Advice please on a Cerb in a hot country
Discussion
Been reading on here about TVRs and am satisfied that with proper due diligence it is possible to enjoy reliable motoring with one of these amazing cars if you buy a good one that has had the right work done to it.
Having orginally considered a Chimaera I am now inexplicably drawn to the Cerbera for use as a weekend car (I have two other daily drivers). Due to import taxes being high on later cars here in Cyprus I am limiting my options to a pre '98 car, which means the AJP 4.2.
I have searched on here for these topics but havent found complete answers so please excuse me if any of these topics have been thrashed to death on here.
1. How will it perform in our mediterranean climate where it can reach the forties in the summer, will it overheat or can this be overcome with mods?
2. Air con is a must, if I cant find one with it factory installed, how difficult are they to retrofit?
3. Due to the fact that we dont have a specialist TVR garage here I know that the Rover V8s are probably more sensible as they are easier to work on (we have Land Rovers and Range rovers everywhere). Will a properly sorted AJP which is serviced correctly cause me a lot of grief with regard to maintaining it? Should they only be worked on by experienced TVR engineers? Are they likely to need specialist attention or is a properly serviced one reliable?
4. Can the suspension on a 4.2 be modified for a softer ride as per the S6? (I am in my forties and rock hard suspension will be tiring on some pot holed roads).
The mechanics here are sophisticted and are used to working with high end cars (Ferraris, Maseratis, Mercs and BMW's) so will it be prosumptious of me to assume that with the right information that there shouldnt be an issue regarding carrying out the correct servicing (car electricians out here can strip a current model BMW down to its loom without a problem as far as electrical niggles are concerned).
I first saw a Cerbera at a motor show in the UK when it first came out and I dont think any other car there was more impressive. I am old enough to afford to run one now so I hope I am not being too optimistic.
Having orginally considered a Chimaera I am now inexplicably drawn to the Cerbera for use as a weekend car (I have two other daily drivers). Due to import taxes being high on later cars here in Cyprus I am limiting my options to a pre '98 car, which means the AJP 4.2.
I have searched on here for these topics but havent found complete answers so please excuse me if any of these topics have been thrashed to death on here.
1. How will it perform in our mediterranean climate where it can reach the forties in the summer, will it overheat or can this be overcome with mods?
2. Air con is a must, if I cant find one with it factory installed, how difficult are they to retrofit?
3. Due to the fact that we dont have a specialist TVR garage here I know that the Rover V8s are probably more sensible as they are easier to work on (we have Land Rovers and Range rovers everywhere). Will a properly sorted AJP which is serviced correctly cause me a lot of grief with regard to maintaining it? Should they only be worked on by experienced TVR engineers? Are they likely to need specialist attention or is a properly serviced one reliable?
4. Can the suspension on a 4.2 be modified for a softer ride as per the S6? (I am in my forties and rock hard suspension will be tiring on some pot holed roads).
The mechanics here are sophisticted and are used to working with high end cars (Ferraris, Maseratis, Mercs and BMW's) so will it be prosumptious of me to assume that with the right information that there shouldnt be an issue regarding carrying out the correct servicing (car electricians out here can strip a current model BMW down to its loom without a problem as far as electrical niggles are concerned).
I first saw a Cerbera at a motor show in the UK when it first came out and I dont think any other car there was more impressive. I am old enough to afford to run one now so I hope I am not being too optimistic.
)
Suspension is already quite soft and gives a very compliant rife. There is really no need to soften it any more.
Retrofit of air con will be a pain as the non a/c cars don't have a front crank pulley at all. Even if you can fit one it means changing the timing chain cover, or at least modifying it, and that means taking the engine out!
Most cars had a/c though, so shouldn't be a problem.
Find a good mechanic you can trust, get as much literature as you can - engine manual, etc, learn to use the ECU software before you need it and you'll be fine.
Regards the temperature, it wouldn't worry me. I lived in Rome for s number of years and ran several old British classics without any problems. You can buy a cooling chip which cuts the game in early and would be worthwhile, otherwise just make sure that everything is in good condition and I'm sure it'll be fine.
Retrofit of air con will be a pain as the non a/c cars don't have a front crank pulley at all. Even if you can fit one it means changing the timing chain cover, or at least modifying it, and that means taking the engine out!
Most cars had a/c though, so shouldn't be a problem.
Find a good mechanic you can trust, get as much literature as you can - engine manual, etc, learn to use the ECU software before you need it and you'll be fine.
Regards the temperature, it wouldn't worry me. I lived in Rome for s number of years and ran several old British classics without any problems. You can buy a cooling chip which cuts the game in early and would be worthwhile, otherwise just make sure that everything is in good condition and I'm sure it'll be fine.
The Cerb engine isn't particularly complicated when you get down to it. It has its niggles and there are a couple of fairly repetitive jobs you should learn to deal with. For example I'd suggest that you have a good supply of throttle pots and starter motors both of which (in my view) are weak points if you will be living somewhere hot. Most of the other problems I've had to deal with have been electrical problems which a competent auto-electrician can solve.
The biggest issue I have found in properly hot countries is that its difficult to get the cockpit to a comfortable temperature even with a/c. If you can live with this then the upside is that you will own a unique and head-turning car that will put a smile on your face every day. Had mine over 12 years now and there's no chance I'll part with it!
The biggest issue I have found in properly hot countries is that its difficult to get the cockpit to a comfortable temperature even with a/c. If you can live with this then the upside is that you will own a unique and head-turning car that will put a smile on your face every day. Had mine over 12 years now and there's no chance I'll part with it!
You could do it I guess but it would be a bit of a struggle. Even with a/c they get quite warm - you get a lovely cold blast from the vent beneath the steering wheel but overall the cabin of the car gets hot. It isn't designed like most cars with a/c, almost an afterthought.
Depending upon where you are in Cyprus will probably determine whether it is a good idea or not. If you are going to be sat in rush hour traffic in Limassol I would say forget it. These cars get very hot, very quickly once you stop moving. Like many I have been stuck in traffic for quite some time and had no problems, others, however, have had lots of problems and that is just in the UK.
They have very little ground clearance which I would anticipate being a major problem in Cyprus and even with soft suspension you will be in for a rough ride. Despite not doing track days you will end up hooning around the back roads - I'm not sure that 400bhp, soft suspension and bad roads is a particularly good combination.
I know Cyprus extremely well and have a Cerbera. It is not something I would do as I think the car has too many shortcomings in the unforgiving roads/traffic/climate that Cyprus has. It wouldn't rust much though which is a huge bonus.
HOWEVER, if you are willing to compromise on the many things that people buy a Cerbera for (handling, speed etc) and are happy with just looking extremely cool (whilst actually being hot) as you drive along the seafront at Paphos or thrashing it along the A6 then I would go for it. Just watch for those mobile speed cameras
PS
The import costs for a 4.5 engine will sting a little!
ETA
Forgot to mention that due to the design of the heating/cooling system, hot air ALWAYS comes out of the windscreen vents no matter how cold you want it - some people block them up with foam ear plugs. The cabin gets so hot primarily because of the enormous amount of heat from the engine/exhaust due to insufficient insulation.
Depending upon where you are in Cyprus will probably determine whether it is a good idea or not. If you are going to be sat in rush hour traffic in Limassol I would say forget it. These cars get very hot, very quickly once you stop moving. Like many I have been stuck in traffic for quite some time and had no problems, others, however, have had lots of problems and that is just in the UK.
They have very little ground clearance which I would anticipate being a major problem in Cyprus and even with soft suspension you will be in for a rough ride. Despite not doing track days you will end up hooning around the back roads - I'm not sure that 400bhp, soft suspension and bad roads is a particularly good combination.
I know Cyprus extremely well and have a Cerbera. It is not something I would do as I think the car has too many shortcomings in the unforgiving roads/traffic/climate that Cyprus has. It wouldn't rust much though which is a huge bonus.
HOWEVER, if you are willing to compromise on the many things that people buy a Cerbera for (handling, speed etc) and are happy with just looking extremely cool (whilst actually being hot) as you drive along the seafront at Paphos or thrashing it along the A6 then I would go for it. Just watch for those mobile speed cameras
PS
The import costs for a 4.5 engine will sting a little!
ETA
Forgot to mention that due to the design of the heating/cooling system, hot air ALWAYS comes out of the windscreen vents no matter how cold you want it - some people block them up with foam ear plugs. The cabin gets so hot primarily because of the enormous amount of heat from the engine/exhaust due to insufficient insulation.
Edited by Flashheart on Sunday 7th August 14:02
thanks for that input, most appreciated and basically you confirmed everything I feared.
The import duty is not a problem as if I go for a 1998 car it is very much reduced, so not the issue.
I came across a post from someone who had a Cerbera in Dubai and dias he had no issues with overheating, although I take your point on how quickly they heat up.
Would the twin fan, alloy radiator, chip and override switch reduce the risk of overheating in traffic here or is that wishfull thinking?
If the carpets came out and a layer of thermal insulation be added including the bulkhead, will the cabin still heat up? Another layer under the headlining? Car upholsterers are quite reasonable out here so I wouldn't be to worried about the cost of that.
If the basic aircon system is in place would a more powerful compressor and evaporator do the job, I mean it's hardly the interior of an S class Merc in volume, again air con techs out here are quite inventive.
I had an E46 M3 convertible on loan for a few days with 19" wheels and run flats and yes on some roads the ride was jiggly and firm to very hard on pot holed back roads but tolerable on the main roads. I also drove a lowered one with uprated suspension and that was intolerably hard, I couldn't live with that at my age. I will have to drive one to see how the ride compares to those two cars.
As a previous poster suggested I will contact the member in Cyprus who has brought the Red Rose over last year to see how they are getting on with it and if they needed to mod it.
I suppose I initially considered a Chimaera but was put of as none had air con, and they just don't look as stunning as a Cerbera.
The import duty is not a problem as if I go for a 1998 car it is very much reduced, so not the issue.
I came across a post from someone who had a Cerbera in Dubai and dias he had no issues with overheating, although I take your point on how quickly they heat up.
Would the twin fan, alloy radiator, chip and override switch reduce the risk of overheating in traffic here or is that wishfull thinking?
If the carpets came out and a layer of thermal insulation be added including the bulkhead, will the cabin still heat up? Another layer under the headlining? Car upholsterers are quite reasonable out here so I wouldn't be to worried about the cost of that.
If the basic aircon system is in place would a more powerful compressor and evaporator do the job, I mean it's hardly the interior of an S class Merc in volume, again air con techs out here are quite inventive.
I had an E46 M3 convertible on loan for a few days with 19" wheels and run flats and yes on some roads the ride was jiggly and firm to very hard on pot holed back roads but tolerable on the main roads. I also drove a lowered one with uprated suspension and that was intolerably hard, I couldn't live with that at my age. I will have to drive one to see how the ride compares to those two cars.
As a previous poster suggested I will contact the member in Cyprus who has brought the Red Rose over last year to see how they are getting on with it and if they needed to mod it.
I suppose I initially considered a Chimaera but was put of as none had air con, and they just don't look as stunning as a Cerbera.
thanks for that input, most appreciated and basically you confirmed everything I feared.
The import duty is not a problem as if I go for a 1998 car it is very much reduced, so not the issue.
I came across a post from someone who had a Cerbera in Dubai and dias he had no issues with overheating, although I take your point on how quickly they heat up.
Would the twin fan, alloy radiator, chip and override switch reduce the risk of overheating in traffic here or is that wishfull thinking?
If the carpets came out and a layer of thermal insulation be added including the bulkhead, will the cabin still heat up? Another layer under the headlining? Car upholsterers are quite reasonable out here so I wouldn't be to worried about the cost of that.
If the basic aircon system is in place would a more powerful compressor and evaporator do the job, I mean it's hardly the interior of an S class Merc in volume, again air con techs out here are quite inventive.
I had an E46 M3 convertible on loan for a few days with 19" wheels and run flats and yes on some roads the ride was jiggly and firm to very hard on pot holed back roads but tolerable on the main roads. I also drove a lowered one with uprated suspension and that was intolerably hard, I couldn't live with that at my age. I will have to drive one to see how the ride compares to those two cars.
As a previous poster suggested I will contact the member in Cyprus who has brought the Red Rose over last year to see how they are getting on with it and if they needed to mod it.
I suppose I initially considered a Chimaera but was put of as none had air con, and they just don't look as stunning as a Cerbera.
The import duty is not a problem as if I go for a 1998 car it is very much reduced, so not the issue.
I came across a post from someone who had a Cerbera in Dubai and dias he had no issues with overheating, although I take your point on how quickly they heat up.
Would the twin fan, alloy radiator, chip and override switch reduce the risk of overheating in traffic here or is that wishfull thinking?
If the carpets came out and a layer of thermal insulation be added including the bulkhead, will the cabin still heat up? Another layer under the headlining? Car upholsterers are quite reasonable out here so I wouldn't be to worried about the cost of that.
If the basic aircon system is in place would a more powerful compressor and evaporator do the job, I mean it's hardly the interior of an S class Merc in volume, again air con techs out here are quite inventive.
I had an E46 M3 convertible on loan for a few days with 19" wheels and run flats and yes on some roads the ride was jiggly and firm to very hard on pot holed back roads but tolerable on the main roads. I also drove a lowered one with uprated suspension and that was intolerably hard, I couldn't live with that at my age. I will have to drive one to see how the ride compares to those two cars.
As a previous poster suggested I will contact the member in Cyprus who has brought the Red Rose over last year to see how they are getting on with it and if they needed to mod it.
I suppose I initially considered a Chimaera but was put of as none had air con, and they just don't look as stunning as a Cerbera.
If you are looking at an older Cerb then the suspension will either be in dire need of replacement, or the owner should have done this. With adjustable suspension you should be able to get a ride that you are happy with. I bought ProTech suspension for mine and have been happy with them for road use (also done a couple to track day on them but didn;t bother adjusting them - just drove the car!). Where I live in the UK, the roads in the Peak District can be pretty dreadfully surfaced and the Cerb copes OK. It's not particularly smooth - but MUCH better than some other Cerb's I've passengered in that had rock hard suspension - just not what you want for the road.
If you have manual overide for the fans or get Jool's cooling chip (you should be able to contact him via RaceProved in Sheffield) then this is a sensible mod.
If you have manual overide for the fans or get Jool's cooling chip (you should be able to contact him via RaceProved in Sheffield) then this is a sensible mod.
Not a lot to add to the previous informative posters
BUT
Ride Comfort: I too have ProTech shocks but if I wind them off to a lower setting than 'standard road' then I find the car can be a handful of fast roads with potholes.
I would have thought that a smaller wheel and a larger cross-section tyre would be more comfortable.
Heat: That's a 400 HP motor sitting right next to your body. I've forgotten what that calculates to in Joules but it's a LOT of energy. You're gonna get hot but, then again, you live in a hot environment.
The Cerb is a GORGEOUS car but the thought of emasculating it in order to pose in traffic does seem a little contra-productive.
I can't see a "Happy ever after" relationship here.
Sorry !
BUT
Ride Comfort: I too have ProTech shocks but if I wind them off to a lower setting than 'standard road' then I find the car can be a handful of fast roads with potholes.
I would have thought that a smaller wheel and a larger cross-section tyre would be more comfortable.
Heat: That's a 400 HP motor sitting right next to your body. I've forgotten what that calculates to in Joules but it's a LOT of energy. You're gonna get hot but, then again, you live in a hot environment.
The Cerb is a GORGEOUS car but the thought of emasculating it in order to pose in traffic does seem a little contra-productive.
I can't see a "Happy ever after" relationship here.
Sorry !
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