Product knowledge?
Discussion
Can anybody put me out of my misery before I buy a Tuscan and tell me firstly what are the interior upgrades on the earlier cars, and secondly is it true or am I being fed b*ll*x about them using a fair amount of oil even after their rebuild. I must say these cars make me very nervous but I am itching to find the right one. Who knows their stuff?
I think the oil consumption varies between engines to be honest - just as most other cars...also how you drive the car. Some owners have experienced better consumption by moving to slightly different grade oil instead of the 0/40 specified, using 10/40 I think...will try it myself when Ive used up the 2 gallons of Mobil 1 0/40 in the shed !
Interior upgrades?
Don't know all of them, but your best upgrade is to make sure the door opening is sorted. Early cars weren't too clever, by all accounts - but like most things they managed to change the design one week...
Oil consumption - yup, it's true. Each engine is different, though. Different use will affect consumption. And the 0/40 is like water anyway. (Just king expensive water!) Also, it's an interesting task just to try and tell the oil level
- all part of the "uniqueness" of TVR ownership 
Don't know all of them, but your best upgrade is to make sure the door opening is sorted. Early cars weren't too clever, by all accounts - but like most things they managed to change the design one week...
Oil consumption - yup, it's true. Each engine is different, though. Different use will affect consumption. And the 0/40 is like water anyway. (Just king expensive water!) Also, it's an interesting task just to try and tell the oil level
- all part of the "uniqueness" of TVR ownership The very early 2000 cars had the door openers on the transmission console. Going around tight corners placed the driver's knee against the button - and opened the doors. These buttons were therefore relocated adjacent to the radio in a revised design. Many of the early cars will have had this converted by the factory.
As for other upgrades, the most visible one is that from March 2001, the internal door trims were different (and much nicer IMHO) with a leather/ambla covered moulding sitting below the aluminium top trim to echo the lower part of the panel. I got mine converted and retrimmed in leather.
The catch (above the rear view mirror) that holds the roof on was also modified and strengthened. Again this is something that should have been changed routinely.
As with all TVRs, thay make a mixture of incremental changes. Some are improvements they can make post-launch after customers have 'tested' the design, others are ones that just suit the factory from a parts/manufacturing perspective.
Incidentally, if you are after a used Tuscan (shameless plug coming up), mine is a concours condition car with full history ( I know even square inch of it and every modification) - check my profile and classifieds out, I'm sure I can do you a deal!
Bryan
As for other upgrades, the most visible one is that from March 2001, the internal door trims were different (and much nicer IMHO) with a leather/ambla covered moulding sitting below the aluminium top trim to echo the lower part of the panel. I got mine converted and retrimmed in leather.
The catch (above the rear view mirror) that holds the roof on was also modified and strengthened. Again this is something that should have been changed routinely.
As with all TVRs, thay make a mixture of incremental changes. Some are improvements they can make post-launch after customers have 'tested' the design, others are ones that just suit the factory from a parts/manufacturing perspective.
Incidentally, if you are after a used Tuscan (shameless plug coming up), mine is a concours condition car with full history ( I know even square inch of it and every modification) - check my profile and classifieds out, I'm sure I can do you a deal!
Bryan
I think the high level brake light (inbetween the two indicators) only came on later cars.
A bigger rear window (that fits all the available space for it) was also something that you didn't get on the early models.
On the outside, I think the early models had orange indicator lenses on the front. The later ones have clear plastic.
Good luck on finding the right car
Phil
A bigger rear window (that fits all the available space for it) was also something that you didn't get on the early models.
On the outside, I think the early models had orange indicator lenses on the front. The later ones have clear plastic.
Good luck on finding the right car
Phil
can't have plugs like that!!! steveb* said:
[quote=Wilf]Thanks, will find what oil is currently being used and look into alternatives. Any ideas on the interior upgrades. I know about the stereo pod but apparantly there were others.
Interior upgrades are the last of yer worries mate!
very helpfull indeed,just because you got a bad car dont tar us with the same brush,I noted on your profile you got a bad chim once but you dont slag them off
>> Edited by tovey on Wednesday 13th October 10:32
...also.....
