Buying a Tuscan

[tarco]

I currently drive a Cim 450 1998 and am looking to upgrade to a Tuscan but i am very unsure about a few things:

Reliability
Costs(Service and Parts)

I'm also unsure about getting a pre-June 2001 model as my local dealer said that from when TVR first started building the tuscan to June 2001 this was the guiny pig stage and most cars had alot of problems, is this true? if so what were they?(I guess it would be because they are main dealers and had to repair the problems)

Be honest now as I have heard about alot of problems.

[lrussell5]

loads of threads on this regarding reliability, do a search there was one last week. I can add that post Jun 01 cars also benefitted from a lot of suspension development done on the Tamora. You can spot these cars easily - they carry 40-series rear tyres instead of 35, and are said to ride/handle a fair bit better (not just down to the tyres though). If that helps.....

[blackmonday]

You can see my problems and cost here:
www.pistonheads.com/members/showcar.asp?carId=919

[apeebles]

I moved from a Chimaera 4 to the Tuscan S. Both cars have been excellent with good support from the dealer. I was nervous about the Tuscan based on comments I had read so I did feel that it was a gamble. However fortunately the car has been proved to be very solid. My only dissapointment is that I have only done 4500 miles since new.

[Ghosty O''Shark]

I'm new to this site and new to TVRs but I have been looking for the perfect Tuscan for ages. It'll be run as a second car.

Is it reasonable to want a late 2001 model with air con, tracker, 18 inch spider alloys, full leather, cd player, no track days, from a dealer (with warranty) etc for around £35K? All of the ones I have seen have at least one of those things missing.

Is it worth spending the extra for Red Rose or an 'S'? (in order to cope with my mates in their 911s on the Le Mans run next year?)

Any dealers to approach/avoid?

All advice would be welcome.

[trefor]

I shouldn't worry about a track day or two - means the owner was probably not a numptie driver and was more of an enthusiast. Conversely you don't want one that's lived most of it's life on a track.

[bryanlister]

I have an October 2000 model and it is brilliant. It has RR suspension, drilled brakes, 18" rims, 40 profile tyres (as on factory fresh model), 12 CD, DAB, A/C, half leather. Now got 12,500 miles on it and running very well.

I would not be too concerned with avoiding a 2000 model as if the latest suspension settings are used - they will drive as well as a brand new one. Just make sure they have been serviced as required from new if you go the used route - and ask to see all invoices for work completed including any late modifications. The 40 section Toyos now fitted should give a more comfortable ride, little if no tramlining - and also keep your lovely 18" wheels a little more protected from pot holes.

I did my homework - and I am delighted with my car bought used for £30K.

[Jarrett]

Plus, tracker and cd player can be easily fitted later. You also need to check out the fine print on the (extended) warranty offered by the dealer. Lots of them are not all covering.

[Ghosty O''Shark]

Thanks for the info so far......I'll probably have a drive over to a couple of dealers tomorrow. I live in Kingston (SW London), any recommendations on local Dealers or guys that have done a good job for you?

[jeremyc]

quote:Thanks for the info so far......I'll probably have a drive over to a couple of dealers tomorrow. I live in Kingston (SW London), any recommendations on local Dealers or guys that have done a good job for you?

Mole Valley in Chessington (www.mole-valley-tvr.co.uk/): ask for Spencer or Gareth.

Mind you, I don't think they've got any Tuscans, only this one in Redhill:

or maybe Sir prefers the Tuscan S which is in Chessington


>> Edited by jeremyc on Friday 2nd August 18:55

[Luca Brazzi]

quote:
I live in Kingston (SW London), any recommendations on local Dealers or guys that have done a good job for you?

Mole Valley - Spencer/Gareth and Simon (servicing mgr), all very good. Very helpful. Totally non-pushy (even suggested I get the cheaper of the 2 Tuscans when I was looking - chose the other one though).

Where in Kingston, I'm always driving through Kingston/ Surbiton.
Steve
www.the.nestas.btinternet.co.uk/cargallery.htm

[Ghosty O''Shark]

Thanks guys, I didn't get chance at the weekend but I'll keep looking.
I live in Ham, between Kingston and Richmond. There is a silver Tuscan that lives somewhere around me, not sure if it belongs to any of you!

[Luca Brazzi]

I regularly drive through Ham from Kingston on the way to Richmond in the evenings...where abouts in Ham.

Steve

[JamesSim]

Going through the same dilema at present, I have a late 97 Griff 500 8.7k miles that runs perfectly and with a recent trip across to Bath up to Ayrshire for a couple of days each back then down to visit Warwick and back to Jersey in a week round faultless trip. However spotted and drooled over a gorgeous lilac Tuscan in Bath, which even had my missus with a look in her eyes that I don't ever remember seeing before, I knew then the time to make a move for one of my own.
We booked a day test drive for a late 2000 demo model that our local dealer had in stock, only had 980 miles clocked and whilst it was a dream to drive the trim is in a terrible condition, the a/c didn't work, the boot release was intermittent, the passenger window had a mind of it's own, the radio won't work.
The dealer has promised to right all the wrongs and has given it a full respray, as there were lots of little scratches on the bodywork.
If when the car comes back out of the workshop this week and the wrongs have been put right I'll certainly have it as the ride was excellent, the expressions on peoples faces as you drive past make you proud to be the possesor of such a glorious marque and what capped it for us was the French tourists oooogghh a TVrrrr.

[sjc]

From personnal experience, I can only say that after 4 TVRs the the Tuscan I had ( new 2000) was the car that made me finally give up on them. What I can never understand is why many of the same faults I had are still appearing on this forum now, and even on the Tamora one as well. Vitally important you get an understanding and helpful dealer (many thanks Kerridges for giving 9 years good service) and if you're lucky you could get an awful lot of car for not much money. Have seen earlier ones for £24/£25k.

[JamesSim]

Well tomorrow is the big day, although the dealer has admitted there is no A/C fitted but as it should have been, they will have this retro-fitted for me. I'm now like a kid waiting up for Santa Claus and have butterflies in my belly, spending all this money with my heart ruling my head.
I keep saying why give up something great to step into the unknown? However I will post any associated faults,pleasures, and any other general running comments that I encounter.

Goodnight from 1 happy bunny.

God I can't sleep.

[Luca Brazzi]

I hope you have as big a grin as I did when I picked up mine....love it to bits....hope the weather is good for you to enjoy it..
Steve

[JamesSim]

Luica,
It's been Heaven on Earth, I still miss the V8 sound and feeling, and watching and listening to the dealer putting the old car through its paces made me very uneasy about letting it go, "but we must move on". Living here I will never be able to use the car as it should be used, however I will get it to Europe this year, as one of the club members has asked me if I'm interested in the Belgian Spa in October? I'm game for it, although I don't think I would have the nerve to do a circuit, at the very least I will come back to the Mainland for a decent trip. But no matter, the BUZZ from driving it, parking it, or even walking away from it and looking back gives you a feeling that you cannot describe.

A Happy Chappy.