TVR Cerbera buyers guide
Discussion
Hello All
Can anyone give me some advice on what to look out for when buying a Cerb?
I`m running a 98 4.0L XK8 at the moment, but I`m due for a change and have decided on a Cerb. I`ve heard lost of horror stories about reliability, but is this true of all cars or just down to neglectfull owners?
Although the XK has to go, I still need some creature comforts (like a car that starts first time - every time, no wet carpets when it rains, and is secure).
Also need to accomodate two passengers.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
LB
Can anyone give me some advice on what to look out for when buying a Cerb?
I`m running a 98 4.0L XK8 at the moment, but I`m due for a change and have decided on a Cerb. I`ve heard lost of horror stories about reliability, but is this true of all cars or just down to neglectfull owners?
Although the XK has to go, I still need some creature comforts (like a car that starts first time - every time, no wet carpets when it rains, and is secure).
Also need to accomodate two passengers.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance
LB
Hi i've owned a 4.2 cerb for abut 6 yrs now and so far so good (although i do touch wood when i say that.)
I think as long as you look for one with reasonable mileage for age and good service history,which you intend to keep up, you should'nt have any shocks in ownership.
The 4.2 AJPV8 is actually one of the best engines in tvr history.
Although having said that if you were planning to use it for every day use i would suggest maybe think of a Chim ,the cerb is very aggresive and hate's pootling.
You can comfortably fit two children in the rear seats,up to the age of maybe 6-8.
Hope this has been of some use to you,
Barney
I think as long as you look for one with reasonable mileage for age and good service history,which you intend to keep up, you should'nt have any shocks in ownership.
The 4.2 AJPV8 is actually one of the best engines in tvr history.
Although having said that if you were planning to use it for every day use i would suggest maybe think of a Chim ,the cerb is very aggresive and hate's pootling.
You can comfortably fit two children in the rear seats,up to the age of maybe 6-8.
Hope this has been of some use to you,
Barney
Thanks for the response Barney
Is yours a daily driver, or pampered? Also are you aware of any dealers / specialists or club meeting in the Southend-on-sea area?
Would also like to know about running / servicing costs - is this a car that lends itself to a bit of DIY or is it best left to the specialists?
LB
Is yours a daily driver, or pampered? Also are you aware of any dealers / specialists or club meeting in the Southend-on-sea area?
Would also like to know about running / servicing costs - is this a car that lends itself to a bit of DIY or is it best left to the specialists?
LB
LB
In response to your Q,
I dont use mine daily, But if the sun is out then so is the beast,and if you get one you will see why.
I tend to keep my eye on this web for good runs out,but its also well worth joining up to the TVR car club where you will receive a monthly mag with some usefull chat ect.
As far as under the bonnet goes i only keep a check on levels, and leave the rest to the experts, for which i use a Tvr specialist which obviously terns out a bit cheaper.
They recommend every 6k ,for a service,
Around sort of £300-£400 for a half service,
and £700-£800 for a full.Alternate.
cheers.
In response to your Q,
I dont use mine daily, But if the sun is out then so is the beast,and if you get one you will see why.
I tend to keep my eye on this web for good runs out,but its also well worth joining up to the TVR car club where you will receive a monthly mag with some usefull chat ect.
As far as under the bonnet goes i only keep a check on levels, and leave the rest to the experts, for which i use a Tvr specialist which obviously terns out a bit cheaper.
They recommend every 6k ,for a service,
Around sort of £300-£400 for a half service,
and £700-£800 for a full.Alternate.
cheers.
Edited by barneycerb on Saturday 30th October 20:16
They are a great car to work on yourself. Obviously they have quirks and peculiarities but there is a lot of good info available and great expertise on this forum. Being effectively hand built they dismantle fairly readily (no one time use clips!(apart from cable ties!!)) and engine wise the AJP is straightforward and accessible. I can't comment on the Speed 6 never having worked on one.
There is not much you can't do on these cars with a bit of experience and a reasonable tool kit.
There is not much you can't do on these cars with a bit of experience and a reasonable tool kit.
Well my advise would be to get your potential purchase checked out before you buy.
