Patiently waiting for a buyer.........

[pjac67]

in a very quiet market.... had one email and one viewing in 8 weeks of advertising. The guy who viewed said it was the best condition Cerb he'd seen out of 7 he'd viewed (not much use as he didn't buy it..). I'm probably being daft selling as nothing needs doing but just fancy a newer facelift version (wheels, lights, seats etc).
Don't want to change mine as it a,would cost too much and b,would detract from a very original car (apart from linked decats ).

Guess it's just a sign of the times as dealers are reporting the same?

[BLUETHUNDER]

Agreed.In all the time mine was on here.I had two viewings.One was genuine Cerb999.The other a complete time waster.Coupled with all the time wasting e-mails.You have two things against you at the moment.The current state of the economy,and the car itself.The Cerbera attracts more than its fair share of dreamers.

[bobbins]

Yep - the economy isn't doing anyone trying to sell a Cerb any favours at the moment.

I maintain there's a buyer for everything though. I managed to get a very good price for my previous car in January because I was in no rush to sell. The equivalent car now is nearly £2k cheaper.

Plus you're asking a bit more than you paid for it not so long back. No offence intended though - I'm guessing you've done stuff to it that needed doing so are naturally trying to recoup.

[Roy Batty]

Coming from the other side of the situation I am looking to buy and as a genuine buyer I really do try hard to put that accross. From experience of selling my 375bhp M3 you get so many dreamers it is un true (The BMW appeals to the chav types so you get even more unrealistic people contacting you then for a Cerb I would imagine)

From the owners I have spoken to the questions (and there are many of them) show I am well researched and even being able to tell the owner things that they didn't know on occasions which is nice

I also very hard to decide on what is a fair price for a Cerb as my heart would pay way over the odds, but realistically I need to be practical and save as much mony as possible to put towards the maintance of the car.

Although I will haggle it makes me feel like a schmuck, some sort of penny pincher

[mxi933]

let me get in there before anyone else does. I'm looking for a good home for mine if you don't mind purple. And I'm open to offers

[garyc3481]

I agree, market must be quiet at the moment, my Cerb is a good car and is priced reasonably cheap and I have not even had one enquiry about it! Oh well, if worst comes to the worst I'll just need to drive it all summer!

[pjac67]

I think Steve has read every thread and every advert... twice!

It's a buyers market and with a decent budget like Steve the words 'kid' and 'sweetshop' spring to mind

Now which everlasting gobstopper shall I go for....

[thegreengoblet]

bobbins said:

I maintain there's a buyer for everything though.

Agreed. If you are in no hurry to sell, then the right person will come along. In the mean time, just keep enjoying

[Mr M]

Noticed you'd not had it long Paul. Did you not like it ?

[Storer]

There seems to be very little difference between the prices charged by dealers (when one has a Cerbera) and private sellers. I know that you should buy on condition but a warranty from a dealer has it's attractions also.

I suspect a dealer would pay about £3K to £4K less than they advertise a car for to allow for workshop check over, warranty, overheads and profit. If your car is similar to one offered by a dealer then you need to undercut them by at least £2K IMO.

If you spend a lot on the car fixing problems or upgrading then you are unlikely to see much of that money back when you sell. We all know these cars are money pits when we buy them. You just have to write off the expense as a hobby. After all, a Nissan Micra will get you most places you want to go for far less money.

I have never had a car that hasn't cost a lot in either depreciation or repairs (usually both) so I don't expect my Cerbera to be any different.

[jammy_basturd]

BLUETHUNDER said:

Agreed.In all the time mine was on here.I had two viewings.One was genuine Cerb999.The other a complete time waster.Coupled with all the time wasting e-mails.You have two things against you at the moment.The current state of the economy,and the car itself.The Cerbera attracts more than its fair share of dreamers.

Just out of interest, whats the difference between someone who doesn't chose to buy you TVR, because they've been sensible and looked around and decided that yours isn't 'the one', and a "time waster"?

[BLUETHUNDER]

jammy_basturd said:

BLUETHUNDER said:

Agreed.In all the time mine was on here.I had two viewings.One was genuine Cerb999.The other a complete time waster.Coupled with all the time wasting e-mails.You have two things against you at the moment.The current state of the economy,and the car itself.The Cerbera attracts more than its fair share of dreamers.

Just out of interest, whats the difference between someone who doesn't chose to buy you TVR, because they've been sensible and looked around and decided that yours isn't 'the one', and a "time waster"?

The difference being that with the first guy that came down,he had obviously done his home work.He arrived like he said he would.He had a list of questions to ask.I talked him through the car, he looked at all the bills,took him for a drive.You could tell he was genuine.He ended up buying one of the most sorted Cerbera,s on here.Bagumans old car.So no complaints there.Mr time waster on the other hand!After plagueing me every weekend for four weeks,asking about the car,what it was like etc,etc,.He then decides to make the journey down after cancelling the first time round.Viewed the car,all the time muttering to his other half that the car was the b***ocks.He then turns around and says that he wont have any money for at least two weeks,and would i be willing to do a part-ex on a heap of s**t Supra!.Oh F**k off!.The add stated it all especially no part-exe,s.Thats the difference between some one genuine and and one thats a time waster!.

[Roy Batty]

pjac67 said:

I think Steve has read every thread and every advert... twice!

It's a buyers market and with a decent budget like Steve the words 'kid' and 'sweetshop' spring to mind

Now which everlasting gobstopper shall I go for....

It is nice to get some many emails from some top people regarding passing on their baby to me, I could sit back and do nothing

maybe I will put you all in a pit and let you fight it out for my cash

Seriously thanks to all have contacted me and my apologies for those who I have yet to get back onto, please don't think me rude but I have a 4 week old little girl to look after with my good lady so finding time to get back to everyone can be tough.

I am hopefullying seeing Sams Cerb at the weekend, its been to AP Motors today and a few things have been picked up that are getting sorted. Sam has been most helpful and put up with my ramblings and questions

Storer said:

If you spend a lot on the car fixing problems or upgrading then you are unlikely to see much of that money back when you sell. We all know these cars are money pits when we buy them. You just have to write off the expense as a hobby. After all, a Nissan Micra will get you most places you want to go for far less money.

I have never had a car that hasn't cost a lot in either depreciation or repairs (usually both) so I don't expect my Cerbera to be any different.

I spent 20k on my E46 M3 then £6k on engine out Schric cams, Milteck exhaust (100 cell cats) and a custom Rolling + Live remap, on top of that a retro fitted some factory options, refurbed the tricky 19" alloys so spent about £28000. Come to sell it a year later and although loads of calls and visits I ended up selling to a mate for £16000 Mods put the average M3 "for show" owner off so limited my market.

The Cerb is effectively a gift from my lovely lady so it is costing me nothing so depretiation isn't really relevant to me. I am in a very luck position.

[RUSSELLM]

Timewaster = "
I haven't had a go at driving yet, but I'm hoping my mum buys me some lessons this Christmas"
"ooh, it's very noisy isn't it"
"Can you get a roof rack for it ?"
"There's a stone chip on the front, having you been driving it on the road ?"
"I notice you've got it advertised at £16,000.... I've got nine grand to spend"

I could go on, if you haven't got the jist yet

Edited by RUSSELLM on Thursday 19th June 19:40

[Roy Batty]

RUSSELLM said:

Timewaster = "
I haven't had a go at driving yet, but I'm hoping my mum buys me some lessons this Christmas"
"ooh, it's very noisy isn't it"
"Can you get a roof rack for it ?"
"There's a stone chip on the front, having you been driving it on the road ?"
"I notice you've got it advertised at £16,000.... I've got nine grand to spend"

I could go on, if you haven't got the jist yet

Edited by RUSSELLM on Thursday 19th June 19:40

I like asking what insurance quotes they have got, the classic one was a early 20 something chap who said he hadn't check but would find away. Yes at 28 with 3 years NCB it costs me £1400 so you will get it far cheaper than that

I am still gobsmacked that I can get a 4.5 Cerb insured as a second classic car for £289!!!!

[Gazzab]

I had a few timewaster when I sold. One didnt turn up and then phoned later to say he was coming the following day. I said that I had another potential buyer coming that day, he said dont worry. so alternative guy came and agreed to buy it. First guy was driving to me from 200 miles away, almost at my house when I called him to say dont bother. he had the cheek to have a go at me despite not turning up first time and despite agreeing that he had moved himself to 2nd place (and being one of those people who tried to barter on the phone re his max budget - I really hate that tactic).

[Cerb999]

Glad I didn't come across as a timewaster Bluethunder.

The truth is, I'd have been embarassed to go and see a Cerb and talk to the owner without having done my homework. It's not the sort of car that you're going to buy without knowing a lot about it, unless money is no object!

I looked at quite a few Cerbs before I bought mine and the thing that struck me was how genuinely enthusiastic and honest every single owner was about their car; none of the usual bo****ks that you usually get when looking at used cars. It made me feel quite bad that I didn't offer to buy the first ones I saw but I had promised myself I wouldn't do that!

So I'm pleased I'm now an owner and very happy with the choice I made.
Feel like I've joined the best club in the world and not planning on leaving it any time soon!

And if it makes you feel any better, it's not just the Cerb market that's slowed down; I still havn't sold the car that I was selling to pay for the Cerb....and my wife is nearly speaking to me again!

There's nothing that can beat the feeling of opening up your Cerb on some open road in the sunsine and experiencing the sensation of British engineering at it's best. Priceless!

[pjac67]

Mr M said:

Noticed you'd not had it long Paul. Did you not like it ?

Hi Colin - I've had the car since 10th Feb (agreed to purchase on 8th Feb - 30 mins after waving goodbye to my Griff . Needed a (sensible 4 seater) replacement straight away so had to act quickly) - I'd been keeping an eye on PH for months and this Cerb had just come on at a price so I jumped at it. Before viewing it I spoke to James Agger and Dom who knew the car and as Dom was around the corner from the owner I asked if I could take up his time and pay for an inspection. His reply was 'don't bother you will be wasting your money!'. I said 'oh dear' and he replied 'no, the car is mint' - good enough for me and the rest is history...

I love the car and have covered 3,500m in her without missing a beat (so reliable so far doesn't feel like a 'proper TVR' ) and would be happy to keep her if don't sell. Only selling because I prefer the posted 2001 design compared to the original although I doubt I will get a car that is as 'sorted'.....

[grovest]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum, and I may well be the one viewer if we are talking about a Space Halycon Pearl one. If this was me I apologise if I came across as a time waster as I was a genuinely serious buyer. It was indeed the first good example I saw but I didn't want to rush into buying for that very reason, especially as the car was being sold within three months of being purchased - this was what really seeded the doubt in my mind.

However, on the brighter side, some are selling as I am now the very proud owner of this http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/529789.htm , highish mileage but the best condition example I have seen for sale irrespective of age. Rob Ingleby inspected for me and the owner had the only problem fixed. I really felt for the chap selling it as he had truly loved the car for six years and I'll bet money there was a tear as he heard me disappear into the distance. He asked for first refusal should I decide to sell it in the future and his circumstances have changed. Nice bloke, like all the Cerbie owners I met over the many weeks of looking.

[jammy_basturd]

BLUETHUNDER said:

jammy_basturd said:

BLUETHUNDER said:

Agreed.In all the time mine was on here.I had two viewings.One was genuine Cerb999.The other a complete time waster.Coupled with all the time wasting e-mails.You have two things against you at the moment.The current state of the economy,and the car itself.The Cerbera attracts more than its fair share of dreamers.

Just out of interest, whats the difference between someone who doesn't chose to buy you TVR, because they've been sensible and looked around and decided that yours isn't 'the one', and a "time waster"?

The difference being that with the first guy that came down,he had obviously done his home work.He arrived like he said he would.He had a list of questions to ask.I talked him through the car, he looked at all the bills,took him for a drive.You could tell he was genuine.He ended up buying one of the most sorted Cerbera,s on here.Bagumans old car.So no complaints there.Mr time waster on the other hand!After plagueing me every weekend for four weeks,asking about the car,what it was like etc,etc,.He then decides to make the journey down after cancelling the first time round.Viewed the car,all the time muttering to his other half that the car was the b***ocks.He then turns around and says that he wont have any money for at least two weeks,and would i be willing to do a part-ex on a heap of s**t Supra!.Oh F**k off!.The add stated it all especially no part-exe,s.Thats the difference between some one genuine and and one thats a time waster!.

Haha! I get the picture, pretty much the difference between an enthusiast and a chav then! Its just I hear the term "timewaster" used a lot, generally by sellers who are a bit frustrated by people who have viewed and not bought. Annoys me a little bit, as a buyer, to think I might get put in the same sack just because I don't buy upon viewing.