Common faults with Cerbies???
Discussion
Hi All,sorry about this post! cause you probably have people asking this all the time?
What are the common faults on the cerbera? i have been reading up on the cerberas and been getting more confused about whats reliable and whats NOT? EG:I have been told the speed 6 engine is the one to have as less trouble?(But i want the v8). also,been told the engines need a rebuild on average 20k?(ALL). Then was told the V8 is reliable and so are the gearbox and diffs its the electrics that are Big trouble?
HELP!!! I really want a cerbie but dont know if i dare as the wife will kill me if its total trouble for us! she is letting me sell our Focus ST225 to fund it!
Thanks for any advice in advance.
Lee
What are the common faults on the cerbera? i have been reading up on the cerberas and been getting more confused about whats reliable and whats NOT? EG:I have been told the speed 6 engine is the one to have as less trouble?(But i want the v8). also,been told the engines need a rebuild on average 20k?(ALL). Then was told the V8 is reliable and so are the gearbox and diffs its the electrics that are Big trouble?
HELP!!! I really want a cerbie but dont know if i dare as the wife will kill me if its total trouble for us! she is letting me sell our Focus ST225 to fund it!
Thanks for any advice in advance.
Lee
from what I've heard - Early SP6 Cerberas are a bucketload of trouble, if you must buy the smaller engine, get a late model.
I own a V8, I chose the 4.2 over the 4.5 as I felt that is was rougher and like the engine was connected directly to my right foot, a feeling I just didn't get with the 4.5.
Don't be fooled though, the cerbera is THE most expensive TVR to run - but by god is it worth it. I'm never selling mine unless forced.
Really want to know what owning one is like (I use mine daily) then drop me an email.
I own a V8, I chose the 4.2 over the 4.5 as I felt that is was rougher and like the engine was connected directly to my right foot, a feeling I just didn't get with the 4.5.
Don't be fooled though, the cerbera is THE most expensive TVR to run - but by god is it worth it. I'm never selling mine unless forced.
Really want to know what owning one is like (I use mine daily) then drop me an email.
Same as V8 said, 4.2 with clatter cams 
instant throttle response with an almost linear power delivery right to the top of the rev range, backed up with enough torque to pull away without even considering a change down.
that said if you are after max bhp the 4.5 is generally lumpyer but with a remap and some nice induction bits from
you can get a similar respone......................................allllllllllllllllllll the wayyyyyyyyyyyy upto....... 
instant throttle response with an almost linear power delivery right to the top of the rev range, backed up with enough torque to pull away without even considering a change down. that said if you are after max bhp the 4.5 is generally lumpyer but with a remap and some nice induction bits from
you can get a similar respone......................................allllllllllllllllllll the wayyyyyyyyyyyy upto....... I've had 2 Cerbs, 4.2 and 4.5, they are both just as fast as each other, but heres how I explain it.
Imagine a Caterham and a Bentley, where both can get to 100mph in exactly the same time. )I did say imagine) Well the 4.2 with clatter cams feels like the Caterham, light, instant throttle response, and quick reving.
The 4.5 feels like the Bentley, it feels a heavier car, more tourqey and with a slower throttle response.
I know the above cars are extreme opposites, but imagine them as 2 model cars connected by a stretched rubber band, people will have different ideas about how far - or how little - you stretch that rubber band apart. But you get my point, I hope
Imagine a Caterham and a Bentley, where both can get to 100mph in exactly the same time. )I did say imagine) Well the 4.2 with clatter cams feels like the Caterham, light, instant throttle response, and quick reving.
The 4.5 feels like the Bentley, it feels a heavier car, more tourqey and with a slower throttle response.
I know the above cars are extreme opposites, but imagine them as 2 model cars connected by a stretched rubber band, people will have different ideas about how far - or how little - you stretch that rubber band apart. But you get my point, I hope
Edited by jensena on Tuesday 20th February 22:01
Well put Al,
Engine Rebuilds are virtually unheard off in either V8's, some guys are well over the 100k, if you nail it when cold you'll have problems...BIG ONES....the box, axle and diff are bulletproof, clutches approx 30k depends on your driving.
basically drive it like a
all the time and you'll pay 
drive it properly and its miles and miles of very very fast 
Engine Rebuilds are virtually unheard off in either V8's, some guys are well over the 100k, if you nail it when cold you'll have problems...BIG ONES....the box, axle and diff are bulletproof, clutches approx 30k depends on your driving.
basically drive it like a
all the time and you'll pay drive it properly and its miles and miles of very very fast I'm a newbie .. had a 1996 4.2 for the past 10 days, all i can say is wow. I honestly don't care what it costs to run because it is quite simply the best car i've had or am likely to own. I've come from the world of big turbos with mucho lag so the throttle response on the Cerb is incredible .. and it just keeps on pulling, and doesnt ever want to stop pulling.
Please though you must go into this with your eyes open .. its gonna be expensive to run but don't let that put you off .. because every time you walk outside and see the car, everytime you press the little button on the mirror and the door swings open and everytime you push the little black button to start the car everything is alright in the world ..
just do it .. you won't regret it for a single minute.
steve
Please though you must go into this with your eyes open .. its gonna be expensive to run but don't let that put you off .. because every time you walk outside and see the car, everytime you press the little button on the mirror and the door swings open and everytime you push the little black button to start the car everything is alright in the world ..
just do it .. you won't regret it for a single minute.
steve
just to add Cerbielee ... have a read of this, one of the best motoring days of my life pal
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=355117&f=6&h=0
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=355117&f=6&h=0
jensena said:
Well the 4.2 with clatter cams feels like the Caterham, light, instant throttle response, and quick reving.
Edited by jensena on Tuesday 20th February 22:01
Amen to that, after nearly two years I still get shocked at how it revs if you hit the power at the right spot in 3rd gear, like some kind of big sports bike!
spartacus said:
jensena said:
Well the 4.2 with clatter cams feels like the Caterham, light, instant throttle response, and quick reving.
Edited by jensena on Tuesday 20th February 22:01
Amen to that, after nearly two years I still get shocked at how it revs if you hit the power at the right spot in 3rd gear, like some kind of big sports bike!
Ooooooh 3rd Gear
cooky said:
Engine Rebuilds are virtually unheard off in either V8's, some guys are well over the 100k, if you nail it when cold you'll have problems...BIG ONES....the box, axle and diff are bulletproof, clutches approx 30k depends on your driving.
Ok, but then how come they are still the most expensive TVR's to run?
All the things that could scare me in to not buying a TVR seem to be bulletproof, then where do the high running costs come from?
And would be the normal running costs by the way?
If you buy a decent V8 Cerbera and do approximately 10k miles a year in it (just for fun, an occasional track day and some country driving, but all that sensibly, not flooring it when still cold etc.), what kind of garage bills would you typically be seeing every year?
Dutchie said:
cooky said:
Engine Rebuilds are virtually unheard off in either V8's, some guys are well over the 100k, if you nail it when cold you'll have problems...BIG ONES....the box, axle and diff are bulletproof, clutches approx 30k depends on your driving.
Ok, but then how come they are still the most expensive TVR's to run?
All the things that could scare me in to not buying a TVR seem to be bulletproof, then where do the high running costs come from?
And would be the normal running costs by the way?
If you buy a decent V8 Cerbera and do approximately 10k miles a year in it (just for fun, an occasional track day and some country driving, but all that sensibly, not flooring it when still cold etc.), what kind of garage bills would you typically be seeing every year?
£3-£4k pa servicing and running repairs need to be budgeted for.
Some people may have had a better experience but this was my experience and that of several others last time the question was raised.
think weekend car, or racing car that can be driven on the road as opposed to everyday go everywhere car and you will be on right lines
many ajp's did get rebuilt, bear in mind that they have £6k service intervals and some parts availability may be sketchy
bennno
£3-£4k pa servicing and running repairs need to be budgeted for.
Even if it is only used as a weekend car, c.6k miles per year?
(sorry about the hijack, considering moving over to Cerb from my griff, possibly sometime this yaer....spent a lot on the griff and if other half sees bills of 3 to 4 grand on my car, especially with a sprog on the way, think she`ll shoot me!!!)
Dave.
Even if it is only used as a weekend car, c.6k miles per year?
(sorry about the hijack, considering moving over to Cerb from my griff, possibly sometime this yaer....spent a lot on the griff and if other half sees bills of 3 to 4 grand on my car, especially with a sprog on the way, think she`ll shoot me!!!)
Dave.
sam gamgee said:
£3-£4k pa servicing and running repairs need to be budgeted for.
Even if it is only used as a weekend car, c.6k miles per year?
(sorry about the hijack, considering moving over to Cerb from my griff, possibly sometime this yaer....spent a lot on the griff and if other half sees bills of 3 to 4 grand on my car, especially with a sprog on the way, think she`ll shoot me!!!)
Dave.
Even if it is only used as a weekend car, c.6k miles per year?
(sorry about the hijack, considering moving over to Cerb from my griff, possibly sometime this yaer....spent a lot on the griff and if other half sees bills of 3 to 4 grand on my car, especially with a sprog on the way, think she`ll shoot me!!!)
Dave.
Come on over Dave, you know it's the way forward
Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff