RE: No more cars from TVR, says Smolensky
Discussion
OMG!!
zebedee said:
richb77 said:
Yeah as in they wanted the doors to shut, Not p*ss in water and for it to start without having to sacrifice a chicken!
says someone who owned a 1960s Land Rover! TVRs aren't that bad are they? I drove a Cerb, the doors shut (it was dry) and it started on the button and went like stink and sounded great. If it wasn't for the fact that running costs were likely to be far higher than the Elise I got instead I would probably have bought it (but would probably have had to sell it by now, whereas I've still got the Elise!)
I have to admit i am a TVR fan but based my comments from the knowledge i had of a colleague who's last brand new TVR (he had, had three) was a T350 (pre-Sagaris looking thing) in 2004 and it was a complete shed. NOTHING worked on it, the shuts where WORSE than a 1960's land rover. That being said when it was going it sounded awesome and went like stink. I am sure it was these rare moments that made him keep it.
Wind turbines!!! What is the man on. TVR have no affiliation with them so why brand them as such. The guy is a complete knob and glad he isn't producing TVR's anymore but wish he'd relinquish the brand for someone to at least try and revive what little is left.
I'm sure with a sensible cash injection the business could be rekindled in some way, shape or form.
FFG
I'm sure with a sensible cash injection the business could be rekindled in some way, shape or form.
FFG
900T-R said:
But not in a direction that I would want to pursue. Playstations are two hundred quid, I don't need my fun car to feel like that even if it means it's twice as fast on a certain German toll road in the hands of a professional racer.
The only real competition TVR would be facing are Morgans, kit cars and classic cars.
Given you seem to want to target the lower price end of the market, would you not see Lotus as a potential competitor as well?The only real competition TVR would be facing are Morgans, kit cars and classic cars.
Alfa numeric said:
...and Marcos
That Marcos just has TVR DNA all over it (which is hardly surprising as the designer was ex-TVR). Had they had the finance to see that car though to production I think it would have sold very well and would have been a credible choice for TVR owners looking to move to something newer with LS power. richb77 said:
I have to admit i am a TVR fan but based my comments from the knowledge i had of a colleague who's last brand new TVR (he had, had three) was a T350 (pre-Sagaris looking thing) in 2004 and it was a complete shed. NOTHING worked on it, the shuts where WORSE than a 1960's land rover. That being said when it was going it sounded awesome and went like stink. I am sure it was these rare moments that made him keep it.
People knocking TVRs always seem to know someone who had one, rather than having owned one themselves (I'm discounting you saying "I have to admit i am a TVR fan" because that sounds so much like "I'm not racist but...")Who actually cares ?
Pistonheads faithful, and the few TVR owners that dont lurk on here for comfort, kind words and solidarity.
Petrolheads make up a small percentage of the population, I am sure a lot of people class themselves as car enthusiasts and will buy a "Sporty Car" but really the market is sewn up, for 50 to 100 grand you can get into an Audi R8, Porsche 911, Boxster, various Merc's and BMW's, all of which have had vast development programmes, a new Boxster gets fantastic reviews and realistically will be significantly more capable and approachable than any TVR, even the tame one (Tamora) was a bit of a nutter by most peoples standards.
Most sports car owners want the roof down experience, image, resale, usability, nice interior and reliability, thats a key thing and TVR's never really did that so well. They want some excitement and a Boxster will provide most with enough excitement and feedback without feeling like you are going to die imminently, TVR's have their place but it isnt with the general public, it is like people who go and buy a big Dog without reading up on the temperament and it eats them, normals dont and shouldnt buy them on a whim. Buying a TVR means you know the score, it isnt a car for the uninitiated and the initiated is a small market, an frankly most of us cant afford one or it doesnt fit into our lives, petrolheads who fancy one is not a big enough market on which to build a business case, good intentions and grass roots support dont sell units.
Like it or not, there just arent that many blokes (TVR is resolutely a blokes car, female owners exist and I salute them but they are statistically irrelevant) with 75 grand to drop on a "new" TVR, even a rehashed Griffith with a Corvette V8 in.
Pistonheads faithful, and the few TVR owners that dont lurk on here for comfort, kind words and solidarity.
Petrolheads make up a small percentage of the population, I am sure a lot of people class themselves as car enthusiasts and will buy a "Sporty Car" but really the market is sewn up, for 50 to 100 grand you can get into an Audi R8, Porsche 911, Boxster, various Merc's and BMW's, all of which have had vast development programmes, a new Boxster gets fantastic reviews and realistically will be significantly more capable and approachable than any TVR, even the tame one (Tamora) was a bit of a nutter by most peoples standards.
Most sports car owners want the roof down experience, image, resale, usability, nice interior and reliability, thats a key thing and TVR's never really did that so well. They want some excitement and a Boxster will provide most with enough excitement and feedback without feeling like you are going to die imminently, TVR's have their place but it isnt with the general public, it is like people who go and buy a big Dog without reading up on the temperament and it eats them, normals dont and shouldnt buy them on a whim. Buying a TVR means you know the score, it isnt a car for the uninitiated and the initiated is a small market, an frankly most of us cant afford one or it doesnt fit into our lives, petrolheads who fancy one is not a big enough market on which to build a business case, good intentions and grass roots support dont sell units.
Like it or not, there just arent that many blokes (TVR is resolutely a blokes car, female owners exist and I salute them but they are statistically irrelevant) with 75 grand to drop on a "new" TVR, even a rehashed Griffith with a Corvette V8 in.
Hunky Dory said:
Given you seem to want to target the lower price end of the market,
Er, no? I'd say (and have always said) £80K would be about the minimum where production would be viable? Hunky Dory said:
would you not see Lotus as a potential competitor as well?
Very different cars. If we talk Elise/Exige and descendants, they're much more of a track/Sunday morning blast car while a TVR is something you take for a continental tour lasting a week or two. As for 'feel' a Lotus is far more delicate, a car that you need to feel from your fingertips and one for people who are looking for their 'perfect' lap all the time, TVRs offering a more visceral experience overall. Surely the moulds and tooling for the 'current' range still exists somewhere - so re-starting production as it was wouldnt be that difficult? There must also be govt/eu grants available.
Or - as in the Gordon Murray documentary, build a tube/composite chassis (very cheap according to them) and galvanise it. Use standard GM V8 drivetrain, or stick with RV8 (still available easily?). CNC all the TVR 'bits' like knob handles, switches, brightwork etc - again this is not expensive.
Have three models - an entry "S" , midrange Cerb/Chim , and mental top end Sagaris. Solve electrical issues instantly by foil lining the fibreglass body to give you an easy earth circuit (could it be that simple? probably not), and using better quality electrical components, which will not add hugely to cost but improve reliability no end. Raid the Ford or GM parts bin for existing ancilliary components like door mechanisms, elec windows, air con etc. Uprate alternators and add ceramic fans to cure cooling. Keep it simple. Build a formal partnership with remaining servicing/tuning operations to make them 'official' , thus removing any doubts from the minds of new owners about servicing and tuning availability. Surely the Lancs council would help a genuine and serious new venture with premises etc in Blackpool , and there must be a pool of skilled workers still available who could be tempted back.
You will need two (quite expensive) showrooms - one at the factory, and one in London. Trade heavily on the cool and slghtly retro factors, big up the boys toy and heavy glamour factors.
This recipe would give you literally millions worth of free press coverage, and some real momentum for a re-launch. If you had the rights to the name you could get there from a standing start in 18 months max.
Build no more than 300 of each per year which exempts you from most of the onerous eu legislation.
This is a winning formula, and if a new owner is looking for an MD, I am available......
Or - as in the Gordon Murray documentary, build a tube/composite chassis (very cheap according to them) and galvanise it. Use standard GM V8 drivetrain, or stick with RV8 (still available easily?). CNC all the TVR 'bits' like knob handles, switches, brightwork etc - again this is not expensive.
Have three models - an entry "S" , midrange Cerb/Chim , and mental top end Sagaris. Solve electrical issues instantly by foil lining the fibreglass body to give you an easy earth circuit (could it be that simple? probably not), and using better quality electrical components, which will not add hugely to cost but improve reliability no end. Raid the Ford or GM parts bin for existing ancilliary components like door mechanisms, elec windows, air con etc. Uprate alternators and add ceramic fans to cure cooling. Keep it simple. Build a formal partnership with remaining servicing/tuning operations to make them 'official' , thus removing any doubts from the minds of new owners about servicing and tuning availability. Surely the Lancs council would help a genuine and serious new venture with premises etc in Blackpool , and there must be a pool of skilled workers still available who could be tempted back.
You will need two (quite expensive) showrooms - one at the factory, and one in London. Trade heavily on the cool and slghtly retro factors, big up the boys toy and heavy glamour factors.
This recipe would give you literally millions worth of free press coverage, and some real momentum for a re-launch. If you had the rights to the name you could get there from a standing start in 18 months max.
Build no more than 300 of each per year which exempts you from most of the onerous eu legislation.
This is a winning formula, and if a new owner is looking for an MD, I am available......
te, and totally opposite to what actually happens, this means we will be seeing new TVR's on the road VERY SOON !!!! 
J4CKO said:
Petrolheads make up a small percentage of the population, I am sure a lot of people class themselves as car enthusiasts and will buy a "Sporty Car" but really the market is sewn up, for 50 to 100 grand you can get into an Audi R8, Porsche 911, Boxster, various Merc's and BMW's, all of which have had vast development programmes, a new Boxster gets fantastic reviews and realistically will be significantly more capable and approachable than any TVR, even the tame one (Tamora) was a bit of a nutter by most peoples standards.
That wasn't always so, though. During their Golden Years, TVR pretty much had the market segment to themselves. If you wanted a sports car you could have cheap and slow, or fast and expensive, but if you wanted cheap and fast then there was pretty much only TVR. However, as time went on, that segment was eroded from all sides until they were ultimately squeezed out. But not entirely though - the Sagaris still punches way above its price point, especially when it's been fettled by Racing Green or TVR Power. tvrman said:
andysteele said:
what about a PistonHeads buy-out, we all put in a fiver and make him an offer!
You may have a point. We must have all the skills required between us......
We could do better than the Russian. PH sales alone would keep us going for a few years.
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