So is there any news????
Discussion
I reckon it'll take a while to sort everything out, they'll only get one chance at this and credibility will be crucial. That not only goes for the cars they produce but also who they approve as distributers, repair centres etc - at the moment anyone can stick a TVR badge above their door and claim to be a specialist....
natben said:
Come on, give them a chance, there have been a few false dawns in the past few years I for one would rather they took there time and came to the market with a well thought through product and businesplan rather than something rushed out to keep a few old owners happy.
Unfortunately while they've been fiddling Rome has burned. It's 8 years since the factory closed and in that time the whole landscape has changed. When TVR last made cars you could get away with a 1 yr warranty. (OK Smolenski conned a few of us by theoretically giving a 3 yr warranty on 05 cars but he folded before anyone could claim). In 2005 360 HP was immense, now it's meh. New cars are very well made now and consumers expectations are much higher than they were nearly a decade ago when TVR was selling cars. Whilst it's great that enthusiasts who happily buy used cars at a fraction of the new price are keen to see something materialize I doubt that there are enough people ready to pony up 70 or 80k pounds for new cars from an unproven outfit when there so many other options available. That's assuming they can find someone willing to sell them a viable engine and can underwrite 3 year warranties etc...
I'd love to be wrong, I bough new TVR's in 2003 and 2005 and an almost new Sagaris in 08, all of which I loved (despite all the faults). I just think the days of shoestring operations selling a few hundred cars to forgiving enthusiasts are pretty much gone. Lest we forget, TVR wasn't making money selling T cars for 50k pounds 8, 9, 10 years ago......
unrepentant said:
In 2005 360 HP was immense, now it's meh.
The Exige S - 345bhp, Ariel Atom 245bhp, Caterham SP/300R 300bhp.It's the power to weight that matters. Big BHP is starting to get old hat with emissions and fuel efficiency. That is why practically every manufacturer is now looking at making their car lighter. TVR have always been light so to carry that on would be no bad thing, so the need for big BHP figures (which add cost) would also be a waste.
Up until last year, I was in and out of the R&D divisions of Porsche, AMG and Audi.
There is absolutely no hope of TVR competing with the likes of Porsche on an apples for apples basis.
Porsche have more resource cleaning their toilets than TVR could have in their entire plant.
TVR, can only compete on uniqueness,quirkiness and style.
Porsche would never build a Tuscan......
I have just bought a Tamora......I was very tempted to invest my money in a more mainstream,, reliable, 'sure thing'
But at the end of the day, I wanted to be 'different'
TVR could never compete with the economies of scale that the supercar manufacturers have, but if they can design the right car, (look at what the Evoque has done for JLR) and get the quality right, it will fly.
There is absolutely no hope of TVR competing with the likes of Porsche on an apples for apples basis.
Porsche have more resource cleaning their toilets than TVR could have in their entire plant.
TVR, can only compete on uniqueness,quirkiness and style.
Porsche would never build a Tuscan......
I have just bought a Tamora......I was very tempted to invest my money in a more mainstream,, reliable, 'sure thing'
But at the end of the day, I wanted to be 'different'
TVR could never compete with the economies of scale that the supercar manufacturers have, but if they can design the right car, (look at what the Evoque has done for JLR) and get the quality right, it will fly.
I hope that they take their time. They never could compete on a like for like basis with Porsche. Then again, if you look at Porsche they are increasingly becoming a manufactuer of oversized and utterly pointless SUV estate cars. The GT3 fiasco is much worse than any of the issues with modern TVR's and the only engine repalcement recall in motoring history.
Companies like Ariel, Noble, Weissmann, Caterham, Westfield, McLaren, Spyker, Koenig, Singer Porsche, Morgan can all survive by offering something distinctive and "different". Some are providers of expensive jewellry, others a unique driving experience.
As companies like Porsche, Aston, Audi, Lambo become badges rather than companies in their own right then, if they get the quality right, there should be no reason why it should not thrive at a specific level of production.
Just a shame Wheeler shot his own company.
Companies like Ariel, Noble, Weissmann, Caterham, Westfield, McLaren, Spyker, Koenig, Singer Porsche, Morgan can all survive by offering something distinctive and "different". Some are providers of expensive jewellry, others a unique driving experience.
As companies like Porsche, Aston, Audi, Lambo become badges rather than companies in their own right then, if they get the quality right, there should be no reason why it should not thrive at a specific level of production.
Just a shame Wheeler shot his own company.
JRH63 said:
TVR could never compete with the economies of scale that the supercar manufacturers have, but if they can design the right car, (look at what the Evoque has done for JLR) and get the quality right, it will fly.
The Evoque? TATA investment in JLR has been huge ($4 billion in '13, $5 billion this year). The Evoque was produced by a manufacturer with 65 continuous years history, a global marketing and dealership platform, a huge marketing budget, great technological and design know how and a fantastically supportive parent company. Last time I looked TVR didn't have a factory, let alone a car and their marketing seems to be nonexistent. How much do you think JLR spent pre launch on the Evoque and the F-Type? Demand was strong before the first car even hit the showrooms. Apples and oranges.I think a better put together Sagaris with a bigger lump in it, Poss Powers 4.5 would still sell now. there is nothing that looks like it for the sort of money it costs.
TVR never followed the trend of the day and I personally hope if/when they go back into production that the new car stands out and is still at a reasonable cost.
Jaguar F's are a stunning looking car, but I bet it still drives like an XJ saloon but handles a bit better. TVR was never about a quiet smooth ride and cup holders!!
TVR never followed the trend of the day and I personally hope if/when they go back into production that the new car stands out and is still at a reasonable cost.
Jaguar F's are a stunning looking car, but I bet it still drives like an XJ saloon but handles a bit better. TVR was never about a quiet smooth ride and cup holders!!
Jaybees said:
Jaguar F's are a stunning looking car, but I bet it still drives like an XJ saloon but handles a bit better. TVR was never about a quiet smooth ride and cup holders!!
Your first post was an avert for some car alarm person and your second post was this. What's your connection to TVR's?
But they did recall in the end , which is more than TVR did with the chocolate S6 engine
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Then again people bang on about what an amazing engineering quality company Porsche / VW are. They also make 150,000 cars per annum and are part of one of the biggest car companies in the world. Yet the GT3 catches fire and let's face it this is not the first time they have produced dodgy engines for their cars. Porsche's solution, ignore it, keep the customer in the dark, issue arrogant minimalist statement, demand all customers have the entire engine changed by......the factory or the dealer. Do you fancy having a dealer change the engine on your car?
TVR made their cars in a shed. The S6 engine was the first engine they produced and although not reliable it did not incinerate the cars and they strived to fix it. The AJP 8 and 12 engines were better and one still holds at least one power output record.
Hope you don't mind Paul .
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