TVR RIP?

Post by **pete** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:11 pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4929972.stm

OK Not yet but it's not looking good... damn shame if they do go under, I always hankered after one - the t350 is gorgeous - but my pal had a Cerbera and it nearly bankrupted him so it put me off. Slight reliabilty issues combined with horrendous bills.

So is that why they are struggling to sell them? I noticed a change recently in the reviews in the press, esp Top Gear. They went from always raving about them, along the lines of "Ace cars but nuts". To "OK, better than they have been, but still smells of glue."

I really think the reviews seem a lot worse since the Russian child bought them - I don't know how much they affect sales though. The reliablilty thing is hardly news so I doubt that is the reason.

Anyone else know why they are struggling?

Pete

Post by **simon** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:33 pm

Reviews have been loads better since Smolensky took over. Quality has increased and they've offered longer warranties. I think they just don't sell enough cars to justify the cost of that.

Post by **pete** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 10:54 pm

Maybe I've just been paying more attention to them as I get older and my pockets slightly deeper but the reviews now seem to be "better than they were" whereas a lot used to be "quite good."

The BBC is saying their sales are down to 2 a week, wonder why. They would seem to have as strong a line up as ever...

Pete

Kelvin · Post by **Kelvin** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 1:06 am

Sign of the times I reckon, the rise and fall of the economy and the fact that consumers are becoming increasingly used to paying sod all for everything nowadays. Lotus sales figures are really poor as well and have been for some time. This is why I struggle to see the sense in Lee Noble bringing out a 75K Noble other than the petrolhead in him! I also get the impression that more and more people are waking up to the massive depreciation some of these cars suffer in the first 18 months of ownership and have decided there is better value to be had in buying a second hand car. Even motors that generally hold their price are suffering a bit (911 GT3's and RS' for example)

pete wrote:Maybe I've just been paying more attention to them as I get older and my pockets slightly deeper but the reviews now seem to be "better than they were" whereas a lot used to be "quite good."

The BBC is saying their sales are down to 2 a week, wonder why. They would seem to have as strong a line up as ever...

Pete

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 1:08 pm

Kelvin wrote:Sign of the times I reckon, the rise and fall of the economy and the fact that consumers are becoming increasingly used to paying sod all for everything nowadays. Lotus sales figures are really poor as well and have been for some time. This is why I struggle to see the sense in Lee Noble bringing out a 75K Noble other than the petrolhead in him! I also get the impression that more and more people are waking up to the massive depreciation some of these cars suffer in the first 18 months of ownership and have decided there is better value to be had in buying a second hand car. Even motors that generally hold their price are suffering a bit (911 GT3's and RS' for example)

pete wrote:Maybe I've just been paying more attention to them as I get older and my pockets slightly deeper but the reviews now seem to be "better than they were" whereas a lot used to be "quite good."

The BBC is saying their sales are down to 2 a week, wonder why. They would seem to have as strong a line up as ever...

Pete

Good old lee noble, saw th M15 review in Evo.. looks great! Think i'll wait 5 years and get a 2nd hand one for £35k

Kelvin · Post by **Kelvin** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 1:44 pm

Dunno about looking great, from some angles maybe. It's fugly at the back. Plus for a 75k car you'd expect something better than a Ford Focus steering wheel

However, you can't argue with the performance. Certainly gives Lotus something to aim for as I'm sure they can better the looks and match the performance for the same or less money for the new Esprit.

GregR wrote: Good old lee noble, saw th M15 review in Evo.. looks great! Think i'll wait 5 years and get a 2nd hand one for £35k

Post by **Shug** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 1:46 pm

Yup - 'Blue Peter does dashboards'

Mr Noble, please hire a designer FFS......

Kelvin wrote:Dunno about looking great, from some angles maybe. It's fugly at the back. Plus for a 75k car you'd expect something better than a Ford Focus steering wheel However, you can't argue with the performance. Certainly gives Lotus something to aim for as I'm sure they can better the looks and match the performance for the same or less money for the new Esprit.

GregR wrote: Good old lee noble, saw th M15 review in Evo.. looks great! Think i'll wait 5 years and get a 2nd hand one for £35k

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 3:16 pm

Shug wrote:Yup - 'Blue Peter does dashboards'

Mr Noble, please hire a designer FFS......

Kelvin wrote:Dunno about looking great, from some angles maybe. It's fugly at the back. Plus for a 75k car you'd expect something better than a Ford Focus steering wheel However, you can't argue with the performance. Certainly gives Lotus something to aim for as I'm sure they can better the looks and match the performance for the same or less money for the new Esprit.

GregR wrote: Good old lee noble, saw th M15 review in Evo.. looks great! Think i'll wait 5 years and get a 2nd hand one for £35k

Shug, you're the last person I'd expect to hear that from, you auditioning for the post of S_E's new JJ Llewelyn-Bowen? Surely there's a lot to be said form over function...

BTW, the 'looks good' comment was on an overall basis, not the looks of the thing

Post by **Shug** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 3:42 pm

GregR wrote:
Shug wrote:Yup - 'Blue Peter does dashboards'

Mr Noble, please hire a designer FFS......

Kelvin wrote:Dunno about looking great, from some angles maybe. It's fugly at the back. Plus for a 75k car you'd expect something better than a Ford Focus steering wheel However, you can't argue with the performance. Certainly gives Lotus something to aim for as I'm sure they can better the looks and match the performance for the same or less money for the new Esprit.

Shug, you're the last person I'd expect to hear that from, you auditioning for the post of S_E's new JJ Llewelyn-Bowen? Surely there's a lot to be said form over function...

BTW, the 'looks good' comment was on an overall basis, not the looks of the thing

Ah, but if you're charging 70odd k for a car, it needs to be 'special'.... The interior of the Elise costs 25 pence, but it looks fabulous thanks to a form over function design. The Nobblie looks like somebody tried to style it, but that somebody was a little, how to say...

...special needs?

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 3:53 pm

Calling JJ.....

Post by **Shug** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 4:03 pm

Just read on SELC*CK that the Blackpool factory is closing inside the next 6 months. Production is supposedly being relocated though.

M Blur · Post by **M Blur** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:38 am

Guys in Esprit circles close to Hethnel says we should be ready for a nice suprise when Esprit unveiled.. it'll make the Noble look diy although its performance Hethnel needs to be targetting.

A British made Ascari perhaps for 70K.. a nice idea.

Blackpool news is sad - I knew one of the PR girls (and I mean one of the ones who keep their clothes on)

Financial woes are part of TVRs history - they need to meet US regs to begin to export the real money for these cars