Got my first TVR: Cerbera 4.2

Got my first TVR: Cerbera 4.2

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Except

Original Poster:

10 posts

89 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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Hi all,

Just thought I'd introduce myself here. I imagine reading many of your posts and helpful advice in the future, and hopefully contributing as well.
I'm a 36 year old sustainability expert (yes) and entrepreneur from the Netherlands. Hi there!

I'm Dutch and still live in the low lands. I've driven an Alfa GTV6 2.5 V6 from 1981 for 20 years. I imported it from the USA when I was 19 and restored it mysel f. In 2005 I built it up to a 3.0 V6, Absolutely tremendously wonderful car, and amazing engine. It's hard to beat that Busso V6 in sound, and character. I brought it with me from the NLs to the US, when I lived and studied there in the early 2000's, for 4 years. Put 300k on it without failing once. I can't imagine a better car to tour the states with.




I wrote a travel report on my 5 month journey from coast to coast USA in the GTV6 here: http://except.nl/overig/roadtripusa/

GTV6... awesome. Yes electrical problems but... TVR people can't really complain, can you? biggrin Except for rust. As this old rust bucket was becoming too unreliable and falling apart after sitting in the weather for another 10 years, I thought it was time for something new. But how do you gear up from this pocket dynamite? As I get older I desire more power to tame. So I bought a Cerbera 4.2 from TVRSportscars in the Netherlands one month ago. In the hope to jump a generation or two from 1981 to 1998.




This is supposedly one of the best Cerberas driving around this side of the pond. It has a galvanized chassis, and looks as new. I've upgraded the stereo (whoopdedoo) and nothing else, and hope to do many trouble free GT journeys through Europe with it.

Some niggling issues to start off with, I don't actually have it in my hands as we speak. After standing still for a year and a half it's performing like a Lada. Some ignition/injection issue. But the guys at TVRSportrscars.nl seem to know their business and are going out of their way to be super helpful and supportive and promised to deliver the goods as it's supposed to be. It's getting a full service as we speak. Yay! I'm confident I get to take her on the road with full happiness soon and join you crazy lot.

The comparisons with the GTV6 are eery, actually. Both very light, both near ideal weight distribution, both out of proportion power/weight ratio, both heavy to operate and niggling in their basic detail. Both have zero driving aids (Alfa doesn't even have any power steering). Both exhilarating to drive. But that's where the comparison seems to end. The feel is totally different. The GTV6 was an easy daily driver. It handled abuse well, in any weather, any time. Everything is heavy but it is practical, easy to start, always wonderful and never a funky surprise. Handling wise, it signaled its limits clearly ahead of time, allowing even the untrained to do a drifting corner, in control.

The Cerbera seems more tough to handle. More erratic. It sounds like a diesel when cold, and it's like sitting on a rocket engine when warm. Want to have a conversation? step outside. Nice! Not a bad thing at all. I look forward to developing a good feel for this beast. I've not had the full Cerbera experience. Only thing I can come up with now is that the girlfriend parts are harder to reach biggrin.

I can't wait to join the ranks with you crazy lot.

Just saying hello this is. Hello!



Edited by Except on Thursday 20th October 03:59

pmessling

2,284 posts

202 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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Welcome aboard.

aide

2,276 posts

163 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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Congratulations and welcome!
Beautiful looking car you have.
Aide

RFC1

1,107 posts

196 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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Welcome aboard , lovely looking Cerby.

gruffalo

7,509 posts

225 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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Hello and welcome.

The handling of the Cerbera can be made very predictable and progressive but a couple of upgrades are needed to make it really good.

I have however never found a TVR that grips in the wet!


Byker28i

58,834 posts

216 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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gruffalo said:
I have however never found a TVR that grips in the wet!
I guess that depends on the tyres you use, and how you drive it in the conditions

Mr Cerbera

5,031 posts

229 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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Tot sees, matey wavey

Wow, from Alfa to TVR, you do like to live life on The Edge hehe

Perhaps I'm just used to mine now but if you think that the handling is tough then there's probably summat wrong. I tested two before I bought BlackBeauty© and there was summat wrong in both of 'em - just couldn't put my finger on it.
Then, when I tried mine, it was a different story. The worst adjective that I could level at it is "Precise" wink

"This is supposedly one of the best Cerberas driving around this side of the pond"

You have shown two essential qualifications of enjoying your future ownership:-
1) Finding this wonderful site
2) Possessing a fabulous sense of humour.

Don't forget NL - LUX is always a good trip to get the engine warm thumbup

Welcome to The Madhouse silly


Byker28i said:
gruffalo said:
I have however never found a TVR that grips in the wet!
I guess that depends on the tyres you use, and how you drive it in the conditions
400BHP divided into 1200 Kg gives an answer that can denae the laws of physics cap'n hehe

Edited by Mr Cerbera on Thursday 20th October 14:25

so called

9,074 posts

208 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
quotequote all
Congrats and welcome.
Car looks great.
I bough a 4,2 in May.
I've barely driven mine unfortunately as I work away.
I've loved the little I have done though.
It's having an engine out, top end rebuild shortly so waiting for that.
I have a Tuscan too, which is currently sitting in a German airport. I'll be driving home via Hook van Holland late November. Where about's are you?


Edited by so called on Saturday 22 October 10:34

FarmyardPants

4,099 posts

217 months

Thursday 20th October 2016
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Congratulations on the purchase and welcome to the even cliquier (if that's a word) group of cerb owners! I agree with Paul (Mr Cerbera) that you seem like a worthy member of the club. To own a cerb you have to appreciate it for what it is, rather than expect what it isn't smile

Except

Original Poster:

10 posts

89 months

Friday 21st October 2016
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Thanks for all the warm welcome everyone smile

I love in Driebergen in the Netherlands for those who want to know.

I don't think anything is wrong with the handling per se. It's just a completely different experience. Not necessarily worse. Just looking at the specs that surprised me a little.

Looking forward to enjoying every bit of it.

ukkid35

6,138 posts

172 months

Friday 21st October 2016
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You said erratic, if you mean it feels twitchy, and a wheel alignment doesn't fix it completely, then the chances are the suspension bushes are worn out. It took me ages to sort mine out, but it has transformed the car, now it feels perfectly stable even as it approaches 300kph whereas previously it was unpleasant.

mk1fan

10,507 posts

224 months

Friday 21st October 2016
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gruffalo said:
I have however never found a TVR that grips in the wet!
PGNCerbera seemed to perform really well in the drizzily December at Brands a couple of years ago. Couldn't keep him off the track! Not sure that means he had any grip though biggrin

gruffalo

7,509 posts

225 months

Friday 21st October 2016
quotequote all
mk1fan said:
gruffalo said:
I have however never found a TVR that grips in the wet!
PGNCerbera seemed to perform really well in the drizzily December at Brands a couple of years ago. Couldn't keep him off the track! Not sure that means he had any grip though biggrin
I seem to remember it was peeing it down that day.

Tried a few different tyres, but in a side by side comparison between the Cerb and a BMW E46M3 same tyres same corner the BMW could sustain far more lateral G than the Cerb, in the dry the Cerb was slightly better.

mk1fan

10,507 posts

224 months

Friday 21st October 2016
quotequote all
Was a very drizzily day. Tamy was all over the place. biggrin Nowt to do with the driver nono

so called

9,074 posts

208 months

Saturday 22nd October 2016
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Except said:
I love in Driebergen in the Netherlands for those who want to know.
I will be passing close by on the way to HvH. I normally take the A28 but could drop down to Arnheim (see if I can find my dads parachute on the way through wink ) and take the A12 if theirs a free cup of tea going.
Anyway, not really sure on my time of travel yet.
Enjoy your Cerbera smile

Except

Original Poster:

10 posts

89 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all
so called said:
I will be passing close by on the way to HvH. I normally take the A28 but could drop down to Arnheim (see if I can find my dads parachute on the way through wink ) and take the A12 if theirs a free cup of tea going.
Anyway, not really sure on my time of travel yet.
Enjoy your Cerbera smile
When you know your itinerary drop me a line on my email, on the chance i can offer you a cup of tea in my home. Not keen at posting a direct email address here, but on this page it's posted in a protected form: Profile

Ah I see now where I went wrong in describing the behavior of the Cerby. I meant more 'erratic to handle' as in day to day dealing with the car ('handling'), rather than its actual road handling. My bad, English isn't my first language. I think it handles great so far. My apologies smile