Would you again
Discussion
I suspect that I already know 90% of replies, but please bare with me.
Been looking for a Tuscan for a few months now, and have seen a couple which have nearly bought.
The problem/s are as follows:
1) Reliability. Before you all start going on about this, it would be my only car & as I work for myself & need car for work it really does need to be quite reliable. But I could live with this for the right car (as you all do I suspect).
2) Financial sense. I am looking to spend around 30-35k, therefore been looking at 2001 tuscans from dealers, but suspect in 3 years time it would be worth 15ish. Thats a huge loss for an already second hand car. Compared to say an M3 which I could buy for same money & in 3 years have lost nowhere near as much.
Now I know it isn't an M3 (or whatever) I want, its a Tuscan, but i'm not made of money and worried i'd be chucking money away.
Does anyone agree or have similar worries ?
Been looking for a Tuscan for a few months now, and have seen a couple which have nearly bought.
The problem/s are as follows:
1) Reliability. Before you all start going on about this, it would be my only car & as I work for myself & need car for work it really does need to be quite reliable. But I could live with this for the right car (as you all do I suspect).
2) Financial sense. I am looking to spend around 30-35k, therefore been looking at 2001 tuscans from dealers, but suspect in 3 years time it would be worth 15ish. Thats a huge loss for an already second hand car. Compared to say an M3 which I could buy for same money & in 3 years have lost nowhere near as much.
Now I know it isn't an M3 (or whatever) I want, its a Tuscan, but i'm not made of money and worried i'd be chucking money away.
Does anyone agree or have similar worries ?
There are plenty of people that use their Tuscan's here as everday cars and enjoy them to the full. I think it depends on your personal circumstances as to how you use your car. If you have a modest drive to work and back on good roads and you don't mide taking a 350-400bhp car out in the snow from time to time, you will be OK. However, if it is driving through rush hour traffic and there are no safe places to leave the car when you get to work, or it will attract the wrong kind of attention when you are at your supermarket, then it may not be the way to go.
Personally, my car is used purely as a fun thing an doesn't get subjected to hard use at all. Consequently, insurance, tyres, servicing and other mechanicals/repairs are reasonable. However, if you are doing some big miles, then it is going to cost you more in the long run. Insurance premiums can be steep enough - but if you declare that you use the car for commuting and want an unlimited miles policy, you will have to shop around. No doubt the 'daily users' here can point you in the right direction.
Do not concerned too much with depreciation. The used car market has taken a tumble across the board, and we no longer buy cars expecting them to hold onto their values. Tuscan prices are always getting slagged off on here - but if you want to check out how prices are doing - just do your own check on the market by looking in classifieds on here, www.autotrader.co.uk or some of the glossy magazines. These will give you realistic and unbiased observation of the market. Don't be bullshitted otherwise by anyone.
I agree that an M3 will probably hold its value more over time. It is going to be seen as a more usable car over a wider spectrum of purposes for more people and will make a very entertaining work horse. On the other hand, its performance will not be in the same league as a Tuscan and you wont' get the wind in the hair experience (unless you spend even more on aconvertible).
As they say, the choice is yours and only yours.
Personally, my car is used purely as a fun thing an doesn't get subjected to hard use at all. Consequently, insurance, tyres, servicing and other mechanicals/repairs are reasonable. However, if you are doing some big miles, then it is going to cost you more in the long run. Insurance premiums can be steep enough - but if you declare that you use the car for commuting and want an unlimited miles policy, you will have to shop around. No doubt the 'daily users' here can point you in the right direction.
Do not concerned too much with depreciation. The used car market has taken a tumble across the board, and we no longer buy cars expecting them to hold onto their values. Tuscan prices are always getting slagged off on here - but if you want to check out how prices are doing - just do your own check on the market by looking in classifieds on here, www.autotrader.co.uk or some of the glossy magazines. These will give you realistic and unbiased observation of the market. Don't be bullshitted otherwise by anyone.
I agree that an M3 will probably hold its value more over time. It is going to be seen as a more usable car over a wider spectrum of purposes for more people and will make a very entertaining work horse. On the other hand, its performance will not be in the same league as a Tuscan and you wont' get the wind in the hair experience (unless you spend even more on aconvertible).
As they say, the choice is yours and only yours.
2) Financial sense. I am looking to spend around 30-35k, therefore been looking at 2001 tuscans from dealers, but suspect in 3 years time it would be worth 15ish. Thats a huge loss for an already second hand car. Compared to say an M3 which I could buy for same money & in 3 years have lost nowhere near as much.
Now I know it isn't an M3 (or whatever) I want, its a Tuscan, but i'm not made of money and worried i'd be chucking money away.
I think if you are asking these type of questions you shouldnt buy one (IMHO & no disrespect intended)
Beware fatuous claims about BMWs not losing value, too. I've had four of them (prior to current Tuscan) and never lost less than 20% in a single year.
The last one hurt the most, had a new M3, had sat on the waiting list for 18 months, then sold it 12 months later for a 20% loss. Bearing in mind, it still had a 9 month waiting list when I sold it, this is a bad show...
The last one hurt the most, had a new M3, had sat on the waiting list for 18 months, then sold it 12 months later for a 20% loss. Bearing in mind, it still had a 9 month waiting list when I sold it, this is a bad show...
two of my mates had m3s and moved them on after a few months cos they didnt rate them. not that they were bad cars, just didnt have a "wow" factor when they got in them every day, i think.
if you are worried about depreciation, how about spending less and getting a slightly older car? you can get low mileage y-reg with the engine upgrades done for £25000, my guess is they will level out around £20000 like the chim/griff 500 did.
All just personal opinion, of course!
if you are worried about depreciation, how about spending less and getting a slightly older car? you can get low mileage y-reg with the engine upgrades done for £25000, my guess is they will level out around £20000 like the chim/griff 500 did.
All just personal opinion, of course!
hobo said:
The problem/s are as follows:
1) Reliability. Before you all start going on about this, it would be my only car & as I work for myself & need car for work it really does need to be quite reliable. But I could live with this for the right car (as you all do I suspect).
......
Does anyone agree or have similar worries ?
To be honest, I had similar fears about buying ANY TVR in the first place. I had mentally budgetted for some time off the road and possibility of a hire car from time to time.
So far I have been proven quite wrong with the Griff; and I would now face a Tuscan purchase in the same light.
I really believe that the reason I haven't had problems has been down to a number of factors. Not least of which is that it HAS been an ONLY car and so has got regular use, niggles ironed out and anything I get paranoid about I get straight on the 'phone to a mighty skilled expert of the highest order!
Some time in the next 10 years I'm going for a Tuscan too!
I think what Deeen said makes sense. If one of the largest costs will be depreciation (which it probably will be) then buy a slightly older car where most of the depreciation hit has been taken. As people are not doing starship miles in these things the mileage should not be too different, and most people on here recommend buying on condition not mileage, so in that respect it should not matter.
I cant honestly see tuscan prices falling below 15K for the early examples over the next 3 years, as they are too desirable as cars and at that kind of money would find a lot of people willing to take the plunge. So buying one at 25K you would probably be looking at a maximum loss of about 10K on depreciation, much better than most cars of that kind of price
I cant honestly see tuscan prices falling below 15K for the early examples over the next 3 years, as they are too desirable as cars and at that kind of money would find a lot of people willing to take the plunge. So buying one at 25K you would probably be looking at a maximum loss of about 10K on depreciation, much better than most cars of that kind of price
hobo said:
1) Reliability. Before you all start going on about this, it would be my only car & as I work for myself & need car for work it really does need to be quite reliable. But I could live with this for the right car (as you all do I suspect).
How about a nearly new Nissan 350Z?!
Since I work at home I feel I'm not making the most of it's reliability, and am looking to get something less reliable. PM me if you're intersted.Would I buy again? Course I would would I buy new? Probably not but wouldn't rule it out totally, what's this myth about German high residuals? My partners Merc C240 Avantgarde top of the range with all the extras, paid 27.5k "Jersey prices" ie no VAT etc in Aug 2002, best offer last month from garage 13k. You can keep your bland motoring from a silver machine "nice song though" for that kind of cost I would much prefer the fun and excitment from TVR at that depreciation level.
Best Regards
James.
Best Regards
James.
hobo said:
...
1) Reliability. Before you all start going on about this, it would be my only car & as I work for myself & need car for work it really does need to be quite reliable. But I could live with this for the right car (as you all do I suspect).
2) Financial sense. I am looking to spend around 30-35k, therefore been looking at 2001 tuscans from dealers, but suspect in 3 years time it would be worth 15ish. Thats a huge loss for an already second hand car. Compared to say an M3 which I could buy for same money & in 3 years have lost nowhere near as much.
Now I know it isn't an M3 (or whatever) I want, its a Tuscan, but i'm not made of money and worried i'd be chucking money away.
Does anyone agree or have similar worries ?
1) Reliability - no car, not even an M£, is guaranteed never to let you down, TVR's do have bad days and you *may* get let down by a Tuscan, BUT it is in no way inevitable. If you are buying from a dealer and I assume are going to be getting it serviced/looked after by them, then make sure they have loan cars should yours be off the road. And if it does fail to start one morning, just how much hassle is it to get a cab to the station??
2) Financial sense - No, it doesn't make ANY financial sense to buy a Tuscan, or for that matter any other decent car - for financial sense buy a Toyota Yaris, they only cost a few grand new so even if it becomes worthless you have'nt lost much!! But I guess that isn't the car for you! You WILL loose money on a TVR, you will loose more money by buying and selling through dealers (they aim to make approx £4-5k per deal) so maybe buying private with a full dealer inspection (and letting them know you will want a warranty from them) is the way to go
Go on, you know you want one!
Graham - Tuscan owner for over 3 years now and only car
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