My Cerb experiences -- six weeks in
Discussion
Well I thought I'd share with you all my experience of running a Cerb after the first six weeks.
To be honest, every time I think about driving the car I dread it. It's a pig when cold, and sounds like a bag of nails. I hate doing short journeys. The demisting sucks, and the air out of the vents can only be described as lukewarm (or, once the water temp gets over 80 degrees, as "too bloody hot"). I particularly hate driving it when it's wet (no traction) or cold (can't see out). It's particularly sh1t when trying to do a three-point turn, and it's a bloody nightmare to parallel park.
OTOH, once it's warmed up and there's a decent set of A-road bends or a straight, all of that is forgotten. I wind down the windows to hear the sports exhausts. I've only used the stereo once, and there's only one CD in the 12-CD autochanger. I can't see why anyone would need more power than what I have available. The only thing that astounds me more than the grunt on tap is the fact that the McLaren F1 is about the same weight and has nearly twice the power!
I think I'm now at the most dangerous period of ownership -- I've gained some confidence but I don't have the skill. I think I will invest in some tuition shortly.
Niggles-wise I've encountered the following:
* Found out I could drop the windows lower (they don't seem to go all the way to the bottom) by holding the button down. But then I couldn't get them back up again. Waited 20 mins and seemed fine afterwards.
* MIL light came on on a very cold day. Hasn't done it since.
* Clonking noise sometimes comes from behind the steering wheel -- only when turning the wheel whilst travelling v.slowly or stationary (I know you shouldn't). I can work around this by ensuring that I start moving well before turning the wheel.
In summary: I wouldn't swap it for the world. And it looks absolutely fantastic when it's outside my house.
To be honest, every time I think about driving the car I dread it. It's a pig when cold, and sounds like a bag of nails. I hate doing short journeys. The demisting sucks, and the air out of the vents can only be described as lukewarm (or, once the water temp gets over 80 degrees, as "too bloody hot"). I particularly hate driving it when it's wet (no traction) or cold (can't see out). It's particularly sh1t when trying to do a three-point turn, and it's a bloody nightmare to parallel park.
OTOH, once it's warmed up and there's a decent set of A-road bends or a straight, all of that is forgotten. I wind down the windows to hear the sports exhausts. I've only used the stereo once, and there's only one CD in the 12-CD autochanger. I can't see why anyone would need more power than what I have available. The only thing that astounds me more than the grunt on tap is the fact that the McLaren F1 is about the same weight and has nearly twice the power!
I think I'm now at the most dangerous period of ownership -- I've gained some confidence but I don't have the skill. I think I will invest in some tuition shortly.
Niggles-wise I've encountered the following:
* Found out I could drop the windows lower (they don't seem to go all the way to the bottom) by holding the button down. But then I couldn't get them back up again. Waited 20 mins and seemed fine afterwards.
* MIL light came on on a very cold day. Hasn't done it since.
* Clonking noise sometimes comes from behind the steering wheel -- only when turning the wheel whilst travelling v.slowly or stationary (I know you shouldn't). I can work around this by ensuring that I start moving well before turning the wheel.
In summary: I wouldn't swap it for the world. And it looks absolutely fantastic when it's outside my house.
They are "playful" in the wet, as long as its progressive power its ok but they can get away from you...its not like with front wheel or 4 wheel drive where u can more or less plant the right boot and pull yourself thru the bends....this morning icy roads really struggled wud maybe have been better without tyres in an ice skate style???? I run mine as an everyday car, run 12miles to work and back and knock around in it at weekends and I find her very easy to live with on a day to day basis...I've never had a scooby but did have a very sure footed Audi Quattro before and I do miss the all weather ability but you forget all that the first time you see people stop in the street and mouth "TVR" when they see you! Hope this helps with your future ambitions and good luck
I run mine most days as well, if even just on a school run
(currently 20 mile round trip ) and perhaps going
against the flow, mine de ices quickly, demists,
belches out hot air and handles happily in the
wet and ice.
A few people who have ridden with me have been
surprised at this. Maybe it's the karting experience
coming through, it does handle in a very similar way.
Instant power that you have to ease in and the
cornering has the same approach, easy in with
little breaking.
If you are not familiar with this style of driving,
I am sure it would surprise you and feel very
'twitchy' but having been warned of this, I expected
it to be a handful and to date, I've been happy
in all weathers.
Just love this car!
Go create some weather...
It's a road legal Concorde!
Graham
TCR The Cerbera Register
www.TVR-Cerbera.com
(currently 20 mile round trip ) and perhaps going
against the flow, mine de ices quickly, demists,
belches out hot air and handles happily in the
wet and ice.
A few people who have ridden with me have been
surprised at this. Maybe it's the karting experience
coming through, it does handle in a very similar way.
Instant power that you have to ease in and the
cornering has the same approach, easy in with
little breaking.
If you are not familiar with this style of driving,
I am sure it would surprise you and feel very
'twitchy' but having been warned of this, I expected
it to be a handful and to date, I've been happy
in all weathers.
