Tuscan Vs Exige
Discussion
Hi all,
Im going to post this in both forums (TVR and EXIGE), is there a way to link both?
My predicament, which I'm very pleased to be having, is wether to buy an exige or a tuscan.
I have access to a works car which i'll be using for any kind of distance driving, and back and forth to the office on the majority of days. BUT there will be occasions where I will have to use mine, worst outcome 300/400 miles a week.
I can't afford the supercharge exige so it will be the N/A version.
Basically its an circa 02 Tuscan Vs an 06 N/A exige.
Driving; From what I've read, and from chatting to people they are both pretty amazing. I will mostly be 'enjoying' the speed of the car on the black mountains, or these types of roads. Straight line speed is amazing, but I'm more of a twisty road driver. I think they will both be pretty good in these situations, maybe the exige a little better?
Looks; well I think the majority of people who have these cars, likes people looking at them (the cars). I know this shouldn't be a consideration, but it is! I think the exige might get more looks then the tuscan? But they are both pretty cool.
Reliability; Im very worried about the tuscan reliability. Ive heard if its had a rebuild, its fine? Is this true? The exige on the other hand is supposed to be pretty solid.
Costs; Servicing, MPG, general costs. You can read stats on parkers etc, but what are the true figures?
Do all the tuscans have the targa top?
I've always wanted a TVR, but I also love the exige. I don't know what to do, ha.
Im going to post this in both forums (TVR and EXIGE), is there a way to link both?
My predicament, which I'm very pleased to be having, is wether to buy an exige or a tuscan.
I have access to a works car which i'll be using for any kind of distance driving, and back and forth to the office on the majority of days. BUT there will be occasions where I will have to use mine, worst outcome 300/400 miles a week.
I can't afford the supercharge exige so it will be the N/A version.
Basically its an circa 02 Tuscan Vs an 06 N/A exige.
Driving; From what I've read, and from chatting to people they are both pretty amazing. I will mostly be 'enjoying' the speed of the car on the black mountains, or these types of roads. Straight line speed is amazing, but I'm more of a twisty road driver. I think they will both be pretty good in these situations, maybe the exige a little better?
Looks; well I think the majority of people who have these cars, likes people looking at them (the cars). I know this shouldn't be a consideration, but it is! I think the exige might get more looks then the tuscan? But they are both pretty cool.
Reliability; Im very worried about the tuscan reliability. Ive heard if its had a rebuild, its fine? Is this true? The exige on the other hand is supposed to be pretty solid.
Costs; Servicing, MPG, general costs. You can read stats on parkers etc, but what are the true figures?
Do all the tuscans have the targa top?
I've always wanted a TVR, but I also love the exige. I don't know what to do, ha.
It is a nice problem to have. I have never driven a Toyota engined Elise/Exige so I can't talk about them personnally, but I ran an K-Series Elise 111s for 4 years everyday, but that was a long time ago now. I presently own a Tuscan as a second car.
Driving wise both are completely different to each other, the Elise is more friendly, but I would say more prone to understeer than the Tuscan in the wet, but then again I don't drive the TVR much in the wet. The Elise is a lot smaller physically than the TVR so it would be easier to drive on A/B roads. But when before I bought my Tuscan I thought it was going to be a brute to drive, but it isn't, yes you have to show it respect, but is not that scarey.
Performance wise the TVR is brutal, unless you are running 250-300 bhp in an Elise don't even consider them in the same league.
Looks wise there is no competition, the TVR wins hands down, they are so different to anything else that they stand out, and the sound
The TVR will cost a lot more to run and maintain, but I have found that you have to treat both cars with the same care, because thay both come from low volume manufacturers. But you have to remember the TVR will be older of the two.
Yes the Tuscan will need a rebuild, but most have had one by now, and I bought one that had better suspension set-up.
Neither are better, both are great, and you should at least of tried one of each during your life.
Driving wise both are completely different to each other, the Elise is more friendly, but I would say more prone to understeer than the Tuscan in the wet, but then again I don't drive the TVR much in the wet. The Elise is a lot smaller physically than the TVR so it would be easier to drive on A/B roads. But when before I bought my Tuscan I thought it was going to be a brute to drive, but it isn't, yes you have to show it respect, but is not that scarey.
Performance wise the TVR is brutal, unless you are running 250-300 bhp in an Elise don't even consider them in the same league.
Looks wise there is no competition, the TVR wins hands down, they are so different to anything else that they stand out, and the sound
The TVR will cost a lot more to run and maintain, but I have found that you have to treat both cars with the same care, because thay both come from low volume manufacturers. But you have to remember the TVR will be older of the two.
Yes the Tuscan will need a rebuild, but most have had one by now, and I bought one that had better suspension set-up.
Neither are better, both are great, and you should at least of tried one of each during your life.
1.8 K series2 elise, 156 BHP.
4.3 2001 Tuscan, 375 ish BHP.
I ran my elise for 2 years. Lovely to drive, but really lacking power. The elise is GREAT on track and twisties, but only GREAT on twisties if you are commited to the bends, really loading it up.... which for me on the public roads I drive was very few and far between that a corner came up with enough visibility to KNOW I could carry speed around it. The problem with the elise was that it was so slow on the throttle that you wanted to carry a lot of speed, but it's just not safe to drive like that on the roads, so I found it frustrating. On track, different matter.
Tuscan, power is brutal, cornering is, to be quite honest, scary. I've got nitrons and spacers and the car is no pinpoint accurate machine, it's bump steery, it's massively overpowered, it's a bit reboundy atm, but setup may sort, but ultimatlely these traits only surface when 'on it', which, for the reasons above with the elise, is very rare. Much more normal driving in the tuscan would be boot it on the straights, enjoy the accel/decel& noise, tiptoe around a corner, rinse&repeat.
So, for me, on the UK roads a car with REDICULOUS acceleration & good brakes is good fun. Cornering, if anything, the worse it is, the better, as you can have more fun at slow speeds. The tuscan is a brilliant fit for my use in this respect.
If I were on track, the elise would win every time. So it depends on what these 'black twisties' you speak of are, if you have great vis and can really link a few up, an elise will give more tactile feedback and satisfaction than a tuscan.
The other point about UK driving is that getting past the 50mph NSL mob is a peice of pie in the Tuscan, overtakes are safe & easy. In my 160hp elise it takes a LOT LOT Longer to get past people, so fewer opportunities for overtakes present. This made being in the elise frustrating at times. I have this problem not with the Tuscan.
So I don't know if that has helped or hindered, but in summary, Tuscan most british roads, elise/exige track work. IMO.
Oh, and the roof off is SO much better in the Tuscan than elise. You're so much more in the elements, the elise feels very cosseted, even with roof off.
Good luck
4.3 2001 Tuscan, 375 ish BHP.
I ran my elise for 2 years. Lovely to drive, but really lacking power. The elise is GREAT on track and twisties, but only GREAT on twisties if you are commited to the bends, really loading it up.... which for me on the public roads I drive was very few and far between that a corner came up with enough visibility to KNOW I could carry speed around it. The problem with the elise was that it was so slow on the throttle that you wanted to carry a lot of speed, but it's just not safe to drive like that on the roads, so I found it frustrating. On track, different matter.
Tuscan, power is brutal, cornering is, to be quite honest, scary. I've got nitrons and spacers and the car is no pinpoint accurate machine, it's bump steery, it's massively overpowered, it's a bit reboundy atm, but setup may sort, but ultimatlely these traits only surface when 'on it', which, for the reasons above with the elise, is very rare. Much more normal driving in the tuscan would be boot it on the straights, enjoy the accel/decel& noise, tiptoe around a corner, rinse&repeat.
So, for me, on the UK roads a car with REDICULOUS acceleration & good brakes is good fun. Cornering, if anything, the worse it is, the better, as you can have more fun at slow speeds. The tuscan is a brilliant fit for my use in this respect.
