I went in a cerbera at the weekend, finally met my hero!

[jonah35]

Ive longed to go in a tvr and have always loved the cerbera. Finally went in a 4.5 at the weekend.

Thought it would be amazing but i hate to say its put me off them for good. The interior was tiny, could barely fit in and the funny thing was it just wasnt quick and didnt sound that special.

So upset to say that after wanting a go in one for 15 years and being a big tvr fan.

Did i go in a bad example?

[Mark.]

Small inside? Wow one of the roomiest sports cars I've been in - maybe interior colour made it feel small.

Perhaps the driver was taking it easy trying not to scare the bejesus out of you.

[Jhonno]

Are you sure you actually went in a Cerbera..?!

[Griffithy]

jonah35 said:

Ive longed to go in a tvr and have always loved the cerbera. Finally went in a 4.5 at the weekend.

Thought it would be amazing but i hate to say its put me off them for good. The interior was tiny, could barely fit in and the funny thing was it just wasnt quick and didnt sound that special.

So upset to say that after wanting a go in one for 15 years and being a big tvr fan.

Did i go in a bad example?

They can be disappointingly slow sometimes: either no private motorway around or engine still not on temperature.
Maybe the driver was not in the mood for revvs and smoking tires and risking passengers life.

For a bit more room try the front seat next time

[jamieduff1981]

Unless you have an F1 car as your daily runner then chances are the driver was taking it easy!

[Boatbuoy]

If you are tall, you may have found the passenger seat a little tight on legroom - I know I do in mine (I'm 6'2" and a bit). But don't forget, TVR described it as 3 + 1, the drivers seat slides back further and feels very different.

As for (lack of) speed, what colour was it?

[andrewlloyd]

i regularly give my freind a lift to work hes 6ft 5in and the best side of 19 stone still manages to put his bag in the footwell and as for speed always remember these cars take some time to warm up as aposed to your normal sports cars and only come alive over a certain rev range my first ride in a cerbera reminded me of a sports bike i ride gsxr 1000 and that was a 4.2 model so next time id give him a £10 for fuel and make sure you tell him you dont suffer from any heart conditions

[steviejasp]

Just as a matter of interest,compared to what cars didn't it feel fast?

Edited by steviejasp on Tuesday 20th November 21:47

[ukkid35]

I reckon my car had only 250bhp twelve months ago, now it's dyno'd at 410 - they are very sensitive to valve clearance/cam timing/engine map/cats, you could easily have had a ride in a car that wasn't working properly.

However a properly working 4.5 is scary fast.

Also, anyone driving a Cerb in the UK right now is going to be very careful to ensure that their tyres are up to temp before pushing it.

[Mr M]

>The interior was tiny, could barely fit in and the funny thing was it just wasnt quick and didnt sound >that special.

Having owned one (although 10 years old by the time I had it) I'd agree on the cabin and the sound (to a degree). They are quick once you've learned the throttle a bit (which I don't think I did) but mine seemed to scream between gears 1-2-3 without huge feeling of forward motion which I found frustrating, having had a turbo'd car. I still don't get that in the Tamora but I prefer the engine. I enjoyed mine and they look fantasic.

Edited by Mr M on Tuesday 20th November 21:55

[ShiDevil]

I'm 6"2 and there's masses of room. My mate Keith has a 4.5 and tbh it's scary from start to finish, acceleration is intense. He has a short induction map etc. If 3.6 seconds 0-60 with all that torque and 180mph isn't quick enough for you, I'm surprised or your mate needs to learn to drive

Ask someone else to take you out, you will be holding on

[robsco]

To echo the comments above, either the driver was taking it easy or the car isn't healthy. My 4.2 scared me in a straight line, and as a passenger it was terrifying.

[jonah35]

Hmm, interesting. The interior was tight width wide for my shoulders.

Just felt slow compared to anything 'fast' really bit if compared to 996 turbo, npbike engined kit car or even a modern diesel it felt slow. Perhaps it was the car or driver, who knows!

Ill reserve judgement till i go in another then, but it was in no way scary fast and im not a racing driver etc.

[cerb4.5lee]

I find it surprising that you weren't impressed with the performance I drive a not that powerful Beemer now with 343bhp & that wouldn't even get close to my old 4.5 cerb nowhere near it, I sometimes think the handbrake must still be on in the Beemer but I look & it's off, I miss the power of the cerb so much.

I get where your coming from shoulder room wise you do feel a little tight & close to the door but legroom there is plenty, lets hope the next one you go in the driver knows where the throttle pedal is.

[Jhonno]

jonah35 said:

Hmm, interesting. The interior was tight width wide for my shoulders.

Just felt slow compared to anything 'fast' really bit if compared to 996 turbo, npbike engined kit car or even a modern diesel it felt slow. Perhaps it was the car or driver, who knows!

Ill reserve judgement till i go in another then, but it was in no way scary fast and im not a racing driver etc.

Either you are trolling, or it was a dog driven by a fairy..

I am 6'4 and 17st odd, I find it plenty spacious. It is also bloody fast. Laws of physics even say it must be so (if healthy).

[Jhonno]

Oh and mine makes a fantastic racket!

[m60ddy]

May be it is because these cars "Feel" this way due to how easily / quick they go without you knowing. Noise aside they gather speed rapidly and feel solid at higher speeds. Having recently bought one, I have driven quite a few different cars in a short amount of time, and although some felt quicker than others, I would class none of them as disappointing or slow. It is worth pointing out though that the one I bought felt the quickest and also the most capable of utilising the power available. I have realised my dream car and I am very happy. Suppose it all depends on your pre conceptions of what you were expecting??

You must have been in a light coloured car, we all know the dark ones are the quickest.

Edited by m60ddy on Tuesday 20th November 23:08

[FarmyardPants]

jonah35 said:

Did i go in a bad example?

As said above the cerb is sensitive to setup. Clogged cats/filters, cam timing, fuel and ignition mapping, any of these will make it run flat. I was similarly underwhelmed when I first drove one, but it was a dog. Even the one I bought didn't seem mega quick. A decat, short induction, remap and tlc/servicing made a world of difference.

Try another one

[M3John]

FarmyardPants said:

jonah35 said:

Did i go in a bad example?

Try another one

This ^ with a good wheelman at the helm.
BossCerbera, your assistance is required mate.

[900T-R]

1) I thought the whole idea of a sports car was that it seems to wrap itself around you (I'm 6'3"ish and am well accommodated in a Cerb, but then again I'm not a fat bd). My biggest complaint about modern sports/GT cars is that they feel so fricking huge and distant.

2) Compared to, say, a Rover V8-powered TVR or a turbo nutter special, a Cerb 4.5 does feel more linear and long-legged initially. Use that long throttle travel and extend it past 4.5K rpm and it becomes a different story, though...