Buying advice
Buying advice
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doneitnow

Original Poster:

663 posts

172 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
Hi all, sorry for the daft question but looking at buying a Tuscan and keep seeing in adverts about the "obligatory engine rebuild" is it only the mark 1's that required the rebuild or are you advised to look for any Tuscan with a rebuilt engine, warranty or priced accordingly?

UpTheIron

4,058 posts

292 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
It's been done to death on here, but if you need it to sleep easy you will need a rebuild (from a reputable builder), a warranty or a discount. Or two of those. Regardless of a Mk1 or Mk2. With most things TVR (and hand built in general) they improve with time, but Mk2's have been known to go pop, have been rebuilt engines.

I bought a non-rebuilt 2001 S (but may have had minor work done early on at the factory) with 8k on the clock. I happily ran the engine into the ground treating every mile as a bonus before paying for the rebuild - I got about 40,000 "free miles", although by the end she was a smokey old girl.

I then rushed it up to Dom for a 4.5 and a 5 year warranty.


JimmyZZ

239 posts

246 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
The speed six is a high performance machine and needs to be treated with a little bit of common sense. If done so it is strong like an ox for a long time without rebuild. I dare to say you can kill every motor, speed six or not, rebuilt or not if you give it the beans without warming up properly. It all depends on the former owner.
Plus you always read the contributions of people with problems in forums. The ones that drive their T-cars without problems don't loose a word here. And some with high mileages without rebuild are even tired of being called a liar...
As always in life you have to be at the right point at the right time to get a decent one.

Edited by JimmyZZ on Monday 6th August 16:15

FactoryPilot

1,352 posts

240 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
As indicated on almost every other post, the later the car, the better generally.

I had a 2000/X Tuscan 1 Red Rose 4.0 and it had been rebuilt at the factory before 1,000 miles and even when I sold it with about 1,200 miles on it, from memory, I reckon it needed another rebuild. It used more oil than petrol frown

I then bought a 2004/54 Tuscan 2 3.6 and it was fantastic! Can't remember exact miles that I did, but used it everyday all through winter, sometimes even doing 500 mile in a day! The thing never let me down and never needed anything doing other than routine servicing. Only slight gripe with it, was that the roof would sometimes leak in bad rain.

doneitnow

Original Poster:

663 posts

172 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies, I guess I best start looking and try and find myself a well cared for example thensmile

Who do people use for there rebuilds and what is the approximate cost?

johnalford2

137 posts

169 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
JimmyZZ said:
The speed six is a high performance machine and needs to be treated with a little bit of common sense. If done so it is strong like an ox for a long time without rebuild. I dare to say you can kill every motor, speed six or not, rebuilt or not if you give it the beans without warming up properly. It all depends on the former owner.
Plus you always read the contributions of people with problems in forums. The ones that drive their T-cars without problems don't loose a word here. And some with high mileages without rebuild are even tired of being called a liar...
As always in life you have to be at the right point at the right time to get a decent one.

Edited by JimmyZZ on Monday 6th August 16:15
agreed

collingbroon

382 posts

215 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
doneitnow said:
Thanks for the replies, I guess I best start looking and try and find myself a well cared for example thensmile

Who do people use for there rebuilds and what is the approximate cost?
TVR Power or now called powers performance and about £5500 for a standard build

natben

2,748 posts

255 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
It well worth paying a slightly higher purchase price and getting a SP6 with a proven rebuild from TVR Power,Racing Green or St8six to name a few and even better if it still has some wasrranty remaining on it. If you get one it means you can really use the car as they were intended without the worry that it will need upwards of £6k spent on it anytime soon.
G

Tom8

5,729 posts

178 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
Rebuilding is a big issue for those who have had the cars rebuilt as they want to up values to try and claim their money back.

Well looked after and maintained cars are fine and like any other car on the planet there is a risk in buying. Porsches, Mercs and Bentleys can go pop. Also a lot of rebuilds are quite old so actually same risk.


doneitnow

Original Poster:

663 posts

172 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
Tom8 said:
Rebuilding is a big issue for those who have had the cars rebuilt as they want to up values to try and claim their money back.

Well looked after and maintained cars are fine and like any other car on the planet there is a risk in buying. Porsches, Mercs and Bentleys can go pop. Also a lot of rebuilds are quite old so actually same risk.
I am well aware of that as I already have one of the said Porsches that could go pop at any minute lol. Will keep trawling the adds to see what pops up.



Tom8

5,729 posts

178 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
Good luck with the search but don't be duped into paying over the odds just for a rebuild and don't just write off none rebuilds, each car is very different and if well looked after they are very strong.

nrick

1,866 posts

187 months

Monday 6th August 2012
quotequote all
Another option is to buy at the bottom end of the market and rebuild it as you want. 3.6/4.0/4.3/4.5/fff/supercharged/turbocharged, ext colour as you want, interior as you want. They are simple hand built cars, and easy to build what you want from a base. Unless the rebuild is 2008 on, warranty in place, and checked I wouldn't pay much attention, same with history just my experience.... There have been some significant changes from the likes of RG/Power/St8six/RND etc (Good job guys!)

I bought mine a couple of years ago and have had so much fun (except the throttle cables) I have done much except drive it smile

S6 Devil

3,556 posts

257 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
nrick said:
Another option is to buy at the bottom end of the market and rebuild it as you want. 3.6/4.0/4.3/4.5/fff/supercharged/turbocharged, ext colour as you want, interior as you want. They are simple hand built cars, and easy to build what you want from a base. Unless the rebuild is 2008 on, warranty in place, and checked I wouldn't pay much attention, same with history just my experience.... There have been some significant changes from the likes of RG/Power/St8six/RND etc (Good job guys!)

I bought mine a couple of years ago and have had so much fun (except the throttle cables) I have done much except drive it smile
That's what I did. Bought a Cat D cheaply and had TVR Power rebuild the S spec engine. It then went of for minor bodywork repairs and a full change of colour respray. New carpets, seat covers, doorcards etc. Nitrons and so the list goes on.

It is the engine I wanted and only driven by me (and the servicing garages). It is in the colour both inside and out that I wanted. It hasn't been cheap but as they don't make them anymore it has been a good way to get it just how I want it. The cat D is not an issue, resale value wise as I bought it as a keeper! I love it!

Walford

2,259 posts

190 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
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S6 Devil said:
The cat D is not an issue, resale value wise as I bought it as a keeper! I love it!
I bought a cat D Tuscan
the damage area was only the bonnet and fuel rail, but it was written off because the engine did,nt run

I stripped it down, blasted and coated the chassis then rebuilt it with an Hand ported/built LSx 5.7 V8 with forged internals, Dailey drysump, MoTec ecu six speed manual box
330 bells/rotors, Nitrons, pollybushed
people say its not worth jack

Like the OP says its cat D but its exactly how i wanted it inside and out

Jurgen Schmidt

834 posts

225 months

Tuesday 7th August 2012
quotequote all
Walford said:
S6 Devil said:
The cat D is not an issue, resale value wise as I bought it as a keeper! I love it!
I bought a cat D Tuscan
the damage area was only the bonnet and fuel rail, but it was written off because the engine did,nt run

I stripped it down, blasted and coated the chassis then rebuilt it with an Hand ported/built LSx 5.7 V8 with forged internals, Dailey drysump, MoTec ecu six speed manual box
330 bells/rotors, Nitrons, pollybushed
people say its not worth jack

Like the OP says its cat D but its exactly how i wanted it inside and out
Nice work, you must be very proud!
I agree, in my view Cat D only really matters if you plan to sell the car in the future, since you would have to find a like-minded person, otherwise, what does it really matter if you're committed to putting it right to your liking, intent on enjoying it and have no plans to sell