like they are wearing mascara. I don't mind the rear light design of the mk-2 so much, but still prefer the cleaner lines of the Mk-1. The convertible does nothing at all for me- I love that the Tuscan looks superb as both a coupe and with the roof off. Turning it into a convertible spoils the proportions.
As mentioned above I presume the biggest factor with pricing of the later models is down to the much smaller numbers produced.
It does seem crazy how cheap they have been at times though- looking through the history of our Mk-1 I can see it sold for £14.5k as recently as 2011ish, then £19k in around 2017, before we bought it for £23k in 2020. Although if you also take into account the service receipts, none of us have done very well!
. In my humble opinions, any soft top cars only look good when the soft top is folded down. One of the main reason for me to go for the Tuscan is it has the hardtop coupe line, but also offers the targa or convertible experience.
It seems that my original post has created a lot of debate but it appears that those who have commented generally prefer the Mk1.
I wonder when some one will be brave enough to ask £45k for a good one!!!
I do like the comments about originality will eventually be the winner. I have kept mine as original as possible and kept the orange indicator lenses even under pressure to change the ‘because it’s an upgrade everyone does’.
Glad I’m not ‘everyone’
I wonder when some one will be brave enough to ask £45k for a good one!!!
I do like the comments about originality will eventually be the winner. I have kept mine as original as possible and kept the orange indicator lenses even under pressure to change the ‘because it’s an upgrade everyone does’.
Glad I’m not ‘everyone’
I think its down to numbers. The Mk2/3 has always held a premium on the Mk1 because of rarity and probably because they were the more sorted car leaving the factory.
But as other have said many Mk1's are so well sorted now.
For a while I've been thinking of swapping my Mk1 for a Mk2/3, however my Mk1 is probably just as sorted so will probably keep it and spend a portion of the money on cosmetic upgrades.
But as other have said many Mk1's are so well sorted now.
For a while I've been thinking of swapping my Mk1 for a Mk2/3, however my Mk1 is probably just as sorted so will probably keep it and spend a portion of the money on cosmetic upgrades.
Keep yer Mk2s and Tamoras, all the same soft edged reliable machine to me, I like the bite yer head off Mk1, yep life on the edge for me, bit like living with my missus, smiling one minute and totally crackers waving a kitchen knife the next just because I have been out all day buying car parts.... in fact as I am getting older maybe a Mk2 or Tam does appeal...retirement style motoring. My reckoning is the original head biting off bear with attitude Mk1s will be worth the same as cuddly kitten Mk2s one day... it's fashion, that's all.
Roll on LeMans...
J
Roll on LeMans...
J
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