Kiwi Tuscan

[Turbo100]

This is a reply to "all black", but thought I'd start a new post. Bring your car home to NZ. There are some wonderfully talented mechanics/engineers here. TVR haven't re invented the wheel....yes it's a fabulous specialist engine BUT it is still just an engine and as such obeys the laws of mechanics. You only have to look at the number of independant specialists in the UK who are not necessarily TVR endorsed but who are developing better mods than the factory to know that others exist. True you may have to hunt around a little more to find them, but they are out there. As for parts... a visa card and a phone call and I can actually get things here quicker from the UK than I can from Melbourne. Yes it can be expensive, but you don't pay VAT ( so there's what 17.5% saving straight away)on the parts although you may cop a bit of duty if customs intercept your parcel.
I do believe that mine is the only Tuscan in Australia but there are at least three Cerberas that I know of and quite a lot of Griffiths & Chimaeras, the latter coming down from Malaysia. In Perth alone we have a Tuscan, Cerbera, 2 Griffiths and at least 4 Chimaeras, so just bring it home and stop worrying, you know you want to.

[all black]

thanks richard

pretty much as I thought and your correct - its still a basic motor but the only that still concerns me diagnostics on the ecu etc - there is a TVR garage in Aucklandso Im sure they could sort that in the event it went wrong.

I forgot about the VAT also so good point re costs/

I know Whitey (Tuscan) and Simon Sparrow (cerbie) are thinking about taking theres back at some stage also.

Thanks for the thoughts and I couldnt finish without brining up the rugby

[simonsparrow]

Hi,
I think the big unknown is the new restrictions on importing cars into NZ with regards to frontal impact standards etc.

I agree with the rest though, as either money or Kiwi ingenuity will deal with most other issues.

Simon

[Turbo100]

I'm not sure about N.Z. but in Australia because the car is a personal import it doesn't have to comply with Australian Design Rules (Crash testing), which is fortunate because otherwise you would never get it in....until TVR comply with the testing requirements. There are stringent rules on "personal" imports here but again in regard to NZ I'm not sure. If they have the same rules contact me I know most of them now!

[jamieheasman]

I wouldn't risk it if I were you. Officially you cannot bring a TVR into NZ because TVR do not crash test their vehicles to the accepted standard.

Having said this I know of at least one person who recently managed to sneak a '99 Chimaera in but he was very, very lucky.

I'd love to bring in a Cerbera to replace my Chimaera but until they change the regulations I wouldn't risk it.

As for looking after the car I certainly wouldn't take it to the TVR garage here in Auckland as they have no experience of TVR engines, are very expensive and IMHO shouldn't be let lose on anything other than Porsches (especially since the previous boss-man is out of the picture).

I've settled on a local mechanic to look after my TVR. He's experienced and really knows his stuff, is reasonable and doesn't rip me off or bullshit me. The trouble with NZ is that everyone is willing to take your money and very few are willing to act honourably.

I'm very lucky to know a guy in Christchurch who must be one of the best prototype engineers in the world let alone NZ. If I had a Speed 6 engine I would give it to him, before it blew up, so he could identify the problems. If I had an AJP8 engine I'd give it to him to rectify the appallingly crude cylinder head work and thereby realise it's full potential!

By the way, the reason TVR aren't exempt from crash testing in NZ (as they are in Aussie) is that the LTSA cocked-up the wording of the regulations. There was to be a caveat for manufacturers who produced less than 200 models of a car per year but this ended up being less than 200 cars a year total at all locations! Moves are afoot to get this amended but it takes a long time and hopefully by then TVR will have come to the party and crash tested at least some of their cars!

[Turbo100]

If you can't take it direct to NZ, can you import it into AUS and then ship it across to NZ, as it would appear (although I don't know the regulations) to be a little more lax between the two countries. I know NZ has often been used in the past as a backdoor to circumnavigate AUS restrictions.

[all black]

you could always drive it across when the tides out

[jamieheasman]

I don't think this will make any difference. I believe TVRs are imported into Aussie under limited production approval and that does not qualify as an equiv. to the standards imposed by the LTSA in NZ. The same can be said of cars shipped to Japan.

[Turbo100]

I think the issue revolves around PERSONAL importation, and the relaxation of all the laws because of that. Even in OZ you can't officially import the cars for resale etc but you can for personal use, although there is nothing to prevent you selling the car once you have completed the correct importation procedures. Again I do not know the laws/standards in NZ.