Thinking of getting a cerb

[smilerbaker]

Didn't think one would fit into my budget but

www.pistonheads.com/sales/132303.h

so ok whats the catch? is this one of the exploding engine type?

[tvr_edd]

Don't think their is a catch at all, that's just how the prices are these days and someone who needs a quick sale.

If you are struggling to afford to buy the car, then think twice as they cost just as much to run unless your very handy with the spanners and want to service the car yourself..

there's a thread down a bit showing you running costs or do a search...

[smilerbaker]

tvr_edd said:

Don't think their is a catch at all, that's just how the prices are these days and someone who needs a quick sale.

If you are struggling to afford to buy the car, then think twice as they cost just as much to run unless your very handy with the spanners and want to service the car yourself..

there's a thread down a bit showing you running costs or do a search...

I had an s2 a few years back, so I have my eyes wide open Its just a toy and I dont think mrs smiler will let me get away with more the 10-11k for one. Running costs arn't an issue.

BUT, I have heard about the speed 6 engines and there liking of going pop at less then 30k.

I cant understand why there is upto 10k difference in price on what appear to be the same cars in the classifieds, almost like there is somthing I am missing.

[grahamn]

AFIK a 99 4.5 will have the AJP8 engine & not the SP6. So it should be sound.

Graham

Stands to be corrected

[jensena]

£11k is cheap for a '99 4.5 - It makes me want to cry, mines the same year and spec, and I only bought it a 9 months ago for a lot more than £11k!
I think the big differential in prices for similar spec cars is explained by what the owners 'think' their car is worth. If I put mine up for sale I'd be asking a lot more because...

a) I love Cerbs
b) I paid a lot for it
c) I've spent a lot of money on it
d) I live in the Cerbera dream world

However the market prices just appear to be plummeting - and as a Cerb owner in my own little world I can't accept that

Having said that, buy this one for £11k, take it in for a service, and If it's an absolute minter, with nothing at all wrong, then all you'll get is a bill for about £600, but don't be at all surprised to get a bil for £2k (or more).

[smilerbaker]

jensena said:

£11k is cheap for a '99 4.5 - It makes me want to cry, mines the same year and spec, and I only bought it a 9 months ago for a lot more than £11k!
I think the big differential in prices for similar spec cars is explained by what the owners 'think' their car is worth. If I put mine up for sale I'd be asking a lot more because...

a) I love Cerbs
b) I paid a lot for it
c) I've spent a lot of money on it
d) I live in the Cerbera dream world

However the market prices just appear to be plummeting - and as a Cerb owner in my own little world I can't accept that

Having said that, buy this one for £11k, take it in for a service, and If it's an absolute minter, with nothing at all wrong, then all you'll get is a bill for about £600, but don't be at all surprised to get a bil for £2k (or more).

So if I go and look at it what should I be looking for, outriggers, chassis rust, engine still there ?

[c3ber]

At that price its worth buying to use as spare parts.

[Ireland]

That's cheap....

... and looks very nice too.

Looks like i bought mine about 6 months too soon.

A 4.5 will be the V8, not Speed-6.

The mileage is a bit high for that year (in Cerbera terms) but that does appear to be reflected in the price.

[Garethgtt]

Oohhh i sold mine not long ago and must admit that advert tempted me to get another one, ive always wanted a big black one

thats going very cheap and considering my 98 4.5 was up for 16k (and worth) before news of impending doom for the factory got around, and was then reduced to 13.5k when just suspicions were bouncing around.

This car is 1)very cheap even now for what it is 2)there is one and a half lines of description which implies the owner isnt an enthusiast and just maybe doesnt know how to look after it or the car has some issue wether minor or major.

ultimately you can read into something whatever you choose.


my advice... Get Rob from find a sportscar or a good indie to inspect it for you and at that price the only thing that would stop me buying it is some big engine issue that will require a rebuild (unlikely) anything else, even a clutch still makes the car worth buying.


this is all IMO

[V8Cerbera]

I bought mine six months too soon as well. Back then £14,500 was a good price - Now it's top end.

I'd hope the market will stead again sometime soon though as it really is a buyers market just now. Look for toys if you have the money - For example mine now has an uprated clutch and full Hayward and Scott exhaust system. And no it's not for sale at the mo! lol

BTW Anyone happen to know how many of them had the AirCon option fitted and how many didn't, as a rough percentage?

[RUSSELLM]

There's a low mileage 99 4.5 on there at 13k as well (38 days old advert).

I'm glad the 4.2's aren't as common and cheap as those 4.5's

I must stop looking at these threads, I reckon I could scramble that money together, but I know the missus would castrate me if I threw her car off the drive to have two Cerbs sat there.

Edited by RUSSELLM on Wednesday 7th February 09:18

[Garethgtt]

c3ber said:

At that price its worth buying to use as spare parts.

By em all up now Mick and store them for spares....


Im certain that its worth buying cheap cerbs and storing them for 6 months, once TVR has a new captain at the helm and summer comes around im certain buying a 11k 99 4.5 Cerb is an instant 3k profit in 6 months time.

Edited by Garethgtt on Wednesday 7th February 09:51

[RUSSELLM]

There's also been a 99 4.5 on AT for a while now. Low mileage at £12K.

It says it's Green but the photo looks like a dark Silver to me.

[ridds]

So...

£4k for engine
£0.5K for gearbox
£0.8k for wheels
£0.6k for interior
£0.2k for all the control boxes
£1k for body panels
£2k for chassis and main tub

At a guess.

Nearly covered the purchase price. Just got to find buyers.

[gazzab]

ridds said:

So...

£4k for engine
£0.5K for gearbox
£0.8k for wheels
£0.6k for interior
£0.2k for all the control boxes
£1k for body panels
£2k for chassis and main tub

At a guess.

Nearly covered the purchase price. Just got to find buyers.

Engines used to go for that or more. I think they can be had cheaper these days.

[touching cloth]

Low prices or not at the moment, that does seem incredibly low. Doesn't mean a dog but does mean tread very carefully.

[c3ber]

Garethgtt said:

c3ber said:

At that price its worth buying to use as spare parts.

By em all up now Mick and store them for spares....

Im certain that its worth buying cheap cerbs and storing them for 6 months, once TVR has a new captain at the helm and summer comes around im certain buying a 11k 99 4.5 Cerb is an instant 3k profit in 6 months time.

You know something Gareth I was thinking that. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and I have a feeling that we are looking at the future here. Just wait till this summer how many people will have wished they had bought a cheap cerb. And give it a few years and there will be so many kicking themselves.

Just looked at the tea leaves and yep it says buy buy buy time.

[427James]

Where do you get an interior for 600 quid??

If its that cheap, sign me up! My door trims, steering wheel and seats are in a bit of a state.

James

[robertjp]

Garethgtt said:

Oohhh i sold mine not long ago and must admit that advert tempted me to get another one, ive always wanted a big black one

I have been thinking the same thing looking at that advert!! I got good money for my Cerb in November ('98 4.5 significantly more than 11k), but that price is really tempting. If its got some good history and the right bits have been changed, it will be a bloody good price.

Trouble is i would get castrated for buying another Cerb this side of the wedding! (which had a little bearing on selling the old one )

Anybody got a garage where i can hide it?

[BCA]

Robert, no garage, but I'll look after it in the mean time?


I'd check the chassis, other than that - looks alright to me.

"running costs are not an issue" I like that quote, but I'd think clearly about it, the running costs could easily be a third of this cars value per year...