Looking to buy…
Discussion
Hello PH,
I’m looking to buy a Tuscan MK1 in purple reflex and this one has popped up. I have been going back and forth with Graham (the dealership). I live in Canada so I can’t see the car in person but was wondering if any of you would be able to see it in person for some un-biased feedback?
Also Graham has told me that he legally can’t sell the car outside of the UK. I’m not familiar with your laws and find that very strange. Anyone have any feedback in that regard?
Some negatives is high miles with no engine rebuild.
No Anderson connection upgrade.
No hood lift conversion done.
No air conditioning.
Oil leaks front cover area/engine oil hoses.
water hose clips corroded.
Front drop link bushings worn.
suspension bushes in general showing age retated wear.
upper susperision arms starting to corrode.
handbrake cable corroded.
rear exhaust rubber side straps starting to perish.
alt/pas belt starting to perish.
gearbox drain plug area has been repaired (possible cracked).
suggest replace fuel hoses to E10 .
tyre date code from 2017 needs replacement.
Small play in valve engine guides.
It looks like I can’t post pictures or the link to the car. It’s in the PH for sale section for 27,500 pounds. It’s a 2003 4.0 Tuscan in purple reflex with 51,000 miles
I’m looking to buy a Tuscan MK1 in purple reflex and this one has popped up. I have been going back and forth with Graham (the dealership). I live in Canada so I can’t see the car in person but was wondering if any of you would be able to see it in person for some un-biased feedback?
Also Graham has told me that he legally can’t sell the car outside of the UK. I’m not familiar with your laws and find that very strange. Anyone have any feedback in that regard?
Some negatives is high miles with no engine rebuild.
No Anderson connection upgrade.
No hood lift conversion done.
No air conditioning.
Oil leaks front cover area/engine oil hoses.
water hose clips corroded.
Front drop link bushings worn.
suspension bushes in general showing age retated wear.
upper susperision arms starting to corrode.
handbrake cable corroded.
rear exhaust rubber side straps starting to perish.
alt/pas belt starting to perish.
gearbox drain plug area has been repaired (possible cracked).
suggest replace fuel hoses to E10 .
tyre date code from 2017 needs replacement.
Small play in valve engine guides.
It looks like I can’t post pictures or the link to the car. It’s in the PH for sale section for 27,500 pounds. It’s a 2003 4.0 Tuscan in purple reflex with 51,000 miles
It’s a Well known dealer, who know the car from recent history.
Late model means less engine risk - although no rebuild probably hurts value a little - which is why this a sub 30k car IMO - my 2004 is on factory engine, they did improve them (/touches wood).
The other list of things you describe are all relatively minor and cheap to solve.
Personally I think the car looks great, a very nice example. I’d offer them 29k to sort all the niggles (excluding bonnet conversion- pay for that at cost if you want it done) and deal with the hassle of export (no idea what they’re on about re can’t export, of course they can!) and that’s a lovely lovely car you’ve got IMO.
Being in Canada with a factory engine is adding a tiny bit of risk. The only bit I don’t like in the blurb is the valve play comment… I’m presuming they stated this to you? What do they think it means in terms of top end longevity from here (adjustment potential of valve shims going forward and any risk of cam wear).
It’s a nice car from a trusted independent, if you like it I think it’s worth buying it!
Late model means less engine risk - although no rebuild probably hurts value a little - which is why this a sub 30k car IMO - my 2004 is on factory engine, they did improve them (/touches wood).
The other list of things you describe are all relatively minor and cheap to solve.
Personally I think the car looks great, a very nice example. I’d offer them 29k to sort all the niggles (excluding bonnet conversion- pay for that at cost if you want it done) and deal with the hassle of export (no idea what they’re on about re can’t export, of course they can!) and that’s a lovely lovely car you’ve got IMO.
Being in Canada with a factory engine is adding a tiny bit of risk. The only bit I don’t like in the blurb is the valve play comment… I’m presuming they stated this to you? What do they think it means in terms of top end longevity from here (adjustment potential of valve shims going forward and any risk of cam wear).
It’s a nice car from a trusted independent, if you like it I think it’s worth buying it!
"Also Graham has told me that he legally can’t sell the car outside of the UK. I’m not familiar with your laws and find that very strange. Anyone have any feedback in that regard?"
There is no law preventing it, but he won't want the hassle on his Value Added Tax return. Normally he would have to charge VAT, but because the car is being permanently exported from the UK then he won't have to charge VAT, so that complicates the return and he will have to keep proof of why no VAT was charged, which might be difficult if he doesn't arrange the shipping, have proof of your permanent address etc.
Secondly, if the car turns out to be a total lemon and you sue him, you are probably going to do that in a Canadian Court, rather than a UK Court, and he won't want the cost and hassle of defending himself in a foreign court, and even if you did sue him in a UK Court, the car will be in Canada, so he won't be able to have the opportunity of putting it right himself, or getting someone local that he knows to inspect it. He might even have insurance cover against the cost of the inspection, or any faulty workmanship that he carried out, but it is unlikely to cover Canada.
It is far easier just to sell it to a UK buyer, for the full asking price, which he did, and then if there is a problem, they can bring it straight back to him, for him to sort it out.
There is no law preventing it, but he won't want the hassle on his Value Added Tax return. Normally he would have to charge VAT, but because the car is being permanently exported from the UK then he won't have to charge VAT, so that complicates the return and he will have to keep proof of why no VAT was charged, which might be difficult if he doesn't arrange the shipping, have proof of your permanent address etc.
Secondly, if the car turns out to be a total lemon and you sue him, you are probably going to do that in a Canadian Court, rather than a UK Court, and he won't want the cost and hassle of defending himself in a foreign court, and even if you did sue him in a UK Court, the car will be in Canada, so he won't be able to have the opportunity of putting it right himself, or getting someone local that he knows to inspect it. He might even have insurance cover against the cost of the inspection, or any faulty workmanship that he carried out, but it is unlikely to cover Canada.
It is far easier just to sell it to a UK buyer, for the full asking price, which he did, and then if there is a problem, they can bring it straight back to him, for him to sort it out.
Edited by Andonio on Tuesday 15th April 18:28
Edited by Andonio on Tuesday 15th April 18:33
Ryfips said:
Well I offered 25,000 pounds and someone else offered full asking price of 27,500 so it looks like I lost out on this one.
Sorry to hear, you’ll probably have to widen your search criteria beyond just reflex purple as they don’t come up often…. But I hope you get lucky! I sold my reflex purple mk1 to Aaron in the US, so one is over there already if you want to make him an offer (TVR imports!)… but he’ll want a lot more than 27.5k for it!
I’d recommend you do a lot of research on these and get ready to commit when one you like comes up, good ones tend to sell fast !
I was talking to Graham about this car a week before it was listed. I know what I want and it has to be reflex purple, I’m in no rush so I can wait. I’m actually on my way to Japan to see what they have available. It’s very easy for Canadians to buy from Japan so less headache for me if I find one, also shipping is way cheaper and they usually are very low mileage in Japan!
You need to be very careful with Japan. The car was never officially sold in Japan, so you will be looking at tiny numbers, (personally imported, which may have been messed about with to comply with Japanese regulations), especially if you are only wanting one colour. You are not buying something that they know, or something that just worked straight out of the box and continued to do so.
There are at least 2 specialist Speed 6 engine rebuilders in the UK, who have rebuilt the engines with very different, far superior components compared with the originals.
There are a handful of electrical experts who can sort out failed circuit boards. The car is full of them. A circuit board was used for many functions.
There is a whole independent industry making parts that are no longer available, or again are superior parts.
None of that exists in Japan, so you will be buying an inferior car. Most UK cars will have had a trip to one of these experts and/or will have the superior parts fitted.
There are at least 2 specialist Speed 6 engine rebuilders in the UK, who have rebuilt the engines with very different, far superior components compared with the originals.
There are a handful of electrical experts who can sort out failed circuit boards. The car is full of them. A circuit board was used for many functions.
There is a whole independent industry making parts that are no longer available, or again are superior parts.
None of that exists in Japan, so you will be buying an inferior car. Most UK cars will have had a trip to one of these experts and/or will have the superior parts fitted.
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