Marcos TSO - did anyone actually buy one?
Discussion
I never told the story before, but given that both companies have now gone by the by I suppose I can.
The Sagaris EVO used for their Sagaris v Marcos GT2 feature was mine and the wife and I spent the 2 days with them in Northern France. The article took a few liberties at the time, "couple of days and hundreds of miles behind the wheel" because most of the time was actually spent doing photo set-ups. the 2 cars being driven mostly by myself and Ben from Marcos, the EVO boys having few miles in them. On the 2nd day, that was going to be the mostly driving day the Marcos blew its radiator about 10 miles out from the hotel and spent the day in the car park of the Calais retail place. The Sag performanced faultlessly.
EVO never mentioned the radiator problem with the Marcos at all which I thought was generous of them and I never mentioned it either as I thought it just wasnt cricket to do so. I have often wondered though had it been the other way round whether such discretion would have been afforded the TVR...
The Sagaris EVO used for their Sagaris v Marcos GT2 feature was mine and the wife and I spent the 2 days with them in Northern France. The article took a few liberties at the time, "couple of days and hundreds of miles behind the wheel" because most of the time was actually spent doing photo set-ups. the 2 cars being driven mostly by myself and Ben from Marcos, the EVO boys having few miles in them. On the 2nd day, that was going to be the mostly driving day the Marcos blew its radiator about 10 miles out from the hotel and spent the day in the car park of the Calais retail place. The Sag performanced faultlessly.
EVO never mentioned the radiator problem with the Marcos at all which I thought was generous of them and I never mentioned it either as I thought it just wasnt cricket to do so. I have often wondered though had it been the other way round whether such discretion would have been afforded the TVR...
Great car when it was working. But filled with problems. To cramped interior and just made wrong, electric windows that dont work, targa that rattles its nuts off, not enough seat adjustment (i am 5ft 7) and could not reach the accelerator.I know other owners had nothing but problems. Added to the fact they made a loss on every sale (before getting into extra cost on warrantee), was never going to be a winner. But would have been a great car.
RJDM3 said:
Great car when it was working. But filled with problems. To cramped interior and just made wrong, electric windows that dont work, targa that rattles its nuts off, not enough seat adjustment (i am 5ft 7) and could not reach the accelerator.I know other owners had nothing but problems. Added to the fact they made a loss on every sale (before getting into extra cost on warrantee), was never going to be a winner. But would have been a great car.
What you talking about?TS500 had a fixed seat with moveable pedals, so you can't be talking about that?
J
What a conincidence I should see this thread. Last week I was driving into Trowbridge and I passed a bright orange TSO heading towards I assume the Marcos Heritage people on the outskirts who are based outside of Town. It was wearing the number plate MARCOS and I didn't at the time realise just how rare they were.
It was always smoke and mirrors. They hardly made anything and at least one car was revamped. Half a dozen cars maybe? They also hadn't got a clue about how engines actually worked when I was involved with them and were completly stumped with simple things like hall sensors and VSS. Bit of a shame really as I'd hoped that they'd do well.
If they'd got one car out on the road being tested or driven by a top driver they'd have raked in sales but TS had this big thing about Australia. Being resident in California I can maybe understand that but Europe would have been his market. The US was a dead duck unless he sold a box of parts. He's probably still got the build writes should somebody want to make him an offer.
If they'd got one car out on the road being tested or driven by a top driver they'd have raked in sales but TS had this big thing about Australia. Being resident in California I can maybe understand that but Europe would have been his market. The US was a dead duck unless he sold a box of parts. He's probably still got the build writes should somebody want to make him an offer.
About 3 months ago i first heard of marcos (bear with me, i'm not old enough to drive yet) this was because i was sitting in the back of my mum's ford focus when one overtook us and immediately broke down. i have no idea what model it was, but it had an weird triangular back end (which wasn't helped by the black smoke pouring out of it). if it helps, i was in st. albans at the time and it had one of those green-purple chameleon paint jobs. can any of you own up to owning this car?
There's a nice blue TSO local to me. Lady owner, she spotted my Marcos and came and chatted to me at Oulton Park Gold Cup day. There aren't many Marcoses around of any type, so owners tend to stop and chat when they spot one.
I think there were 7 TSOs made and maybe a couple part finished in the administrators sale. I have seen a silver grey one came for a Marcos club track day at Curborough and was very handsome, and then David Gerald sportcars had a red one with a grey interior for sale for quite a while. So it was a car that only just about made it into production and then the company died. Maybe that is the last we will hear of Marcos - though it certainly came back from the dead several time in the past.
I think there were 7 TSOs made and maybe a couple part finished in the administrators sale. I have seen a silver grey one came for a Marcos club track day at Curborough and was very handsome, and then David Gerald sportcars had a red one with a grey interior for sale for quite a while. So it was a car that only just about made it into production and then the company died. Maybe that is the last we will hear of Marcos - though it certainly came back from the dead several time in the past.
Edited by Noccer on Tuesday 9th November 21:43
there was a orange rust coloured....metallic if i remember correctly in jersey....it look amazing on the forecourt...i was test driving a lotus elise there...took the elise for the test drive only to have the head gasket go on me....i said there was a problem with car before i took it out...amazed i got it back ..garage asked if i was still interested.....mmmm....anyhow....i got told that the rep wrote the marcos tso off on a test drive...which is probably why i havnt scene the car since...
there was a orange rust coloured....metallic if i remember correctly in jersey....it look amazing on the forecourt...i was test driving a lotus elise there...took the elise for the test drive only to have the head gasket go on me....i said there was a problem with car before i took it out...amazed i got it back ..garage asked if i was still interested.....mmmm....anyhow....i got told that the rep wrote the marcos tso off on a test drive...which is probably why i havnt scene the car since...
DJC said:
I never told the story before, but given that both companies have now gone by the by I suppose I can.
The Sagaris EVO used for their Sagaris v Marcos GT2 feature was mine and the wife and I spent the 2 days with them in Northern France. The article took a few liberties at the time, "couple of days and hundreds of miles behind the wheel" because most of the time was actually spent doing photo set-ups. the 2 cars being driven mostly by myself and Ben from Marcos, the EVO boys having few miles in them. On the 2nd day, that was going to be the mostly driving day the Marcos blew its radiator about 10 miles out from the hotel and spent the day in the car park of the Calais retail place. The Sag performanced faultlessly.
EVO never mentioned the radiator problem with the Marcos at all which I thought was generous of them and I never mentioned it either as I thought it just wasnt cricket to do so. I have often wondered though had it been the other way round whether such discretion would have been afforded the TVR...
yes but that car was the development car, the production cars were, completely different!The Sagaris EVO used for their Sagaris v Marcos GT2 feature was mine and the wife and I spent the 2 days with them in Northern France. The article took a few liberties at the time, "couple of days and hundreds of miles behind the wheel" because most of the time was actually spent doing photo set-ups. the 2 cars being driven mostly by myself and Ben from Marcos, the EVO boys having few miles in them. On the 2nd day, that was going to be the mostly driving day the Marcos blew its radiator about 10 miles out from the hotel and spent the day in the car park of the Calais retail place. The Sag performanced faultlessly.
EVO never mentioned the radiator problem with the Marcos at all which I thought was generous of them and I never mentioned it either as I thought it just wasnt cricket to do so. I have often wondered though had it been the other way round whether such discretion would have been afforded the TVR...
We look after 3 TSO's here and are all pretty reliable cars, bar a couple of tiny issues, not a lott between them in terms of quality and build and we work on both
I'd love to know more, I was quite excited about the TSO while it was being developed and previewed. Like many here I like to pay attention to a 'new British sportscar'. More input and experiences on this thread would be great. I wonder if a new thread focusing on various rare (and mostly defunct) UK cars from the last 25 years or so would work. I'm sure I am not the only one curious. Sadly people with the experience of driving or even owning them might be harder to come by!
if you can find then £20k or around there is the norm
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C525198
I prefer the beast
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C491073
but alas no parking means its off limits for me.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C525198
I prefer the beast
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C491073
but alas no parking means its off limits for me.
Du1point8 said:
if you can find then £20k or around there is the norm
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C525198
I prefer the beast
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C491073
but alas no parking means its off limits for me.
Don't like the one at the top at all, looks horrid.http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C525198
I prefer the beast
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C491073
but alas no parking means its off limits for me.
Do like the beast, but fear it would be disappointing to drive....
One of the things that appeals to me with the TSO is the Chevy LS engine which is a great robust and tunable unit, added to the good looks.
I did like the Marcos TSO GTC in the days, sadly they did not make many
http://www.caradisiac.com/photos-article/Photos-du...
here also a video also with factory inside etc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz0LM32hnYY
http://www.caradisiac.com/photos-article/Photos-du...
here also a video also with factory inside etc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz0LM32hnYY
Edited by GTRene on Saturday 24th January 20:52
the Stig in the car...brake balance and under-steer, otherwise it would/could be faster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fGLjrnrNHI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fGLjrnrNHI
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