Tuesday 21st September 2004

TVR gets positive

Exclusive: Tuscan2 renamed, Typhon & Sagaris build halted

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TVR is already looking positively towards the future, according to new PR man Ian Law. In an exclusive interview with PistonHeads, Law said that this includes both more and better quality cars, and happier staff.

Indicative of the new regime, Law said that production of the Typhon and the Sagaris has been halted in order to develop the build process and improve quality. This includes shipping the cars to Australia for hot-weather testing. It's possible the new cars could start rolling off the line next month, since Law indicated that three months was initially flagged as the time it would take for the new regime to start showing results.

The Tuscan2 is also to change its name. It will be called the MKII because, said Law, "we want to define it as a new model not just an upgrade." While Law was reluctant to provide specifics ahead of an official statement due soon, changes include a better interior specification and a new steering rack and geometry from the Tamora/T350. This will, said Law, improve directional stability. "Existing customers will get what they ordered", said Law.

We are also taking on more people, said Law, for jobs including lamination, the paint shop and the shopfloor generally. "It's constant", he said. "People feel positive about the future."

Law did not comment on management changes which are expected in the forthcoming official statement.

[bennno]

The hot weather testing will probably reveal that the glue holding the interior together melts, that the air con doesnt work and that the engine turns the car in to a mobile sauna - up until it breaks down

bennno

[beano500]

That's a pretty positive comment from you then, Ben!

[jamesc]

This sounds very good news!

[Supersonic]

beano500 said:

That's a pretty positive comment from you then, Ben!

Makes a change then.

Edit: Any idea of when the official statement is due Ted?

>> Edited by Supersonic on Tuesday 21st September 10:39

[V8 Archie]

Report said:

The Tuscan2 is also to change its name. It will be called the MKII because, said Law, "we want to define it as a new model not just an upgrade."

Am I the only one who thinks this sounds silly?

[PetrolTed]

Supersonic said:

Any idea of when the official statement is due Ted? >> Edited by Supersonic on Tuesday 21st September 10:39

I don't. PH is currently being edited by Manek who is in touch with the factory on these matters.

[PetrolTed]

V8 Archie said:

Report said: The Tuscan2 is also to change its name. It will be called the MKII because, said Law, "we want to define it as a new model not just an upgrade." Am I the only one who thinks this sounds silly?

Depends what thay call it. Could be confusing though. After having loads of different models called Tuscan they could be about to rename the Tuscan as something else rather than the other models!

[bennno]

beano500 said:

That's a pretty positive comment from you then, Ben!

Basing it on the experience of taking my brand new Griff 'hot weather testing' to northern Italy.

I also conducted hot weather testing on my Cerbera and t350 and the same things happened.

having purchased 2 new TVRs and 3 nearly new TVR's in the last 6 years I speak from personal experience....

bennno

[rev-erend]

Ted - it's great news that the TVR company now uses PH for feed back - both good and bad.. the last 2 years have been bad ones for TVR (financially). So a new broom and investment must be a good thing.

[PetrolTed]

My S4 survived without a single issue in 38 degrees in Valencia.

Those old TVRs were great

[venom500]

About 3 years to late Mr TVR,most of your buyers headed for the hils years ago,is this something to do with the recent speed six engine survey by any chance?(me thinks this is just anther cheap smoke screen)..."WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE MR TVR,ITS TO LITTLE FAR FAR TO LATE"...Anyone with a brain knows nothings changed,and untill this pathetic speed six engine lasts longer than a vicar in a brothel then most "x" TVR buyers won,t be back.Lets see the results and not hear more rubbish being spoutted from another TVR P.R man,or is it they think TVR buyers are gullable.A good start would be spending time replying to customer complains not hot weather testing in Auz....

[ozzie dave]

OK , Its hard work but I'll put my hand up , send it here for 6 months and I'll tell you what overheats , melts or brakes . its now 30 degrees in brissy & gold coast and should be to mid 40's by christmas .(could even use it for the Indy if you want!

[manek]

venom500 said:

About 3 years to late Mr TVR,most of your buyers headed for the hils years ago,is this something to do with the recent speed six engine survey by any chance?(me thinks this is just anther cheap smoke screen)..."WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE MR TVR,ITS TO LITTLE FAR FAR TO LATE"...Anyone with a brain knows nothings changed,and untill this pathetic speed six engine lasts longer than a vicar in a brothel then most "x" TVR buyers won,t be back.Lets see the results and not hear more rubbish being spoutted from another TVR P.R man,or is it they think TVR buyers are gullable.A good start would be spending time replying to customer complains not hot weather testing in Auz....

Rome wasn't built in a day...what would you do?

[rev-erend]

Manek - many of us here should be buying new TVR's
but we are not.

Most people I have talked to have blamed this one just 1 thing ..

It start's with S and ends in 6..

My personal opinion is that the only way to reassure these customers would be either to ditch the current engine or keep it and offer an alternative .. such as the ultra reliable Ford Cammer .. or Chevy LS6..

They need to make a big change... sorry if it's not what they want to hear but people now do not buy the line "but the new ones are OK now" ...

[gtr-mike]

It seems all of the negative comments regarding TVR are the frustrations of willing owners who cannot live with the inconvienience of a shoddy car. A pal of mine, ex cebera owner, is on his third engine on his new T350 and has done nearly all of the milage running motors in! Nightmare. I aspire to owning a Segaris but I am just not prepared to pay for a time bomb. Can TVR sort out these issues...

[anonymous-user]

Today's Autocar contains an interview with Mr Smolenski himself. Seems to be pretty positive overall. More parts to be made in house. More parts to be made in Britain. More QA staff. Production to stay in Blackpool. All the sort of things we want to hear.

[deeen]

Seems like a positive step to me, of course there may be other postitive steps which need taking, too. At least the factory are putting some money into development, they have been accused of letting the customers do the development in the past. And both those cars still have the speed six, so maybe the testing will be positive for current speed six owners, too.

[Mrs Fish]

Well things can't get any worse can they?

[GCerbera]

gtr-mike said:

A pal of mine, ex cebera owner, is on his third engine on his new T350 and has done nearly all of the milage running motors in!

Ouch, tends to blow a hole in the recent survey that newer engines were sorted.


Was it an original release T350?
Could you let me know what the problems were either on here or via my email?

[swilly]

Jeezus, TVR come out with a pretty definitive statement of intent....


.....and yet the moaning goes on. As has been said Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was a TVR.

I would put money on the fact the Speed 6 engine is a major discussion point at TVR at the minute......and if they have any sense they will keep it, develop it/fix it (whatever you want to believe).

TVR appear to be moving in the right direction, lets hope the product refelcts that.