It this a wise buy...

[Harin]

Hi all,

Looking to buy this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1999-TVR-CERBERA-BLUE-/16043...

Also looking for a good buying guide that tells me what to look out for etc? Anyone know of any?

cheers,
H

[markh1]

I would be cautious as the seller clearly does not know what they are talking about. The car has a straight six not a v6 as stated in the ad.

[JensenA]

There is a lot of information on this Forum about buying a Cerbera, use the search function. I would never buy one unseen, you need to go and have a good look over it. Check everything works as it should - windows, doors, wipers, horns, lights. Check along the sills for good solid outriggers. Talk to the owner and get a good feel about how he has looked after the car, most owners are real enthusiasts, if you get a 'bad' feeling about the owner, then walk away (eg what Mark has said above).
Any Cerbera has the potential to hit you hard in the wallet, I'm not saying it will, but the potential is there. Don't buy up to your maximum budget, keep at least £2k in the bank because you never now. A service can easily cost a grand. After a year if you haven't spent the money you will spend it on upgrades
A few people will knock the Speed 6, but it is a great engine if as been sorted and had the neccassary mods done, ask on the Speed 6 forums to get arm yourself with some information and knowledge on the engine in general.

Edited by JensenA on Thursday 27th May 15:47

[touching cloth]

Couple of big gaps in the service history, one just over 3 years and the other just under 2. First one would raise concern of mileage being genuine if I am honest, Mots if available would help to back up the minimal mileage over that period but even then it really should have had annual service of some sort regardless of mileage. Text claims 18" Spiders but it's on 16" in the pics.

[dirty boy]

38k on a SP6 is boundary stuff, I'm pretty certain you could pick up a better one for circa 9k (given that's not met the reserve yet)

[Harin]

dirty boy said:

38k on a SP6 is boundary stuff, I'm pretty certain you could pick up a better one for circa 9k (given that's not met the reserve yet)

Thanks all for the feedback chaps - nice to know I'll be joining a friendly community!

After doing some reading I think I want to go for the V8 now. It'll cost me more but just thinking about what I want I think I might as well go nuts.

This one came up as I've got another car for sale and would have been a swap + some cash on my part so obv hadn't thought it through properly!

[dirty boy]

Harin said:

dirty boy said:

38k on a SP6 is boundary stuff, I'm pretty certain you could pick up a better one for circa 9k (given that's not met the reserve yet)

Thanks all for the feedback chaps - nice to know I'll be joining a friendly community!

After doing some reading I think I want to go for the V8 now. It'll cost me more but just thinking about what I want I think I might as well go nuts.

This one came up as I've got another car for sale and would have been a swap + some cash on my part so obv hadn't thought it through properly!

Feel free to ask away on more questions.

The search isn't always that reliable.

[Harin]

dirty boy said:

Harin said:

dirty boy said:

38k on a SP6 is boundary stuff, I'm pretty certain you could pick up a better one for circa 9k (given that's not met the reserve yet)

Thanks all for the feedback chaps - nice to know I'll be joining a friendly community!

After doing some reading I think I want to go for the V8 now. It'll cost me more but just thinking about what I want I think I might as well go nuts.

This one came up as I've got another car for sale and would have been a swap + some cash on my part so obv hadn't thought it through properly!

Feel free to ask away on more questions.

The search isn't always that reliable.

Yep, I've tried a few combination in the search with no luck!

What engines do you guys have? I'm think of going down the middle with a 4.2, plus I've read a few scary stories about the speed 6 regarding engine rebuild etc. Are the V8's that much more reliable?

[kojak]

touching cloth said:

Text claims 18" Spiders but it's on 16" in the pics.

I noticed that. Should be 18"

[itiejim]

It's not cheap enough for a non-rebuilt speed six at that mileage. The other thing that worries me about this ad is the reference to "chassis repairs" - there's not a lot you can do in terms of properly repairing outriggers without removing the body - sounds suspiciously like a bodge job...

[Gazzab]

It didnt sell at £9100 - the seller is mad, that would have been a cracking price to have got for a 99 speed 6 in that condition with that mileage.

[al 350i]

i wouldn't totally dismiss the speed six engined cars, they are generally closer to their claimed power outputs than the v8's and as for reliability i believe 2 V8 AJP's have gone bang in the last week

actually i think that 2 went bang and 1 snapped a camshaft (sorry guys hope you get them fixed soon)

Edited by al 350i on Thursday 27th May 21:43

[SL500]

You may find that more speed six's are off the road at the moment having engine rebuilds.

[amazon]

I think you have already had enough seeds of doubt planted, but when I look at the 'history' I realise I have seen this car close up and I think you can do better .

Whereabouts in the country are you Harin?

Edited by amazon on Thursday 27th May 22:17

[Harin]

amazon said:

I think you have already had enough seeds of doubt planted, but when I look at the 'history' I realise I have seen this car close up and I think you can do better .

Whereabouts in the country are you Harin?

Edited by amazon on Thursday 27th May 22:17

Its easy to get carried away when you have the chance to buy one so glad I posted on this forum first.

Reliability issues aside, I think I wanted a V8 deep down anyway. What should I realistically be paying for decent 4.2 or 4.5? Are they a lot more than the speed 6s?

I'm in east London btw.

[G20RG B]

SL500 said:

You may find that more speed six's are off the road at the moment having engine rebuilds.

Quite a few AJP 4.2 of the road also with cranks failing....

[amazon]

Harin said:

amazon said:

I think you have already had enough seeds of doubt planted, but when I look at the 'history' I realise I have seen this car close up and I think you can do better .

Whereabouts in the country are you Harin?

Edited by amazon on Thursday 27th May 22:17

Its easy to get carried away when you have the chance to buy one so glad I posted on this forum first.

Reliability issues aside, I think I wanted a V8 deep down anyway. What should I realistically be paying for decent 4.2 or 4.5? Are they a lot more than the speed 6s?

I'm in east London btw.

I'm not sure now that this is the same Cerbera I was thinking of, but there is more than one dubious point on the sales patter....

Probably not qualified to answer your question on price, but I would have thought 12k 'could' find you an honest Cerbera - however, you must look carefully at each car on its own merits!

The Speed 6 Cerberas are lovely and smooth to drive, be 'aware', but maybe don't discount them completely?

All imho of course

Good luck with your search, hope you find the one for you very soon. PH is a great place to look as well