Do I buy a Cerb?

Do I buy a Cerb?

Author
Discussion

Jonty355

Original Poster:

4,423 posts

212 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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Following on from this thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Is a Cerb right for me? Thinking probably a straight six as its going to be used more as a GT car for days out with the wife and my 2 year old daughter. I may end up having to use it on a regular basis too.

Are they a useable car or can reliability be a bit of an issue, especially with the horror stories of the Speed Six engine.

Also are there any owners in the Rotherham/Barnsley area that would be willing to show me the ins and outs of their cerb and possibly take me for a ride as its a car I'm still yet to experience. I spent a lot of time driving a friends Griffith 4.6 back in my early 20's and it was a great car, but not sure I'd want to use it every day. How does a Cerb compare to that?

Cheers in advance
Jonty

gruffalo

7,509 posts

225 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
The Cerbera especially the Speed 6 if looked after and with regular use can be a very reliable and practical car.

Most of the horror stories of the Speed 6 engines have been sorted out, the two main specialists in the country now offer a 5 year warantee on the engines they build.

Look for one with an egine built either by STR8SIX or Powers Performance.


Jonty355

Original Poster:

4,423 posts

212 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
Are there any obvious signs to suggest the engines have been sorted?

If they haven't, how much roughly would it be to have it rebuilt?

Incognegro

1,560 posts

132 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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BIG YES! IMO its the best TVR wink

I also bought the S6 as its a great drive round town (when properly setup). Reliability is an odd one as the S6 engine rebuilds from Power are backed by 100k mile warranty and are wonderful.

I had that done to my dads very problematic Cerb and he now says its better than when new. The problem with Cerbs/TVRs is the more you drive the less issues but in the rest periods they need care ie leave on trickle smart charge, check fluids regularly, dont take to any normal garage etc! Ioved sorting my dads out so much I then went and got my own (another S6) and its the best thing ever!

Take time in picking the right one and you'll know when you get the feeling wink

fullpull

260 posts

166 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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I have my S6 Cerb since early 2010 and had no significant issues with it. It is a late 2004 car and I have a lot of confidence that it will not go pop any time soon because it gets serviced frequently by someone who knows these engines.
It's a very fast car and if you use her as a GT you are going to love it. Using her as an every day car I wouldn't enjoy but that's the same for me for any TVR model. As a weekend toy they are great and it's an event every time. Get one before finally people understand what fabulous cars Cerberas are.

Jonty355

Original Poster:

4,423 posts

212 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
Sound like the S6 is the right way to go for me then.

I'd probably be using it all year round. Whether I use for commuting too or not is down to how much juice it uses. Whats your experience with mpg out of the S6 Cerb? If driven sensibly. My route to work is 12 miles, half B-roads and half motorway.

Incognegro

1,560 posts

132 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
mpg in the Cerb is well lets say varying. when on the Mway doing say 60-65 in top gear she can run all day like really economical. if I get fruity with the right foot then it can suck the car dry oh and when its gets to a quarter left FILL UP as thats when the useable fuel is taken due to a badly designed pump placement!

If off to Nottingham from MK in her tomorrow 180m(round trip) so I'll let you know more after.

OutlawFlat4

697 posts

146 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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I drive my 96 4.2 3-4 days a week and it is totally reliable and I don't even run it on a charger. They like to be used and if you use them and keep ontop of them then they are great.

Mine just skipped past 72k miles too....

Jonty355

Original Poster:

4,423 posts

212 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
Yeah please try and work out some mpg figures if you can.

Sounds like it may be a good every day car after all.

Incognegro

1,560 posts

132 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
OutlawFlat4 said:
I drive my 96 4.2 3-4 days a week and it is totally reliable and I don't even run it on a charger. They like to be used and if you use them and keep ontop of them then they are great.

Mine just skipped past 72k miles too....
With that use deffo no charging needed, I'm more leave it 3-4 days then try and fit my 100miles a week quota in. When it's cold and they get left then you do have probs.

The more they drive the stronger they become!

KSV

454 posts

145 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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Safe journey Alistair.

Catch up soon.

Colin


jamieduff1981

8,022 posts

139 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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Hi OP. Glad you came in here to speak with more owners smile

My own one is a 4.5 V8 so I can't comment on Speed Six fuel consumption but the V8 one at least is better than I had hoped. Mine will return 25mpg when cruising and nearer 15mpg when horsing about and making noise.

I've got a few cars like yourself so don't use the Cerbera every day, but I rarely get time to just go out for a drive so I do make a point of using the Cerbera if I need to go somewhere. I don't tend to reach for the keys if the weather is miserable but that's me rather than the car. When I drive the Cerb I do like to find excuses to accelerate and if the road is sopping wet there isn't the traction to do that. The car isn't trying to kill you constantly though - the sense of speed is very good and feedback also excellent so it's a hard car to accidently go too fast I find.

I overfilled a Costco trolley and spent £550 on groceries and managed get everything but a crate of beer in the boot.

It's quite gentle on tyres and brakes I find. Despite the power the weight just isn't there to rip the treads off. I fitted brake discs from a group buy run by a Cerb forum member who deals in Carbon Lorraine brakes along with his pads. The pedal feel is amazing but for road use it's actually hard to find a use for them!


As with most performance cars they do need looking after. I think others will agree though that the vast majority of things that 'go wrong' are just fodder to get sorted out at the next service and MOT at your nearest specialist. It's pretty seldom that my car can't actually be driven. On the contrary it's my Cerbera that has stood in for the sensible daily drivers on more than one occassion!

Gray_101

1,118 posts

189 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
Jonty355 said:
Following on from this thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Is a Cerb right for me? Thinking probably a straight six as its going to be used more as a GT car for days out with the wife and my 2 year old daughter. I may end up having to use it on a regular basis too.

Are they a useable car or can reliability be a bit of an issue, especially with the horror stories of the Speed Six engine.

Also are there any owners in the Rotherham/Barnsley area that would be willing to show me the ins and outs of their cerb and possibly take me for a ride as its a car I'm still yet to experience. I spent a lot of time driving a friends Griffith 4.6 back in my early 20's and it was a great car, but not sure I'd want to use it every day. How does a Cerb compare to that?

Cheers in advance
Jonty
I have a 97 4.2 in Rotherham, your welcome to come and have a look one evening next week if you like.

Byff

4,427 posts

260 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
quotequote all
I did some mpg calcs for a 4.2 AJPV8 for a short while, just out of curiosity. Post it up when I get home, but from memory, it varies from 12-18mpg on a mixture of M/ways and city stop/start traffic on a 30 mile round trip commute.

Mine gets used in all weathers, all seasons despite me having a choice of cars to use. Great family car, was perfect for the kids up till the ages of 12+, even carrying us all plus luggage to Glasgow airport for our holidays (our so called reliable family runaround had broken down).

Kids are now grown up so its become all mine now and I love it.


FarmyardPants

4,099 posts

217 months

Wednesday 27th May 2015
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If you're ever in Surrey/Guildford area you're welcome to have a demo and/or a drive of my 4.5. smile

robsco

7,822 posts

175 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
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Mine's a 4.5 which I keep in the Harrogate area, I'd be delighted to take you for a drive one evening if it would help.

Byker28i

58,824 posts

216 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
mpg - best I've had was 27 on a 80mph constant run down motorways/toll roads.

track day at Castle Coombe is 4-5 mpg biggrin
General everyday use, commute to work and back is around 20-22mpg.

harry henderson

358 posts

107 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
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I've had my 4.2 just over a month now and I love it. When I first drove it though it was an experience. It's got heavy steering, no steering lock whatsoever, crap visibility, you can't see where the front end stops and I found that unlike in a modern car you have to concentrate on driving. After a couple of days though it fits like a glove and it becomes second nature. It sounds awesome, pulls like a train and everyone wants a look at it. As for which engine, I've only ever driven my car, it goes fast when you want it to and slow when you want to go slow so I wouldn't imagine it mattered which one you got. Just get one, if you accept they're not modern mileage eaters then you'll love it. Buy a good one and keep it for a year, you could sell it for the same money again, nothing lost.

gruffalo

7,509 posts

225 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
quotequote all
Jonty355 said:
Are there any obvious signs to suggest the engines have been sorted?

If they haven't, how much roughly would it be to have it rebuilt?
Check the receipts and if there is one for a rebuild by one of the dealers mentioned then happy days. Having said that even if not rebuilt and if it has done decent miles and not gone pop yet then it probably won't it just won't have the modifications done to the cooling and oil feeds that the rebuilt engines have to aid reliability.


Mr Cerbera

5,031 posts

229 months

Thursday 28th May 2015
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Excuse me: a 308 and 355 owner whose job is as a "Test Driver" asking about fuel consumption on a 4 litre sports car ??

You're 'avin me on !! hehe