Is this madness?

[MuffDaddy]

So, I have a 4.0 Chimaera and have no intention of ever selling it. However I am possibly starting a job in Chester, I live in Bristol and I have a place in Manchester. Either way I need to drive from Bristol to Manc once a week and manc to Chester three times a week.

The question is, should I get myself a 4.2 Cerbera for this commute or will I be knackered/sat at the side of the road?

[_Neal_]

So you'd be doing 10k+ miles/year in a Cerbera 4.2, and running a Chimaera 400 at the same time? It's a ballsy strategy, but I reckon it could work - get a good Cerb, don't skimp on maintenance, and enjoy. It may let you down, but you'd be unlucky, and other motorists can ogle the pretty Cerb as they drive past

Cerbs aren't the most relaxing on long (UK) motorway journeys - bit noisy, bit hard-riding, bit tramline-y.

To be honest, I wouldn't do it myself - there's plenty of stuff that's much nicer on a long motorway commute that's cheaper to buy and cheaper to run than a Cerb - I'd just get some mile-eating, soft-riding, quiet Merc/BMW/Jag and have fun motoring in the Chimaera when you fancy it.

Is getting in a noisy Cerb what you really want to have to face for a lengthy (nighttime?) commute on motorways? You could always use the Chimaera for the odd trip, when it's nice conditions and you fancy stretching its legs?

Edited by _Neal_ on Thursday 10th January 17:39

[neilus]

MuffDaddy said:

The question is, should I get myself a 4.2 Cerbera for this commute or will I be knackered/sat at the side of the road?

I would be more concerned about how much it would cost me in fuel and servicing; you could be servicing it every couple of months!!

I remember Joolz once telling me he had a customer who had a 4.5 cerbera doing about a 1000 miles a week. So, it shouldn't really be a problem if you get a good one and can afford it.

Neil.

[neilus]

_Neal_ said:

So you'd be doing 10k+ miles/year in a Cerbera 4.2,

I worked it out to be 600 miles a week; three trips of 80 miles (Manchester to Chester and back), plus one trip of 360 miles (Bristol to Manchester and back).

Neil.

[RUSSELLM]

Personally, I think that's a great set of journeys for a cerb, the kind it's made for. As long as you can afford the petrol & servicing, I say go for it

Out of interest, why would you want to use the cerb, and not the chim ?

[ridds]

I'd use the Chim for the commute then when finished at the job spend the £10k on a ground up rebuild of the Chim.

[grahamn]

_Neal_ said:

Cerbs aren't the most relaxing on long (UK) motorway journeys - bit noisy, bit hard-riding, bit tramline-y.

To be honest, I wouldn't do it myself - there's plenty of stuff that's much nicer on a long motorway commute that's cheaper to buy and cheaper to run than a Cerb - I'd just get some mile-eating, soft-riding, quiet Merc/BMW/Jag and have fun motoring in the Chimaera when you fancy it.

Edited by _Neal_ on Thursday 10th January 17:39

Have to disagree on this. I find long motorway drives in my cerb are great, not tiring at all and quite comfortable.

[HarryW]

grahamn said:

_Neal_ said:

Cerbs aren't the most relaxing on long (UK) motorway journeys - bit noisy, bit hard-riding, bit tramline-y.

To be honest, I wouldn't do it myself - there's plenty of stuff that's much nicer on a long motorway commute that's cheaper to buy and cheaper to run than a Cerb - I'd just get some mile-eating, soft-riding, quiet Merc/BMW/Jag and have fun motoring in the Chimaera when you fancy it.

Edited by _Neal_ on Thursday 10th January 17:39

Have to disagree on this. I find long motorway drives in my cerb are great, not tiring at all and quite comfortable.

Agree with this 100% cruising on duals its as comfortable as any BMW.

[MuffDaddy]

Why not use the Chim, not real rason other than I have owned it for 8 years and want to keep it in good condition. I like the idea of a ground up rebuild though. Maybe I'll stick with the A6 for commuting and the Chim for fun.

[JensenA]

ridds said:

I'd use the Chim for the commute then when finished at the job spend the £10k on a ground up rebuild of the Chim.

Good plan Ridds! - and heres another option.....It does seem a bit mad to buy a Cerb because you want a motorway commuter, so buy an old car for a grand, use it, and you'll probably get a grand back for it when you sell it.

An unashamed plug for my othr car passion is for this one, rare and hugely underated executive crusing barge that goes for ridiculously cheap money, 230hp V6 and they never go wrong !

[_Neal_]

grahamn said:

Have to disagree on this. I find long motorway drives in my cerb are great, not tiring at all and quite comfortable.

I'm not saying that they aren't quite comfortable - It's just that there's better stuff out there to get the job done - it's 350+ miles - that's going to get dull quick.

[Sparky69]

HarryW said:

grahamn said:

_Neal_ said:

Cerbs aren't the most relaxing on long (UK) motorway journeys - bit noisy, bit hard-riding, bit tramline-y.

To be honest, I wouldn't do it myself - there's plenty of stuff that's much nicer on a long motorway commute that's cheaper to buy and cheaper to run than a Cerb - I'd just get some mile-eating, soft-riding, quiet Merc/BMW/Jag and have fun motoring in the Chimaera when you fancy it.

Edited by _Neal_ on Thursday 10th January 17:39

Have to disagree on this. I find long motorway drives in my cerb are great, not tiring at all and quite comfortable.

Agree with this 100% cruising on duals its as comfortable as any BMW.

Not in the middle of summer with broken or no aircon!!!! Good way to lose weight thou! I still think it's best kept as a fun car.

[grahamn]

Sparky69 said:

HarryW said:

grahamn said:

_Neal_ said:

Cerbs aren't the most relaxing on long (UK) motorway journeys - bit noisy, bit hard-riding, bit tramline-y.

To be honest, I wouldn't do it myself - there's plenty of stuff that's much nicer on a long motorway commute that's cheaper to buy and cheaper to run than a Cerb - I'd just get some mile-eating, soft-riding, quiet Merc/BMW/Jag and have fun motoring in the Chimaera when you fancy it.

Edited by _Neal_ on Thursday 10th January 17:39

Have to disagree on this. I find long motorway drives in my cerb are great, not tiring at all and quite comfortable.

Agree with this 100% cruising on duals its as comfortable as any BMW.

Not in the middle of summer with broken or no aircon!!!! Good way to lose weight thou! I still think it's best kept as a fun car.

I have done some long Euro trips in mine in hot weather, don't bother with air con just open the windows can hear the sound track much better that way.

[HarryW]

grahamn said:

Sparky69 said:

HarryW said:

grahamn said:

_Neal_ said:

Cerbs aren't the most relaxing on long (UK) motorway journeys - bit noisy, bit hard-riding, bit tramline-y.

To be honest, I wouldn't do it myself - there's plenty of stuff that's much nicer on a long motorway commute that's cheaper to buy and cheaper to run than a Cerb - I'd just get some mile-eating, soft-riding, quiet Merc/BMW/Jag and have fun motoring in the Chimaera when you fancy it.

Edited by _Neal_ on Thursday 10th January 17:39

Have to disagree on this. I find long motorway drives in my cerb are great, not tiring at all and quite comfortable.

Agree with this 100% cruising on duals its as comfortable as any BMW.

Not in the middle of summer with broken or no aircon!!!! Good way to lose weight thou! I still think it's best kept as a fun car.

I have done some long Euro trips in mine in hot weather, don't bother with air con just open the windows can hear the sound track much better that way.

Not sure if air con was mentioned earlier, just ride comfort whihc is what I was replying too .

Agree my air con was non existent last summer (did we have one?) windows down whilst moving is OK, that's until you stop in traffic and it gets a bit warm .

[Byker28i]

_Neal_ said:

Cerbs aren't the most relaxing on long (UK) motorway journeys - bit noisy, bit hard-riding, bit tramline-y.

Nope another disagreement here. If I have some long journeys to do it'll be the cerbera everytime. It's just effortless at real motorways speeds, I've averaged 27mpg on 3-400 mile runs. It's also very comfortable and I've had no complaints from the missus or youngest in the back. In fact we only usually stop for food/toilet breaks.

I'd make sure the aircon works though. It's a little more noisy/uncomfortable with the windows open.

However - buying one for thrashing up and down motorways, I can't help but think there are better suited (cheaper) cars (or motorbikes)

[_Neal_]

Sorry guys, being misunderstood here my point is that there are much better cars for doing the job, not that the Cerb is too noisy/hard/tramline-y for motorway use full stop.

For example, I have a Fiat Coupe 20vt, and it's more comfortable for long motorway runs than the Cerb, as it's quieter and rides less harshly. However, if I'm driving an interesting mix of roads (or there are nice driving roads at the other end of the motorway stretch) I'll take the Cerb every time.

EDIT TO ADD - I've just had new suspension all round on the Cerb, so the ride-comfort comments relate to my old tired suspension - should be better with the new Gaz bits.

Edited by _Neal_ on Friday 11th January 11:19