Possible Cerbera 4.2 purchase
Discussion
Hi
Looking and getting a Cerbera 4.2 (or 4.5) and was just wondering if someone could give me some in sight into Cerbera ownership.
My farther had a Griff 500 and was a member of the TVR owners club so I know what its like to own a Griff, he also had a yellow Cerbera for a day whilst his car was being serviced, apparently it was a flame spitting monster.
Just would like to know what its like to live with
How expensive it is to run
What's it like to own
Is it a head turner
What I should look out for etc.
Thanks
Looking and getting a Cerbera 4.2 (or 4.5) and was just wondering if someone could give me some in sight into Cerbera ownership.
My farther had a Griff 500 and was a member of the TVR owners club so I know what its like to own a Griff, he also had a yellow Cerbera for a day whilst his car was being serviced, apparently it was a flame spitting monster.
Just would like to know what its like to live with
How expensive it is to run
What's it like to own
Is it a head turner
What I should look out for etc.
Thanks
Having recently purchased my first Cerbera (4.5LW) I can safely say they are the dogs cojones! I have never had so many people say so many great things and genuine joy at seeing (and hearing) the car. I regards running, I'm only into the 5th month of owning and mine had been very well looked after but if you allow say 2/3k a year its all good. I hankered after one for years and it hasn't disappointed me one bit.
Having only had mine for a few months I'd say it does turn heads, although interestingly seems unknown to my age group (late 20s) who have no idea what it is or why it's special; people younger or older do 'get it' though. Not only does it take supercar money to run, it requires supercar levels of pampering too; mine is currently sulking because I dared to leave it outside overnight, a spell in a nice warm garage seems to have cured it though.
Since having mine the only things to go wrong with it which could be blamed on the design, apart from its current temper tantrum, is the starter motor and a lambda sensor. Other problems have included the passenger door refusing to open because a previous owner decided that gluing the door loom wiring back together after they'd been cut was an acceptable solution, and some extreme irritation at changing the door seals (MKII door seals don't fit on my '96, despite what some companies might say), and finding that my wiring doesn't match the available manuals, especially through the multiway connectors. Overall buy as late a model as you can afford to avoid the issues of the early cars.
Would I swap it for anything else? No way.
Since having mine the only things to go wrong with it which could be blamed on the design, apart from its current temper tantrum, is the starter motor and a lambda sensor. Other problems have included the passenger door refusing to open because a previous owner decided that gluing the door loom wiring back together after they'd been cut was an acceptable solution, and some extreme irritation at changing the door seals (MKII door seals don't fit on my '96, despite what some companies might say), and finding that my wiring doesn't match the available manuals, especially through the multiway connectors. Overall buy as late a model as you can afford to avoid the issues of the early cars.
Would I swap it for anything else? No way.
My father had a 4.2 Cerbera from 2001 > 2007. It was a great car, reliable, head turning and put a grin on your face. Cost him a little to keep going but that's the nature of the beast.
I eventually acquired my own, albeit it the 4.5, just 2 weeks ago. It turns heads, get positive comments and leaves you grinning from ear to ear on every drive. I've already decided it needs a steering over hall, complete suspension tear down and a myriad of other systems that I think could be better. With this in mind, and factoring in all Cerbera's are now getting on a bit I wouldn't hesitate to say to anyone thinking of getting into one that researching typical running costs would be the key to your happiness; as if spending £2-3k a year on service/repair is an issue then you're likely to resent the car.
I eventually acquired my own, albeit it the 4.5, just 2 weeks ago. It turns heads, get positive comments and leaves you grinning from ear to ear on every drive. I've already decided it needs a steering over hall, complete suspension tear down and a myriad of other systems that I think could be better. With this in mind, and factoring in all Cerbera's are now getting on a bit I wouldn't hesitate to say to anyone thinking of getting into one that researching typical running costs would be the key to your happiness; as if spending £2-3k a year on service/repair is an issue then you're likely to resent the car.
Looking for a Cerb myself at the moment, which will be my 6th TVR. Cerbs do usually cost quite a bit more to maintain properly than RV8 TVRs, but as with any TVR check the chassis first, and then check it thoroughly again before anything else. They can deteriorate quickly in places that are not easily visible.
From experience, a new MOT doesn't mean it is rot free.
From experience, a new MOT doesn't mean it is rot free.
Edited by chj on Monday 6th October 17:17
I bought mine 8? Years ago and at the time was told they cost £3000 a year to run. So I put £250 a month away and despite doing my best still have spent nowhere near that.
However, I would suggest this approach is a good solution. There's money in the pot allocated just in case a bill comes along and after a couple of years you have a decent fund for any big bills.
What is it about them, they fact you can just look at it in the garage and smile, that nothing you meet on the road (generally) can get anywhere near it making traffic light grand Prix's fun, tunnels and multistory car parks become big boys playing grounds at low speeds
And then there's the other owners, probably the best owners of any marques.
However, I would suggest this approach is a good solution. There's money in the pot allocated just in case a bill comes along and after a couple of years you have a decent fund for any big bills.
What is it about them, they fact you can just look at it in the garage and smile, that nothing you meet on the road (generally) can get anywhere near it making traffic light grand Prix's fun, tunnels and multistory car parks become big boys playing grounds at low speeds
And then there's the other owners, probably the best owners of any marques.
^^^^^ this is the best advice and the closest to my experience of cerbera ownership^^^
Only other points are do as much research as you can on each car. Don't be afraid to ask here as someone is very liky to know the car and once you have bought one when you find it needs some work do it, don't put it off and think "I'll do it next time" his is where things quickly build up.
Happy hunting
Only other points are do as much research as you can on each car. Don't be afraid to ask here as someone is very liky to know the car and once you have bought one when you find it needs some work do it, don't put it off and think "I'll do it next time" his is where things quickly build up.
Happy hunting
Edited by m60ddy on Monday 6th October 20:29
They do cost supercar money to run, especially considering that they are the sort of car that you WANT to improve and renew, particularly as the earlier ones are approaching 20 years old. I'm pretty sure that if I did the bare minimum to mine to keep it roadworthy and enjoyable, I could scrape through spending 2k per annum, that being a service and a few other bits and bobs as they crop up. This obviously depends on how handy you are with a set of spanners. As it happens, over my three years or so of TVR ownership, my average spend per annum is around 5k. Admittedly this is across three separate cars which could skew things slightly, but the point is that basic servicing and maintenance isn't enough for a lot of TVR owners, they want to spend on other things like repainting/retrimming/restoring.
The trick is to be able to distinguish what NEEDED spending, from what one has actually spent. It's far easier to justify that way.
The trick is to be able to distinguish what NEEDED spending, from what one has actually spent. It's far easier to justify that way.
Tanguero said:
Yes - I had a year like that too. The following year the body off chassis restore cost slightly more than £22 
Touch wood in 3 years I have had nothing worse than the alternator fail. Did replace the shocks and springs but only because the rears were a little soft.A new battery added £140 (RedTop) to the repairs plus lots of little stuff that I fixed when I got it such as wiper park motor, rear number plate lens etc.
All in all I have spent about 2K tops on repairs and servicing in 3 years (did do the suspension myself)
Still waiting for the Speed6 (never been rebuilt) to blow but it keeps going, doesn't drink any oil and is a bloody lovely thing (can't understand why people go on about how great they are in a Tuscan/T350/Sag etc. but as soon as its in a Cerb its like the curse of death. Internet nonsense. Have driven AJP's and I don't really think their all their cracked up to be to be honest. A 4.3 Speed6 would be a much nicer thing)
Speed6 is though getting on my nerves now because I have had the money to rebuild it as a 4.3 since the day I bought it!
Chassis is in first class order not a spot of rust anywhere.
And the thing has appreciated by about 5k as well since I bought it.
All in all its cost me far far less than my Chimaera and Griff 500 ever did
Oh and to dispell another myth. For 6 months of the year the car sits in the garage not going anywhere. Precautions I take are as follows 1) Pump the tyres up to 45psi 2) Put a dust cover over it. Every spring she starts first time, no sign of impending doom that some post on PH would lead you to believe.
Edited by PuffsBack on Tuesday 7th October 09:35
Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff