Would you swap a Boxster for a Tuscan? - Page 1 - Porsche General - PistonHeads UK

I have driven them both....and bought a Boxster. In fact...two of them (one after the other!). A Tuscan is an insanely quick car. They look totally evil and I thoroughly enjoyed my test drive. The wife and I live with a Chimaera so I've got an idea about TVR reliability. She may get a Tuscan soon. I decided that a Tuscan for daily use was actually quite possible - (if expensive) - it was the sophistication of the handling that made me go for the Porsche. If you can live with the possible consequences of breakdown and can afford the relatively high maintenance costs (some guys on here will tell you different and I can't agree) I'd say go for it and enjoy...but be aware...a TVR *will* need more fettling than your Porsche. But they are cool...

I tried a Tuscan 3.6, I've always like the noise of them and thought the looks of the Tuscan Everthing went ok at first, great noise, good interior, started with a nice slow drive through town with the only downsides being the ride was a bit crashy and the clutch was heavy. When I got down to a set of traffic lights on to the dual carriage way I tried a pulling away quickly using around 3500 rpm, the thing ,lurched, hit the bump stops,then hopped, gave bags of wheel spin going sideways before could correct and grab for second . That ruined it for me the road was dry and even though I did push it in gear (its really quick) my confidence was gone. Coming off a roundabout which had a bit of camber change the car hit its bump stops , this upset the balance of the car, it was correctable but it really shouldn't do that. The car was just too hairy, a chap I know Chris had one, he had lots of problems with reliability. It was his primary car which he used for business and it let him down several times. One of the worst was when the drivers window went down by itself on the motorway in the rain, unfortunatly he was on the way to a business meeting and he arrived soaked . In the end I got a Boxster S although it is noticably slower than the Tuscan, the steering and chassis feel are better. It is much easier to drive a Boxtser S quickly although it can still catch you out in the wet, it is much more predictable and forgiving than the TVR. The Boxster is now 1 year 4 months old and has done nearly 18000 miles, it has never had any problems at all. The resale values of the Boxtser are better as well

JumJum, couldn't agree with you more mate. TVR's are the most awesome looking and sounding cars, but they are too hairy and build quality/ reliability is pretty poor. To use the performance they provide and stay alive you need an airfield. I reckon the Boxster S is hard to beat when it comes to a very a well engineered car with useable power, excellent driving performance and god dam great residuals, Cheers Michael

You may also want to post this question in the General TVR Stuff Section, where (of course) you will get a different set of opinions. At least that way you will get a balanced view. Rich... p.s. I've got a mate who changed his Griff 500 for a Porkster - says it's ok for going to work in but he doesn't look forward to the drive home and certainly doesn't have one last glance back at it before he leaves the car park. p.p.s I've heard Porsches have doddgy clutches, perhaps they are committing all their resources on 4x4's these days and the old build quaility on the other cars is suffering?

Balanced view? I think not. Lots of encouragement...why certainly! But there are plenty of people (me included) who utterly love their Porsches too. Sorry to hear the car didn't suit yer mate. I could.....although it wouldn't be fair....post a complete list of what was spent on maintaining our Chimaera over the last two years and what was spent maintaining our Boxster S. Suffice to say one is in the hundreds the other the thousands. But this is IRRELEVANT. You buy a TVR you know what you're getting into. Shouldn't put anyone off. They go like stink and if you want one..get one!

I didn't mention their 4x4 people-carrier-thing'y but it was obviously in your thoughts R...

I think the bottom line is if you want a v. v. fast car with great looks and a thrill everytime you drive it - buy a TVR. Don't then moan about reliability and the niggles - that is the chance you take. If you want a fantastically built, v reliable sportscar with great handling that also if still worth a lot when you come to sell it, pick the Porsche. Others may start posting about the clutches and gear linkages but we all know deep down these don't happen everyday. I think a balanced view would be that TVRs reliability is underrated and Porsches is overrated. BTW, I love both TVR & Porsche - I have a Cerbera and I have a 911 Turbo on order.

AAaaaaaaargh!!! The ultimate garage! This is just greedy! FAN-BLEEDIN'-TASTIC!!!!!!!

But is he happy.....

Tough question, Luca. Is he, or will he be, happy? The answer comes in two parts. First, look in your own garage with it's main occupant snugly tucked up. (I just have and I'm damp.) Second, look in that of Dazren's (I'm assuming 996 here, BTW). If the response is not something akin to instantaneous trouser removal then I suggest that our fellow PHer is a spectral entity, i.e. ceased to be, that is to say, an ex-Piston Head. All he then needs is an F355 or 360M and the circle will be complete.

John, you have good taste! Rich

John As I have not driven a Porsche nor a Tuscan, I'm not fully qualified to shed light on you dilema. But, as a TVR owner I can vouch for the great feeling you get from driving one. I can also say I have always believed Porsche to have rock solid build quality and more refined than TVR to date. But TVR are improving all the time. TVRs and Porsches are as good as each other for very different reasons. For speed,thrills and gorgeous curves, TVR wins. For build quality, prestige and refinement Porsche does. Just an opinoin, not fact. Edited to add: If I had a choice between a Porsche Boxter and a Tuscan S, I'd only be wondering what colour Tuscan I would prefer. Tiv >> Edited by tivhead on Wednesday 30th October 20:17

Allow me to paraphrase your question. "Would I shag a bird from the North?" Not even with Doms' !!!!

UV. I am crying with laughter. Crying, mate.

I have to agree with UV. But not that bit about Northern birds... I love 'em myself The only exception to the TVR thrills/Porsche refinement type rule (which generally holds, I quite agree) is that occasionally a Porsche model comes along that can out-TVR a TVR in the speed, thrills, looks and general insanity department. In these instances, I suggest, you can have your cake and eat it. The cars normally have an RS, CS, Turbo S, GT2 or GT3 badge on the back. Take a look at a 993GT2 and you'll see what I mean. Of course, you do pay for the privilege of having your battenberg and devouring it... but their second-hand prices are often affordable and within a TVR owner's budget. As Ninemeister said on another thread, a 25k 964RS with 5k of tuning bits will be more than a match on a circuit for a 70k 996GT3 or any road going TVR you can name.

I have an early Boxster, have covered 250 000 km, even in miles that is a lot. And so far no problems at all. Extremely reliable. But sure it is not as brutal as a TVR. I have driven a griffith 500 and that was the best day in my life. Only I needed a car for every day use, also in wintertime. If I had the choice again I would go for a Boxster S. Good luck

I may shortly be in the position to do just this, a 98 boxster for a 4.0 (s i think??)2000 tuscan. Has anyone driven both of these and can comment? I know on paper the Tuscan is faster, and worth a few £K more...but my time here has not been wasted and I have heard many a terror tale about TVR build/reliab. etc etc. In short is TVR as bad as all that? My Box is totally mint just serviced and under warranty..the TVR is, well, effing purple very fast and insane looking...head or heart(wallet) Thanks Guys. John