Joining the TVR fold

[BMWM]

I am looking to trade in my M3 and buy something a bit more exciting.
I have always wanted a TVR Cerbera and now that I commute to the city everyday by our glorious rail system I need something to de-stress me over the short 2 mile trek home and for weekend blasts.
Looking to spend around £25k so what is the best model and year to buy at that price.

[skid]

Do you want to leave it unattended in a train station car park all day every day???? You're brave.

Also at a guess you might screw it up only doing short 2 mile stints everyday. Not good for any engine let alone these. You would probably spend longer warming it up properly than actually driving home.

Just my thoughts

M

[gazzab]

Dont do it!! 2 miles will shag the engine totally!! they should rarely be driven for less than say 10 miles in a go (certainly a lot more than 2 miles).

[gazzab]

25K should get you a very good car - maybe a V reg or newer.

[mudstud]

So get a £ 200 cheapo diesel for the 2 mile trek to the train station, that leaves £ 24800 for the cerbie. You'll get a good 4.5 for that. 4.2's reportedly good but size is everything. Won't comment on the speed 6, just do a search! Good luck.

[carl_w]

My local train station regularly has an Aston DB7 Vantage and an AMG SL55 in the car park

[alans]

I did something very similar, £300 Toyota for the station / shopping run and a 99 4.5 Cerby for fun. Never regreted it.

[GCerbera]

I have the Cerbera as my main car, but a banger Astra
for those moments that could put the Cerbera in any
highlighted vandalisium situations.

Go create some weather...
Graham
TCR The Cerbera Register

www.TVR-Cerbera.com

[BMWM]

Thanks for all your help. Seems I'll have to have two cars then.
Anybody know of anyone with said cars available.
Presumably the dealership route is the only way to go to buy such a car.

[Joe Cozy]

At the risk of starting all out war... the specialist who does my car says 4.2s are usually quicker than 4.5s in practice.

Truth is there's a lot of variation in the cars - some are really quick , some just quick. I have a 4.2 and it is faster than pretty much anything that dares have a sniff.

I would choose the car that feels the best and looks the best. 4.2 or 4.5. Don't know much about the Speed 6 4.0

[Joe Cozy]

www.pistonheads.com/sales/list.asp?s=6#12701

check out the classifieds on this site my friend if you haven't already. I would have a local specialist look over the car if I were you.

[jamster]

BMWM said:

I am looking to trade in my M3 and buy something a bit more exciting. I have always wanted a TVR Cerbera and now that I commute to the city everyday by our glorious rail system I need something to de-stress me over the short 2 mile trek home and for weekend blasts. Looking to spend around £25k so what is the best model and year to buy at that price.

Just done exactly the same thing BMWM. Sold my M3 and got a 2001 Cerb Speed Six. Unless you'r going to take the car on the track you'll never notice the difference in performance on the open road. SPeed six set up is less raw than the V8's and so is more comfortable to drive on the open road. Buy as new a model as possible. Nothing wrong with doing it privately either. Just got to do your research. You can buy the same warranty as the dealer will give you from WH for 550 quid, therefore moving up the scale from a V reg that Gazzab mentioned to an X or maybe a slightly higher mileage Y when the brought out the restyled body shape and interior.
Oh, RAC do special examinations for you on TVR's if you can't get a local dealer to look it over. You also get come back with them as well. The chap that did mine took 4 hours to check it over and new absolutley everything about them. Ask for a discount off the price as well. SHould be 319, can get it for 250 with a wee bit of haggling! Good luck.

[gazzab]

BMWM said:

Thanks for all your help. Seems I'll have to have two cars then. Anybody know of anyone with said cars available. Presumably the dealership route is the only way to go to buy such a car.

Dealers have good and bad cars. Just like private purchase. You just pay a premium to a dealer!
Try an indie dealer or try looking at well known private cars from here or ask APM or Joolz to recommend a customers car or ask that bloke who searches out TVRs to find one for you.
What sort of M3 have you got. You could sell that through here or maybe even find someone wanting to swap with cash either way.

[j_s_g]

jamster said:

BMWM said: I am looking to trade in my M3 and buy something a bit more exciting. I have always wanted a TVR Cerbera and now that I commute to the city everyday by our glorious rail system I need something to de-stress me over the short 2 mile trek home and for weekend blasts. Looking to spend around £25k so what is the best model and year to buy at that price. Nothing wrong with doing it privately either. Just got to do your research. You can buy the same warranty as the dealer will give you from WH for 550 quid, therefore moving up the scale from a V reg that Gazzab mentioned to an X or maybe a slightly higher mileage Y when the brought out the restyled body shape and interior.

Agree. Don't be scared of ones with slightly higher mileages either. It may well mean that they've had any inherent problems sorted out, they've actually been driven regularly/for extended periods rather than quick blasts, and you'll save a load of money on them.

For £25k, I'd expect something a '99 to early '00 4.2 with all the trimmings (headlight conversion, 18" wheels, sports exhaust, FSH, etc.), with around 20k miles on the clock. Would definitely agree to getting a banger (or a bike?) for trips to the station.

[crazycats]

Totally agree with the other guys about getting an old banger for the trip to the station. I live about 3 miles from work and use an old beat up cavalier for that trip, don't mind it falling apart as its worth about as much as a bag of cheese and onion crisps.

Good luck with the hunt though

[cacatous]

There is a gorgeous Mendip Blue Cerbera for sale in the Classified. That's what I'd buy

I think I prefer the single headlight too!



PS. It's not my car and this endorsement is my own personal opinion!

>> Edited by cacatous on Monday 29th September 21:17

[BCA]

Just use the Cerb, dont bother getting another car. You'll soon find that the commute becomes a 30mile by all the best local roads affair anyway.

As for leaving it at a station, ours has been left in a station carpark from 5am to 7:30pm every week day for the past 3/4? years. Only had two break ins (within a week - the old steal and hope he replaces trick). It was bound to happen eventually, my dad has parked there for the past 14odd years in other cars!!

Unfortunately the damage has meant we have probably the most tatty looking Cerbera out there - nothing a respray couldnt solve (next year hopefully!!)

Enjoy!

[Buster4.2]

I can recommend a good combination - 4.2 cerb & 205GTI.

The 205 is available for a little more than banger money, is reliable, doesn't rust badly, is economical with good parts availability.

I bought a G reg locally which had really been looked after for £750. Can also double as a track hack.

That way you will be getting enjoyment from your daily runner as well as the Cerb.

[jimbob2]

Be very wary - do your research!!!

I've just picked up a V plate 4.2 for £21.5k - imperial blue with full magnolia. The car needs about £2k work, + a warranty - the actual car was on the dealers forecourt for £30k - and even then it would probably not be as good mine is now I've spent the money.

1. Haggle with the private buyer - scare him about how long it will take to sell etc.
2. Get it inspected by an INDEPENDANT with the seller with you - that way he he/she gets to hear about all the problems.
3. Haggle some more
4. Buy it and do the work straight away!

There are many "cheap" older cars around - be very careful. A car that looks like a minter may well actually need a lot of work!

Mine needed

1. New supension all round
2. New radiator (core)
3. New rose joints
4. New CV boots
5. Bonnet hinge replacement
6. A few blobs of weld here and there
7. A good service
8. Chassis Waxoiling

Still got a real bargain I think!

There is no real reson to buy from a dealer anymore - the indepndants can sell you a warranty, probably get on fine with teh warranty company, and you don't pay for stuff you don't really need.

Mail me offline to talk about suitable specialists (there are good and bad)

[j_s_g]

jimbob2 said:

Be very wary - do your research!!! I've just picked up a V plate 4.2 for £21.5k - imperial blue with full magnolia. The car needs about £2k work, + a warranty - the actual car was on the dealers forecourt for £30k - and even then it would probably not be as good mine is now I've spent the money.

If you're buying from an Indy, make sure they throw in an MOT, too, as things like CV boots will get picked up on during that, and save you a few hundred quid.
[Edited to fix quote]

>> Edited by j_s_g on Tuesday 30th September 19:29