In search of a 4.2 1996 Cerbera... what do i need to know
Discussion
Stating the obvious, cheap & good examples will be hard to find.
You will find cheap ones that will probably need work in the near future.
Or you'll need to spend a little more, but get a good one that shouldn't need any work for a while.....
Mileage isn't really an issue as long as it's got main dealer/known indipendant servicing (Joospeed/Austec/Castle/Top Cats etc)
You may as well start with the classified adverts on this site to get an idea of condition/price.
As your overseas, there are specialists who offer their services to examine any possible purchase, which will give you better idea of faults with the car (I can't remember names, but there will be other people along shortly who I'm sure will remember names)
Good luck !!!!
You will find cheap ones that will probably need work in the near future.
Or you'll need to spend a little more, but get a good one that shouldn't need any work for a while.....
Mileage isn't really an issue as long as it's got main dealer/known indipendant servicing (Joospeed/Austec/Castle/Top Cats etc)
You may as well start with the classified adverts on this site to get an idea of condition/price.
As your overseas, there are specialists who offer their services to examine any possible purchase, which will give you better idea of faults with the car (I can't remember names, but there will be other people along shortly who I'm sure will remember names)
Good luck !!!!
geia sou manoli and welcome to the forum.
The main thing with any cerbera is the condition of the chassis, especially in difficult to see places such as the top of the outriggers (just behind the front wheels). Ideally you need a rust free chassis as this may cost thousands to repair. You need a specialist check for this.
Other issues with the early 4.2 cars is the weak engine crank that can cause catastrophic engine failure, which again will cost a lot of money. This cannot be spotted on inspection so make sure the car has had an engine rebuild or upgrade of some sort. Clutches are also expensive and you will need to import from the UK.
Early cars have a slightly different clutch that is not produced anymore so when this goes you will need to also change the flywheel, possibly the bellhousing and slave cylinder. This will be about 2k pounds just in parts. So make sure the above parts have been replaced previously.
I would suggest also to speak to Rob Ingleby (findasportscar.com) and ask him to find you a good one. Also get in touch with Philip Phedonos (you will find him in the classifieds) he is dealing in tvrs and is very honest (and from cyprus!)
To be honest if i was you i would buy a chimaera rather than a cerbera. Thats because the cerb requires specialist servicing and parts that you wont be able to get in cyprus (e.g tappet adjustment, and timing chain every 12k miles, twin plate clutch etc). Also the leather trim will not last in the heat. When i took my car to greece the leather pealed off the dash in the heat and to repair you need to remove the windscreen, so you will need a new windscreen (impossible to find!!)
Whereas the chimaera is rover engined and mechanical parts are all ford,and opel. So you shoudlnt have any problems maintainig the car.
Sorry to be so negative but a cerb abroad is potentially a very very expensive affair.
If you still want one i would get the newest (post 2000) and best model i could find (that means probably the most expensive). You will be surprised how many people spend less than 15k on a car only to get a 10k plus bill within a year (and thats in the UK with loads of specialists and parts around)!
The main thing with any cerbera is the condition of the chassis, especially in difficult to see places such as the top of the outriggers (just behind the front wheels). Ideally you need a rust free chassis as this may cost thousands to repair. You need a specialist check for this.
Other issues with the early 4.2 cars is the weak engine crank that can cause catastrophic engine failure, which again will cost a lot of money. This cannot be spotted on inspection so make sure the car has had an engine rebuild or upgrade of some sort. Clutches are also expensive and you will need to import from the UK.
Early cars have a slightly different clutch that is not produced anymore so when this goes you will need to also change the flywheel, possibly the bellhousing and slave cylinder. This will be about 2k pounds just in parts. So make sure the above parts have been replaced previously.
I would suggest also to speak to Rob Ingleby (findasportscar.com) and ask him to find you a good one. Also get in touch with Philip Phedonos (you will find him in the classifieds) he is dealing in tvrs and is very honest (and from cyprus!)
To be honest if i was you i would buy a chimaera rather than a cerbera. Thats because the cerb requires specialist servicing and parts that you wont be able to get in cyprus (e.g tappet adjustment, and timing chain every 12k miles, twin plate clutch etc). Also the leather trim will not last in the heat. When i took my car to greece the leather pealed off the dash in the heat and to repair you need to remove the windscreen, so you will need a new windscreen (impossible to find!!)
Whereas the chimaera is rover engined and mechanical parts are all ford,and opel. So you shoudlnt have any problems maintainig the car.
Sorry to be so negative but a cerb abroad is potentially a very very expensive affair.
If you still want one i would get the newest (post 2000) and best model i could find (that means probably the most expensive). You will be surprised how many people spend less than 15k on a car only to get a 10k plus bill within a year (and thats in the UK with loads of specialists and parts around)!
Edited by QuiteQuietCerb on Sunday 18th January 14:42
Edited by QuiteQuietCerb on Sunday 18th January 14:44
t now with all the very helpfull advice that you gave me, which by the way i totally agree. Do you know where i can find Philip Phedonos.
hi manoli, yes i am, you should not feel bad about it, seriously consider a chimaera, i have driven one a few times and the driving experience and looks are very similar to the cerbera
to find Philip look at the chimaera clasiffieds he is advertising a few there. i got my cerbera of him and he is a great guy. Say hello from kostas if you get in touch
to find Philip look at the chimaera clasiffieds he is advertising a few there. i got my cerbera of him and he is a great guy. Say hello from kostas if you get in touch
Edited by QuiteQuietCerb on Monday 19th January 11:36
Chimaera's can have A/C..... 
It was a factory fit option on both cars, so not all Cerbera's have A/C.
Not wanting to put you off TVR's, it is also with mentioning that the A/C isn't the best on the market..... Although it will produce cold air (assuming it's gassed & working !) the A/C system is nothing like as good as on any other European car...
Although our car has A/C, when it stopped working, I didn't bother having it re-gassed. I drive everywhere with the windows open anyway, and the draft through the windows is more cooling than the A/C ever was !
It was a factory fit option on both cars, so not all Cerbera's have A/C.
Not wanting to put you off TVR's, it is also with mentioning that the A/C isn't the best on the market..... Although it will produce cold air (assuming it's gassed & working !) the A/C system is nothing like as good as on any other European car...
Although our car has A/C, when it stopped working, I didn't bother having it re-gassed. I drive everywhere with the windows open anyway, and the draft through the windows is more cooling than the A/C ever was !
Manoli as Olly has mentioned chimaeras and cerbs came with or without aircon, that in both cases isnt the best. However if you are driving in the heat you are better off in the chimaera, with or without the roof out, the cabin is much cooler. The cerbera is an oven in the heat, trust me i have experienced it first hand. AT least in the chim you take the roof off, put your foot down and the air hits you, in the cerb you are stuffed!!
On the import prices, i dont know the difference between the two cars but i can tell you that the extra money the cerbera will cost you to keep it on the road (maintainance, and parts) will by far outweigh a few thousand euros. Also take into account that if you look at a chimaera and a cerbera of the same condition, the cerbera will be more expensive, which again should offset the import tax.
Concerning the looks, in agree the cerbera looks better but ownership abroad has got many disadvantages over the chimaera. Having said that in the flesh the chim looks much better than in the pictures.
I dont want to sound negative, but what will you do if it breaks and no one can fix it? will you ship the engine to the UK?
Good luck whatever you decide
On the import prices, i dont know the difference between the two cars but i can tell you that the extra money the cerbera will cost you to keep it on the road (maintainance, and parts) will by far outweigh a few thousand euros. Also take into account that if you look at a chimaera and a cerbera of the same condition, the cerbera will be more expensive, which again should offset the import tax.
Concerning the looks, in agree the cerbera looks better but ownership abroad has got many disadvantages over the chimaera. Having said that in the flesh the chim looks much better than in the pictures.
I dont want to sound negative, but what will you do if it breaks and no one can fix it? will you ship the engine to the UK?
Good luck whatever you decide
Edited by QuiteQuietCerb on Monday 19th January 18:49
QuiteQuietCerb said:
. However if you are driving in the heat you are better off in the chimaera, with or without the roof out, the cabin is much cooler.
Sorry Kostas, gotta disagree on that one. Got serious heatstroke in my Chimaera twice (roof off) whereas I get little or no heatsoak in the Cerb.There again, I am a slap head !
Mike
Dutch_Cerbera said:
I'd support that.I used Rob to help me in my search for a Cerbera - I'd personally recomend him - A1 service. He does an inspection only service, but also a more comprehensive search and inspection service = shich is you are overseas is the one to go for. Give him your preferred spec, then be patient and wait for the right car to come up. I waited about 6 months for my preferred spec - all I can say is be patient, rush in and you will be burnt.....
mike i agree about Rob, he inspected mine and another cerb at the same time, and he did pick things up, especially chassis, diff, clutch issues etc. The inspection was very proffesional and well worth it.
However both cars that were inspected needed an engine rebuilt within a year. My car had a "small" rebuilt when the timing chain went, but the other car (early cerbera) got a snapped crank that has probably cost thousands to repair, and i know from the owner that the car was in a garage for at least a year waiting for parts etc.
I dont want to ditch Robs services because as i said he did pick things up that he could see and hear, and i would definately use him and recommend him again (my rebiult was my fault for not getting the timing chain checked). What im trying to say is that no one can predict whether your timing tensioners or crank or anything else will go. And whenever you are doing an inspection its never a 100% guarantee that the car will be ok forever. Especially with sp6 and AJP engined cars.
I would hate to see Manolis or any other overseas owner stuck with a car that cannot be fixed unless you ship it back to the UK. Thats why i pointed out the chim. The rover engine is more reliable, more predictable, easier for an inspector to asses, and cheaper to maintain
However both cars that were inspected needed an engine rebuilt within a year. My car had a "small" rebuilt when the timing chain went, but the other car (early cerbera) got a snapped crank that has probably cost thousands to repair, and i know from the owner that the car was in a garage for at least a year waiting for parts etc.
I dont want to ditch Robs services because as i said he did pick things up that he could see and hear, and i would definately use him and recommend him again (my rebiult was my fault for not getting the timing chain checked). What im trying to say is that no one can predict whether your timing tensioners or crank or anything else will go. And whenever you are doing an inspection its never a 100% guarantee that the car will be ok forever. Especially with sp6 and AJP engined cars.
I would hate to see Manolis or any other overseas owner stuck with a car that cannot be fixed unless you ship it back to the UK. Thats why i pointed out the chim. The rover engine is more reliable, more predictable, easier for an inspector to asses, and cheaper to maintain
Edited by QuiteQuietCerb on Monday 19th January 19:25
I thought Cyprus already had a Cerbera there .. hasn't the owner posted on here about a misfire recently? Might be worth tracking him down and asking him how he went about sourcing his car, but chatting to any of the reputable TVR sales places is a good start. My recommendation is James Agger of Agger Autosport.
mgaut said:
QuiteQuietCerb said:
. However if you are driving in the heat you are better off in the chimaera, with or without the roof out, the cabin is much cooler.
Sorry Kostas, gotta disagree on that one. Got serious heatstroke in my Chimaera twice (roof off) whereas I get little or no heatsoak in the Cerb.There again, I am a slap head !
Mike
btw i ll bring your suspension tool and cats round this weekend if you are available. let me know
Edited by QuiteQuietCerb on Monday 19th January 22:44
trackcar said:
I thought Cyprus already had a Cerbera there .. hasn't the owner posted on here about a misfire recently? Might be worth tracking him down and asking him how he went about sourcing his car, but chatting to any of the reputable TVR sales places is a good start. My recommendation is James Agger of Agger Autosport.
I was waiting for him to post a picture of his car up and got board waiting. I forget who it was as he might have it on his profile now and I would love to see it. Anybody have his PH name?hi all, the guys PH name is redrose.
Manoli there are loads of chims in the classifieds. If you keep on looking im sure you will find one with aircon. Alternatively i dont know how difficult and expensive it would be to get one fitted, but take into account that you can find a chimaera for half the price of a cerbera so you should be able to stick an aircon with the extra money.
I am sure Philip can enquire for you. He has very close links to a couple of TVR specialists in London. So if you were to get a car of him based on it having an aircon, im sure he could do it for you for less than you would have to pay, as he gets trade cost rates form the specialists. He added some extra stuff to my car before i bought it and i paid half from what i would normally
btw you missed this one:
http://pistonheads.com/sales/798553.htm
Manoli there are loads of chims in the classifieds. If you keep on looking im sure you will find one with aircon. Alternatively i dont know how difficult and expensive it would be to get one fitted, but take into account that you can find a chimaera for half the price of a cerbera so you should be able to stick an aircon with the extra money.
I am sure Philip can enquire for you. He has very close links to a couple of TVR specialists in London. So if you were to get a car of him based on it having an aircon, im sure he could do it for you for less than you would have to pay, as he gets trade cost rates form the specialists. He added some extra stuff to my car before i bought it and i paid half from what i would normally
btw you missed this one:
http://pistonheads.com/sales/798553.htm
Edited by QuiteQuietCerb on Wednesday 21st January 20:39
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