Virgin Cerbera owner

[Ollie F]

From reading numerous messages, and i guess in most cases you lot are current owners, who better to ask about buying a Cerbera.

I want to buy a second hand Cerbera 4.2 and would appreciate any tips, pointers, advice, or warnings when choosing one.

I've read as much as i can on this great website, but any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers

[gbbird]

Ollie,

i'm sure you'll get lots of technical responses, but do a search as there have been lots of similiar posts in the past. I'm no car expert, but the top tips tend to be -

Drive a few as they all feel different
If possible get someone qualified to have a shifters
Low mileage is not neccessarily a good thing - go for middle mileage eg 25k +
Check all the electrics work OK
FTVRSH (independent are just as good, if not better)

Good luck with the search

G

Oh yes, and go for a good colour, like yellow or red

[Ollie F]

Thanks,

A mate who owns a Chimaera 500 has offered to help but i will probably either get the AA to do an inspection or pay a mechanic from a TVR specialist to have a look over one.

Cheers

[pdavison]

Go for a TVR specialist to check any prospective cars out, they tend to know more about TVR specifics than the AA or RAC guys.

As said before, drive a few and also try the speed six, 4.2 and 4.5 as you may find one suits you better as they all have a slightly different feel.

Enjoy your search.

[ncs]

If you want to know anything get yourself down to your local TVRCC meet & ask away. This happens a lot in our region & we are allways happy to help.

Its what I did before I bought my Griff & the knowledge I gained saved me £££'s.

If your South London based you might want to come to our meet on Sunday lunchtime at The Rose & Crown, Dunton Green. Should be 20 - 30 cars there, feel free to come along & ask as many questions as you like.

One tip - dont go for an AA inspection - take it to a dealer/specialist & get them to give the car a once over.

Nick
RO - SE London & NW Kent TVRCC

[Ollie F]

Is Dunton Green near Sevenoaks? This Sunday i presume?

[ncs]

Yep, just north of Sevenoaks in London Road - Dunton Green.

We will start rolling in from midday & then go for a blat about 3.00pm to The Woodman at Ide Hill,,,scenic route of course!

Will you be joining us??

Nick

[Ollie F]

Afraid i wasn't able to make it, but if there's another meeting soon i'll make sure i keep the day free.

Thanks

[christmc]

Good Morning gents,, I think i might be able to shed some valuble advice on Cerbi buying, im onto my second Cerbie ,the first i bought was a 1999 4.5 ,it went through 4 starter motors,then flooded ,in the space of 6 weeks.
It was all covered under warrenty,so didnt cost me a bean, but i lost my rag an sold it. Breaking down in the fast lane on the M1 on a Friday tea time was quite possibly the most embarressing ( I also cant spell) position to find myself in.

But there is a but ,,,,after 3 months without 1 i missed it ,an went an bought another.
This one is a yellow 4.2 1998 34k , Iv had it 2 weeks and is running perfectly ,,touch wood

So the moral of this story , is that you can look out for obvious potential problems,to a cert extent but lady luck has a big hand to play ,in TVR ownership,,,Chris

[_DJ_]

christmc said:

Good Morning gents,, I think i might be able to shed some valuble advice on Cerbi buying, im onto my second Cerbie ,the first i bought was a 1999 4.5 ,it went through 4 starter motors,then flooded ,in the space of 6 weeks. It was all covered under warrenty,so didnt cost me a bean, but i lost my rag an sold it. Breaking down in the fast lane on the M1 on a Friday tea time was quite possibly the most embarressing ( I also cant spell) position to find myself in. But there is a but ,,,,after 3 months without 1 i missed it ,an went an bought another. This one is a yellow 4.2 1998 34k , Iv had it 2 weeks and is running perfectly ,,touch wood So the moral of this story , is that you can look out for obvious potential problems,to a cert extent but lady luck has a big hand to play ,in TVR ownership,,,Chris

You've had it 2 weeks What happened to 'I bought it on Sunday'?

>> Edited by _DJ_ on Wednesday 9th June 12:05

[christmc]

Sorry I should have said ,,no wonder that didnt make sense, I buy an sell cars , well enough to keep my trading policy only an handfull a year

[_DJ_]

christmc said:

Sorry I should have said ,,no wonder that didnt make sense, I buy an sell cars , well enough to keep my trading policy only an handfull a year

You buy and sell cars from other dealers? I don't understand! Having said that, you're obviously doing something right to drive a Cerbera at 21!

[christmc]

No ,,i try not to buy from dealers , i have some very close friends who used to race tuscans,who will look over every car i buy,they have the full workshop an pit,which is priceless, They prob could have sorted the first Cerbi i bought , but seen as i had a warrenty on it i took advantage of that, I dont make much cash from this (for the benafit of the inland revenue)its just easy to do with owning a trading policy,