which cerbera??
Discussion
I have never owned a tvr, I have had many other sports cars, but I need to scratch the tvr itch!
I popped into fernhurst tvr the other day to have a look at a Tuscan they have in stock, and also a t350c.
I started to think about a cerbera instead, as they are a fair bit cheaper, and I don't like to put all my eggs in one basket, a cerbera would mean I could buy another toy aswell, something a bit more relaxed for the normal commute lol!
I don't know a huge amount about the cerebra's yet. so I would like to be educated!
obviously you have the v8's and the sixes. can I have a brief plus and minus run down on the engine choices.
also main downfalls and things to look out for with these cars.
main costs etc
interested to hear your thoughts!
many thanks
nick
I popped into fernhurst tvr the other day to have a look at a Tuscan they have in stock, and also a t350c.
I started to think about a cerbera instead, as they are a fair bit cheaper, and I don't like to put all my eggs in one basket, a cerbera would mean I could buy another toy aswell, something a bit more relaxed for the normal commute lol!
I don't know a huge amount about the cerebra's yet. so I would like to be educated!
obviously you have the v8's and the sixes. can I have a brief plus and minus run down on the engine choices.
also main downfalls and things to look out for with these cars.
main costs etc
interested to hear your thoughts!
many thanks
nick
I sat in a TVR T350c a few weeks ago because I was very curious how it felt inside and the view etc...
but I looked straight against the rollbar...that was pretty disturbing I found, never thought that would be so close and in front of your look field.
Also sat in a LHD TVR Tuscan 2 and that felt a little bit better for a view but also a bit rollbar but not that in front of you as in the T350c.
Are more people having that 'problem' ?
I sadly was to late to sat in a TVR Cerbera that car was in the morning there and I was there midday so I wonder how it is in the Cerb.
I owned a TVr Griffith 4.3 and a TVR V8S both LHD but never felt or had that view 'problem'
but I looked straight against the rollbar...that was pretty disturbing I found, never thought that would be so close and in front of your look field.
Also sat in a LHD TVR Tuscan 2 and that felt a little bit better for a view but also a bit rollbar but not that in front of you as in the T350c.
Are more people having that 'problem' ?
I sadly was to late to sat in a TVR Cerbera that car was in the morning there and I was there midday so I wonder how it is in the Cerb.
I owned a TVr Griffith 4.3 and a TVR V8S both LHD but never felt or had that view 'problem'
Hi there. The Cerbera specific forum might be the best place to start, but to encourage you to stick with the idea...
1) Cerberas were the first road going TVRs with their own engines. They also introduced a lot of their own electronics. Being the first cars with TVR engines, they were the first ones to get the TVR clutches and release assemblies.
2) Chassis powder coating still wasn't great, and Cerberas suffer from chassis corrosion like most other TVRs. It's usually the outriggers first, but they are known to go around the exhaust headers too. Unlike Chimaeras and Griffiths, it's not possible to replace outriggers with the body in situ.
3) Speed Six and AJP8. Both wonderful engines to be honest. There's lots of banter between them but only an idiot wouldn't be happy with one or the other. They're both very fast cars. Speed Sixes have a bad reputation but there's nothing inherently wrong with it really. Any one that's had a recent rebuild is unlikely to fail again. There are plenty unrebuilt engines which haven't failed too which tells you something. No worse than a Porsche water cooled engine and half as much to rebuild.
The Speed Six runs smoother as you'd expect from any straight 6, is generally better mannered around town and its delivery is bias towards the top end of the rev range. It sounds great in a classic sort of way.
The AJP8 by contrast is rough and obnoxious, fairly lumpy around town but fairly motorbike-like in it's delivery with strong torque pretty much everywhere in the rev range. It's a flat plane V8 but with the wrong angle between the banks. All this conspires to make the single most unique and characterful engine I've ever driven. Not as torquey as a 5litre Rover V8 low down, but it doesn't run out of puff like the Rover either. It pulls well from 1500rpm and still pulls well at 7000rpm. It sounds fairly unpleasant, but in an addictive way. It's quite hard to explain the strong affection AJP8 owners have for their engines.
1) Cerberas were the first road going TVRs with their own engines. They also introduced a lot of their own electronics. Being the first cars with TVR engines, they were the first ones to get the TVR clutches and release assemblies.
2) Chassis powder coating still wasn't great, and Cerberas suffer from chassis corrosion like most other TVRs. It's usually the outriggers first, but they are known to go around the exhaust headers too. Unlike Chimaeras and Griffiths, it's not possible to replace outriggers with the body in situ.
3) Speed Six and AJP8. Both wonderful engines to be honest. There's lots of banter between them but only an idiot wouldn't be happy with one or the other. They're both very fast cars. Speed Sixes have a bad reputation but there's nothing inherently wrong with it really. Any one that's had a recent rebuild is unlikely to fail again. There are plenty unrebuilt engines which haven't failed too which tells you something. No worse than a Porsche water cooled engine and half as much to rebuild.
The Speed Six runs smoother as you'd expect from any straight 6, is generally better mannered around town and its delivery is bias towards the top end of the rev range. It sounds great in a classic sort of way.
The AJP8 by contrast is rough and obnoxious, fairly lumpy around town but fairly motorbike-like in it's delivery with strong torque pretty much everywhere in the rev range. It's a flat plane V8 but with the wrong angle between the banks. All this conspires to make the single most unique and characterful engine I've ever driven. Not as torquey as a 5litre Rover V8 low down, but it doesn't run out of puff like the Rover either. It pulls well from 1500rpm and still pulls well at 7000rpm. It sounds fairly unpleasant, but in an addictive way. It's quite hard to explain the strong affection AJP8 owners have for their engines.
GTRene said:
I sat in a TVR T350c a few weeks ago because I was very curious how it felt inside and the view etc...
but I looked straight against the rollbar...that was pretty disturbing I found, never thought that would be so close and in front of your look field.
Also sat in a LHD TVR Tuscan 2 and that felt a little bit better for a view but also a bit rollbar but not that in front of you as in the T350c.
Are more people having that 'problem' ?
I sadly was to late to sat in a TVR Cerbera that car was in the morning there and I was there midday so I wonder how it is in the Cerb.
I owned a TVr Griffith 4.3 and a TVR V8S both LHD but never felt or had that view 'problem'
The pre-Cerbera cars all had much taller windscreens. The Cerbera has it's roll cage near you too - possibly closer than in the T-cars.but I looked straight against the rollbar...that was pretty disturbing I found, never thought that would be so close and in front of your look field.
Also sat in a LHD TVR Tuscan 2 and that felt a little bit better for a view but also a bit rollbar but not that in front of you as in the T350c.
Are more people having that 'problem' ?
I sadly was to late to sat in a TVR Cerbera that car was in the morning there and I was there midday so I wonder how it is in the Cerb.
I owned a TVr Griffith 4.3 and a TVR V8S both LHD but never felt or had that view 'problem'
thanks, so not that 'ideal' but I guess you get used to it if you 'want' too.
I also saw later (on that T350c) that the rollbar on the drivers side was more to left ( more in sight) , more then the bar on the passengers side was to the right when I looked from the outside/front...when it would be the other way around it would have given a way better vision.
next time when I get the chance I will try some Vixen/Grantura/Tuscan/M-series
love those oldies.
I also saw later (on that T350c) that the rollbar on the drivers side was more to left ( more in sight) , more then the bar on the passengers side was to the right when I looked from the outside/front...when it would be the other way around it would have given a way better vision.
next time when I get the chance I will try some Vixen/Grantura/Tuscan/M-series
love those oldies.
I've had a Chimaera 400, Cerbera 4.2 V8, Griff 500 and now a Tamora.
The Cerbera is an awesome car and mine never really gave me much in the way of grief - new starter motor (quite common on the V8).
On a personal note I missed taking the roof off so sold mine and still miss the occasion of climbing into it and the rawness of it all. I love the speed six in the Tamora but some how feel that a Cerbera should have the AJP V8?
You get used to the (stunning) interior and 'letter box' windscreen.
There's no bad model I guess just personal preference but buy a bad one it will be a money pit! Overall condition and service history are vital - chassis and electrics are probably the stand out items to really look for nowadays as most engine issues 'should' have occurred by now and been sorted by now (should!).
Good luck in your search.
The Cerbera is an awesome car and mine never really gave me much in the way of grief - new starter motor (quite common on the V8).
On a personal note I missed taking the roof off so sold mine and still miss the occasion of climbing into it and the rawness of it all. I love the speed six in the Tamora but some how feel that a Cerbera should have the AJP V8?
You get used to the (stunning) interior and 'letter box' windscreen.
There's no bad model I guess just personal preference but buy a bad one it will be a money pit! Overall condition and service history are vital - chassis and electrics are probably the stand out items to really look for nowadays as most engine issues 'should' have occurred by now and been sorted by now (should!).
Good luck in your search.
Edited by peteA on Tuesday 12th November 16:56
jamieduff1981 said:
. . . The AJP8 by contrast is rough and obnoxious, fairly lumpy around town . . .
Sorry but I just can't let that go - I totally disagree with that statement. If the engine's in a good state of tune and properly mapped its fine at low revs around town. OP - don't let that comment dissuade you. Keithyboy said:
jamieduff1981 said:
. . . The AJP8 by contrast is rough and obnoxious, fairly lumpy around town . . .
Sorry but I just can't let that go - I totally disagree with that statement. If the engine's in a good state of tune and properly mapped its fine at low revs around town. OP - don't let that comment dissuade you. morebeanz said:
You say that, but I can't be the only person to have a Harley rider pull up to the window and suggest that my Cerb sounded broken on tick over! 