Just love this car!
Go create some weather...
It's a road legal Concorde!
Graham
TCR The Cerbera Register
www.TVR-Cerbera.com
Unless your a complete fool, then driving a cerb in the wet is no real bother. Just keep the revs low and be gentle on the throttle and you'll spend 99% of your time without a problem.
You'll only get out of shape if you use too much power at the wrong moment, or hit a manhole/icy patch/diesel etc...
Even with my dodgy suspension it's been easy enough to catch when that happens.
Drive sensibly and all will be well.
You'll only get out of shape if you use too much power at the wrong moment, or hit a manhole/icy patch/diesel etc...
Even with my dodgy suspension it's been easy enough to catch when that happens.
Drive sensibly and all will be well.
TKD said:
So I guess it's no worse than any powerful RWD car? i.e 911, M3?
Cerb's easier to catch than an old style 911 (pre-993). Both give you plenty of warning when the rear is about to go, with the 911 you have less chance of recovery if you ignore the hint.
Downside is that on uneven surfaces, the extra weight of a 911 makes it absolutely planted. The Cerb skips and hops, and generally undermines confidence. Nitron shocks plus setup by Joolz in the new year should sort that niggle
A cerbera is a fine car for day to day stuff. Yes it can be an arse when the wondows are frozen shut and it takes a bit longer than the saab to demist (I'll be getting the broken aircon pipe fixed in a few months which will aid that).
I have been suprised just how docile it is in the wet, I came from a Griff 500 which was much worse.
Super, super cars.
D.
I have been suprised just how docile it is in the wet, I came from a Griff 500 which was much worse.
Super, super cars.
D.
Spot on Graham.
They are just like karts in the wet, plenty of warning of impending slides, more so than a modern saloon IMHO.
Just don't try to race anyone in the wet, it is very easy to unstick the rear by using too much throttle, it will probably all end in tears.
As long as you are progressive it is no more dangerous than any other car handling wise.
They are just like karts in the wet, plenty of warning of impending slides, more so than a modern saloon IMHO.
Just don't try to race anyone in the wet, it is very easy to unstick the rear by using too much throttle, it will probably all end in tears.
As long as you are progressive it is no more dangerous than any other car handling wise.
If you drove a Cerb in the wet the same way that you drive an Imprezza you will crash it.
Driving a powerful rwd car to its limits, or even close, wet or dry (but especially wet) takes a much better driver than for a FWD or 4WD car (I'm not one of them yet, by the way). But until your skills catch up, you can still have huge fun, just be sensible !!
Mike
Driving a powerful rwd car to its limits, or even close, wet or dry (but especially wet) takes a much better driver than for a FWD or 4WD car (I'm not one of them yet, by the way). But until your skills catch up, you can still have huge fun, just be sensible !!
Mike
I've just booked a ride/drive half day road, half day track day based purely on the fact that I thought I was the greatest driver in the world until I got the Cerb...Respect is basically what its all about, and cool headedness...no racing with people who have a death wish (I used to be one of them) when its wet, let the looks and straight line speed of the beast impress people, don't try to out corner them. I'll let you know how the ride/drive thing goes, hopefully should make me better equipped to unleash the full potential of the car.
I did my first track day in the wet at croft and the Cerb was easily out handling the Giffs and Chims. However when it dryed up so did my talent (or bottle) as I found it more difficult to keep up I must be the only person who was faster in the wet than the dry!
Anyway had a fantastic day finest moment was doing the prancing horse.
The guy in the Tuscan was in a different league he could have been in a wheelie bin and would still have got round quicker than me.
Anyway had a fantastic day finest moment was doing the prancing horse.
The guy in the Tuscan was in a different league he could have been in a wheelie bin and would still have got round quicker than me.
Can you floor it in a cerb in the wet in a straight line? What is the cornering like in the dry? How much grip does the car have?
I do like the fact that I can still have fun in the wet in the scoob, after all, it rains quite a bit here! I can really piss on a 911's fireworks in anything less than bone dry conditions.
I'm willing to sacrifice some of the in the wet performance of the scoob, but if you can't drive a cerb hard in the wet under any conditions, then perhaps it is not for me.
Has anyone had any experience of an Ipmpreza AND a Cerb? Keep in mind my Type R is nothing like a standard WRX in terms of power.
I do like the fact that I can still have fun in the wet in the scoob, after all, it rains quite a bit here! I can really piss on a 911's fireworks in anything less than bone dry conditions.
I'm willing to sacrifice some of the in the wet performance of the scoob, but if you can't drive a cerb hard in the wet under any conditions, then perhaps it is not for me.
Has anyone had any experience of an Ipmpreza AND a Cerb? Keep in mind my Type R is nothing like a standard WRX in terms of power.
if you fllor a cerb from standing in the wet you will still be standing, feed it in however and its a real buzz getting it to stick...like I said I had a quattro before and the Cerb is a handful in the wet compared, i'm certainly not as quick in the cerb through the twists....but I wouldn;t swap it for the world....draw your conclusions
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