TVR Typhoon finally shows (Typhon a different model)

[YSSMAN]

I've heard of the Racing Green TVR dealer. We've got dealers like that all-over in America, and that is probably how they would get out and about. My Boss' father-in-law owns a specialty import dealer, and chances are that if TVR wanted to come to America, I'd imagine that he would be happy to pick them up.

He has tried in the past to get brands like SMART (pre-Penske decision) and Mini to come to Grand Rapids, but has been successful. Apparently he is working on getting an Alfa Romeo contract for when they come to the 'States, but there isn't really any guessing as to how it could turn out, nobody is sure if it will happen or not...

 

[exigeracer]

I'd consider Noble different though, it's a kit-car regulated car that you pay for what you get. I would think that TVR would need a reliable dealer base to run their warrantee department out of, they'd still need ot open office Stateside, maybe a port adress to ship the cars through, have to train the service team at each dealer etc etc.

This is all stuff that Ariel and Noble don't do, but considering how much TVR is trying to get upmarket, you need to sort all of this out to get the trust to sell in high enough volumes to turn a decent profit.

 

[Dave A]

One thing you learn in the world of buisness, everything can be outsourced, amazingly that's something TVR have picked up on quite a lot recently . No TVR wouldn't need to set up an office in the States, nor a claims department, they'd simply hire a marketing company to handle claims for them. Warranties can be outsourced as well to insurance companies. TVR's already is. All this actually happes rather more often than the average person would think, mobile phones for instance, Orange, O2, vodaphone, and 3 all outsource call centers, sure they have thier own but the vast majority of it is outsourced usually for overseas sales. Orange do not have a center in every country they offer a service in. This type of business has been and continues to be practiced widely across the globe in various markets include the car market. As for Noble beig a kit car, other than the fact the power train comes seperately in the states to bypass certain laws, they're no more a kit car than a Ford Mustang.

 

[harrytuttle]

This is exactly what TVR needs right now: a loud, obnoxious halo car. Until now, no one car really stood out from the others. I actually think they should go further; "sub-4 seconds" may not be enough to really separate the cars. Ugly or beautiful, the side-exit exhaust is enough for me.

The overall form is typical TVR, but the detail is mixed with Cadillac's Art&Science. The taillights look either unfinished, or the source of much wind noise above 100 MPH. Some other aspects are a little clumsy, like the doubled-up vents behind the front wheel. But overall it shows two things: promise, and effort. It's good to know that TVR still has heart. 👍

 

[Tornado]

I'd consider Noble different though, it's a kit-car regulated car that you pay for what you get. I would think that TVR would need a reliable dealer base to run their warrantee department out of, they'd still need ot open office Stateside, maybe a port adress to ship the cars through, have to train the service team at each dealer etc etc.

If TVR makes the cars U.S. legal, they could turn around and do exactly what Lotus does: sell most of their cars in specialty car dealers and establish one or two TVR dealers for repairs and the like. It costs essentially nothing to do when compared to establishing your own dealer network.

 

[exigeracer]

If TVR makes the cars U.S. legal, they could turn around and do exactly what Lotus does: sell most of their cars in specialty car dealers and establish one or two TVR dealers for repairs and the like. It costs essentially nothing to do when compared to establishing your own dealer network.

No, Lotus sells their cars exclusively through their own dealer network, which has been there for years. Yes, you'll get the odd car on a miscellaneous luxury car lots, but they're always marked up and are practically never new. To keep your warrantee, you still have to have the 1000 and 7500 mile services at a Lotus dealers anyways. Lotus also have offices in Atlanta mostly now for warrantee claims and random early testing, they have the port warehouse where they prep cars with the clear film, fit various options and so on. And they're still struggling.

 

[L8 Apex]

I'm surprised no one else has brought up the fact that, if TVR were to return to the U.S. and wanted to sell the Typhoon here, they'd probably have to change the name due to a certain hot-rod GMC SUV from the early '90s.
Even if that was the case, though, I'd still be a happy camper.

 

[Dave A]

No, Lotus sells their cars exclusively through their own dealer network, which has been there for years. Yes, you'll get the odd car on a miscellaneous luxury car lots, but they're always marked up and are practically never new. To keep your warrantee, you still have to have the 1000 and 7500 mile services at a Lotus dealers anyways. Lotus also have offices in Atlanta mostly now for warrantee claims and random early testing, they have the port warehouse where they prep cars with the clear film, fit various options and so on. And they're still struggling.

Noble are the closest thing to TVR you get in the states, only TVR's are even more specialised than that. Hows the Noble dealer network over there, it's all outsourced. Lotus have more money than TVR, Lotus are a bigger company than TVR hundereds of times over. noble on the other hand are pretty comparable to TVR in the type of car they build and in the size and wealth of the company. If TVR go to the states they'll have maybe two or three dealerships at the very most, I wouldn't be suprised if they had none. Everything else would be outsourced. Infact the dealerships could well be specialist dealerships that become franchised. I've seen that happen before in various markets. Like I said, TVR don't even have much of a dealer network over here, to think they'd go to the US and set one up when they would be far better to outsource is ridiculous if you ask me.

 

[Tornado]

No, Lotus sells their cars exclusively through their own dealer network, which has been there for years. Yes, you'll get the odd car on a miscellaneous luxury car lots, but they're always marked up and are practically never new. To keep your warrantee, you still have to have the 1000 and 7500 mile services at a Lotus dealers anyways. Lotus also have offices in Atlanta mostly now for warrantee claims and random early testing, they have the port warehouse where they prep cars with the clear film, fit various options and so on. And they're still struggling.

I said Lotus, meant Noble.

 

[YSSMAN]

I'm surprised no one else has brought up the fact that, if TVR were to return to the U.S. and wanted to sell the Typhoon here, they'd probably have to change the name due to a certain hot-rod GMC SUV from the early '90s.
Even if that was the case, though, I'd still be a happy camper.

You know, I didn't even think of that. Hmmm, I'm not sure if GM would be upset by it or not. They were supposed to do a Typhoon 2.0 based on the Envoy, but it never happened, and now I'm certain that it won't.

But I'm sure they could just call it something silly and people would buy it just because its a TVR...

 

[Pebb]

Something I mentioned to TVR&FF earlier about the quality of TVRs improving, IM Kelly the company who are doing the trim for TVR's now is the company that does the trim for Aston Martin and Rolls Royce among other well known companies.

One of the most reliable old TVR's is the TVR Chimaera.

 

[Dave A]

The Chimera and Griffith were both pretty reliable it was mainly the AJP8 engined models that had a bad rep mechanically and that was more down to them not being looked after properly. The Griffith and Chimera both ran off the sae mechanicals. I'd choose a Griith over a Chimera any day. The Griffith is the best looking TVR ever, and I'd love to own one some day.

 

[Pebb]

The Chimera and Griffith were both pretty reliable it was mainly the AJP8 engined models that had a bad rep mechanically and that was more down to them not being looked after properly. The Griffith and Chimera both ran off the sae mechanicals. I'd choose a Griith over a Chimera any day. The Griffith is the best looking TVR ever, and I'd love to own one some day.

The Griffith has the right balance between looks and sound I must say, also the Griffith fits into my top 3 favourite TVR list, alongside the Sagaris and Cerbera 4.5.