Poverty, you don't seem to know much about TVR's, the AJP6 and AJP8 engines were scratch built, the last Rover V8 engioned TVR was the Chimera, the Cerbera used the AJP8 and the Tuscan and models since have used the AJP6, the TVR Speed 12 ran two AJP6's mated together. No the engine isn't unreliable. As it stands infact, the engine is infact probably the most reliable part of a TVR. eliability has been becoming less of an issue quite rapidly over the last two years, the fit of the trim hasn't improved so.
Regarding units built, no TVR should not aim for 15k models, most certainly not. First of all a TVR isn't designed to appeal to 15k genuine prospective buyers, and secondly the sheer costs involved in producing that many numbers would not be possible for them in Lancashire they'd have to scrap their factory and their head office that they're having done right now and theyd have to get rid of thier highly respected workforce, including the 70 people they've just re-hired back into the company. Then they'd have to train up an entirely new force (likely overseas) and then hope to god that they can sell 15ki models because if they can't, THEN they're out of business.
Smolenski has already stated, he aims to sell 5000 cars a year, and no more. He wants TVR to remain exclusive, but I guess exclusivity means nothing to you, but it does to a lot of people. Most of what you said would propbably lower TVR sales, TVR's sales rest on a customer base that is often repeat buyers, the Cerbera buyer that upgraded to a Tuscan, who will probably get one of the next line of TVR's whent hey come out. The reliability can still improve, but it's not been as bad as people think recently. The buld quality is what's keeping people thinking that.
Regarding outsourcing engines, they have said they want to outsource a V8 for the Cerbera replacment rather than develop a new one themselves, but they are developing a new speed six engine inhouse. They have hired Ricardo to work on their engines to make them compliant for emissions over seas amongst other things.
poverty
TVR's have most things down, but its just these tiny details that put them out of reach for average car enthusiast joe bloggs. The tuscan is one of the best sounding cars on the road.
You know what, TVR don't care, nor should they. They don't produce enough models to care, nor do they plan on doing so and alienating their current and proven fan base that they have.
If TVR werent looking to make alot more sales they wouldnt have 4 different models.
They have two model ranges, the T lineup and the Tuscan lineup. And yes, they are lookign to make alot more sales, but nothing close to thoes of Porsche, Ferrari or Lamborghini.
Shall we say theyre commercial then, going by their lineup?
No they're specialist.
If TVR had more money, they could spend more time devoloping theyre cars and improving them all round, instead of letting the customers being theyre guinea pigs.
In what way are they're customers being they're guiniea pigs? The fact theres been no engine failures in the last 4 months is a simple fact, a fact that proves that their engines arn't that unrelaible, they didn't build the engine then sell it and say "let us know if it breaks down", they tested it. Like all manufacturers they still run statistics to see how well that testing has proven to be in the real world use of their cars, a company like GM or Ford would go nuts if they could say that they had zero engine failures under warranty in the last 4 months, it'd hit the headlines. And TVR has money, a lot of it, Nikolai smolenski's money.
Is the russian owner a real car enthusiast? What cars does he own? Does he like going on track days? I think TVR should aim for 15k a year, or whatever number 911's porsche sells. Im more likely to see Ferrari's porsches and lambos than a TVR which saddens me. I would like to see alot more TVR's on our roads.
Yes he is, he drives a TVR and did before he bought the company. He had a Tuscan shipped to Russia, he also bought a T350C the day before he bought TVR, he told the salesman he was going to buy TVR tomorrow and the salesman didn't believe him, Wheelre rang him the next day and said "I belive you've met your new boss" or something to that extent. But yes, Smolenski is an enthusiast and he says he's liked TVR for years and liked what they stand for, which is even better.
I doubt that would ever happen, untill TVR became a class leader in some part of automotive engineer. Porsche, Lotus and cosworth do what you propose successfully, but they have a excellent motorsport record. TVR's reliability issues alone would put huge companies that contract the likes of Lotus off.
They are already world renowned for their engines, yes thats true. Their AJP6 has won plenty of awards and been hailed as one of the best sportscar engines ever. The AJP8 was hailed as great, but over stressed, which affected reliability, and don't think the AJP8 and AJP6 are the same enigne with 2 cylinders added/taken away, they were two completely different engines. The A, J and P were the designers initials thats all.
I just think that TVR should make a model thats more appealing to the masses, a british 911 but for 2/3 the price and double the performance, and offer airbags, comfortable chairs, a good soundsytem, abs and traction control.
Like Scaff said, and alienate their fan bgase, yeah right. The 911 buyer will most likely still be the 911 buyer if TR does that, but the TR buyer will no longer be the TR buyer. Now you have a problem, you have a car that's trying to take sales away from the 911, a feat that no car has managed to do to any notable effect and at the same time your putting off the people that bought and loved your cars for what they were before. Thats bad, very bad. As it stands, TVR are recieving more interest that EVER before.
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