Cerbera Reliability
Discussion
Thought I'd make a change from the usual postings about engine rebuilds, etc. that those wanting to buy a Cerbera see, and start a positive thread about reliability...
Got mine about a month ago, and it hadn't been to a garage for any work (other than Kwik-fit for a couple of tyres) since its last service a year ago. It's done spot on 6,000 miles since then, and has just been in for its 24,000 mile service. Problems found: MIL light had just started coming on. Solution: New set of plug leads. That's it.
Anyone other takers for trouble-free Cerbera ownership??
Got mine about a month ago, and it hadn't been to a garage for any work (other than Kwik-fit for a couple of tyres) since its last service a year ago. It's done spot on 6,000 miles since then, and has just been in for its 24,000 mile service. Problems found: MIL light had just started coming on. Solution: New set of plug leads. That's it.
Anyone other takers for trouble-free Cerbera ownership??
1st year hell, since then an absolute pleasure. Get a good independant (we use www.joospeed.net - no where else comes close) and it should be a relatively painless experience. 40,000 miles and still going strong. Only problems have been the starter motor (replaced once under warantee) and the clutch (problem caused by a certain dealers incompetance, sorted for very reasonable money). Other than that, the odd fuse every now and again.
It has become dads only car, one used for the daily commute, european blats, sprinting, trackdays and hillclimbs...
Couldnt think of a better car for 20-30k. Infact, on the right road, windows down, throttle hard down, then lifting off for the glorious pops and bangs there isnt anything that could replace it for four times its value.
A few must-do upgrades: Suspension, harnesses for non road use (holds you nicely in place) and of course, the big one: driver upgrades. Im hoping to start on the latter later this year cash permitting.
If you are thinking of buying, do it. Seriously, you only live once, you might as well live!
>> Edited by BCA on Wednesday 23 July 17:56
It has become dads only car, one used for the daily commute, european blats, sprinting, trackdays and hillclimbs...
Couldnt think of a better car for 20-30k. Infact, on the right road, windows down, throttle hard down, then lifting off for the glorious pops and bangs there isnt anything that could replace it for four times its value.
A few must-do upgrades: Suspension, harnesses for non road use (holds you nicely in place) and of course, the big one: driver upgrades. Im hoping to start on the latter later this year cash permitting.
If you are thinking of buying, do it. Seriously, you only live once, you might as well live!
>> Edited by BCA on Wednesday 23 July 17:56
When I was looking for my 1st TVR, people told me they were all un-reliable, so I asked friends and work colleagues and anyone I could find.
What I gathered was, if you use it regularly, it won't get a chance to go wrong. I know of one guy who had a 99 4.5 Cerby, did 12000 mls in a year and had no probs apart from having to fill it up, and service it twice.
I have had my Chim for 6 months now, use it daily, done 3000 and have had no probs (Touch wood).
Just use it and enjoy and keep your fingers crossed, and keep smiling of course
What I gathered was, if you use it regularly, it won't get a chance to go wrong. I know of one guy who had a 99 4.5 Cerby, did 12000 mls in a year and had no probs apart from having to fill it up, and service it twice.
I have had my Chim for 6 months now, use it daily, done 3000 and have had no probs (Touch wood).
Just use it and enjoy and keep your fingers crossed, and keep smiling of course
Having wanted one for years, it's still early days for
me, only a month in, but 1500+ miles already under the
belt on a 42k mile car.
I had the appalling work of non TVR dealer put
right by TopCats Racing prior to having the car and
the only problems I have are a small water leak and a
silent alarm.
Car goes in for the 42K service in a few weeks.
Couldn't be happier about my ownership.
Go create some weather...
Graham
TCR The Cerbera Register
www.TVR-Cerbera.com
me, only a month in, but 1500+ miles already under the
belt on a 42k mile car.
I had the appalling work of non TVR dealer put
right by TopCats Racing prior to having the car and
the only problems I have are a small water leak and a
silent alarm.
Car goes in for the 42K service in a few weeks.
Couldn't be happier about my ownership.
Go create some weather...
Graham
TCR The Cerbera Register
www.TVR-Cerbera.com
jurdy said:You tease Jurdy..
Incidently, my 4.5 has to go as I have something else on the way.....
Go on whatcha getting?
Go create some weather...
Graham
TCR The Cerbera Register
www.TVR-Cerbera.com
Loins stirred a couple of months ago at Le Mans when I was sitting in the cerbie eating a croissant and watched a 360 Modena cruise by at the Shell garage in Arnage....can't.... resist.... any....more.....it's on it's way, but although this is my first venture outside TVR ownership in over 10 years I cannot commend the marque enough. I have never had a duff car and that is after 1 S2/1 S3c/ 1 Griff 400/1 Griff 500/ 1 Cerb 450. Worst incident was an otter switch going ga ga on the 3c on the A2.
Done 6K in the first 4 months & prepared myself for the unreliabilty probs that could occur & the ones I've had have been minor, hardly anything, (Bonnet Lock, Washer Wipes, HT leads, Split Hose, Throttle Pot etc). Well if these probs had occured in a Merc or BM, I would've been fcuked off but cos these motors are just the dogs, I didn't care.
There ain't nothing I could of bought for the money that could compare (Buy a porker? WHY??), it has the looks & the power, a trackday car to a shopping one, to be able to stop traffic & cause havoc (once in Maccie D's after pub kicking out time, the whole place erupted, got outta there pretty sharpish!)
Been driving mine nearly everday & I don't drive to & from work, I think people are right in saying they have to be driven all the time, anyway, how could you come home from work, look her in the eyes & not take her out for a quick (2 hour) spin???
Touching wood cos she hasn't been out for the past 4 days, she probably thinks I've left her & now pack up on me, but don't worry princess, you're getting a good thrashing this weekend!!
Shame, cos they're not the best or most cost effective cars to put mileage on yet they are probably the only car you could rack up 24K a year in with pleasure.
As BCA said, you only live once.... So I bought one :BIG GRIN:
There ain't nothing I could of bought for the money that could compare (Buy a porker? WHY??), it has the looks & the power, a trackday car to a shopping one, to be able to stop traffic & cause havoc (once in Maccie D's after pub kicking out time, the whole place erupted, got outta there pretty sharpish!)
Been driving mine nearly everday & I don't drive to & from work, I think people are right in saying they have to be driven all the time, anyway, how could you come home from work, look her in the eyes & not take her out for a quick (2 hour) spin???
Touching wood cos she hasn't been out for the past 4 days, she probably thinks I've left her & now pack up on me, but don't worry princess, you're getting a good thrashing this weekend!!
Shame, cos they're not the best or most cost effective cars to put mileage on yet they are probably the only car you could rack up 24K a year in with pleasure.
As BCA said, you only live once.... So I bought one :BIG GRIN:
I agree with the positive feedback, keep it up guys.
In my third year with the Cerb, 18000 miles so far and no major problems. Just had a service, nothing but new rear pads required. Over the last three years I've suffered the following failures:
1) Dud Battery (£70.00)
2) Starter Motor (Warranty)
3) Charging Fuse (Warranty)
4) Rear Anti roll bar droplink (£20.00)
Not exactly a long or expensive list.
Mike
In my third year with the Cerb, 18000 miles so far and no major problems. Just had a service, nothing but new rear pads required. Over the last three years I've suffered the following failures:
1) Dud Battery (£70.00)
2) Starter Motor (Warranty)
3) Charging Fuse (Warranty)
4) Rear Anti roll bar droplink (£20.00)
Not exactly a long or expensive list.
Mike
Similar story for me.
In 2 years nothing has stopped working on it at all. Never let me down or failed to start. It does usually need a couple of things done at its annual service, last time it needed a new alternator and before that a new radiator but all covered by warranty. I never even noticed the parts were broken and I do check everything regularly.
In fact its never even had a puncture, spooky.
:toucheswood:
In 2 years nothing has stopped working on it at all. Never let me down or failed to start. It does usually need a couple of things done at its annual service, last time it needed a new alternator and before that a new radiator but all covered by warranty. I never even noticed the parts were broken and I do check everything regularly.
In fact its never even had a puncture, spooky.
:toucheswood:
only 4 months in to ownership ('99 4.5), but very little in the way of problems so far (have covered nearly 3K miles so far, including very fast trip to Le Mans!)
Few niggles only - a throttle pot, steering column UJ, bootlid catch cable, broken bonnet lock rods and the 100amp fuse. That's it, probably about £100 worth of bits all in.
Apart from a couple of minor electrical gremlins (indicators sometimes having a mind of their own, non-functioning heating/ventilation fans), its been a non-stop grin
Does need new rear tyres now, mind...
cheers
sean
Few niggles only - a throttle pot, steering column UJ, bootlid catch cable, broken bonnet lock rods and the 100amp fuse. That's it, probably about £100 worth of bits all in.
Apart from a couple of minor electrical gremlins (indicators sometimes having a mind of their own, non-functioning heating/ventilation fans), its been a non-stop grin
Does need new rear tyres now, mind...
cheers
sean
Hi guys,
We've had the Peril for nearly 4 years now and she is an absolute beast....
A super car, the best we've ever had.
Problems.....
Starter motor (cos they all get fried)
1st one recon'd but went wrong again after a month, replaced free of charge by Castles.(Great guys, good service)
Radiator.....replacement.
That's it.............virtual trouble free motoring.
There was one teeny weeny problem when I managed to switch the immobiliser off whilst in mega motion on the outside lane of the A12,
......but....... the less said about that the better!!!! 
.....//P//
We've had the Peril for nearly 4 years now and she is an absolute beast....
A super car, the best we've ever had.
Problems.....
Starter motor (cos they all get fried)
1st one recon'd but went wrong again after a month, replaced free of charge by Castles.(Great guys, good service)
Radiator.....replacement.
That's it.............virtual trouble free motoring.
There was one teeny weeny problem when I managed to switch the immobiliser off whilst in mega motion on the outside lane of the A12,
......but....... the less said about that the better!!!! .....//P// Have had my 99/T S6 for three months now. It is my only car and I use it every day for everything. I have now covered 3000 miles and the total milage is 30000. So what has gone wrong?
1) Engine - nothing at all, the engine has been and is perfect.
2) Drop link on antiroll bar broken
3) Wiring ribbon to steering wheel replaced due to erratic headlights.
4) Diff bush replaced as apparantly split
5) Rear shocker replaced
6) Speed sensor replaced after speedo stopped working
All items except the wiring ribbon have been covered by the total WH warranty. Thanks to Team Proactive for this.
So except for a routine service that is it. I should add that the car has never let me down, the faults were noticed at servicing time.
Ocean1
1) Engine - nothing at all, the engine has been and is perfect.
2) Drop link on antiroll bar broken
3) Wiring ribbon to steering wheel replaced due to erratic headlights.
4) Diff bush replaced as apparantly split
5) Rear shocker replaced
6) Speed sensor replaced after speedo stopped working
All items except the wiring ribbon have been covered by the total WH warranty. Thanks to Team Proactive for this.
So except for a routine service that is it. I should add that the car has never let me down, the faults were noticed at servicing time.
Ocean1
j_s_g said:
Thought I'd make a change from the usual postings about engine rebuilds, etc. that those wanting to buy a Cerbera see, and start a positive thread about reliability...
Got mine about a month ago, and it hadn't been to a garage for any work (other than Kwik-fit for a couple of tyres) since its last service a year ago. It's done spot on 6,000 miles since then, and has just been in for its 24,000 mile service. Problems found: MIL light had just started coming on. Solution: New set of plug leads. That's it.
Anyone other takers for trouble-free Cerbera ownership??
Nice to hear
I am just thinking about getting cerb & admit,some of the problems (& cost)put me off.
But hearing from some of the lads (like you) made my mind up to get 1.so i will be looking in the very near future, Have fun.
ro_butler said:
Similar story for me.
In 2 years nothing has stopped working on it at all. Never let me down or failed to start. It does usually need a couple of things done at its annual service, last time it needed a new alternator and before that a new radiator but all covered by warranty. I never even noticed the parts were broken and I do check everything regularly.
In fact its never even had a puncture, spooky.
:toucheswood:
Hope when i get 1 its as good as yours (fingers crossed!)
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