Anybody got thoughts on TVR Tuscans???

py2006

Hi guys,

I haven't posted here in a while! I was the looser who annoyed all of ye with my overly large post on MX5's!!!!

Anyhoo, I spotted a TVR Tuscan down me locals car park and fell in love with it.

As some of you know I know absolutely nothing about cars apart from "they look nice"

I probably couldn't afford to run a 4litre engine car but I will see how things are in 3 years time when I have paid off me MX5.

I'd appreciate any thoughts you experts may have on these cars, thanks!

See attached for pics!

Also check out http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/cars_search.asp?modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&make=TVR&model=TUSCAN&min_pr=75&max_pr=&mileage=&agerange=&postcode=LS9+8AL&miles=1500&max_records=100&source=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH

kyote00

I think the main thing about TVR is the power to weight ratio. As a result, they have fibre glass bodies so are very light. They are do not have any forms of abs, ebd or stability control which makes driving them at speed very difficult and perhaps dangerous. The interior spec is also spartan.....

People tend to be split on the looks -- personally I like the Tuscan

I would imagine that the reliability and service costs might also be a problem....

A better option might be the Mazda RX or Honda S2000

py2006

kyote00 wrote:

I think the main thing about TVR is the power to weight ratio. As a result, they have fibre glass bodies so are very light. They are do not have any forms of abs, ebd or stability control which makes driving them at speed very difficult and perhaps dangerous. The interior spec is also spartan.....

People tend to be split on the looks -- personally I like the Tuscan

I would imagine that the reliability and service costs might also be a problem....

A better option might be the Mazda RX or Honda S2000

Thanks for that. I am not really mad about the RX or S2000 to be honest. But yet again, I really have very little knowledge on cars. So my judgement is based merely on looks at the moment.

kluivert

Great cars to look at, bitch to drive so i believe.

Beautiful car and hand made.

Funxy

Absolutly amazing car. Definitly a pure drivers car, as already mentioned theres no driver aids, so if your not used to driving a raw car it could be very dangerous!! Interior is amazing and certainly not spartan, i think the interior is one of the best available. I love all the aluminium. Also you can choose between soooo many colors its unbelieveable, and you can specify what colors are on the interior too, all the way down to the color of stitching. A really great company to deal with, you can even visit the factory while your cars being made :eek:

alias no.9

TVR's finest hour as far as I'm concerned. Absolutely breathtaking for styling and performance. Proven mechanicals at this stage, despite what some might say about reliability. Make sure to take some advanced driver training.

py2006

Advanced driver training!!!!! Jaysus

I've only ever seen 2 of them in Dublin. You would have to import from England!

blastman

If you can open the door, get in, start the engine and then get out again within two minutes, buy it!

Funxy

The sagaris is my favorite without a doubt. But theres a dealer in belfast you could check out, hes got a good few in stock and very helpful

py2006

blastman wrote:

If you can open the door, get in, start the engine and then get out again within two minutes, buy it!

Eh????


The Sagaris is a bit bandy looking in my opinion. Kinda like the BMW Z3/Z4. Bandy!

ds20prefecture

Funxy wrote:

Interior is amazing and certainly not spartan, i think the interior is one of the best available

I couldn't agree more. Hand milled brass for the instrument faces and major switches on some models. And VW make a big deal out of the "bespoke indicator stalks" on their €1m Veyron.

Tuscan is a beautiful car, definitely an individual choice. Servicing can be done by a specialist up the north, I believe.

With any car this powerful some advanced driver training wouldn't be a bad idea. Personally I do without driver aids every day and I don't feel it's very dangerous, but then again I only have 100bhp!

ds20prefecture

py2006 wrote:

The Sagaris is a bit bandy looking in my opinion. Kinda like the BMW Z3/Z4. Bandy!

I agree - the exhaust pipes are cool, but the rest of it is too fussy. The Tamora is probably your best bet for "my first TVR".

rabbitinlights

py2006 wrote:

Advanced driver training!!!!! Jaysus

Its actually a must for most TVRs in my opinion, My cousin (alderingham UK) exports alot of TVRs (and other cars) to mainland europe and Ive had the pleasure of driving a few of them. Get a drive in one if you can. My cousin will only give a test drive if the person sorts out insurance on the car for the day or if his garage insurance wll cover it. I lost the rear-end on a small round about on my first go in one, the power is mental, the pedal on the them has very short travel and the power comes in a thump. Its not like driving a recent sports car, you have to concentrate all the time driving, Normally TVRs are bought as a second car, as driving it everyday would be a mental and physical challenge!! I got to drive a tuscan S for 2 days, such a savage car. A Tuscan R for about 20min (thats the one I lost it in.) and a TVR Cerbera, older car not as nice inside and seemed much heavier and dangerous than the tuscan. Heres a few shots of the Tuscan S:





The sound of the tuscan engine alone will make you want to buy the car, but just make sure you will be able to use it everyday if thats what you buying it for, because going from an MX5 to a Tuscan is a BIG step. anymore questions just ask.
S.

el tel

I know a guy who has a 2000 Tuscan and it's an unreliable money pit.
Since he bought it he has had to spent a fortune on it, including

Clutch - £900
Suspension - £900
Engine Rebuild - £5k
New binnacle screen - £250
New radiator - £500
New Alternator - £500
Issues with lights/indicators - £600
Lambda sensors, fan switches & assorted stuff - £600
Tyres @ £190 a pop.

That's about €9000in the first 5 years. I can only imagine what it will
cost to keep right over the next 5 years :eek:

Johnny Storm

A guy that lived near me a few years ago had a TVR - I think it was a Chimera. I dont know much about it except that it was the most FANTASTIC sounding car I ever heard. I used to roll down the windows and turn off the stereo in my car whenever I saw him so I could hear it better. Only Ferrari's sound any where near as good and they have a very different kind of sound. That TVR sounded like a f*ckin' Spitfire. :eek:
I'd love to have one but I'm sure they are impractical/expensive etc. My advice: buy it immediately.

py2006

rabbitinlights wrote:

The sound of the tuscan engine alone will make you want to buy the car, but just make sure you will be able to use it everyday if thats what you buying it for, because going from an MX5 to a Tuscan is a BIG step. anymore questions just ask.
S.

Thanks for that! Great pics! The MX5 was my first ever car so that was a big step as it was!

The Tuscan is prob just a dream for the future but it sure catches the eye!

py2006

el tel wrote:

I know a guy who has a 2000 Tuscan and it's an unreliable money pit.
Since he bought it he has had to spent a fortune on it, including

Clutch - £900
Suspension - £900
Engine Rebuild - £5k
New binnacle screen - £250
New radiator - £500
New Alternator - £500
Issues with lights/indicators - £600
Lambda sensors, fan switches & assorted stuff - £600
Tyres @ £190 a pop.

That's about €9000in the first 5 years. I can only imagine what it will
cost to keep right over the next 5 years :eek:

Surely that aint the norm! SURELY???

Anan1

It's all relative, people. I would have thought that to run a TVR for five years and only spend E9,000 on repairs was doing extremely well!

ds20prefecture

Anan1 wrote:

It's all relative, people. I would have thought that to run a TVR for five years and only spend E9,000 on repairs was doing extremely well!

I would agree. Talk to any lamborghini or Ferrari owner. These are hand made, low volume cars and as such the person who buys them new are really just the tester. Buy a 5y.o. one and most of the production bugs should be sorted out IF the owner used the car.

If you buy a TVR and expect the reliability of an MX5 I can guarantee you will be disappointed.

el tel

And I must add to the post below that the car has also lost approx €30k in value of the 5 years. At least you won't have to suffer that below should you ever get one.

py2006

Well I am talking a used TVR here now! Possibly in 2 years time I will get a 02 model perhaps!

rabbitinlights

py2006 wrote:

Well I am talking a used TVR here now! Possibly in 2 years time I will get a 02 model perhaps!

Just make sure the engine has had a rebuild, most tuscans over 3 years old need one and cost £3000.

Johnny Storm wrote:

it was the most FANTASTIC sounding car I ever heard

It really is, its a much deeper sound than a ferrari. My Fav Car engine ever.

Anan1

py2006 - I'm going to give you some tough but good advice here. You've told us that you know little enough about cars, you have your doubts regarding the running costs of a normal 4.0 car, your main interest is how the car looks, and the idea of advanced driver training surprises you. Given these facts, I cannot think of a worse car for you to buy than a TVR. There are many coupes designed specifically for people with your priorities, and some (like newer Porsche 911s) that, although not designed for them, can accommodate them. The TVR is neither.

py2006

Anan1 wrote:

py2006 - I'm going to give you some tough but good advice here. You've told us that you know little enough about cars, you have your doubts regarding the running costs of a normal 4.0 car, your main interest is how the car looks, and the idea of advanced driver training surprises you. Given these facts, I cannot think of a worse car for you to buy than a TVR. There are many coupes designed specifically for people with your priorities, and some (like newer Porsche 911s) that, although not designed for them, can accommodate them. The TVR is neither.

Not sure whether to be insulted there or not!

I am only looking for info at the moment. I wouldn't be changing my car for at least another 2 years!

Anan1

I didn't mean it to be insulting at all! Everyone wants different things from their car, the trick is to find the car that gives you as many of the things you want as possible at a cost which you feel to be worthwhile. The TVR, IMHO, would give you one or two things you would like, a load of things you wouldn't, and quite probably some bills that would prevent you from doing other things you would like to do too!

Anan

Panda Moanium

Johnny Storm wrote:

it was the most FANTASTIC sounding car I ever heard.

If anyone is even vaguely thinking of getting one (any TVR)......take it out for a test drive, find a decent tunnel, drop to second or third gear and floor it........

I GUARANTEE you will have bought the car by the time you come out of that tunnel. Nothing, but nothing on earth could compare to that wail. Pure aural sex!

rabbitinlights

Or a channel tunnel train.......;)