Anyone use a Cerb a daily runner?

[Dan225]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone uses thier cerbera everyday to get to and from etc. and if it has ever let you down. The only time you ever really see any TVR's out on the road is on a sunny dry sunday afternoon.

I am wanting to know as I would love one, and am contemplating getting a cheap one to work on/restore over the winter months. And the only way the mrs will let me do that is if at the end I have a car I can use everyday. Reliablity seems OK, but you only have to look the list of thread titles to make you worry a little. What do you all think?

Dan

Edited by Dan225 on Thursday 16th July 16:50

[morebeanz]

I now run mine on a daily basis, to and from work, etc but I've only been doing that a few months.

I think the reliability is fine, but the expense is something else...

[Dan225]

I take it you mean the fuel consumption. What sort of mpg are you getting if you dont mind me asking? I know thats a silly question but just trying to work out rough costs involoved

Edited by Dan225 on Thursday 16th July 17:03

[Byker28i]

GrahamN used his really regularly up it started spending all it's time in the garage.

[Allandwf]

I get about 17mpg out of mine. 4.2

Edited by Allandwf on Thursday 16th July 17:26

[Dave 500]

I use mine everyday rain or shine Its not let me down in the last 2 years and 26000 miles.

Three trips to Scotland one to the south of Spain (40 degree heat) and loads of tunnel runs

[Onzlouk]

Daily here too, well almost every day. No problems and never failed to get home, been all round the country and across Europe and recently round the nurburgring as well and it outperformed my expectations! Do it.

[Dan225]

Thats good news then, what sort of condition is your car in? I mean has it had an engine rebuild, chassis refurb etc? I am planning to get a cerb for around 6k and invest another 4k in reconditioning the chassis, interior and body work, as I can do most work myself I reckon that its a realistic budget. Just hoping the car will be reliable at the end of it

The main thing I dont understand about TVR's is how they are unreliable. All they are is fibreglass body over a spaceframe chassis, a big engine with some wires running to it. What problems do people actually get? Is it only electrical and engine failure? If so I can rebuild the engine and am pretty handy with a wiring loom so after I do all this it should be as reliable as a honda. Just trying to gauge what sort of depth im going to have go into. Or is it more random parts like sensors which fail? If this is the case I should just be able to refresh everything and I should have years of trouble free TVR ownership? Or am I being too ambitious?

Edited by Dan225 on Thursday 16th July 18:15

[Spawn]

I use mine 5 days a week on average. Never have any problems really. I get about 17mpg as well.

[Barkychoc]

Dan225 said:

Thats good news then, what sort of condition is your car in? I mean has it had an engine rebuild, chassis refurb etc? I am planning to get a cerb for around 6k and invest another 4k in reconditioning the chassis, interior and body work, as I can do most work myself I reckon that its a realistic budget. Just hoping the car will be reliable at the end of it

The main thing I dont understand about TVR's is how they are unreliable. All they are is fibreglass body over a spaceframe chassis, a big engine with some wires running to it. What problems do people actually get? Is it only electrical and engine failure? If so I can rebuild the engine and am pretty handy with a wiring loom so after I do all this it should be as reliable as a honda. Just trying to gauge what sort of depth im going to have go into. Or is it more random parts like sensors which fail? If this is the case I should just be able to refresh everything and I should have years of trouble free TVR ownership? Or am I being too ambitious?

There is no such thing as a cheap Cerb - and I don't think £4k would be enough to transform a rough example.
Far far better to look long and hard and buy a good one, in the current climate you may come across someone who needs to sell quickly, their loss is your gain.
I've been rebuilding a V8S which is a far simpler car than a Cerb - and its amazing how quickly the cost climbs especially for all the little bits you don't think about.
Don't let me put you off - if you get the TVR thing and it sounds like you do then an TVR will give you the coathanger grin, and you won't care about the cost. Your wife might

[Dave 500]

Dan225 said:

Thats good news then, what sort of condition is your car in? I mean has it had an engine rebuild, chassis refurb etc?

Well mine has 42000 on it and so far

Engine untouched apart from remap and tappets
Gearbox untouched
Chassis untouched but has been wax oiled
Clutch original
Brake Disks and Pads original but will need replacing soon
I'm on the cars second set of front tyres and just about to replace second set of rears next week.



Over all I would say its in good condition but I bought it good nick so its a bit easer to keep it that way than trying to make good a bad one.

