Any Tuscans Regularly Tracked?
Discussion
Just been thinking about my possible next move, & i do seem drawn to the thought of a Tuscan, & probably an S, ( ideally black or formula red, they do look the biz :D ).
I am very aware of the speed 6 issues, but i'm not so certain about how well the Tuscan would stand up to regular track day use.
I presently run a 1998 4.5 Cerb & do around 10 track events a year. The car seems to soak this up with relatively few problems.
Does anyone have first hand experience of regular track day usage over a number of years, & any info on extra running costs, weak spots, advisory upgrades, possible limitations, etc?
Thanks for any help in advance, it would be much appreciated in firming up my plans ( i'm quite useless really, i just can't help but think of the next thing). In reality, i'm likely to be looking at the 2nd hand market, cica £28-30k, & probably over the next 12 months.
Cheers :thumbup:
I am very aware of the speed 6 issues, but i'm not so certain about how well the Tuscan would stand up to regular track day use.
I presently run a 1998 4.5 Cerb & do around 10 track events a year. The car seems to soak this up with relatively few problems.
Does anyone have first hand experience of regular track day usage over a number of years, & any info on extra running costs, weak spots, advisory upgrades, possible limitations, etc?
Thanks for any help in advance, it would be much appreciated in firming up my plans ( i'm quite useless really, i just can't help but think of the next thing). In reality, i'm likely to be looking at the 2nd hand market, cica £28-30k, & probably over the next 12 months.
Cheers :thumbup:
Hi,
Despite my handle I don't actually own a Tuscan (it's still on the 'To Do' list!), but I thought some advice (much of it common sense, though) might be better than none.
Engine - everyone's heard a million times about the potential S6 issues, so I won't re-elaborate here. Best thing would be to get the lump checked over by TVR Power or a recommended/well-known dealer before tracking it, and doing so regularly after tracking (every few events maybe?).
Perhaps even try the TVRCraft modifications back towards the original MCD design for the S6 before tracking it? Comes in at just under £5k....not a cheap option, granted, but still an option.
Suspension - other than getting all joints, bushes and fixings checked over, a shock upgrade is probably much needed from what I've heard. A pair of Nitron shocks set up correctly should do wonders for handling, as will having the steering geometry set correctly (TVR Power's settings seem to be highly rated here). Decent tyres too, seems that Toyo T1-S score well, whereas Bridgestone S0-3s don't.
Chassis - visual inspection where possible for any issues?
Brakes - change of pads to a race compound perhaps? TVRs might have weight on their side, but those pads and discs will still take a pounding. I assume DOT5.1 fluid is already used, but a question to the floor.....I seem to remember a DOT6 somewhere, and is this compatible with TVR braking systems? I guess a flush and replacement after tracking would be needed anyway.
I've more than likely told you a fraction of what you already know, but it's a reply at least!
>> Edited by MarkoTVR on Thursday 13th October 12:56
Despite my handle I don't actually own a Tuscan (it's still on the 'To Do' list!), but I thought some advice (much of it common sense, though) might be better than none.
Engine - everyone's heard a million times about the potential S6 issues, so I won't re-elaborate here. Best thing would be to get the lump checked over by TVR Power or a recommended/well-known dealer before tracking it, and doing so regularly after tracking (every few events maybe?).
Perhaps even try the TVRCraft modifications back towards the original MCD design for the S6 before tracking it? Comes in at just under £5k....not a cheap option, granted, but still an option.
Suspension - other than getting all joints, bushes and fixings checked over, a shock upgrade is probably much needed from what I've heard. A pair of Nitron shocks set up correctly should do wonders for handling, as will having the steering geometry set correctly (TVR Power's settings seem to be highly rated here). Decent tyres too, seems that Toyo T1-S score well, whereas Bridgestone S0-3s don't.
Chassis - visual inspection where possible for any issues?
Brakes - change of pads to a race compound perhaps? TVRs might have weight on their side, but those pads and discs will still take a pounding. I assume DOT5.1 fluid is already used, but a question to the floor.....I seem to remember a DOT6 somewhere, and is this compatible with TVR braking systems? I guess a flush and replacement after tracking would be needed anyway.
I've more than likely told you a fraction of what you already know, but it's a reply at least!
>> Edited by MarkoTVR on Thursday 13th October 12:56
Cirvy,
I think you'll find a lot of tuscan owners don't want to track their tuscans either because they don't want to full stop, they can't afford to fix it if it breaks, they don't want to fork out £££ over and above the normal costs of ownership, they're worried re re-builds, they want to keep their P&J shining like new.
