Discussion
I have been watching this forum too long. I am going to get a TVR. The question is do all TVR's suffer from the common major niggles ie chassis rot, engine rebuilds,electrical issues etc.
Chassis rebuild and engine rebuild seem to be the common expensive things on a Cerbera. And I here people say budget around £3k a year to run.
Chassis and electricals seem to be the issues with the Chimeara but don't know the advised annual running budget
My heart wants a Cerbera but I don't own a bottomless wallet so I think a Chimeara would be a better introduction to TVR ownership.
Question two has to be if I want a Cerbera am I just better waiting and getting what I want first time, what's the financial difference between owning a Cerbera and a Chimeara?
Cheers
M
Chassis rebuild and engine rebuild seem to be the common expensive things on a Cerbera. And I here people say budget around £3k a year to run.
Chassis and electricals seem to be the issues with the Chimeara but don't know the advised annual running budget
My heart wants a Cerbera but I don't own a bottomless wallet so I think a Chimeara would be a better introduction to TVR ownership.
Question two has to be if I want a Cerbera am I just better waiting and getting what I want first time, what's the financial difference between owning a Cerbera and a Chimeara?
Cheers
M
I thought about a Chim as my first TVR but I really wanted a Tuscan, In the end I jumped in and got a Tuscan and it was great no issues over 2 years but it did have an engine rebuild!!.
When I had the Tuscan I liked the Cerbera every time I saw one so now I have a Cerbera which I love but this time I had to fork out for an engine rebuild £££ouch. I still like the Cerbera ALOT.
But those T350 are looking quite nice,,,,,mmmmm
Personally I would get the model you are after just bide your time and get the right one at the right price. If it is a SP6 engine personally I would get one that has had a engine rebuild unless it is 2004 onwards. If it is an Rover or AJP8 i would be looking for lots of reciepts for services and extras. Despite what the AJP police say they do also require engine work occasionally so again I would be looking for lots of receipts and engine work would be a bonus. You could do a lot worse than buy from someone on here they tend to know there cars and look after them.
When I had the Tuscan I liked the Cerbera every time I saw one so now I have a Cerbera which I love but this time I had to fork out for an engine rebuild £££ouch. I still like the Cerbera ALOT.
But those T350 are looking quite nice,,,,,mmmmm
Personally I would get the model you are after just bide your time and get the right one at the right price. If it is a SP6 engine personally I would get one that has had a engine rebuild unless it is 2004 onwards. If it is an Rover or AJP8 i would be looking for lots of reciepts for services and extras. Despite what the AJP police say they do also require engine work occasionally so again I would be looking for lots of receipts and engine work would be a bonus. You could do a lot worse than buy from someone on here they tend to know there cars and look after them.
I looked into this before i got my Chim .. I was told by people in the know that the best way to look at a Cerb was Its a racing car with a number plate and we all know how expensive it is to run a racing car ...
Wanted one badly But as you say i dont have a bottomless walet .. But have to say i am so pleased with my chim .. Hope this helps ....
JC,,
Wanted one badly But as you say i dont have a bottomless walet .. But have to say i am so pleased with my chim .. Hope this helps ....
JC,,
m60ddy said:
I have been watching this forum too long. I am going to get a TVR. The question is do all TVR's suffer from the common major niggles ie chassis rot, engine rebuilds,electrical issues etc.
Chassis rebuild and engine rebuild seem to be the common expensive things on a Cerbera. And I here people say budget around £3k a year to run.
Chassis and electricals seem to be the issues with the Chimeara but don't know the advised annual running budget
My heart wants a Cerbera but I don't own a bottomless wallet so I think a Chimeara would be a better introduction to TVR ownership.
Question two has to be if I want a Cerbera am I just better waiting and getting what I want first time, what's the financial difference between owning a Cerbera and a Chimeara?
Cheers
M
well i jumped in after a few years lurking on here too, i would say that a bad Chim will cost as much as a bad Cerby.Well nearly.My advice would be to pick up a Tam, great value for money and a fantastic all round package of a super speed 6 engine and a chassis that is so forgiving.The later T cars are in my opinion a better bet than a chim or early Cerby.My standard advice to any TVR newbie is to give Craig or Rich or Ian @track v road in Clitheroe a bell and have a chat. They will give best advice and will probably know where the car you require will be.Good luck Chassis rebuild and engine rebuild seem to be the common expensive things on a Cerbera. And I here people say budget around £3k a year to run.
Chassis and electricals seem to be the issues with the Chimeara but don't know the advised annual running budget
My heart wants a Cerbera but I don't own a bottomless wallet so I think a Chimeara would be a better introduction to TVR ownership.
Question two has to be if I want a Cerbera am I just better waiting and getting what I want first time, what's the financial difference between owning a Cerbera and a Chimeara?
Cheers
M
I'm lucky enough to have both, although I'm selling my chim through selby TVR if you're interested, it's mint.
The chim's been faultless and never let me down, the Cerb however is a different beast, it burns money
Like a furnace! And mines a later model.
Good advice as already said above, racing car with racing car costs.
The chim's been faultless and never let me down, the Cerb however is a different beast, it burns money
Like a furnace! And mines a later model.
Good advice as already said above, racing car with racing car costs.
and if it doesn't your doing something wrong! 
My chim sets me back ~£1k a year for servicing , tax and insurance , absolute bargain.
If they havent been done you need to budget £1500 for your outriggers - mine have just been done, but I had the money tucked away ready :-)
As these cars are getting old now I have increased my annual budget to £1500 to cover things like dampers, seals , pipes etc which wear out over time.
If they havent been done you need to budget £1500 for your outriggers - mine have just been done, but I had the money tucked away ready :-)
As these cars are getting old now I have increased my annual budget to £1500 to cover things like dampers, seals , pipes etc which wear out over time.
I wanted a 4.5 Cerb, nothing else, but was wavering due to reading a horror story or two. Started looking at BMW M Coupes.
Went to a PH meet and by a stroke of luck there was an owner of an M Coupe there who'd had a 4.2 Cerb. He said running costs were very similar and also tossed in that if I wanted a Cerb, to get one. He said if you see a Cerb going the other way when you're in an M Coupe you'll be looking in the rvm hankering for it.
Kind of made my mind up.
Get a Cerb - unless you're planning on having it as a daily runner. In terms of enjoyment, taking it out on a crisp dry day off is a world apart from trying to keep it in a straight line on a five mile commute to work through slush and snow, while coating your chassis with salt and s
te and worrying about others sliding into you.
Take your time and experience as many as you can. Don't be put off by a horror story or two, for every one there will be hundreds of memorable drives experienced.
If you won't be doing maintenance yourself, the £3k figure is not far off the mark. If this scares you but you want a TVR, the Chim is a decent compromise.
Chassis is the major thing to watch for. You should expect an electrical niggle here and there, while the clutch should be good for 25k ish. As for engine rebuilds, there's a thread on here with owners putting down their miles - the V8s seem to take the miles pretty well.
Went to a PH meet and by a stroke of luck there was an owner of an M Coupe there who'd had a 4.2 Cerb. He said running costs were very similar and also tossed in that if I wanted a Cerb, to get one. He said if you see a Cerb going the other way when you're in an M Coupe you'll be looking in the rvm hankering for it.
Kind of made my mind up.
Get a Cerb - unless you're planning on having it as a daily runner. In terms of enjoyment, taking it out on a crisp dry day off is a world apart from trying to keep it in a straight line on a five mile commute to work through slush and snow, while coating your chassis with salt and s
te and worrying about others sliding into you.Take your time and experience as many as you can. Don't be put off by a horror story or two, for every one there will be hundreds of memorable drives experienced.
If you won't be doing maintenance yourself, the £3k figure is not far off the mark. If this scares you but you want a TVR, the Chim is a decent compromise.
Chassis is the major thing to watch for. You should expect an electrical niggle here and there, while the clutch should be good for 25k ish. As for engine rebuilds, there's a thread on here with owners putting down their miles - the V8s seem to take the miles pretty well.
Edited by bobbins on Tuesday 9th October 18:14
Thanks for your replies and honesty. I really do want a Cerbera, not bothered which engine as long as it a V8, but I think my current financial situation / wife not interested in cars AT ALL and sees other priorities for the £3k a year, means that one will have to wait a bit longer before getting one. Think it will be my mid life crisis purchase!
I am however very serious about a Chimeara, looking at one tomorrow and also one at the weekend.
Thanks M
I am however very serious about a Chimeara, looking at one tomorrow and also one at the weekend.
Thanks M
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