Potential owner
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm usually to be found over on the Porsche forum but fancy scratching the TVR itch.
It's Cerbera's that seem to be grabbing my attention at the moment.
In terms of dealers we have three very trusted independents in the Porsche world who's reputation is such that going outside of them doesn't really make sense in terms of security even down to not needing to have PPI done.
Do they exist in this world and if so where would be a good dealer to start the hunt, plus looking at the cars there do seem to be a few mods, some to enhance the cars performance and some preventative maintenance ones.
Does a 'standard' car exist or make sense, I like my Porsches to be standard for example and if so are there any pointers here.
Many thanks for any replies
I'm usually to be found over on the Porsche forum but fancy scratching the TVR itch.
It's Cerbera's that seem to be grabbing my attention at the moment.
In terms of dealers we have three very trusted independents in the Porsche world who's reputation is such that going outside of them doesn't really make sense in terms of security even down to not needing to have PPI done.
Do they exist in this world and if so where would be a good dealer to start the hunt, plus looking at the cars there do seem to be a few mods, some to enhance the cars performance and some preventative maintenance ones.
Does a 'standard' car exist or make sense, I like my Porsches to be standard for example and if so are there any pointers here.
Many thanks for any replies
Standard Car? 
The continuous moving production lines of Stuttgart are very different from an asbestos shed in Blackpool!
I'd say the majority of Cerbs are still pretty much standard, it's just that you don't see much on here (or other forums) about them (relatively). The ones featured on here tend to be peoples projects and therefore grab attention. A lot of the minor jobs that people do I'd consider to be 'finishing off' what TVR didn't bother with, or as you said preventative upgrades that were probably outside of the original manufacturers cost model. For example, I'm just about to put upgraded stainless exhaust manifolds on, yes they offer a (marginal) performance upgrade but for me the attraction is that they've be designed to eradicate the cracking problem seen on the originals. They also come in 2 parts per side (V8) as opposed to 1 part per side which makes gearbox and clutch removal massively easier.
One area will you will find a large variation is Stereos/ICE. AFAIK these were fitted by the dealers as opposed to the factory to customer specifications, you'll see a huge variety, and now with DAB and SatNavs people are installing more contemporary systems.
It's part of the charm!
The continuous moving production lines of Stuttgart are very different from an asbestos shed in Blackpool!
I'd say the majority of Cerbs are still pretty much standard, it's just that you don't see much on here (or other forums) about them (relatively). The ones featured on here tend to be peoples projects and therefore grab attention. A lot of the minor jobs that people do I'd consider to be 'finishing off' what TVR didn't bother with, or as you said preventative upgrades that were probably outside of the original manufacturers cost model. For example, I'm just about to put upgraded stainless exhaust manifolds on, yes they offer a (marginal) performance upgrade but for me the attraction is that they've be designed to eradicate the cracking problem seen on the originals. They also come in 2 parts per side (V8) as opposed to 1 part per side which makes gearbox and clutch removal massively easier.
One area will you will find a large variation is Stereos/ICE. AFAIK these were fitted by the dealers as opposed to the factory to customer specifications, you'll see a huge variety, and now with DAB and SatNavs people are installing more contemporary systems.
It's part of the charm!
Fernhurst, Racing Green, Str8Six and James Agger are maybe places you could look at. Some of those offer attractive warranties but naturally those cars will be priced higher than private sales - many of which are still excellent cars by the way.
Standard cars are probably quite rare now. Cars on original Bilstein suspension for example are very thin on the ground, because many of the car's handling criticisms can be resolved with Nitron adjustable coilovers offering the necessary adjustability for a specialist to sort it out properly. A good compromise may be to look favourably on mechanical upgrades but seek out a car that hasn't had Tuscan style headlights, later tail lights and 18" Spider alloys fitted to an early example - or get a late example if you prefer those styles. There are many other mechanical upgrades possible which are positively desireable, such as a Raceproved clutch slave cylinder because the originals really weren't very good and AA Recovery and gearbox removal gets tiresome. Generally speaking, cars with a shopping list of good quality, recognised mechanical upgrades are valued higher because most people eventually conclude that a factory standard car that's all original either needs to remain a garage queen or is going to need those upgrade parts sooner or later.
As above though, there was a lot of variability from the factory - particularly cosmetically - mechanically they're actually fairly consistent in most areas but there is always the odd aspect that can be a head scratcher - but in my experience that's not limited to TVR by any stretch of the imagination!
Feel free to ask away (except Speed Six versus AJP8 - that gets 'done' every fortnight on here
)
Standard cars are probably quite rare now. Cars on original Bilstein suspension for example are very thin on the ground, because many of the car's handling criticisms can be resolved with Nitron adjustable coilovers offering the necessary adjustability for a specialist to sort it out properly. A good compromise may be to look favourably on mechanical upgrades but seek out a car that hasn't had Tuscan style headlights, later tail lights and 18" Spider alloys fitted to an early example - or get a late example if you prefer those styles. There are many other mechanical upgrades possible which are positively desireable, such as a Raceproved clutch slave cylinder because the originals really weren't very good and AA Recovery and gearbox removal gets tiresome. Generally speaking, cars with a shopping list of good quality, recognised mechanical upgrades are valued higher because most people eventually conclude that a factory standard car that's all original either needs to remain a garage queen or is going to need those upgrade parts sooner or later.
As above though, there was a lot of variability from the factory - particularly cosmetically - mechanically they're actually fairly consistent in most areas but there is always the odd aspect that can be a head scratcher - but in my experience that's not limited to TVR by any stretch of the imagination!
Feel free to ask away (except Speed Six versus AJP8 - that gets 'done' every fortnight on here
)Edited by jamieduff1981 on Thursday 24th April 09:06
No such thing as a standard TVR to be honest. I would also take the factory brochure's with a pinch of salt as well. My current Speed6 Cerbera is meant according to TVR to have the slightly slow steering rack, but it doesn't and also its on the same springs and shocks as a V8 despite it apparently being softer sprung. And that's before the original owner gets their say - so mine came with the Tuscan style front (which S6's weren't meant to get) along with sitting on 18" spiders. In other words it looks as if the original owner had said the PW "I want the V8 car but with the S6 engine" - and of course TVR would happily comply if it meant money coming in. And god knows what the fuse box is from but its neither the one from the S6 or the V8 one in the manual!
My Griffith 500 had the floorplan on the passenger side lowered by an inch from the factory. I assume the original owners spouse must have been tall.
My Griffith 500 had the floorplan on the passenger side lowered by an inch from the factory. I assume the original owners spouse must have been tall.
Just to clarify, I wasn't taking into account things as straight forward as coil overs or wheels (especially if they are another TVR wheel type).
I was thinking more like 4.7 AJP or LS conversions, bodywork modifications or custom interiors - these still represent the minority in my opinion, although it's always rising.
For that reason I'm keeping my car (a 97 4.2) as original as possible. Yes, it's now got Spider wheels, Nitron shocks, an upgraded oil breather, and will soon have stainless water pipes and as I said before the optimised exhaust manifolds. With exception to wheels I see my changes as making the car as it should have been in the first place. They are improvements for reliability sake as opposed to performance advantage.
I hope in the future to have mine re-trimmed, but it'll be done to the original factory full leather specification as opposed to anything custom.
I was thinking more like 4.7 AJP or LS conversions, bodywork modifications or custom interiors - these still represent the minority in my opinion, although it's always rising.
For that reason I'm keeping my car (a 97 4.2) as original as possible. Yes, it's now got Spider wheels, Nitron shocks, an upgraded oil breather, and will soon have stainless water pipes and as I said before the optimised exhaust manifolds. With exception to wheels I see my changes as making the car as it should have been in the first place. They are improvements for reliability sake as opposed to performance advantage.
I hope in the future to have mine re-trimmed, but it'll be done to the original factory full leather specification as opposed to anything custom.
Are any two cerbs the same? I know mine was an early one (no.20) and it has some weird bits. The back bumper was bolted to the rear and one of the previous owners had it blended in on a respray to make it look like the rest, the front bumper has a different style of scoop inlet to the rads it seems from other cerbs and there are a few other oddities that havent been seen on other cars. I think back then it was still a case of working it out and seeing what worked or using prototype bits for customers cars 
Its very different and very rewarding, can be costly if you farm all your work out to garages but if your prepared to get your hands dirty then it can be very rewarding and relatively cheap for the amount of power your getting.
Its very different and very rewarding, can be costly if you farm all your work out to garages but if your prepared to get your hands dirty then it can be very rewarding and relatively cheap for the amount of power your getting.
ukkid35 said:
Boatbuoy said:
They also come in 2 parts per side (V8) as opposed to 1 part per side which makes gearbox and clutch removal massively easier.
Now you have my attention. Where are these from? ACT?
jamieduff1981 said:
ukkid35 said:
Boatbuoy said:
They also come in 2 parts per side (V8) as opposed to 1 part per side which makes gearbox and clutch removal massively easier.
Now you have my attention. Where are these from? ACT?Take a trip up to STR8 Six in Oxfordshire and you will see some of the finest TVR's for sale in the country, You might even get seduced by one of their Sag's..
You can be sure you will be buying a properly properly prepped thoroughly checked and sorted TVR with a proper thorough warranty, Further north Track V Road are of a similar ilk but a lot further north from you.
Bang for buck TVR's rock.
You can be sure you will be buying a properly properly prepped thoroughly checked and sorted TVR with a proper thorough warranty, Further north Track V Road are of a similar ilk but a lot further north from you.
Bang for buck TVR's rock.
Jhonno said:
jamieduff1981 said:
ukkid35 said:
Boatbuoy said:
They also come in 2 parts per side (V8) as opposed to 1 part per side which makes gearbox and clutch removal massively easier.
Now you have my attention. Where are these from? ACT?ukkid35 said:
But several people have told me that the ACT manifold fit is not good at all.
Then talk to Tim at ACT, his after sales service is second to none. What people say on forums may or may not be rubbish but if you were spending over a grand on a new manifold and you didn't like the fit, wouldn't you speak to the supplier before just slagging them off in a public forum?I think there are plenty of happy ACT customers on here, me included. (although I don't have the 3 piece manifold in question)
jamieduff1981 said:
I'm really keen to know for sure whether the spark plugs can be accessed with engine in situ with the (presumably) ACT performance manifolds
I have Act manifolds spark plugs can be done in situ, the rear plugs are tight but there is a technique to get them out fairly easy after you sus it out. Mine are the one piece manifolds
birdcage said:
Excellent bunch of guys, I've been very happy with them. Ask for Martin or Mark.
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