Thinking of getting my first tvr
Discussion
Hi, im looking to get a tvr as ive always fancied one, but never actually had one. Im a bit unsure what will be the best model to go for and was hoping for a bit of advice. It would either be a chimaera 4.5/5.0 or a cerbera 4.2/4.5.
Which are regarded as being the better driving cars and which are more reliable in general? How different is the performance between the different engines and cars? Ive had a good read up on common issues with both cars and they do seem like a bit of a minefield! Il be looking to spend between 10-13k, which i know is going to mean lower end cars, but hoping i can find something reasonable for that. Thanks
Which are regarded as being the better driving cars and which are more reliable in general? How different is the performance between the different engines and cars? Ive had a good read up on common issues with both cars and they do seem like a bit of a minefield! Il be looking to spend between 10-13k, which i know is going to mean lower end cars, but hoping i can find something reasonable for that. Thanks
The Cerbera is easily the better drive, but the Rover engined Chimaera with much more stuff from other mainstream cars in general is very likely the cheaper to keep in good running order.
Your current budget would buy a decent Chimaera or the low end of the Cerbera market which in turn raises the probability of big expenditure.
I've only given one Chimaera a ragging - a 500. Decent engine but a little bottom end bias for my tastes although it's still good. Chimaeras are a little more flexible in the chassis than Cerberas and have a shorter wheelbase resulting in a twitchier car at the limits. The Cerbera is quite easy to play with by comparison. Of the Cerbera V8s, there's no difference in performance between the 4.2 and 4.5, but usually a difference in character wih 4.5s being the roughest/gruffest. The AJP8 has strong torque but a bigger rev range than the Rover V8 and the Cerbera is quite tractable.
Everything on Cerbs is dearer though. Chimaera brakes come from a Sierra or something like that, and the Cerbera uses AP Racing calipers and unique discs - a full set will set you back close to a grand. A Chimaera clutch suits the Rover V8. The Cerbera clutch is a custom small diameter twin plate thing costing £900 just for the parts. And so on...
The Cerbera is more in the realms of supercar running costs beside the Chimaera.
Your current budget would buy a decent Chimaera or the low end of the Cerbera market which in turn raises the probability of big expenditure.
I've only given one Chimaera a ragging - a 500. Decent engine but a little bottom end bias for my tastes although it's still good. Chimaeras are a little more flexible in the chassis than Cerberas and have a shorter wheelbase resulting in a twitchier car at the limits. The Cerbera is quite easy to play with by comparison. Of the Cerbera V8s, there's no difference in performance between the 4.2 and 4.5, but usually a difference in character wih 4.5s being the roughest/gruffest. The AJP8 has strong torque but a bigger rev range than the Rover V8 and the Cerbera is quite tractable.
Everything on Cerbs is dearer though. Chimaera brakes come from a Sierra or something like that, and the Cerbera uses AP Racing calipers and unique discs - a full set will set you back close to a grand. A Chimaera clutch suits the Rover V8. The Cerbera clutch is a custom small diameter twin plate thing costing £900 just for the parts. And so on...
The Cerbera is more in the realms of supercar running costs beside the Chimaera.
Edited by jamieduff1981 on Friday 27th November 21:33
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
jamieduff1981 said:
The Cerbera is easily the better drive,
Maybe, maybe not. All I know is you MUST be able to drop the roof. That counts the Cerb out 
jamieduff1981 said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
jamieduff1981 said:
The Cerbera is easily the better drive,
Maybe, maybe not. All I know is you MUST be able to drop the roof. That counts the Cerb out 
I bought my first TVR in April this year, a 4.2 Cerbera, and I don't regret it one bit. Mine was a the lower end price wise like yourself but I've been fairly lucky so far. Nothing too bad has gone wrong yet but I have spent quite alot on improving the car. I'd suggest buying which ever model you really hanker for because there will be times when you think why the f@ak did I buy this, but that quickly disappears when you take it for a drive.
Thanks for the info and reply's. I would definitely like one of the faster variants even if it means buying a car not quite as nice as the smaller engine'd variety. Ive had lots of fast cars and got a bit of a need for speed 😬 Thanks for the offer of a look round your car dave, that would be very helpful.
stevec33 said:
Thanks for the info and reply's. I would definitely like one of the faster variants even if it means buying a car not quite as nice as the smaller engine'd variety. Ive had lots of fast cars and got a bit of a need for speed ?? Thanks for the offer of a look round your car dave, that would be very helpful.
I'll give you a call on Monday Steve.I just cruised down to Rome in the cerb, plenty of pops and bangs in that, too 
Cerberas do cost a fair bit to run (servicing and fixing things) and my advice would be to make sure you can afford to maintain whatever you buy, otherwise you'll be cursing it whenever it's off the road and needing some TLC. Good luck and as Big Al says, go for it!
Cerberas do cost a fair bit to run (servicing and fixing things) and my advice would be to make sure you can afford to maintain whatever you buy, otherwise you'll be cursing it whenever it's off the road and needing some TLC. Good luck and as Big Al says, go for it!
stevec33 said:
Also interesting that someone mentioned there is little difference between the 4.2 and 4.5 cerbera's? There sposed to be 60 odd hp difference from the factory, but perhaps these figures arent correct? Im sure ive read before that they quote optimistic figures
From the factory the 4.5 had a hopeless map, so performance wasn't so different to the 4.2, but as soon as you get a decent car remapped by Joolz the full 420bhp becomes available. Even my ratty example does 410 after the Joolz treatment. And that really does make a difference.All of which is irrelevant if you are unwilling to pick up a spanner yourself - I dredd to think what it would cost to keep one of these cars running if you had to pay someone else to do the work.
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff