Reply to: Sexiest car?

[Lucy]

To be fair SAS, you did used to have a car

SAS's motor

pussycat you are so funny

[Lockhouse]

Thanks for the reply.

[hyperD]

Yes, some of the pre-2003 Tuscan builds had iffy handling and some dubious cam/finger follower parts but as I understand it the S6 engine had improved, as had the handling. Nitrons and some specialist engine builders helped.

My Tuscan has done 39k and only had some initial cam problems at 5k which have been resolved (and change of dealer) and a new clutch at 16k.

Much more reliable than the Griff which had a propensity to overheat in stationary traffic.

The Griff was awesome - 315Nm(?) torque which meant it was extremely tail happy and lethal in the wet - it would break traction on the wet in 5th gear. I had a sports exhaust (much debafflement) and the noise from the 5 litre V8 was frankly, astounding.

The Tuscan has a smoother power delivery so you only get the jitters after 4000rpm. It's extremely nervous and can tramline alot which makes breaking from 100mph quite entertaining - great precision steering but doing a threepoint turn normally results in a 5 point.

Much better built - side by side with a Griff you can really see the difference. Nice change up lights and retro 50's styling inside. Brakes phenomenal and very light flywheel so it really feels like a race engine (lots of fast blipping on the loud pedal). Easy to heel and toe as the pedals are close and race styled (secured on the floor). Things don't fall off quite so often in the Tuscan although sealing is still a problem.

Still noisy as hell inside but doesn't smell like a glue factory - unlike a Lotus.

The engine sounds like a race engine rather than a conventional, uprated one and herein lies the disappointment: you cannot beat the sound of a large V8 in my opinion. But no way would I like the V8 in there... I'm not good enough a driver for something as fearsome as that.

So I think the Tuscan is way better than a Griff - I've used mine as an everyday car with no problems at all. I use a battery conditioner now as sometimes I don't drive the thing for 3 weeks as I work from home full time now.

Also it looks great - a retro feel to it that simply doesn't age whereas when a Griff is next to it, the Griff looks very dated.

[Lockhouse]

Lockhouse - where did you get that stat from?

Pistonheads. They ran a poll.

Also - is the Tuscan that different a car to the Griff? I've driven a couple of Griffiths and there was a world of difference between a well sorted one and a dog but I would have bought a Tuscan if they hadn't have had so many problems. My next car is probably a well sorted 4.5 Cerbera.

[Chugnut]

Sexiest car? Mine, with my significant other wearing her stockings and draped over the bonnet!

Nice one Churchill; no wonder you're always saying Ohhhh Yessss!!!

[The Lone Gunman]

Sexiest car? Mine, with my significant other wearing her stockings and draped over the bonnet!

Pictures?

[Churchill]

Sexiest car? Mine, with my significant other wearing her stockings and draped over the bonnet!

[hyperD]

For a standard Griffith 500 - no it isn't. And if you had 175mph on the clock for any period of time, I suggest you have a faulty speedometer.

The Tuscan, dear boy, the Tuscan! The Griffith spent most of its time pirouetting around roundabouts with all the ridiculous amounts of torque.

Lockhouse - where did you get that stat from?

[Lockhouse]

Top speed is reported around 195mph.

For a standard Griffith 500 - no it isn't. And if you had 175mph on the clock for any period of time, I suggest you have a faulty speedometer.

Now where's me handbag?

[Lockhouse]

Nice car Hyper, what's the build quality like though?

70% of all Tuscans with more than 25000 miles on the clock have had engine rebuilds.

[Joe Black]

Don't tell me you've decided to buy one? Oh dear...

[hyperD]

Hi BP - actually much better build than the 5.0 litre V8 Griffith I owned 5 years ago.

I used it every day with no probs and wife and I went 4500 miles around Europe with it. Again, no probs and plenty of attention.

Sort of car I wished I had when I was single but couldn't afford it.

I was even cursed when I tried a top speed on the autobahn with the roof down. Wifey was asleep, I was burning off a Carrera, reaching 175mph with light items (maps, hotel reservations etc) not tied down flying out of the car when she woke up and shouted at me to slow down. Top speed is reported around 195mph.

It's not as refined as a Porsche and certainly as a hand built car there are some models around that are fairly ropey (better now than many years ago), it is simply the rawest, most "British" driving experience around. And the sound under full tilt... oh the sound...tunnels...mmmmmmm...

0 - 100mph in 8.9 secs is still quite exhilarating.

Still love the V8 rather than straight 6. It's one of those cars where the neighbours would slag you off with some fancy BMW, Suburu, etc when you start it in the morning, but they love the car and their kids love sitting in it. Cats don't. And kids in car parks with the banging, spitting, spluttering overrun.

[Bagpuss]

Nice car Hyper, what's the build quality like though?

[hyperD]

TVR Tuscan Speed 6 4.0L with a Chameleon paint scheme.

TVR Tuscan

Just had a rather nice middle aged blonde woman saying to me how much she admires my dynamic paint scheme. If that's not an offer for me showing her my licenced change management application then I'm threaded...

[XTC]

Nah, looks to much like a composite of too many other cars...