any one come from the tuscan to cerb or vice versa

[floatingjimi]

with good cerbera examples becoming fewer and fewer, I have strated loooking at tuscan s'. Any thoughts from previous owners or people in the same situation

[smithy78]

I had an 03 Tuscan S, i would say the AJP engine is 100 times better than the SP6. Cerb for me is more friendly for use each day. Problem is you are comparing a car that was some years between first manufacture so materials, design all change. Just my opinion.

[Ireland]

I know at least one regular poster on here has one of each at the moment.

I reckon he'll be able to give an informed opinion once he sees this thread.

[floatingjimi]

thought so - just needed to be put back on track

[YKB]

I have one of each, both S6s. This is what I wrote on a previous thread

YKB said:

Overall they feel quite, but obviously not totally, different. Note my Tuscan has Nitron sports shocks, my Cerb has standard suspension.

1. Tuscan will go round bends quicker.
2. The Cerb feels more stable and quieter at high speeds. Easy to lose track of what speed you're doing.
3. The Tuscan is great fun for driving round country roads on a nice summers day but if I was going on a long trip I'd probably take the Cerb.
4. Tuscan's roof comes off and it has a bigger boot. Cerb has 4 seets (well sort of).
5. The Tuscan feels a bit faster, but there probably isn't much difference in reality.
6. You can look at the engine in the Cerb without the use of spanners.

So you see the only real solution is to have one of each.

Overall they're both great and I'd hate to have to get rid of either.

[CiderwithCerbie]

YKB's a lucky boy. I couldn't afford the pair. I had a mark 1 Tuscan from 2000 to 2003 and loved it. It was fantastically fast (Porsche owners at the time had no hope without turbo or specials eg GT3), but I was always aware it might bite me at any moment. Getting one properly set up is key, and starting with a suspension up-grade is critical in my view (plus couple of lessons from Mr. J. Stewart if available)

I have had a Speed 6 Cerb since 2004 and I love it too, but boy has it hoovered up the cash, and not just in up-grades. Cerbs just seem to do this regardless of the engine on-board. More silly things have broken on the car too, in that sense the least reliable TVR I have owned.

With respect to the S6 engine, I disagree with Simthy78's comments. The AJP8 is a great engine, but getting more difficult to service and find parts for. The Speed 6 has a double character, happy around town and manic when pushed, very drivable and has the guts from low revs, unlike the V8. The vunerability of this engine is well documented on here and elsewhere, but find a late one, a properly cared for one, or a recent rebuild by a reputable source and I think you will do well, as long as you then care for it properly. I don't have good evidence for it, but I also think the version of the engine that went into the early Tuscans was the worst, with relatively few S6 Cerbera's going bang (well keeping my fingers crossed).

Whatever you choose you will have a blast, but remember this is raw motoring, 350+ bhp via the back wheels in a car weighing 1200Kg or thereabouts, with NO driver aids. However for those of us who joined the club in the 80's or 90's it has been totally addictive. In fact so bad, I imported the bloody thing to Melbourne with my family...my little girl just would be heart broken if we sold the 'Noisy Car'.

[floatingjimi]

Thanks - its full circle for me mind you it has been fun and not lost too much money going around the sweet shop. I am just looking at a 4.0 mk1 so we will see- otherwise the 4.5rr is still waiting

[CiderwithCerbie]

floatingjimi said:

Thanks - its full circle for me mind you it has been fun and not lost too much money going around the sweet shop. I am just looking at a 4.0 mk1 so we will see- otherwise the 4.5rr is still waiting

Now that's a different question, a good 4.5rr Cerb is awesome and quicker than any other production TVR - if in good nick. The riders remain, the Cerb will cost more unless the Tuscan's engine doesn't last The deciders are then, how fast do you really want to go, how much do you want the roof off and do you have a kid(s)?

Good luck and enjoy.

[BLUETHUNDER]

CiderwithCerbie said:

floatingjimi said:

Thanks - its full circle for me mind you it has been fun and not lost too much money going around the sweet shop. I am just looking at a 4.0 mk1 so we will see- otherwise the 4.5rr is still waiting

Now that's a different question, a good 4.5rr Cerb is awesome and quicker than any other production TVR - if in good nick. The riders remain, the Cerb will cost more unless the Tuscan's engine doesn't last The deciders are then, how fast do you really want to go, how much do you want the roof off and do you have a kid(s)?

Good luck and enjoy.

Just slightly off topic. Does the Cerb recieve the "WOW" factor in Australia???. It must be one of only a handful in the country.

[CiderwithCerbie]

BLUETHUNDER said:

CiderwithCerbie said:

floatingjimi said:

Thanks - its full circle for me mind you it has been fun and not lost too much money going around the sweet shop. I am just looking at a 4.0 mk1 so we will see- otherwise the 4.5rr is still waiting

Now that's a different question, a good 4.5rr Cerb is awesome and quicker than any other production TVR - if in good nick. The riders remain, the Cerb will cost more unless the Tuscan's engine doesn't last The deciders are then, how fast do you really want to go, how much do you want the roof off and do you have a kid(s)?

Good luck and enjoy.

Just slightly off topic. Does the Cerb recieve the "WOW" factor in Australia???. It must be one of only a handful in the country.

It certainly does from pedestrians and fellow Petrolheads alike. Women in Johnson Street just shouting "Hey, is that your beautiful car?" (wife was present at the time...) Windows wound down at traffic lights with a "what IS that???" Most seem never to have heard of TVR, even though 'Top Gear' UK is very popular here. I think there are only about six in the country, two out West (4.2's?), one in South Australia (S6), one in NSW (not sure) and one other 4.2 here in Victoria.

Luckily I have found a guy called Peter Robinson who really seems to know and understand the cars, and who apparently was a member of one of the syndicates that tried to buy the company when Smolenski overbid for it. He has the other Victorian Cerb and looks after Chims and a Griff in his garage. Quite a joy to see the purple Wheeler-era TVR sign on a garage in South Melbourne. He is a huge improvement on the knuckleheads who got the car registered earlier - but that's another story.

Edited by CiderwithCerbie on Sunday 3rd January 12:44

[mikeinsheffield]

I'm quite intruiged by this topic - I had originally set my heart on buying a Tuscan I as I love the looks, and quite fancied the idea of having the removable targa panel and solid rear screen. I test drove one from what was Harrogate dealer a couple of years ago (I'd only previously had short drives in a mates 4.0 Chimera before) and thought it drove well. I'd studied the buying guides, PH classifieds and got right up to the stage of getting one particular car inspected by Rob Ingleby (a black car with black and light grey interior - looked fantastic in the photo's) - but the owner wasn't being realistic on price (it was the start of the recession and economic nose dive), and at this point I reconsidered.......

....having two small kids and already owning 3 motorbikes it dawned on me that my mileage on the bikes was seriously declining - and that it was likely that the Tuscan would turn into "bike number 4" - i.e. there would be limited amount of time to take it out and enjoy it......

... which is when I started looking at Cerbera's again. So glad that I did

In my first year of ownership (our first aniversary is on the 6th Jan ) I've done approx 7000 miles, been to Le Mans, tracked it at Cadwell and Rockingham, been on the wet grip at Rockingham, been to Chester zoo / IKEA / parks / in-laws / shopping with all four of us, and generally loved every moment of ownership (except when the big fuse left me stranded on the North Circular in rush hour, grrrrr ), been on many "spirited" drives when the roads are quiet, done some business trips up and down motorways, and thoroughly loved the whole ownership experience.

With hindsight - I'm sooooo pleased that I've got an AJP engined car - as this is a great engine, full of character - from the pops spits crackles and bangs on the overun to the full on howl at high revs at full chat; yet smooth enough to trundle around in rush hour traffic..... and the Cerb is the only (official) car to have this engine - just seems "right" for the car (personal opinion....). 400 bhp isn't to be sniffed at, either

I think that for me, one of the main reasons why I've managed to use it so much, even as a "weekend" car, is that it has the small back seats.... I have no doubt that whilst a Tuscan could have taken me to Le Mans (but with one less passenger ), and the track days, there is absolutely no way it would have got a look in most weekends or done half as much mileage.

For me, for now, the Cerbera is a "keeper" - I looked hard to find the "right" car for me, have now spent a small fortune getting it nearer to perfection for me, and can't think of anything that could replace it.......

...... BUT I still want a Tuscan... !

[floatingjimi]

I know what you mean Mike - I have also now been tempted with the 350c!! It gets down to this
A: Tuscan - superb look - if well sorted great car - roof off - but with two boys - Selfish.
B: T350c - same as above without the roof but achingly nice shape.
C: Cerbera - Awesome sound - great looks - four seats but poss ( putting himself on offer for abuse)aging a little.

We will know by Thursday!!

[mikeinsheffield]

floatingjimi said:

but poss ( putting himself on offer for abuse)aging a little.

Aging gracefully!! The Tuscan may look more agressive, but the Cerb is beautiful!

I personally prefer the projector lights on the Cerb - think it brings it more up to date than the larger original shape ones, but this is just personal opinion as I know there are a lot of fans of the original look

[al 350i]

you could add this to your list but i think you would have to be quick, the owner has had alot of interest and i don't think it will be around for long, very good price.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1210619.htm

[floatingjimi]

that is the one I am looking at

[floatingjimi]

what I have lined up is this:

2001 tuscan with 11.5k miles - new paint cat d at 10800
2002 cerb 4.5rr 32k miles - two year guarantee on the top end of the engine at 17k
2005 t350c as advertised

[Gazzab]

You seem to be bargain hunting? Personally I would put other aspects higher up than bargain hunting.

[floatingjimi]

my first choice was a nice cerbera and mick's car looks great, however when it looked as thinsg would not work out I came across the tuscan and having spoken with various people - Dom at Tvr Power, Dave at Automedon etc I have been charmed by the speed six - the 350 has just dropped into the equation - ultimately the car was out of the picture. If the tuscan is as good as it is said, then upgrading the suspension - tyres getting the car setup will still leave me in a fine situation. The Cerb also sounds great with a few minor issues, the t350 well its eye candy and I'm weak.
But definately not bargain hunting but having started out with few 4.5rr cerbs around one starts to look elsewhere

[JNR77]

floatingjimi said:

my first choice was a nice cerbera and mick's car looks great, however when it looked as thinsg would not work out I came across the tuscan and having spoken with various people - Dom at Tvr Power, Dave at Automedon etc I have been charmed by the speed six - the 350 has just dropped into the equation - ultimately the car was out of the picture. If the tuscan is as good as it is said, then upgrading the suspension - tyres getting the car setup will still leave me in a fine situation. The Cerb also sounds great with a few minor issues, the t350 well its eye candy and I'm weak.
But definately not bargain hunting but having started out with few 4.5rr cerbs around one starts to look elsewhere

Sounds like you have a dilema! Have you thought about a sorted S6 Cerbera? best of both worlds, same engine and power as the Tuscan & T350 for less money. loads of engine upgrades available to offer more power if you require it. loads of happy S6 owners out there.

[floatingjimi]

dont throw anything else into the couldron - I will spend the rest of the year looking - but thanks and yes have thought about it