What to spend on a tuscan...what reserve do I need?

[da_murphster]

Still considering my options for a Tuscan. G/f is giving me grief about not blowing my savings on a car so want to restrict my spending.

My question.....

Am I better to buy a cheaper (ie older, higher mileage or non rebuilt TVR) and have acess to a repair fund.

Or am I better to push my budget to max and get warrently/recent rebuild - having little to spend if something went wrong?

Idea of figures...Have about £17-18k total but Mrs want me to keep below £15k

Opinions please!!

[S6 SFX]

da_murphster said:

having little to spend if something went wrong

High performance cars can often be purchased cheaply, but can never be maintained properly that way.

To avoid the g/f saying I told you so - I'd wait until you can afford 3-4k a year to run/maintain one.

Prices are only going to go down, so you won't miss out in the longterm.

Or take the plunge, cross your fingers and enjoy!

I have to say it's quite a selfish car though - being a passenger in one can be sh*t scary!

A.

[R TOY]

When i bought mine (2 yrs ago) i went for as newer model as my budget would stretch, which was a 53 plate 3.6. Was a v good buy at the time but depreciation has still taken its toll. I have been lucky so far in that i have only had to spend on servicing costs and 2 tyres, say 1k in the two yrs ownership and 10k miles. It is now due for another service @ £500 and a poss head gasket may up the figure but still not to bad. I know others have not been so lucky tho. Shop around and buy at a level that you still have a reserve for the unexpected. The cars value reflects the problems and cost of ownership so in effect you are making the saving on the purchace price. If the engines where rock solid reliable values would be 5k more. Good luck. Dave.

[da_murphster]

Thanks for the help - still not sure what direction to go in though. An older higher mileage car should have gone through its depreciation and thre is always the chance it will be a good runner and not cost the earth (right??)

Is a budget is £15k-£18k unrealistic to keep one of these babies?

[UpTheIron]

da_murphster said:

Still considering my options for a Tuscan. G/f is giving me grief about not blowing my savings on a car so want to restrict my spending.

My question.....

Am I better to buy a cheaper (ie older, higher mileage or non rebuilt TVR) and have acess to a repair fund.

Or am I better to push my budget to max and get warrently/recent rebuild - having little to spend if something went wrong?

Idea of figures...Have about £17-18k total but Mrs want me to keep below £15k

Opinions please!!

No idea about your relationship, but if you buy without her "approval" then expect it to be a problem when you need to spend money on the Tuscan. And that is when, not if. She will then hate the car...

I wouldn't entertain Tuscan ownership without a couple of thousand in the bank for general maintenance and a few more for emergencies, and I really wouldn't rely on a warranty.

da_murphster said:

Thanks for the help - still not sure what direction to go in though. An older higher mileage car should have gone through its depreciation and thre is always the chance it will be a good runner and not cost the earth (right??)

Is a budget is £15k-£18k unrealistic to keep one of these babies?

You can certainly buy one for that.

But consider a scenario where you suddenly find yourself needing clutch, shocks, engine rebuild and a few bits and pieces all at once, putting a big hole in £10k. Even a "good runner" will need most of the above at some point.

If you buy a Tuscan for £18k and by some miracle it is mint, how many miles will you drive per year, and what budget is available to run it, along with a reserve fund for the odd big problem...

Edited by UpTheIron on Sunday 27th May 16:34

[so called]

I went for the low purchase price option when I bought my 2000 Tuscan 4 last October.
Now, six months later and having spent a further 9k on engine rebuild and electrics,
it hase made me consider if it was the right way.
My wife wanted me to go for a 19k car but I got one for 13k and have pointed out that
if the engine of the more expensive car had been sh#gged then I would be in trouble now.
And for this reason I feel I made the correct decision
Now I have got a car that is running very well (touch wood) with only a few miner niggles to deal with
and which will receive the TLC it deserves for the driving pleasure it provides.
GOOD LUCK.

[so called]

or did I ?

[dvs_dave]

The Tuscan Rat said:

As you live in Surrey, Go and speak to the guys at Mole Valley.

For 19k they sorted me out with mine.

Spiel as from Mole Valley TVR....

TVR Tuscan 2002 Crystal Topaz Metallic, Portland Leather With Blue Inserts,
Blue Lamonta Headling, Blue Carpets Piped In Portland, Prussian Blue Dash Top, Air Conditioning, Power Steering, 18" Spider Alloys, Upgraded Stereo With Stacking CD Player, Colour Coded Steering Wheel, Alarm, Immobiliser,
Kickplates, ONE OWNER, 12,910 Miles Only, Supplied & Serviced By Mole Valley with annual services at Mole Valley and Gatwick TVR at 4495 miles, 7008 miles, 9997 miles, 11,794 miles, and just serviced at 12, 910 miles.



They also sorted me out with a two year warranty, just in case.

Price? Rebuild? Clutch?

[BJWoods]

very few is a touch optomistic, at one point 50% of classified said rebuild as a 'selling' feature.

plus see jsg's graph.

b

[BJWoods]

The Tuscan Rat said:

BJWoods said:

very few is a touch optomistic, at one point 50% of classified said rebuild as a 'selling' feature.

plus see jsg's graph.

b

50% of classified...How many was that, compaired to the total Tuscans sold

Maybe very few was bad wording, but it's not as many as most think.

Edited by The Tuscan Rat on Monday 28th May 18:58

that was an 'ongoing 50%'

Have a chat with a dealer, or ex dealer know, and see how many that were sent back... and what proportion...

Every tuscan owner I've met, has had engine work. strangely no tamora owners i've met ?

B

[K3EFH]

Mine is on the classifieds now for £16995, just had its 12k service, had an engine rebuild (Under previous owner). Supplied and serviced by HHC (hexham)and is a great car as far as I'm concerned. As a starter into TVRs I would be looking into something like this.

[Tuscan Six]

I have owned my 2001 Tuscan for over 3 years. When I purchased it the car had just undergone a full rebuild to 2004 spec. 16,000 miles and 5 trackdays later the engine is still fine and was given a clean bill of health by APM at its service this year. In short, unless you are buying a mid-2004 or later car you really should go for one that has had a 2004 or later rebuild IMHO.

As for running costs: I have had two clutches (£800 each fitted), dampeners all round (£1,100 for Nitrons), radiator (£350 fitted) and the typical durables e.g. set of discs and pads on top of servicing costs. Tyres have nearly died to...

Annual budget for running costs - assuming the engine is ok you'll manage on £2k per year using a good Indie such as APM IMHO.

A Tuscan is a great car to own and for more exotic that say a Lotus Elise but you'll only enjoy it if you can afford to run it. If not, go for something cheaper to run like a Lotus Elise.

[da_murphster]

Still wavering - really struggling to find anything else I fancy in my price bracket.

Only rel contender is a 111R and I reckon that is just too similar to the VX220.

Also tempted by the Tamora - the look is growing on me but the Tuscan still looks fantastic.

Servicine is every 6k at about £600 is that correct? I would proab look for a recent respectable rebuild with nitrons for as cheap as I can find and keep a reserve (and my fingers crossed).

Should I be wary of the driving experience on teh public road - my VX was exceptionally planted and you really had to by pushing it to feel teh back go. Does the Tuscan loose traction regularily? I hear that just planting your foot in 3rd can induce a bit of "wiggle".....

I am an enthusiastic driver and it would spoil the experience if every drive was potential crash territory!!

[custardkid]

I was in the same position a just over a year ago, but it was between a 350z or the tuscan, i know if i'd got the 350z id now be trying to work out how to afford the tuscan.

if you look you should find one for £15-16k thats had most stuff done to it then keep £2k in cash and save to give you a £5k fund.

i bought one which the previous owner had spent £14k in 2 years / £10kmiles, i have the bills to prove it. this included new clutch, wheels, discs, paint, nitrons etc
before that it had had the fingerfollowers done.

since i've had it the oil pump has failed causing bigend damage (rebuild) which was ££££
i guess in the next 2-3yrs the clutch and/or fingerfollowers will need doing.

it also makes you do stupid things like pay £30k more for a flat just because its got a garage, rather than 'secure parking'.

but in any other car you dont get strangers coming up to you saying how pretty it is.
or smile crazily every time you catch a glips of it
or get excited about getting home just so you can go for a drive!

Custard

[TOM500]

Might get a bit booed on here but if your budget is that tight and you are set on a TVR gor for a late 5ltr Chimera or last production Grifith. You can get some really good ones for your budget and change. Worth considering.