What do TVR need to do to be Best in Class
Discussion
It took Jaguar a long time to rid themselves of their70's/early 80's image of rust and unreliability - mud sticks, and too much gets slung TVR's way - the fiasco over a few bad Tuscan engines has been magnified by the small output of the factory, relative to the number of faulty cars, and the high expectations of customers, who expect all cars to behave like Toyotas. Hand built cars are an anachronism, and as such no allowance is made for the faulty nature of human beings vs robots in the build process. This is not intended as an excuse, merely an explanation. Niggly faults are almost built in to the whole TVR experience, and whilst undesirable, it will remain a fact of ownership whilst the company remains so firmly outside the mainstream - but isn't that a major reason for buying them? 
If TVR wants the Tamora to appeal to an audience whose expectations are set by modern fangdangery like ABS, airbags, electric roofs etc. then, as in any other capitalist enterprise, they have to offer customers a choice. It's not rocket science. The choice is either to buy a big brand with widgets (Porsche/BMW), or save five or ten grand and do without (TVR), while prioritising performance. It's a well-worn product marketing ploy that works in all sorts of other areas.
But the Tamora, at about the same price as the other two, shoots itself in the foot. The Tamora is too expensive, and suggests that TVR has given up on the strategy that worked so well with the S -- which was to provide an affordable entry-level model, a foot on the ladder if you like.
People today don't want to have to make compromises and, if they're going to spend £40 on a car, they demand (and are correct in so doing IMHO) reliability, build quality and toys. In a sports car, they want performance too -- but they don't want to give up the other stuff. That's why for most people, TVR isn't the right choice.
Now, it's all very well us TVR maniacs saying 'to hell with them' but what's the long-term future for TVR if it can't expand its market or at least stand still?
-Manek-
But the Tamora, at about the same price as the other two, shoots itself in the foot. The Tamora is too expensive, and suggests that TVR has given up on the strategy that worked so well with the S -- which was to provide an affordable entry-level model, a foot on the ladder if you like.
People today don't want to have to make compromises and, if they're going to spend £40 on a car, they demand (and are correct in so doing IMHO) reliability, build quality and toys. In a sports car, they want performance too -- but they don't want to give up the other stuff. That's why for most people, TVR isn't the right choice.
Now, it's all very well us TVR maniacs saying 'to hell with them' but what's the long-term future for TVR if it can't expand its market or at least stand still?
-Manek-
quote:
why is everyone concerned with how they compare to other cars, if you've bought one you know what you want and put your money where your mouth is. Sod anyone else and their opinions.
EXACTLY!
I got criticised in another thread for making stereotype comments about drivers of particular cars - similar comments have been made in this thread. If you are a TVR driver - what do people think of you/think you are..........but at the end of the day, if you are happy, who gives a tinkers t@ss? TVRs are unique - and no one can take that away!
IMVHO pitiful testing aside, I think that getting a TVR on a prime time slot being compared to two of the best brands of car on the market is an excellent result. PW and TVR were aiming for this market with the Tamora and to get such a comparison must be seen as a major hurdle in getting the name of TVR into the average household (and therefor increased sales!)
But before I get a major flaming I just want to reiterate:
TVR on prime time TV being compared to Porsche and BMW = Very good
TVR loosing points due to stupid test criteria = Very bad
Lee
But before I get a major flaming I just want to reiterate:
TVR on prime time TV being compared to Porsche and BMW = Very good
TVR loosing points due to stupid test criteria = Very bad
Lee
quote:
Boxsters make you look like an estate agent, and Z3's make you look like a hairdresser.
Best in class already I reckon!
Nuff said
Edited by Plotloss on Thursday 8th November 10:09
As Bryan Lister has said, we do get stick for stereotyping people by their cars on Pistonheads.
And anyway, surely its; Boxter, hairdresser; Z3, estate agent; MX5 hairdresser/aerobics instructor?
As far as the hackneyed unreliability tag, that people give to TVR, I agree with other comments here, that - particularly for a handbuilt car -they are generally good.
There are a lot of mainstream cars, that are recalled on the quiet. My dad had one of the first V8 S-Type Jags, and that has been recalled TWICE, yet Jags still do extremely well in the JD Power survey.
Marcus
& Ocean Haze Griff 500
Agree with Phil. Boxter & Z3 are sportscars, TVRs are effectively supercars. Sportscars allow you to waft about the Kings Rd looking good. Supercars single mindedly persue performance. They are really different things. The 911 tries to be both, and I think that is what the Tamora is trying to be. They should have compared the Tamora to a 911 - it would win easily based on cost alone.
Gentlamen, I have already chastised BryanLister for stereotyping hairdressers. As I mentioned previously, my girlfriend is a hairdresser, and loves Z3's, but get's serious kicks from the grin factor of my TVR, and was the main person who encouraged me to upgrade to a Tamora. So pleas, desist from this line of reasoning - or she has threatened to get online to Pistonheads herself, and you don't want that - believe me, you don't!!
Next, I've got a copy of December's CAR - with their performance car of the year. It's the Ferrari 360 spider, BUT, well talk about honourable mentions - the Tamora is up there in the final 4 or 5 cars, and is thus considered to be one of the best cars in the world!! The Boxster? in with the also-rans...
Next, I've got a copy of December's CAR - with their performance car of the year. It's the Ferrari 360 spider, BUT, well talk about honourable mentions - the Tamora is up there in the final 4 or 5 cars, and is thus considered to be one of the best cars in the world!! The Boxster? in with the also-rans...
Excellent
I shall take a 'special' drive home around the long route just to make sure I can pick a copy of car up at the friendly newsagent about 10 miles away. Do other people find a nice little drive after a hard day at work makes you feel all the better for it.
Boy with a demon Astra estate passion wagon.
I shall take a 'special' drive home around the long route just to make sure I can pick a copy of car up at the friendly newsagent about 10 miles away. Do other people find a nice little drive after a hard day at work makes you feel all the better for it.
Boy with a demon Astra estate passion wagon.
Ok, so its not good to stereotype, just got to work this morning and the w@nker Boxster S driving Estate Agent downstairs had pinched me space then saw that post and couldnt resist a quick flame.
On the whole though I believe that they were testing sports cars, whilst I wholeheartedly believe that Dr Porsche does make sports cars mostly the Boxster is an accessible Porsche for the masses and therefore not a sports car. I dont think I need to make any further comments about the Z3 being a sports car as its plainly not.
I feel although it is nice to see TVR being tested against such percieved 'classy' mainstream cars a better 'shoot out' would have been perhaps against a Marcos and an Aero 8 or something similar as all three are proper sports cars and have similar company ethics.
As someone said (I forget now) we all pay our money and take our choices and after owning a Mustang Cobra and a Viper (which are arguably sports cars) in the states even though I have had more than the average number of niggles with my new Chim I still feel its a marvellous sports car and has, excluding practicalities and the reliability (in the publics eyes not ours), a hell of a lot more going for it in every class than the other two.
On the whole though I believe that they were testing sports cars, whilst I wholeheartedly believe that Dr Porsche does make sports cars mostly the Boxster is an accessible Porsche for the masses and therefore not a sports car. I dont think I need to make any further comments about the Z3 being a sports car as its plainly not.
I feel although it is nice to see TVR being tested against such percieved 'classy' mainstream cars a better 'shoot out' would have been perhaps against a Marcos and an Aero 8 or something similar as all three are proper sports cars and have similar company ethics.
As someone said (I forget now) we all pay our money and take our choices and after owning a Mustang Cobra and a Viper (which are arguably sports cars) in the states even though I have had more than the average number of niggles with my new Chim I still feel its a marvellous sports car and has, excluding practicalities and the reliability (in the publics eyes not ours), a hell of a lot more going for it in every class than the other two.
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