Info for my first TVR - possibly
Discussion
I might possibly buy a TVR - which would be my first ever sports car. TVR have always had my eye and I'm looking at the 4 seater Cerbera. As a sports car/TVR novice and hearing TVR reliability issues on the grape vine, I'm posting this to see if anyone out there has any advice for me.
There's a 1996 Cerbera advert saying it had its engine rebuilt. Should I look for rebuilds or stay clear of them? What year(s) are the best for reliability?
There's a 1996 Cerbera advert saying it had its engine rebuilt. Should I look for rebuilds or stay clear of them? What year(s) are the best for reliability?
Suggest you steer clear of Cerbera for a 1st TVR particularly if you are considering a 10 year old car. Look for a good 4.0 Chimaera of which there are many, run it for a couple of years to get a feel for what TVRs are like and then decide if you are prepared for the considerable extra outlay and commitment required to run a Cerbera. I say this as someone who would also like one but I just know the ownership experience will be tainted by the running costs. Great car though.
L.F.
L.F.
Have a read through the Cerb forums and chim forums, all depends on your budget really. A chim is slightly lower to run but still costs a few K a year with servicing and niggles. There are so many great chims at rock bottom prices at the moment, you can get a really nice late model 450 for peanuts. Cerbs have the inhouse V8 while the Chims/griffs use the old Rover lump.
A cerb I would say is a step up in performance, thats not to say chims are slow but the difference is there. You do pay for it though.
What ever model you choose make sure its a good example, if you rush in a buy the first one you drive you will end up with a lemon and it will be a bottomless pit for cash!
A cerb I would say is a step up in performance, thats not to say chims are slow but the difference is there. You do pay for it though.
What ever model you choose make sure its a good example, if you rush in a buy the first one you drive you will end up with a lemon and it will be a bottomless pit for cash!
Adam Omer said:
Just read the advice guys, thanks. Back to Sq 1 ... :-(
Out of interest are there any 4 seater models in the Chim/Griff, I've heard the old Rover engine is more reliable than the new ones?
Adam, without knowing some of your circumstances or requirements it's hard to help... Out of interest are there any 4 seater models in the Chim/Griff, I've heard the old Rover engine is more reliable than the new ones?
Budget (to buy, and to maintain)
Miles per annum?
Only car?
Experience of high power RWD sportscars?
Expectations around reliability?
Requirement for 4 seats? A Cerb is at best a 2+2
Adam Omer said:
Just read the advice guys, thanks. Back to Sq 1 ... :-(
Out of interest are there any 4 seater models in the Chim/Griff, I've heard the old Rover engine is more reliable than the new ones?
If you aren't trolling, you are certainly pressing the right buttons by mistake! Out of interest are there any 4 seater models in the Chim/Griff, I've heard the old Rover engine is more reliable than the new ones?
No, no 4 seater Chim/Griff, though its been a wish for many years for many owners. An upgrade path for those who prefer the old Rover engine. Someone recently built a Cerb with a Rover V8, and it was sold on eBay. Hopefully we'll see more of these conversions in the future. but for now there isn't really, and hasn't been, anything to fit the bill from TVR.
Hi Adam
2 1/2 years ago I was looking for my first TVR and had my eyes on a few Chims, but as soon as I saw the Cerb in the flesh for the first time my heart was set. Had a look around at a few and finaly bought one. Ok it is not the cheapest car to run but the rewards are well worth it.
Graham
2 1/2 years ago I was looking for my first TVR and had my eyes on a few Chims, but as soon as I saw the Cerb in the flesh for the first time my heart was set. Had a look around at a few and finaly bought one. Ok it is not the cheapest car to run but the rewards are well worth it.
Graham
Adam Omer said:
I've heard the old Rover engine is more reliable than the new ones?
The engines are chalk and cheese, and "reliability" is just one area where they don't compare - in some peoples views at least. There are people who have done big mileage in AJP V8's with few problems, and there are those who have spent big money on RV8's in fewer miles...on average a RV8 is cheaper to run than a AJP, but you don't get the same upside either - namely performance.
Nice Tuscan!
Budget (to buy, and to maintain) flexible. upto £20k-ish
Miles per annum? very little would be for the odd w/e away maybe 2k max.
Only car? No, I have a X-Type.
Experience of high power RWD sportscars? Only the 3.0l manual X-Type and a recent away day driving a lotus @ Silverstone.
Expectations around reliability? Don't fancy braking down on a w/e away with the missis & No1 son - hence the requirement of back seats.
Requirement for 4 seats? A Cerb is at best a 2+2. Requirement is so i can go out with the missis and son. The missis has mentioned ... getting a Boxster, no chance!
Budget (to buy, and to maintain) flexible. upto £20k-ish
Miles per annum? very little would be for the odd w/e away maybe 2k max.
Only car? No, I have a X-Type.
Experience of high power RWD sportscars? Only the 3.0l manual X-Type and a recent away day driving a lotus @ Silverstone.
Expectations around reliability? Don't fancy braking down on a w/e away with the missis & No1 son - hence the requirement of back seats.
Requirement for 4 seats? A Cerb is at best a 2+2. Requirement is so i can go out with the missis and son. The missis has mentioned ... getting a Boxster, no chance!
Well £20k will buy a nice Cerbera...however I would say that 2k/year is looking for trouble...these cars like to be used.
The law of sod dictates that it WILL break down with the family on board if you use it rarely, as this is when batteries die, seals perish and gremlins take hold. That said, if you buy one you'll soon find yourself using it more than you plan to.
Be warned, you may find that the other half HATES being a passenger in a Cerbera...noisy, uncomfortably, claustrophic, scary, smelly are just some of the descriptions I've had from non-petrol head passengers for my TVR's in the past. Your current car and the Elise just will not compare.
Nobody fancies breaking down, but with TVR's it is more a case of "buying into" the fact that there will [almost] always be something that could be fixed / improved / replaced / upgraded. It's usually niggles rather than major failures.
Then again, not everyone is quite as bad as me - my Tuscan tends to get washed only when I take it for a service...
Even at 2k miles pa I would be looking at a maintenance fund in four figures to be on the safe side, + tyres, fuel, insurance, tax etc, and a backup in case of major failure...occasionally something will break...my Tuscan is just having a new clutch...bill will be well into 4 figures for an upgraded item.
So that's the downsides...expensive to run, some passengers hate them, the build quality isn't a Lexus, so expect the odd niggle.
If you can live with that then (for me anyway) the positives far outweigh any negatives. What I wouldn't want to do though, is run a Cerbera on a budget...if you are constantly worrying about bills then you will never enjoy driving it.
PS. A Boxster only has 2 seats.
The law of sod dictates that it WILL break down with the family on board if you use it rarely, as this is when batteries die, seals perish and gremlins take hold. That said, if you buy one you'll soon find yourself using it more than you plan to.
Be warned, you may find that the other half HATES being a passenger in a Cerbera...noisy, uncomfortably, claustrophic, scary, smelly are just some of the descriptions I've had from non-petrol head passengers for my TVR's in the past. Your current car and the Elise just will not compare.
Nobody fancies breaking down, but with TVR's it is more a case of "buying into" the fact that there will [almost] always be something that could be fixed / improved / replaced / upgraded. It's usually niggles rather than major failures.
Then again, not everyone is quite as bad as me - my Tuscan tends to get washed only when I take it for a service...
Even at 2k miles pa I would be looking at a maintenance fund in four figures to be on the safe side, + tyres, fuel, insurance, tax etc, and a backup in case of major failure...occasionally something will break...my Tuscan is just having a new clutch...bill will be well into 4 figures for an upgraded item.
So that's the downsides...expensive to run, some passengers hate them, the build quality isn't a Lexus, so expect the odd niggle.
If you can live with that then (for me anyway) the positives far outweigh any negatives. What I wouldn't want to do though, is run a Cerbera on a budget...if you are constantly worrying about bills then you will never enjoy driving it.
PS. A Boxster only has 2 seats.
Adam Omer said:
Don't fancy braking down on a w/e away with the missis & No1 son - hence the requirement of back seats.
Requirement for 4 seats? A Cerb is at best a 2+2. Requirement is so i can go out with the missis and son.
Requirement for 4 seats? A Cerb is at best a 2+2. Requirement is so i can go out with the missis and son.
If your son is over 3 years old it will be a tight squeeze in the back of the Cerb. Not entirely out of the question but previous experience of the game 'Twister' would be an advantage.
Lots of good info, thanks guys. Any advice on these please?
www.pistonheads.com/sales/148292.htm
www.pistonheads.com/sales/122939.htm
www.pistonheads.com/sales/136084.htm
www.pistonheads.com/sales/148292.htm
www.pistonheads.com/sales/122939.htm
www.pistonheads.com/sales/136084.htm
The black '98 looks the best option for you.
Regularly used, nice mileage, not too low, not too high - full service with loads of bills to back it up ...and at a price cheap enough to leave you plenty of leeway for running costs.
It's also in a very nice and easily re-sellable colour scheme.
Regularly used, nice mileage, not too low, not too high - full service with loads of bills to back it up ...and at a price cheap enough to leave you plenty of leeway for running costs.
It's also in a very nice and easily re-sellable colour scheme.
Adam Omer said:
Unfortunately the '98 Cerbera is 151 miles away from me.
that's a problem? You aren't looking at Z3s mate. There are not that many Cerberas around, let alone good ones. If you limit your area you may find you have a long wait.
From Yorkshire I travelled to:
Hertfordshire for the red Griff
South Wales for the Ferrari
Brighton for the 525 TDS Tourer (not so common as you would think!)
Hertfordshire again for the yellow Griff
Only the 911 was fairly local in Darlington, just 100 miles or so ... but I'd have travelled to Cornwall for it if needs be.
Be prepared for some possibly wasted journeys, but it is the only way, unless you are incredibly lucky.
I see nothing wrong with having a Cerb as a first TVR. Mine was and still is. Okay so I bought bottom-end of the market and have spent money bringing it up to spec (and slightly upgrade) but now have a truely unique car that is entirely a part of me. Yes you do need to use them, they don't much like sitting around doing sod all for extended periods and you do really have to keep on top of the maintenance.
Hell I'd love a Chim for the summer months but I know that if I sold the Cerb and bought a Chim for the summer (drop top and all that) and then bought another Cerb for the winter I'd not end up with anything like the beauty I have now.
As previously stated, I'm 24 with 4points on the license (bloody cyclist) and I'm getting FC insurance @ £841/pa
Hell I'd love a Chim for the summer months but I know that if I sold the Cerb and bought a Chim for the summer (drop top and all that) and then bought another Cerb for the winter I'd not end up with anything like the beauty I have now.
As previously stated, I'm 24 with 4points on the license (bloody cyclist) and I'm getting FC insurance @ £841/pa
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