Just broken my TVR Cherry
Discussion
Hi,
Ok, So Ive been driving a 2 litre Nissan for the past 7 years, and have been looking for a new car for the past 3 months.
Yesterday, I got my new car.
It's a P Reg, Silver Blue Cerbera 4.2 and it absolutly terrifys me.
Ive never driven anything even close to this fast a car, and the sound it makes...
Like I say it's a Silver Blue 4.2 P reg, with 37,000 miles in great condition for £13k...Was that a good deal or do I have mug written across my forehead!?
So what can i expect from life with my Cerbera? Will it start on cold mornings? Can I put it through a car wash? are they really as unreliable as Ive been told? Will I ever have the balls to get above 3000rpm?Any advice for a total TVR beginner would me much appreciated.
Cheers
Ok, So Ive been driving a 2 litre Nissan for the past 7 years, and have been looking for a new car for the past 3 months.
Yesterday, I got my new car.
It's a P Reg, Silver Blue Cerbera 4.2 and it absolutly terrifys me.
Ive never driven anything even close to this fast a car, and the sound it makes...
Like I say it's a Silver Blue 4.2 P reg, with 37,000 miles in great condition for £13k...Was that a good deal or do I have mug written across my forehead!?
So what can i expect from life with my Cerbera? Will it start on cold mornings? Can I put it through a car wash? are they really as unreliable as Ive been told? Will I ever have the balls to get above 3000rpm?Any advice for a total TVR beginner would me much appreciated.
Cheers
You've got to love these cars!!!!!!!!!!albear said:
Like I say it's a Silver Blue 4.2 P reg, with 37,000 miles in great condition for £13k...Was that a good deal or do I have mug written across my forehead!?
So what can i expect from life with my Cerbera? Will it start on cold mornings? Can I put it through a car wash? are they really as unreliable as Ive been told? Will I ever have the balls to get above 3000rpm?Any advice for a total TVR beginner would me much appreciated.
Congratulations. Welcome to the club.
Assuming it's running and it's not obviously knackered then £13K could represent a very good buy indeed. Just remember that these cars ain't cheap to run
It will start on cold mornings but you may find it won't start when extremely hot!
Car wash? Noooo!
Take your time to learn the car and spend a day with www.ridedrive.co.uk
Thanks, appreciate the warm welcome.
Glad to know I havent been totally ripped off. from my very limited mechanical experience It all appeared in order (i.e 4 wheels, moved forwards!)
It really is an amazing car, and Im slowly begining to learn the ins and outs of the vehicle, although it's going to take me a few months to work out its handling capabilities. But Im relativly sensible, so hopefully wont wrap it around a lamppost or small child.
do they have problems running when it's hot? I really am clueless when it comes to these cars
I learnt the hard way today not to park in multi storey carparks! and managed to scrape the bottom of the car at the top of one of the ramps. I then proceded to drive 1mph to the exit with a massive queue of cars behind me. I then couldnt reach the ticket machine, so had to get out the car! nightmare!
My last car was an Automatic...so you can imagine all the fun Im having learning to use a clutch all over again...I only stalled 7 times on the way home yesterday and once today so Im definitly getting better.
How much do you guys think it costs on average to maintain these beasts? Im used to being ripped off by Nissan and spending £300 per tyre but am terrifed that a new clutch setting me back £££££!
Glad to know I havent been totally ripped off. from my very limited mechanical experience It all appeared in order (i.e 4 wheels, moved forwards!)
It really is an amazing car, and Im slowly begining to learn the ins and outs of the vehicle, although it's going to take me a few months to work out its handling capabilities. But Im relativly sensible, so hopefully wont wrap it around a lamppost or small child.
do they have problems running when it's hot? I really am clueless when it comes to these cars
I learnt the hard way today not to park in multi storey carparks! and managed to scrape the bottom of the car at the top of one of the ramps. I then proceded to drive 1mph to the exit with a massive queue of cars behind me. I then couldnt reach the ticket machine, so had to get out the car! nightmare!
My last car was an Automatic...so you can imagine all the fun Im having learning to use a clutch all over again...I only stalled 7 times on the way home yesterday and once today so Im definitly getting better.
How much do you guys think it costs on average to maintain these beasts? Im used to being ripped off by Nissan and spending £300 per tyre but am terrifed that a new clutch setting me back £££££!
DO NOT GO IN A CAR WASH. THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF MY CAR DID AND ENDED UP WITH A £1300 REPAIR BILL!
The washer roller was doing the back of the car and triggered the boot release. Boot got mashed up, electrics got a bit of a clean and the rear end needed some paint.
Well there's quite a few newby 4.2 owners on here now (myself included). I had a couple of stall problems in London last week due to heavy traffic. Mine doesn't seem to like being virtually stationary for 10 minutes or more. Fuel vaporisation I think due to hot under bonnet temps. Apart from that, starts every time, does what I ask it do to. Have done around 1800 miles in 8 weeks and still eager to get up in the morning just to get in the thing.
Scott
The washer roller was doing the back of the car and triggered the boot release. Boot got mashed up, electrics got a bit of a clean and the rear end needed some paint.
Well there's quite a few newby 4.2 owners on here now (myself included). I had a couple of stall problems in London last week due to heavy traffic. Mine doesn't seem to like being virtually stationary for 10 minutes or more. Fuel vaporisation I think due to hot under bonnet temps. Apart from that, starts every time, does what I ask it do to. Have done around 1800 miles in 8 weeks and still eager to get up in the morning just to get in the thing.
Scott
welcome allbear.
The tyres on cerbs are certainly cheaper that £300 each!!
They are cheap to insure!
BUT they are expensive to maintain. Regular use will require £3K pa for repairs and servicing.
But the depreciation will be very very low.
If your £13K car is a good un then you could sell for 15K in a years time.
BIG bills are always a risk but reasonably rare - £6k or £7K pa isnt unheard of.
Find a good indie garage and you will be better off./ less worse off!
Took mine out tonight and it was spinning in 3rd gear! It isnt a good time for revving a cerb.
The tyres on cerbs are certainly cheaper that £300 each!!
They are cheap to insure!
BUT they are expensive to maintain. Regular use will require £3K pa for repairs and servicing.
But the depreciation will be very very low.
If your £13K car is a good un then you could sell for 15K in a years time.
BIG bills are always a risk but reasonably rare - £6k or £7K pa isnt unheard of.
Find a good indie garage and you will be better off./ less worse off!
Took mine out tonight and it was spinning in 3rd gear! It isnt a good time for revving a cerb.
Welcome to the club mate...
LMAO @ the car wash do dar, sure fire way to make your car look like a 5 year old has been washing it with rocks
If the car is looked after you will be fine, you won't get that many BIG bills so long as you keep on top of the little things if that makes sense, 100quid here and there is better than a 5K bill after a year (unlikely but as said before, it can happen)
To get to know the car inside out you should read this forum alot, the guys are more than helpful and know their stuff.... oh and try and fix the car yourself, tis the best way to learn IMHO!
Enjoy the car and please be very careful in this weather even low revs generate loads of torque and problems in these conditions
LMAO @ the car wash do dar, sure fire way to make your car look like a 5 year old has been washing it with rocks
If the car is looked after you will be fine, you won't get that many BIG bills so long as you keep on top of the little things if that makes sense, 100quid here and there is better than a 5K bill after a year (unlikely but as said before, it can happen)
To get to know the car inside out you should read this forum alot, the guys are more than helpful and know their stuff.... oh and try and fix the car yourself, tis the best way to learn IMHO!
Enjoy the car and please be very careful in this weather even low revs generate loads of torque and problems in these conditions
Hello and welcome - please see comments below -
albear said:
Like I say it's a Silver Blue 4.2 P reg, with 37,000 miles in great condition for £13k...Was that a good deal or do I have mug written across my forehead!? THAT SOUNDS A BLOODY GOOD DEAL TO ME
So what can i expect from life with my Cerbera? UPS AND DOWNS
Will it start on cold mornings? NO IT WON'T IF IT HAS BEEN STOOD FOR A FEW DAYS, IF MINE IS ANYTHING TO GO BY - MINE REFUSES TO START UNTIL I HAVE TRICKLE CHARGED THE BATTERY FOR A FEW HOURS, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY APPEARS NOT TO BE FLAT!
Can I put it through a car wash? NO a
re they really as unreliable as Ive been told? NOT REALLY, BUT THEY DO HAVE THEIR MOMENTS
Will I ever have the balls to get above 3000rpm? IT WILL TAKE A WHILE, AND I WOULD'NT ADVISE IT IN THIS WEATHER
Any advice for a total TVR beginner would me much appreciated.
Cheers
Don't explore the handling on a public road, they tend to grip, and then things happen very very fast, and you WILL NOT catch it.. If you every get to even 7-8 tenths of the performance on the public roads, especially in the wet, you are unfortuanetly proably an accident statiistic weighting to happen... in the early months of ownership.
I did the don palmer 'Wetter the better' driving course. Very good this, or something similar to give you the confidence, plus no curbs, trees, other cars to hit when you get it spectacularyly wrong (which is good fun, on the test circuit)
B
I did the don palmer 'Wetter the better' driving course. Very good this, or something similar to give you the confidence, plus no curbs, trees, other cars to hit when you get it spectacularyly wrong (which is good fun, on the test circuit)
B
I was quoted £368 for a full set of tyres for my 4.2 which was running on 16 inch wheels, which was for Toyo T1R's.
IMHO, she'll almost always start when cold, but for goodness sake let her warm up well before opening the throttle. I think the rule of thumb is keep below 3000RPM until everything has heated through.
Find a good Indy to service the car - the dealers are getting more and more expensive and will charge you extra for breathing, at it's getting to the point with the early cars that respected Indy stamps are worth as much, if not more than a main dealer stamp.
Apart from that, I echo the other posts - welcome, enjoy, and be careful!
IMHO, she'll almost always start when cold, but for goodness sake let her warm up well before opening the throttle. I think the rule of thumb is keep below 3000RPM until everything has heated through.
Find a good Indy to service the car - the dealers are getting more and more expensive and will charge you extra for breathing, at it's getting to the point with the early cars that respected Indy stamps are worth as much, if not more than a main dealer stamp.
Apart from that, I echo the other posts - welcome, enjoy, and be careful!
Cheers for all the advice.
I find Forums are the best places to get all the info and advice, even though it does mean that I have to suffer my girlfriend rolling her eyes at me whenever she see's me on one.
No car wash, got it! and will definitly take my time learning the car.
I had to walk past it this morning on the way to work, and all I want to do now is go back home and drive it!
Is it reccomended to always take them to TVR garages or should any good mechanic suffice? I cant imagine they're much different to most cars and infact strike me as quite simple with the lack of computers, Traction, ABS etc.
and really stupid question, but do they have power steering as standard. It's really heavy when parking so I'm geussing not.
Loving the car on the whole, and will try and pick up advice from here.
Still can't quite belive I finally own a Cerbera
I find Forums are the best places to get all the info and advice, even though it does mean that I have to suffer my girlfriend rolling her eyes at me whenever she see's me on one.
No car wash, got it! and will definitly take my time learning the car.
I had to walk past it this morning on the way to work, and all I want to do now is go back home and drive it!
Is it reccomended to always take them to TVR garages or should any good mechanic suffice? I cant imagine they're much different to most cars and infact strike me as quite simple with the lack of computers, Traction, ABS etc.
and really stupid question, but do they have power steering as standard. It's really heavy when parking so I'm geussing not.
Loving the car on the whole, and will try and pick up advice from here.
Still can't quite belive I finally own a Cerbera
albear said:
Cheers for all the advice.
I find Forums are the best places to get all the info and advice, even though it does mean that I have to suffer my girlfriend rolling her eyes at me whenever she see's me on one.
No car wash, got it! and will definitly take my time learning the car.
I had to walk past it this morning on the way to work, and all I want to do now is go back home and drive it!
Is it reccomended to always take them to TVR garages or should any good mechanic suffice? I cant imagine they're much different to most cars and infact strike me as quite simple with the lack of computers, Traction, ABS etc.
and really stupid question, but do they have power steering as standard. It's really heavy when parking so I'm geussing not.
Loving the car on the whole, and will try and pick up advice from here.
Still can't quite belive I finally own a Cerbera
Don't even think about taking it to a EVEN brilliant mechanic, with no TVR experience. Components are components yes, but so much more of whatt you are going to a tvr experience mechanic, is experience on that model car, ie a common fault, that you just don;t know about (lack of model experience) could take many hours to diagnose, for the non model specialist (that apply to most makes of cars,) but I would say particularly applies to cerbera's compare dto griffs/chims, as a bit more complicated than those 2, plus, even higher performance.. A lot of the service schedule is checking things, most 'mechanics' these day just change the oil, filters, etc, modern non-performance cars do not have a 7 hour service schedule (which TVR's need to check everything, properly)
B
Gazza speaks much sense. Bite the bullet and get it checked out now. You may find it's loads down on power or something and you wouldn't want to miss out.
You may prevent some expensive jobs later on too if you pre-empt issues now.
Specialists only - these may be simple in some respects but the quirkiness of TVRs requires someone with experience if you're going to get problems fixed quickly and cost effectively.
You may prevent some expensive jobs later on too if you pre-empt issues now.
Specialists only - these may be simple in some respects but the quirkiness of TVRs requires someone with experience if you're going to get problems fixed quickly and cost effectively.
yeah fair enough, I can see your point about using a specialist.
The guy I bought it from is a Private TVR dealer. He seemed a really safe guy who had it Serviced, Tuned and MOT'd the month before I bought it. I've got the full Service History and it appears to have been very well looked after.
He's given me the name of the TVR garage to use in Edmonton, so I figured I'd be safe for a few months, but may be worth getting someone to check out the car sooner rather than later. Although I live in hatfield so if I can find one even closer the better.
I can't believe they stopped making them, I should think this means they hold their price pretty well if you've got a good model.
The guy I bought it from is a Private TVR dealer. He seemed a really safe guy who had it Serviced, Tuned and MOT'd the month before I bought it. I've got the full Service History and it appears to have been very well looked after.
He's given me the name of the TVR garage to use in Edmonton, so I figured I'd be safe for a few months, but may be worth getting someone to check out the car sooner rather than later. Although I live in hatfield so if I can find one even closer the better.
I can't believe they stopped making them, I should think this means they hold their price pretty well if you've got a good model.
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