To be or not to be...
Discussion
The great thing about Forums are the wide range of comments from real people with real cars and unfortunately with real problems.
Being a bit of a plonker I have been through a number of cars in the last few years. I bought an M3 thinking that that was it. Unfortunately it turned out to be a lemon and I sold after 8 months. I have since had a spell of Mr. Boring buying sensible cars and having to drive my wife's TT for thrills (sad). Having now focused on needing that bit of sillyness and joy back in my life..I WANT A TUSCAN S. My heart says BUY BUY BUY but my head says hang on. The neg side of me asks...
Are they really that badly built?
Do they really break down so often?
Are there really so many faults?
Can I really not use this car as a weekend fun car because it won't start?
Help please...I need convincing that I must buy one to remove the plonker cells that are accumulating in my bloodstream..
Being a bit of a plonker I have been through a number of cars in the last few years. I bought an M3 thinking that that was it. Unfortunately it turned out to be a lemon and I sold after 8 months. I have since had a spell of Mr. Boring buying sensible cars and having to drive my wife's TT for thrills (sad). Having now focused on needing that bit of sillyness and joy back in my life..I WANT A TUSCAN S. My heart says BUY BUY BUY but my head says hang on. The neg side of me asks...
Are they really that badly built?
Do they really break down so often?
Are there really so many faults?
Can I really not use this car as a weekend fun car because it won't start?
Help please...I need convincing that I must buy one to remove the plonker cells that are accumulating in my bloodstream..
:touchwood: Mine has been wonderful (a few trim issues aside) and has nearly done 4,000 miles from new.
I have treated it well, driven it every day in all weathers and used standard unleaded.
I don't have another car so the proverbial eggs in one basket as far as this is concerned. But I'm not so there
:/touchwood:
>> Edited by tuscan_s (moderator) on Tuesday 29th April 16:54
I have treated it well, driven it every day in all weathers and used standard unleaded.
I don't have another car so the proverbial eggs in one basket as far as this is concerned. But I'm not so there
:/touchwood: >> Edited by tuscan_s (moderator) on Tuesday 29th April 16:54
Having just swapped my S6 Cerbera for a New Tuscan S:
Are they really that badly built?
Getting better all the time had an M3 delivered same week as the Tuscan S could not fault the build compared to M3 which is of very high standards...oh apart from a nick in the leather when they installed the stereo.
Do they really break down so often?
1500 mines fine great apart from a slight hesitation when crusing. (see Help!advise needed)
Are there really so many faults?
Your going to get niggles but compared to anything else the please out weighs the pain.....
Can I really not use this car as a weekend fun car because it won't start?
too new to advise on this one.......never had a problem with my last 3 chimp and A Cerbera (the Cerbera Started fine the problem was whether it completed the journey!! it was a first Gen S6 Sept 2000.....
If you are buying second hand make sure its had all the upgrades the first batches of a new TVR Model are test beds that was the problem I had with My Cerbera it was a first Generation S6 Cerbera
Are they really that badly built?
Getting better all the time had an M3 delivered same week as the Tuscan S could not fault the build compared to M3 which is of very high standards...oh apart from a nick in the leather when they installed the stereo.
Do they really break down so often?
1500 mines fine great apart from a slight hesitation when crusing. (see Help!advise needed)
Are there really so many faults?
Your going to get niggles but compared to anything else the please out weighs the pain.....
Can I really not use this car as a weekend fun car because it won't start?
too new to advise on this one.......never had a problem with my last 3 chimp and A Cerbera (the Cerbera Started fine the problem was whether it completed the journey!! it was a first Gen S6 Sept 2000.....
If you are buying second hand make sure its had all the upgrades the first batches of a new TVR Model are test beds that was the problem I had with My Cerbera it was a first Generation S6 Cerbera
...that is the question?
The reliability thing is very overplayed. TVR's generally are possibly less reliable than a Honda or Merc because they spend only 1p on snagging, as opposed to the $2734897`3947 that the other car manufacturers spend on turning out ultra slick product
I'm sure Blackpool would do it if everybody wanted to pay twice as much for their cars!
You will not be able to sleep for several months if you buy a Tuscan - (an 'S', or a T, or a Y, or Q or GHJLJKHHG!) It is just not possible to buy any other car quite like it!
So if it brakes down on you once in a while B*l**ks! So what!
(and it won't any way)
You have to pay £100k+ for a DB7 GT and that is also a hand built British Sportscar with less performance than the Tuscan - what's all this about a Plonka!
LOL
Simon
The reliability thing is very overplayed. TVR's generally are possibly less reliable than a Honda or Merc because they spend only 1p on snagging, as opposed to the $2734897`3947 that the other car manufacturers spend on turning out ultra slick product
I'm sure Blackpool would do it if everybody wanted to pay twice as much for their cars!
You will not be able to sleep for several months if you buy a Tuscan - (an 'S', or a T, or a Y, or Q or GHJLJKHHG!) It is just not possible to buy any other car quite like it!
So if it brakes down on you once in a while B*l**ks! So what!
(and it won't any way)
You have to pay £100k+ for a DB7 GT and that is also a hand built British Sportscar with less performance than the Tuscan - what's all this about a Plonka!
LOL
Simon
philipleslie67,
All I would say is 'go for it'...
Had my Tuscan S from new since 1st March and its running like a dream no niggles so far...although expect the odd thing now and again. But from speaking to other guys who have bought new they all agree that TVR have got the Tuscan nailed now after 2/3 years....
Alan.
All I would say is 'go for it'...
Had my Tuscan S from new since 1st March and its running like a dream no niggles so far...although expect the odd thing now and again. But from speaking to other guys who have bought new they all agree that TVR have got the Tuscan nailed now after 2/3 years....
Alan.
Bought a second hand S. 6000 miles, only had it a few weeks but impressions are good. Build quality far better than I imagined. Performance unbelievable. Used it every day with no probs yet. Wish ABS was an option but apart from that I cant think of any other car that even comes close to the Tuscan given the price.
Had the same doubts myself last year, so i thought i would buy a Tamora first and see how it went, 10 months later i bought a tuscan at the first opportunity. 12 months,two models, no problems to talk of, only those that were caused by the garage i purchased it off,Which by the way is the most important thing, get a good dealer so to speak
>> Edited by v8tvr on Tuesday 29th April 18:33
so to speak >> Edited by v8tvr on Tuesday 29th April 18:33
You only live once...
Are you buying it new? If you are then any/all niggles minor or major would be sorted foc by the dealer anyway.
Mine's had a couple of minor niggles since getting it in Oct 02. I would expect any new car to have 1 or 2 minor niggles.
As I say, you only live once, and if you want a massive grin that none of the other cars you mentioned would come anywhere close in giving you....then buy it.
All of the discussions on TVR reliability (and at times lack off) boil down to 3 main areas:
1) These cars are hand built and that means each individual component is not machined perfect to 1000th of an inch (for example) as you would expect in a Porker or Merc (for example), and if bits don't quite fit then they will be made to fit (with a large hammer probably!)
2) The extreme performance often puts unnatural wear on certain components that in "normal" cars last way longer (e.g. clutches, starter motors, engines!)
3) The two points above most definitely lead to good and bad TVRs - and I don't mean at the model level. Two identically models build one after the other could lead to years of happy ownership for car1, and a nightmare series of problems for car2
So it's very important to go into this with your eyes open, which you are clearly doing, and follow all the good advice across multiple threads to know how to identify the good from the bad cars.
Whilst there will be plenty of owners out there who only ever experience minor problems and have very reliable cars, there will be plenty of others that have experienced lots of problems and have become disallusioned.
You should expect some problems, and expect times when the car is off the road, and if it doesn't happen then great. If you want a perfectly reliable car to drive every day and cover 20,000 miles a year - then don't buy one. If you are happy to accept the odd niggle and to need to borrow the wife's car at times, then buy one tomorrow.
Also, if you are new to TVRs then select your dealer carefully as this will be central to your enjoyment of the marque. If the problems do start you need to have support and responsiveness from your dealer to sort the issues in the minimum of time, and with the minimum of fuss. I personally believe that when buying a TVR from a dealer, you are not only buying a beautiful car, but are in fact buying into a relationship with them.
I can't give any particular advice on Tuscans, but have 8 years of TVR ownership behind me with a 4l Chimaera, a 4.5l Chimaera and now a 4.5l Cerbera LW. I've had my fair share of problems, but never enough to drive me away from the marque.
1) These cars are hand built and that means each individual component is not machined perfect to 1000th of an inch (for example) as you would expect in a Porker or Merc (for example), and if bits don't quite fit then they will be made to fit (with a large hammer probably!)
2) The extreme performance often puts unnatural wear on certain components that in "normal" cars last way longer (e.g. clutches, starter motors, engines!)
3) The two points above most definitely lead to good and bad TVRs - and I don't mean at the model level. Two identically models build one after the other could lead to years of happy ownership for car1, and a nightmare series of problems for car2
So it's very important to go into this with your eyes open, which you are clearly doing, and follow all the good advice across multiple threads to know how to identify the good from the bad cars.
Whilst there will be plenty of owners out there who only ever experience minor problems and have very reliable cars, there will be plenty of others that have experienced lots of problems and have become disallusioned.
You should expect some problems, and expect times when the car is off the road, and if it doesn't happen then great. If you want a perfectly reliable car to drive every day and cover 20,000 miles a year - then don't buy one. If you are happy to accept the odd niggle and to need to borrow the wife's car at times, then buy one tomorrow.
Also, if you are new to TVRs then select your dealer carefully as this will be central to your enjoyment of the marque. If the problems do start you need to have support and responsiveness from your dealer to sort the issues in the minimum of time, and with the minimum of fuss. I personally believe that when buying a TVR from a dealer, you are not only buying a beautiful car, but are in fact buying into a relationship with them.
I can't give any particular advice on Tuscans, but have 8 years of TVR ownership behind me with a 4l Chimaera, a 4.5l Chimaera and now a 4.5l Cerbera LW. I've had my fair share of problems, but never enough to drive me away from the marque.
Thanks for all of the positive comments...I feel that the scales are tipping in favour?
One point..I would probably only use the car at the weekends for a few hours of glory in the Sunshine and to scare the neighbours. Is the battery drain thing a problem now...do they tend no to start when left for any period of 1 or 2 weeks?
One point..I would probably only use the car at the weekends for a few hours of glory in the Sunshine and to scare the neighbours. Is the battery drain thing a problem now...do they tend no to start when left for any period of 1 or 2 weeks?
I had the same concern about battery as I only use the car at weekends (pah bloody part time driver 
)but have had no problems to date whatsoever, has started up first time....Still makes me smile as the neighbours watch as I reverse it out of the garage up the drive and onto the street...making as much noise as possible of course..
)but have had no problems to date whatsoever, has started up first time....Still makes me smile as the neighbours watch as I reverse it out of the garage up the drive and onto the street...making as much noise as possible of course..The battery is not a problem if you set up a Accumate drip charge battery. I only use mine at weekends and as soon as its tucked up in the garage I turn on the drip feed and its always fully charged when I want to use it. If you buy new get your dealership to connect one so that the leads come out into the boot.
Alan.
Alan.
It (standard Tuscan) has just gone in for its first main annual service and there haven't been any significant problems to date except a problem on the day I picked it up which should have been sorted during the PDI. I've had a few niggles that have been sorted out by the dealer (eg. v inaccurate speedo) but nothing that I didn't have on my Elise before it and certainly nothing to detract from the enjoyment I get from owning/driving it.
With respect to the battery, I have heard people complaining of this. However, I only use mine at the weekend and I haven't had any problems to date. I've left it for 2 weeks without any trouble.
All seems great till you read the odd thread like this....
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=5&h=&t=37388
Sort of puts me off upgrading, even though I adore the cars! I would definitely purchase from a dealer with a nice warranty rather than privately if I was buying ....
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=5&h=&t=37388
Sort of puts me off upgrading, even though I adore the cars! I would definitely purchase from a dealer with a nice warranty rather than privately if I was buying ....
I knew it couldn't all be roses.
I think that I am prepared to take a chance as it seems that it is less likely that I will have as many problems as I was expecting. Hopefully it won't be as bad as my M3 that suffered hand brake failure, leaking windows, head lights that mysteriously connected themselves, and worst of all two dif's in eight months. Added to that crap customer service.
There seem to be alot of you who are here to offer help and advice that I didn't have before so what the hell. By the way you may now all pat yourselves on the back.
I think that I am prepared to take a chance as it seems that it is less likely that I will have as many problems as I was expecting. Hopefully it won't be as bad as my M3 that suffered hand brake failure, leaking windows, head lights that mysteriously connected themselves, and worst of all two dif's in eight months. Added to that crap customer service.
There seem to be alot of you who are here to offer help and advice that I didn't have before so what the hell. By the way you may now all pat yourselves on the back.
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