Discussion
Hello all,
I have today placed my deposit for a 4.5 light weight RR. I have been driving a Chimera for the last 18 monthes or so, and while I have had some of my best motoring memories with this car I feel now is the time for something with a bit more omph.
The cerbera has allways struck me as an astounding car, both looks wise and the recent articals in sprint have convinced me that this is the next TVR I want to own.
Any tips stuff to look out for would be much appreciated. Thanks ,oh will it realy do 200+
its a 2001 4.5 LW RR in white Pearl, and boy does it look sound and drive well.
Nick.
I have today placed my deposit for a 4.5 light weight RR. I have been driving a Chimera for the last 18 monthes or so, and while I have had some of my best motoring memories with this car I feel now is the time for something with a bit more omph.
The cerbera has allways struck me as an astounding car, both looks wise and the recent articals in sprint have convinced me that this is the next TVR I want to own.
Any tips stuff to look out for would be much appreciated. Thanks ,oh will it realy do 200+
its a 2001 4.5 LW RR in white Pearl, and boy does it look sound and drive well.
Nick.
Good choice of car, this happened to me when I collected mine, and what I was told - hope it's not all B***S***. When you did the test drive, chances are you did it on a fairly flat road to get the best experience of the acceleration etc. If you've got the spiders (you should have) make sure you take it over some undulating road sufaces and around a tight roundabout. Check that the rear tyres do not foul the bodywork, if they do, chances are you have got the wrong rims as they come off of a Tuscan. You should have four front rims and not 2 front and 2 rear, the offsets are slightly different - apparantly the front give better clearance. Dealer should be able to sought out - mine did immediately.
>> Edited by cerbagriff on Thursday 14th April 15:28
>> Edited by cerbagriff on Thursday 14th April 15:29
>> Edited by cerbagriff on Thursday 14th April 15:28
>> Edited by cerbagriff on Thursday 14th April 15:29
Thanks,
I drove it today, didn't give it too much stick I guess it will be a while before I get aquainted with the full power curve.
The steering lock is, it felt only about one turn from lock to lock, and the starting procedure I realy like that, one other thing a switch for 95 or 98 RON fuel, never seen that before. Ah I feel some summer fun coming on. Do you think it would be wise to put the garage door opener from the Chim onto it?
I did corner fairly hard on the test run and it all felt tight, it broke traction under hardish acceleration but nothing to wory about.
The dealership has known the car from new, and strangly enough Dave from Casoli used to own it, He is currently doing my 999 for me, so I allready know a bit about it.
Thanks for the advice.
Nick
>> Edited by Nickccc on Thursday 14th April 15:38
I drove it today, didn't give it too much stick I guess it will be a while before I get aquainted with the full power curve.
The steering lock is, it felt only about one turn from lock to lock, and the starting procedure I realy like that, one other thing a switch for 95 or 98 RON fuel, never seen that before. Ah I feel some summer fun coming on. Do you think it would be wise to put the garage door opener from the Chim onto it?
I did corner fairly hard on the test run and it all felt tight, it broke traction under hardish acceleration but nothing to wory about.
The dealership has known the car from new, and strangly enough Dave from Casoli used to own it, He is currently doing my 999 for me, so I allready know a bit about it.
Thanks for the advice.
Nick
>> Edited by Nickccc on Thursday 14th April 15:38
The spiders advice isnt quite accurate. The later cerbs didnt have just fronts from a tuscan (IMHO).
What is a 999?
What is Casoli - is that an oild for frying food?
The switch is the only obvious sign it is a RR (come on brush up on your TVRs).
Nickccc said:
one other thing a switch for 95 or 98 RON fuel, never seen that before. .....The dealership has known the car from new, and strangly enough Dave from Casoli used to own it, He is currently doing my 999 for me, so I allready know a bit about it.
Thanks for the advice. >> Edited by Nickccc on Thursday 14th April 15:38
What is a 999?
What is Casoli - is that an oild for frying food?
The switch is the only obvious sign it is a RR (come on brush up on your TVRs).
www.casoli.co.uk/
A 999 is a Ducati sports bike, Casoli as you will see have some amazing bikes and bits for MV Augusta and Ducati.
I will be learning all the little switches, buttons and habits of the Cerbera over the coming summer (bit like a new girl friend then).
Andora, now that would be a great drive,,, but where do the skis and boards go?
Nick
A 999 is a Ducati sports bike, Casoli as you will see have some amazing bikes and bits for MV Augusta and Ducati.
I will be learning all the little switches, buttons and habits of the Cerbera over the coming summer (bit like a new girl friend then).
Andora, now that would be a great drive,,, but where do the skis and boards go?
Nick
I guess thats the one from the TVR Centre, I looked at that the other day, looks nice. I also have an RR and must be near you as I'm round the corner from Casoli (nice looking bike shop, shame they only do Italian!)
The button changes the fuel mapping and ignition timing so you can run on 95 if you have to, but loosing a few BHP.
Mine did an indicated 180 easily, I ran out of balls before the car.
Enjoy
The button changes the fuel mapping and ignition timing so you can run on 95 if you have to, but loosing a few BHP.
Mine did an indicated 180 easily, I ran out of balls before the car.
EnjoyYeah it is the one from Barnet,,
I have found the chaps no. on here and know they are brokering it for him, but to be honest the deal I am getting is I think worth that little bit more.
Waranty, tax, MOT, and a service plus hopefully changing the garage door opener from my Chimera onto it, wonder how there fixed for a full tank of optimax.
Once I have it if there are any local meets expect to see it there.
Nick.
I have found the chaps no. on here and know they are brokering it for him, but to be honest the deal I am getting is I think worth that little bit more.
Waranty, tax, MOT, and a service plus hopefully changing the garage door opener from my Chimera onto it, wonder how there fixed for a full tank of optimax.
Once I have it if there are any local meets expect to see it there.
Nick.
Congrats!! Ace choice. This is the ultimate generation of Cerberas. I have an April 2001LW/RR that replaced a '97 4.2. Enjoyed every minute in more ways than one.....
let me pass on some basics:
Lightweight? Well not exactly - what the factory did was to use some of the new-fangled 'jaycloth' tissue they the new Tuscan range used, instead of 100% glassfibre on the bonnet, doors and boot lid. It is slightly lighter but the main thing is it is better in crash situations. However some early cars had rattles in the doors and some less than optimal panel fits.
Wheels: Most/many 4.5/4.2 Cerberas scrape their rear tyres over fast/power-on bumps. The rear suspenders on your car have been fine-tuned by the factory over the years and feature harder springs and dampers and thicker roll bar than prior models. It is set for 8.5J rims with 255 tyres and 'Cerbera' offset. Given the vagueries of GRP production this may cause graunching on some cars. If you have a real problem with this, it is better to replace the std dampers with ones with adjustable platforms (and generally stiffen the springing/damping at the same time - 325lbs-350lbs springs and Nitrons are the ral trick) and setting the ride height correctly rather than bothering with Tuscan wheels. This will stop bump-graunch except in extremis.
Front Tyres/Steering: The factory reworked the geometry and suspension for your car as well. However the steering can still be a bit sharp and if you want to soften it some more, fit 235 tyres instead of 225. The wider tread gives greater flex on the 8.5J rims - note: same rims as rears which have 255's. Its not really worth going to 40% ratio tyres as then it is possible to feel the extra flex in sharp corners and it doesn't really work in terms of 'comfort'.
In terms of engine what you have that is different to std 4.5 is: High compression head with gas-flowed ports, bigger injectors and more aggressive ECU mapping. Should produce somewhere around 400 bhp on the rolling road. Sorry - factory bhps are not 'in car' and so you won't get the advertised 440bhp, unless on a very rose-tinted rolling road! But - the engine power delivery is a hell of a lot better than a std 4.5 which is somewhat lethargic - don't belive the marketing blurb.
The 95/98 button: the RR's ECU is set-up for high-octane petrol (because of the higher compression) and is much more aggressive (ie favours power rather than economy/greenery). However if you are cruising gently across Europe and using almost zero throttle (as if!) then the you can use 95 petrol as long as you 'press the button'..... But.... When you press the button the ECU does not change fuelling, all it does is add a 2 degree retard to the ignition timing. - you are still running a 4.5 litre high-compression engine and if you use anywhere near full throttle under more than average load with 95 octane you are very likely to get detonation - eg. being a bit exuberant at traffic lights. This will quickly wreck your engine - BE WARNED.
Finally: Tyre pressures are important - check regularly or you will start complaining. Watch the oil level, check weekly/daily - the wet sump is sensitive to levels and the engine runs under much higher levels of strain than 'normal' cars. I shouldn't have to say this but... Look after the Leather - every week!
ENJOY!!!!!
Cerbhead
let me pass on some basics:
Lightweight? Well not exactly - what the factory did was to use some of the new-fangled 'jaycloth' tissue they the new Tuscan range used, instead of 100% glassfibre on the bonnet, doors and boot lid. It is slightly lighter but the main thing is it is better in crash situations. However some early cars had rattles in the doors and some less than optimal panel fits.
Wheels: Most/many 4.5/4.2 Cerberas scrape their rear tyres over fast/power-on bumps. The rear suspenders on your car have been fine-tuned by the factory over the years and feature harder springs and dampers and thicker roll bar than prior models. It is set for 8.5J rims with 255 tyres and 'Cerbera' offset. Given the vagueries of GRP production this may cause graunching on some cars. If you have a real problem with this, it is better to replace the std dampers with ones with adjustable platforms (and generally stiffen the springing/damping at the same time - 325lbs-350lbs springs and Nitrons are the ral trick) and setting the ride height correctly rather than bothering with Tuscan wheels. This will stop bump-graunch except in extremis.
Front Tyres/Steering: The factory reworked the geometry and suspension for your car as well. However the steering can still be a bit sharp and if you want to soften it some more, fit 235 tyres instead of 225. The wider tread gives greater flex on the 8.5J rims - note: same rims as rears which have 255's. Its not really worth going to 40% ratio tyres as then it is possible to feel the extra flex in sharp corners and it doesn't really work in terms of 'comfort'.
In terms of engine what you have that is different to std 4.5 is: High compression head with gas-flowed ports, bigger injectors and more aggressive ECU mapping. Should produce somewhere around 400 bhp on the rolling road. Sorry - factory bhps are not 'in car' and so you won't get the advertised 440bhp, unless on a very rose-tinted rolling road! But - the engine power delivery is a hell of a lot better than a std 4.5 which is somewhat lethargic - don't belive the marketing blurb.
The 95/98 button: the RR's ECU is set-up for high-octane petrol (because of the higher compression) and is much more aggressive (ie favours power rather than economy/greenery). However if you are cruising gently across Europe and using almost zero throttle (as if!) then the you can use 95 petrol as long as you 'press the button'..... But.... When you press the button the ECU does not change fuelling, all it does is add a 2 degree retard to the ignition timing. - you are still running a 4.5 litre high-compression engine and if you use anywhere near full throttle under more than average load with 95 octane you are very likely to get detonation - eg. being a bit exuberant at traffic lights. This will quickly wreck your engine - BE WARNED.
Finally: Tyre pressures are important - check regularly or you will start complaining. Watch the oil level, check weekly/daily - the wet sump is sensitive to levels and the engine runs under much higher levels of strain than 'normal' cars. I shouldn't have to say this but... Look after the Leather - every week!
ENJOY!!!!!
Cerbhead
Cheers cerbhead, couldn't have asked for a better overview of the car.
I have owned the Chimera for a while now and understand how much extra attention the cerb will require. I would like to think I have a certain degree of mechanical sympathy and understanding so will be treating it with the respect it deserves.
I know how lucky I am to be able to aquire such a car.
Obviously I will be taking as much care with general cleaning ect, it used to take four hours to get the Chim into A1 condition and there seems to be a bit more leather and bodywork with regards the cerb,
I have owned the Chimera for a while now and understand how much extra attention the cerb will require. I would like to think I have a certain degree of mechanical sympathy and understanding so will be treating it with the respect it deserves.
I know how lucky I am to be able to aquire such a car.
Obviously I will be taking as much care with general cleaning ect, it used to take four hours to get the Chim into A1 condition and there seems to be a bit more leather and bodywork with regards the cerb,
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