Low mileage Tuscan - is this OK ?
Discussion
I have been looking for a Tuscan for a while and have found 2 that may fit the bill. They are the same year (2000) but one has done 2000 miles, the other has been driven regularly with no problems (c12000 miles). The worry I have with the low mileage one is that only doing 2000 miles in 3 years - is this OK ? I drive a Chim at the moment that likes to be driven regularly, not sat in a garage. The Tuscan still has the original tyres etc. What should I look at to ensure she hasn't suffered from NOT being driven ? Or is this OK for Tuscans ? The good thing is, I have the readout which shows she was driven very well for all of the 2000 miles - not thrashed and kept well within the run-in limits.
Advice please !
Advice please !
I thought all of the earlier models had engine problems with the 'finger follower' issue (or whatever you call it!).
So if its done only 2000 miles would that mean the engine has not 'broke' yet and would be expected to when you start putting some mileage on the car. I'm not really an expert as have a 2003 Tuscan but seems to be a common grievance on here for earlier models.
Alan.
So if its done only 2000 miles would that mean the engine has not 'broke' yet and would be expected to when you start putting some mileage on the car. I'm not really an expert as have a 2003 Tuscan but seems to be a common grievance on here for earlier models.
Alan.
Common grievance maybe, but here's my pass...
I pick up my Tuscan on Saturday and have a 12 month comprehensive warranty on the car. Whilst mine received it's rebuild 7K miles ago I plan to drive it as a daily driver over the summer to try it out and if it goes pop again its under warranty.
The cars I've looked at don't have a pattern of showing this problem at any given mileage but if you get the 2000 miler and put on 10K miles during it's warranty period that should test it out. Not all cars had the problem anyway and if the 12K miler hasn't been rebuilt then I would go for the one that's in the best nick and looks like it's been looked after the best for the mileage. TVR's do seem to like to be used, but the one with 2000 miles on it will get used to being used pretty quickly. My last griff had done 800 miles in the year before I had it, but within 2 months it was fully loosened and flying...
DC
I pick up my Tuscan on Saturday and have a 12 month comprehensive warranty on the car. Whilst mine received it's rebuild 7K miles ago I plan to drive it as a daily driver over the summer to try it out and if it goes pop again its under warranty.
The cars I've looked at don't have a pattern of showing this problem at any given mileage but if you get the 2000 miler and put on 10K miles during it's warranty period that should test it out. Not all cars had the problem anyway and if the 12K miler hasn't been rebuilt then I would go for the one that's in the best nick and looks like it's been looked after the best for the mileage. TVR's do seem to like to be used, but the one with 2000 miles on it will get used to being used pretty quickly. My last griff had done 800 miles in the year before I had it, but within 2 months it was fully loosened and flying...
DC
Well, at 2000 miles there is still a bit of running-in to do (or at least, it may still be using the intermediate runnning-in oil) - so if you want instant 7000 RPM gratification then the higher mileage car may be a better bet. As for the readout indicating the way it's been driven - are you referring to the max/min values displayed in the pod? - depending on the version of the podware, they may not be reliable (although in most cases they seem to be stratospherically high error readings - I remember the max RPM recorded in mine was more like a gas turbine at one point)
I bought a 2000 Tuscan RR about 5 months ago with only 4800 miles on the clock, and I thought that was a low mileage! It had only covered 650 miles in the previous 12 months.
Low mileage isn't a problem but the early engine issues probably are. Mine is currently at TVR Power in Coventry for an engine rebuild and to have it's 5th gear restored!
As recommended above make sure that the dealer gives written assurances that the warranty properly covers engine issues. I didn't, so now I'm waiting for the inevitable "wear and tear" argument with the warranty company.
Low mileage isn't a problem but the early engine issues probably are. Mine is currently at TVR Power in Coventry for an engine rebuild and to have it's 5th gear restored!
As recommended above make sure that the dealer gives written assurances that the warranty properly covers engine issues. I didn't, so now I'm waiting for the inevitable "wear and tear" argument with the warranty company.
Just to put all of this in to context, a friend of mine has a 2000 Tuscan 4.0 (i.e. not Red Rose) it has done over 20,000 miles and NOT had any engine problems.
Thing is, he is having people turn away from buying it because it hasn't had a rebuild - but at 20,000 miles it isn't going to need one, most cars were going within 6,000 miles, 12,000 max - still, the story is out there now that 2000 year cars must have had a rebuild......
Moral of this story? Not all 2000 model year cars suffered from the Finger follower problems!
Graham
Thing is, he is having people turn away from buying it because it hasn't had a rebuild - but at 20,000 miles it isn't going to need one, most cars were going within 6,000 miles, 12,000 max - still, the story is out there now that 2000 year cars must have had a rebuild......
Moral of this story? Not all 2000 model year cars suffered from the Finger follower problems!
Graham
demonseed said: Holy **** ive not recieved my new Tuscan yet and i hear about REBUILDS???? im spending 45k and ile need a rebuild after a few thousand miles Possibly??? please help me out here guys, put me at rest??? do i cancel and buy a beemer !!! ahhhh! surely not!!!!!!!
sounds like yOu need to do some more home work
demonseed said: do i cancel and buy a beemer !!! ahhhh! surely not!!!!!!!
A beemer ? See here for more info :
http://members.roadfly.com/jason/m3engines.htm
ffelan said: i have just bought a 2000 car for my wife with 4500 miles on it... i am assure by my dealer (hlgorner) that the finger follower shouldnt be an issue??? am i being naive?
Try and get the dealer to put in writing he will rebuild the top end/engine as requied "buck shee" and you will probably find out
Must Agree, get the dealer to cover the cost for the next 12 months or 4K miles... I bought a 4 litre Tusc in June 2001 in Dec with 6.8K on the clock. It had had the follower / cams rebuild in Feb @ 5k miles. (10 months before). In March this year it went back for....(you guessed it) Follower and cam rebuild number 2 @ 8.9K miles. So I am not sure if age or sheer luck is a factor in engine reliability! Mine was done under waranty but that runs out in June so I am hoping they have finally sorted the follower issue out!!! Anyway Good luck...Buy 1 and enjoy! Daz
Must Agree, get the dealer to cover the cost for the next 12 months or 4K miles... I bought a 4 litre Tusc (June 2001) in Dec with 6.8K on the clock. It had had the follower / cams rebuild in Feb @ 5k miles. (10 months before). In March this year it went back for....(you guessed it) Follower and cam rebuild number 2 @ 8.9K miles. So I am not sure if age or sheer luck is a factor in engine reliability! Mine was done under waranty but that runs out in June so I am hoping they have finally sorted the follower issue out!!! Anyway Good luck...Buy 1 and enjoy! Daz
T88CAN said:
ffelan said: i have just bought a 2000 car for my wife with 4500 miles on it... i am assure by my dealer (hlgorner) that the finger follower shouldnt be an issue??? am i being naive?
Try and get the dealer to put in writing he will rebuild the top end/engine as requied "buck shee" and you will probably find out
my error its a jan 2001 car? will this be any better?
A lot of the TVR's that come into TopCats for servicing set-ups etc. have problems due to lack of use, components rusted up through not moving , diff casing that have huge amounts of rust on the outside and very gluppy oil inside – not a good sign.. A car regularly used that has been properly maintained (either main dealer or independent) would be better than one with only a couple of hundred miles a year. Mileage also helps bring out any problems with TVR’s so 17k mile under the wheel will have highlighted more problems (assuming that the car had any!!) than one with one 2k miles.
In short go for a regularly used properly maintained car – IMHO of course !!
In short go for a regularly used properly maintained car – IMHO of course !!
A lot of the TVR's that come into TopCats for servicing set-ups etc. have problems due to lack of use, components rusted up through not moving , diff casing that have huge amounts of rust on the outside and very gluppy oil inside – not a good sign.. A car regularly used that has been properly maintained (either main dealer or independent) would be better than one with only a couple of hundred miles a year. Mileage also helps bring out any problems with TVR’s so 17k mile under the wheel will have highlighted more problems (assuming that the car had any!!) than one with one 2k miles.
In short go for a regularly used properly maintained car – IMHO of course !!
In short go for a regularly used properly maintained car – IMHO of course !!
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