What to make of this Tuscan..

[Billiam]

Sorry guys but prepare yourselves for a potential barrage of Tuscan posts by myself in the coming weeks !! I want one but i dont know what one to buy.. hahaha but this one is intriguing, on the surface it seems a genuine bargain but i cant help but attest to the whole 'if it seems to good to be true, it probably is' philosopy..

Its a fine looking machine, not my colour but that can change.. the money spent on it alone and the warranty passed over etc it seems daft not to buy it.. obviously i would check for receipts etc and speak to Power TVR regarding the car but couple questions for the gurus please..

Anyone know the seller/car ? Is it as good as it seems..

It has all the upgrades desirable ie nitron suspension etc and 36k spent on it means it must be perfect, no less than !?!


The brakes being done, i thought i read somewhere upgrading to the 'S' spec 330s was cheaper than standards but i could be wrong.. but if so, seemed odd to replace 'like for like' and what reasons could the discs need replacing, warped ??

But the 4.3 upgrade - does anyone rate it ? With all due respect 370BHP seems quite timid compared to a standard S for example, theres not much info on power tvr website but if anyone can shed some light here, that would be great.. otherwise il call power and speak to the experts !

Sorry if it all comes accross a bit naive.. but i am new to TVRs and when it comes to cars, i just know how to drive them !

Thanks in advance.. and now added the link thanks M3 as i totally forogt !! haha..

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

Edited by Billiam on Friday 14th February 23:13

[m3coupe]

Alright mate, it would help if you told us what car you are talking about. Obviously you just forgot.

Anyhow, I've never heard a bad word about TVR Power in general, never mind their 4.3 upgrade.

I've never driven one but I've read/been told that the torque is a substantial improvement and the power increase is noticeable.

I doubt you'd be disappointed with the performance of a standard Tuscan, (or any TVR for that matter) so I wouldn't set your sights on a S model or upgrade.

[Billiam]

Thanks for the heads up, its been a long week ! haha and i totally agree, the power is going to be more than enough in a standard tuscan but im considering the future and if anything in circumstance changes, an S is going to be worth alot more in sell on value etc

And iv heard TVR power are the best in the business frankly but im curious and dont mean to sound like im bashing in anyway - just want to know as much as i can before i throw 20k at it !!

[m4tti]

That's not an S you've linked to. You do realise the primary difference in the S is a change in cam timing and map ?

The car you've linked is definitely one of the better ones for sale.

[Billiam]

Yes, sorry i might have not posted it properly - im aware its not an S but as you said, its seems a cracker which is why im considering it, over an S ! My eyes are dead tired after spending the last hour or so looking around about the 4.3 upgrade, i originally posted it without the link lol

Maybe i will give him a ring tomorrow and chat with the seller - afterall, reading more and more on TVR Power it seems they really are the place to go for anything TVR, even if they are 2 hours away from me.. just a good excuse for a drive ! haha

[m4tti]

Essentially that power 4·3 will make it better than an S. The only other stuff like the bigger front discs will be done too.

[B17NNS]

Billiam said:

370BHP seems quite timid

[m4tti]

B17NNS said:

Good point the S will not make 370 wbhp. The 4.3 will. It's a short but steep learning curve.

[Paul U]

Looks like a bloody good buy , my only reservation is the colour combination , but each to their own

[Laser Sag]

Colour if you don't like it can be changed. The warranty on the engine is worth a lot and having driven Powers 4.3 and 4.5 the 4.3 is a noticeable improvement over the standard engine.
Overall a lot of the main bits you want done have been, recent clutch,suspension,brakes, radiator etc.
As the carpets have been replaced even if the rest of the interior may be getting a bit tired you can budget for a retrim after a while.
Someone has thrown a fair bit of money at it meaning you shouldn't have to.

[tuscman]

I had a 2000 model Tuscan several years back and now have a Chameleon Blue 2004 Tuscan S (see pic). The later Tuscan S from my experience has been a far superior car in every way.
The build quality is better, it handles far better, everything works and it does not have the many gremlins that the earlier model did.
The S version also has other improvements such as the limited slip differential and short shift box, larger disks, 400bhp on the 2004 model, front and rear spoiler. The chassis/steering geometry also had minor improvements in the later MK1 models.
The S version engine and particularly after 2003 is known to be stronger and less prone to any issues and I understand it has many parts that were developed from the race series.
Considering the above and the 2001 model you are considering requiring paint (taking it to over £25k) I personally think you would be far better going for an unmolested late S version that will be far more desirable and increase in value well. Seems a no brainer to me.
Happy to discuss more if you PM me.

[More Steam]

I'm sure there was a thread on here somewhere regarding this car and it went through a pretty serious rebuild. If this is the one, then I'm sure it's good value. Also, you'll get the performance and the looks. The "S" styling just isn't for me I'm afraid. Much prefere the rear of the standard Tuscan.

[Paul U]

More Steam said:

I'm sure there was a thread on here somewhere regarding this car and it went through a pretty serious rebuild. If this is the one, then I'm sure it's good value. Also, you'll get the performance and the looks. The "S" styling just isn't for me I'm afraid. Much prefere the rear of the standard Tuscan.

Would have to agree .... Who the hell designed that rear spoiler ?????

[Billiam]

Ok just to clarify the 370BHP comment i only made as i thought the Tuscan S has 390 as standard ? And so thought a 4.3 upgrade would then be more powerful etc

I dont dispute any TVR is going to be way fast enough for me, the nearest iv come is a 340BHP MR2 turbo.. and these things are more powerful and light as a feather, im dying to drive one !!

And im with the masses in preferring the standard Tuscans rear but if you intend on doing over 170 iv heard the spoiler is a must ! haha but i dont know whey they felt the need to re-arrange the lights too..

[NCE 61]

The BHP figures for the TuscanS quoted by TVR varied between 380 & 405 dependant on model year, and these figures were at the flywheel. The 4.3 TVR power upgraded figures are at the wheels.

Edited by NCE 61 on Monday 17th February 06:57

[Billiam]

Funny enough i jus had a good maybe 20mins chat with the seller of the car - seems a real good chap and honest and forward with everything done and ownership of the car etc

And he explained the same, the 370 is at the wheels as you mentioned and from the sounds of it - boy does it rocket ! haha

Its the higher end of my budget but i must see it.. so have arrange for this week and hopefully Wed i can go see that and the S im looking at and decide from there. My only advantage of the other one, it will need work but il have the change to do it whereas this one, literally wants for nothing it would seem.. the only dissapointment with that, its not been personalised by myself but again, in time - anything i want to change ie colour/interior etc i can do ! But that engine upgrade makes for quite a bargain TVR.. and so i will see both cars Wed and go from there !!

Thanks for everyones input.. i will certainly be keeping my updates live and fingers crossed by this time next week - i shall have me a shiny new chunk of fibreglass ! haha