Autocar comments this week on future of TVR

[BigGriff]

Did anybody read Autocar's comments on TVR this week. Do they know something we don't or is it journalistic muck raking?

comments were along the lines of Nick biting off more than he could chew and that the next few years were make or break (what's new with TVR)

[forthright mc]

i read similar comments in the ask goodwin bit. someone asked a question about the speed 12 and the reply was "i'm rather more concerned about TVR's survival. i don't think the latest regime knew what they were taking on" it could be that he knows something about the company and is being told to keep his mouth shut, or he's just talking out of his arse. i thought TVR were doing alright at the minute!?

[dazren]

I don't think the comment was anything more than the sort of speculation you read on here or other motoring sites.

DAZ

[BigGriff]

I respect him as a journalist but could not guess if he knows something or not.

TVR do seem to be heading in the right direction (quality,warranty etc), but I still fear that they do not want the TVR enthusiasts, but customers with £75k in their pockets for Typhon's.

My main concern is that the dealer chain seems to be dissolving and not being replaced quickly enough. New dealers seem to appear, last a few years and go again. Not the sort of thing that inspires customer confidence.

[Tripps]

dazren said:

I don't think the comment was anything more than the sort of speculation you read on here or other motoring sites.

Too right, he could simply be basing his opinion on the changes in what we expect from the company, they aren't run as a diplomacy, so if the new style of management is very different (which is certainly seems to be), the view of the company from the outside will change drastically.

For instance TVR always had a new car or variant on display at the UK motor shows, but at MPH05 for the first time they didn't anything to show, this doesn't actually mean anything bad unless you decide to take it that way.

But of course Goodwin could just be very in-the-know...

[sideways mostly]

He went down in my estimation with that statement-either he is well informed and has let something out, journo's are not good at keeping secret, or he knows nothing and was speculating. As a private citizen he has every right to but as a journalist for a volume car mag he is being highly irresponsible.

[JR]

BigGriff said:

I still fear that they do not want the TVR enthusiasts, but customers with £75k in their pockets for Typhon's.

Customers who wish to buy cars that are offered for sale would be better.

[rev-erend]

He probably knows the sales figures - if TVR's sales do not pick up then Nicks interest in the company could easily fade and he could sell but as always - there will be plenty of takers.

It's never really as much doom and gloom as some would like to made out.

[JR]

rev-erend said:

He probably knows the sales figures - if TVR's sales do not pick up then Nicks interest in the company could easily fade and he could sell but as always - there will be plenty of takers. It's never really as much doom and gloom as some would like to made out.

It's a tricky one isn't it? Before NS new models were launched frequently, people were entertained by the factory proceedures and all the armchair pundits said never mind anything else just sort out the quality. NS hasn't developed any new models but has tried to regulate the factory and sort out quality. Has he now got a good base for future growth and new model developemnt amd launches? We may just have to wait and see. Good luck.

[venom]

Very true. I'd imagine the worst case senario is NS loses interest and sells up. Unless NS's motives for buying the company in the first place were far more sinister - tax right off, for example, but the evidence seems to suggest that he's trying to take the company forward in his own image.

As for new models or variants, I can't imagine it'll be too long before something breaks cover. MPH, whilst interesting is not THE big one in show terms, especially given the upcoming summer show. It'll be interesting to see what they've got planned for that one.

[rev-erend]

By the looks of it - it's steady progress : get the Typhoon out and finish it's development : as for a 75K car it will have to be better built.

All the rumours of a new engine (V8) .. I'm sure TVR will want to be the star of the show and they won't disappoint us

[GilesS3]

NS has owned the company for a relatively short time, and in that time, he appears to have achieved a considerable amount.
Improved build quality
3yr warranty
Improved quality control
New factory
etc, etc
All of this takes a considerable amount of management time, resources, and planning. I would be surprised if we saw a new model, or indeed a facelift this year, although maybe a press release on what was to come??
With modern legislation, it is becoming harder and harder to launch new product.
I hope that he doesnt loose interest, because so far, IMHO he has done alot to improve the marque and the companies profile! Look at Clarkson and the Sagaris - he loved it, and praised it. When was the last time he did that to a TVR!!

[chris watton]

rev-erend said:

By the looks of it - it's steady progress : get the Typhoon out and finish it's development : as for a 75K car it will have to be better built.

Hmm, not so sure about spending a lot of extra development time and money on a £75/80K 'super TVR' would be wise, reminds me of the MGSV debacle – very, very few would buy them and the costs involved in development will never be recouped!
I design stuff, and as much as the huge, very expensive stuff I design look great, and create a lot of attention, the ‘bread and butter’ stuff are low/medium priced products, that sell by the thousands - -I feel that the best way for TVR to become more profitable, and hence having more dosh in the pot for future development of better products, is to build some lower powered, but well put together cars for around £22-26K,(am sure Porsche ummed and arrd about the Boxter, but that has turned out to be a nigh on perfect sports car in its own right, and I would have thought has outsold the rest of the range put together, a 'bread and butter' product summed up perfectly, in a perfect package!) but definitely not invest any more time/effort/money into a pie in the sky £80K car, I feel that would be financial suicide – in the real world at least,

Just MOHO of course.


>> Edited by chris watton on Friday 17th March 15:02

[jimmyt]

Interesting comments re: the £22-26K entry level model. Can't see it happening though, they don't seem to have the capacity to do high volume - maybe that'll change at the new factory?

Speaking of which:

- whats the lastest on the new factory?
- is the summer show (mentioned above) the NEC motor show?
- anyone heard any more news/rumours of a Sag convertible?
- anyone heard any more news/rumours of a Cerb replacement?

I'm delaying my next TVR until I know if TVR are sticking with the Speed6 or going back to V8s but I hope they stay with the S6 (but thats another thread).

[rev-erend]

Chris - I could not agree more..

[Al 450]

I fear for the company as I think they have painted themselves into a corner with the S6 engine. There are a lot of TVR owners who just won't move on from a Griff or a Chim because they can't trust the cars. I think that this is borne out by the second hand values of the cars. Tuscan values have now dropped almost into the high end Chim bracket!

There are plenty of other engines out there (small block Chevy?) but is it too late to switch without further damaging reputation?

Just my opinion of course.

[UpTheIron]

From some of the comments above, and all IMHO:

- A 22-26k TVR would not work. The Elise, Audi TT, MR2 etc have that market. TVR is about supercar speed for slightly more than sports car money. So stick to £30k upwards. So yes, bring the price down a bit - a no-frills T350 maybe? But a 22k TVR would not do 0-100 like a TVR should.

- Bottoms end Tuscans are in Chim/Griff territory, mainly because of the S6 issues and perception of how bad they are. However many S6 owners (who are ex V8 owners) will not go back to a Rover V8 because the overall package is inferior. (No offence to those who have, and some do prefer the character etc). TVR need to move on - and it will be bold decision to decide to gowith the S6 or a new (bought in) engine.

- As for Autocars comments...just read PH...people have been saying the same for years.

[member8888]

Improved build quality ?
3yr warranty Yes
Improved quality control ?
New factory No
etc, etc ?

[member8888]

- whats the lastest on the new factory? See TVR website
- is the summer show (mentioned above) the NEC motor show? Yes
- anyone heard any more news/rumours of a Sag convertible? Not happening
- anyone heard any more news/rumours of a Cerb replacement? Not happening

As I have said before, the show cars are a wide bodied Tuscan with a Cerberra 12 roof and a Sagaris with filled in vents and a central grille. The later is to have a new name although it is very similar to the T350/Sagaris

[yellow peril]

member8888 said:

- whats the lastest on the new factory? See TVR website - is the summer show (mentioned above) the NEC motor show? Yes - anyone heard any more news/rumours of a Sag convertible? Not happening - anyone heard any more news/rumours of a Cerb replacement? Not happening As I have said before, the show cars are a wide bodied Tuscan with a Cerberra 12 roof and a Sagaris with filled in vents and a central grille. The later is to have a new name although it is very similar to the T350/Sagaris

You seem to speak with some conviction there member8888
Do you work in or have some involvement with the factory?

Is the wide bodied Tuscan a facelift prototype that TVR intend to take through to production?
After all, they have the wide bodied moulds already from the Typhon.

Personally, I would hope that they didn't make a Sagaris convertible....I think it should stay as it is and I have heard that there is talk of a Cerb 2....................but I hear a lot of things

Again personally I wouldn't like to see a 'bread and butter' TVR. I don't want to see loads of them on my way to Tesco's every week. It's good to have something a little different.

I agree with the comment above that TVR should stick to supercar performance at the £35 -50k mark.



YP