Damaged Tuscan
Damaged Tuscan
Author
Discussion

mark831

Original Poster:

119 posts

247 months

Wednesday 19th January 2005
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Hi there everyone,
Been having a read of this site the last few nights after accidently stumbling across it looking for a used car!!!

At the moment its a toss up between a Cerbera and a tuscan. unfortunately i cant really spend more than 18k.

Basically I have seen a Tuscan Y reg (2001) with 18k. this tuscan has been in an accident and has front and slight rear fibreglass damage. upon speaking with the owner (a main and reputable salvage depot) he has told me that it is only body damaged and that the chasis/ rediator etc is fine and that the car would not be Q plated or need an inspection once the work is complete. wiil try confirm this wirh DVLA tomorrow!

To fix the body I have been told its about £2200 and then it would need a full respray which i would imaging would be the same again?????

Obviously im not taking everything this bloke says a gospel but am just after some advice really, has anyone on this forum done a similar thing to what im considering????????etc and what it the general feeling re buying slightly damaged TVR's nad fixing them????

Also im thinking of going to have a look at this car but to be honest dont know much about them, does anyone know how I would go about getting someone out to check the chasis, enging etc to make sure i dont get ripped off!!! unfortunately im not a very trusting person........

i want this car so badly but to be honest am slight concerned about some of the feedback on the tuscan........ saying that i spent 6k om my alfa this year so running the TVR shouln't be a problem!


Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance!!!

Mark - hopefully soon to be Tuscan owner!!!

Mr Freefall

2,323 posts

274 months

Wednesday 19th January 2005
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Unbent Cerbera would win every day in my books...

Be careful, the MK1 Tuscan chassis is not make anymore, and if any of the suspension struts etc are damaged, you will not be able to get replacements...

This is one reason early Tuscan will get written off by the insurance co's, as when TVR send a report back because of damages chassis, they have in the past said it needs a whole new chassis, hence the cost, and write off... There are a couple of cases of this in the threads of PH...

The MK2 chassis, just have bits sawn off and re welded on , so to speak..

To answer you next question, there is not a version number on the chassis to check if it is a MK1 or Mk2...

Mr F

Graham66

850 posts

300 months

Wednesday 19th January 2005
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Can you get the previous owners details off the V5 and ask them why it was written off? If the scrappy, sorry salvage man wont give you them then he has something to hide maybe?

As for driving a damaged repaired car, the biggest problem will be if you come to sell it, it will be less desirable and so worth less, no big deal as you are paying less, however TVRs are a small market, so you may end up with no one even looking, again no big deal to you maybe, but worth concidering all the same

The body work can be repaired easy enough, the factory can make up new panels and you can get them glassed in to the existing body

What sort of price are they looking for and what damage is there really? They say body work, but does it include wheels, glass, mirrors etc, price could start adding up

Graham

yzf1070

814 posts

247 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
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Mark

Very dangerous waters my friend. The chance you take in buying this car in my view is potentially a very costly exercise and may prove to be a miserable experience. The Tuscan is an awesome car indeed and one that is so exilerating to drive. I took others advise and saved up to purchase as new a car as possible and one with a very good history of ownership. It is absolutely essential that you satisfy yourself as best you can that the engine has not been rev'd hard from cold. This engine has to be well warmed up before working it out. It is also an expensive car to run, you need to know what you are getting into before you buy one. Having said that I love my S despite the many TVR Quirks...!

Take heed of your sense and not your heart...

J_S_G

6,177 posts

266 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
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18k for a Tuscan. 2k in work... that'll end up being 3k, no doubt. 2k in a respray minimum (depends on if it's a fancy colour or not). So, you're talking 23k. Which'll buy you an un-bent car. Even if you get it fixed, you've still got to sell an "undesirable" car at the end of it, which'll lose you £ks. I'd offer 15k tops, and probably more like £13k for it... if I were to do it. Would rather just buy a sorted car, to be honest. As this one'll no doubt have been off the road for months by the time all's said and done. I.e. lots of seized/perished parts, etc.

Had a Cerb last year. Got the Tuscan this year. Have to say, the Tuscan's more of an experience (in every way). Would suggest driving them both and then making your mind up...

dvpeace

611 posts

256 months

Thursday 20th January 2005
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I had rear end damage to mine last year. Cost £12k for the repairs. The body parts cost £5k alone without the paint and labour.

Get your own quote first, I suspect that the car is only worth 10k and then you can pay 1 & 1/2 time that to get it fixed!

David

blutusc

172 posts

263 months

Saturday 22nd January 2005
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22K will buy you a good 00/01 plate tuscan which has been well cared for - don't touch a bent one....

Simon

tuscaholic

281 posts

255 months

Sunday 23rd January 2005
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Totally agree with Simon, but if thats your only option in Top marques theres a smashed one for just under £11K....