Buying advice for Cerbera

[fade2grey]

Hi guys, I'm considering buying a 2nd hand Cerbie - my head tells me Audi S4, but my heart tells me to buy a cerbera. Looking at a budget of around 15-17k I'd like to find a 97 or 98 4.5.

Does anyone have any advice on what to look for, general running costs etc. Also do any of you use your cerbera as a daily driver - is it possible to use it all year?

Cheers,
A

[kojak69]

I suggest you look at some of the past posts on the forum. Theres lots of imfo.As for following your head or your heart..., go with the latter.

[GCerbera]

fade2grey said:

Looking at a budget of around 15-17k I'd like to find a 97 or 98 4.5.

You might have to look very hard on that budget for a 97 98 4.5.

They are out there, but your more likely to find a 96 P
for that kind of money and it may need some work.

Better stretch the budget if you can to around 18 - 19k.

Have a look at my site in Classifieds.

Good luck!

Go create some weather...
Graham
TCR The Cerbera Register

www.TVR-Cerbera.com

[fade2grey]

Were there many revisions or updates from 1996 to say 1998? If they are effectively the same, it may be worth looking for an earlier low milage example.

[gazzab]

fade2grey said:

Were there many revisions or updates from 1996 to say 1998? If they are effectively the same, it may be worth looking for an earlier low milage example.

98 onwards is meant to get you the best sorted cerbies.
But you wont get low mileage and immaculate for 15k on a 98 4.5. So either go for a 4.2 or up your budget or go for higher miles.

[fade2grey]

Cheers for the info..

Are there any special options which are worth extra cash? - aircon etc?

A

[gazzab]

fade2grey said:

Cheers for the info.. Are there any special options which are worth extra cash? - aircon etc? A

I would suggest that most consider air con a must.
18 inch spiders are also de rigeur.
Full leather is great as well.
Upgraded suspension is also good.

[fade2grey]

Ta (again)

So are they just too much hassle to drive every day? - looking on the forum there are a lot of tales of woe WRT reliabiliy problems. Has anyone used theirs over the wintersnow etc?

A

[gazzab]

The more they are used then the better they are - generally.
Dont use for regular short journeys, warm them up properly, regularly check levels etc then they will normally be fine or even excellent.
Driving in the snow is fine, no more difficult than other cars in my view. Easier than Rover based cars as the torque comes in at higher revs. As they dont have abs then they brake better in the snow than 'modern' cars.

[fade2grey]

aahh so it's possible to use as a 'proper' car just what I wanted to hear..

Anything specific to check for when looking at them - any easy ways to tell a dog from a decent one?

A

[arcbeer]

Plenty to look out for but if you're anything like me you forget it all as soon as you're behind the wheel.

Drive as many as possible. They're all hand-made and each one feels slightly different.

Here are a few things I picked up while looking myself:
 Wipers (problem when on intermittent)
 Flickering head lights on dipped beam - Probably the relay located above the fuel tank, take it out and put it back. If this works its on its way out.
 All switches
 Air con
 Windows winding up and down when opening the door.
 Pre 98 Clutch no longer available, have to upgrade to 4.5 clutch which can cost up to 3K. It had to have new bellhousing and flywheel at the same time, as the old 4.2 clutch is no longer made!
 VIN and Engine numbers, check the car has not been binned.
 Check alarm (a Meta M99T or a M36T system)
 Check immobiliser
 Maintained water level.
 Smoke out of one of the exhausts due to the two banks of the engine. Have the seals been replaced around the valves?
 Separate hot and cold vents as opposed to a mixer.
 Door seals – Breeze on the back of your neck.
 Noisy cams, been upgraded or not? hard cams which were changed about 98 I think to a softer quieter version. Been replaced after 14K?
 Misfires around 30mph
 Water in the boot (look around fuel filler)
 Water in the footwell (look for re-sealed brake and clutch fluid cylinders, aircon condenser behind accelerator).
 Water in rear light clusters.
 Condensation around edge of windscreen.
 If still on the original exhaust check for cracks where the pipes join the back box.
 Excess of mileage between services invalidates warranty.
 Starter motors are commonly replaced (approx £500).
 6 in door speakers on later models (earlier were not as good).

[GCerbera]

Mine is currently off road and due back any day, but was used almost daily.

Things to check:
Recall on uprights has been done.

Clutch / gear box work.

Engine work. (Cams)

The higher the miles, the sign points to a good car,
the lower the miles, either you have a bargain...or
one of the 'not so good days at TVR'

Are the cats in.

It must have a good service record and on an older car,
this could easily be done by a good independent.

Don't buy the first you see unless an independent party
in the know says it's the deal you think it is.

Hope it helps!

Go create some weather...
Graham
TCR The Cerbera Register

www.TVR-Cerbera.com

[fade2grey]

Cheers guys.. looking good.

Are there any decent independents in the Northeast? Or is Hexham Horseless Carrages the best place in the area?

A

[malman]

HHC is the official dealer but Bedlington Motor company gets a few TVRs in regularly. Bedlington has a tagline of "North of England specialists in TVR sales". Seems to have an awful lot of non TVRs for a TVR specialist . Anyway for the budget you have you will probably have to go for a private sale but you can get a good close look at a few examples by going to the dealers.

My experience of HHC is that the cars are very well prepped so its hard to tell what previous life the car had (some times best to see a car raw if you know what I mean).

I'm still looking for the right Cerbera for me and they seem to be thin on the ground in the Northeast so be prepared to travel. Couldn't interest you in a lovely Chimaera by chance

Good hunting.

Neil

[fade2grey]

Cheers Neil.. I think I'll have a mooch at hexham & bedlington - anywhere really just to get a feel for them beforeif I jump into Cerbera land.

Chimera? Umm fraid not I'm a bit tall for one (@ 6'7") - that box section behind the seats!

So looking at higher mile cerbies say 97/98 private sale. Are there any other re-calls or engine work which you guys would expect to have been completed?

A

[jamesk]

If you're too tall for one post TVR then you are likely too tall for them all. Peter Wheeler is 6'6" (as am I) and they are built so he can drive them

>> Edited by jamesk on Thursday 28th August 09:37

[olly]

fade2grey said:

Cheers Neil.. I think I'll have a mooch at hexham & bedlington - anywhere really just to get a feel for them beforeif I jump into Cerbera land. Chimera? Umm fraid not I'm a bit tall for one (@ 6'7") - that box section behind the seats! So looking at higher mile cerbies say 97/98 private sale. Are there any other re-calls or engine work which you guys would expect to have been completed? A

The only re-call was for the front suspension uprights. There will be a sticker on/next to the VIN plate in the engine bay if it's been done. If there isn't a sticker, call the factory & check it's been done.... Happy Hunting !

[Julian64]

I'm 6'1", and sitting in my car on the way to work this morning there was a good 4" above my head.
If you take out the removeable seat cushion should be plenty.

[olly]

Julian64 said:

I'm 6'1", and sitting in my car on the way to work this morning there was a good 4" above my head. If you take out the removeable seat cushion should be plenty.

No removable seat cussion on the age of car he's looking at....

The removable seat/pad is part of the Tuscan style seat, so only available on cars built after 2000....

[fade2grey]

Are the pedals adjustable on 97/98 cerbies?

A