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Discussion
I still want a Tuscan. 
Been seiously mulling over selling my trusted Chim and replacing it with a Tuscan. Been doing the sums and I can only comforably afford around £20-22K for a Tuscan (private sale) which puts me in the 2000-2002 model range.
I have read the threads on this forum and tried to follow the posts on the useful surveys (great stuff JSG). I am going in eyes wide open and will not exclude the possibility of an engine rebuild during the time I own a Tuscan but I just wanted to see if I have my facts right:
1) Make sure that the car built in 2000-2002 has had a rebuild (fingers and valve guides);
2) I am buying privately; can I discount the possibility that TVR will now offer a contribution or a goodwill rebuild?
3) Post mid-2002 models "should" be ok;
If I stretch my budget a little, it looks like I can pick up a warrantied early Tuscan from respected indies, like Fernies. Does anyone know whether their warranty covers engine rebuilds?
And finally, can a pre-purchase check reveal the likelihood of an impending rebuild? If so, who is best suited to do this? From what I can tell, the only warning signs are tappety top ends and an alarming oil consumtion, both of which are too late.
Sorry if any of this covers old ground, I have read and done my research and just have these niggly qns...
I paid £23K for my Chimaera 3 years ago but could not stretch for a Tusc. Now I can and I really want to. Prices for early Tuscans seem to be hovering around £20K for a private sale and hopefully I am not the only one to think this but that looks like very good value, especially if an offer for around £18K is accepted for a private sale to ease the pain of a rebuild...
Many thanks in advance!
Been seiously mulling over selling my trusted Chim and replacing it with a Tuscan. Been doing the sums and I can only comforably afford around £20-22K for a Tuscan (private sale) which puts me in the 2000-2002 model range.
I have read the threads on this forum and tried to follow the posts on the useful surveys (great stuff JSG). I am going in eyes wide open and will not exclude the possibility of an engine rebuild during the time I own a Tuscan but I just wanted to see if I have my facts right:
1) Make sure that the car built in 2000-2002 has had a rebuild (fingers and valve guides);
2) I am buying privately; can I discount the possibility that TVR will now offer a contribution or a goodwill rebuild?
3) Post mid-2002 models "should" be ok;
If I stretch my budget a little, it looks like I can pick up a warrantied early Tuscan from respected indies, like Fernies. Does anyone know whether their warranty covers engine rebuilds?
And finally, can a pre-purchase check reveal the likelihood of an impending rebuild? If so, who is best suited to do this? From what I can tell, the only warning signs are tappety top ends and an alarming oil consumtion, both of which are too late.
Sorry if any of this covers old ground, I have read and done my research and just have these niggly qns...
I paid £23K for my Chimaera 3 years ago but could not stretch for a Tusc. Now I can and I really want to. Prices for early Tuscans seem to be hovering around £20K for a private sale and hopefully I am not the only one to think this but that looks like very good value, especially if an offer for around £18K is accepted for a private sale to ease the pain of a rebuild... Many thanks in advance!
Well, Good Luck! It's an awesome car - even when you're used to a V8!
And as far as oil....
Although one sign to watch for is if the owner has moved on to something slightly less watery than Mobil 1 in its 0W form. It is not definitive, but it could be masking increased consumption. My car has been maintained on Mobil 1 (although the Garage would quite like me to move on to a 15W-40W in a different brand) and post service it is mysteriously using less oil - explain that!
chicklets said:If only it were that simple. Even when it's at its healthiest state the engine sounds like a bag of nails on start up and progresses to just "noisy and tappety" when nicely warmed through!!
And finally, can a pre-purchase check reveal the likelihood of an impending rebuild? If so, who is best suited to do this? From what I can tell, the only warning signs are tappety top ends and an alarming oil consumtion, both of which are too late.
And as far as oil.... Although one sign to watch for is if the owner has moved on to something slightly less watery than Mobil 1 in its 0W form. It is not definitive, but it could be masking increased consumption. My car has been maintained on Mobil 1 (although the Garage would quite like me to move on to a 15W-40W in a different brand) and post service it is mysteriously using less oil - explain that!
My two-penneth:
1. "Stretching yourself" to buy a Tuscan will lead to a painful ownership. If you can't afford £3k a year to run it, I wouldn't consider it.
2. Mid 2002 and onwards cars (plus those rebuild recently) SHOULD have done away with the finger follower problem. But, firstly, you never know if any newer engines were old ones lying around that got put into a newer car. Small chance, but still "a chance".
3. I don't think the valve guide issue got cleared up as quickly as the finger follower one, given that cars had to be doing 20,000+ miles for it to become apparent. Wouldn't trust a 2002 car to have this sorted. Personally, I'd even be wary of some newer ones.
4. Currently, I think you can forget goodwill assistance from the factory full stop.
5. Different warranties will cover different things. Doubt any dealer will want to give a comprehensive (including wear and tear) warranty on the engine. (Edited to add: "without you paying for it one way or another")
6. A cursory check of the car won't let you know what state the followers & valve guides are in. It's a (none too cheap) top-off job for that.
You know the end of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade... I liken Tuscan buying to that. There are plenty of shiny chalices, many of which may be concealing unpleasan surprises.
Personally, I wouldn't consider a Tuscan at around the £20k mark without going over the history, paperwork, etc. thoroughly, and being sure there were no engine, clutch, electrical, etc. problems. Even then I'd probably save up some more...
>> Edited by J_S_G on Thursday 24th February 16:47
1. "Stretching yourself" to buy a Tuscan will lead to a painful ownership. If you can't afford £3k a year to run it, I wouldn't consider it.
2. Mid 2002 and onwards cars (plus those rebuild recently) SHOULD have done away with the finger follower problem. But, firstly, you never know if any newer engines were old ones lying around that got put into a newer car. Small chance, but still "a chance".
3. I don't think the valve guide issue got cleared up as quickly as the finger follower one, given that cars had to be doing 20,000+ miles for it to become apparent. Wouldn't trust a 2002 car to have this sorted. Personally, I'd even be wary of some newer ones.
4. Currently, I think you can forget goodwill assistance from the factory full stop.
5. Different warranties will cover different things. Doubt any dealer will want to give a comprehensive (including wear and tear) warranty on the engine. (Edited to add: "without you paying for it one way or another")
6. A cursory check of the car won't let you know what state the followers & valve guides are in. It's a (none too cheap) top-off job for that.
You know the end of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade... I liken Tuscan buying to that. There are plenty of shiny chalices, many of which may be concealing unpleasan surprises.
Personally, I wouldn't consider a Tuscan at around the £20k mark without going over the history, paperwork, etc. thoroughly, and being sure there were no engine, clutch, electrical, etc. problems. Even then I'd probably save up some more...
>> Edited by J_S_G on Thursday 24th February 16:47
Believe that most warranties from the independent dealers would not cover the cost of a rebuild, but that is just going by what I have read on here in the past. Suggest you talk to Fernies direct to see what they say. You should get a straight answer from them.
Only people I know of currently offering Speed6 guarantee for 12 months is Henley Heritage (Quote "comprehensive 12months warranty against engine failure and wear and tear.")
, but I would check the small print very carefully all the same.
Only people I know of currently offering Speed6 guarantee for 12 months is Henley Heritage (Quote "comprehensive 12months warranty against engine failure and wear and tear.")
, but I would check the small print very carefully all the same.
chicklets said:
I still want a Tuscan.
Fair enough, we can all understand that!
chicklets said:
2) I am buying privately; can I discount the possibility that TVR will now offer a contribution or a goodwill rebuild?
On a four year old car
chicklets said:
3) Post mid-2002 models "should" be ok;
>> Edited by 2 Smokin Barrels on Thursday 24th February 20:04
110% agree.
I've been banging on about this on the Porsche forums.
I recently bought a 2000 996 from OPC with a Porsche warranty. I paid through the nose for the privilege, and in fact bought just about the cheapest OPC 996 in the country.....
HOWEVER I would NEVER have entertained buying one any other way. I saved to buy this car for years and years (last hurrah before kids etc....), and spent every single penny I had saved buying the best one I could afford with the backup of the Porsche warranty.
If I'd bought the same car privately then I would have saved £4k ish, but every time I pressed the loud pedal I would have been scared of the engine letting go, which costs £11,000(!)
Not having the proper warranty would spoil the car for me. Too much fear of the worst happening, would be too scared to use it, and where is the fun in that?
Buy the best you can afford, but PLEASE to save heartbreak later, buy one with the official warranty, unless your name is Rockefeller. IMHO £725 a year to keep the warranty is MONEY WELL SPENT as it buys you peace of mind - seems cheap as chips to cover a £60k car with an £11k engine.
Nothing would be worse than having a car sat downstairs you can't use, can't sell and can't afford to fix.
Good luck.
>> Edited by Vesuvius996 on Friday 25th February 10:44
Vesuvius996 said:
PLEASE to save heartbreak later, buy one with the official warranty, unless your name is Rockefeller.
Only problem there is that there's no such thing with a used TVR that's out of factory warranty (i.e. one that's over 2 years old). Even dealers will just sell you a third party warranty.
Totally agree with buying the best one you can afford, and getting as much back up from warranties, etc. as possible.
Understanding that this matters to people is one of the reasons I'm selling mine with a two year warranty...
snowy said:
Who are offering the best Warranties for Tuscans at the moment?
Me... Two years "platinum" cover thrown in with the car.
Seriously, though, they're all fairly similar in what they'll cover/not cover, unless you go for one that costs an arms & a leg to cover you for wear & tear, too (and you can generally only get those on nearly-new cars). The AA one's particularly good value for money at £50 PA or so, if you can get it. But you do need to be a member, and it only pays out if they were called out & couldn't fix it.
nelly1 said:
James
Will you stop with the sales pitch already!
It's hard enough waiting until Sunday as it is, without worrying someone else will jump in.....
Don't you worry... you asked for a viewing first, so you get first refusal. Simple as that. I might be happy to continually "publicise" the advert, but I'm fair as fair can be when it comes to these things.
Edited to add: Forgot to say, welcome to the madhouse!
>> Edited by J_S_G on Friday 25th February 14:06
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