Will TVR ever sell in the USA
Discussion
Just read some of the posts in the Tuscan section of the TVR forum. I think the ONLY reason that TVR hasn't made it to the USA is because the Speed 6 engine is not as reliable as a Ford/Chevy V8, Porsche engine, Japanese engine.
Has anyone driven 60,000 miles on a Tuscan with just normal wear and tear issues?
Has anyone driven 60,000 miles on a Tuscan with just normal wear and tear issues?
I don't get it. Why isn't the Speed 6 an engine that can do 100k? I bet an LS-6 engine (comparable horsepower, isn't it?) could do 100k without major work. I haven't heard of any reliability issues with that engine.
Every time I hear somebody talking about Freedom in this country, I think, "If we have so much freedom, why can't we get TVRs?"
Yippee38
Every time I hear somebody talking about Freedom in this country, I think, "If we have so much freedom, why can't we get TVRs?"
Yippee38
Must have something to do with the manufacturing process and the fact the GM has been building the engine for eons.
When there are a bunch of PHers who can report 70,000 miles of their Speed 6 engine, then I think TVR will feel comfortable with the USA. TVR doesn't want the warranty claims...
When there are a bunch of PHers who can report 70,000 miles of their Speed 6 engine, then I think TVR will feel comfortable with the USA. TVR doesn't want the warranty claims...
Yippee38 said:
Every time I hear somebody talking about Freedom in this country, I think, "If we have so much freedom, why can't we get TVRs?"
Yippee38
Good point! Same thing I think and that there are no decent loop holes. You can go to prison potentially for trying to import a TVR "quietly" on your own.
Also I would like to comment on "show and Display" importation. I froget where we left off on this subject. I should check previous posts but in the most recent Sports Car International they mention a private company has found a way to import the 959 by reworking it's engine so that it's EPA compliant. They replace the turbos completely and they are not longer sequencial (IIRC) plus they change from a Bosch to Motec ignition management. These are just a few of the changes to get it imported legally. So they significantly alter a modern classic and guess what? It's a show and display importation so you can only drive it 2700 miles! I don't recall the cost but it was obviously expensive.
We need to lobby.
I couldn't really care less if a TVR Tuscan came with the Speed 6 engine or not. Stick anything of comparable power into the thing and sell it. If TVR can ship one of their beautiful cars with a subbed motor in it, it will sell.
Will it happen? Yes. Will it happen while Mr Wheeler is at the helm? I doubt it. But TVR is an important enough company as a result of his magic that one day Ford or somebody else will buy the marque.
Will it happen? Yes. Will it happen while Mr Wheeler is at the helm? I doubt it. But TVR is an important enough company as a result of his magic that one day Ford or somebody else will buy the marque.
Tailslide said:
I couldn't really care less if a TVR Tuscan came with the Speed 6 engine or not. Stick anything of comparable power into the thing and sell it. If TVR can ship one of their beautiful cars with a subbed motor in it, it will sell.
Aye, there's the rub. There isn't anything of comparable power. Remember, the Speed Six is a dry-sumped engine and is, therefore considerably shorter vertically than a conventional engine. Even then it has to be canted at an angle to fit under the bonnet.
Plus, even if you could find someone to dry-sump a BMW engine they are, to the best of my knowledge, the only company that still makes an US-certified I-6 engine it wouldn't make anywhere near the power of the TVR engine.
Also, you have to remember that the Tuscan's bonnet is fixed with only that small service hatch that opens in the front. Doing things like checking the oil and/or topping it up would be a nightmare is you'd have to remove the bonnet (a slightly annoying, two-person job from what I've read here).
If you want to bring in a TVR and try popping someone else's engine into it, you're better off with the Rover V8-powered cars or maybe a Cerbera. Then, if you couldn't get the Rover V8 to pass the test, you could replace it with any of a number of American or European V8s - maybe a Cadillac Northstar engine...
Yippee38 said:
LS-6.
I doubt it would fit. Isn't it too big? The reason they're as reliable as they are is because they don't have a very high specific-power rating. Any high-school autoshop student could build an engine that puts out 60bhp/liter and lasts for 100,000 miles.
Plus, it would be heresy to put a big lump of Detroit iron into something as high-tech as a Tuscan.
Fizz,
Being the ever optimistic hopeful one that we will soon see a return of TVR to the North American market,
(but frustrated over several years of teases with no definitive results), the sight of a LHD Tuscan in the paddock at Sebring definitely set my heart to racing.
As much as I would like to think this is "evidence" that the factory is preparing for the American market, and despite the fact that both cars finished the Sebring endurance challenge, I have still not heard an announcement.
Perhaps the car was sent over to test the temperature of the North American market and after the feedback is given to the factory, then we'll find out if something is going to happen.
Let's hope it will.
Being the ever optimistic hopeful one that we will soon see a return of TVR to the North American market,
(but frustrated over several years of teases with no definitive results), the sight of a LHD Tuscan in the paddock at Sebring definitely set my heart to racing.
As much as I would like to think this is "evidence" that the factory is preparing for the American market, and despite the fact that both cars finished the Sebring endurance challenge, I have still not heard an announcement.
Perhaps the car was sent over to test the temperature of the North American market and after the feedback is given to the factory, then we'll find out if something is going to happen.
Let's hope it will.
Your thinking is sound, but, as I have stated before
on this thread, I am a "believe it when I see it"
kind of person.
I keep hoping we will hear an official announcement that they have secured an agreement with some sort of
dealer base like the Roger Penske Group and will start sending cars over here in the 2005 model year.
Then, it would be nice to start seeing road test
impressions of the Tuscan by some of the magazines you mentioned as reinforcement of such a commitment.
For those of us who have been loyal TVR owners for several decades, we would be delighted at such news.
on this thread, I am a "believe it when I see it"
kind of person.
I keep hoping we will hear an official announcement that they have secured an agreement with some sort of
dealer base like the Roger Penske Group and will start sending cars over here in the 2005 model year.
Then, it would be nice to start seeing road test
impressions of the Tuscan by some of the magazines you mentioned as reinforcement of such a commitment.
For those of us who have been loyal TVR owners for several decades, we would be delighted at such news.
John,
Let's hope your e-mails produce results. I've sent
so many communications over the last few years to different people. After a while you wonder if it falls on deaf ears.
I think it would be great to see a TVR/Penske affiliation since he runs such a classy operation. That is the way TVR needs to be presented in the US to make it work.
Again, let's hope for positive results.
Let's hope your e-mails produce results. I've sent
so many communications over the last few years to different people. After a while you wonder if it falls on deaf ears.
I think it would be great to see a TVR/Penske affiliation since he runs such a classy operation. That is the way TVR needs to be presented in the US to make it work.
Again, let's hope for positive results.
Gassing Station | TVR in USA | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff