I'm thinking about a tuscan, any thoughts appreciated

[davidd]

Greetings,

Ex TVR owner here ( 1600m, Griff 500, Cerbera 4.2, Cerbera 4.5).

I have always loved Tuscans and put a deposit on one at launch, which for various reasons never led to me actually getting a car.

I'm currently running an ftype R which is excellent but I'm not doing many miles and so thought I might change and a Tuscan is the only car I'd actually want. I'm contemplating a mk3 S convertible.. A appreciate there are many sorted MK1s/2's around but my feeling is that a MK3 S is probably best for me. (basically I like them most ).

Any Mk3 owners able to share ownership experiences? I don't want a project (been there) but I'm well aware of the many hidden 'joy's of TVR ownership, anything specific to a MK3 that would be worth knowing?

If anyone is selling or thinking of selling, and perhaps likes the idea of a V8 ftype let me know.

Early days and of course it might not come to anything as I know there are not a lot of them about.

Thanks

David

[The Three D Mucketeer]

A Tuscan Convertible is a good choice ... not a MK anything ... MK2 Targas were given the convertible dash in Jan'06 and only in the factory became known as a MK3.

I spec'ed my 'S' in Dec'05 and took delivery in April'06 .... Of course my 3 year warranty only lasted 6 months .

I've changed lots over my nearly 20 years of ownership , lots unnecessary but for my own enjoyment ... notably the Powers 4.5 SS and anti knock MBE ECU , 4:73 old style Diff and hinged bonnet .

It's won best TVR in show at 2 Back Homes (2010 & 2024) and it gets plenty of TLC .

Engine upgraded because of excessive chain noise when it went for a bespoke map and Diff changed to eliminate a diff shunt at 30mph.

[Basil Brush]

You're slipping Keith, it took you half an hour to get in the Mk3/Convertible correction!!

[The Three D Mucketeer]

Problem is ALL the new TVR dealers weren't around in 2006

[davidd]

Thanks for info and that is a fantastic looking tuscan.

The Three D Mucketeer said:

A Tuscan Convertible is a good choice ... not a MK anything ... MK2 Targas were given the convertible dash in Jan'06 and only in the factory became known as a MK3.

I spec'ed my 'S' in Dec'05 and took delivery in April'06 .... Of course my 3 year warranty only lasted 6 months .

I've changed lots over my nearly 20 years of ownership , lots unnecessary but for my own enjoyment ... notably the Powers 4.5 SS and anti knock MBE ECU , 4:73 old style Diff and hinged bonnet .

It's won best TVR in show at 2 Back Homes (2010 & 2024) and it gets plenty of TLC .

Engine upgraded because of excessive chain noise when it went for a bespoke map and Diff changed to eliminate a diff shunt at 30mph.

[Gladers01]

The Three D Mucketeer said:

Problem is ALL the new TVR dealers weren't around in 2006

You're racking up the miles there Keith, that's nearly 1500 miles a year!

Was the 3:73 diff standard on the 'S' or did you upgrade it due to the shunting ?

[The Three D Mucketeer]

Gladers01 said:

The Three D Mucketeer said:

Problem is ALL the new TVR dealers weren't around in 2006

You're racking up the miles there Keith, that's nearly 1500 miles a year!

Was the 3:73 diff standard on the 'S' or did you upgrade it due to the shunting ?

should have been a Close Ratio box and 3.73 ... but later John Reid told me TVR couldn't get the correct crown pinion (IIRC) ... so most of the S's(and Sags) went out with standard boxes and 3:48s .... Hydratrack/Dana Spicer changed the flange on the newer diffs and TVR changed the prop shaft to match ... So Heaths (X-Works) advice was to go back to the older Diff and prop shaft ... I took the opportunity for John Reid to change it to a 3:73 at the same time.
The TVR factory were aware of the shunt issue on some cars , but couldn't solve it .

[Basil Brush]

I wonder how many CR boxes actually ended up in cars. The early MK1 Ss were fitted with standard boxes with a promise to fit the CR box later once available, so probably a fair few never did.

My Mk1 4.0 litre has a 3.7 diff with standard box and I've always found it to be a nice combination.

[The Three D Mucketeer]

Basil Brush said:

I wonder how many CR boxes actually ended up in cars. The early MK1 Ss were fitted with standard boxes with a promise to fit the CR box later once available, so probably a fair few never did.

My Mk1 4.0 litre has a 3.7 diff with standard box and I've always found it to be a nice combination.

I agree ... happy with mine... the 4.5 makes it even better with lots of bottom end torque .. I'm no boy racer.
I've been told the CR box is weaker and was only there to get 100mph in 2nd gear and be under 5 seconds

[Gladers01]

The Three D Mucketeer said:

I agree ... happy with mine... the 4.5 makes it even better with lots of bottom end torque .. I'm no boy racer.
I've been told the CR box is weaker and was only there to get 100mph in 2nd gear and be under 5 seconds

Interesting stuff indeed, would you take £70k for it or is it a keeper?

[The Three D Mucketeer]

Gladers01 said:

The Three D Mucketeer said:

I agree ... happy with mine... the 4.5 makes it even better with lots of bottom end torque .. I'm no boy racer.
I've been told the CR box is weaker and was only there to get 100mph in 2nd gear and be under 5 seconds

Interesting stuff indeed, would you take £70k for it or is it a keeper?

Naughty Ceri ... stop tempting me ... I built a showroom for it ... So not sure I would find anything nicer to put in it

Edited by The Three D Mucketeer on Friday 12th September 16:55

[davidd]

Thanks for the info so far.

So am I correct in thinking the different versions are
Mk1
Mk2
Convertible
Apart from the dash ( and roof obvs ), are the mk2 and convertible the same?

Thanks

D

[The Three D Mucketeer]

davidd said:

Thanks for the info so far.

So am I correct in thinking the different versions are
Mk1
Mk2
Convertible
Apart from the dash ( and roof obvs ), are the mk2 and convertible the same?

Thanks

D

Not quite .. the body shape is nearly the same... The boot on a MK2 is different .. either big/small spoiler but only one gas strut (which isn't strong enough to support the whale spoiler .. the petrol cap is also different.. inset on a convertible .. I think a lot of the rear difference are because the convertible was planned to have an electric retractable roof .(Pleased they couldn't get it to work ... more boot space and a TVR Electric roof was just asking for problems ) . I don't think the stinger aerial is on a MK2 but not sure
The convertible has roll hoops bolted to the chassis whereas a MK2 has roof safety structures...and of course the seat belts are the opposite way to any other car I've driven
Obviously the dash on pre Jan'06 MK2 targas and the wiring loom which the MK3 also adopted. IIRC the rear lights changed and after Jan;06 all light insets front&rear were painted body colour rather than black .

Also the targa roof removal lever isn't in the boot and TVR forget to put a mechanism for entering the car into the boot I also added sun visors which weren't on a convertible.

Ben Lang did more suspension development on the convertible which may have transferred to the MK2 Targa.
Very early convertibles also have a different hazard warning layout to later ones .

Oh ... and of course there never was a Convertible Handbook because TVR never had time to produce one before they folded ... so we were only given a MK2 Targas incorrect handbook and the fuse board layout is different

And the Muckets (Door Seals) are different

Can't think of anything else at the moment... other than the price list


PS And of course it was a Tuscan Convertible Jackie Stewart was "impressed by" when he took May around Oulton Park and not a Tuscan Speed SIx Mk2 although May didn't know any better .

Edited by The Three D Mucketeer on Saturday 13th September 16:02

[davidd]

Good info thanks, all helping.

Very pleased they didn't put an electric roof on.

I might have been dreaming but I'm sure I heard/read something about the suspension or geometry or something being the same as a Sagaris?
Any truth in that?

Also, was the whale spoiler optional as I've seen some have it and some don't,,

Thanks

D

The Three D Mucketeer said:

Not quite .. the body shape is nearly the same... The boot on a MK2 is different .. either big/small spoiler but only one gas strut (which isn't strong enough to support the whale spoiler .. the petrol cap is also different.. inset on a convertible .. I think a lot of the rear difference are because the convertible was planned to have an electric retractable roof .(Pleased they couldn't get it to work ... more boot space and a TVR Electric roof was just asking for problems ) . I don't think the stinger aerial is on a MK2 but not sure
The convertible has roll hoops bolted to the chassis whereas a MK2 has roof safety structures...and of course the seat belts are the opposite way to any other car I've driven
Obviously the dash on pre Jan'06 MK2 targas and the wiring loom which the MK3 also adopted. IIRC the rear lights changed and after Jan;06 all light insets front&rear were painted body colour rather than black .

Also the targa roof removal lever isn't in the boot and TVR forget to put a mechanism for entering the car into the boot I also added sun visors which weren't on a convertible.

Ben Lang did more suspension development on the convertible which may have transferred to the MK2 Targa.
Very early convertibles also have a different hazard warning layout to later ones .

Oh ... and of course there never was a Convertible Handbook because TVR never had time to produce one before they folded ... so we were only given a MK2 Targas incorrect handbook and the fuse board layout is different

And the Muckets (Door Seals) are different

Can't think of anything else at the moment... other than the price list


PS And of course it was a Tuscan Convertible Jackie Stewart was "impressed by" when he took May around Oulton Park and not a Tuscan Speed SIx Mk2 although May didn't know any better .

Edited by The Three D Mucketeer on Saturday 13th September 16:02

[The Three D Mucketeer]

A Sag chassis geometry is different to T cars with different wishbone pickup positions, a wider track and steering arms.
Yes the large spoiler was a Targa option but the designer of the convertible refused to incorporate it because he thought it was ridiculous WE tested it once at Tatton Park ... held a litre of water each side so we floated plastic ducks in it

Edited by The Three D Mucketeer on Saturday 13th September 16:40