Just got my tuscan and have got a few questions.

[m3jappa]

Well today i finally got into a tuscan, its a samoa blue mk1 red rose.

Let me just say this, this car is fking brutal, its savage, i've had a few quick cars but this truly feels nasty

I had a little play with an f430 scud and all i'll say is that i reckon he was either shocked or embarassed really surprised me, i wasn't expecting it to go like that!

Anyway, i have a few questions.

I'm under the impression the red rose came with a cr box and hydratrak diff, the seller said it had these but im not too sure, it appears to do around 110 in 3rd, obviosuly though its hard to actually tell if im not short shifting as i really cant see actual rpm and actual speed.

Is there any way to determine whats actually in there?


R.e the diff, how do i know? All i can say is the wheels spin like crazy in first, second and i think a bit of 3rd, im really not sure how it 'should' drive. What would the car behave like with no lsd?

One thing i have noticed which i dont like is when you lift off the accelerator at say 80 the car goes a bit 'wafty' like it almost loses some stability. Is this normal or common? i can only describe it as feeling a bit weightless for a split second or so until i touch the throttle again.

car is on gaz gold pros, brand new with geo done to o.e specs, tyres goodyear f1 235/40 front , 245/40 rear and does have the spacers fitted.

Many thanks

[nrick]

Only real way to tell what diff you have is to jack it up and turn the prop, then see how many times the wheels go around, if you also go to Graham Varleys website (google it) there is a calculator that you should be able to work backwards from the speed if you know one or the other. There is another thread going on this somewhere. All Tuscans have LSD's (well they should), the Hydratrack is just a different type.

These cars are one of the few cars that still scares me everytime I get in. They can be docile but on the limit they are brutal. Check the pod for what the shift lights are set to, it is quite normal not to go Wide open as the throttle pedal is really long, peak power is right at the top of the rev range.

Just bought some Gaz golds so I'll let you know how they feel, but I am guessing it needs the settings changing on the shocks if there is too much wafting. I am no suspension expert though!

Hope that helps,

Neill

[nrick]

PS check the oil and water regularly, and the tyre pressures.

[m3jappa]

ah thanks, so they do all have a form of lsd regardless, i,ll try and work out what ive got.

I was thinking the slight waft may have something to do with the shock settings and also tyres pressures, i havent checked either yet, just did a perfect 240 mile return journey in it and loved it too much to start messing with things

Just guessing though i do feel pressures maybe a little high, but will check tomorrow.

I,m also amazed at fuel consumption, its hard to tell exactly how much i used as ive been told the gauge isnt too acurate and i also cant remember if i put in 43 litres or 33 litres. Either way in a worst case scenario it did 25mpg avergage easily and that was with some pretty extravagant 'playing' in the last 50 miles or so

What a machine though!

[S6 Devil]

m3jappa said:

One thing i have noticed which i dont like is when you lift off the accelerator at say 80 the car goes a bit 'wafty' like it almost loses some stability. Is this normal or common? i can only describe it as feeling a bit weightless for a split second or so until i touch the throttle again.

The Tuscans have a fast steering rack which seems to cause the feeling of weightlessness. It's quite an odd scary feeling. I had the steering rack rebuilt, Nitrons and spacers fitted in the hope that this would reduce this feeling but alas not.
There is a bump steer mod that, I think str8six offer but I don't know what the feedback on this is. Might be worth doing a Bump steer post search to see what feedback there has been.

Enjoy!

[G20RG B]

Congrats on the Tuscan, lets see some pics(if you can stop driving it for a few minutes and take some).

Enjoy.

[m3jappa]

S6 Devil said:

The Tuscans have a fast steering rack which seems to cause the feeling of weightlessness. It's quite an odd scary feeling. I had the steering rack rebuilt, Nitrons and spacers fitted in the hope that this would reduce this feeling but alas not.
There is a bump steer mod that, I think str8six offer but I don't know what the feedback on this is. Might be worth doing a Bump steer post search to see what feedback there has been.

Enjoy!

sounds interesting. Its literally for a split second which does feel a bit scary but i did start to get used to it.

I must say the actual steering feel and general handling have surprised me, you read all these stories of how they are so dangerous and want to kill you etc etc, while i can agree the car could be very dangerous it does drive beautifully, the steering is very direct and actually feels pretty good once you actually turn in.
It commands respect which i like a lot.

The car does need a few bits doing but nothing major, its just recently had a rebuild at power so the main thing is good.

I did laugh though earlier i really did. I got back and picked a mate up, gave it full throttle in second and the actual dash came off did it again and the headunit surround flew at us

Things like this dont bother me though, infact it does me a favour as it gives me something to mess about with, i'll enjoy getting rid of the few squeaks, rattles and loose bits of trim!

Going to give it a major clean this weekend and i,ll get some pics up

[so called]

Congrats on the Tuscan.
You sound like the perfect TVR owner.

[nrick]

so called said:

Congrats on the Tuscan.
You sound like the perfect TVR owner.

+1

[drivingfroggy]

+2

[shep1001]

Welcome

Diff has a little tag stamp on it that shows the ratio.

Take it easy & drive safe! non of that electronic gubbins like you have on your evo. The only thing between you and the wall/hedge is your brain & right foot!!

Shep

Edited by shep1001 on Friday 29th April 11:35

[DonkeyApple]

Isn't lifting off at 80 just the same instability you'd get from pulling the handbrake at 80?

In other words, something best left to Evel Kneivel.

One thing I have never done with a fast rwd car is use engine braking on it's own. I like trees as much as any one but not that much.

[RedSpike66]

Engine braking can be a major issue so I've been told - especially if lifting off from large throttle opening - so take care !!! You have no ABS and no Traction control remember ! Never driven a Tuscan (T350C I found to be very well behaved in general), but they have more tendency to bit back that T350 & Sagaris

People prefer slightly lower tyre pressures - approx 24psi.
Enjoy.

[m3jappa]

When i say lift off i mean in terms of changing gear or say im driving on the motorway and just lax off the throttle. I don't mean drving down a b road at 80 and letting off

Surely you have to do those things at some stage?

Either way i'm getting used to it now, i've done about 450miles since yesterday and i fking love it! Its everything i always wanted , brutal, raw,stiff, direct steering input, progressive brake pedal travel, lots of throttle travel, sitting low to the ground and lots of noise. This car has just the sleeved exhaust afaik and its quite quiet on normal driving (for what it is) but when that loud pedal is pressed my god the noise No pops and bangs though so i may de cat in the near future i think.

I like how it commands respect, for example the evo and even the m3 to an extent could be driven flat out down b roads, as you all know to do that in this would be suicide. Front wheels have to be straight before loud is pressed

My old m3 was nearly as quick as the 410bhp evo, it was almost fully stripped, weighed 1280 kgs, 335bhp, pss9's no traction control, iirc the abs fuse was pulled, it had ap brakes all round and was a very quick car, i probably preffered it to the evo 9gt as it was similar to the tuscan in respect of having to make sure those rear wheels don't spin when you don't want them to. That said its a different league......

I need to soften the back up though, im sure its too hard, i managed to play around with the nob under the shock and its set about half way, i need to get under it though to determine which way makes it softer before i start messing about, tyre pressures were set to 25psi all round, i may drop a psi but i think the difference will be minimal.

Above all im so impressed with the fuel consumption for what is essentially a race car, i'm sure after a work out today i did 30mpg on my run back yesterday and probably averaged 20 today. I think where it is so brutal you simply dont need to be redlining it like other cars do to get anything out of them.

[nrick]

Lift off (/changing down)is according to one very experienced person the single biggest cause of crashes, especially in the wet, it is a very disruptive. That said once you get used to it it isn't a problem and the same in anything that is like it. I had a E28 M5 that was exactly the same, and a 530i thinking about it. It wasn't until BMW started fitting traction control that things got easier for the driver. IMHO

Edited by nrick on Saturday 30th April 10:20

[m3jappa]

Yes i see what your saying, lifting off at the wrong time could have pretty dire consequesnces, especially in a car like this which could be unsettled very easily.

[Flintstone]

For a relatively small investment get a chin spoiler fitted. Quite innocuous, just a flate plate really, but it will delay the floating until quite a bit north of 140... (insert speed measurement of your choice here).

[m3jappa]

Flintstone said:

For a relatively small investment get a chin spoiler fitted. Quite innocuous, just a flate plate really, but it will delay the floating until quite a bit north of 140... (insert speed measurement of your choice here).

That is interesting, i,ll definately try that thanks

[Whitey]

Flintstone said:

For a relatively small investment get a chin spoiler fitted. Quite innocuous, just a flate plate really, but it will delay the floating until quite a bit north of 140... (insert speed measurement of your choice here).

Spot on! I had one of these fitted back in 2000 with the same complaint. I'd forgotten about the symptom when reading this thread!

[TOV!E]

CR box will have CR stamped on the N/S of the casting on the gearbox