Cerb instead of 20k 911?
Discussion
got rid of an Impreza to get an Elise, but I now do about 20k miles per year, and the Elise isn't great on the motorway.
Anyway, we now also have a baby daughter, and although my car isn't the main family car (Renault Scenic) it would be nice to have a 2+2 so we could all go out in it.
Top of the list is to spend 18-20k on a 911.
I know that I could get a Cerb for this, but I'm scared off by the reputation for unreliability and extreme cost of running it.
So - what's the real cost of running one of these beasties?
Anyway, we now also have a baby daughter, and although my car isn't the main family car (Renault Scenic) it would be nice to have a 2+2 so we could all go out in it.
Top of the list is to spend 18-20k on a 911.
I know that I could get a Cerb for this, but I'm scared off by the reputation for unreliability and extreme cost of running it.
So - what's the real cost of running one of these beasties?
BCA said:
Do you intend on doing 20,000 miles a year in it??
Because if you do, it's not going to be cheap. Services alternate every 6,000 miles between small (£700 at a dealer) and large (£1200 at a dealer), and your probably going to get 18-24mpg depending on where/how hard your driving it.
Had 911 and Cerb; ran both for about the same period [3-4 years] and did the same miles [8-12K pa]. The Cerb was treated rather 'worse' in that it did far more track days than the 911.
In terms of reliability, the Cerb won
The 911 had to get trailered home maybe 4 or 5 times, the Cerb only once. Both also had niggly faults, and both were 100% better driven every day and fettled at the weekends. Both as easy/difficult/obscure to work on DIY.
Cerb has more practical space; boot is large by any standards, plus the back sets are marinally bigger.
Cerb was loads more fun. I'd buy another Cerb, but not another 911...been there, drove that, got the tee shirt.
Also, and this may or not have value to you - you are treated like sh*t in a 911. Folks will go out of their way to cut you up, they'll block you at junctions, you get shouted at, the car gets spat at etc. TVRs are treated rathed better, on average.
However, the Cerb was SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive to run. Each service cost 3-4 times as much as the 911, and they come twice as frequently [every 6K versus 12k!]. Also, in terms of depreciation, I lost more on the Cerb than the 911.
So, if you are happy to pay something like 4-8 times the running costs of a 911, look seriously at the Cerb. If not, maybe do the 911 thing first and get it out your system, than when you want 'more', then look at the Cerb. It's easier to justify the running costs when you look at it as an 'upgrade'!
And before anyone says you can cut the running costs of a cerb by using the indpendents, you can do that too with a 911 - the price difference remains the same as there's just less work to do servicing a 911.
WB
In terms of reliability, the Cerb won
The 911 had to get trailered home maybe 4 or 5 times, the Cerb only once. Both also had niggly faults, and both were 100% better driven every day and fettled at the weekends. Both as easy/difficult/obscure to work on DIY. Cerb has more practical space; boot is large by any standards, plus the back sets are marinally bigger.
Cerb was loads more fun. I'd buy another Cerb, but not another 911...been there, drove that, got the tee shirt.
Also, and this may or not have value to you - you are treated like sh*t in a 911. Folks will go out of their way to cut you up, they'll block you at junctions, you get shouted at, the car gets spat at etc. TVRs are treated rathed better, on average.
However, the Cerb was SIGNIFICANTLY more expensive to run. Each service cost 3-4 times as much as the 911, and they come twice as frequently [every 6K versus 12k!]. Also, in terms of depreciation, I lost more on the Cerb than the 911.
So, if you are happy to pay something like 4-8 times the running costs of a 911, look seriously at the Cerb. If not, maybe do the 911 thing first and get it out your system, than when you want 'more', then look at the Cerb. It's easier to justify the running costs when you look at it as an 'upgrade'!
And before anyone says you can cut the running costs of a cerb by using the indpendents, you can do that too with a 911 - the price difference remains the same as there's just less work to do servicing a 911.
WB
I would not consider either car for 20,000 miles a year!
If its just your local journeys, the wife's local journeys and the Scenic does all the miles then either one could be fine...
The rear seats in both are a joke, mind so did you really want a car in which its possible to take two kids out for the day? In that case I'd check the rear seats out carefully before making your decision...
If its just your local journeys, the wife's local journeys and the Scenic does all the miles then either one could be fine...
The rear seats in both are a joke, mind so did you really want a car in which its possible to take two kids out for the day? In that case I'd check the rear seats out carefully before making your decision...
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