Pepperwhite
Pepperwhite
Author
Discussion

WRX Convert

Original Poster:

2 posts

236 months

Tuesday 30th January 2007
quotequote all
hello all,

I'm thinking of taking my driving experience to the next level and want to sell my scooby for a Cerbera. I've always loved the look of them and the fact that you don't see many around (mate says thats cos they have broken down somewhere) but I refuse to believe the reliability can be that bad ??

Anyway I need advice ... so all help appreciated

1. Ive got my heart set on 'Pepperwhite' are there any around besides the last cerby ever produced? Is it feasible to buy one and have it resprayed to Pepperwhite or just not cost effective .. does anyone do that or is that just ridiculous? Any idea on costs or any recommendations on places in the mids or southwest?

2. Is there a particular engine I should be going for 4.0, 4.2, 4.5 due to reliability or is it just down to running costs?

3. What should I be looking out for when going to view or testdrive a cerby?

4. should I buy from a dealer for my first one or private with an RAC inspection ?

5. I have two little boys age 3 and 5. I have convinced my mrs that after the scooby that you either buy a Cerby when you don't have kids, when they are young like mine or when they have flown the nest. (she went for it)

Sorry about all the questions but I guess this is the best place to ask

Cheers

Aj

mars

10,107 posts

243 months

Tuesday 30th January 2007
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I would advise you to do a search. Many of your questions pop up several times a week and are answered with detailed explanations.

gazzab

21,640 posts

311 months

Tuesday 30th January 2007
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As for white. I wouldnt waste 3K on a respray that will still not be a total job ie the old colour will still be seen in engine bay etc?
Also the interior colours normally are chosen to go with the exterior. EG a white car with green carpets would be yuck. So you are really going to make it hard unless you find one of the other 2 or 3 white cerbs and spray one of those pepper white.
I have kids aged 5 and 7 and it is starting to be a bit of a squeeze AND Top Gear suggested you cant legally carry them anymore anyway as no room for a booster.

ireland

3,517 posts

243 months

Tuesday 30th January 2007
quotequote all
I'll let the people on your own side of the pond tell you the best places to buy a Cerb.

Me, I bought mine off an add in the classifieds on here and it was in "reasonably" good condition.

Having it checked by one of the recommended indies would have been worthwhile.

As for the kids, mine are 13 and 8 and they still fit in it (just).

Mine isn't my main mode of transport but I do use it quiet a bit and it hasn't been any trouble at all.

Get one and enjoy it ..... you'll be dead for thousands of years.

Nickccc

1,682 posts

277 months

Wednesday 31st January 2007
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Here you go ,

it's not for sale though, you will be lucky to find one in white. They are real special.



Tokyokev

138 posts

266 months

Wednesday 31st January 2007
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probably not much use to you...unless you ship it back to the UK.

This white one is for sale at the Tokyo TVR dealer.

www.carsensor.net/usedcar/detail.php?STID=CS210840&ROUTEID=edge&BKKN=CN0000729880

1998 4.2 with 9,300miles on the clock. It's in stunning condition.
GBP12,600 (is that a good price?)

I know a car dealer here who ships cars around the wold for expats...he may be able to help if you consider this route to a cerb. Can pass you his details. Obviously not an easy option. But if you want white...

K

gazzab

21,640 posts

311 months

Wednesday 31st January 2007
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How do youy sort the rear out for a UK plate though?

hut49

3,544 posts

291 months

Wednesday 31st January 2007
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Oh Sh!t! I clicked on one of the links and think I bought the whole dealership on my PayPal account! Very pretty car in white = good choice

ridds

8,372 posts

273 months

Wednesday 31st January 2007
quotequote all
Not a bad price for the mileage. COuld have a massive, clutch crank etc repair bill looming though. Or is 98 after the suspect cranks.

Plate, I'd just get an import spec plate on there. Perfectly legal.

BCA

8,651 posts

286 months

Wednesday 31st January 2007
quotequote all
ridds said:
Not a bad price for the mileage. COuld have a massive, clutch crank etc repair bill looming though. Or is 98 after the suspect cranks.

Plate, I'd just get an import spec plate on there. Perfectly legal.


I like the plate... another thing to factor in is that it may have had a pretty good climate for most of its life, so the chassis could be good. That said, im thinking long and hard back to my GCSE geography days and im sure that theres alot of rain in certain parts??

Meh, tokyokeb will be able to let us know.

jensena

5,671 posts

259 months

Wednesday 31st January 2007
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Going from a WRX to a Cerb - you'll probably hate it, totally totally different, it's a REAL car, No 4 wheel drive, ABS or other electro trickery bits, just loads of power and rear wheel drive. It bites, its expensive to run, it's impractical, and you have to DRIVE IT. It's a real enthusiasts car.

rpicker

74 posts

268 months

Wednesday 31st January 2007
quotequote all
Go for it,
I got my cerb three years ago and before that had scoobys for five years, the last one being a Prodrive STI.
The cerbera has never let me down in that time and only needed a battery and starter motor due to being clapped out.
Spent lots on upgrades and servicing though!.
1. I have only seen one white one in the flesh at cream 2005 (rare).
2. I personally went for a 4.5 because I planned a few upgrades .
3. I would say chassis condition and lots of receipted history, the one thats had a lot spent on replacing parts is not always the best, maybe just troublesome. Driving is obviously different to the cerb (they bite harder) but my god they make the adrenalin flow.
4. I went for an independent garage who specialised in TVR's but would probably go for Private with inspection. (try Rob Ingleby. findasportscar for inspection). You could probably find one that has had most of the good upgrades done already. (suspension , ecu, exhaust , brakes etc)
5.They are OK for smaller kids.

One last comment . I am trying to talk my wife into changing our cooper "S" for a scooby.
I do miss the car that can do anything.

Have fun car hunting
Ray

Julian64

14,325 posts

283 months

Wednesday 31st January 2007
quotequote all
I have a five and eight year old. I am six foot one inch. The eight year old is just starting to prefer to be on the rear passenger side.

Although I don't see a problem with having him in the front if need be.

Tokyokev

138 posts

266 months

Wednesday 31st January 2007
quotequote all
BCA said:
ridds said:
Not a bad price for the mileage. COuld have a massive, clutch crank etc repair bill looming though. Or is 98 after the suspect cranks.

Plate, I'd just get an import spec plate on there. Perfectly legal.


I like the plate... another thing to factor in is that it may have had a pretty good climate for most of its life, so the chassis could be good. That said, im thinking long and hard back to my GCSE geography days and im sure that theres alot of rain in certain parts??

Meh, tokyokeb will be able to let us know.


We pretty much get 4 seasons here. the upside is that the roads don't get salted during the winter...in the colder areas of Japan, warm water sprinklers jet out from the side of the roads to de-ice the tarmac...yeah...I know. It's insane. It's Japan. It's like living on Mars.

I was having a good look under mine the other week and the chassis is in excellent condition (so it should be for a 2001 LW). The roads are clean enough to eat off, and there are no potholes. If you looked in my engine bay (pic on my profile) you will see just how clean it is. Underneath it's like new!

Just one look at that engine bay of the white one for a 7 year old car and you kinda get what I mean. They really do look after their cars here.

It's proabably not worth the hassle mind you with shipping etc. And you'd have to fly here to test drive it. Of course I would gladly offer my services in this department if anyone needs to know how it handles.

K

ridds

8,372 posts

273 months

Wednesday 31st January 2007
quotequote all
Tokyokev said:
BCA said:
ridds said:
Not a bad price for the mileage. COuld have a massive, clutch crank etc repair bill looming though. Or is 98 after the suspect cranks.

Plate, I'd just get an import spec plate on there. Perfectly legal.


I like the plate... another thing to factor in is that it may have had a pretty good climate for most of its life, so the chassis could be good. That said, im thinking long and hard back to my GCSE geography days and im sure that theres alot of rain in certain parts??

Meh, tokyokeb will be able to let us know.


We pretty much get 4 seasons here. the upside is that the roads don't get salted during the winter...in the colder areas of Japan, warm water sprinklers jet out from the side of the roads to de-ice the tarmac...yeah...I know. It's insane. It's Japan. It's like living on Mars.

I was having a good look under mine the other week and the chassis is in excellent condition (so it should be for a 2001 LW). The roads are clean enough to eat off, and there are no potholes. If you looked in my engine bay (pic on my profile) you will see just how clean it is. Underneath it's like new!

Just one look at that engine bay of the white one for a 7 year old car and you kinda get what I mean. They really do look after their cars here.

It's proabably not worth the hassle mind you with shipping etc. And you'd have to fly here to test drive it. Of course I would gladly offer my services in this department if anyone needs to know how it handles.

K


it looks new because you've only done 6K miles. Your purple pipes are still purple too!

gazzab

21,640 posts

311 months

Wednesday 31st January 2007
quotequote all
I went from a Chimarea to a Cerb 4.5 to an Impreza P1 and back to a Cerb 4.5
The Impreza was one of the worst cars I have ever owned EXCEPT for B road blasting where at least no one could see you in it ! The Impreza was thirsty, cheap, tacky, not that fast, over the top spoilers, a right chav mobile, it did nothing for me.

jensena

5,671 posts

259 months

Wednesday 31st January 2007
quotequote all
A friend of mine who drives a 376bhp Evo drove my Cerb and though it was one of the slowest car's he'd ever driven. You know why? I drove his Evo , press the throttle and you have full max throttle in about 2" of pedal travel - the Cerb, as we all know, has 12 feet of throttle travel - he was driving it on 2" of throttle
When he followed me back home (he's like that) he couldnt keep up with me though.

WRX Convert

Original Poster:

2 posts

236 months

Wednesday 31st January 2007
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies everyone,

I spoke to a few dealers today and they reacted like I was looking for the holy grail !

I like the pics of the white ones and have seen a pic of the one at Cream too ... all are lush.
I'm told that 'Pepperwhite' is a colour that Mini do so shouldn't be a problem to get the colour but its all down to how deep my pockets are and I'm hoping to save some for the servicing costs etc but I have to say that although I loved driving the scoob, I'm pretty bored with it now so it still looks like the Cerb is the one for me.

It seems like the kids shouldn't be a problem and I'm going to look into how much it will cost to have the car sprayed with the alloys.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Cheers all

Aj ... thanks for the emails guys also.