Early 4.2 buying advice please :)

[DuncanM]

Hi there,

I am finally ready to go Cerbie hunting !

I will be looking for an early 4.2 (17.5k budget) and need as much advice as possible.

The sad thing for me is that I haven't so much as sat in a Cerbera, I can't wait but I'm also a bit anxious as to what to expect!

www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=21186&s=6

www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=18273&s=6

www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=20105&s=6

There's a couple of Cerb's on here that I'm interested in

Are any of the owners on this board?

Many thanks in advance

Duncan

[GCerbera]

Main piece of advice?...Shop VERY carefully.

A bargain at this end of the market will often bite no matter how much you do your homework.
Trust me - been there, seen it, eventually loved it.

Have a good read through topics here using the search option, but here are my top 10.

1) Don't spend all your money on the car...it will cost you more!

2) Work out service costs in line with your planned usage.

3) Check the VIN with Blackpool and make sure the uprights have been done.

4) Check the clutch condition / history.

5) Check the condition of the cams / history.

6) Have the car inspected by an expert before you commit the cash.

7) Drive a few, they are like clothes, some will suit you, other won't.

8) Check for water leaks into the footwells and boot.

9) Do all the above and it will STILL cost you more.

10) Get the right car and it will be the best move you ever made.

Good luck!
Go create some weather...
Graham
TCR The Cerbera Register

www.TVR-Cerbera.com

[GCerbera]

PS: In your region. TVRCC tomorrow night in Northampton if you want to meet up?

[J_S_G]

I miss my Cerb! Ahem, sorry... Agree with what Graham's said. I'd also add to check the gearbox and the engine carefully on a car of that vintage. At that age, things'll either be starting to wear from high mileage or it sitting around for too long - a few inaccessible bushes here and there across a couple of services and you're looking at the magic £1k Cerbera bill. Also, see how the current owner drives it - whether they thrash it from cold or warm it up properly first, etc.

"Owning a Cerbera is a dream. Owning a Cerbera on a budget is a nightmare" Or, as someone else put it "If you can't afford two, then you can't afford one".

The first one of those cars does look lovely, though.

[DuncanM]

Thanks for the replies

GCerbera, tomorrow night'd be great! Where abouts is the meet?

I would love to just sit in one and (sadly I know) see how big the boot is and stuff!

Obviously a passenger ride would be fantastic at this time .

In terms of owning and running costs I have budgeted to put 5k away in savings for emergencies etc and I think I'll be ok money wise (although I know you can never be sure).

I have decided that now's the time and if it goes right I may never buy another car .

Got to do it now before cars like the Cerb become pointless !

Duncan

[GCerbera]

19:30 Thursday at a new venue this month.
www.tvrcc-northants.co.uk/meetings.asp

My car is BLUE ( as if anyone was left wondering ) and is reg ** NYC, so easy to spot.

Quite a difference from a 96 to a 98, but happy to talk you through what I can.

[DuncanM]

Thanks Graham I'll try to make tomorrow .

Your car looks stunning in your profile!

If I make it I'll be in a doggy old Celica looking a bit lost I expect

Duncan

[davidd]

GCerbera said:

Main piece of advice?...Shop VERY carefully. 3) Check the VIN with Blackpool and make sure the uprights have been done. 4) Check the clutch condition / history. 5) Check the condition of the cams / history. 6) Have the car inspected by an expert before you commit the cash. 7) Drive a few, they are like clothes, some will suit you, other won't. 8) Check for water leaks into the footwells and boot. 9) Do all the above and it will STILL cost you more. 10) Get the right car and it will be the best move you ever made.

To comment of a few of my blue visioned friend..

3) If the car is an early 4.2 then it would nto have been subject to the recall. I spent weeks chasing mine to find it did not need them.

4) & 5) pretty hard to check the condition without taking big oily bits off and having a look. Assume that if they have not been done they will need doing at some point, if they have been done they will need doing at somepoint. You have said you are stashing some cash, very good idea.

6) Agreed

7) Yep

8) Water leaks are usually an easy fix, use it as a tool to get the price down.

9) Not sure I agree, I got so bored with mine costing me all to run I started changing things.. Of course I have a service in a couple of weeks I suspect I'll need a new everything

You'll get a lot of good impartial advice on here, ask away, get one and have fun.

D

[trooper1212]

I did a little chronicle of my early Cerb experience

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=81953

That should give you an idea about some possible pitfalls...

[yiw1393]

Remeber reading that first time round Trooper and thinking what excellent advice it was/is.

Buy a cheap Cerb and budget to spend another £3k getting your 'perfect' car perfect. Seems to be the lesser of the 2 gambles.

[gazzab]

Think about a 4.5 with higher miles.
Will be same price as an early 4.2 BUT will be used regularly , niggles sorted, no probs due to lack of use etc...

[DuncanM]

Hi there,

Just read your post Trooper .

I have been reading this board for ages as for me my goal has always been a Cerbera .

By reading this board I have noticed that when people buy a Cerb, no matter how new it was a case of spending money to get things sorted .

That's why given my choice I am going to buy an early 4.2 and keep moeny aside to get the car up to scratch.

I think you've done really well considering that you have included Nitrons in the 'doing up' .

Nitrons seem like a must do and will be on my shopping list .

As to the option of a 4.5, I don't know why but it's always been a 4.2 that I have fancied.

Thanks again for the advice, I will be back here quite a lot when I finally get my dream car .

Duncan

[J_S_G]

DuncanM said:

I think you've done really well considering that you have included Nitrons in the 'doing up' .

They do make a lot of a difference, but it's all subjective... Something like that really is down to an individual - if you've got no complaints with the handling as standard, then don't change it just because loads of people on here harp on about them. If you do find it ploughing the nose into the ground under braking, tramlining, rolling in corners, etc. and it bothers you, then look at getting it upgraded.

[GCerbera]

DuncanM said:

Thanks Graham I'll try to make tomorrow . Your car looks stunning in your profile! If I make it I'll be in a doggy old Celica looking a bit lost I expect Duncan

Nice to meet you tonight Duncan.

Hope I didn't scare you off ownership?!

[J_S_G]

GCerbera said:

DuncanM said: Thanks Graham I'll try to make tomorrow . Your car looks stunning in your profile! If I make it I'll be in a doggy old Celica looking a bit lost I expect Duncan Nice to meet you tonight Duncan. Hope I didn't scare you off ownership?!

Graham, "You haven't got mail"... but you should have by the time it gets to the wee hours of the morning... just a few more sections to go!

[GCerbera]

J_S_G said:

Graham, "You haven't got mail"... but you should have by the time it gets to the wee hours of the morning... just a few more sections to go!

Cheers and you DO have mail.

[DuncanM]

Hi Graham

Sorry for the late reply, haven't been able to get on the net for a while.

A big thankyou for taking the time to show me your Cerbera (Stunning!) and for the p-ride (fantastic!).

I am now looking for the right one for me, I must say having looked at an early 4.2 today that the build quality is not as good as yours was but I can't expect that for the money I will be spending .

Great cars and I am looking forward to joining the fold .

Duncan

[shell]

Duncan, why not be one of the one who dares. Call Shane at SFR to discuss Nitrons or an alternative. I did, I will be going with his advice when the finances allow. He's a top mechanic and a nice guy to boot.

[tonyhetherington]

Just wanted to put myself on this thread and say thanks all for a great post. I'm currently investigating buying a Cerbera myself, and the above info is well and truly saved in my brain!!

Thanks again everyone