If I were on track, the elise would win every time. So it depends on what these 'black twisties' you speak of are, if you have great vis and can really link a few up, an elise will give more tactile feedback and satisfaction than a tuscan.
The other point about UK driving is that getting past the 50mph NSL mob is a peice of pie in the Tuscan, overtakes are safe & easy. In my 160hp elise it takes a LOT LOT Longer to get past people, so fewer opportunities for overtakes present. This made being in the elise frustrating at times. I have this problem not with the Tuscan.
So I don't know if that has helped or hindered, but in summary, Tuscan most british roads, elise/exige track work. IMO.
Oh, and the roof off is SO much better in the Tuscan than elise. You're so much more in the elements, the elise feels very cosseted, even with roof off.
Good luck
Having had couple of tvrs and owned a vxt220t and test drove a few lotus, I would have to say the two cant really be compared with each other as the same. The lotus is tame but nimble and the tvr raw and savage. If you liike noise, vibrations, attention and speed then get the tvr. Anything else than get the lotus.
As someone who has owned a Tuscan and who now owns a Lotus and a TVR the best thing to say is that the Lotus is a nice tame kitty, while the TVR is a Lion on steriods.
They don't really compare.
Lotus = nice to drive, nimble, sticks to the road like glue
TVR = roar and raw.
If you want a semi-tame cat, get the Lotus
If you want something wild, get the TVR
They don't really compare.
Lotus = nice to drive, nimble, sticks to the road like glue
TVR = roar and raw.
If you want a semi-tame cat, get the Lotus
If you want something wild, get the TVR
Luke,
I'd concur with Alex to be fair. They are very different. I've driven Chim, Tuscan and owned/own T350 and Sagaris but my brother in law has a long lotus history of Elise, Exige (s) and has just placed and order on an Evora. I've been in all except the Evora.
For me it's TVR all the way, agreed the are not a reliable as the Lotus, but looks and driving experience they win hands down. The tiv interiors feel so much more luxurious than the Exige/Elise and a pleasure to be in for some serious road driving.
To be fair, brown trousers moments in both, Tiv because of their raw meat but as Alex says the Lotus will stick to the road/track like glue especially an Exige running 888's on a dry day. I don't think I've ever been round corners as fast as I did in that Exige S.
Anyhows, the choice is yours but for me I'd go Tuscan and enjoy!.
I'd concur with Alex to be fair. They are very different. I've driven Chim, Tuscan and owned/own T350 and Sagaris but my brother in law has a long lotus history of Elise, Exige (s) and has just placed and order on an Evora. I've been in all except the Evora.
For me it's TVR all the way, agreed the are not a reliable as the Lotus, but looks and driving experience they win hands down. The tiv interiors feel so much more luxurious than the Exige/Elise and a pleasure to be in for some serious road driving.
To be fair, brown trousers moments in both, Tiv because of their raw meat but as Alex says the Lotus will stick to the road/track like glue especially an Exige running 888's on a dry day. I don't think I've ever been round corners as fast as I did in that Exige S.
Anyhows, the choice is yours but for me I'd go Tuscan and enjoy!.
Hmmmm I have a VXR220 turbo and a Tuscan Mk2 S, I tried the Elise.
First the VXR220 is stage 4 tune with two way nitrons, 290 bhp and is mental on acceleration and handling, base inside, crashy on the susension, lot of squeeks to drive you insane, a bu**er to get in and out of especially if the hard top is fitted but never ever given any problems and is 7 years old. Expensive to look after properly and will trash a set of rear tyres in 5k miles, a minor sevice just cost £1200.
Tuscan to me is quick progressive acceration, handling needs to be sorted as is on standard shocks, looks wise the Tuscan has it, comfort wise the Tuscan has it, Paintwork the Tuscan has it, in fact the Tuscan is just great.
First the VXR220 is stage 4 tune with two way nitrons, 290 bhp and is mental on acceleration and handling, base inside, crashy on the susension, lot of squeeks to drive you insane, a bu**er to get in and out of especially if the hard top is fitted but never ever given any problems and is 7 years old. Expensive to look after properly and will trash a set of rear tyres in 5k miles, a minor sevice just cost £1200.
Tuscan to me is quick progressive acceration, handling needs to be sorted as is on standard shocks, looks wise the Tuscan has it, comfort wise the Tuscan has it, Paintwork the Tuscan has it, in fact the Tuscan is just great.
Coming from a modified Elise (motorsport front, Honda conversion and lots of other bits and bobs), I think it's safe to say I know both...
Exige: you'll have to rev the nuts off to get the best out of the engine. If you like that, then I think the Exige will be a better suited car to you. On twisty roads, it has one advantage to the Tuscan, and that is that it is a lot smaller... (I remember, after just ahving switched over to the Tuscan, going out for a drive, and following a friend in his Elise on a very small B-road that I had to literally see where I drove not to fall off the tarmac, while he just took off, with some comfortable margin left on both sides of the road).
Tuscan: it has the advantage of the 6 cylinder engine and a far more luxurious interior than the Exige. Every "normal" Tuscan has indeed got the Targa roof (convertible being a convertible of course), so you can enjoy the open air. As for driving characteristics: turn-in on Mk. 1 Tuscans is very sharp, but once you get used to that, you know how the car will react. Just be aware that at the rate the speed these things get, it will easily bring you up into 3 numbers before you realize how fast you're going (in my opinion a "common" mistake of early Tuscan accidents, hence bringing up the reputation that it is a "raw" car to drive).
Rebuilt ones should be ok, especially if they're from a later period (early rebuilts did tend to go wrong, talking out of personal experience here).
Maintenance costs I'd say it's pretty clear that the Exige will be a bit less than the Tuscan (tyres and things like that). On the other hand, a set of rear brake pads on the Tuscan is from a Scorpio, so will only cost you about 60-70 quid, with the Lotus, you'd easily be up a bit higher...
Best advice I can give you: go drive them both, and decide then which you want. I can safely say: I see a lot more Exiges than I see Tuscans on the road. For me, the Tuscan always got more looks than the Exiges/Elises, due to it's exclusivity (there are a lot more than 500 Exiges S2 on the road)
Exige: you'll have to rev the nuts off to get the best out of the engine. If you like that, then I think the Exige will be a better suited car to you. On twisty roads, it has one advantage to the Tuscan, and that is that it is a lot smaller... (I remember, after just ahving switched over to the Tuscan, going out for a drive, and following a friend in his Elise on a very small B-road that I had to literally see where I drove not to fall off the tarmac, while he just took off, with some comfortable margin left on both sides of the road).
Tuscan: it has the advantage of the 6 cylinder engine and a far more luxurious interior than the Exige. Every "normal" Tuscan has indeed got the Targa roof (convertible being a convertible of course), so you can enjoy the open air. As for driving characteristics: turn-in on Mk. 1 Tuscans is very sharp, but once you get used to that, you know how the car will react. Just be aware that at the rate the speed these things get, it will easily bring you up into 3 numbers before you realize how fast you're going (in my opinion a "common" mistake of early Tuscan accidents, hence bringing up the reputation that it is a "raw" car to drive).
Rebuilt ones should be ok, especially if they're from a later period (early rebuilts did tend to go wrong, talking out of personal experience here).
Maintenance costs I'd say it's pretty clear that the Exige will be a bit less than the Tuscan (tyres and things like that). On the other hand, a set of rear brake pads on the Tuscan is from a Scorpio, so will only cost you about 60-70 quid, with the Lotus, you'd easily be up a bit higher...
Best advice I can give you: go drive them both, and decide then which you want. I can safely say: I see a lot more Exiges than I see Tuscans on the road. For me, the Tuscan always got more looks than the Exiges/Elises, due to it's exclusivity (there are a lot more than 500 Exiges S2 on the road)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmscSzFurwg
This 1 may get more looks perhaps if you could catch up with it
This 1 may get more looks perhaps if you could catch up with it
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