[itiejim]

Dan225 said:

The main thing I dont understand about TVR's is how they are unreliable. All they are is fibreglass body over a spaceframe chassis, a big engine with some wires running to it. What problems do people actually get? Is it only electrical and engine failure? If so I can rebuild the engine and am pretty handy with a wiring loom so after I do all this it should be as reliable as a honda. Just trying to gauge what sort of depth im going to have go into. Or is it more random parts like sensors which fail? If this is the case I should just be able to refresh everything and I should have years of trouble free TVR ownership? Or am I being too ambitious?

Edited by Dan225 on Thursday 16th July 18:15

I think that's a fair point - lots of people are scared of these things, BCA runs one every day, including regular sprints, and has had no major issues. If you need to rebuild an engine that's gone bang, then it's going to be expensive. I'd be inclined to do an interim rebuild before that happens which will cost a lot less if you can avoid having to buy pistons, liners, crank etc.

Lots of the electrical problems seem to be linked to the various electrical control boxes that TVR fitted to do lots of (fairly unneccessary) jobs. If you're a sparky, I'd really look to get rid of a lot of what TVR put in - simpler set up for the heater, indicators, wipers, etc.

Whether £4k is enough will depend on what you start with though...

[Dan225]

I am aware of the rough costs and am VERY familiar with the "well its off so I might as well change it" but as said I can do all of the work required myself, well sort of, I am a mechanic and a friend of mine is a decent sprayer and panel beater. So the only costs will be parts. Also worth mentioning that the 4k budget doesnt include engine rebuild parts. Although if you think this plan is a bit too ambitious id rather find out now than half way through.

[Dan225]

itiejim said:

I think that's a fair point - lots of people are scared of these things, BCA runs one every day, including regular sprints, and has had no major issues. If you need to rebuild an engine that's gone bang, then it's going to be expensive. I'd be inclined to do an interim rebuild before that happens which will cost a lot less if you can avoid having to buy pistons, liners, crank etc.

Lots of the electrical problems seem to be linked to the various electrical control boxes that TVR fitted to do lots of (fairly unneccessary) jobs. If you're a sparky, I'd really look to get rid of a lot of what TVR put in - simpler set up for the heater, indicators, wipers, etc.

Whether £4k is enough will depend on what you start with though...

I am fairly competant although will have to seek help when it comes to more complicated issues. Has anyone else done a complete rewire of the loom? to take out all the unnessasary bits? Essentailly then, it seems to be the main thing that riddles the TVR with faults is the electrics, the reason for sensors etc, giving out may be incorrect voltages caused by crossing systems which shouldn't interfear with each other. Sounds like I'm going to have to go deeper than I thought

[jammy_basturd]

I think a lot of the reliability issues come from the electrics, especially with damp getting into the door electrics, and a few of the control modules in the boot are known for getting iffy at times. As far as engine reliability goes, the clutch cylinders can cause troubles, as can the fingers on the clutch itself. Its worth mentioning the crank on the early 4.2s, but there hasn't been any reports of any going in ages now. Other than that, keep it maintained, oil topped up, and tappets sorted and you should be fine with the power unit.

[Gazzab]

£4K to do it up....by the time you buy a clutch, some paint, carpets, retrim. brakes and tyres you have spent your budget. A good £6K Cerb is a rare thing.

[Allandwf]

Over all the main bits are reliable, the whole reliability issue seems to be the little boxes that control EVERYTHING. Dirty contacts etc causing all sort of electrical gremlins. These are more niggles, and are part of the cerb experience. Mine has windows which operate ok......... unless you put the lights on , then they don't !!!!!

[jammy_basturd]

I think it depends whether the OP wants a perfect Cerb, or one that is very reliable and in good condition. I bought mine for well under £10k (not quite as low as 6 though), and I think I could do a chassis restore, partial retrim, sort out the niggly electrics, brakes and suspension and perhaps a top end rebuild for under £10k. I do all my own work though.

[philh]

Im in the same predicament, to get one it must be a daily (around 7k a year), im looking closely at running first!

[al 350i]

curious to know where these 6k cerbs are? have you thought about a 9-10k cerb and £500 shopping trolley, the banger could still breakdown but if your handy with a spanner and you buy a common car like ford,vauxhall,etc then thats what breakers yards are for! most insurance companies will do deals for 2 cars and the cerbera would be their main concern anyway.
parts aren't to bad and most have been pinched from somewhere else any way, there are some very useful links on the forums for where to look, http://www.tvr-cerbera.net/parts.htm
everybody on the cerb forum is really friendly and helpful so don't worry if you get stuck or need a little help.

if this doesn't help, then you could always get a divorce!!!!