Has anyone heard anything good or bad about P1 International (except for the obviously poor quality web site).

I was intending to buy myself a TVR Tuscan S later this year and driving about 10,000 miles a year in it. I worked out that over a five year period this will probably cost me about 10,000 pound a year. Ouch !

I then discovered this car club where you pay 10,000 pound a year and get to drive a wide selection of some amazing cars (including the TVR Tuscan) for upto 5,000 miles a year. It is based on a points system where there are 4 different classes of car and it costs more points in the summer and at the weekends. Looking at the point system and my likely usage I would probably have one of their cars for about 60 days a year.

Their cars include:

• Lamborghini Diablo 6.0 (new model also on order)
• Aston Martin Vanquish
• Porsche 996 Turbo
• Ferrari 360 Spider
• Ferrari 360 Modena
• Ferrari 550 Maranello
• Ferrari 456 GT
• Merc SL55 AMG
• Porsche 911 Carrera
• Porsche 911 Carrera 4 cab
• Ferrari 355 Spider
• BMW Z3
• Noble M12 GTO
• AC Cobra
• TVR Tuscan S
  

Very tempting...

All they need now is a McLaren F1. :-)

Is this one of their cars after a rough weekend?

I've been thinking of doing this to my Neon ACR. Whaddy'all think?

But you can drive the TVR as much as you want though for the £10,000 every year for 5 years! And it would be yours...

I guess it would be worth it if you really do want to drive about in lots of different cars? How well maintained are they actually? Because I doubt the people driving them are being too careful with the engines!

Neat idea tho

- Trevor

mmmm, interesting, I pay much more than that each year!

but I do get to keep my car every day and not just occasional times

there again, i'd love to get my hands on a lambo for the weekend!

wonder where I can hire one from!!!!!

But you can drive the TVR as much as you want though for the £10,000 every year for 5 years! And it would be yours...

No I wouldn't. My estimates show that doing 10,000 miles a year in a Tuscan over five years would cost me £11,000+ a year. If I did more than 10,000 miles a year then the costs pretty much increase linearly.

The costs of the Tuscan include:

• £700 a month loan payments over four years
• two services a year (probably £500 each)
• one, possibly two sets of tyres a year at about each £800 set
• at least £1,600 of insurance each year
• probably £35,000 depreciation over the five years (from £50,000), Tuscans still aren't keeping their values well
  

I hadn't really realised how much it was until I added it all up the other day and this all assumes that nothing major is going to break, which is a big assumption.

I don't know how well maintained they are, I might be going to pay them a visit this weekend to see what they are like. They are going to be better cared for than your average hire car, don't forget it is a fairly small membership of a club driving them, rather than just random people.

All my calculations assume I will be keeping an MX5 (Miata) through the period. I currently have one I bought from new five years ago which I do 20,000 (very little highway) miles a year in. It has done 100,000 miles so far and I expect it to last another 60,000 or so without major cost. So if I bought a Tuscan I would still be doing 10,000 a year in the MX5, with the club idea I would be doing 15,000. Thankfully I find the MX5 great fun to drive...

Even a Tuscan or an oldish Ferrari are £400 or so to hire by the day, which is why £10,000 a year for 60+ days sounds like such a bargin (relatively).

I would still be keeping my own MX5, which 5 years ago was my "dream car" anyway, so the other 15,000 miles would hardly be miserable.

Also, on average, I would get to drive one of the cars more than once a week.

I know what you mean, getting rid of the 3000GT for everyday use just isn't an option, I'm on my 5th!

But variety is the spice of life and it would be nice to try a few other beasts once in a while!!!!

Anyone here signing up?

Ouch. You never do realise the costs in driving unless you sit down and add it all up. If you put that way then it is a good idea!

BTW What do you think of the Cerbera?

It's all a moot point for me anyway. I definately don't have that much money to spare!

- Trevor

The Cerbera looks great and by all account shifts quite nicely, but it has those pointless rear seats and the roof doesn't come off. If I did buy a TVR it would definitely be the Tuscan, it has the looks, the power, the handling and the roof comes off...

it look really really really cool cept for one thing.. if you dont own the cars how d you put an empeg in them.. DOH!

I test drove a Cerbera awhile back and it was quite a fun car to drive. I'm not too bothered about it not being convertible but if you're spending that much cash then I suppose the Tuscan would be better thing to have. I agree about the rear seats being useless. Not much room in the back!

Now if I had the money I would get a NSX...

- Trevor

That's easy, a tape adapter. Not ideal, but easy...

Anyway, when I'm driving 100K+ worth of Ferrari I'm going to want as little distraction as possible.

I agree with you on the NSX. I think it's the poor man's Ferrari. It's a great everyday sports car. Not priced too badly too, especially if you look at picking up a used one.

I agree with you on the NSX. I think it's the poor man's Ferrari.

Yeah, every day I feel sorry for those poor people who can only afford £75,000 sports cars.

Rob

Actually, a used one in decent condition can be had for about $20,000-$30,000. That's not too bad. But, I guess you can pick up some used Ferraris in that range too.

But, yeah, I wouldn't spend the money for a brand new NSX.

Andy,

I would suggest buying a 1.5 year old Tuscan Speed Six Red Rose, which is effectively what the Tuscan S is, without the badge. You should be able to pick one of these up for about £30-£35K & expect it to be worth at least £20K after 5 years, which makes the sums much more attractive
(although I would expect your servicing costs to be a more than than £500 per service, unless you use an independant garage. You should also add £500 a year extended warranty, if you are buying a second hand car)
Also I am surprised at your insurance quote - mine is WAY cheaper than this - try Sunninghill 01276 474844 - obviously I don't know your age, history etc, but that sounds high...
As to tyre wear, they are surprisingly light on them - I've done a couple of track days in mine & 7000 road miles from new, & I've still got plenty of tread on the original tyres (The 7000 miles have all been fun/thrash miles - I don't use it for commuting, as I work from home)
As an empeg & TVR Chimaera owner myself I am obviously biased, but I think it is better to own the car, because you never know what the weather is going to do, so you just take advantage of roof-off moments when they appear.
It doesn't tend to be something that you can plan ahead for (& thus book a car for)

cheers,
Craig

Also I am surprised at your insurance quote - mine is WAY cheaper than this - try Sunninghill 01276 474844 - obviously I don't know your age, history etc, but that sounds high...

The problem is that I would have two cars, my MX5 and a Tuscan. Finding an insurance company that allows you to apply your existing no claims bonus across both cars and quotes decent rates is the challenge.

As to tyre wear, they are surprisingly light on them

Talk to some Tuscan owners, many, many of them are finding a set is only lasting 6,000 miles, effectively doubling the cost of every service.

As an empeg & TVR Chimaera owner myself I am obviously biased, but I think it is better to own the car, because you never know what the weather is going to do, so you just take advantage of roof-off moments when they appear

That's not a problem, because I would still have my MX5 for days like that anyway...

The problem is that I would have two cars, my MX5 and a Tuscan. Finding an insurance company that allows you to apply your existing no claims bonus across both cars and quotes decent rates is the challenge.

Fair enough - I think the best you are going to get is an introductory 20% no claims on the second car - if you made the Mx5 the second car, then it shouldn't be too bad. I'm finding this year that I have to put both my cars through separate insurance companies (My other car is a Subaru P1, which is far worse for insurance)

Talk to some Tuscan owners, many, many of them are finding a set is only lasting 6,000 miles, effectively doubling the cost of every service.

I guess it's all down to whether you wheelspin in every gear, which, while undoubtedly fun, ain't going to help the tyres. I only know 2 Tuscan owners & they get more than 6,000 out of their tyres, although admittedly they have both needed new wheels for their cars after some exuberant kerbing at track-days.

That's not a problem, because I would still have my MX5 for days like that anyway...
Cool. Whatever works for you. I was just suggesting that with a year & half old car, the numbers came out slightly differently - one of my mates has bought last week a 1.5 year old Griffith 500 which he has on HP at £400 month (Includes 1 year warranty)

cheers
Craig

if you made the Mx5 the second car

Unfortunately I can't make the MX5 the second car, I'll be doing more miles in the MX5 than the Tuscan, which makes the MX5 my main car :-(

I guess it's all down to whether you wheelspin in every gear, which, while undoubtedly fun, ain't going to help the tyres. I only know 2 Tuscan owners & they get more than 6,000 out of their tyres, although admittedly they have both needed new wheels for their cars after some exuberant kerbing at track-days.

There are a whole bunch of people with Tuscans who claim to have driven their Tuscans sensibly but are still going through tyres every 6,000 miles, then there are another bunch who admit they drive like nutters and are getting more than 6,000 miles. It seems like the most likely explanation for this is that the factory got the alignment settings wrong initially. Some people have reported improved tyre wear after using a different alignment setup that the factory has now provided.

There are also plenty of people with Tuscans with square wheels who say they have never been anywhere near a kerb and oddly enough the wheels on the latest Tuscans have started getting more chunky. The factory are still saying there is nothing wrong with the original wheels though...

First of all what is a Tuscan and what is a TVR? Got any pics/links?

On the tire issue, I have a solution. Drive your MX5 when it's raining. The balder the tire is, the more traction you have. Except when it's wet. Who wants to drive a fast car in the rain anyways?

First of all what is a Tuscan and what is a TVR? Got any pics/links?

TVR are a small British sports car manufacturer. The Tuscan is the sexiest car in the world and a third of the price of a Ferrari 360, but just as fast:



http://www.tvr.co.uk/graphics/tuscan_s/new/tus_spec.html

On the tire issue, I have a solution. Drive your MX5 when it's raining. The balder the tire is, the more traction you have. Except when it's wet. Who wants to drive a fast car in the rain anyways?

Ah, you've not spent much time in the UK have you ?

Hi Andy,

Unfortunately I can't make the MX5 the second car, I'll be doing more miles in the MX5 than the Tuscan, which makes the MX5 my main car :-(
What I meant was:
1/ Terminate your current MX5 insurance
2/ Take your current no claims from this & get Tuscan insurance with a TVR insurance specialist (Sunninghill, Cheam, Manning etc)
3/ Negotiate a 20% (or more if lucky) discount with a different insurer for your Mx5 (Try Tesco's web site)

There are a whole bunch of people with Tuscans who claim to have driven their Tuscans sensibly but are still going through tyres every 6,000 miles, then there are another bunch who admit they drive like nutters and are getting more than 6,000 miles. It seems like the most likely explanation for this is that the factory got the alignment settings wrong initially. Some people have reported improved tyre wear after using a different alignment setup that the factory has now provided.
Another explanation is that the alignments are set up for driving the car like a nutter :-)
I'm being half serious here, as I know that this was the case with the Prodrive suspension setup on my last Subaru - if you drove it sensibly, or only on the motorways, the toe-out meant that the tyres wore very unevenly. If you thrashed it everywhere, it had even wear across the front tyres. "Honest officer, I was just looking after my tyres"

I think you're probably right on the wheel front - the large wheels have incredibly low-profile tyres on them & must soak up a lot of punishment.

cheers
Craig

Yz33d - you're in the wrong country for TVRs, I'm afraid. TVR don't sell there, so you'll have to import - although after the film Swordfish, the interest has risen dramatically
Definitely a sportscar which can appeal to Americans - big, loud engines and nutter rear wheel drive.

And they are considerably cooler/cheaper than those common Porsche/Ferrari thingies.

No, it wouldn't suit Yanks.

It knows how to go around corners...

{Yawn}

Been there, bought that, paid for the sump gasket {gulp}

You should try the MX5 club insurance. I pay only about 350pa for my MX5 turbo, some mods (suspension, brakes, turbo) - limited to 6,000 miles pa on my policy, and there is no no-claims discount - the price is, however, less than anyone else quoted me *with* no claims.

I think the company is AON insurance.

Hugo

I'm already with AON on the club scheme Hugo, although my insurance is a bit more pricey than yours at £700 (standard Mk1 1.8i, uprated brakes, 20,000 miles a year).

The problem is that if I get the Tuscan I will have two cars and getting any no claims on the second car (which would be the Tuscan) seems to be difficult.

Is your NSX also with AON, or with someone else ?

When I got the NSX, I moved my 7 or so years NCB from the MX5 to the NSX and moved the MX5 onto AON - which, as it didn't require any NCB for a good price was a good move.

Strange your insurance is so much; mine is garaged with a thatcham class 2 immobiliser, but no particular other things that would make it low risk (except maybe the area? CB1 in cambridge).

Hugo

I have always been puzzled as to why my insurance is so high. My MX5 isn't garaged, but it is off the road and has the proper Thatcham alarm and immobilser. My postcode is also fairly low risk (KT20). I'm only 30, but then you are roughly the same age aren't you Hugo ?

The AON quote was the cheapest, when ever it comes up for renewal time I always get a few silly £1200+ quotes.

My cheapest ever insurance (the MX5 was my first car 5 years ago) was the first year I had the car, £350 fixed price deal that Mazda did when you bought a new MX5. Jumped to £850 in the second year though...