I for one love my car but also want to seek out its handling and performance as well. Hence I wash it weekly, always warm it up, blah blah blah, but also have tracked it twice (Snettrton and Goodwood) and done 2 run what ya brungs........ Very impressed by handling (faster lapping at snetterton than the exiges they run there), and also ran a 12.8 at Santa Pod. The car is a standard 4.0 x reg (apparently
)So I don't do 10 + track days per year, but don't see why you shouldn't be able to, considering I still haven't burnt out the clutch, or replaced brakes. Tyres also seem to last 10K for rears, 12K for for fronts (Toyo T1S).
So, get one and you won't regret it. Have never driven a cerby so cannot comment on handling, but the tuscan really does go round corners well. Unless you're really into powerslides (which are harder to control than say in a beemer M3's) and you can hold a decent racing line, then you shouldn't get caught out by a snappy rear end. I've only been caught out twice, and really was taking the piss at snetterton (my passenger will vouch for that!)You just need to tease the loud pedal, which luckily has a nice long travel.
Cheers,
Simon
I think you'll find a lot of tuscan owners don't want to track their tuscans either because they don't want to full stop, they can't afford to fix it if it breaks, they don't want to fork out £££ over and above the normal costs of ownership, they're worried re re-builds, they want to keep their P&J shining like new.
I for one love my car but also want to seek out its handling and performance as well. Hence I wash it weekly, always warm it up, blah blah blah, but also have tracked it twice (Snettrton and Goodwood) and done 2 run what ya brungs........ Very impressed by handling (faster lapping at snetterton than the exiges they run there), and also ran a 12.8 at Santa Pod. The car is a standard 4.0 x reg (apparently
)So I don't do 10 + track days per year, but don't see why you shouldn't be able to, considering I still haven't burnt out the clutch, or replaced brakes. Tyres also seem to last 10K for rears, 12K for for fronts (Toyo T1S). So, get one and you won't regret it. Have never driven a cerby so cannot comment on handling, but the tuscan really does go round corners well. Unless you're really into powerslides (which are harder to control than say in a beemer M3's) and you can hold a decent racing line, then you shouldn't get caught out by a snappy rear end. I've only been caught out twice, and really was taking the piss at snetterton (my passenger will vouch for that!)You just need to tease the loud pedal, which luckily has a nice long travel.
Cheers,
Simon
The guy who bought my standard gearbox off me when I had my cr box fitted tracks his Tuscan almost every week. He said that he always has a booking slot with TVR Power for when the engine breaks, but it never does, he said he drives it to its limits most of the time, and the only componant he regularly has to change is the gearbox (which is why he bought my spare), the engine just keeps going and going! He also said, that once mastered, there is not a lot out there that is quicker than a well set up S6 Tuscan.
I tracked my MkI on average 3 times a year. It held up well and it is certainly one of the fastest cars out there.
As for tracking 10 times a year - I would be doing my own servicing as main dealer support will be very expensive!
I would change the oil after every track day.
The brakes/disks are bullet proof. Uprating the brake fluid would reduce the fade rate if you love negative G-forces. Oh, and remove or buy a set of spare centre caps, they pop out when the wheels get nice and hot.
Otherwise bushes, mounts, shocks will wear as expected. The rear exhaust can mounts can break but can be rewelded - although to fair this happens on non-tracked cars as well.
On a standard Tuscan I would replace the shocks with an adjustable setup.
I found my car going out of 100% tune after 3 track days and would need to be reset by someone who knew what they were doing.
Cheers,
Andy.
As for tracking 10 times a year - I would be doing my own servicing as main dealer support will be very expensive!
I would change the oil after every track day.
The brakes/disks are bullet proof. Uprating the brake fluid would reduce the fade rate if you love negative G-forces. Oh, and remove or buy a set of spare centre caps, they pop out when the wheels get nice and hot.
Otherwise bushes, mounts, shocks will wear as expected. The rear exhaust can mounts can break but can be rewelded - although to fair this happens on non-tracked cars as well.
On a standard Tuscan I would replace the shocks with an adjustable setup.
I found my car going out of 100% tune after 3 track days and would need to be reset by someone who knew what they were doing.
Cheers,
Andy.
Hi Chris it was me who brought your gearbox blew that one as well! Had it rebuilt with quaiffe gearings and no problems since. As you stated do track days regular blew the engine in Feb and had a red rose upgrade by TVR power alot more torque now and very very quick. Other problems i have encountered doing track days had to upgrade to a paddle clutch and taken the 3 clips out because they kept breaking although this makes the clutch noisey. Upgraded brake pads to full race compound but had problems with the disks warping so vented them from front grill and through the wheel arch (problem sorted) Upgraded the suspension to Nitrons (handling sorted) but changed the springs to 600lb front 500lb rear absolutley no good for the road but fantastic on the track. In my opinion these are one of best cars on the track once these mods have been done and wouldnt change it for anythink else 
andycc said:
Hi Chris it was me who brought your gearbox blew that one as well! Had it rebuilt with quaiffe gearings and no problems since. As you stated do track days regular blew the engine in Feb and had a red rose upgrade by TVR power alot more torque now and very very quick. Other problems i have encountered doing track days had to upgrade to a paddle clutch and taken the 3 clips out because they kept breaking although this makes the clutch noisey. Upgraded brake pads to full race compound but had problems with the disks warping so vented them from front grill and through the wheel arch (problem sorted) Upgraded the suspension to Nitrons (handling sorted) but changed the springs to 600lb front 500lb rear absolutley no good for the road but fantastic on the track. In my opinion these are one of best cars on the track once these mods have been done and wouldnt change it for anythink else
Hi Andy!!
Good to hear from you How long did my old gearbox last?? I assume you're very happy with the RR upgrade from TVR Power, I'm thinking of having the 3.6-4 litre upgrade if/when my S6 'needs attention'
I must do a trackday, I feel it's a waste if I don't!
andycc said:
Hi Chris it was me who brought your gearbox blew that one as well! Had it rebuilt with quaiffe gearings and no problems since. As you stated do track days regular blew the engine in Feb and had a red rose upgrade by TVR power alot more torque now and very very quick. Other problems i have encountered doing track days had to upgrade to a paddle clutch and taken the 3 clips out because they kept breaking although this makes the clutch noisey. Upgraded brake pads to full race compound but had problems with the disks warping so vented them from front grill and through the wheel arch (problem sorted) Upgraded the suspension to Nitrons (handling sorted) but changed the springs to 600lb front 500lb rear absolutley no good for the road but fantastic on the track. In my opinion these are one of best cars on the track once these mods have been done and wouldnt change it for anythink else
bloody hell what do you do to those poor gearboxes?
Still at least they die in a good cause .. fun on track can't fault you matey! The gearbox had a whistle when i put it in and didnt last long at all. The RR is awsome let you know when i do a trackday with tuscan maybe you can come along? At Brands next Wed with MX5 but thats just helping out.
Hi Andy!! Good to hear from you How long did my old gearbox last??
I assume you're very happy with the RR upgrade from TVR Power, I'm thinking of having the 3.6-4 litre upgrade if/when my S6 'needs attention'
I must do a trackday, I feel it's a waste if I don't![/quote]
andycc said:
Hi Chris it was me who brought your gearbox blew that one as well! Had it rebuilt with quaiffe gearings and no problems since. As you stated do track days regular blew the engine in Feb and had a red rose upgrade by TVR power alot more torque now and very very quick. Other problems i have encountered doing track days had to upgrade to a paddle clutch and taken the 3 clips out because they kept breaking although this makes the clutch noisey. Upgraded brake pads to full race compound but had problems with the disks warping so vented them from front grill and through the wheel arch (problem sorted) Upgraded the suspension to Nitrons (handling sorted) but changed the springs to 600lb front 500lb rear absolutley no good for the road but fantastic on the track. In my opinion these are one of best cars on the track once these mods have been done and wouldnt change it for anythink else
Hi Andy!!
Good to hear from you How long did my old gearbox last?? I assume you're very happy with the RR upgrade from TVR Power, I'm thinking of having the 3.6-4 litre upgrade if/when my S6 'needs attention'
I must do a trackday, I feel it's a waste if I don't![/quote]
cirvy said:
Just been thinking about my possible next move, & i do seem drawn to the thought of a Tuscan, & probably an S, ( ideally black or formula red, they do look the biz
I am very aware of the speed 6 issues, but i'm not so certain about how well the Tuscan would stand up to regular track day use.
I presently run a 1998 4.5 Cerb & do around 10 track events a year. The car seems to soak this up with relatively few problems.
Does anyone have first hand experience of regular track day usage over a number of years, & any info on extra running costs, weak spots, advisory upgrades, possible limitations, etc?
Thanks for any help in advance, it would be much appreciated in firming up my plans ( i'm quite useless really, i just can't help but think of the next thing). In reality, i'm likely to be looking at the 2nd hand market, cica £28-30k, & probably over the next 12 months.
Cheers
Simon
It'll be too slow for you matey, you'll get fedup in no time.
All I can say is don't be afraid of tracking a Tuscan. I've only ever done Mallory Park in mine, and only in the wet, but it was there that I learnt that the brakes, when firmly applied, are superb. Yes, in the wet. And I learnt that the Tuscan can eat up dross like Carrera 4s round a wet track. The speed differential was huge - either that or their drivers were rubbish, because I ain't all that!
Admittedly I did also learn that the instructor was fibbing when he said "if you spin at Devil's Elbow you WILL hit the pit wall"... but I've also found at other times that controlling a slide is a LOT easier and more intuitive than in my old M3.
This was all before I had Nitrons fitted. Agreed re: the Toyos. And clutches last about 20k.
Not tracked the car much at all though. I'm moving on to a Sagaris or a Corvette soon, so get in touch if you want to talk about a Tuscan with a sound engine (and new clutch)!
Admittedly I did also learn that the instructor was fibbing when he said "if you spin at Devil's Elbow you WILL hit the pit wall"... but I've also found at other times that controlling a slide is a LOT easier and more intuitive than in my old M3.
This was all before I had Nitrons fitted. Agreed re: the Toyos. And clutches last about 20k.
Not tracked the car much at all though. I'm moving on to a Sagaris or a Corvette soon, so get in touch if you want to talk about a Tuscan with a sound engine (and new clutch)!
cirvy said:
Thanks for the response mate, i shall take your comments on-board. It would appear that the Tuscan is not really a track day toy.
Used it on track a couple of times, Prescott Hill climb etc. Would have been more but not had much time available due to work this year. I have always sprint raced my TVRs in the past (Chimaera, Wedge, Cerbera etc).
>> Edited by cerbyt on Sunday 23 October 12:38
Thanks for the responses guys, although there's probably not a huge number of regular tracked Tuscs, it does sound like they can cope with it, subject to the usual upgrades.
I just need to go & drive some now, see what i think. I've just spent today popping & banging through the villages of Notts, its incredible that a car can still make you laugh out loud after nearly 4 years!
Will a Tuscan offer the same experience? I'm not sure you know, the roof comes off which is something i'm beginning to miss ( came from a griff ), but the noise is something i need to sample, i gather the Tusc will sound mean with carbon cans etc, am i right?
Cheers again
I just need to go & drive some now, see what i think. I've just spent today popping & banging through the villages of Notts, its incredible that a car can still make you laugh out loud after nearly 4 years!
Will a Tuscan offer the same experience? I'm not sure you know, the roof comes off which is something i'm beginning to miss ( came from a griff ), but the noise is something i need to sample, i gather the Tusc will sound mean with carbon cans etc, am i right?
Cheers again
I only use my Tuscan for track days and the odd trip round Europe once a year.
Things to do
DUNLOP DO1 j or super sport race.
ONLY ohlins two way or if your a bit tight single way. As for other kits, their all crap.No mater what folk say.
23psi allround
mitex 66 front 44 rear
And use the dam thing what it was made to do
And some fuel it helps
And have fun
Things to do
DUNLOP DO1 j or super sport race.
ONLY ohlins two way or if your a bit tight single way. As for other kits, their all crap.No mater what folk say.
23psi allround
mitex 66 front 44 rear
And use the dam thing what it was made to do
And some fuel it helps
And have fun
Yahoo do run your car at knockhill?
If so and i think i know the plate that car (once it had stopped cremating the tyres out the hairpin ) left my S2000 like nothing ever has 
Ok i missed a shift but in that instant i decided, I NEED MORE POWER and it's up for sale lol!
whats the full spec?!
If so and i think i know the plate that car (once it had stopped cremating the tyres out the hairpin
) left my S2000 like nothing ever has Ok i missed a shift but in that instant i decided, I NEED MORE POWER and it's up for sale lol! whats the full spec?!
YAHOO said:
I only use my Tuscan for track days and the odd trip round Europe once a year.
Things to do
DUNLOP DO1 j or super sport race.
ONLY ohlins two way or if your a bit tight single way. As for other kits, their all crap.No mater what folk say.
23psi allround
mitex 66 front 44 rear
And use the dam thing what it was made to do
And some fuel it helps
And have fun
Cheers for the info, are the D01 j Dunlops the same as Formula R,if so, how do you find them & are they on for road use also?
Many thanks
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