Considering a Cerberas, please help..
Discussion
Hi, What should I look for if Considering a Cerbera.
should i look for post 1998? etc,,and pay a bit more, or are the V8 ones better. Or should i check certain things have been done ? Budget 15k-20k --
You hear all sorts of horror stories, but also good ones too,Any ideas , suggestions welcome
should i look for post 1998? etc,,and pay a bit more, or are the V8 ones better. Or should i check certain things have been done ? Budget 15k-20k --
You hear all sorts of horror stories, but also good ones too,Any ideas , suggestions welcome
Hi Paul,
There are so many things to consider, it would be worth having a search through all the archives and the TVR forums first, just to get an idea.
Alot of it is personal preference (colour, wheels, lights) but the considered choices would be the V8 cars (4.2 or 4.5 - real world difference is small, it's really pub bravado that you pay for [and better brakes] on the 4.5). Post 98 means it had a few changes, for the better. Re mileage - find the best car, not the one with the lowest mileage. a 2k mile garage queen may be less better than a 40k mile used example (even though there may be stone chips).
While not wishing to be the barer of bad thoughts...I considered, and seriously looked, at Cerberas for nearly 2 yrs with a budget of around £20 - 23k. For the last 6 months I had the cash ready and waiting, too, so could have bought there and then.
I ended up buying an Elise. Now, for me, the risk of finding a wrong'en, or the worry I'd have every time I drove it was too great. With the Elise I have warranty, I drive it hard with no worries what so ever, and it still puts as big a smile on my face.
That was, of course, my final choice - but the reason I say this is to give you the thought that after looking at it all, it's quite feasible to choose not to, especially on such a budget
However, let me say, good luck
There are so many things to consider, it would be worth having a search through all the archives and the TVR forums first, just to get an idea.
Alot of it is personal preference (colour, wheels, lights) but the considered choices would be the V8 cars (4.2 or 4.5 - real world difference is small, it's really pub bravado that you pay for [and better brakes] on the 4.5). Post 98 means it had a few changes, for the better. Re mileage - find the best car, not the one with the lowest mileage. a 2k mile garage queen may be less better than a 40k mile used example (even though there may be stone chips).
While not wishing to be the barer of bad thoughts...I considered, and seriously looked, at Cerberas for nearly 2 yrs with a budget of around £20 - 23k. For the last 6 months I had the cash ready and waiting, too, so could have bought there and then.
I ended up buying an Elise. Now, for me, the risk of finding a wrong'en, or the worry I'd have every time I drove it was too great. With the Elise I have warranty, I drive it hard with no worries what so ever, and it still puts as big a smile on my face.
That was, of course, my final choice - but the reason I say this is to give you the thought that after looking at it all, it's quite feasible to choose not to, especially on such a budget
However, let me say, good luck
Hello! I've been driving cerberas for the past four years and they've been a constant source of joy and despair - be warned. My current (4.5 2000) is a lot like flying; you just get this incredible sense of effortless power. When they're working well, they're a delight.
My previous 4.2 spent A LOT of time in the shop. The ECU went, the headlight box burned out twice, the steering column persistently leaked, one of the rockers sprung a leak, etc etc
My general take is that even though they spend more time in the shop then certain german alternatives, they're cheaper to fix.
Finally, the 4.2 accelerated much faster than the 4.5, but the 4.5 feels more limitless. Post 2000 is the date you want to shoot for if you've got the cash - the facelifted models command higher prices.
Good luck!
My previous 4.2 spent A LOT of time in the shop. The ECU went, the headlight box burned out twice, the steering column persistently leaked, one of the rockers sprung a leak, etc etc
My general take is that even though they spend more time in the shop then certain german alternatives, they're cheaper to fix.
Finally, the 4.2 accelerated much faster than the 4.5, but the 4.5 feels more limitless. Post 2000 is the date you want to shoot for if you've got the cash - the facelifted models command higher prices.
Good luck!
I agree with TopHat.
Cerbera's are amaizing cars... It's like bieng in love, they bring out the extreames in emotion.
One minute you love them, they have the most involved driving experience out of any road car I have driven... (including porsche (996), ferrari (348,355), lotus(elise) and Morgan(aero, +4, +8))
The next thing you hate them... inevitable repairs and maintenane. Can lead to depression and despair.
But it's true, individual parts and repairs are in general cheeper than almost any other supercar. Morgan aero's for instance have £900 wheels... the spiders are only £180-225.
Major model revision was at 2000 - Notable by facelift. If you get a V8 you wont have the mandatory engine explosions the S6 attracts. (Hence the cheeper sticker price)
For your 18-20K, look for a 98-99 car that has been updated (Later lights / spiders). It's very unlikely you'll find a late V8 for under 20K, you may find S6's but they would not be my choice.
Best of lick hunting....Look at LOTS and LOTS of cars, they are all different. Check for blue smoke out of either exhaust, ratteling of the cams after heat-up cycle, low tyres, rusty coolant pipe clips (nightmare), and general condition of bodywork (check for ripples in the fiberglass). If you can lean underneath try to look at the chassis. less flakey is better.
Cerbera's are amaizing cars... It's like bieng in love, they bring out the extreames in emotion.
One minute you love them, they have the most involved driving experience out of any road car I have driven... (including porsche (996), ferrari (348,355), lotus(elise) and Morgan(aero, +4, +8))
The next thing you hate them... inevitable repairs and maintenane. Can lead to depression and despair.
But it's true, individual parts and repairs are in general cheeper than almost any other supercar. Morgan aero's for instance have £900 wheels... the spiders are only £180-225.
Major model revision was at 2000 - Notable by facelift. If you get a V8 you wont have the mandatory engine explosions the S6 attracts. (Hence the cheeper sticker price)
For your 18-20K, look for a 98-99 car that has been updated (Later lights / spiders). It's very unlikely you'll find a late V8 for under 20K, you may find S6's but they would not be my choice.
Best of lick hunting....Look at LOTS and LOTS of cars, they are all different. Check for blue smoke out of either exhaust, ratteling of the cams after heat-up cycle, low tyres, rusty coolant pipe clips (nightmare), and general condition of bodywork (check for ripples in the fiberglass). If you can lean underneath try to look at the chassis. less flakey is better.
What they said. Do some searches on here as there is a HUGH amount of info available.
Budget £3k a year for servicing/repairs (just in case).
Get a blue speed six (cause they're faster)
There are some top chaps about who specialise in sourcing TVR's to your spec - James Agger being the one I used
and then enjoy
they're truely the most amazing car. Sure some people have some problems - so research lots and go in with your eyes open - and you've found the best place to do that here. But you forgive them everything when they're gleaming in the sun (they all look a million dollats) or your hooning down a country road
Budget £3k a year for servicing/repairs (just in case).
Get a blue speed six (cause they're faster)
There are some top chaps about who specialise in sourcing TVR's to your spec - James Agger being the one I used
and then enjoy
they're truely the most amazing car. Sure some people have some problems - so research lots and go in with your eyes open - and you've found the best place to do that here. But you forgive them everything when they're gleaming in the sun (they all look a million dollats) or your hooning down a country road
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