RE: Fernhurst go Independent
Monday 10th December 2001
Fernhurst go Independent
Fernhurst Motor Company part company with TVR
Discussion
I've never used them, but I hear mostly good things about them on this site. Good or bad, they certainly seem to be one of the major dealers in the area. Surely by any normal standards this is an odd development?? Surely TVR would wish to keep as many major dealerships in the fold as possible? Surely a franchise is usually of value to a dealership? What's the background??
It is a shame another dealer has dropped their TVR franchise.
My understanding is a fair few dealers were giving up the franchise due to the higher level of faults [and the cost to the dealership], and customer frustration from the newer [TVR engined]models.
I spoke with the manager of Broughtons just after they gave up their Bristol and Cheltenham franchises and he said it was due to the problems their customers were experiencing with the newer TVR engines over the more proven V8 lump.
Personally, and as much as I rave about the S6 and AJP8 - I just cannot see many people buying a new TVR for everyday [15-20K+ m.p.a] use.Wouldnt it be wonderful if they put something trouble free in the car [to enable people to use it worry free, and without the pidddling 6K service intervals] Say a GM 5.7L V8 or a 5L Mustang engine in the car and gave everybody a car with basic reliabilty and lower running costs.
I know Broughtons went, Portfield went, now Fernhurst, Team Central went bust and Hillfoot gave up - it is a fairly large exodus in such a small delaer network??
Ben
quote:
I know Broughtons went, Portfield went, now Fernhurst, Team Central went bust and Hillfoot gave up - it is a fairly large exodus in such a small delaer network??
We have to add Brundle to that list as well don't we? Although last time I went to their web site it still had all the TVR info on ... too tight to get it changed no doubt.
I shouldn't think Fernhurst's giving up of the franchise would deter those who used them for servicing from still using them would it? Is the Full Dealer History bit worth substantially more on the s/hand market than Part Dealer/Part Specialist History?
What do people think? My reason for asking is that up here in Cambs, we don't have a franchised dealer at all but one or two specialists. When I eventually get my Chim/Griff, I think it's gonna be Offord Motors here we come ...
TVR owner one day soon
I think the point is that do you really care if the stamp in the book is that of a factory dealer or a good independent? The way I look at it the money I've saved by going to Offord for the last two and a half years will easily offset any additional loss I take when I sell it (if indeed there is one). A large majority of people who buy 2nd hand TVR's do read up on the cars, the dealers and the places who service them. However I have a V8 Griff, if I have an AJP powered car then things would be different as the independents do not have access to the special tools needed to work on parts of those motors. I do think that is it brilliant that TVR build their own engines but I do also wonder if it is going to be their undoing. There is always the concept of outsourcing, a Tuscan with the reliability of an M3 would be appealing (grabs coat, ducks runs, and runs and runs ).
Fernhurst leave the network - wow.....
This is an amazing development, they were one of the most respected and biggest selling dealers. I can only assume that they have either had a major fallout with TVR or they have made a business decision to withdraw.
Perhaps they realised that the size of the market for new TVRs is dying (how many new Cerbera/Tuscans/Tamoras have you seen recently?) in comparison to the vast market of thousands of used Chim/Griffs. The engine is the key - it is a sad fact, but the old TVR lump was reliable, the new 'TVR own' engines don't seem able to gain the same reputation for longevity and as a result aren't selling either new or used.
Guy
This is an amazing development, they were one of the most respected and biggest selling dealers. I can only assume that they have either had a major fallout with TVR or they have made a business decision to withdraw.
Perhaps they realised that the size of the market for new TVRs is dying (how many new Cerbera/Tuscans/Tamoras have you seen recently?) in comparison to the vast market of thousands of used Chim/Griffs. The engine is the key - it is a sad fact, but the old TVR lump was reliable, the new 'TVR own' engines don't seem able to gain the same reputation for longevity and as a result aren't selling either new or used.
Guy
Before I start this is my personal opinion only......... (I've also written the same post on another thread)
I've visited Fernhursts twice in the last 4 years. The first was when I was looking for my first TVR. They wouldn't let me have a test drive and gave the attitude "come back when you're old enough to afford one!" I was 29 years old!
The same day I went to Hawthorns, had a test drive and the bug had bitten! A few weeks later I bought a used Chimaera 4.0L.
In around Sept 2000 I called into Fernhusts again as I was thinking of changing my Chimaera. This time it was their Tuscan demo that they wouldn't let me drive! Same salesman too!
A few weeks later I went to the Motor Show and paid a deposit for a Tamora!
If this is an example of their Sales strategy it's no wonder they've struggled to turn over their stock!
Cheers....... Andrew
I've visited Fernhursts twice in the last 4 years. The first was when I was looking for my first TVR. They wouldn't let me have a test drive and gave the attitude "come back when you're old enough to afford one!" I was 29 years old!
The same day I went to Hawthorns, had a test drive and the bug had bitten! A few weeks later I bought a used Chimaera 4.0L.
In around Sept 2000 I called into Fernhusts again as I was thinking of changing my Chimaera. This time it was their Tuscan demo that they wouldn't let me drive! Same salesman too!
A few weeks later I went to the Motor Show and paid a deposit for a Tamora!
If this is an example of their Sales strategy it's no wonder they've struggled to turn over their stock!
