TVR Tuscan - How much to Run
Discussion
I'm looking to buy a second car for fun at the weekends. At the mo im considering either a VX220 turbo or a Tuscan. Two very different cars I know but I like them both. The only thing stopping me going for the TVR is worries over reliability and running costs.
I can afford the car, its going to be a second car covering a max of 5000 miles a year and doesnt need to be operational all the time. Therefore, costs such as fuel, tyres insurance etc I'm not worried about.
What does worry me is that I wont be able to afford to dip into my pocket for say £300 to keep the car on the road each month. What are peoples experiances of the car, how much do the cost to run? Do things go wrong with them regularly and are they expensive?
Any help will be much appreciated.
James
I can afford the car, its going to be a second car covering a max of 5000 miles a year and doesnt need to be operational all the time. Therefore, costs such as fuel, tyres insurance etc I'm not worried about.
What does worry me is that I wont be able to afford to dip into my pocket for say £300 to keep the car on the road each month. What are peoples experiances of the car, how much do the cost to run? Do things go wrong with them regularly and are they expensive?
Any help will be much appreciated.
James
jamesh1983 said:
What does worry me is that I wont be able to afford to dip into my pocket for say £300
Methinks the Tuscan might not be not for you. You could probably service and maintain a 5k/year Tuscan for less than half that (£1500/year) - one service, tyres every 2 years etc...BUT, how would you feel about a clutch (£1000) or major engine work (say £3 - 5k), not every month, but they are fairly likely one-off costs.UpTheIron said:
jamesh1983 said:
What does worry me is that I wont be able to afford to dip into my pocket for say £300
Methinks the Tuscan might not be not for you. You could probably service and maintain a 5k/year Tuscan for less than half that (£1500/year) - one service, tyres every 2 years etc...BUT, how would you feel about a clutch (£1000) or major engine work (say £3 - 5k), not every month, but they are fairly likely one-off costs.Hmmm, I see your point. Servicing again probably not an issue due to low mileage. But, as for clutch and engine rebuilds, of that happens I would be in trouble. If the car has had an engine rebuild, is it likely to need another? I heard that they were originally fitted with some sumstandard components and once they had the initial rebuild should be ok?? How long does a typical clutch last?
Clutch - typically 20k miles or thereabouts.
As for multiple rebuilds - engine failures are not as common as they once were IMHO, and some of the more recent advances ('Craft, Austec and TVR themselves) seem to have improved things but I would think hard about buying one and not having the funds...
You could of course get a recently rebuild Tuscan and have no problems, but personally I wouldn't do it without having at least one rebuild fund in the bank.
Budget in an engine failure every 25k miles, including one in the first year and see how the numbers stack up for you...
As for multiple rebuilds - engine failures are not as common as they once were IMHO, and some of the more recent advances ('Craft, Austec and TVR themselves) seem to have improved things but I would think hard about buying one and not having the funds...
You could of course get a recently rebuild Tuscan and have no problems, but personally I wouldn't do it without having at least one rebuild fund in the bank.
Budget in an engine failure every 25k miles, including one in the first year and see how the numbers stack up for you...
Edited by UpTheIron on Wednesday 14th June 19:15
UpTheIron said:
Clutch - typically 20k miles or thereabouts.
As for multiple rebuilds - engine failures are not as common as they once were IMHO, and some of the more recent advances ('Craft, Austec and TVR themselves) seem to have improved things but I would think hard about buying one and not having the funds...
You could of course get a recently rebuild Tuscan and have no problems, but personally I wouldn't do it without having at least one rebuild fund in the bank.
Budget in an engine failure every 25k miles, including one in the first year and see how the numbers stack up for you...
As for multiple rebuilds - engine failures are not as common as they once were IMHO, and some of the more recent advances ('Craft, Austec and TVR themselves) seem to have improved things but I would think hard about buying one and not having the funds...
You could of course get a recently rebuild Tuscan and have no problems, but personally I wouldn't do it without having at least one rebuild fund in the bank.
Budget in an engine failure every 25k miles, including one in the first year and see how the numbers stack up for you...
Edited by UpTheIron on Wednesday 14th June 19:15
Thanks for the advice. I think you have confirmed my worries and helped make the decision. As much as I would like one I dont wanna push myself beyond my limits. I think the TVR may have to wait until my next car when I'm earning a bit more and my running budget is a bit healthier. For now I wont be disappointed with a VX220, admittedly not a tuscan, but still a great car with general manufacturer reliability. I just hope the I find the VX as exciting as my S2000 and more exciting than the M3 I have recently sold.
UpTheIron said:
A mate had a VXT - great car, but he sold it because of its impracticality - not a problem for you. A word of warning though - to avoid disappointment with the VX and potential bankruptcy, DO NOT DRIVE A TUSCAN until you can afford one 
Lol
You should become a consultant with all this excellent advise you have. A tuscan went past me the other day, the sound of it alone had me reaching for my wallet (I did say wallet!!)so I think I should steer well clear of the test drive!! Its always the same when buying a new car, or at least it has been for me - no matter what your budget, your always trying to stretch it to something you know you cant really afford!James,
I ran a tuscan as a second car for 3 years, 5000 miles per year. Bought it when it was 30 months old. X reg.
It cost me:
Year 1 - insurance £1100
- tyres £400
- servicing £900
Year 2 - insurance £700
- servicing £600
Year 3 - insurance £700
- servicing £900
- new clutch £1100
- gearbox rebuild £900
Total £7300 over 3 years = about £2500 per year
If you're worried regarding spending £300 per month, then chuck in an engine rebuild once in 3 years and you will be well over that!!!!
I don't think many people have owned a sp6 engined car over 3 years and spent much less than me.
Simon
I ran a tuscan as a second car for 3 years, 5000 miles per year. Bought it when it was 30 months old. X reg.
It cost me:
Year 1 - insurance £1100
- tyres £400
- servicing £900
Year 2 - insurance £700
- servicing £600
Year 3 - insurance £700
- servicing £900
- new clutch £1100
- gearbox rebuild £900
Total £7300 over 3 years = about £2500 per year
If you're worried regarding spending £300 per month, then chuck in an engine rebuild once in 3 years and you will be well over that!!!!
I don't think many people have owned a sp6 engined car over 3 years and spent much less than me.
Simon
jamesh1983 said:
UpTheIron said:
A mate had a VXT - great car, but he sold it because of its impracticality - not a problem for you. A word of warning though - to avoid disappointment with the VX and potential bankruptcy, DO NOT DRIVE A TUSCAN until you can afford one
Lol
You should become a consultant with all this excellent advise you have. A tuscan went past me the other day, the sound of it alone had me reaching for my wallet (I did say wallet!!)so I think I should steer well clear of the test drive!! Its always the same when buying a new car, or at least it has been for me - no matter what your budget, your always trying to stretch it to something you know you cant really afford!I had the pleasure of 18 months VX220 ownership, and loved every minute of it (apart from when it was in the garage!) After 18 months the paint bubbled on almost every single pannel, so back to Vauxhaul it went for a full factory respray. They had it 3 months and made the whole car absolutely brand new again...all the after market recalls, and half a new interior as well. The best bit, whilst they had mine, they lent me a VX220 Turbo for 3 months...whoopee!
Problem was when I got my normally aspirated VX back, it was like a wheezy old fart bag by comparison. God job I'd already resigned myself to selling it in favour of an old diesel land rover and a new house!!!
Pleased to say I'm back in the driving seat now though, having just purchased a late 2000 Tuscan Red Rose in reflex purple. 1 week into ownership and the slave cylinder went. £600 bill after about 20 miles..ouch!
Anyway, my advise (for what it's worth), do the VX bit (the Turbo of course), then when you start to think you need a kick in the pants at 90 and not 30, trade up to the Tiv.
Good luck...
Had 2 Tuscans
Cost have been - Petrol , normal service costs, and insurance.
Problems are less common than you think, its just that most people post about the problems rather than the positives.
Test drive one, buy one. If you don't like it you can always sell and go back the The Vx220.
Cost have been - Petrol , normal service costs, and insurance.
Problems are less common than you think, its just that most people post about the problems rather than the positives.
Test drive one, buy one. If you don't like it you can always sell and go back the The Vx220.
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