not fair, been put off a cerb
Discussion
have done a little research into buying a cerb and the usual things crop up: expense, engine choice, luck in buying a decent reliable cerb, not really an everyday everything car etc etc
and i've almost come to the conclusion that as a replacement for my TT (and the Griff that i currently also own) the cerb will most likely not be suitable.
my driving at the moment mostly consists of averagely 6 mile journeys (done 8000 miles in 10 months), but when i finish my postgraduate uni course i imagine the commute to a job will mean weekday journeys are even shorter.
at weekends, i've started taking the griff into the country (only had her a short time) and love the thrill of blasting around beautiful parts of the UK, making evry man and his dog spin round to catch a glimpse. the eurohoon idea is also really tempting, i imagine they are stunning trips and lots of fun.
my experience with the griff had made me think: i cant really afford to run two cars forever so why not make the MAIN car a TVR? the cerb has always been a total favourite (griff just behind) since childhood and i tend to prefer coupes as non-summer, 9 months out of 12 cars.
but in truth, can the cerb really replace the day-to-day reliability of a TT (with which i've had not ONE single problem)?
i love the britishness of the cerb, the noise, the swooping lines, everything about it (i realise it would be a sh1t to park but better than my non-PAS griff
) but do its flaws (MPG, mechanical foibles, service cost, reluctance to do short journeys) mean i should look elsewhere? 
and i've almost come to the conclusion that as a replacement for my TT (and the Griff that i currently also own) the cerb will most likely not be suitable.
my driving at the moment mostly consists of averagely 6 mile journeys (done 8000 miles in 10 months), but when i finish my postgraduate uni course i imagine the commute to a job will mean weekday journeys are even shorter.
at weekends, i've started taking the griff into the country (only had her a short time) and love the thrill of blasting around beautiful parts of the UK, making evry man and his dog spin round to catch a glimpse. the eurohoon idea is also really tempting, i imagine they are stunning trips and lots of fun.
my experience with the griff had made me think: i cant really afford to run two cars forever so why not make the MAIN car a TVR? the cerb has always been a total favourite (griff just behind) since childhood and i tend to prefer coupes as non-summer, 9 months out of 12 cars.
but in truth, can the cerb really replace the day-to-day reliability of a TT (with which i've had not ONE single problem)?
i love the britishness of the cerb, the noise, the swooping lines, everything about it (i realise it would be a sh1t to park but better than my non-PAS griff
) but do its flaws (MPG, mechanical foibles, service cost, reluctance to do short journeys) mean i should look elsewhere? YOU'LL GET LOTS OF DIFFERENT AND LOTS OF BIASED ANSWERS ON HERE. (doah! capslock!) But why not try it and see for yourself? mines been very reliable in the 6 months ive owned it, and ive just done a 350+miles round trip in mine this weekend inc lots of town driving too, and it behaved very nicely!
>> Edited by Toady1 on Wednesday 3rd May 13:18
>> Edited by Toady1 on Wednesday 3rd May 13:18
Sounds ilke it's not the car for you ..
had you posted all that and said "but i still want one, it's the best car ever and i can put up with it breaking" then that'd be great .. but you posted an unhappy smiley which means you're not the sort of owner that has unconditional forgiveness .. on balance i'd say the cerbie isn't for you .. it's the same reason I don't own one .. I just couldn't do what I can in my S in a cerbera .. ie abuse it all the time and still be reliable and cost me nothing in real terms to run. A cerbie would cost me too much money and too much down-time ..
had you posted all that and said "but i still want one, it's the best car ever and i can put up with it breaking" then that'd be great .. but you posted an unhappy smiley which means you're not the sort of owner that has unconditional forgiveness .. on balance i'd say the cerbie isn't for you .. it's the same reason I don't own one .. I just couldn't do what I can in my S in a cerbera .. ie abuse it all the time and still be reliable and cost me nothing in real terms to run. A cerbie would cost me too much money and too much down-time ..
g-boy said:
i cant really afford to run two cars forever so why not make the MAIN car a TVR?