Cheers....... Andrew
quote:
They wouldn't let me have a test drive and gave the attitude "come back when you're old enough to afford one!" I was 29 years old!
Seconded. This attitude prevails in the TVR dealer network which is odd as, surely (and this is reflected on PH) Tivs appeal to a younger audience.
I went into Fernhurst when I was looking for a new car earlier in the year. The "don't touch it if you can't afford it" attitude was very much in evidence. I am only 25 but, as previously mentioned, I can arrange my own test drive cover and as for money I turned up in a 51 reg M5 !!!
The best that I can say for the Tiv dealers I encountered is that the Noble dealers were worse. Got the Porsche through a friend of my fathers but big
to Merlin who were excellent and have just done me a very reasonable fluids and kick the tyres service. The alledged unreliability of the new Tivs (even compared to older ones) feels worryingly like the TVR goes bust saga all over again. IMHO this would be a tragedy, but I cannot understand why they went for building their own engine. Hubris at all ???
I would assume from some conversations I was having on Saturday that this is really down to problems with the new engines as has been previously suggested.Unfortunately the unreliability of the speed six engine and how labour hours get billed by TVR leaving the dealer with additional unpaid hours to either wear the cost or pass onto the customer(which is not an option on cars that have only been rebuilt once to blow up again and yes it has happened apparently))and or long term customers and harm the longstanding realtionship that they have .... this engine issue has been mentioned before and the boys in Blackpool are working their nuts off to sort out issues but the longer it takes the more TVR franchises will slip into difficulties and moral dilemmas.The solution?? Why not just put the tried and tested AJP8 engine into the Tuscan..after all most people love the styling and the poise of a Tuscan but who wants to buy one with the engine issues and the secondhand values plummeting as a consequence?? Go on PW, make a Tuscan with an AJP8 in it and I will buy one....but I won't touch a speed six with a barge pole cos I want to drive my TVR further than a few thousand miles before I wave it off for 3 months...and lose a shed load in depreciation....
quote:
quote:
I know Broughtons went, Portfield went, now Fernhurst, Team Central went bust and Hillfoot gave up - it is a fairly large exodus in such a small delaer network??
We have to add Brundle to that list as well don't we?...
And Brandon in Edinburgh...
Although there are also the new dealers coming on line - Logik in Scotland, also Castle TVR - lets see how they get on over the next year - although they may benefit from having the teething problems with the Tuscan already fixed.
If one of our products suffered total failure after 6 months normal use and was then in for repair for a month and then did it again six months later I think I'd suspect a little more than teething troubles and I think my clients would be deserting in droves.
Well past the time that TVR should have had a major rethink IMHO. Supercharged Mustang unit anyone ?
Well past the time that TVR should have had a major rethink IMHO. Supercharged Mustang unit anyone ?
Of course you'd have to completely re-style the front end / bonnet shape if you put a V8 into the Tuscan as the styling "emphasises" the straight six.
Personaly, having had a Cerbera and a Tuscan, I think the Straight six is a much nicer engine than the AJP8, which I thought was rather coarse.
Personaly, having had a Cerbera and a Tuscan, I think the Straight six is a much nicer engine than the AJP8, which I thought was rather coarse.
Is it really unreliable ? Anyone got any figures ? Any TVR mechanics out there ?
Obviously it _would_ be a major hatchet job on the front end to get a V8 in, but it's prob. still better than throwing away a fortune on warranty claims. Just look at the RO80 if you're in any doubt what warranty issues can do to a company.
Obviously it _would_ be a major hatchet job on the front end to get a V8 in, but it's prob. still better than throwing away a fortune on warranty claims. Just look at the RO80 if you're in any doubt what warranty issues can do to a company.
I'm not bothered about servicing as I will continue to use Fernhurst, seeing as they always do an excellent job. I think continuous service at the same dealer is better than the TVR stamp anyway, and in any case I'm more interested in how the car is maintained and runs, not the resale value.
It is a pity from the point of view of buying a new car, as I would prefer to use Fernies.
Regarding comments about the engines, this has been well documented on here, and I beleive that many of the teething problems continue to be ironed out. I know people with S6's who have had no problems, and please remember that the early v8's had problems too. It is received wisdom that buying a newly released TVR means that you are doing live testing, but you show me any other car with the same presence, style, performance and sense of occasion for the money ? IMHO, it is great that TVR make their own engine, and I can't applaud them enough for this. The engine is a big part of the appeal and is part of what sets TVR apart from the rest (yes I know that the v8 is from Rover). I just hope that they get it right in the end. I understand that the AJP8 won't fit into a Tuscan/Tamora, and I suppose a Straight six is more British...
It is a pity from the point of view of buying a new car, as I would prefer to use Fernies.
Regarding comments about the engines, this has been well documented on here, and I beleive that many of the teething problems continue to be ironed out. I know people with S6's who have had no problems, and please remember that the early v8's had problems too. It is received wisdom that buying a newly released TVR means that you are doing live testing, but you show me any other car with the same presence, style, performance and sense of occasion for the money ? IMHO, it is great that TVR make their own engine, and I can't applaud them enough for this. The engine is a big part of the appeal and is part of what sets TVR apart from the rest (yes I know that the v8 is from Rover). I just hope that they get it right in the end. I understand that the AJP8 won't fit into a Tuscan/Tamora, and I suppose a Straight six is more British...
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