The Cerb... really better handling than the Tuscan?
Discussion
Hi all,
I am hoping to have my current car sold soon and hope to be able to enter into TVR ownership this summer. I had originally wanted a Tuscan but I'm not sure now if budget will allow me to get one in any decent nick, so I'm now looking at cerbs (Griffs and Chimaeras don't do it for me).
I've searched the usual "Cerbera vs Tuscan" threads but I was kinda shocked by something. Most of the threads imply the Cerbera is a better handling car than the Tuscan. Now I'm confused, because I had taken it as read that the Tuscan would be better handling than the Cerb - if for no other reason than it was a much newer car.
Is anyone able to shed any specific light on this? Is there a decent reason? I know the Tuscan is supposed to be a "shortened" cerb chassis, is there really that big a difference?
All help appreciated
James
I am hoping to have my current car sold soon and hope to be able to enter into TVR ownership this summer. I had originally wanted a Tuscan but I'm not sure now if budget will allow me to get one in any decent nick, so I'm now looking at cerbs (Griffs and Chimaeras don't do it for me).
I've searched the usual "Cerbera vs Tuscan" threads but I was kinda shocked by something. Most of the threads imply the Cerbera is a better handling car than the Tuscan. Now I'm confused, because I had taken it as read that the Tuscan would be better handling than the Cerb - if for no other reason than it was a much newer car.
Is anyone able to shed any specific light on this? Is there a decent reason? I know the Tuscan is supposed to be a "shortened" cerb chassis, is there really that big a difference?
All help appreciated
James
It's a difficult question to answer. Around a smooth circuit, the Tuscan would be quicker. In the hands of two extremely talented drivers, the Tuscan would probably be the quicker. To a numpty like me, who drives only on bumpy, potholed roads, the Cerbera is a much more exploitable and progressive steer. The early Tuscan I had was fantastic fun but making progress was a heart-in-mouth job; far too pointy and unpredictable, requiring seemingly endless micro-corrections where a Cerbera would just glide through.
Like Rob I have owned both, as Rob said you need to be a serious driver to extract 100% out a Tuscan ( not possible on a public road) and trying to find these boundarys is pretty scary business, a bit like driving on a knife edge. Steering feels a touch nervous and bump steer and tram lining far more evident.
The cerbs longer wheel base makes it much more progressive on the limit and if anything when set up correctly will under steer when pushing your luck, unlike the Tuscan that snap oversteers when testing it.
It feels more fluid over the poor road surfaces as well those extra inch's again seem to help absorb imperfections on road surfaces.
On the road not much in them, but I sway towards the cerb as it feels a bit more of a GT car than a out ride sports car, I could never relax 100% in the tuscsn even on the motorway I felt drained after a long drive having to be alert to any road surface imperfections, not the case in the cerb I am very happy to bash 300 miles in it and step out feeling fresh.
My cerb is a 99 my Tuscan a 2000 red rose, the chassis is far better protected agenst corrosion on the Tuscan even though there is only a year between both car. The trim feels slightly better build in the cerb, doors feel better to open close as well as the boot lid.
Both amazing cars and non disappointing.
The cerbs longer wheel base makes it much more progressive on the limit and if anything when set up correctly will under steer when pushing your luck, unlike the Tuscan that snap oversteers when testing it.
It feels more fluid over the poor road surfaces as well those extra inch's again seem to help absorb imperfections on road surfaces.
On the road not much in them, but I sway towards the cerb as it feels a bit more of a GT car than a out ride sports car, I could never relax 100% in the tuscsn even on the motorway I felt drained after a long drive having to be alert to any road surface imperfections, not the case in the cerb I am very happy to bash 300 miles in it and step out feeling fresh.
My cerb is a 99 my Tuscan a 2000 red rose, the chassis is far better protected agenst corrosion on the Tuscan even though there is only a year between both car. The trim feels slightly better build in the cerb, doors feel better to open close as well as the boot lid.
Both amazing cars and non disappointing.
I had a 2001 Tuscan ,great car but handling was a challenge. If you want a good handling Tuscan you will need a few items such as coilovers to replace the standard items (Nitrons or Gaz Gold pros amongsrt others) good geometry set up and possibly bump steer mod. Also wheel sppacers to widen the track but I don't know how succesful they were.
Don't expect to get in a standard Tuscan and be impressed with the handling it will take time ,money and expertise to get it handling well as they came out the factory with a very poof set up IMO.
I thought my Tuscan wanted to kill me evrytime I drove it but It was a great experience and I would have one again like a shot but I would spend money getting it set up correctly. The Tuscan also has a very fast steering rack that will make any slight adjustment feel like you are swerving over the road.
I have a 2003 Cerbera definatley a better set up car , better handling and I replaced the standard shocks for new coilovers. Doesn't try to kill me like my Tuscan did and and find it easier to drive fast and the longer wheelbase does make it less twitchy.
Both cars can be made to handle very well they just need the proper set up, either car will leave you with a big grin on your face.
Don't expect to get in a standard Tuscan and be impressed with the handling it will take time ,money and expertise to get it handling well as they came out the factory with a very poof set up IMO.
I thought my Tuscan wanted to kill me evrytime I drove it but It was a great experience and I would have one again like a shot but I would spend money getting it set up correctly. The Tuscan also has a very fast steering rack that will make any slight adjustment feel like you are swerving over the road.
I have a 2003 Cerbera definatley a better set up car , better handling and I replaced the standard shocks for new coilovers. Doesn't try to kill me like my Tuscan did and and find it easier to drive fast and the longer wheelbase does make it less twitchy.
Both cars can be made to handle very well they just need the proper set up, either car will leave you with a big grin on your face.
Yes, I look forward to TVR ownership. Hopefully it'll happen soon.
My current car is a '99 911, which is pretty fantastic in the handling department.
I have heard from several owners that TVR attached the suspension to their cars without bothering to set them up, and I have heard the transformation can be unbelievable when the car is set up properly. I would definitely take any TVR I bought to CoG or similar if it hadn't been set up already.
My current car is a '99 911, which is pretty fantastic in the handling department.
I have heard from several owners that TVR attached the suspension to their cars without bothering to set them up, and I have heard the transformation can be unbelievable when the car is set up properly. I would definitely take any TVR I bought to CoG or similar if it hadn't been set up already.
A fellow PHer / old mate lives near by and owns a Mk1 Tuscan S. I let him drive mine when I got it (he still hasn't returned the favour, the overly precious fanny if he's reading!) and commented that the Cerbera felt a bit more stable as we blatted down smaller A and B roads local to where we live.
His Tuscan was the first TVR I'd been driven in and even as a passenger it was an incredible experience.
I doubt there's anything fundamentally wrong with the Tuscan's wheelbase that couldn't be corrected with enough effort in the set up. The Sagaris is shorter than the Cerbera too and they handle really rather well by anyone's standards.
His Tuscan was the first TVR I'd been driven in and even as a passenger it was an incredible experience.
I doubt there's anything fundamentally wrong with the Tuscan's wheelbase that couldn't be corrected with enough effort in the set up. The Sagaris is shorter than the Cerbera too and they handle really rather well by anyone's standards.
robsco said:
"Fluid" was one of the words I was trying to think of Scott. That pretty much sums it up! 
Just to add OP - my Tuscan had Gaz Gold shocks, was fully geo'd and had wheel spacers fitted, and still felt like the opinions described above.
As with mine as well, both cars on nitron suspension, both with full geo set up, and spacers fitted to the Tuscan, there was not much else left to do to it. My only issue when I bought it was the 255 tyres on the front made it float a bit. I fitted my cerbs 225 tyres to the front and it sorted it out right away.Just to add OP - my Tuscan had Gaz Gold shocks, was fully geo'd and had wheel spacers fitted, and still felt like the opinions described above.
Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff