>05 Engines

[Deniz.S]

I've been researching and looking for a Tuscan for around a year now, and have set a budget of around 30k for a mk2 Tuscan(With the revised dash). Now I've read pretty much every single relevant post in this forum as well as the Speed Six forums, however I wanted comments from owners of the later/last tuscans. At my price range I hope to get into a car with around 10k or so and which (hopefully) wont have sat around doing 20 miles a month for years due to its age. However I would like to know whether I would be realistically looking to repair things like blown head gaskets or full rebuilds within 1-2 years and 15k or so miles ( I know there's no such thing as a dead cert with TVR's but still.)

So I guess I'm looking for input from the owners of the latest batch of these cars and if the old addage of 2005 and later cars being that much better is really true.

Again, I know this question is repeated ad nauseum, and doubtless the phrases "get a 5k war chest etc" will be thrown around. I'm purely enquiring for the purpose of research and looking for assurance from a specific group of owners: low mileage, 2005+ mk2 without engine rebuilds.

I appreciate any input on the matter.

[scottyr]

"War Chest" - You been reading the back page tabloids for too long.

I know of a TVR that's issuing a "come and get me plea".

[The Surveyor]

Deniz.S said:

low mileage, 2005+ mk2 without engine rebuilds.

Sorry, can't help you as my April 2006 Tuscan's now got over 24k miles without a hint of a re-build or other such problem, it just wouldn't fall into the 'low milage' catagory...

Buy one, warm it up, use it loads, spank it's ass, and best of all enjoy it.

[glow worm]

Like Paul , 2006 vert, no troubles. I would watch for the diff shunt on 'S' with CR box, I changed the diff flange/prop shaft and to a 3:73 and shunt has gone. TVR MAds had some nice verts.

[TOV!E]

TUSCAN S VERT 20,000 miles 2006 NOT a single problem, the more i drive it the better it gets.

[jonolondon]

Hi Deniz... I've an 05 Tuscan 2 with a/c and it had 5k miles on it at purchase in April...I paid £28.5k for it and elected *not* to take a £1k warranty due to the low miles/some of the comments from PH (and even the dealer off the record).. This turned out to be the most stupid thing I've done in a while as since then, I've done 7k miles and it has had:

1. Blown Head Gasket.. Apparently very rare for an 05, but I've seen at least 2 other posts.. Cylinder 6 runs hot and the original Head gasket doesn't have enough cooling slots/is not up to scratch. Austec fixed it, fitted their own design HG and did some other bits to prolong engine life.. Cost £2k

2. Clutch. I do drive quite a bit in town, but even so 7k miles seems a bit much.. Needed a new one - cost £1200

3. Radiator. Started leaking, water temp started hitting 100 degrees.. Needed a new Aluminium one. Also needed a new engine mount (maybe as a result of the earlier head gasket issue). £950 all in - London TVR.

I also upgraded the OEM Romanian Bilsteins as the handling was a bit shocking to Gaz Golds and turned them up a notch recently. Cost £750. Car handling is night and day (now being day)

Having said all of that, there is nothing I can think of for £30k that touches the car for its' 'specialness' - It is still such an event to drive and on a sunny day anywhere in Europe it puts a massive grin on my face. My mate bought a Carrera S (great piece of kit) for £75k 3 years ago and now its' worth £45k.. So I've a long way to go to hit that sort of depreciation - More than I paid for my Tuscan

Also the build quality seems pretty variable on the 05s.. take a look at a few, I thought some of the shutlines on my car (the boot is hilarious) were shocking until I looked at another Tuscan 2 in the car park last week and that car was even worse...

So, go and get one, but I'd strongly advise getting one from a dealer with a warranty for piece of mind... It would also be nice if you find one where the owner has already spent a few bob sorting out the niggles, fitting Gaz Gold/Nitrons/racing Red/whatever, etc...

Cheers,

J.

[Deniz.S]

Thanks for the replies guys. jonolondon, it was your post about the head gasket which made me quite hesitant. Your clutch also seems to have given up the ghost pretty prematurely! Do you believe a warranty would have covered much of the stuff that went with your one?
I'm still 100% certain I'm getting a mk2, just a matter of finding a good one. Unfortunately for me, TVR Henley who are just a few miles down the road from me and had a few decent mk2's recently popped its clogs so I guess I need to get down to RG again.

[jiggs]

Having just bought a Tuscan 2 s a month ago and putting 1500 miles on it in three weeks it now has 12000 miles on it and its an 06
I can say its not missed a beat , but the car could not have been better looked after
oil change every few thousand miles but most importantly warm the engine up before you give it the beans , this could take 20 mins of driving but if you keep to these rules I think you wont have too much trouble.
so oil temp up to 60 degree C before you start to press the loud pedal.

by the way they really are the dogs bits I paid over 30k for my 06 S worth every penny
Simon

[jiggs]

Having just bought a Tuscan 2 s a month ago and putting 1500 miles on it in three weeks it now has 12000 miles on it and its an 06
I can say its not missed a beat , but the car could not have been better looked after
oil change every few thousand miles but most importantly warm the engine up before you give it the beans , this could take 20 mins of driving but if you keep to these rules I think you wont have too much trouble.
so oil temp up to 60 degree C before you start to press the loud pedal.

by the way they really are the dogs bits I paid over 30k for my 06 S worth every penny
Simon

[jonolondon]

Hi Deniz, yes I think that the Head Gasket would certainly have been covered under warranty...The part itself is only around £120, but obviously the labour is the big cost what with having to take the engine out and put it back in, et al.

I would also have argued that the clutch should not have failed after only a few thousand miles, my car was been driven pretty gently, never been tracked, etc.

Cheers,
J

[NTEL]

Late 2005 Tuscan 2 4.0L, 28,000 miles, no engine problems at all, original clutch, new slave cylinder seals, goes like a train, dyno says 322bhp at the wheels and 298lbft of torque. That'll do for me

[Deniz.S]

All in all a pretty positive thread I guess. Had my eyes on this beauty

http://www.tvr-car-club.co.uk/classifieds/classifi...

though I think I may have to focus on one from a reputable southern dealer instead to avoid any jonolondon suprises. Thank you to everyone who provided some info.

[glow worm]

Well its not a 2007 model...last ones came out the factory aug/sept 2006...Check the VIN plate for the actual year of manufacture....8th digit from the end gives the year...last 4 digits the build number and I reckon TVR only made 90ish cars in 2006..So if its less than 60 it was built prior to April '06. Doesn't detract ... a nice car...but don't let them kid you its 2007 when its been hanging around for a year before being 1st registered.