They have a sense of humour those boys. Had one on a very noises Harley follow me through the village giving me the shush sign Mark. said:
Keithyboy said:
jamieduff1981 said:
. . . The AJP8 by contrast is rough and obnoxious, fairly lumpy around town . . .
Sorry but I just can't let that go - I totally disagree with that statement. If the engine's in a good state of tune and properly mapped its fine at low revs around town. OP - don't let that comment dissuade you. 
kin eyes,,,jamieduff1981 said:
Mark. said:
Keithyboy said:
jamieduff1981 said:
. . . The AJP8 by contrast is rough and obnoxious, fairly lumpy around town . . .
Sorry but I just can't let that go - I totally disagree with that statement. If the engine's in a good state of tune and properly mapped its fine at low revs around town. OP - don't let that comment dissuade you. 
I think context is important.Don't get me wrong - the V8 does run properly, but it's never going to run as smooth as an inline 6 can. It's mathematically impossible for a 75deg V8 to balance out it's 2nd order vibrations. It can and does get driven round towns at low speed, but it's no Jag. Most don't buy it for city driving though...
I still think the V8 is a fantastic engine which suits the Cerbera very, very well
GTRene said:
I sat in a TVR T350c a few weeks ago because I was very curious how it felt inside and the view etc...
but I looked straight against the rollbar...that was pretty disturbing I found, never thought that would be so close and in front of your look field.
Also sat in a LHD TVR Tuscan 2 and that felt a little bit better for a view but also a bit rollbar but not that in front of you as in the T350c.
Are more people having that 'problem' ?
I sadly was to late to sat in a TVR Cerbera that car was in the morning there and I was there midday so I wonder how it is in the Cerb.
I owned a TVr Griffith 4.3 and a TVR V8S both LHD but never felt or had that view 'problem'
I'm 6'2 own a T350 and have no issues with the roll bar or lack of vision, maybe simply adjust the seat? Take the seat pad out which it's been designed to be removed if your taller? This drops you lower into the sports car but I looked straight against the rollbar...that was pretty disturbing I found, never thought that would be so close and in front of your look field.
Also sat in a LHD TVR Tuscan 2 and that felt a little bit better for a view but also a bit rollbar but not that in front of you as in the T350c.
Are more people having that 'problem' ?
I sadly was to late to sat in a TVR Cerbera that car was in the morning there and I was there midday so I wonder how it is in the Cerb.
I owned a TVr Griffith 4.3 and a TVR V8S both LHD but never felt or had that view 'problem'
If anything there's less visibility for me when I'm in my mates Cerbera. The driving position feels worse.ShiDevil said:
I'm 6'2 own a T350 and have no issues with the roll bar or lack of vision, maybe simply adjust the seat? Take the seat pad out which it's been designed to be removed if your taller? This drops you lower into the sports car If anything there's less visibility for me when I'm in my mates Cerbera. The driving position feels worse.
I agree, I,am 6'2 and I have a an early Cerbera 4.2 and the early ones have a thicker roll bar over the windscreen as it like looking through a letter box the later ones was much better with a thinner roll bar over the windscreen and much better for visibility If anything there's less visibility for me when I'm in my mates Cerbera. The driving position feels worse.I also have a T350 and have no problem with visibility, in fact its better than the Cerb, I only had to take the swab out on the seat when I went to Donnington as I could get in with the helmet on
I also have a Griff and with the roof off the visibility is far superior than the Cerb or the T350
As for driving they are all completely different as they should be, my Cerb is now set up so well that it just purrs around town specially with the race proved clutch
billy no brakes said:
ShiDevil said:
I'm 6'2 own a T350 and have no issues with the roll bar or lack of vision, maybe simply adjust the seat? Take the seat pad out which it's been designed to be removed if your taller? This drops you lower into the sports car If anything there's less visibility for me when I'm in my mates Cerbera. The driving position feels worse.
I agree, I,am 6'2 and I have a an early Cerbera 4.2 and the early ones have a thicker roll bar over the windscreen as it like looking through a letter box the later ones was much better with a thinner roll bar over the windscreen and much better for visibility If anything there's less visibility for me when I'm in my mates Cerbera. The driving position feels worse.I also have a T350 and have no problem with visibility, in fact its better than the Cerb, I only had to take the swab out on the seat when I went to Donnington as I could get in with the helmet on
I also have a Griff and with the roof off the visibility is far superior than the Cerb or the T350
As for driving they are all completely different as they should be, my Cerb is now set up so well that it just purrs around town specially with the race proved clutch
Also with a RHD in NL you get another view angle? on the road and side of the road as with a RHD car in the UK so I guess its a bit of that 2 points in such sort cars with narrowed sight.
Gassing Station | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff