TVR in USA this year?
Discussion
From today's New York Times... could be driving round Manhattan in a Tuscan next summer....nice one.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/23/automobiles/23CARS.html
the Newspaper article also has a feature on the Tuscan appearing in the new Travolta movie - apparently PW lent 4 tuscans to the production "cognizant that by the time they were returned, their resale value might be compromised but the company's public profile would be enhanced".
Judging by some of the quality control issues raised in this forum,I wonder how US customers will react to some of the TVR 'niggles' and 'fettling' problems that UK customers complain about-and more interestingly how TVR will cope with a culture where the customer is GOD.
I can just picture it:customer"what the f*** is this mother******* bull****,you call THIS air-f****** conditioning??!!"
TVR salesman:"but sir,it's just a TVR new car niggle-see they ARE HAND-built you know"
customer:"I don't care if they were built by goddam Michaelangelo,this Tuscan's roof still flies off like a bat out a hell whenever I drive it-and who the hell is this P E T E R W H E E L-somethin' anyways??!
I WAANA COMPLAAAAIIINN!
I WANNA REFUND!!!
This of course is a gross caricature and not meant to imply in any way that US citizens talk or behave in this way,so sincerest apologies if offense caused.
But the thought of it made me laugh.
Not that I own a Tuscan either.
At the motor show PW stated that he had no plans to enter the US market again. He recounted a situation with a complaining customer where by the dealers were trying to get an engine replacement because they couldn't track down thias noise that only came when the car had been running a while and that would just disappear sometimes. PW happened to have a TVR engineer out there who managed to solve all the problems within a few minutes.
The noise turned out to be the fan coming on when the engine temperature reached its kick in point.
I don't think that the US consumer is forgiving enough or appreciates the "hand built" implications to make the US a viable market place.
Phil
quote:Phil - have you ever driven the average US built car? They are far less well built that you might imagine. Nationalism helps to blind the average US citizen from the woeful engineering characteristics of their Fords/ Mercurys/ Chevvys/ Jeeps/ Lincolns etc. (The French used to be very good at this in the 1970s). I accept that they may be generally less forgiving with non-US products, but I suspect that a US-bound TVR would be aimed at a niche that would actually appreciate their individuality. From a purely selfish standpoint, I could transfer my Tuscan deposit (April 1999!) out here to the States...
I don't think that the US consumer is forgiving enough or appreciates the "hand built" implications to make the US a viable market place.
What about TVR on the continent?
There are already dealers in France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Italy, Turkey and Portugal.
If you are referring to the lack of LHD Tuscans and Cerberas, well the USA venture must surely help as the cars will need to be LHD for the American market. Also there was a LHD Tuscan at the Geneva (I think) motorshow last year, does that not suggest that TVR will do LHD cars?
The Griffith and Chimaera are definitely available in LHD, I don't think the Cerbera is though, but it looks like the Tuscan is/will be soon.
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Graham and Rosie
the griff and the chimaera are doomed in the europe as they dont pass the euro III emissions that come into place soon ( neither does the mgf trophy which is why its a uk limited edition!!)
<source auto express>
It does look like tvr will soon move to a solely speed6 engine platform ( which i believe is very clean as is the speed8) which is probably a good idea although i hate it as im a v8 man!!!
i think part of the v8's problem is PW wants to race and a v8 is buggered by the restrictors in racing...
""Phil - have you ever driven the average US built car? They are far less well built that you might imagine. Nationalism helps to blind the average US citizen from the woeful engineering characteristics of their Fords/ Mercurys/ Chevvys/ Jeeps/ Lincolns etc""
The worst car I ever had the misfortune to own was a US built Ford Probe. The build quality was simply awful. In a couple of years driving it from new it went through two engines, two gearboxes, two clutches, three exhaust systems, three sets of brake disks. It make a god-awful tappety racket and every now and again the engine would just die for no apparent reason (yes, I know the engines are by Mazda).
I'm not saying this is in any way typical of US cars - it's not, but they're not all perfect either.
TVR's in America - way to go!
I fear they will do about as well as Lotus, but we would love to see them here on the west coast of Canada,an aquaintance of mine has 3 Lotus ? Loti ? Lotuses ? anyway, we were talking the other week about TVR and he would probably buy one, he has had a blown engine in his turbo V8 not long after purchase but still loves the car, thats just the way enthusiasts are I suppose, I mean look at the running costs of some of the older Ferraris but the owners are usually in it for the long haul, just my 2 cents.
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