Missed Opportunities or Daft marketing ploy???
Discussion
Have the TVR dealers all gone stark staring potty? Or is it TVR's idea to make the T350C launch so low key?
Most dealers are now in possession of their T350C demonstrators. I have driven the TMS one and it's awesome. OK, so my car will be ready in a few weeks, but what about other potential customers? Not one dealer I can find has pictures of the new demo T350's on their website....are they mad? Or have they been ordered not to put pictures on their sites??
All seems a bit strange to me especially when all car manufacturers are struggling at the moment....
Most dealers are now in possession of their T350C demonstrators. I have driven the TMS one and it's awesome. OK, so my car will be ready in a few weeks, but what about other potential customers? Not one dealer I can find has pictures of the new demo T350's on their website....are they mad? Or have they been ordered not to put pictures on their sites??
All seems a bit strange to me especially when all car manufacturers are struggling at the moment....
Probably why the Sunday Times only just got their hands on a Tamora (even though flasher has already sold his 
). The enthusiasts come first in the que, then they will try and entice others. Keeps the order books reasonably steady and allows the fans to feel special as they get their cars first.
Well, its a posisble explanation anyway
). The enthusiasts come first in the que, then they will try and entice others. Keeps the order books reasonably steady and allows the fans to feel special as they get their cars first. Well, its a posisble explanation anyway
I suppose it depends what you mean by 'launch'. I thought the official launch was at the NEC back in October and it was hardly low-key. And have all the dealers got their demos yet? If I was interested in a T350C I'd do the same as Christof and blag a proper test drive at the Factory.
Have the TVR dealers all gone stark staring potty? Or is it TVR's idea to make the T350C launch so low key?
I take your point though, Flasher, if I was a TVR dealer I'd be pushing the new product as hard as I could cos I know they haven't had it as easy as it was 5 years ago when there was an 18 month wait for a new TVR.
I'm not so sure guy's... Don't get me wrong I want TVR to succeed, I love the cars, I'm on my 5th one!! It just seems strange that when they have the opportunity to let the cars loose on the press (who are gagging to test them) and I still don't get why the dealers haven't got them plastered all over their websites..
Just wondered if there was some sort of "keep it low key and we'll launch it in a big fanfare" thing going on...
Just wondered if there was some sort of "keep it low key and we'll launch it in a big fanfare" thing going on...
Sounds sensible to me. Many many manufacturers have come seriously unstuck when demand outstrips supply for a "new" car. It almost crippled Lotus when they did the mass launch of the MK2 Elise, then couldn't deliver due to QA problems.
For someone the size of TVR using free press to advertise limits demand and is sensible. As for the dealers, many will not want 10's of customers that have to wait 6mnths to a year for their car - better to limit the demand, take the available GM's and ensure there is longevity in the supply and demand chain.
It's a fundamental of a product launch, and one that is played out 1000's of times a day in coporations all over the world.
J
For someone the size of TVR using free press to advertise limits demand and is sensible. As for the dealers, many will not want 10's of customers that have to wait 6mnths to a year for their car - better to limit the demand, take the available GM's and ensure there is longevity in the supply and demand chain.
It's a fundamental of a product launch, and one that is played out 1000's of times a day in coporations all over the world.
J
That's been their method of ironing out the bugs on new models since 1972 (from when you could no longer buy a TVR as a 'kit')
jeremyc said: [cynical mode on]
Or they want to make sure it is the diehard TVR fans who carry out the beta testing of the new model before they do a mass launch to the unsuspecting car-buying public.
[cynical mode off]
I've had another thought on the T350C. When was the last time TVR got a model into production within 4 months of a show launch? The Griffith took 18 months, the Chimaera a year, the Cerbera 20 months, the Tamora 15 months... perhaps even TVR's marketing department were caught on the hop?
>> Edited by Terminator on Tuesday 21st January 22:21
joust said: Sounds sensible to me. Many many manufacturers have come seriously unstuck when demand outstrips supply for a "new" car. It almost crippled Lotus when they did the mass launch of the MK2 Elise, then couldn't deliver due to QA problems.
For someone the size of TVR using free press to advertise limits demand and is sensible. As for the dealers, many will not want 10's of customers that have to wait 6mnths to a year for their car - better to limit the demand, take the available GM's and ensure there is longevity in the supply and demand chain.
It's a fundamental of a product launch, and one that is played out 1000's of times a day in coporations all over the world.
J
Not sure I agree with this. Ferrari, Aston Martin, Bentley etc all have huge waiting lists on new models and don't seem to worry. In fact one of the reasons that the second hand values of TVR's has markedly dropped over recent years is that long waits for new cars has gone ( I got my Tamora in 5 weeks from order ). Hence buyers do not purchase second hand vehicles in the interim which helps maintain higher values.
Frostie
>> Edited by frostie on Tuesday 21st January 22:23
Flasher being an ex-Tamora owner can you remember whether the dealers had them Advertised much on there release??
Probably just most dealers dont update there sites that regular.
Plus also agree with the comment about letting them slip out first for the Hardcore TVRers to try out first ie 'Flasher', and also about getting to much interest and getting flooded with orders and not being able to keep up ie Lotus.
Nuff said
BB
Probably just most dealers dont update there sites that regular.
Plus also agree with the comment about letting them slip out first for the Hardcore TVRers to try out first ie 'Flasher', and also about getting to much interest and getting flooded with orders and not being able to keep up ie Lotus.
Nuff said
BB
TVR are doing things right. Get the car right first time, no faults thus no complaining owners.
As for PR, well TVR are supporting the TVRCC N. Ireland region at the Belfast Sports Car Show next week.
They are lending us some of the NEC Display. The reason, well this is going to be the biggest car show this year in Ireland. More importantly this is the biggest ever TVR display in Ireland. We have TV cover as well as the motoring press.
When TVR had a dealer here they only ever put on 2 cars, at the motor show which they attended. We are putting on the full current range, which if its finished in time will include the T350C.Now you can't beat that for good PR.
Colin L
Some of you are missing my point here. I'm not slagging TVR themselves off. I can see why they want all the magazines to get the articles at once. This guarantees maximum exposure.
However, taking BB's point when the Tamora was launched several dealers had their demo cars plastered all over their websites to attract more orders, particularly the dealer I bought mine from.
The order book is pretty good on the T350C and T but people seem to be holding out and sitting on their orders, maybe because it's winter? There will then be a massive rush and a bloody wait to get one.....
As for testing the cars on the paying customer, that may be true for the Tuscan, but the T350 is almost identical to the Tamora except for the body shell, what is to test on us? The roof? The rear tailgate? No, the car is well sorted now so there shouldn't be problems. (fingers crossed!)
It's always been my opinion that you either get a good car and have no trouble or you just get unlucky. Most of us have had no trouble at all but I know Nick Hatch and Dicky have had engine trouble and Frostie has had a few niggles too. That's a great shame because they are definitley making better cars now, Think they just need a bit more attention to detail and a few more quality ingredients.... and improved quality control. But Hey, I don't expect mass produced Porsche build quality for half the price...
>> Edited by flasher on Tuesday 21st January 23:27
However, taking BB's point when the Tamora was launched several dealers had their demo cars plastered all over their websites to attract more orders, particularly the dealer I bought mine from.
The order book is pretty good on the T350C and T but people seem to be holding out and sitting on their orders, maybe because it's winter? There will then be a massive rush and a bloody wait to get one.....
As for testing the cars on the paying customer, that may be true for the Tuscan, but the T350 is almost identical to the Tamora except for the body shell, what is to test on us? The roof? The rear tailgate? No, the car is well sorted now so there shouldn't be problems. (fingers crossed!)
It's always been my opinion that you either get a good car and have no trouble or you just get unlucky. Most of us have had no trouble at all but I know Nick Hatch and Dicky have had engine trouble and Frostie has had a few niggles too. That's a great shame because they are definitley making better cars now, Think they just need a bit more attention to detail and a few more quality ingredients.... and improved quality control. But Hey, I don't expect mass produced Porsche build quality for half the price...
>> Edited by flasher on Tuesday 21st January 23:27
flasher said:
plotloss said: Henley Heritage have...
Matt.
Have what? They don't have any pictures of their demo do they? Just TVR official press pictures. Not one dealer has a picture of their demo on their website...coincidence or conspiricy? Discuss...
Not pictures of their demo, but at least they have the press pictures daubed with the words 'Demo now in' which is something I suppose...
Matt.
flasher said:
but amazingly several of them are still advertising Griffs as "New" TVRS amongst other out of date stuff.....
Maybe that's the clever marketing...
Maybe they're bringing the Griff back. they tried to kill it off before don't forget.
Don't you just love conspiracy theories, who killed JFK, did MI5 kill Diana, are TVR relaunching the Griff...
Cheers
DC
flasher said: Right, I've now been through all the dealers websites and not one of them has a feature on their new demo T350's...
A couple mention the T350 but amazingly several of them are still advertising Griffs as "New" TVRS amongst other out of date stuff.....
A huge number of small businesses think 'I must have a web site', so off they go and get one - and thats it for two years...
I've lost count of the number of commercial websites (not just TVR dealers) I've seen that have out-of-date information.
Seems that they spend a fortune on getting it set up and designed but neglect the reason they were talked into having one in the first place, i.e., supplying accurate information on their company and products.
As far as I'm concerned, no information is better than wrong information.
>>Edited by Terminator on Sunday 3 August 1999 12:10
Seems that they spend a fortune on getting it set up and designed but neglect the reason they were talked into having one in the first place, i.e., supplying accurate information on their company and products.
As far as I'm concerned, no information is better than wrong information.
>>Edited by Terminator on Sunday 3 August 1999 12:10
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