How will we be affected?

[braddy]

Hi all, I've seen in a few of the forums, discussions about TVR needs to move forward.

From a selfish point of view, as an owner, I'm more interested in how we'll be affected.

Anyone any thoughts about whether we'll have to wait longer for spare parts?
Will the bottom fall out of the re-sale market or will the prices hold because of the rarity factor of TVRs?

As I say, apologies to anyone who thinks I shouldn't be worried about such things when others are losing their livelyhoods, but I thought I'd leave that to others discussion topics to address.

Cheers
Braddy

[Tyre Smoke]

My guess is prices will firm up. Components will be avaialble from somewhere, because there is a demand.

Jensen Intercepter, Lancia Delta Integrale, MGB/C? All holding their prices and still easily kept on the road.

Without starting the what is going on at TVR debate on here, I could care less if they go bust. My car will become instantly rarer and more desireable.

[touchingcloth]

Tyre Smoke said:

Without starting the what is going on at TVR debate on here, I could care less if they go bust. My car will become instantly rarer and more desireable.

Am of roughly the same opinion, the upside to the downside if you like. It would also make me damn sure to look after the car more carefully as well if they do go down for good. I think the Cerbera would be in a very strong position with regards to future values having been the only one to have the AJP, 4 seats etc. (not to mention best looking, best noise.....yadda yadda yadda ).

Feel like a vulture already thinking these thoughts, especially when people's jobs are at stake but I am far from willing on a collapse just prepared for an upside if they do.

[Tyre Smoke]

Exactly TC, and off topic, nothing they make now looks like the beautiful flowing lines of the Wheeler era. In fact they all look the same and something out of Mad Max. A Saggy/T350 will never be a classic like the Cerb/Griff/Chim*





*Delete as appropriate.

[ridds]

I've heard through the grape vine that part quality has dropped a lot since the takeover, due to sourcing things from cheaper supplies. Not sure this is a good thing given previous gremlins.

Providing other suppliers step to the mark to provide us older model owners then hopefully this shouldn't affect our vehicles. Not sure of the knock on effect on the SP6 though.

[gbbird]

Must disagree with other opinions expressed here. It clearly is not a good thing for Cerbera (or indeed any other TVR model) owners if TVR go bust. Other than parts and the possible changes in price & quality of parts, what about servicing, recompense if things go seriously wrong, warranty, help and general advice, etc etc. I also think resale values would plummet - who would want to buy a (admittedly temperamental) car if there was no strong dealership and service network in operation?? Certainly run of the mill day to day joe bloggs owners like me would not relish this prospect - they would become a thing for racing or engineering enthusiasts only

It really does demand a thick pair of rose tinted spectacles if one actually thinks it is of benefit to Cerbera owners if TVR goes bust.

It's not good

[cossiemetro]

i think fuels prices will affect prices more than anything at the mo £1.09 a litre thats madness

[Tyre Smoke]

gbbird said:

Must disagree with other opinions expressed here. It clearly is not a good thing for Cerbera (or indeed any other TVR model) owners if TVR go bust. Other than parts and the possible changes in price & quality of parts, what about servicing, recompense if things go seriously wrong, warranty, help and general advice, etc etc. I also think resale values would plummet - who would want to buy a (admittedly temperamental) car if there was no strong dealership and service network in operation?? Certainly run of the mill day to day joe bloggs owners like me would not relish this prospect - they would become a thing for racing or engineering enthusiasts only It really does demand a thick pair of rose tinted spectacles if one actually thinks it is of benefit to Cerbera owners if TVR goes bust. It's not good

I have no warranty on my car, notr would I want one. It is reliable if looked after properly with a bit of common sense. I use a damned good Indy for my servicing and wouldn't pay main stealer prices anyway. Recompense if things go seriously wrong? On a six year old car? Help and general advice? I get most answers to questions from PH. If not, my local Indy again. It is my opinion that no one should own a TVR let alone a Cerb if they do not have rudementary mechanical knowledge. Knowing how an internal combustion engine works, a bit of 12v electrical knowledge and general knowledge of engineering principals should be a prerequisite to ownership.

[touchingcloth]

gbbird said:

Must disagree with other opinions expressed here. It clearly is not a good thing for Cerbera (or indeed any other TVR model) owners if TVR go bust. Other than parts and the possible changes in price & quality of parts, what about servicing, recompense if things go seriously wrong, warranty, help and general advice, etc etc. I also think resale values would plummet - who would want to buy a (admittedly temperamental) car if there was no strong dealership and service network in operation?? Certainly run of the mill day to day joe bloggs owners like me would not relish this prospect - they would become a thing for racing or engineering enthusiasts only It really does demand a thick pair of rose tinted spectacles if one actually thinks it is of benefit to Cerbera owners if TVR goes bust. It's not good

I am certainly not saying it is a one way street of happiness if they were to go down, merely that I believe there would be an upside to the downside. As far as recompense if things go seriously wrong, most Cerbs are out of manufacturers warranty and the days of goodwill I believe are long gone so nothing too change there. For servicing there is already an established network of independent specialist out there (mostly trusted more than the main dealers as far as I can see). As for parts, again I am not sure that TVR are that bothered about ensuring an ongoing supply of parts for cars no longer in production; the parts business and rights for Wedges and S have already been sold off to TVR Car Parts and I am sure they would happily take up the rest of the stock from the receivers along with the rights to the designs if it came down to it so it is not all going to disappear overnight.

I do hope for the sake of the brand and history that TVR continue but as far as the outlook for the Cerbera in isolation, I do not think it is all doom and gloom.

[Alistair H.]

How are we affected?....... Well I have been 2 months with my car off the road waiting for TVR to supply a new windscreen.

[andysgriff]

Interesting this one, hope I don't end up sounding too negative but here goes..

The whole episode is not good especially for those who will lose their jobs, never a good time. However we cant do a great deal about the situation.

I am sure there are a lot of TVR owners out there (many of whom have spent a lot more on their cars than I have, new Tuscans, Sags etc) who are wondering what's going to happen to the value of their cars, short term and long term. If the worst comes then I am sure it will have a negative effect on all the cars, maybe in the long term values will hold and even rise.

What will be interesting to see is what will happen when we need our cars servicing or repaired. Is there enough capability in the indy sector to cope? If you live in the North East then you are not exactly spoilt for choice for servicing, luckily we have HHC up here to look after us. If they were not there then its a long drive to the nearest Indy (Chesterfield)....The other thing is what the availabilty of components would be like, (2 months for a windscreen....I think I saw on somewhere).

Anyway, I'm worry myself now so I'll stop. I just hope that things work out at TVR and someone puts some serious cash into the business to put it backk on track.

The other basics that are needed IMHO to take TVR to the next level;

Fewer models, maximum of 3 - Tuscan, Cerb II amd Sagaris perhaps.
Bigger and better engines, with increased HP and improved reliability - big V8 with GENUINE 400-600+hp. I won't open the SP6 can of worms again, nut I will say that maybe this is one of the main reasons TVR are in trouble.
More agressive styling (I always thought the newer cars were just a bit girly looking (compared to the Cerb)

Anyway thats me suitable depressed....cheers
Andy

[gazzab]

I remain optimstic about cerb residuals! I believe that Lotus Esprits have remained solid over the yrs despite Lotus changes?
I worry for TVR though - when TVR were doing very well ie 96 - 99 they had it just right and the market was just right for them. So I agree that they need a moe appropriate model line up eg a better styled convertible or two and maybe a 2+2 (instead of Sagaris?).
BUT what they cant compete with is the competition - since 99 the competition has hotted up. S2000, Boxster, Z4M, RX8, Nissan 350z, cayman, Noble, M3 CSL etc etc......

[gbbird]

Tyre Smoke said:

gbbird said: Must disagree with other opinions expressed here. It clearly is not a good thing for Cerbera (or indeed any other TVR model) owners if TVR go bust. Other than parts and the possible changes in price & quality of parts, what about servicing, recompense if things go seriously wrong, warranty, help and general advice, etc etc. I also think resale values would plummet - who would want to buy a (admittedly temperamental) car if there was no strong dealership and service network in operation?? Certainly run of the mill day to day joe bloggs owners like me would not relish this prospect - they would become a thing for racing or engineering enthusiasts only It really does demand a thick pair of rose tinted spectacles if one actually thinks it is of benefit to Cerbera owners if TVR goes bust. It's not good I have no warranty on my car, notr would I want one. It is reliable if looked after properly with a bit of common sense. I use a damned good Indy for my servicing and wouldn't pay main stealer prices anyway. Recompense if things go seriously wrong? On a six year old car? Help and general advice? I get most answers to questions from PH. If not, my local Indy again. It is my opinion that no one should own a TVR let alone a Cerb if they do not have rudementary mechanical knowledge. Knowing how an internal combustion engine works, a bit of 12v electrical knowledge and general knowledge of engineering principals should be a prerequisite to ownership.

I do take your points Tyre Smoke (and touching cloth) but we then come to ther whole issue of supply and demand. If the demand for indie garages increases (and i do use them all the time by the way) then market forces will dictate that indie garage hourly rates (and also parts and other sundries) will increase. No-one likes to pay more money for things, and certainly not i, being a northerner by birth .

As for your opinion about not owning a cerb unless you have a rudimentary mechanical knowledge, then i had better get mine into the classified right away , as i know sweet FA about it (but i have somehow managed to fumble through 2 and a half years of Cerbera ownership)

[spartacus]

TyreSmoke said:

It is my opinion that no one should own a TVR let alone a Cerb if they do not have rudimentary mechanical knowledge. Knowing how an internal combustion engine works, a bit of 12v electrical knowledge and general knowledge of engineering principals should be a prerequisite to ownership.

I'm sorry gbbird but I would tend to agree with TyreSmoke, the above knowledge is very important with what is, lets face it, not an every day mass produced euro box, its a high performance GT car with the looks, style and grunt to match many exotics two or three times its original showroom price. As they get older you have to face the fact that cerbera ownership is probably comparable to many other classic cars, i.e. they bring a lot of joy but need a fair bit of looking after so it helps if you can do the more run of the mill stuff yourself definitely.

[purpleheadedcerb]

The good news is that as the years roll on, better components will be made ar completely re-manufactured. Mostly by owners or indies with the requisite knowledge and inclination. I own 2 other cars where the company ceased to exist 25 years ago and some would argue that there is a greater availability of parts than there ever was.

Scott