European Cover for Tuscans
Discussion
Hi, advice much appreciated in advance.
I will be taking my Tuscan to Le Mans in June. I will have the European insurance sorted, but I have been looking into breakdown cover whilst overseas. My current breakdown service - RAC - provide European Cover, but the policy states that the car would need to be taken to a garage in France first, and if they were unable to fix the vehicle then the RAC would arrange for the car to be transported back to the UK.
Given the specialist nature of the Tuscan, I doubt that a regular garage would be able to fix any problems. Equally (and this happened to a friend last year) the thought of my pride and joy being towed away by a french mechanic who is naturally going to say that he can fix it (irrespective of whether he can or not) does not really appeal.
I would be very interested to hear of if any other Tuscan owners have recommendations? Guess what I am looking for is a short term policy that guarantees transport back to a TVR specialist in the UK in the event of a breakdown that is not repairable at road side. Does such a policy exist?
I will be taking my Tuscan to Le Mans in June. I will have the European insurance sorted, but I have been looking into breakdown cover whilst overseas. My current breakdown service - RAC - provide European Cover, but the policy states that the car would need to be taken to a garage in France first, and if they were unable to fix the vehicle then the RAC would arrange for the car to be transported back to the UK.
Given the specialist nature of the Tuscan, I doubt that a regular garage would be able to fix any problems. Equally (and this happened to a friend last year) the thought of my pride and joy being towed away by a french mechanic who is naturally going to say that he can fix it (irrespective of whether he can or not) does not really appeal.
I would be very interested to hear of if any other Tuscan owners have recommendations? Guess what I am looking for is a short term policy that guarantees transport back to a TVR specialist in the UK in the event of a breakdown that is not repairable at road side. Does such a policy exist?
B.J.W said:
Hi, advice much appreciated in advance.
I will be taking my Tuscan to Le Mans in June. I will have the European insurance sorted, but I have been looking into breakdown cover whilst overseas. My current breakdown service - RAC - provide European Cover, but the policy states that the car would need to be taken to a garage in France first, and if they were unable to fix the vehicle then the RAC would arrange for the car to be transported back to the UK.
Given the specialist nature of the Tuscan, I doubt that a regular garage would be able to fix any problems. Equally (and this happened to a friend last year) the thought of my pride and joy being towed away by a french mechanic who is naturally going to say that he can fix it (irrespective of whether he can or not) does not really appeal.
I would be very interested to hear of if any other Tuscan owners have recommendations? Guess what I am looking for is a short term policy that guarantees transport back to a TVR specialist in the UK in the event of a breakdown that is not repairable at road side. Does such a policy exist?
The replies will be interesting as I am also taking the Tuscan to Le Mans.I will be taking my Tuscan to Le Mans in June. I will have the European insurance sorted, but I have been looking into breakdown cover whilst overseas. My current breakdown service - RAC - provide European Cover, but the policy states that the car would need to be taken to a garage in France first, and if they were unable to fix the vehicle then the RAC would arrange for the car to be transported back to the UK.
Given the specialist nature of the Tuscan, I doubt that a regular garage would be able to fix any problems. Equally (and this happened to a friend last year) the thought of my pride and joy being towed away by a french mechanic who is naturally going to say that he can fix it (irrespective of whether he can or not) does not really appeal.
I would be very interested to hear of if any other Tuscan owners have recommendations? Guess what I am looking for is a short term policy that guarantees transport back to a TVR specialist in the UK in the event of a breakdown that is not repairable at road side. Does such a policy exist?
Last year I took the G33 and it broke down in Spain, the fault was electrical and a few garages wouldn't touch the car as they knew nothing about it. Breakdown company eventually tracked down an electrician that was prepared to work on the car the was English speaking and had race car experience) the car was put on the back on a truck It took an hour to get to the electrician and 2 hours for him to fix the car.
In reality if the problem is a basic mechanical problem any garage can fix a Tuscan, its engine, ecu and pod issues that are probably more difficult. But I suspect that most garages will just shrug and say "Non" so the car will go home on a low loader anyway.
blueg33 said:
The replies will be interesting as I am also taking the Tuscan to Le Mans.
Last year I took the G33 and it broke down in Spain, the fault was electrical and a few garages wouldn't touch the car as they knew nothing about it. Breakdown company eventually tracked down an electrician that was prepared to work on the car the was English speaking and had race car experience) the car was put on the back on a truck It took an hour to get to the electrician and 2 hours for him to fix the car.
In reality if the problem is a basic mechanical problem any garage can fix a Tuscan, its engine, ecu and pod issues that are probably more difficult. But I suspect that most garages will just shrug and say "Non" so the car will go home on a low loader anyway.
i'd prefer a 'non' in all fairness. Green Flag looks to be a good policy, but just basing question on my friend's experience with his Atom last year.Last year I took the G33 and it broke down in Spain, the fault was electrical and a few garages wouldn't touch the car as they knew nothing about it. Breakdown company eventually tracked down an electrician that was prepared to work on the car the was English speaking and had race car experience) the car was put on the back on a truck It took an hour to get to the electrician and 2 hours for him to fix the car.
In reality if the problem is a basic mechanical problem any garage can fix a Tuscan, its engine, ecu and pod issues that are probably more difficult. But I suspect that most garages will just shrug and say "Non" so the car will go home on a low loader anyway.
Mine overheated pretty dramatically on the way down to LM in 2009 - got 7 litres of water into it on the side of the road 50 miles from Le Mans! I managed to get it there but in that 50 miles it had used another litre of water. I checked what I could but could find no leaks. The fans seemed to be coming on itermittently so I bled the rad a couple of times and seemed to have resolved that problem but was still concerned about losing that much water.
I rang the RAC, as they covered me through my bank a/c, asking them to recover the car home - I was worried it was a head gasket failure and didn't want to damage it if it was in fact that serious. They told me they would send a UK breakdown service who were covering Le Mans to check to see if they could disgnose/resolve the issue. I was sceptical to say the least but agreed.
I got a call from Brit Assist http://www.britassist.co.uk/home.html who were the UK company contracted to RAC for the event and they just happened to be staying on the same campsite as me. We arranged for them to come an take a look at the car the next day.
They duly arrived and began a thorough test on the car including pressure testing the cooling system and testing the head for evidence of water ingress, but could find nothing. They spent a good 2 - 3 hours on the car but were left puzzled but 100% confident that it was not a head gasket issue. The suggestion was to fill the cooling system and disconnect the fan sensor so the fans ran constantly all the way home, making sure we checked the water regularly. We did this and got back in one piece with no further issues and having lost very little water. TVR Power then traced the fault to an issue with the filler cap thread meaning air was getting into the system creating air locks and steam escaping when the engine was hot! £10 fix!
Anyway, I can't speak highly enough of the guys at Brit Assist. They were fantastic, very thorough, very knowledgable and thoroughly nice chaps. They're doing LM again this year and are contracted to the RAC so you're in good hands should you need help. You can actually buy breakdown cover for Le Mans direct from Brit Assist for £35 - details on their website.
So to answer your original question, you have nothing to worry about seeing as you're with the RAC.
I rang the RAC, as they covered me through my bank a/c, asking them to recover the car home - I was worried it was a head gasket failure and didn't want to damage it if it was in fact that serious. They told me they would send a UK breakdown service who were covering Le Mans to check to see if they could disgnose/resolve the issue. I was sceptical to say the least but agreed.
I got a call from Brit Assist http://www.britassist.co.uk/home.html who were the UK company contracted to RAC for the event and they just happened to be staying on the same campsite as me. We arranged for them to come an take a look at the car the next day.
They duly arrived and began a thorough test on the car including pressure testing the cooling system and testing the head for evidence of water ingress, but could find nothing. They spent a good 2 - 3 hours on the car but were left puzzled but 100% confident that it was not a head gasket issue. The suggestion was to fill the cooling system and disconnect the fan sensor so the fans ran constantly all the way home, making sure we checked the water regularly. We did this and got back in one piece with no further issues and having lost very little water. TVR Power then traced the fault to an issue with the filler cap thread meaning air was getting into the system creating air locks and steam escaping when the engine was hot! £10 fix!
Anyway, I can't speak highly enough of the guys at Brit Assist. They were fantastic, very thorough, very knowledgable and thoroughly nice chaps. They're doing LM again this year and are contracted to the RAC so you're in good hands should you need help. You can actually buy breakdown cover for Le Mans direct from Brit Assist for £35 - details on their website.
So to answer your original question, you have nothing to worry about seeing as you're with the RAC.
Don't forget the Euro garage will have a contract with RAC/their agenst in Europe.
They will not want to work on a car that they could make worse.
(I even had an arguement over a sensor that still resulted in the car being transported home as the garage 'didn't do turbo cars' - early 90's in very rural Austria)
In my experience of breaking down in Europe - once on something much rarer than a Tuscan, but arguably much simpler to work on, the answer has always been ''We'll have a look, if it isn't obvious we won't touch it and it will be recovered to the UK'
They will not want to work on a car that they could make worse.
(I even had an arguement over a sensor that still resulted in the car being transported home as the garage 'didn't do turbo cars' - early 90's in very rural Austria)
In my experience of breaking down in Europe - once on something much rarer than a Tuscan, but arguably much simpler to work on, the answer has always been ''We'll have a look, if it isn't obvious we won't touch it and it will be recovered to the UK'
davemac250 said:
Don't forget the Euro garage will have a contract with RAC/their agenst in Europe.
They will not want to work on a car that they could make worse.
(I even had an arguement over a sensor that still resulted in the car being transported home as the garage 'didn't do turbo cars' - early 90's in very rural Austria)
In my experience of breaking down in Europe - once on something much rarer than a Tuscan, but arguably much simpler to work on, the answer has always been ''We'll have a look, if it isn't obvious we won't touch it and it will be recovered to the UK'
Thanks for the replies chaps. Much appreciated. They will not want to work on a car that they could make worse.
(I even had an arguement over a sensor that still resulted in the car being transported home as the garage 'didn't do turbo cars' - early 90's in very rural Austria)
In my experience of breaking down in Europe - once on something much rarer than a Tuscan, but arguably much simpler to work on, the answer has always been ''We'll have a look, if it isn't obvious we won't touch it and it will be recovered to the UK'
I have European cover with ADAC.
They are always great to deal with.
The first time I had to call them out was 2 weeks after I joined.
My newly rebuilt Tuscan engine threw a shim. They did suggest one or two specialist in Germany but due to the warranttee, agreed to ship it straight back to the UK specialist who it was covered by.
They have subsequently shipped her back to the UK a second time tgo get accident damage sorted.
Very friendly, very helpful and as you would expect, very efficient.
First year was €83,50 an €79,- per year ever since.
and I get discount off petrol in Germany
They are always great to deal with.
The first time I had to call them out was 2 weeks after I joined.
My newly rebuilt Tuscan engine threw a shim. They did suggest one or two specialist in Germany but due to the warranttee, agreed to ship it straight back to the UK specialist who it was covered by.
They have subsequently shipped her back to the UK a second time tgo get accident damage sorted.
Very friendly, very helpful and as you would expect, very efficient.
First year was €83,50 an €79,- per year ever since.
and I get discount off petrol in Germany
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