I am now 1 month into ownership of my cerb and although I love the car it's been work all the way so far. I bought a car that had an increadable service history by a well known TVR specialist which I thought would be some assurance of the cars condition. I have already replaced the shocks and overhauled the suspension, several boots, gaiters and bushes. As a matter of urgency I need to replace the metal & rubber coolant hoses, I have the wrong Tuscan Spiders on the front which foul the wishbones, some issues with the clutch and the list goes on.
Now I run a small car repair business and am slightly embarrassed at having missed all these items when I looked at the car, but I have to say the previous owner took me out for a long run in the car and gave me all the time I needed to make my decission, I just got overwhelmed with the whole Cerbera experience and bought with my heart instead of my head.
All of these issues will be sorted and I will have an increadable car to enjoy, if you just take your time look at several cars and when you have chosen one get it checked out before you commit to buy hopefully your Cerb experience will start better than mine has.
Martin
I am now 1 month into ownership of my cerb and although I love the car it's been work all the way so far. I bought a car that had an increadable service history by a well known TVR specialist which I thought would be some assurance of the cars condition. I have already replaced the shocks and overhauled the suspension, several boots, gaiters and bushes. As a matter of urgency I need to replace the metal & rubber coolant hoses, I have the wrong Tuscan Spiders on the front which foul the wishbones, some issues with the clutch and the list goes on.
Now I run a small car repair business and am slightly embarrassed at having missed all these items when I looked at the car, but I have to say the previous owner took me out for a long run in the car and gave me all the time I needed to make my decission, I just got overwhelmed with the whole Cerbera experience and bought with my heart instead of my head.
All of these issues will be sorted and I will have an increadable car to enjoy, if you just take your time look at several cars and when you have chosen one get it checked out before you commit to buy hopefully your Cerb experience will start better than mine has.
Martin
Edited by Marto303 on Friday 5th November 18:30
Edited by Marto303 on Friday 5th November 18:31
I reckon you'll find the Cerbera very 'harsh' and aggressive compared to an XK8. I must admit it's not a car I'd buy as my one and only car. On a nice sunny day they are an amazing car to drive. But I wouldn't enjoy driving it on a wet November day, stuck in traffic. It's a car that you will always be looking at the Temp and Oil pressure gauges when you are stuck in a traffic jam, it's a car for an enthusiast, and there will always be something that needs doing to it - nothing major, just fixing little niggles, and you'll always be striving to get it 'just right'. It has the potential to empty your wallet quite quickly, but if you know what you are getting into, and know what to expect, you'll discover why we all love 'em.
I think you might be a bit disappointed after the xk8 cos mine leaks water in if left outside..although i keep it in a garage.
They are not reliable whatever anyone says!!!!
I have had mine nearly four & a half years now & it has let me down several times.
Having said that if your minted or handy with the spanners they are great cars...on a nice dry sunny day nothing quite matches the cerb for the thrill factor & you get attached to them.
They are not reliable whatever anyone says!!!!
I have had mine nearly four & a half years now & it has let me down several times.
Having said that if your minted or handy with the spanners they are great cars...on a nice dry sunny day nothing quite matches the cerb for the thrill factor & you get attached to them.
Hi Everyone,
Could I resurrect this thread as I'm looking for a cerbera.
I get the feeling - after doing as much background reading as I can - that the general consensus is to first drive as many variants as you can first, then look for one that's been looked after by an enthusiastic owner and keep up a proper level of maintenance but to also allow for potential repair bills.
The part I'm struggling with is, since there aren't that many tvr dedicated sales outfits, how do you 'test drive' without being a 'test pilot'?
Many thanks
Adrian
Could I resurrect this thread as I'm looking for a cerbera.
I get the feeling - after doing as much background reading as I can - that the general consensus is to first drive as many variants as you can first, then look for one that's been looked after by an enthusiastic owner and keep up a proper level of maintenance but to also allow for potential repair bills.
The part I'm struggling with is, since there aren't that many tvr dedicated sales outfits, how do you 'test drive' without being a 'test pilot'?
Many thanks
Adrian
James agger of james agger autosport was extremely helpful to me when i was looking & took me out & let me drive both a speed six plus a 4.5 v8 cerb.
I would have bought the 4.5 off him but it was not the colour combo i was after at the time.
I did eventually buy mine from tony gilbert cars who also has lots of knowledge & is very helpful.
If you are genuine & really want one you should have no probs getting a test drive its amazing what you learn from others about the marque.
Good luck with your search.
I would have bought the 4.5 off him but it was not the colour combo i was after at the time.
I did eventually buy mine from tony gilbert cars who also has lots of knowledge & is very helpful.
If you are genuine & really want one you should have no probs getting a test drive its amazing what you learn from others about the marque.
Good luck with your search.
Some things to check are:
Chassis - what condition are the tubes in, especially the outriggers near the outer corners?
Clutch and slave cylinder - When did it last have a new clutch and has it got a leaking clutch slave cylinder? Clutch and slave could cost around £1000
Oil Pressure - is the oil pressure satisfactory when the engine is warm?
Shocks - are they leaking fluid, have they been upgraded to Nitrons, Gaz, Ohlins, etc?
Brake discs and pads - are any discs warped, common problem on certain discs fitted to Cerbs and do pads have plenty material on them? A full set of AP pads are around £200 discs could be £150-£200 each.
I know some of the above are obvious and I'm no expert but you can't be too careful.
These are just a few things that could end up costing £100's if not £1000's soon after purchase for the unwary buyer.
Any questions can always be answered on this forum, it's the best source of information bar none.
Also there are usually known cars for sale in the PH classifieds,so worth checking there too.
Regards
Simon
Chassis - what condition are the tubes in, especially the outriggers near the outer corners?
Clutch and slave cylinder - When did it last have a new clutch and has it got a leaking clutch slave cylinder? Clutch and slave could cost around £1000
Oil Pressure - is the oil pressure satisfactory when the engine is warm?
Shocks - are they leaking fluid, have they been upgraded to Nitrons, Gaz, Ohlins, etc?
Brake discs and pads - are any discs warped, common problem on certain discs fitted to Cerbs and do pads have plenty material on them? A full set of AP pads are around £200 discs could be £150-£200 each.
I know some of the above are obvious and I'm no expert but you can't be too careful.
These are just a few things that could end up costing £100's if not £1000's soon after purchase for the unwary buyer.
Any questions can always be answered on this forum, it's the best source of information bar none.
Also there are usually known cars for sale in the PH classifieds,so worth checking there too.
Regards
Simon
Edited by SimonKD on Friday 11th March 20:09
Edited by SimonKD on Friday 11th March 20:11
Hi guys and sincere thanks for your replies.
I haven't been in touch with James Agger, but I did talk to Tony Gilbert & Fenhurst and spoke to Stephen James over e-mail who were all really helpful.
I did send an email to Rob Ingleby this week, I'm hoping to have him help me inspect the car I finially find.
Many thanks for the tips, it is interesting when you think about it, the devil really is in the detail. Once you finially find the car you're after, if the chassis needs work or if the clutch is heavy or oil pressure isn't up to scratch, then it actually could end up costing you a fair amount to set it right before you get to have a bit of fun
Thanks again
Aide
I haven't been in touch with James Agger, but I did talk to Tony Gilbert & Fenhurst and spoke to Stephen James over e-mail who were all really helpful.
I did send an email to Rob Ingleby this week, I'm hoping to have him help me inspect the car I finially find.
Many thanks for the tips, it is interesting when you think about it, the devil really is in the detail. Once you finially find the car you're after, if the chassis needs work or if the clutch is heavy or oil pressure isn't up to scratch, then it actually could end up costing you a fair amount to set it right before you get to have a bit of fun
Thanks again
Aide
+1 go to a tvrcc meet and talk to a few owners .
The guys i met helped me in my decision to go for a cerbera (after a couple of owners took me out for test drives i knew i was hooked
)and i was lucky to hear a whisper that a nice 2004 4.2 might possibly up for sale a phone call that night saw me over at the owners next day and a deal was done and i was the proud owner of a stunning car with a good history .
I think i was lucky in finding my car so quick but if i had not been at that meet who knows ?
micromike
The guys i met helped me in my decision to go for a cerbera (after a couple of owners took me out for test drives i knew i was hooked
)and i was lucky to hear a whisper that a nice 2004 4.2 might possibly up for sale a phone call that night saw me over at the owners next day and a deal was done and i was the proud owner of a stunning car with a good history .I think i was lucky in finding my car so quick but if i had not been at that meet who knows ?
micromike
Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff