Hello from a dreamer soon to be owner! :)
Discussion
Good afternoon all! Just decided to say my first hello here after spending a few days reading through the TVR forums. Must say its very informative reading, not come across a community like this since the old 300zx.co.uk days! :)
Im certain I've made my mind up that a cerbera is the car for me, spent the last 5 years flushing huge amounts of money down the drain on a selection of cars trying to turn them into a proper racer, 300zx and E36 M3 being the worst offenders, decided its the time to get something really exotic, an F360 being abit out of my price range the Cerbera seems the ideal car for me! (plus the back seat will be handy!)
I've already started my hunt for a good car but I can see it taking it while, I'm probably going to go for the 4.2, the small difference in performance doesnt bother me that much and there seem to be a lot more to choose from hence better odds of finding a good'un. Not too fussed on whether its a pre or post facelift model either as they both look fantastic.
One thing I was hoping you could help me with is a bit of wacky logic i have been working with over the last couple of weeks
Its about high mileage cars, I've always aimed to get cars with the lowest mileage possible but with the "patchy" reliability and build quality of TVRs I was toying with the idea of getting something with higher mileage, my logic is thus, If the car has done 10k miles in 5 years its quite possible that one of the main reasons for this is that it's a complete lemon and spends most of its time off the road, however if the owner had managed to rack up 50-60k in a few years then it stands to reason that it works most of the time! :) stupid I know but what do you think? plus if I buy a 50k miles + car I can afford to keep the M3 as well! :)
Let me know what you think as Im hoping to have a bonus burning a hole in my pocket very soon!
Cheers
Dave
Im certain I've made my mind up that a cerbera is the car for me, spent the last 5 years flushing huge amounts of money down the drain on a selection of cars trying to turn them into a proper racer, 300zx and E36 M3 being the worst offenders, decided its the time to get something really exotic, an F360 being abit out of my price range the Cerbera seems the ideal car for me! (plus the back seat will be handy!)
I've already started my hunt for a good car but I can see it taking it while, I'm probably going to go for the 4.2, the small difference in performance doesnt bother me that much and there seem to be a lot more to choose from hence better odds of finding a good'un. Not too fussed on whether its a pre or post facelift model either as they both look fantastic.
One thing I was hoping you could help me with is a bit of wacky logic i have been working with over the last couple of weeks
Its about high mileage cars, I've always aimed to get cars with the lowest mileage possible but with the "patchy" reliability and build quality of TVRs I was toying with the idea of getting something with higher mileage, my logic is thus, If the car has done 10k miles in 5 years its quite possible that one of the main reasons for this is that it's a complete lemon and spends most of its time off the road, however if the owner had managed to rack up 50-60k in a few years then it stands to reason that it works most of the time! :) stupid I know but what do you think? plus if I buy a 50k miles + car I can afford to keep the M3 as well! :)
Let me know what you think as Im hoping to have a bonus burning a hole in my pocket very soon!
Cheers
Dave
Hi Dave,
I used to be a regular poster on 300zx.co.uk.
Still have my Z32, couldn't bear to part with it, so it's my 'back-up' these days, for when the Cerbera lets me down. Which, touch wood, it hasn't done yet!! That's tempting fate, wonder if I shouldn't have said that.
There aren't many Cerberas that have done gallactic mileages from what I've gleaned, but as you say they do seem to benefit from being driven, bits sieze, and perish if the cars are just left standing, so persoanlly I'd rather get a good used example.
The 4.2 - 4.5 debate goes on, it seems to be that a 4.5 means you've got more bragging power in the pub and more tuning capability, but a good 4.2 seems to be about as quick as a standard 4.5, but as all these cars are hand built they seem to vary hugely from car to car, I think teh best advise is get out there and try driving some.
Good luck
Tim
PS: what were you called on 300zx.co.uk?
>> Edited by TT Tim on Thursday 30th June 14:58
I used to be a regular poster on 300zx.co.uk.
Still have my Z32, couldn't bear to part with it, so it's my 'back-up' these days, for when the Cerbera lets me down. Which, touch wood, it hasn't done yet!! That's tempting fate, wonder if I shouldn't have said that.
There aren't many Cerberas that have done gallactic mileages from what I've gleaned, but as you say they do seem to benefit from being driven, bits sieze, and perish if the cars are just left standing, so persoanlly I'd rather get a good used example.
The 4.2 - 4.5 debate goes on, it seems to be that a 4.5 means you've got more bragging power in the pub and more tuning capability, but a good 4.2 seems to be about as quick as a standard 4.5, but as all these cars are hand built they seem to vary hugely from car to car, I think teh best advise is get out there and try driving some.
Good luck
Tim
PS: what were you called on 300zx.co.uk?
>> Edited by TT Tim on Thursday 30th June 14:58
Welcome mate 
You'll only ever look back, when using the rear view mirror. Its where the rest of the world will be after purchasing. Its more fun than anything else out there, and will probably be the most automotive fun you've ever had!
re: milage, aim low for longlivety but buy one thats been driven regularly. With 4.2 prices being what they are, you should be able to snap up a good one
You'll only ever look back, when using the rear view mirror. Its where the rest of the world will be after purchasing. Its more fun than anything else out there, and will probably be the most automotive fun you've ever had! re: milage, aim low for longlivety but buy one thats been driven regularly. With 4.2 prices being what they are, you should be able to snap up a good one
When i was looking for one, i went for something with mileage not too high and not too low, say 20-30k. Around 5k+ miles per year suggests to me that for such a car (ie not your daily runaround) it has been sufficiently used, tried and tested.
Good luck with the search, and remember the yellow ones are faster
Good luck with the search, and remember the yellow ones are faster
gbbird said:
When i was looking for one, i went for something with mileage not too high and not too low, say 20-30k. Around 5k+ miles per year suggests to me that for such a car (ie not your daily runaround) it has been sufficiently used, tried and tested.
Good luck with the search, and remember the yellow ones are faster
Another angle... why go for a 50k miler when there are good lower milers with less wear and tear out there.
I bought an 18k miler (1998) this year, and it had its share of problems. All sortable, but many wouldnt have happened to a well driven car. The same happened with my last TVR, so it does make sense to find one thats been well driven.
Cool, Sounds like I'm not talking complete rubbish about getting one thats been used a bit! fingers crossed I will be able to take a few days of work soon to travel around the country looking at a few cars and getting a better feel for them. This certainly isnt going to be a buy the first one I see investment!
For the guys that sent me info about the cars they are selling, thanks, especially greenie, yours looks like a stunner. Expect me to get in touch soon.
Hi TT, I seem to remember you from the 300zx forum, I know what you mean about the old zed, I missed mine within a week of selling her, something that really grabs you once you've driven those cars for a while. I was davido140 on there too, not been there for a few months though. The old zed cost me 11 grand in 8 months then I realised it was going to cost another 5 to get her to where I really wanted so I cut my losses and moved on, hence Im doing a LOT more research before getting my cerbera!!
3.9 / 4.2 to 60, both damn quick in my book, there's not going to be much that can touch 4.2 out there, certainly nobody in my local so I wont need the extra pub bragging rights of the 4.5!
I'll let you know how I get on, and thanks for the welcome!
For the guys that sent me info about the cars they are selling, thanks, especially greenie, yours looks like a stunner. Expect me to get in touch soon.
Hi TT, I seem to remember you from the 300zx forum, I know what you mean about the old zed, I missed mine within a week of selling her, something that really grabs you once you've driven those cars for a while. I was davido140 on there too, not been there for a few months though. The old zed cost me 11 grand in 8 months then I realised it was going to cost another 5 to get her to where I really wanted so I cut my losses and moved on, hence Im doing a LOT more research before getting my cerbera!!
3.9 / 4.2 to 60, both damn quick in my book, there's not going to be much that can touch 4.2 out there, certainly nobody in my local so I wont need the extra pub bragging rights of the 4.5!
I'll let you know how I get on, and thanks for the welcome!
Hmm, money swallowing Zeds - I was lucky mine was, and still is, a very reliable example, having covered 45K miles since I imported it back in 2001, with only minimal expense. I haven't been on 300zx.co.uk, for a long time - probabally over a year, just turned into a juvenile fight club for a while.
If you thought the Zed was expensive if things go wrong then the Cerb' will horrorfy you, talk of a basic engine rebuild costing £4.5K for a start, and clutches only lasting 30K miles at £1.5K a pop.
Buy wisely and you'll have a grin on your face everytime you get in the car - I do!!
Have fun
If you thought the Zed was expensive if things go wrong then the Cerb' will horrorfy you, talk of a basic engine rebuild costing £4.5K for a start, and clutches only lasting 30K miles at £1.5K a pop.
Buy wisely and you'll have a grin on your face everytime you get in the car - I do!!
Have fun
It wasnt so much the cost of things going wrong on the zed, more the frequency!! seems to be much the same ball game with the cerbera, some good some bad...
because it was so cheap I bought the first zed I looked at, will be shopping around for a while before I choose a cerbera.
I see from here that a few people are fitting or thinking of fitting yank v8's into the cerbs, will be very interesting to see how they turn out, both performance wise and I'm curious to see how they sound too!
anyway, im off to prague for a long weekend stag do now! you never know I may end up importing an eastern european woman, that'll scupper the plans for the cerbera.
because it was so cheap I bought the first zed I looked at, will be shopping around for a while before I choose a cerbera.
I see from here that a few people are fitting or thinking of fitting yank v8's into the cerbs, will be very interesting to see how they turn out, both performance wise and I'm curious to see how they sound too!
anyway, im off to prague for a long weekend stag do now! you never know I may end up importing an eastern european woman, that'll scupper the plans for the cerbera.
davido140 said:
For the guys that sent me info about the cars they are selling, thanks, especially greenie, yours looks like a stunner. Expect me to get in touch soon.
What this old thing
www.pistonheads.com/sales/44631.htm
She is very nice you're right. Look forward to hearing from you.
Oi Greenie, thats a bit cheeky, I prefer the look of this one!
www.pistonheads.com/sales/44832.htm
;D
www.pistonheads.com/sales/44832.htm
;D
Hello! Good to have you on board. About four months back I went from a 4.2 to a 4.5, so may be able to shed some light. The 4.2 was INCREDIBLY quick off the mark. As long as the tyres found purchase (I once spun the wheels at 55 mph), it was like being shot out of a catapult. The 4.5 doesn't have the same zoom, but then it just keeps on accelerating and accelerating and accelerating etc etc etc - my mate at Silverstone seconded this idea about more torque from the 4.2. Having said that, the cars are intensely idiosyncratic, so these are rough guides at best.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Rich25 said:
Oi Greenie, thats a bit cheeky, I prefer the look of this one!
www.pistonheads.com/sales/44832.htm
;D
No, no I think you'll find mine has the best throttle response, delivery and soundtrack of any Cerbera you will have driven!
Besides Cherry what sort of colour is that for a Cerbera. That's a yogurt not a colour!!
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