BMW M5 or Cerbera?
Discussion
Folks,
I've recently sold my 4.0 Chimaera and need to find a new car.
I drove a BMW 330d which was very 'pleasant' but would never make me smile like the Chimaera did.
I drove an M5 yesterday and absolutely loved it but the history of the car is less than perfect, it's due a service and I'm a little scared of Vanos issues or other things that could bankrupt me.
And then.. having turned my back on TVR I spotted the following Cerbera just up the road in Stirling:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/178687.htm
I love the colour and it's getting the juices flowing thinking about owning another TVR.
1) I'm a sales guy that needs to put 12000 miles a year on a car. I know it's not ideal but could a well maintained Cerb cope - my Chimaera did!
2) I'm looking at a similarly priced BMW M5 as the sensible alternative to the Cerbera. Anyone any advice on this?
Yours (agonising over what should be a fun decision!),
Phil
I've recently sold my 4.0 Chimaera and need to find a new car.
I drove a BMW 330d which was very 'pleasant' but would never make me smile like the Chimaera did.
I drove an M5 yesterday and absolutely loved it but the history of the car is less than perfect, it's due a service and I'm a little scared of Vanos issues or other things that could bankrupt me.
And then.. having turned my back on TVR I spotted the following Cerbera just up the road in Stirling:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/178687.htm
I love the colour and it's getting the juices flowing thinking about owning another TVR.
1) I'm a sales guy that needs to put 12000 miles a year on a car. I know it's not ideal but could a well maintained Cerb cope - my Chimaera did!
2) I'm looking at a similarly priced BMW M5 as the sensible alternative to the Cerbera. Anyone any advice on this?
Yours (agonising over what should be a fun decision!),
Phil
Yes you can do 12K a year in a cerb but it won't be cheap! They need a bit more tinkering with than the chimera did to keep them running sweetly and unless you're handy with the spanners this will add up.
That said I found my old 4.2 very comfortable over long distances, (get one with AC) and was remarkably fuel efficient tending to achieve 24-26mpg on a run.
Get one that's been well set-up and cared for and you'll love it every drive is a an event
Matt
That said I found my old 4.2 very comfortable over long distances, (get one with AC) and was remarkably fuel efficient tending to achieve 24-26mpg on a run.
Get one that's been well set-up and cared for and you'll love it every drive is a an event
Matt
I've just bought a Cerb and did look at M5s too, but from what I heard, an M5 is even more expensive and unreliable to run than a Cerb.
They are also very different cars. The BM is a fast 5 series - don't get me wrong still a lovely car, but most average joes won't notice it. Everybody notices a Cerb.
It depends what you are looking for...
They are also very different cars. The BM is a fast 5 series - don't get me wrong still a lovely car, but most average joes won't notice it. Everybody notices a Cerb.
It depends what you are looking for...
I have done both - I did 12k in my Cerb, sold it and bought an E39 M5 and did another 12k in that.
Cerb cost me £6500 for Nitrons, fixing lots of unresolved issues and two services, including £468 to insure. 18mpg avg.
M5 cost me £180 for a rear antiroll bar and £1100 to insure. 18mpg avg.
I had come from a Chimaera 400, so was very much into TVRs, the Cerb was an awesome beast and totally different to the Chim (DO NOT make the mistake of thinking it's just a hard top Chim.... no way!), and the M5 was an exercise in mixing the lust for a V8 with the requirement for four doors and space for babies / pushchairs etc.
I would have another M5 again at the drop of a hat - incredible bit of engineering, cheap to run if you stay with independants, not main stealers, and oh so very very fast, yet quiet and comfy for motorway cruising.
I would think long and hard about having another Cerb - I loved it to bits, but it would definitely have to be a second car, not my main one, as I do too many long and curious hours, and it demands total concentration at all time to get home swiftly and safely.
HOWEVER - I would not have an M5 as my only car... yes it was very very fast indeed, and posessed handling that belied it's size and weight, but by comparison to any TVR it was dull, staid and just that little bit too boring: You had a feeling that you were making such impressive progress because of the car's engineering, not your driving capability, whereas with the Cerb you had the opposite, thinking you were making good progress because you were a driving God and in spite of the car's engineering!
So I would recommend you have a long hard think about what you want out of your car, in what conditions and times you're going to be driving it, and then, as ever, go and drive both and see what you think - the M5 will impress on day one, but the lustre may well wear off a little quickly. The Cerb may well intimidate on day one but over time be a trusted faithful bulldog with a drinking habit...
Hope that helps! Oh and yes, Julian64 still has both I think, so he should be able to offer some further thoughts.
Cerb cost me £6500 for Nitrons, fixing lots of unresolved issues and two services, including £468 to insure. 18mpg avg.
M5 cost me £180 for a rear antiroll bar and £1100 to insure. 18mpg avg.
I had come from a Chimaera 400, so was very much into TVRs, the Cerb was an awesome beast and totally different to the Chim (DO NOT make the mistake of thinking it's just a hard top Chim.... no way!), and the M5 was an exercise in mixing the lust for a V8 with the requirement for four doors and space for babies / pushchairs etc.
I would have another M5 again at the drop of a hat - incredible bit of engineering, cheap to run if you stay with independants, not main stealers, and oh so very very fast, yet quiet and comfy for motorway cruising.
I would think long and hard about having another Cerb - I loved it to bits, but it would definitely have to be a second car, not my main one, as I do too many long and curious hours, and it demands total concentration at all time to get home swiftly and safely.
HOWEVER - I would not have an M5 as my only car... yes it was very very fast indeed, and posessed handling that belied it's size and weight, but by comparison to any TVR it was dull, staid and just that little bit too boring: You had a feeling that you were making such impressive progress because of the car's engineering, not your driving capability, whereas with the Cerb you had the opposite, thinking you were making good progress because you were a driving God and in spite of the car's engineering!
So I would recommend you have a long hard think about what you want out of your car, in what conditions and times you're going to be driving it, and then, as ever, go and drive both and see what you think - the M5 will impress on day one, but the lustre may well wear off a little quickly. The Cerb may well intimidate on day one but over time be a trusted faithful bulldog with a drinking habit...
Hope that helps! Oh and yes, Julian64 still has both I think, so he should be able to offer some further thoughts.
I'm in the same dilema! Currently have a e36 M3 but getting rid of it and wanting something faster! Test drove an M5 a few months ago and it was a flying machine but never been in a TVR so don't know what kind of speed it has! Think if I do get a TVR it would be a second car as I couldn't stand having it let me down on the way to work in the morning! Not sure yet but will see how we go, lol!
I've decided against the M5 for now... wanted a newer one than I can afford and decided to cap my spend.
Still thinking about the Cerbera even though I know I'll end up aggravated about the niggles (the car will live outdoors 24-7 taking on the full brunt of a Scottish winter).
First one to say no - a cerb is a silly idea will send me to bed! Any idiots saying it's a great idea will make me happy but tired as I'll have to stay up hunting the web for my next machine!
Still thinking about the Cerbera even though I know I'll end up aggravated about the niggles (the car will live outdoors 24-7 taking on the full brunt of a Scottish winter).
First one to say no - a cerb is a silly idea will send me to bed! Any idiots saying it's a great idea will make me happy but tired as I'll have to stay up hunting the web for my next machine!
stalker said:
I've decided against the M5 for now... wanted a newer one than I can afford and decided to cap my spend.
Still thinking about the Cerbera even though I know I'll end up aggravated about the niggles (the car will live outdoors 24-7 taking on the full brunt of a Scottish winter).
First one to say no - a cerb is a silly idea will send me to bed! Any idiots saying it's a great idea will make me happy but tired as I'll have to stay up hunting the web for my next machine!
I would say an educated and wise move. Follow the heart when its a luxury, not when its a pain...Still thinking about the Cerbera even though I know I'll end up aggravated about the niggles (the car will live outdoors 24-7 taking on the full brunt of a Scottish winter).
First one to say no - a cerb is a silly idea will send me to bed! Any idiots saying it's a great idea will make me happy but tired as I'll have to stay up hunting the web for my next machine!
Thats half the problem with most brits today, they end up chewing more than they bargained for because they outstepped their financial safety-net...
Personally I would love the new V10 BMW, but cant justify the spending just yet due to my other commitments at this time. But then I love the DB9 too, which you can pick up for around 70k now... choices choices choices... money, more money, even more money!
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