The door trim changed from fuzzy felt to a more suede like material on later cars. Don't know the year.
Full leather interior (e.g. dash) was an option.
The earlier pod software can't cancel warnings, the later ones you can.
There are three designs of roof. Each succesive one has a lesser propensity to leak - but each car is different so take a good look at the condition and fit of rubbers especially around the A-pillar.
Higher spec cars get a carpetted boot in the same colour as the interior (ooooh!).
DAB radio was an option.
Also gas discharge lights on full beam were an option.
Speakers could be fitted by the factory on the rear bulkhead instead of the sides of the car.
Can't think of anything else for now....
Join the Tuscan Owners Group on Yahoo and you can download a buyers guide that one of the members has put togeher.
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/tuscan-owners/
Cheers,
Andy.
The door trim changed from fuzzy felt to a more suede like material on later cars. Don't know the year.
Full leather interior (e.g. dash) was an option.
The earlier pod software can't cancel warnings, the later ones you can.
There are three designs of roof. Each succesive one has a lesser propensity to leak - but each car is different so take a good look at the condition and fit of rubbers especially around the A-pillar.
Higher spec cars get a carpetted boot in the same colour as the interior (ooooh!).
DAB radio was an option.
Also gas discharge lights on full beam were an option.
Speakers could be fitted by the factory on the rear bulkhead instead of the sides of the car.
Can't think of anything else for now....
Join the Tuscan Owners Group on Yahoo and you can download a buyers guide that one of the members has put togeher.
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/tuscan-owners/
Cheers,
Andy.
tovey said:
[quote=Wilf]Thanks, will find what oil is currently being used and look into alternatives. Any ideas on the interior upgrades. I know about the stereo pod but apparantly there were others.
Interior upgrades are the last of yer worries mate!
very helpfull indeed,just because you got a bad car dont tar us with the same brush,I noted on your profile you got a bad chim once but you dont slag them off
>> Edited by tovey on Wednesday 13th October 10:32
There's bad, and then there's BADDDDD. Although I'm truly sorry about it. I so wanted the car to be everything I'd dreamed of. In the final analysis I was more hurt by the attitude of TVR themselves than with the awful car. In fact it was so bad I gave up TVR ownership altogether.........for three months! Sorry to cause offence to the many happy Tuscan drivers. But until you've had a baddun you can't even guess how bad they can be.
steveb* said:Fair Comment Steve, glad you come back though.
steveb* said:
[quote=Wilf]Thanks, will find what oil is currently being used and look into alternatives. Any ideas on the interior upgrades. I know about the stereo pod but apparantly there were others.
Interior upgrades are the last of yer worries mate!
very helpfull indeed,just because you got a bad car dont tar us with the same brush,I noted on your profile you got a bad chim once but you dont slag them off
>> Edited by tovey on Wednesday 13th October 10:32
There's bad, and then there's BADDDDD. Although I'm truly sorry about it. I so wanted the car to be everything I'd dreamed of. In the final analysis I was more hurt by the attitude of TVR themselves than with the awful car. In fact it was so bad I gave up TVR ownership altogether.........for three months! Sorry to cause offence to the many happy Tuscan drivers. But until you've had a baddun you can't even guess how bad they can be.
or you could have a chat with James Agger?basil brush said:
Also the felt on the dash shelf was replaced by carpet in late 2000, early 2001.
I think a lot of things can vary car to car depending what they had lying about at the time. Mine is a July 2000 car and has carpet on the dash shelf. I feel honoured.
Jeez, well as my car is June 2000, maybe they started fitting it from July 2000!! Certainly I remember it was one of the first changes I noticed in the interior. I'm happy with my purple felt
whitey said:
whitey said:
Also the felt on the dash shelf was replaced by carpet in late 2000, early 2001.
I think a lot of things can vary car to car depending what they had lying about at the time. Mine is a July 2000 car and has carpet on the dash shelf. I feel honoured.
Jeez, well as my car is June 2000, maybe they started fitting it from July 2000!! Certainly I remember it was one of the first changes I noticed in the interior. I'm happy with my purple felt
I'm just happy with any of the trim in mine that doesn't fall off.
Gassing Station | Tuscan | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff