Time for a change?
Discussion
I hate to say this, and I have my body armour on too.
It seems to me that it may well be the right time for a change in ownership or of senior management at TVR!
It just seems to be going from bad to worse.
Hawthorns appears to be the latest event in the ongoing saga that is now TVR.
A few years ago the yanks took a large "share" in Ducati - they injected the CASH and production skills and improved the product by a huge amount for the end users ( you and me). Up to that time they had a very similar reputation to TVR's. Great products - but be very, very careful - they do break a lot.
I had a race spec 748 SPS for over two years and NEVER had a problem with it. Before the Yanks took it on I would have been lucky to have gone two months without a problem. Infact I would not buy one - I stayed safe with Jap machines, and yes they are great too - they just did not break down!
I love TVR's and have owned several models - but I do think that it's time to give the buyers of TVR a better all round deal. For example - try to get one Chimaera wheel.
Any Merchant Bankers/Investors around on the site?
Cheers
SPS
>>> Edited by sps on Friday 3rd October 10:28
It seems to me that it may well be the right time for a change in ownership or of senior management at TVR!
It just seems to be going from bad to worse.
Hawthorns appears to be the latest event in the ongoing saga that is now TVR.
A few years ago the yanks took a large "share" in Ducati - they injected the CASH and production skills and improved the product by a huge amount for the end users ( you and me). Up to that time they had a very similar reputation to TVR's. Great products - but be very, very careful - they do break a lot.
I had a race spec 748 SPS for over two years and NEVER had a problem with it. Before the Yanks took it on I would have been lucky to have gone two months without a problem. Infact I would not buy one - I stayed safe with Jap machines, and yes they are great too - they just did not break down!
I love TVR's and have owned several models - but I do think that it's time to give the buyers of TVR a better all round deal. For example - try to get one Chimaera wheel.
Any Merchant Bankers/Investors around on the site?
Cheers
SPS
>>> Edited by sps on Friday 3rd October 10:28
No body armour needed as far as I can see.
I think TVR are on a real sticky wicket, I read the goings on around here and there are very few good news stories coming from anywhere around the Blackpool area.
Hawthorns quitting just being the latest I think I also read somewhere that Mole Valley are closing something?? Team Proactive also this week and Fernhurst reletively recently to name only a few that have stopped the franchise is something to be really worried about.
Dare I say direction, in my eyes, from the factory is being pushed the wrong way, we have had lots of new models recently and I know evolution must happen in order for survival but perhaps instead of the T350c/t development maybe they should have focused on geting other areas of the business right first.
I have never had to deal directly with the factory but from what I understand Customer and Relations are not two words that feature one after the other up there.
Some of the comments Rod has made over the last few weeks have been very insightful and these coming from a man with a good inside knowledge (and I believe a great love of TVR cars) have really hit this home to me.
So come on TVR, we all love you, but sort it out make some progress in the customer relations and reliability stakes and we'll all be here for ever more - do nothing and who knows I may end up getting a Porsche 9xx rather than a Cerbie to sit on the drive with the Chimaera.
Rambling over.
I think TVR are on a real sticky wicket, I read the goings on around here and there are very few good news stories coming from anywhere around the Blackpool area.
Hawthorns quitting just being the latest I think I also read somewhere that Mole Valley are closing something?? Team Proactive also this week and Fernhurst reletively recently to name only a few that have stopped the franchise is something to be really worried about.
Dare I say direction, in my eyes, from the factory is being pushed the wrong way, we have had lots of new models recently and I know evolution must happen in order for survival but perhaps instead of the T350c/t development maybe they should have focused on geting other areas of the business right first.
I have never had to deal directly with the factory but from what I understand Customer and Relations are not two words that feature one after the other up there.
Some of the comments Rod has made over the last few weeks have been very insightful and these coming from a man with a good inside knowledge (and I believe a great love of TVR cars) have really hit this home to me.
So come on TVR, we all love you, but sort it out make some progress in the customer relations and reliability stakes and we'll all be here for ever more - do nothing and who knows I may end up getting a Porsche 9xx rather than a Cerbie to sit on the drive with the Chimaera.
Rambling over.
I really have to disagree with those comments(although i am only talking from my own experience)i have dealt direct with the factory three times on 3 cars in twelve months, and i can only highly praise the way i have been treated.
The most helpful being Danielle,i think she should buy the company because, here communication skills are first class, and any problems i have had i've gone straight to her and it's been dealt with immediatley.
my main problem is with dealer relations,the three local to me have been a pile of crap.
Just my opinion though
The most helpful being Danielle,i think she should buy the company because, here communication skills are first class, and any problems i have had i've gone straight to her and it's been dealt with immediatley.
my main problem is with dealer relations,the three local to me have been a pile of crap.
Just my opinion though
.Mark said:Driving an older model, I don't have much cause to deal with the factory, but on the one occasion when I contacted them for assistance, they couldn't have been more helpful. I was very impressed.
I have never had to deal directly with the factory but from what I understand Customer and Relations are not two words that feature one after the other up there.
.Mark said:
Yes, sorry guys I was only relaying what I have been told, I should know better! 
I think the point I was unsucessfully trying to make was rather then rolling out loads of new stuff perhaps they should get their existing stuff in order first.
I must admit, although i love the SP6 i do think that they should have spent a little more time on development so they could have cut out the earlier problems
v8tvr said:
I really have to disagree with those comments(although i am only talking from my own experience)i have dealt direct with the factory three times on 3 cars in twelve months, and i can only highly praise the way i have been treated.
When my engine first went about 2 years ago, I went through formal channels to get it fixed,(Dealer and TVR Customer Service) and the treatment/service was shocking. No-one would answer/return calls, constantly fobbed off by people, dealer and TVR were not communicating (and in the end they blambed each other for the problem and I ended up getting a large bill!!!).
I was furious and this was definitley and without doubt the worst service I have ever come across.
However.... I got to know some people at the factory (unfortunatly becuase my car was always there getting repaired
) and now things are so much better. You can call them directly, miss out the muppets in "customer services" and things get done in a friendly and efficient manor. One of the guys there in particular can't do enough to help, he's brilliant 
TVR - You do need to sort out Customer Services.... and while you're there, I'm fed up with having my engine rebuilt so either:
a) Spend some more time in Quality Control
b) Stop telling me that all problems with the Speed Six engines have been fixed each time you rebuild my engine when they are clearly not !
c) If you really have sorted out the Speed Six problems, give me a free replacement engine so i don't keep having to get the poorly designed one I've got fixed !
Rant over... time to go to the pub.
These aren't my opinions, i was quoting a friend, to be fare TVR dealers have been coming and going for as long as i can remember, and i'm sure the reasons for relinquishing vary and may in some cases have nothing to do with the quality of the product.
I supply & speak to them on a regular basis all i can say is that some are making positive comments.
No dis-respect Rod, and i hope you stay involved with TVR cars, we need more people like you around.
Tim
I supply & speak to them on a regular basis all i can say is that some are making positive comments.
No dis-respect Rod, and i hope you stay involved with TVR cars, we need more people like you around.
Tim
Sorry, but I'm not sure what TVR planet you are coming from... All these issues are exactly why a number of dealers have left the fold, not just a natural turnover but some dealers that have had considerable experience with TVR HAwthorns and Fernhurst, to name just 2 of them. As TVR have only around 20 -25 dealers that alone represents 10%.
And if you take into account the number of cars they sold a much higher percent of volume. The block exemption thing is not relevent, as a number of TVR dealers are multi marue allready, TVR,morgan, lotus, noble even... It is just - imho - the trust between dealer/TVR on the warranty/number of defects out of the factory taht the dealer has to sort out pdi, has got a lot worse in the last couple of years.
And these issues are effecting the customers big time. I know of many existing owners who are apprehensive to say the least, to progress on too the newer models..
imho of course.
B
>> Edited by bjwoods on Friday 3rd October 21:22
>> Edited by bjwoods on Friday 3rd October 21:23
And if you take into account the number of cars they sold a much higher percent of volume. The block exemption thing is not relevent, as a number of TVR dealers are multi marue allready, TVR,morgan, lotus, noble even... It is just - imho - the trust between dealer/TVR on the warranty/number of defects out of the factory taht the dealer has to sort out pdi, has got a lot worse in the last couple of years.
And these issues are effecting the customers big time. I know of many existing owners who are apprehensive to say the least, to progress on too the newer models..
imho of course.
B
>> Edited by bjwoods on Friday 3rd October 21:22
>> Edited by bjwoods on Friday 3rd October 21:23
2 sheds said:
These aren't my opinions, i was quoting a friend, to be fare TVR dealers have been coming and going for as long as i can remember, and i'm sure the reasons for relinquishing vary and may in some cases have nothing to do with the quality of the product.
I supply & speak to them on a regular basis all i can say is that some are making positive comments.
No dis-respect Rod, and i hope you stay involved with TVR cars, we need more people like you around.
Tim
220 None taken, Tim. Nice to hear from you mate.
>> Edited by smokin220 on Friday 3rd October 23:31
Ah, well, let's have a go at poor old, shabby old TVR's again, shall we?
If they produced a crappy product that no-one wants, how come we are all still here, endlessly debating their future? Why are we not all out there buying Z4's and Boxters?
Because there is a market for the product, and that market is more alive and buzzing today than it has been for several years. What is wrong with TVR? To my mind, not a lot. I have noticed, in the past year or so, the increasing number of people who have posted on here, about cars being sored when out of warranty, cars in warranty that fail being offered deals on new products and upgrades, A/C being fitted, at knock down prices, dealers working hard to get stuff sorted etc. etc. etc.
Does this have a positve effect on TVR owners' perception of the company? No, it just starts another rumour that TVR are about to be taken over, should be taken over, bloody well ought to be taken over!
Get real people, and enjoy the cars that you own. There are millions of people who cannot afford these machines, and millions who aspire to, and love the marque.
As I have said many times on this forum, if you don't like the cars, don't think the service is up to scratch, can't hack the styling, think the noise isn't right, bemoan the lack of Rover V8, blah, blah, then go buy out and something else!! It's all out there, you've got the money, you've got he inclination, so vote with your feet and wallet!
In answer to the (presumed) question, is it time for a change of ownership/managership at TVR - the answer is a big, Fcuk off - NO!!
>> Edited by nubbin on Saturday 4th October 00:17
If they produced a crappy product that no-one wants, how come we are all still here, endlessly debating their future? Why are we not all out there buying Z4's and Boxters?
Because there is a market for the product, and that market is more alive and buzzing today than it has been for several years. What is wrong with TVR? To my mind, not a lot. I have noticed, in the past year or so, the increasing number of people who have posted on here, about cars being sored when out of warranty, cars in warranty that fail being offered deals on new products and upgrades, A/C being fitted, at knock down prices, dealers working hard to get stuff sorted etc. etc. etc.
Does this have a positve effect on TVR owners' perception of the company? No, it just starts another rumour that TVR are about to be taken over, should be taken over, bloody well ought to be taken over!
Get real people, and enjoy the cars that you own. There are millions of people who cannot afford these machines, and millions who aspire to, and love the marque.
As I have said many times on this forum, if you don't like the cars, don't think the service is up to scratch, can't hack the styling, think the noise isn't right, bemoan the lack of Rover V8, blah, blah, then go buy out and something else!! It's all out there, you've got the money, you've got he inclination, so vote with your feet and wallet!
In answer to the (presumed) question, is it time for a change of ownership/managership at TVR - the answer is a big, Fcuk off - NO!!
>> Edited by nubbin on Saturday 4th October 00:17
nubbin said:
Ah, well, let's have a go at poor old, shabby old TVR's again, shall we? etc,etc,
Does this have a positve effect on TVR owners' perception of the company? etc, etc,
In answer to the (presumed) question, is it time for a change of ownership/managership at TVR - the answer is a big, Fcuk off - NO!!
220 That's you Ben isn't it, nice nom de plume
I agree with Nubbin's most appropiate comments. I have just had my Tuscan S serviced at the factory. Compared to the Jaguar dealer, where I do get good service, the service I had from the TVR factory was superb. My service was dealt with in an efficient and timely manner and all the staff were fabulous. When was the last time you were introduced to the actual mechanic who was going to service your car? And when the same chap collected me from the railway station and had a chat with me - that's good service. Then he apologised and asked if I'd mind having a cup of coffee for five minutes as they had not quite finished polishing the car!! In actual fact when we got to the factory the car was ready and it's running like a dream. Incidentally anyone know what polish they use? 
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