This is the bit that worries me, by all means run a Cerb everyday because you want to, but I would advise against it if running costs was one of the factors in the decision to trim down to one car. There is every chance that once you factor in everything, the costs of running 2 cars can still be far less than running 1. I look at it as division of funds, if you want to change the Griff to a Cerb then definitely do it as they are immense, however balance the pot by then downtrading the daily driver from your TT to something basic cheap and reliable and therefore justify the higher costs on the other side.
what tempted me was a beautiful green cerb on ebay. i used it as a sort of barometer. it is still under £10k and most 97's go for around £13-14k. However, i dont think it has had a rebuild as of yet, and a history of 5 previous owners worries me somewhat. so with a rebuild (£1.5k) you're still looking at a relative bargain. If it doesn't need one you're talking a great bargain. only on this sort of budget could i afford the cerb as my TT will fetch around £13k.
what are the chances that a cerb wont need a rebuild?
am i best looking for one with a fuller history and definite proof of a rebuild at the very top end of my budget at £14k? will this necessarily guarantee less outlay in the first few years of ownership?
what are the chances that a cerb wont need a rebuild?
am i best looking for one with a fuller history and definite proof of a rebuild at the very top end of my budget at £14k? will this necessarily guarantee less outlay in the first few years of ownership?
gbbird said:
In short - No you shouldn't look elsewhere. Get one and try it - you can always sell if it turns out not to be the right choice for you
the lure of TVR ownership is so incredible. i dont think any other marque quite hits you so square in the heart (and the pants). >> Edited by g-boy on Tuesday 2nd May 13:50
In my opinion - Don't buy a Cerb to use as your everyday car - "Touchingcloth" gave the best advice. If you really want one, then sell the TT and get a cheap old Jap as your main runaround, and use the Cerb occasionally.
I've got a good one, and just had a main service and new shocks fitted - £2500.00 !! I had 2 Chimaeras before the Cerb, and the Cerb is easy twice as expensive to run. I still love it, but don't think I will keep it for ever, it's a constant money drain, and that £2.5k service could have taken me and the wife on a Holiday to Thailand for 2 weeks !! Hmmmmm, on 2nd thoughts I think I'll keep the Cerb! Dont get one unless you absolutely love them, but drive a few first, they are totally different to Griffs and Chims.
>> Edited by jensena on Tuesday 2nd May 14:00
I've got a good one, and just had a main service and new shocks fitted - £2500.00 !! I had 2 Chimaeras before the Cerb, and the Cerb is easy twice as expensive to run. I still love it, but don't think I will keep it for ever, it's a constant money drain, and that £2.5k service could have taken me and the wife on a Holiday to Thailand for 2 weeks !! Hmmmmm, on 2nd thoughts I think I'll keep the Cerb! Dont get one unless you absolutely love them, but drive a few first, they are totally different to Griffs and Chims.
>> Edited by jensena on Tuesday 2nd May 14:00
jensena said:
In my opinion - Don't buy a Cerb to use as your everyday car - "Touchingcloth" gave the best advice. If you really want one, then sell the TT and get a cheap old Jap as your main runaround, and use the Cerb occasionally.
I've got a good one, and just had a main service and new shocks fitted - £2500.00 !! I had 2 Chimaeras before the Cerb, and the Cerb is easy twice as expensive to run. I still love it, but don't think I will keep it for ever, it's a constant money drain, and that £2.5k service could have taken me and the wife on a Holiday to Thailand for 2 weeks !! Hmmmmm, on 2nd thoughts I think I'll keep the Cerb! Dont get one unless you absolutely love them, but drive a few first, they are totally different to Griffs and Chims.
>> Edited by jensena on Tuesday 2nd May 14:00
that is almost unbelievable! £2500
is that main delaer prices? roughly £2000 for shocks? that is ferrari prices! i do have a fairly local indie dealer who's rates are really good. my griff is there now.
Hi g-boy,
May i just add my cerb, a 96 4.2 is used daily, my commute to work and back is only 15 miles round trip and it behaves wonderful, unlike my left leg in traffic.
In MHO it would prob cost me more to run if i left it sat around as a sunday toy, they just have to be used on a very regular basis to keep the gremlins a bay.
Sonny
May i just add my cerb, a 96 4.2 is used daily, my commute to work and back is only 15 miles round trip and it behaves wonderful, unlike my left leg in traffic.
In MHO it would prob cost me more to run if i left it sat around as a sunday toy, they just have to be used on a very regular basis to keep the gremlins a bay.
Sonny
If you can own one and work on the basis that it WILL let you down at some point and be prepared for that then get one. MIne was reliable as an every day car for 5 months but I had to get my hands dirty occasionally and be prepared to put some time into it.
The head gasket failure that I experienced recently is my fault so I wouldn't blame that on the car.
Whatever decision you make, you will end up wishing you made the opposite one!
The head gasket failure that I experienced recently is my fault so I wouldn't blame that on the car.
Whatever decision you make, you will end up wishing you made the opposite one!
sonnylad said:
Hi g-boy,
May i just add my cerb, a 96 4.2 is used daily, my commute to work and back is only 15 miles round trip and it behaves wonderful, unlike my left leg in traffic.
In MHO it would prob cost me more to run if i left it sat around as a sunday toy, they just have to be used on a very regular basis to keep the gremlins a bay.
Sonny
sounds like you picked a good un! looks very nice by the way. what would you estimate to be your running costs so far?
I've run a 4.5 99 (T) for 4 years as effectively my only car (the wife has one but you could argue that was a technicality) the Cerbie had 5 previous owners and has never let me down although servicing by a good indie is essential IMO. Having said that stuff does need doing to keep them going. I've needed:
clutch (got to the indie and it gave up as he reversed it in - so didn't let me down)
gearbox rebuild (stuck in 4th but drove 20 miles home ok)
nitrons & springs (upgrade so not really maintenance but you know you would)
starter motor (replaced as soon as it started making a noise)
power steering pump (ditto)
discs
pads (twice)
manifolds (cracked)
The wagon has now done the best part of 40K
I think that a £2K per annum service budget is reasonable but can vary from £500 to £4000 each year depending on what breaks. In my experience something will but of you keep on top of it and do the stuff that needs doing when you notice it then it won't let you down and you don't notice the money when you've got such a great car.
Frankly nothing else compares - anthing with similar performance / style / wow will cost you at least twice as much in depreciation - a cerbie gives supercar performance at a fraction of the cost I can't find anything I'd rather have and you only live once
clutch (got to the indie and it gave up as he reversed it in - so didn't let me down)
gearbox rebuild (stuck in 4th but drove 20 miles home ok)
nitrons & springs (upgrade so not really maintenance but you know you would)
starter motor (replaced as soon as it started making a noise)
power steering pump (ditto)
discs
pads (twice)
manifolds (cracked)
The wagon has now done the best part of 40K
I think that a £2K per annum service budget is reasonable but can vary from £500 to £4000 each year depending on what breaks. In my experience something will but of you keep on top of it and do the stuff that needs doing when you notice it then it won't let you down and you don't notice the money when you've got such a great car.
Frankly nothing else compares - anthing with similar performance / style / wow will cost you at least twice as much in depreciation - a cerbie gives supercar performance at a fraction of the cost I can't find anything I'd rather have and you only live once
I think depreciation has already been mentioned, its the only way i can *justify* such an expensive *toy*. Not that there is ever really a way of 'justifying' a TVR, i think you either have to have one or you dont - there is no in between and comporimises don't work. So ask yourself if you will be happy with a lesser beast - if the answer is no then dont buy anything else 'cause you will always hanker after a Cerb.
So think of it this way - (without knowing how old your TT was) i wouldnt be surprised if it has lost 2-3k a year in depreciation? With me i am afraid i got bitten twice - i bought an MG (which is bad), then the company went bankrupt (which is worse!). I lost £10k in 2 years, a bitter pill to swallow.
So i vowed i would never do it again. I bought a cheap runaround and a Cerb - even if i sell the Cerb tomorrow i will make my money back, even the money i have invested in maintenance. I also believe you would be surprised how much you spend without thinking about it, but with a second car that you really look after there is a tendancy to count how much! I have spent ~£1500 so far since November, a mix of maintenance and / or upgrades. Major Service due in October, so i am on for an average year (if nothing breaks
). My point is i havent noticed it as much as i thought i would, £3k a year sounds big but once you own the car its not half as bad as it sounds.
So think of it this way - (without knowing how old your TT was) i wouldnt be surprised if it has lost 2-3k a year in depreciation? With me i am afraid i got bitten twice - i bought an MG (which is bad), then the company went bankrupt (which is worse!). I lost £10k in 2 years, a bitter pill to swallow.
So i vowed i would never do it again. I bought a cheap runaround and a Cerb - even if i sell the Cerb tomorrow i will make my money back, even the money i have invested in maintenance. I also believe you would be surprised how much you spend without thinking about it, but with a second car that you really look after there is a tendancy to count how much! I have spent ~£1500 so far since November, a mix of maintenance and / or upgrades. Major Service due in October, so i am on for an average year (if nothing breaks
). My point is i havent noticed it as much as i thought i would, £3k a year sounds big but once you own the car its not half as bad as it sounds. 
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