WARNING - TVR have discontinued 17 inch wheels

[johnmckenzie]

I've just had an incident with a pothole in Oxford which has put a twist in one of my front, bog standard, original fit 17 inch silver wheels. Phoned dealer to acquire new one who then phoned factory who stated 17 inch wheels are discontined and there are none in stock. Dealer advice - convert to 18 inch!!!!!!!
Oh, very bloody funny! I've got a nearly new (2000 miles) set of SO2's fitted and 3 unbent wheels and I'm expected to fork out best part of £1800 on 4 wheels and tyres to fix a problem that should cost £150.
Got a couple of dealers sorting through their junkheaps for me to try and find a straight secondhand one. If this fails, then what?
I haven't spoken to the factory myself yet, I'll await the results of the secondhand search. In the meantime, anyone out there with 17 inch silver jobs they want to offload on me? I'd even consider buying a whole set if the price was sensible.

Hellllllllp !!!!!!!

[johnmckenzie]

Having spent 20 years in the motor industry (10 with Ford and 10 with Unipart) I can tell you the requirements to supply service parts and spares after production is finished is a little hazy. 10 years is an oft quoted number but try to find definitive legislation on the subject and you'll be out of luck. 10 years is a period deemed by most manufacturers to encompass a reasonable lifetime for a vehicle during which they have a moral if not legal obligation and is also a period that is felt courts would find reasonable in the event of a customer suing for lack of support. Certainly 4 years, in the case of my wheels would be morally short (especially when TVR's tend to kick around for 20 years or more).

In the meantime however, anyone out there with wheels, please get in contact either through the thread or my e-mail address in my profile. Thanks guys!

p.s I think we all know that TVR don't make wheels!

regards

John Mckenzie

[johnmckenzie]

Offers are coming in guys, thanks very much. I'll keep you posted and let you know when I have a result (this afternoon I hope)

Cheers

John

[johnmckenzie]

Thought I'd tracked down a full set of good ones at Brooklands. Went to see them as I'm in Cornwall at the moment only to find they are 18 inch RL7 pattern as were fitted on the original red rose package. Shucks

Took a look at the insides of my wheels and decided I need 4 if I can get them. Paint has just about disappeared along with most of the balance weights by the look of it and the corrosion is diabolical, and I really mean diabolical. It begs the question how on earth the factory can get away with this sort of thing. I bet they won't use Speedline again (or do they make the spider too?)

regards

John Mckenzie