TVR Sales boom!!!
Discussion
Obviously, there must be masses of TVR's being sold at the moment as a certain dealer that i walked into today could not be bothered to help me or speak to me.
I was in there for about 15-20 minutes looking at a very nice Tuscan S, it's not like i came in with jeans & trainers and rolled up in a white van, went in the Chimaera smart(ish) looking, and nothing, well i'll be going else where, to buy my Tuscan S some one who wants to sell cars.
Sorry for the rant but it just annoys me so much when a guy dressed up in a suit trying to sell cars cannot be bothered, he went up to the service desk and just chatted away with the service guys, then went to the toilet, to just return to his mates!!!
Thanks if your out there! your loss i suppose.
>>> Edited by M6 CUK on Wednesday 17th July 18:27
I was in there for about 15-20 minutes looking at a very nice Tuscan S, it's not like i came in with jeans & trainers and rolled up in a white van, went in the Chimaera smart(ish) looking, and nothing, well i'll be going else where, to buy my Tuscan S some one who wants to sell cars.
Sorry for the rant but it just annoys me so much when a guy dressed up in a suit trying to sell cars cannot be bothered, he went up to the service desk and just chatted away with the service guys, then went to the toilet, to just return to his mates!!!
Thanks if your out there! your loss i suppose.
>>> Edited by M6 CUK on Wednesday 17th July 18:27
Well I was fobbed off by my local dealer who made it very difficult for me to have a test drive. ('Are you accustomed to the power, sir? We have rather more people interested in driving the cars than buying them. Once you have decided which specific secondhand car you wish to purchase and are ready to put down a deposit, we'll be pleased to let you drive it' were amongst the best comments).
Did eventually drive a Chimaera with them, but their attitude really hacked me off, they were expensive and they had nothing in stock I liked. If they had I doubt I would have bought it from them. And I've yet to hear a good word about them at the local TVR car club meetings.
Bought my Griff from Stings and have had a series of problems that commenced when I paid for the car and are still going on 4 months later. In fact I was just speaking to the Dealer Principal half an hour ago about resolving the latest issues.
Overall my TVR dealer experience has been pretty poor!
I'm sure there are good ones out there, and everyone can make mistakes. I, unfortunately seem to have bought a car from a duff one and live close to another duff one.
Luckily I have a very good independent specialist with a tremendous reputation only 4 miles from home. Which is why I'm off there in the morning...
Did eventually drive a Chimaera with them, but their attitude really hacked me off, they were expensive and they had nothing in stock I liked. If they had I doubt I would have bought it from them. And I've yet to hear a good word about them at the local TVR car club meetings.
Bought my Griff from Stings and have had a series of problems that commenced when I paid for the car and are still going on 4 months later. In fact I was just speaking to the Dealer Principal half an hour ago about resolving the latest issues.
Overall my TVR dealer experience has been pretty poor!
I'm sure there are good ones out there, and everyone can make mistakes. I, unfortunately seem to have bought a car from a duff one and live close to another duff one.
Luckily I have a very good independent specialist with a tremendous reputation only 4 miles from home. Which is why I'm off there in the morning...
I know what you mean. i live next to an indepentent SERVICE only (i think thier indepentant anyway), and the guys in there have good attitudes and nice to speak to and very informative. A few bad comments have been made on this web site, but generally i think they did a good service with my Chimaera and only a fewdays ago bought some parts of them, and giving me advice what to look out!
By the way, good look with your griff!!! hope you get those problems sorted.
Its bad when any TVR experience is spoiled not by the car but by the dealer. TVR want to introduce new customers into this unique experience, and really this is not the way to do it as when i bought the BMW next door to "stings" the sales man in their was nice and to be honest when i went in there i was looking for a 330i but there was an M3 demonstrator, he asked me to take it out to see what i reckoned to it.
And geuss whats on my drive now.
Its bad when any TVR experience is spoiled not by the car but by the dealer. TVR want to introduce new customers into this unique experience, and really this is not the way to do it as when i bought the BMW next door to "stings" the sales man in their was nice and to be honest when i went in there i was looking for a 330i but there was an M3 demonstrator, he asked me to take it out to see what i reckoned to it.
And geuss whats on my drive now.
I've heard this sort of thing - and experienced it - before. It's as though TVR don't give a monkeys about the customer experience: any other manufacturer would police its franchised dealers more closely, and when complaints get to a certain level, they get the chop. My local BMW dealers are (relatively) perfect and even sport 'BMW service awards' or similar at Reception. I can only infer that TVR - and by that I mean PW - is not interested, because the cars sell despite themselves. So as long as the GRP is rolling off the line, it's not a problem that would bother him. Pity.
griff2be,
I have had 2 cars from the first dealer you mention and my first car a Griff had no problems so I didn't really see how bad they were until I got my Cerbera which had a few issues. Some of their excuses for failures or diagnosis of problems were almost beyond belief. Needless to say most issues took several attempts to fix and usual involved getting the factory on their backs at some point ! I am amazed they are still in business.
I think some of the troubles stem from the fact that a lot of dealers assume people with TVR's have deep pockets and therefore always just pay up and smile without questioning their explanations.
My latest vehicle a Tamora, was bought from Castle at Stanstead who I am EXTREMELY impressed with. They are true PH'ers with any visit usually involving at least half an hours general TVR gassing. The factory are also very impressed with them and seem to be more willing to give them assistance. For instance I even got a direct line to one of the electronics engineers at the factory to discuss a minor issue I'm having.
The thing that most impressed of all was when I first paid them a visit, and they indicated that they placed more value on return customers than new ones.
Mark
>> Edited by frostie on Wednesday 17th July 20:58
>> Edited by frostie on Wednesday 17th July 21:00
>> Edited by frostie on Wednesday 17th July 21:00
>> Edited by frostie on Wednesday 17th July 21:25
I have had 2 cars from the first dealer you mention and my first car a Griff had no problems so I didn't really see how bad they were until I got my Cerbera which had a few issues. Some of their excuses for failures or diagnosis of problems were almost beyond belief. Needless to say most issues took several attempts to fix and usual involved getting the factory on their backs at some point ! I am amazed they are still in business.
I think some of the troubles stem from the fact that a lot of dealers assume people with TVR's have deep pockets and therefore always just pay up and smile without questioning their explanations.
My latest vehicle a Tamora, was bought from Castle at Stanstead who I am EXTREMELY impressed with. They are true PH'ers with any visit usually involving at least half an hours general TVR gassing. The factory are also very impressed with them and seem to be more willing to give them assistance. For instance I even got a direct line to one of the electronics engineers at the factory to discuss a minor issue I'm having.
The thing that most impressed of all was when I first paid them a visit, and they indicated that they placed more value on return customers than new ones.
Mark
>> Edited by frostie on Wednesday 17th July 20:58
>> Edited by frostie on Wednesday 17th July 21:00
>> Edited by frostie on Wednesday 17th July 21:00
>> Edited by frostie on Wednesday 17th July 21:25
Yes, also purchased my Tamora from Castles. Cannot speak highly enough of them. Very pleasant, no pressure, and always make time when you go in. The result will be of course, that If (sorry when) I change, I will go there again with no hesitation.
The whole experience was a pleasure from start to finish.
We only went down to have a look around one saturday afternoon, and came out having ordered a Tamora!! Ian and Darren are down to earth people, and nothing is every too much trouble to them. They make you feel good about the purchase that you have just made, which is after all, what they are there for.
They also worked wonders on a deposit that I placed on a Tuscan back at the 98 Motor show. When the car was launched, I didn't feel it was for me, so the then previous dealer, said that I could transfer said deposit onto another car at a later time. When it came to it however, they were insistant that I could NOT transfer it onto a new tamora, and could only transfer it onto the exsisting range, ie Griff, Chim or Cerb.
Ian at castle's made one call to the factory, and it was transfered in about 30 seconds. Needless to say, the previous dealer lost a new car sale!
>> Edited by Nigel lewis on Wednesday 17th July 21:26
The whole experience was a pleasure from start to finish.
We only went down to have a look around one saturday afternoon, and came out having ordered a Tamora!! Ian and Darren are down to earth people, and nothing is every too much trouble to them. They make you feel good about the purchase that you have just made, which is after all, what they are there for.
They also worked wonders on a deposit that I placed on a Tuscan back at the 98 Motor show. When the car was launched, I didn't feel it was for me, so the then previous dealer, said that I could transfer said deposit onto another car at a later time. When it came to it however, they were insistant that I could NOT transfer it onto a new tamora, and could only transfer it onto the exsisting range, ie Griff, Chim or Cerb.
Ian at castle's made one call to the factory, and it was transfered in about 30 seconds. Needless to say, the previous dealer lost a new car sale!
>> Edited by Nigel lewis on Wednesday 17th July 21:26
Bought mine form Mole Valley at Redhill, and they were very helpful, with none of the dodgy comments listed above. They let me drive it no problems even after I said I probably wouldn't be going ahead as it was out of my price range (funny how that scale slides once the engine fires up!!)
Fair play to them, though I bought the car straight after the test drive so I guessed it worked OK for 'em.
If a dealer told me that more people came in to go for a drive than to buy, I think I would tell him his fortune and go elsewhere - I'm sure more people do test drive than buy, but thats part of his business!
Anyway, have had a couple of niggles since purchase, and they have also been v frindly and helpful on the phone.
Cheers,
Travis
>> Edited by dopamine on Wednesday 17th July 22:02
Fair play to them, though I bought the car straight after the test drive so I guessed it worked OK for 'em.
If a dealer told me that more people came in to go for a drive than to buy, I think I would tell him his fortune and go elsewhere - I'm sure more people do test drive than buy, but thats part of his business!
Anyway, have had a couple of niggles since purchase, and they have also been v frindly and helpful on the phone.
Cheers,
Travis
>> Edited by dopamine on Wednesday 17th July 22:02
quote:
Bought mine form Mole Valley at Redhill, and they were very helpful, with none of the dodgy comments listed above. They let me drive it no problems even after I said I probably wouldn't be going ahead as it was out of my price range (funny how that scale slides once the engine fires up!!)
Fair play to them, though I bought the car straight after the test drive so I guessed it worked OK for 'em.
If a dealer told me that more people came in to go for a drive than to buy, I think I would tell him his fortune and go elsewhere - I'm sure more people do test drive than buy, but thats part of his business!
Anyway, have had a couple of niggles since purchase, and they have also been v frindly and helpful on the phone.
Cheers,
Travis
As I got mine from Mole Valley at Redhill I can only second this opinion – they're very good.
quote:
Weren't Castles a spin-off from another dealer that went phut or lost the franchise?
Not quite. Castle TVR is owned by the same people who runs the TVR Centre in Barnet, who are still - I think - the largest deasler in the country. They've got a reputation for steep prices though!
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Weren't Castles a spin-off from another dealer that went phut or lost the franchise?
Not quite. Castle TVR is owned by the same people who runs the TVR Centre in Barnet, who are still - I think - the largest deasler in the country. They've got a reputation for steep prices though!
Quite right.
I have also been to Castle TVR and they did spend alot of time with me, no questions asked. Even though I did'nt end up buying from them, I will be going back if/when I want a change.
As for the TVR Centre, yes they ARE on the pricey side, and a chap there (who's surname is the same as the famous Minis in that M.Caine film) does come across as arrogant. BUT, the sales staff and more so the parts/service staff are really quite friendly and very helpfull indeed.
If you want to buy a new Tiv, either are good. But lean towards Castle IMHO.
Tiv
quote:
quote:
Weren't Castles a spin-off from another dealer that went phut or lost the franchise?
Not quite. Castle TVR is owned by the same people who runs the TVR Centre in Barnet, who are still - I think - the largest deasler in the country. They've got a reputation for steep prices though!
I don't think thats right? I thought Castle is owned by Peter Hilton? The only connection was that Peter Hilton Coachworks in Bishop Stortford carries out all the coachwork stuff for the TVR Centre.
I know Darren and Ian surf the gassing so perhaps they can put us straight?
Well I'm in the same boat as griff2be. My Tamora's in the same dealer for a free 6000 mile service today. Their way of trying to keep my business after the way they treated me over the last few months! Let's see if they've made any improvements by the time I collect the car later?
Cheers..... Andrew
Cheers..... Andrew
quote:
quote:
quote:
Weren't Castles a spin-off from another dealer that went phut or lost the franchise?
Not quite. Castle TVR is owned by the same people who runs the TVR Centre in Barnet, who are still - I think - the largest deasler in the country. They've got a reputation for steep prices though!
I don't think thats right? I thought Castle is owned by Peter Hilton? The only connection was that Peter Hilton Coachworks in Bishop Stortford carries out all the coachwork stuff for the TVR Centre.
I know Darren and Ian surf the gassing so perhaps they can put us straight?
What I heard was that is actually a new business setup by both the TVR Centre and Hilton Coachworks owners. Much less messy doing it that way if the wheels come off to the original business I guess.
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