Ignoring Matts petty wind up attempts and some of the other negative points; you’re missing the point of TVR's. No they are not the best built, most refined "Super Cars" on the road and sure you can buy an M beamer for the same money, but what you do get is bucket loads of character and a fabulous noise (yes it does sound like an aeroplane - abit like a vette with an performance exhaust) no it doesn’t handle as well as a multi million developed car, but how often do you get the chance to push any car to its limits on the road? Being close to BMW head office we see lots of new Beamers being driven like complete hooligans just get some character out of them and then coming to grief and sometimes in some innocent car full of kids. Followed a M6 the other day, very noisy V8, maybe they have taken the point.
Just like Morgan and Lotus, TVR are a British institution that like many institutions have their faults but what the F**k their great to drive.
This wasn't a petty wind-up attempt. I don't think there is any further need to perpetuate the "TVR's suck/don't suck" debate (it's pretty subjective anyway).
I think the main issue is that not enough people like them to make them viable. I also feel that what appeal they have seems to attract a certain type of individual.
I have never owned one, but I've driven quite a few. I was very unenthused by any of them - based purely on what they cost versus the alternatives (in the same catagory).
I accept that some people and most owners think they are great - the fact still remains, not enough people buy 'em.
One final point that I have to disagree and call bollix on ya on, is where you state that they are fun to drive. On this point, I will exercise my right to be subjective. They are scarily not fun to drive quickly. They are not competent super-cars (for want of a better word). Most owners drive them slowly, because of this reason, preferring to stare at themselves in the reflection of shop windows, manditorily blipping the throtte in a further "Look how cool I am" gesture.
I think the UK car market is having a very tough time in general, so proportionally TVR will have suffered, but in a more critical way, a down turn in sales will hit them harder, simple business economics - still plenty of people ready to buy, but proportionally not enough to generate the economies of scale.
There is also obviously some background manovering going on for both funding and rent reviews by the new owner.
As for posing in shop window reflections and blipping the throttle, lots of people do that, especially if you've got a largish V8, not reserved for TVR's, you can’t stereotype them, there are always going to be tossers, almost a KKK view.
Just pisses me off that some of the last Uk manufacturing jobs heading into decline (like any Car co they are many, many suppliers that will also be hit), but its Ok The TVR boys can get jobs in Blackpool looking after people on holiday - Oh they are stopping coming, Oh they lost their jobs in the factories that generated GNP, that’s OK though cos they can get jobs in the service industry, like bank call centres, Oh they've gone to India, Oh....... Bollocks, no Jobs for anybody apart from a few offshore service industry brokers.
So sorry, can’t agree with your pleasure at TVR's decline matt, we've not yet bailed out of Blighty or want to..
