Thinking of a Cerbera.

Thinking of a Cerbera.

Author
Discussion

so called

Original Poster:

9,074 posts

208 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
Hi Cerbera world.
I've been a committed TVR man for many years having had a Tasmin 280, two Chimaera's and am on my second Tuscan having killed the first one.

I've never had a Cerbera and its an itch I have wondered about for years.
For a couple of reasons I feel quite nervous about getting a Cerbera.

Firstly, a couple of years ago I bought a Chimaera to go with my Tuscan and found it quite difficult to keep on top of the issues I was dealing with at the time on both cars.
I dont cut corners on the maintenance of my TVR's.

Secondly, I keep hearing that the Cerbera is the most expensive to maintain.

Maybe there is a third..........the guy that looks after my Tuscan keeps pointing at the Cerbera that I have in mind and saying "MANS CAR" and then at my Tuscan and saying "Hmmmmmm", so I'm feeling a little intimidated by it silly

Anyway, putting the third to one side, is the Cerbera a TVR itch that must be scratched?

Cheers,
Tony.

Edited by so called on Tuesday 10th May 06:13

OutlawFlat4

697 posts

146 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
Yes. Buy it. They are terrifyingly amazing.

My cerb is the only TVR I have ever owned, so I cant compare it, but I don't feel it is too expensive to maintain. That said I wouldn't want to cover the cost of running two TVRs.....

billybradshaw

352 posts

147 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
I would say so smile

I love mine and if I get my own way it's a keeper.

I've been pleasantly surprised by how easy the Cerbera is to work on. They are a few 'oddities' and I would never trust myself to dive into the bowels of the AJP engine but apart from that it's straight forward.

Just do it

so called

Original Poster:

9,074 posts

208 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for the positivity.
I'm going round and having a proper look this afternoon. smile

gruffalo

7,509 posts

225 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
I get to drive both on occasions, normally on track days, the Cerbera is the more forgiving handling car, nothing to be afraid of.


PGNSagaris

2,926 posts

165 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
Cerbera much more forgiving than a Tuscan on track and mine certainly felt a lot more planted than my Tuscan.

Like you, I had a fantastic Tuscan but the Cerb itch was too strong to ignore so I bought mine without having ever driven one.

First impressions were that yes, more planted, more toque but by god I missed the roof off fun and especially missed the S6 engine and noise. I love the S6.

In terms of costs, yes, in my experience, everything apart from the engine itself will cost you more to run and maintain properly. The electrics.... But the V8's have a mystique and for good reason.

If you want to have a ride in a seriously quick and beautifully set up Cerbera, find Gruffalo at a track day and do a pax lap. You will be amazed.

Wolvesboy

597 posts

140 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
Hi,
Into my 4th month of Cerbera ownership. My 10c.
My first TVR and a jump in the dark to say the least. I do all of my own work. I bought a car that was looked after fantastically well for 14 years by the original owner it was then abused and neglected by the second. If you are handy with the spanners and enjoy fiddling then it should be ok if the engine is sound. The rest of the car is pretty easy to work around with some access points incredibly easy - I have never come across a car where the door cards are so easy to remove and fix back on again. Then again, the air induction is a pain as it needs to be removed every time you need to access anything below (plugs, leads etc). Being a TVR produced engine I struggle to get bits unless I look in the forums for the part used from another manufacturer. Herein lies the beauty of it- because so many parts were sourced elsewhere they are still available if you are prepared to search, wait and phone around.
I'm not sure about other TVRs but you are and if these issues are similar and you frequent this amazing forum then you should be ok. Don't drive one unless you want to seriously buy it. I drove mine and wanted it within the first 30 seconds - warts and all. Mine needs loads doing to it to make it "excellent" but I still drive it and enjoy it with the small issues. The AJP engine is like nothing I have ever driven before (Gallardo, 911 Turbo, Corvette C4) and the only thing close was a Kawasaki ZX10 or a Westfield SEight.
Drive one and be warned - once you go into a certain rev range nothing really compares!
Enjoy!


so called

Original Poster:

9,074 posts

208 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
Again thanks. Test drive this evening but 90% made my mind up wink

JezF

326 posts

227 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
I'm with Wolvesboy on the drive once and you'll be addicted as I was going to buy a 911 or an Evora! They really do feel special to drive and they are gobsmackingly beautiful too.

aide

2,276 posts

163 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
Hard to describe really.
Turning around to look at it after you park.
Getting up a 6am on Saturday to "get milk" and ending up eating fish and chips on Brighton Pier.
Filling it up and driving until it's empty, only to hear the hiss of the petrol cap as you open to fill again.
Letting your mum drive it smile

You're never going to rationally justify how much will be spent on it.

I'd just buy one, try to make it the best it can possibly be and enjoy!


2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,230 posts

234 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
Cerbera...great car, but you just can't take the roof off.

Jhonno

5,762 posts

140 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Cerbera...great car, but you just can't take the roof off.
That is for hairdressers anyway.. Just open a window.

Pursyluv

1,927 posts

173 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
Owned a Mk 2 4.5 for a year, yes very fast, but no roof off driving, very expensive if you are a mechanical numpty and the engine/exhaust note is not a patch on the S6, strange thing is I still lust after another one, Aides RR mainly!!

Jhonno

5,762 posts

140 months

Saturday 23rd April 2016
quotequote all
Completely disagree about the AJP noise.. It is something else. Love it.

Any car can be expensive if you are unable to do mechanical work yourself as well. Be it a Cerb, T car, Chimp..

so called

Original Poster:

9,074 posts

208 months

Saturday 23rd April 2016
quotequote all
You were all correct.
Test drive and its now mine.
I'll post some pics Saturday.
It's had a huge amount of work done by the previous owner. I have a short list of stuff I want to do but otherwise I'm delighted at the condition.

I have my Tuscan convertible for the roof off bit.

Merry Christmas smile

ps. bounce

Edited by so called on Saturday 23 April 01:33

Griffithy

929 posts

275 months

Saturday 23rd April 2016
quotequote all
clap

Byker28i

58,831 posts

216 months

Saturday 23rd April 2016
quotequote all
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Cerbera...great car, but you just can't take the roof off.
With cerbera you put the windows down - take the sides off biggrin

Byker28i

58,831 posts

216 months

Saturday 23rd April 2016
quotequote all
Jhonno said:
Completely disagree about the AJP noise.. It is something else. Love it.

Any car can be expensive if you are unable to do mechanical work yourself as well. Be it a Cerb, T car, Chimp..
2 pots short, ajp8 on song is fun, especially on the overrun/backfire.

Gazzab

21,061 posts

281 months

Saturday 23rd April 2016
quotequote all
Just get it done....fantastic cars with amazing engines. The noise is amazing. So much better than the speed 6. Proper 90s race car sound whereas the speed 6 is back in spitfire era.

2 sMoKiN bArReLs

30,230 posts

234 months

Saturday 23rd April 2016
quotequote all
Jhonno said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
Cerbera...great car, but you just can't take the roof off.
That is for hairdressers anyway.. Just open a window.
scratchchinhehe