anyone changed from Tuscan to a T350

[LJN]

If you have changed from a Tuscan to a T350 I would appreciate any positive or negative comments.

[Mr Freefall]

I went from a Tuscan Red Rose to a T350c. What would you like to know?

Mr F

[T350Ste]

I went from a Tuscan 4.0 to a T350c. Can honestly say the positives greatly outweigh the negatives for me but of course that depends on what you want from the car.

Steve

[R9TUS]

Went from 4.0 litre Tuscan to T350c, had T350c for 9 months, the car is amazing.
Just as fast as the TUS but doesn't scare the nuts off you like the Tus. Nothing I've met can take the T350!
My mate has just bought a T350c due to his experience in mine. I think the handling is very, very close to my old Lotus elise!

[stag]

Not quite the same, but I went from a v8 cerbera 4.2 to a 350 and the 350 is bloody great, The handling compared to the Cerb is far ahead

[Mr Freefall]

Dam, and there was me going to go for a cerbie. Stag what was the major differences, you can mail me ofline throught my profile if you like

Cheers

Mr F

[suec]

Hello, we went from a Tuscan 4.0 to a T350C. My husband is the driver: positives from him include - no tramlining, feels much better to drive altogether, truly amazing handling. Once it's run in (it's only done just over 1100 miles so far) he feels it will be far superior. Negatives from me - it's much smaller in the passenger compartment. In the Tuscan there was space for maps (you could slide the road atlas between the seat & transmission tunnel), phones, sweeties, general travel stuff. The T350C passenger compartment really wraps itself around you. You feel safe but kind of squashed in at the same time! The Tuscan boot capacity is truly amazing, the T350C can take luggage - but nowhere near as much, and you have to lay everything down flat, in the Tuscan you could put big cases in there, upright.

[LJN]

Thanks for the replies to date. The main reason for me asking the question is that I am now truly hooked on track days. But after a major off at castle Combe this year and a few missed heart beats at other tracks here are my concerns about the handling of my Tuscan. Although I accept 100% that they are driver error and lack of skill/experiance on my part, I found the Tuscan's grip especially the rear unpredictable when pushing fairly hard, (standard Proxey tyres)also when breaking very hard and even though I was trying to progresively feed in the breaks the car had a tendancy for the breaks to snatch without warning causing the back end to try and overtake the front. Also I found the balance far too easy to upset although not having tracked another car I have nothing to really compare against. Have any of you tracked both cars and how did they compare especially on the above points.

One last point is that I was recently taken out by Mike Hyde in his Radical SR4 and that just blew me away in terms of balance, breaking and grip. I know this is a different beast to the Tuscan. Anyone else had a few quick laps or even driven/own a Radical?

[Apache]

Would it be fair to say that the latest Tuscans have the same setup as the T350?

[bjwoods]

Apache said:

Would it be fair to say that the latest Tuscans have the same setup as the T350?

You would think so.... being identical underneath.

Anyone know for sure, maybe the t350 full roll cage, makes a stiffer chassis, and makes a difference?

B

[sherrow]

I have to agree with R9TUS. Having owned four Tuscans I moved to a T350 last year and the handling is Lotus like. The power of a TVR and handling of a Lotus - fantastic. You will love it.

But when it comes to the track in my experience the Radicals are in another league. I was catching a Radical down Hanger straight at Silverstone driving Top Cats racing Tuscan on slicks and all that and I was lured into braking with the Radical and taking the corner at the same speed and on the same line. The Radical made it and I was left pirouetting in the middle of the track.

[Michael.McD]

Hi LJN

I've also owned a Tuscan 3.6 and now own a Red Rose T350 C.

Here are some of my thoughts on the two cars:
The Tuscan had a tendency to wag it's tail without to much provocation - which I loved. Driving it never failed to leave me smiling (and occasionally laughing hysterically). As a grand tourer it was just superb and in the summer with roof off it was one of the best experiences available. It’s only let down for me was it’s high speed breaking. In fact it spat me of the road on one occasion at about 130 mph!

Having owned a T350 for nearly a year and about 8K klm plus a few track based handling courses under my belt with it I can safely say that it’s a more focused drivers car. It can be steered on the throttle easily, the steering is more communicative, traction is generally better all round with a slight bias towards understeer on fast tight corners (which makes it generally less scary to drive fast on twisty roads than the Tuscan). The brakes are fantastic and don’t weave (much) when applied hard at high speed.

Buy one of each if you can afford to!

Anyway , those are my thoughts for what they're worth.

Michael.McD

Ps I’m about to head off on a two week tour of France with the missus in the T350 but I wish I had a Tuscan in the garage for the journey!

[LJN]

Thanks to all,

Looks like it will have to be a T350 then. Although another question is - what are your thoughts on the sound of your T350's compared to the Tuscans. I thought my Tuscan even with standard pipes sounded fab especially when you open up. The T350's I,ve listened to at club meets etc sound alot quieter, so easier on the ears on a long journey to the track I guess. I know its all subjective and personal preference, any thoughts?

LJN