Moving to a cerbera
Discussion
Hi all
Just popped over from the Hsv forum as I've decided I want a cerbera 450
Viewed one recently if anyone knows car black 450 reg s23nta 1998 car cream interior 18" spiders In hitchin
Not to sure what common faults are and what to check really as car seems really good,
Coming from a 6.2 v8 am I going to be disappointed or impressed as tech specs report 3.9 to 62
Is this possibly over estimated
I appreciate any view on this
Stuart
Just popped over from the Hsv forum as I've decided I want a cerbera 450
Viewed one recently if anyone knows car black 450 reg s23nta 1998 car cream interior 18" spiders In hitchin
Not to sure what common faults are and what to check really as car seems really good,
Coming from a 6.2 v8 am I going to be disappointed or impressed as tech specs report 3.9 to 62
Is this possibly over estimated
I appreciate any view on this
Stuart
Hi Stuart,
Loads of information on here to search through. The basics are , try one, and if you don't like the first one, try a few more. There can be quite a different feel between cars of the same spec. These were all hand built and are getting on a bit. I've not driven a car like your old one, but odds are the cerbera will feel much more 'alive'. Whether you like that or not is down to individual preference. No doubt almost 20 years on after they were designed by some guys in Blackpool, there are faster, more comfortable and safer ways to travel. But chances are you wont be disappointed.
Simon
Loads of information on here to search through. The basics are , try one, and if you don't like the first one, try a few more. There can be quite a different feel between cars of the same spec. These were all hand built and are getting on a bit. I've not driven a car like your old one, but odds are the cerbera will feel much more 'alive'. Whether you like that or not is down to individual preference. No doubt almost 20 years on after they were designed by some guys in Blackpool, there are faster, more comfortable and safer ways to travel. But chances are you wont be disappointed.
Simon
r8black said:
Hi all
Just popped over from the Hsv forum as I've decided I want a cerbera 450
Viewed one recently if anyone knows car black 450 reg s23nta 1998 car cream interior 18" spiders In hitchin
Not to sure what common faults are and what to check really as car seems really good,
Coming from a 6.2 v8 am I going to be disappointed or impressed as tech specs report 3.9 to 62
Is this possibly over estimated
I appreciate any view on this
Stuart
I doubt you will be disappointed with the performance of a Cerbera, much lighter than you are used to and will feel much more nimble. I would expect the Cerb will need more driving to release its full potential compared to what you have now.Just popped over from the Hsv forum as I've decided I want a cerbera 450
Viewed one recently if anyone knows car black 450 reg s23nta 1998 car cream interior 18" spiders In hitchin
Not to sure what common faults are and what to check really as car seems really good,
Coming from a 6.2 v8 am I going to be disappointed or impressed as tech specs report 3.9 to 62
Is this possibly over estimated
I appreciate any view on this
Stuart
Try a few and see, the 3.9sec figure is mostly limited by traction especially at this time of year so be careful when trying.
The Cerbera 4.5 is very very difficult to launch from a standing start. The clutch is quite heavy and the flywheel is very light. For me after owning the car for a long time its still no better than 10% for a good launch.
Most V8's, LS type etc will launch relatively easily in comparison. I doubt you would ever get under 4 seconds without the appropriate sticky rubber. However there are quite a few santa pod times to google on here.
On a track though the Cerb is pretty unbeatable for the amount of fun you'll have. I came off brands hatch last year with actual stomach pain from the amount of laughing I was doing while driving.
Most V8's, LS type etc will launch relatively easily in comparison. I doubt you would ever get under 4 seconds without the appropriate sticky rubber. However there are quite a few santa pod times to google on here.
On a track though the Cerb is pretty unbeatable for the amount of fun you'll have. I came off brands hatch last year with actual stomach pain from the amount of laughing I was doing while driving.
I agree with Julian there. The Cerbera is very quick and unless you're always on hot sticky roads you should not get bored with the performance.
The 0-60 time is quite challenging to get near due to traction limitations and the launch. I think I've got the knack of launching but there's a definate knack to it. It's very easy to just spin wheels or bog/stall.
On fresh Goodyears I find my 4.5 liable to spin wheels pretty much all the way through 1st gear on all but the warmest, driest days. It'll usually put down the power through 2nd gear as the revs build up and break traction again under WOT passing through 50mph where the back end will break out quite violently - you need to be on your toes to catch it and I often find myself involuntarily dipping the clutch to bring it back in. It'll spin wheels with a clumsy gearchange or passing through high revs in 3rd gear too (track or private road) on cold days.
It may not be ultimately as quick as some other cars these days but it's still very quick, and the delivery and driver intervention required when trying to exploit it makes it feel significantly faster and more aggressive than softer high performance cars that just go faster when you press the accelerator.
The 0-60 time is quite challenging to get near due to traction limitations and the launch. I think I've got the knack of launching but there's a definate knack to it. It's very easy to just spin wheels or bog/stall.
On fresh Goodyears I find my 4.5 liable to spin wheels pretty much all the way through 1st gear on all but the warmest, driest days. It'll usually put down the power through 2nd gear as the revs build up and break traction again under WOT passing through 50mph where the back end will break out quite violently - you need to be on your toes to catch it and I often find myself involuntarily dipping the clutch to bring it back in. It'll spin wheels with a clumsy gearchange or passing through high revs in 3rd gear too (track or private road) on cold days.
It may not be ultimately as quick as some other cars these days but it's still very quick, and the delivery and driver intervention required when trying to exploit it makes it feel significantly faster and more aggressive than softer high performance cars that just go faster when you press the accelerator.
Is the 4,5 a better choice
What are the wanted color combinations or is that personal choice the one I drove last night was unmarked outside and interior was as new and everything worked but the beams were stuck on steeringwheel flash button stuck on perhaps
Can't stop thinking about it . Can you see Iobvious rust to chassis in engine Bay Area
What are the wanted color combinations or is that personal choice the one I drove last night was unmarked outside and interior was as new and everything worked but the beams were stuck on steeringwheel flash button stuck on perhaps
Can't stop thinking about it . Can you see Iobvious rust to chassis in engine Bay Area
I have to say though that the Cerb is a good choice because of all the TVRs its the one you would pick for cruising down to the south of france.
On Brands (which is where I've done most of my trackdays) I get large quantities of complaints from owners of tracks cars like caterhams and such. I even had one chap who remembered me from before and decided he would only go on track if I wasn't there. I do try not to drive like a nob, but the characterists of the car frustrate those sort of drivers
The problem comes from the trackday organisers not letting people overtake on bends.
I come out of bend and try to put power down. The steering wheels all over the place holding the back in check. The car beds down and if a caterham is within 100yds of me on the back straight I will overtake it becaue the mid range of the cerb at full chat is quite impressive. I clear a few carlengths which dissapear in the braking zone. The car then becomes a real handful at the bend at the end of the straight, while the caterham driver is right up my chuff by this time wondering what all the drama is about, and isn't allowed to overtake, although he probably could drive round the outside of me with little drama.
At some point during all the curves on the back part of the circuit I move over to let the frustrated caterham overtake, only for the exact same thing to happen on the back straight again.
If he follows me round a circuit he can't use his car properly round the bends and gets frustrated, if I follow him I can't use my car properly on the straights.
The struggle to control a cerb round the corners is pretty hillarious at 9/10. At 10/10 I come off the track.
You can see their point but the only way not to frustrate them is to drive 8/10 on the back straight which obviously affects my enjoyment.
On Brands (which is where I've done most of my trackdays) I get large quantities of complaints from owners of tracks cars like caterhams and such. I even had one chap who remembered me from before and decided he would only go on track if I wasn't there. I do try not to drive like a nob, but the characterists of the car frustrate those sort of drivers
The problem comes from the trackday organisers not letting people overtake on bends.
I come out of bend and try to put power down. The steering wheels all over the place holding the back in check. The car beds down and if a caterham is within 100yds of me on the back straight I will overtake it becaue the mid range of the cerb at full chat is quite impressive. I clear a few carlengths which dissapear in the braking zone. The car then becomes a real handful at the bend at the end of the straight, while the caterham driver is right up my chuff by this time wondering what all the drama is about, and isn't allowed to overtake, although he probably could drive round the outside of me with little drama.
At some point during all the curves on the back part of the circuit I move over to let the frustrated caterham overtake, only for the exact same thing to happen on the back straight again.
If he follows me round a circuit he can't use his car properly round the bends and gets frustrated, if I follow him I can't use my car properly on the straights.
The struggle to control a cerb round the corners is pretty hillarious at 9/10. At 10/10 I come off the track.
You can see their point but the only way not to frustrate them is to drive 8/10 on the back straight which obviously affects my enjoyment.
r8black said:
Is the 4,5 a better choice
What are the wanted color combinations or is that personal choice the one I drove last night was unmarked outside and interior was as new and everything worked but the beams were stuck on steeringwheel flash button stuck on perhaps
Can't stop thinking about it . Can you see Iobvious rust to chassis in engine Bay Area
All the engines make a good Cerbera IMO. I have a 4.5 and like it.What are the wanted color combinations or is that personal choice the one I drove last night was unmarked outside and interior was as new and everything worked but the beams were stuck on steeringwheel flash button stuck on perhaps
Can't stop thinking about it . Can you see Iobvious rust to chassis in engine Bay Area
The lights issue you mention may just be the steering wheel ribbon cable - it's a common thing and relatively cheap and simple to sort.
r8black said:
Is the 4,5 a better choice
What are the wanted color combinations or is that personal choice the one I drove last night was unmarked outside and interior was as new and everything worked but the beams were stuck on steeringwheel flash button stuck on perhaps
Can't stop thinking about it . Can you see Iobvious rust to chassis in engine Bay Area
I take it you liked it then. Good to see a fellow Essex PHer too !!!! Where abouts in Essex are you? If you are local to Wickford, feel free to drop in and take a look at mine and I can show you round some things to look for. Mine's on axle stands with wheels off at the moment so unable to drive it.What are the wanted color combinations or is that personal choice the one I drove last night was unmarked outside and interior was as new and everything worked but the beams were stuck on steeringwheel flash button stuck on perhaps
Can't stop thinking about it . Can you see Iobvious rust to chassis in engine Bay Area
chibbard said:
r8black said:
Is the 4,5 a better choice
What are the wanted color combinations or is that personal choice the one I drove last night was unmarked outside and interior was as new and everything worked but the beams were stuck on steeringwheel flash button stuck on perhaps
Can't stop thinking about it . Can you see Iobvious rust to chassis in engine Bay Area
I take it you liked it then. Good to see a fellow Essex PHer too !!!! Where abouts in Essex are you? If you are local to Wickford, feel free to drop in and take a look at mine and I can show you round some things to look for. Mine's on axle stands with wheels off at the moment so unable to drive it.What are the wanted color combinations or is that personal choice the one I drove last night was unmarked outside and interior was as new and everything worked but the beams were stuck on steeringwheel flash button stuck on perhaps
Can't stop thinking about it . Can you see Iobvious rust to chassis in engine Bay Area
How quick is a VXR8?
My Cerbera 4.5 is not yet remapped and most unfettled 4.5s produce around 360bhp in good repair. It's because the intake hoses are too long and the fuel maps were terrible.
Most 4.5s with short induction will typically get to around 400bhp with a rolling road remap by one of a very small number of experts on the AJP8.
My 4.5 is quicker than my Jag XFR-S with 542bhp and 0-60 in 4.4 seconds. It feels rather a lot faster though because by comparison the Jag just goes faster with throttle (although it's a damn sight more entertaining than the M5 which is really dull at 2-figure speeds).
The actual performance of a Cerbera is not really about numbers. You'll understand when you drive one hard. Although it is very high performance it's also very demanding to drive fast. It's quite amiable when driven gently. Drive hard and it takes no prisoners though. It has a reputation for poor handling which it doesn't deserve, but it will chew you up and spit you into the scenery if you're not on the ball. THAT is what differentiates it from normal cars. I haven't driven a VXR8 but almost all of these high performance saloons are set up to be fairly easy to drive fast, and therefore the performance is easily accessible and gets dull fairly quick.
It takes a long time to feel you can get the most out of a Cerbera, and nobody seems to get bored of them performance-wise. In general it takes more talent than the owner has to use all of its potential.
My Cerbera 4.5 is not yet remapped and most unfettled 4.5s produce around 360bhp in good repair. It's because the intake hoses are too long and the fuel maps were terrible.
Most 4.5s with short induction will typically get to around 400bhp with a rolling road remap by one of a very small number of experts on the AJP8.
My 4.5 is quicker than my Jag XFR-S with 542bhp and 0-60 in 4.4 seconds. It feels rather a lot faster though because by comparison the Jag just goes faster with throttle (although it's a damn sight more entertaining than the M5 which is really dull at 2-figure speeds).
The actual performance of a Cerbera is not really about numbers. You'll understand when you drive one hard. Although it is very high performance it's also very demanding to drive fast. It's quite amiable when driven gently. Drive hard and it takes no prisoners though. It has a reputation for poor handling which it doesn't deserve, but it will chew you up and spit you into the scenery if you're not on the ball. THAT is what differentiates it from normal cars. I haven't driven a VXR8 but almost all of these high performance saloons are set up to be fairly easy to drive fast, and therefore the performance is easily accessible and gets dull fairly quick.
It takes a long time to feel you can get the most out of a Cerbera, and nobody seems to get bored of them performance-wise. In general it takes more talent than the owner has to use all of its potential.
k it I'm gonna buy it tonight
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