It gets worse :)
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Just had news from Castle re our Tuscan - its been at the factory for 8 weeks now...the engine has been out for at least 6 weeks ready for some new followers and a top end re-build....anyway now been told the engine hasnt been touched in 6 weeks either, so it may be another month or so...nothing to worry about really - 3-4 months for a top end rebuild with no courtesy car is OK 
>>> Edited by bogie on Monday 13th September 21:13
>>> Edited by bogie on Monday 13th September 21:13
bogie said:
Just had news from Castle re our Tuscan - its been at the factory for 8 weeks now...the engine has been out for at least 6 weeks ready for some new followers and a top end re-build....anyway now been told the engine hasnt been touched in 6 weeks either, so it may be another month or so...nothing to worry about really - 3-4 months for a top end rebuild with no courtesy car is OK
Terrible luck, mate.
Really feel for you, as after 6-8 weeks or so, I was going spare! If it were mine, I'd certainly ask a few questions at this point in time (depending on your circumstances):
* If you bought from a dealer, I'd insist on a courtesy car at this point - either from them or from the factory (guess it's not the dealer's fault). Get in touch with whoever's running Customer Services at the factory - was Jason Oxley, and might be Ben Samuelson now (think I heard that a couple of days ago???) - and see what they can sort out for you. Or see if they'll Red Rose it/whatever for free while it's being done by way of "compensation". I know of one guy who went spare at his Tuscan blowing up not long after having bought it (prior owner of my car, actually), and he got free Red Rose suspension and brakes, plus a DAB tuner for his troubles.
* I'd ask for a full service of the car to be carried out FOC before you get it back... X months off the road could well mean split/seized bits and pieces.
* Don't know what your situation is re. where you bought it from. If it was from a dealer, and was only a couple of months before it went pop (as your profile implies), I'd ask the dealer how they're going to "add value" in lieu of the £X,000 premium you paid them over a private sale
* I'd ask the factory why your car is taking so long to fix. Hint: I'm guessing it's because they've got a stack of S6s to rebuild. If they admit to this, then you're into the whole "inherent flaw -> your problem -> sort it!" domain.
lucozade 
...im beginning to wish we bought a 2nd hand Noble now...already have an Elise though and wanted something comfy with a big boot !
JSG - cheers - will make some enquiries...dont know what our rights our really though - it was on 'sale or return' for a customer (like most used cars at Castle) with an aftermarket warranty included in the price - we had it 3 weeks and did 3K miles in it (total 13K) before it went
Gonna speak to them again tomorrow and see what the score is - lady at the factory couldnt give a date - was gonna speak to someone and find out which one of the 6 engines lying around was ours and what state it was in - sounds very organised....not....our russian friend wants to be sorting this side of things out pronto
...im beginning to wish we bought a 2nd hand Noble now...already have an Elise though and wanted something comfy with a big boot ! JSG - cheers - will make some enquiries...dont know what our rights our really though - it was on 'sale or return' for a customer (like most used cars at Castle) with an aftermarket warranty included in the price - we had it 3 weeks and did 3K miles in it (total 13K) before it went
Gonna speak to them again tomorrow and see what the score is - lady at the factory couldnt give a date - was gonna speak to someone and find out which one of the 6 engines lying around was ours and what state it was in - sounds very organised....not....our russian friend wants to be sorting this side of things out pronto
bogie said:
dont know what our rights our really though - it was on 'sale or return' for a customer
I'm no lawyer, but... That shouldn't affect your rights at all. However they sourced the car/made money on it is a separate issue - your contract was with the dealer. I'm sure they didn't know it was "about to go", but also I'm sure they have an idea of just how many unfettled S6s of that vintage do go; can't imagine this came as a shock to them, to be honest!
Only positive words I can add are that once the car's back, the difference in the engine should be amazing. And you'll hopefully have some faith in it then. Mine sounds more like a Honda than a sewing machine once warm now, and it pulls like a train (just done 2,000 relatively sedate miles in it since the rebuild, so hit the red change-up light in 4th to celebrate on Sunday
)Cheers - will check it out.
To be honest if we had a date when we could pick it up and knew what was going on at least youve got something to look forward to - at the minute its ring up every week and get told nothings been done...for no apparent reason...well apart from the other 35 cars in the queue maybe
I know when we get it back, all will be forgotton within a few days of driving it.. I just cant believe how long its taken to do what must be a routine job to them - if I could get a Haynes manual I would have done it myself by now !
To be honest if we had a date when we could pick it up and knew what was going on at least youve got something to look forward to - at the minute its ring up every week and get told nothings been done...for no apparent reason...well apart from the other 35 cars in the queue maybe
I know when we get it back, all will be forgotton within a few days of driving it.. I just cant believe how long its taken to do what must be a routine job to them - if I could get a Haynes manual I would have done it myself by now !
just wondering about this "sale or return".
Does that mean the seller is the current owner or does it mean the dealer done all the paperwork for a small profit ?
If it was the dealer whom your Sale of Goods was with then that is good news. Get stuck into them !
Call your local Trading Standards office and get them to log an incident. They will supply you with a reference number. Put that in your letter to the dealer. That way the dealer knows you are serious.
www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/guides_to/buyingacar/
www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/asktheexperts/cars/cars06.shtml
Office of Fair Trading has some good guides now:
www.oft.gov.uk/Consumer/Your+Rights+When+Shopping/cars+used+before+you+buy.htm
Remember most of the guidance will say you have to give the dealer some chance to put things right. If they are refusing to then this is where the letters begins. I would reject the vehicle immediately. If you need a sample letter I'm sure I can dig one out.
Bloody Tuscans Good luck mate.
Does that mean the seller is the current owner or does it mean the dealer done all the paperwork for a small profit ?
If it was the dealer whom your Sale of Goods was with then that is good news. Get stuck into them !
Call your local Trading Standards office and get them to log an incident. They will supply you with a reference number. Put that in your letter to the dealer. That way the dealer knows you are serious.
www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/guides_to/buyingacar/
www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/asktheexperts/cars/cars06.shtml
Office of Fair Trading has some good guides now:
www.oft.gov.uk/Consumer/Your+Rights+When+Shopping/cars+used+before+you+buy.htm
Remember most of the guidance will say you have to give the dealer some chance to put things right. If they are refusing to then this is where the letters begins. I would reject the vehicle immediately. If you need a sample letter I'm sure I can dig one out.
Bloody Tuscans
Good luck mate. Sympathies Bogie,
I've no idea whether this is spin and lies but the main tvr dealer where I purchased SOR from denied all responsibility when I had problems.
"..it's actually not technically our car Sir so although we'd love to help (ahem), there's actually nothing we can do."
At least it sounds like your dealer are interested. Having said that I found the only way to get things moving was to speak directly to the engines dept at Blackpool.
I've no idea whether this is spin and lies but the main tvr dealer where I purchased SOR from denied all responsibility when I had problems.
"..it's actually not technically our car Sir so although we'd love to help (ahem), there's actually nothing we can do."
At least it sounds like your dealer are interested. Having said that I found the only way to get things moving was to speak directly to the engines dept at Blackpool.
Okay - my other half managed to speak to both Castle and Customer services today...and finally got an explanation.
Apparently our new Russian friend also put a hold on the engine rebuilds until hed done some investigation as to why the problems were occuring (and re-occurring) the long oand the short of it is the engineers thought they could eradicate the follower issue if they had better quality components...which cost a lot more money - he gave the go-ahead to ditch all the existing stock and get the best components money can buy ...well thats the story anyway - only time and another 15K miles with our SP6 will tell
Anyway, car should be ready in 2 weeks, fully serviced (big one was due in next 1000miles) and any worn consumables/parts on the whole car replaced. Also got 2 tickets with VIP/hospitality to Brands/Tuscan Racing weekend 1st October etc.
To be honest I will be happy to get the car back, good as new (if not better) and be able to drive the bleeding thing before the winter gets here.
I could have understood the delay - it was lack of communication from TVR to Castle that was the problem...still I guess the answer for them in the future is to cut down on cars needing a rebuild, provide TVR courtesy cars FOC and keep the customer informed of what is going on.........guess we'll have to wait n see
Apparently our new Russian friend also put a hold on the engine rebuilds until hed done some investigation as to why the problems were occuring (and re-occurring) the long oand the short of it is the engineers thought they could eradicate the follower issue if they had better quality components...which cost a lot more money - he gave the go-ahead to ditch all the existing stock and get the best components money can buy
...well thats the story anyway - only time and another 15K miles with our SP6 will tell Anyway, car should be ready in 2 weeks, fully serviced (big one was due in next 1000miles) and any worn consumables/parts on the whole car replaced. Also got 2 tickets with VIP/hospitality to Brands/Tuscan Racing weekend 1st October etc.
To be honest I will be happy to get the car back, good as new (if not better) and be able to drive the bleeding thing before the winter gets here.
I could have understood the delay - it was lack of communication from TVR to Castle that was the problem...still I guess the answer for them in the future is to cut down on cars needing a rebuild, provide TVR courtesy cars FOC and keep the customer informed of what is going on.........guess we'll have to wait n see
bogie said:
they could eradicate the follower issue if they had better quality components...which cost a lot more money - he gave the go-ahead to ditch all the existing stock and get the best components money can buy
Glad you've had some joy
And from this point forward we should not hear of a new or rebuit TVR having FF probs
bogie said:
the engineers thought they could eradicate the follower issue if they had better quality components...which cost a lot more money - he gave the go-ahead to ditch all the existing stock and get the best components money can buy
Bogie, really glad things are looking up for your car!
That's an interesting statement, though...
1. It's like admitting, directly to a punter, that there's a problem with engine parts. Hence I hope they don't charge you a penny for the rebuild.
2. Is this saying that the followers that have been used for the last 2 years since the problem's been "fixed" actually haven't fixed it?
1. - no charge - we got an aftermarket warranty with it thats covering the cost etc
2. - yes...kinda like admitting that all parts used up to know were 'not the best money could buy' !? - I presumed the parts referred to were the followers as thats what our car is waiting for....so does that mean that the potential is there still for 2003/04 cars? - no idea...just quoting what I was told...may just be an excuse for taking so long.
maybe if you do your survey in another year or two we will find out
2. - yes...kinda like admitting that all parts used up to know were 'not the best money could buy' !? - I presumed the parts referred to were the followers as thats what our car is waiting for....so does that mean that the potential is there still for 2003/04 cars? - no idea...just quoting what I was told...may just be an excuse for taking so long.
maybe if you do your survey in another year or two we will find out
bogie said:
1. - no charge - we got an aftermarket warranty with it thats covering the cost etc
Can I ask who the warranty's with, and what the engineer's report was? My warranty company (that's WarrantyWorks/Olympic Warranties for anyone wanting a recommendation) wouldn't pay a single penny towards the rebuild.
>> Edited by J_S_G on Tuesday 14th September 23:13
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