Ben Samuelson

[jamesc]

With the current situation at TVR, we need to look at what has gone wrong, the workers at Vauxhall gave the management a scare when the Luton factory closure was announched. We don't want to see similar scenes again. Therefore we need to ask this question: Should Ben Samuelson be at the top of the list of workers laid off at TVR?

[fourwheeldrift]

What and lose his little cherubic face from all those glossy magazines he appears in Maybe Ned could lead the road car marketing strategy because it seems non exisitant at present.

[fourwheeldrift]

Or just let me do it!

[jamesc]

Anyone got any ideas for new post for Ben?

[fourwheeldrift]

What about gents toilet cleaner at Hyde Park Corner - excellent career prospects, after 3 years they'll give him a brush.

[jonathanb]

Ahh... someone else James Crofts has got it in for. Last year it was Martin Short, this year it's BS. Can we have your nomination for next year now James?

[jamesc]

Ask yourself this Jonathan, if you were running TVR, would you cut back on PR, Hype and Marketing or improve the quality of your product and deliver it on time. Surely Ben can take a 2 month holiday without pay. regards James

[leonlane]

I think James has point that TVR have put customers last and have based their marketing on all hype. James should know what he is talking about as he has owned several TVR's. I don't know who Ben Samuelson is, but is Martin Short the rollbar man because he did me a good deal for the 205. The home of the boy racers and the rallymen of Wales

[James]

How about you get a bit of perspective James. Ben has done a lot for TVR, and I doubt that PW would have given him the job (or kept him in it) if he was crap. Whenever I've spoken to him, he's been extremely helpful. Ok, he doesn't always respond to communication straight away, but he has managed to turn the Tuscan challenge into a headlining event, and probably the most prestigious one make series in the country. Add to that the presence of TVR in the press, and he does exactly what it says on the tin. PR people are there to do PR, not to deal with individual customers. You may not like the guy. But then again, I haven't ever heard you say anything positive about anybody, so what's new? James

[leonlane]

James does not seem to be the only one who thinks that Ben should take some responsability for the situation at TVR. Ben may be a nice chap and talk up an average product, but what about the 140 laid off! The home of the boy racers and the rallymen of Wales

[jamesc]

If I did not say anything possitive about anyone, how come J Campbell-Walter is where he is now. I have nothing against Ben, but I am questioning PW's decision to lay off 1/4 of the workforce, when they could be employed elsewhere within TVR. I can also say a lot of possitive things about Thames Racing Services, Hawthornes and Ferrari if you want!

[AndrewD]

That might be the point you were trying (unsuccessfully) to make. It came across to me as a bit of a cheap shot which doesn't really take this discussion anywhere particularly interesting. In fact, I thought it was personal, illogical and objectionable.

[jamesc]

.....and another thing I am possitve about for this year is the Colin Blower Ultima project. The Ultima itself is a good basic design and should go well in Colin's hand. As for the Tuscan Challenge, John Ried has had more to do with its success than anyone else and the individual team owners such as Dennis Leech, Bert Taylor, Colin Blower and Steve Howard. Should Ben take a holiday? Yes!

[jamesc]

Is Ben worth more than the craftsmen on the factory floor? If you were Wheeler were would you make cuts? Most businesses start with marketing and this is clearly where TVR have gone wrong.

[pikey]

quote: If you were Wheeler were would you make cuts? Most businesses start with marketing and this is clearly where TVR have gone wrong.

I disagree. I would have thought it would make sense to increase the size of PR and marketing budgets and give Ben more resources to get things back on track. Their products are highly desirable and IMHO an agressive ad campaign could improve things. Anyway, you don't actually know where the cuts were made. It could have been that they have outsourced various parts of the business. For example, I heard somewhere about the Tuscan's speedo's going out - so why not seats, sanding the bodies, spraying, etc? It could be that this is all part of a calculated, efficient restructure to save money and improve product quality... you just don't know.

[Jason F]

I`m not really an expert ( on Anything ! ) but in my opinion TVRs are very popular, and a lot of people want one. Not a lot of PR needed when they are on TV a fair bit, and you sure know what they are when they Thunder down the High Street.. So why don`t they buy one ? The damn things generally only work 50% of the time and they cost a LOT of money to service and run. Most people don`t see the point in paying out that sort of cash for a car that is going in the Garage as much as on the road when they can have a nice (generally) reliable porshe or whatever. Edited by Jason F on Wednesday 17th January 09:51

[dhwilson]

If TVR are to have a publicity campaign, surely the best form of publicity is a reliable quality product, with a good repuatation enhanced by supportive dealers, and don't underestimate the value of word-of-mouth reputation. Remember how disastrous Jaguar's poor quality was for the company in the early 80's, and how long it has taken to polish off that tarnished image - it took Ford's takeover and big bucks to bury that negative image. So the arguments in using outside suppliers for better reliability etc probably has some merit, but unfortunately runs contrary to PW's philosophy of in-house production. A laudable aim, but is it achievable in a company of this size? Another point - do you think we spend so much time gassing about TVR because really we want to know what's going on in PW's head - i.e. we feel disenfranchised and want to be involved more? Shows that we care, don't you think? Edited by dhwilson on Wednesday 17th January 10:10

[PetrolTed]

quote:Not a lot of PR needed when they are on TV a fair bit,

But how do they get on TV?

quote: and you sure know what they are when they Thunder down the High Street..

Are the days of winding down your window to hear a TVR gone? Those straight sixes don't make the blood curdling noises that used to precede the arrival of the V8 cars.

[dhwilson]

Those straight sixes don't make the blood curdling noises that used to precede the arrival of the V8 cars. The magazine reports I've read give favourable reports on the sound of the Tuscan engine - some even suggest it sounds BETTER than the V8, one journalist listening to the noise until the car was 10 miles away....PHWOARRR!! I hope it's true and when (if) my Tamora ever arrives, I'll be listening critically. What do all the Tuscan/CerbieSS owners think of the noise? Edited by dhwilson on Wednesday 17th January 14:28

[fourwheeldrift]

Only time I've heard a Tuscan/Speed Six Cerbie was at Duxford last year. Thought they were quite quiet actually (they did have full silencer boxes on though). Noisiest road car there (as my Cerbie was sick with a touch of immobiliser syndrome) was a Griff. V8 ROR was the reg I believe, now who could that have been??????