Scottish tvr dealer

[mactusc]

I heard Glenvarigill will not be a TVR dealer for much longer ... is that true ? whats happening ?... why doesnt anyone manage to make the franchise work for them in Scotland ?


interested as an exile in England

[Dave L]

Wouldnt be surprised, they havent exactly been putting much effort into it for the last few years IMHO.

Its very dissapointing that there is no established dealer in Scotland. If there was a dealer in Aberdeen that was any good I would be 99% certain to be driving a TVR at the moment. (Logik talked about it when they had the dealership but it never happened.)


Dave

[tvrolet]

mactusc said:

I heard Glenvarigill will not be a TVR dealer for much longer ... is that true ? whats happening ?... why doesnt anyone manage to make the franchise work for them in Scotland ?

Correct. Not new news though, it's been fairly widely known for some time. This was based on information from folks at the factory and in the dealer channel some months back. [asscovering]However, as with everything you read, it a) could be subject to change, and b) could have been misrepresented in the first place [/asscovering]

The plan was, at one time, that there would be TVR-owned outlets in first Edinburgh and Glasgow; they'd open in whatever city they found a site, then open the other later. And some time later would be Aberdeen. It got to the point where a Glasgow site was earmarked but it all fell through for some reason. Geoff Laird-Porche was doing this, I understand, but I hear he's now left TVR so I've no idea what happened to these plans and if they're still going ahead. GEOFF - WHERE ARE YOU?

Historically then, with a TVR-owned 'dealer' on the horizon there didn't seem to be too much interest in any others running with it. I'm guessing of it becomes clear that TVR won't open an 'owned' centre, then there's the opportunity for someone to step into the void. I've lost a couple of my contacts though, so I haven't a clue what the factory plans are now.

As to why the others failed, then as an observer I'd say that there were different reasons (although you may speculate on a single root cause).

As I recollect, Brandon simply gave up the TVR dealership as there wasn't enough money in it, particularly in the workshop. I gather Brandon, as we knew and loved them, no longer exists; but Alan MacDonald still sells TVRs amoungst others from Alan Macdonald Sportscars in Dalkeith.

Logik then took up the mantle as a new-start business near Dunfermline. They did go spectactularly belly-up, but I gather through losses in the linked Harley Davidson business, with the TVR bit being profitable. However, at the liquidation auction, it was fairly clear that the whole business had been run fairly naievely and was an accident waiting to happen, so not really a TVR issue.

Glenvarigill then picked up the brand to compliment Ferrari, Porsche and Maseratti...but then got into serious financial difficulties (not linked to TVR) and offloaded Ferrari, Porsche and Maseratti plus the Glenvarigill Plaza premesis. TVR were then homeless and were relocated to Perth with the Hondas....and the rest is, as they say, history.

However, Haxham aren't a million miles away over the border for kosher new car sales, and I know of quite a few folks who have bought off English dealers. Dreadnought in Callendar are still an official service centre (unless I hear otherwise), plus V8 Sports are an independent. So yes, it would be ideal to have a main dealer up here, but it is still just about workable without! And I can't see how a well located dealer with decent service and a decent business plan wouldn't work...assuming TVR themselves don't open something.

or build your own TVR...who needs dealers then?

[mactusc]

Thanks for the responses folks. Hexham HHC which I believe is still owned by Nigel (who recently sold Harrogate HHC) has a vgood reputation.. so I can see why you all go there.

I bought my first Tiv at Brandon.. I thought they did a good job

Perhaps there is not a critical mass off TVRs on the road to sustain a dealership ?? .. particularly if service options are open other than the dealer... thats where the recurring revenue is

[rossybee]

Hexham HC is owned by Tony Abrams - he is an absolute star - he sold me my Griff 500 in '97 & looked after it for the 5 years I owned it

If I'm passing, I still pop in for a coffee & a chat


Geoff Laird-Portch is at TVR London IIRC

[ascender]

Is part of the problem not the agressive sales targets you have to meet in order to keep the franchise? I thought you had to agree to take x number of new models a month as part of the deal?

-Mike.