TVR business plan
Discussion
Any cars that could save the company on the way? It’s interesting to try to conceive a car that could perform such a task now. Clearly their philosophy of building cheap, fast cars doesn’t set buyers alight at the moment.
What about a small-medium sized sports car (1.6-2 litre engine), extremely conservative and simple design which would mostly be built with proven parts from other manufacturers? Forget hiding stuff in places that they shouldn’t be, build a car that is suitable for sale worldwide, is priced in line with it’s competition and it’s edge is it’s low weight/handling. To be produced and assembled in Eastern Europe (or Malaysia) using only a few TVR managers. Costs must be kept as low as possible so the managers must be able to train laymen to build the car. Product testing will consist of real world driving for many days through millions of cycles. There may be one additional move required…not calling it a TVR.
An unglamorous future but re-inventing itself could save the company (better than a V12 car any way!).
What about a small-medium sized sports car (1.6-2 litre engine), extremely conservative and simple design which would mostly be built with proven parts from other manufacturers? Forget hiding stuff in places that they shouldn’t be, build a car that is suitable for sale worldwide, is priced in line with it’s competition and it’s edge is it’s low weight/handling. To be produced and assembled in Eastern Europe (or Malaysia) using only a few TVR managers. Costs must be kept as low as possible so the managers must be able to train laymen to build the car. Product testing will consist of real world driving for many days through millions of cycles. There may be one additional move required…not calling it a TVR.
An unglamorous future but re-inventing itself could save the company (better than a V12 car any way!).
speedy_thrills said:
Any cars that could save the company on the way? It’s interesting to try to conceive a car that could perform such a task now. Clearly their philosophy of building cheap, fast cars doesn’t set buyers alight at the moment.
I can't help but think that TVR have been hit by a numer of things:
1. Noble - OK Noble aren't huge sellers but they have probably wiped about 200 cars a year out of TVR's market. They are priced similary however Nobles get 100% positive reviews and do not have the "fragile" TVR stigma.
2. Speed Six - Allegedly this breaks or something. There are of course no actual stats to back this claim up.
3. Good will - I think a lot of people bought into Peter Wheelers "sod you" attitude of building cars, claiming that his dog did the accounts and that they didn't believe in safety kit. Unfortunatly the Russian boy with the long name doesn't appear to have the same levels of good will.
Strategy:
TVR are not probably solvant as a working business at the moment. I suspect that the only thing that is making them solvent is Nikolai Smolenski. Provided he keeps paying the bill and investing I think the long term strategy of British designed (British company) and built in eastern europe is probably a good one.
IMO TVR should be producing as their mainstay product a mature-styled, reliable V8-engined targa-topped sports car - an updated Tuscan in the same way the Tuscan was meant to be an updated Griffith. Currently their range desirability to the main-stream sports car market is limited by boy-racer looks of the Sagaris, too extreme performance figures and genuine worries over Speed6 reliability. The mainstay product should be offered in the £30ks with higher performance/specialist models such as the Sagaris and new Cerbera up to £60K. Clear differentiation in price and performance is needed - the mainstay car only needs to beat 5secs 0-60 time.
Yes the Bristol Avenue factory is closing soon BUT there is supposed to be a relocated factory in the offing, we hope and pray, fingers crossed, etc.
Yes the Bristol Avenue factory is closing soon BUT there is supposed to be a relocated factory in the offing, we hope and pray, fingers crossed, etc.
Clearly, something needs to be done.
Noble's cars are alledgedly made in South Africa, that is one route.
The problem with making cars is that it costs the same to make a small car as it does a larger car (component spec aside), just talking labour / overheads.
The worst part to fit is doors in low volume, (there was many a case in the past where doors went missing off the production line and a new door had to be MADE TO FIT THE CAR, not just simply find another off the line)therefore could could do a non-door car, like a seven, but with full width body and hinging canopy (or add-on doors)- bit like a bond bug, but with a V8. I know it sound silly, but the seat could lift to help you get out - I know MG Rover were thinking along these lines for a new MG.
There is nothing like this on the market
All these ideas are fine, but we have to stop knocking the company first.
Do you think they would be still moulding new car mods for the current cars if they were going bust, and announcing training programs! Not in my opinion
Wheeler always had the press in the palm of his hand, I think NS could learn to do this with time,so come on guys show us a new motorshow concept or something
Noble's cars are alledgedly made in South Africa, that is one route.
The problem with making cars is that it costs the same to make a small car as it does a larger car (component spec aside), just talking labour / overheads.
The worst part to fit is doors in low volume, (there was many a case in the past where doors went missing off the production line and a new door had to be MADE TO FIT THE CAR, not just simply find another off the line)therefore could could do a non-door car, like a seven, but with full width body and hinging canopy (or add-on doors)- bit like a bond bug, but with a V8. I know it sound silly, but the seat could lift to help you get out - I know MG Rover were thinking along these lines for a new MG.
There is nothing like this on the market
All these ideas are fine, but we have to stop knocking the company first.
Do you think they would be still moulding new car mods for the current cars if they were going bust, and announcing training programs! Not in my opinion
Wheeler always had the press in the palm of his hand, I think NS could learn to do this with time,so come on guys show us a new motorshow concept or something
Has TVR's traditonal market been hijacked by superior products for less money.
TVR are selling pretty much the same formula : 370 bhp, 50 K , with roof or without, slightly flimsy build quality, no safety equipement.
The competetion Porsche, BMW and others have now swamped the sector with sub 50K products, well made, safety equipement.
It's only us enthusiasts keeping them going and we seem to be a dieing breed.
I guess them either go back to core values - produce a higher performance car for less money than the competetion on find a new market sector.
TVR are selling pretty much the same formula : 370 bhp, 50 K , with roof or without, slightly flimsy build quality, no safety equipement.
The competetion Porsche, BMW and others have now swamped the sector with sub 50K products, well made, safety equipement.
It's only us enthusiasts keeping them going and we seem to be a dieing breed.
I guess them either go back to core values - produce a higher performance car for less money than the competetion on find a new market sector.
I've been saying for years that TVR need an entry level model to replace the S
Trouble is it's a crowded market place as you have to get above Mazda MX5, produce something very different to an Elise and yet not build a Honda S2000
I think a Tamora with a small capacity bought-in V6 or V8 would be considerably cheaper to build so would retail in the late £20K area. With specialist manufacturesers brand loyalty is usually quite high and TVR need to get 'em earlier!
Trouble is it's a crowded market place as you have to get above Mazda MX5, produce something very different to an Elise and yet not build a Honda S2000
I think a Tamora with a small capacity bought-in V6 or V8 would be considerably cheaper to build so would retail in the late £20K area. With specialist manufacturesers brand loyalty is usually quite high and TVR need to get 'em earlier!
V8 TVR owners have been shouting for years that if you want us to trade in our cars, we want V8's in there, not straight sixes. Look at the resale rates/trade ins on V8 TVRs. Steady, nobody really wants to sell, unless they get pushed for cash.
Right now, who offers you a V8?
Morgan. Um. Yes. Pullover please. Although I do like the new Aero, and Lorraine, my other half, would but a Morgan tomorrow, if we had the garage space.
Who else? TVR? We sell our cars with a straight six engine that we have developed ourselves, and have customers with failed clutches with cars in dealers waiting for us to pay our suppliers so they can get back on the road.
If you want to get a modern, performance car with a V8 powerplant, where do you look?
Ultima? Well, they will build you whatever car you want, or you could build it yourself, and you will leave 99.8% of all other road cars behind, but you don't get much of a boot, do you?
No, I see only one other avenue, and I can see it being TVRs' number one competitor, if only because the owner of the company actually meets the customers, and listens, and delivers. And because the cars are actually pretty bloody good. I know, because, if I had the money that TVR want for a Sagaris, I'd already have my deposit on one.
The unfashionable ne'er-do-wells, go bust every-other-week-or so, that originated in Wiltshire.
Marcos.
Except, they're not likely to go bust again. And they are aiming their sights squarely at V8 TVR Owners, looking to trade up. I reckon they're going to take more sales from TVR than Noble, Ultima, Morgan and Lotus put together. Just you wait and see. Especially when the Convertible appears, in the near future.
Right now, who offers you a V8?
Morgan. Um. Yes. Pullover please. Although I do like the new Aero, and Lorraine, my other half, would but a Morgan tomorrow, if we had the garage space.
Who else? TVR? We sell our cars with a straight six engine that we have developed ourselves, and have customers with failed clutches with cars in dealers waiting for us to pay our suppliers so they can get back on the road.
If you want to get a modern, performance car with a V8 powerplant, where do you look?
Ultima? Well, they will build you whatever car you want, or you could build it yourself, and you will leave 99.8% of all other road cars behind, but you don't get much of a boot, do you?
No, I see only one other avenue, and I can see it being TVRs' number one competitor, if only because the owner of the company actually meets the customers, and listens, and delivers. And because the cars are actually pretty bloody good. I know, because, if I had the money that TVR want for a Sagaris, I'd already have my deposit on one.
The unfashionable ne'er-do-wells, go bust every-other-week-or so, that originated in Wiltshire.
Marcos.
Except, they're not likely to go bust again. And they are aiming their sights squarely at V8 TVR Owners, looking to trade up. I reckon they're going to take more sales from TVR than Noble, Ultima, Morgan and Lotus put together. Just you wait and see. Especially when the Convertible appears, in the near future.
mrmaggit said:
V8 TVR
I’ve considered them but it doesn’t really give the company any more security in the long term. They need something that they can sell around the world to a variety of markets. Also given recent fuel price rises I wonder if a V8 car wouldn’t be short sighted in that respect?Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff