Running Costs

[m3coupe]

Hi Folks, this is the first time i've posted here but have spent the past week or so going through a lot of the posts to get an idea about thing's.

Anyway, i've read all I can about the running costs of a Cerbera and that it works out at around £3000 per year however what's the normal spread of this? Breaking it down to monthly, I can afford running repairs on it easilly enough but how often do you get hit with £1000+ bills as although it's going to be a weekend/evening car, I don't want it sitting out of action for a long time!

Also, is there anyone on here from Scotland, preferably close to Dundee that can tell me where they get there servicing done as I haven't seen any independents or garages that deals with them.

Cheers for any help you can give me.

[DB Pro]

check out these guys in Callander. www.dreadnoughtgarage.co.uk/
I think they are the closest to you.
Check out TVR Club Scotland also www.indexcomputers.co.uk/Links/links.html
I hope you find a TVR, I did and I am also from Carnoustie but live in Belgium now. When I am over visiting the parents you can have a go of mine to see what you think.

[copilot]

If you are going to worry about it when it goes wrong, don't get one.
BUT if you like it sooo much that it makes you grin and grin and grin (including when it's poorly) then spend your money. Mines cost me 6K in six months and I've absoloutly no regrets. It makes me smile every single time I see it...worrying really.

[m3coupe]

Thanks DB PRO, that would be great if you could! Been wanting one for a couple of years now and seeing as how i'm away to start a new job, think i'll treat myself!

I'm not too worried about it breaking, would be a bit stupid of me to think it won't cost anything but I just want to know all the facts before I jump in blind!

[touching cloth]

The bills can come big and large in one hit so you do have to be ready; my advice is simply to spend less than your budget on one. If you have for instance £20k then spend £17k and put £3k straight in the contingency fund. Don't get strung up on age or mileage as newer ones can sting in the same way or worse than older well fettled and de-niggled examples, don't keep looking at newer ones above your revised budget and think "But I have got that extra bit sitting there in the contingency and it gets me a year newer car". Doing it this way if you suddenly get say an early £2.5k in one bill then you can pay it, and then over the following months you rebuild that fund, this should theoretically give you the drip feed monthly payments that you want.

If you want one and have for a while then get one, I cojotated for ages and should have done it sooner.

[dffy]

hi i stay in stirling give me a ring friday on 07778666519 i may be able to help you out? i can also answer a lot of your questions as i own 4.2 cerbera and had the same reservations as you give me a ring davy

[big_treacle]

I got my Cerb a bit over a year ago. I got hit by a 700 quid bill after 3 months tho a chunk of that was covered by warranty. Then about 4 months later a 1000 service coupled with another 1000 ish for a clutch kit (clutch failed just as I was booking it in for a 12k). Being easily drawn I couldn't help but buy myself some carbon bits and tuning at the same time so it was a bit more than that
Thats the sort of thing that I would expect as a fairly bad case. You might blow an engine up I guess but that would be pretty unlucky. I think any car with Cerbera performance specs could present you with similar bills, you've just gotta budget it well & be realistic.
They're worth it though if you like driving!!!!

[RUSSELLM]

I would look at buying one of these cars, on a "money's no object" theory.

Any other way, and you'll soon get fed up with it.

Sorry, but that's my opinion.

[blueflash]

I just got a breakdown cover from the AA , max of 10 claims per year - up to £500 each claim. £65 for the year ,think you might have to have their roadside recovery as well. But hey - they'll come to you pick you up and pay to have it fixed. Worth a thought.

I don't regret getting mine , 18 mths of lots of smiles per miles.

[m3coupe]

Thanks for the replies! I was more worried about the engine packing up and costing me £6k to replace! I can live with the other thing's and the general upkeep of the car however I don't have that kind of money lying around!

Davy, thanks for that, i'm at work at the moment but will give you a bell later if that's ok!

[big_treacle]

I've gotta stop reading this forum before bed - I had a dream last night where my engine was full of thick oil & had to be replaced & I had no money! hahaha.

[byker28i]

But you do get a car that you can misbehave in. I had a megan sport yesterday cut me up then grand prix start from the lights, acelerating hard. I was able to pull alongside on the dual carrigeway, wave and then leave him standing.

I think he thought he was quick

[m3coupe]

Sounds like someone needed put in there place! Really, a Megane Sport!! What was he thinking, lol!!!

[oli_quick]

The big bills shouldn't come that often - ensure you get a good reputed service centre they should make the car sound for at least 4-6k miles...


All my big bills have been as a result of servicing - but I do only do about 2-4k a year...

And get a car that has been run in...i.e. one with above 25k on the clock...then most major engine probs should have 'matured'

[SXS]

Wait till your crank snaps or your cams shatter, or your manifolds crack and the car catches fire, or your fuel line bursts and car catches fire, or your gearbox packs in, or your throttle cable snaps or your exhaust cans fall off or your valves cease.... welcome to the world of 'it wont happen to me'.....

ps

'maybe'

[m3coupe]

SXS, is the glass always have empty in your house by any chance, lol!!!

I'm sure all of these thing's can and have happened to cars in the past but the majority of them are going to be few and far between are they not!

Thanks for the info anyway!

[jensena]

Maybe they wont be few and far between though, that's why, if you are buying a Cerb, you need to go in with your eyes wide open, and buy an amazing Car, that has the potential to empty your wallet..
My daily car is an old Honda Legend, never goes wrong, but once it needed a new track rod end at 130k miles, "That'll cost about £80 Sir all in" - "What!! another £80 on top of the service bill!!" I was well pi$$ed off.

Gearbox fails on my Cerbera "That'll be be about a grand Sir" - "Yeah no problem I'll get it down to you tomorrow"

Edited by jensena on Saturday 14th April 10:35

[m3coupe]

See that's what i'm saying though! I don't mind having to shell out my hard earned to keep it in good condition and repair it when it needs it, just want to know what the likelihood of getting stung with high bills a lot of the time!!!

[jensena]

It will cost money to run, its not a boring sensible BMW, it's a 190mph Supercar built for speed and performance not reliability. But really you have 2 choices.

1 - Don't buy one and miss out on owning an amazing car
2 - Whatever your budget is, buy one for £3k less, and keep the £3k set aside as your 'just in case stash' - problem solved

[m3coupe]

jensena said:

It will cost money to run, its not a boring sensible BMW, it's a 190mph Supercar built for speed and performance not reliability. But really you have 2 choices.

1 - Don't buy one and miss out on owning an amazing car
2 - Whatever your budget is, buy one for £3k less, and keep the £3k set aside as your 'just in case stash' - problem solved

Coming to the conclusion that's the way to go! I've got my heart set on one now, just have to wait since i'm away for 4 months training for my new job and won't be able to enjoy it!

Soon though, very soon I shall have one!