Advice

[Mike 402]

Hi all,

I'm new on here and have enjoyed reading lots of threads on the site. I'd like to ask your advice about using a Cerbera everyday. I currently have an Elise but i'm seriously considering changing it for a Cerb.

I would probably go for the S6 engine. My journey is approximately a 20 mile round trip and i never get stuck in traffic as its mostly country roads. Would this be long enough for the engine to warm up properly?

Also does anyone have any experience of having their car serviced at Green Star? They appear to be very cheap when compared to others and would like to hear people's experiences.

Thanks is advance for your replies.

Mike

[Gazzab]

They are getting on and so treat them like a classic and dont expect them to be 100% reliable....
They are pretty good though all things considering.
Ensure you can afford the running costs. Green Star - no idea how they can charge the prices they do. Choose your garage on capability not price! (Thats not to say GS arent good but I have never heard anything about them on here - and I've been here a while).
20 miles round trip. So you mean 10 miles each way? Thats fine but in winter the car wont be warmed up until you arrive at work. Even in summer you wont have much full revs opportunities.
A S6 (so long as it has had a reputable and recent rebuild) is the best choice for the commuter.

[scotty_d]

Mike 402 said:

Hi all,

I'm new on here and have enjoyed reading lots of threads on the site. I'd like to ask your advice about using a Cerbera everyday. I currently have an Elise but i'm seriously considering changing it for a Cerb.

I would probably go for the S6 engine. My journey is approximately a 20 mile round trip and i never get stuck in traffic as its mostly country roads. Would this be long enough for the engine to warm up properly?

Also does anyone have any experience of having their car serviced at Green Star? They appear to be very cheap when compared to others and would like to hear people's experiences.

Thanks is advance for your replies.

Mike

My Cerb used to belong to Green star i have been on the phone a few times to them and John seems like a top guy, as for the condition of my car it is not wanting for anything everthing that has needed done has been done if that goes for anything. If i did not do all my own work i would use them.

[Royster]

I think cars like to be used and can't see any reason not to use Cerbs for the daily commute. I did until I binned mine last week.

Greenstar do seem very cheap, (too cheap?) but then expensive prices don't always guarantee quality. I think some Tuscan owners use them and have good things to say.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... star racing

[scotty_d]

Royster said:

I think cars like to be used and can't see any reason not to use Cerbs for the daily commute. I did until I binned mine last week.

Greenstar do seem very cheap, (too cheap?) but then expensive prices don't always guarantee quality. I think some Tuscan owners use them and have good things to say.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... star racing

At the end of the Day its just a car (nuts and bolts) i dont find it any harder or worse to work on than any other car i have owned (except modern cars like volvo's horried tight engine bays) so i dont see why it cost the earth to maintain mine sure wont, service kit from tvr power £75 and oil 25L for £100 and that will do 2 years its just the time you are paying for and the knowlage of these cars of what to look for. The guy i bought my Cerb from has had 10 TVR's and he has used them for years and has only good things to say about them.

[TDFPELTD]

I use mine everyday unless there's 2 foot of snow on the ground in which case I have a KA on winter tyres. Running costs are pretty minimal for anything with this level of performance. Most parts are easy to source and whilst I'm spoilt by having a workshop for looking after mine realisticaly there is very little you can't do with basic tools on the floor.

Gold rule of cerbs in slippy conditions though make sure the car is straight and settled before applying throttle and never ever throttle up with steering angle on - it's not like an Elise

[davidd]

Your car will be fine for every day, just make sure that it gets well maintained. All of my TVRs have been daily drivers and they are better for it.

If you are worried about not getting the oil up to temp then fit an oil thermostatic thingy in.

D

[Mike 402]

Thanks for all your resonses so far. I agree with the fact they should be used every day. Maybe I'm just telling myself that it'll be more reliable that way!!

Is there a TVR club in the South Yorkshire/Derbyshire area? Would be good to go along and speak with owners in person.

Royston - I saw your thread regarding binning you Cerb, gutted when I read it. Have the insurance company written it off?

[Gazzab]

Kevin63 is the RO for S Yorkshire (which ends up including North Derbyshire). Drop him a line?

I am near Baslow if you want to see a cerb.
Kev has a S6 Cerb
I have a 4.5 RR with some trick stuff
Mikeinsheffield has a late 4.2 (ie 4.5 with 4.2 induction)
Pursluv has a standard 4.5
And there's more....
So plenty of different cars / owners....
You could also pop into Raceproved in Sheffield.

[bobbins]

I'll go against the grain and say they're not a daily runner. No fun in this weather, plus familiarity breeds contempt, niggly things might start getting to you if you experience them on a regular basis - plus they might lose a bit of the magic and stop feeling as quick/fun on a commute if options for full beans are limited. I've got a 4.5 and although the S6 is meant to be better suited for daily use I still wouldn't advise it.

I soon fell out of love with an Integrale when I started using it daily. Totally different car I know but still not without its flaws, like a Tiv.

Get a £500 snotter and save the Cerb for days when you WANT to drive it, rather than have to. It should always feel special then.

[Gazzab]

bobbins said:

I'll go against the grain and say they're not a daily runner. No fun in this weather, plus familiarity breeds contempt, niggly things might start getting to you if you experience them on a regular basis - plus they might lose a bit of the magic and stop feeling as quick/fun on a commute if options for full beans are limited. I've got a 4.5 and although the S6 is meant to be better suited for daily use I still wouldn't advise it.

I soon fell out of love with an Integrale when I started using it daily. Totally different car I know but still not without its flaws, like a Tiv.

Get a £500 snotter and save the Cerb for days when you WANT to drive it, rather than have to. It should always feel special then.

I agree but it does depend on your personality. I couldnt use one as a dail hack but others are more chilled and happy to do so. But I couldnt recommend it.

[davidd]

We have three cars, I'll take the Cerbera every day unless

a) we have 4 inches of snow (today).

b) I have to take customers out and there is more than one of them (tomorrow)

c) I have a journey to make which will involve sitting in traffic for an age

Otherwise it is Cerbera everytime, no point buying them if you are not going to drive them.

I do appreciate the 'keeping them special' comment, but if you drive them every day you will notice any issues much quicker. Also, do not forget how capable and comfortable these cars are, that phrase 'practical supercar' springs to mind..

Cheers

D

[BPP]

I heard the factory mechanic has left G.S.

[Gazzab]

BPP said:

I heard the factory mechanic has left G.S.

I presume he wasn't paid well enough (so as to help put a profit into their service menu)....!?

[the man]

Gazzab said:

BPP said:

I heard the factory mechanic has left G.S.

I presume he wasn't paid well enough (so as to help put a profit into their service menu)....!?

Sometimes there can be more to a story than just money.

[jammy_basturd]

I have a 20 mile commute too, literally half is country lanes and half is motorway and dual carriageway. I find my 4.2 is warmed up about half way into the commute, which suits me going to work because by the time I hit the motorway the engine is nicely warm to open the throttle!

I'm going to be fitting my oil 'stat soon which should help a bit more with getting the oil to temperature quickly and making it stay there.

[G20RG B]

There has been loads of complements about GREEN STAR on the TVR forums, I have used them and found them excellent to deal with and wouldn't hesitate to use them again.
However, can someone confirm the EX TVR mechanic has left(John), this would be dissapointing as I always found him excellent.

[BPP]

G20RG B said:

There has been loads of complements about GREEN STAR on the TVR forums, I have used them and found them excellent to deal with and wouldn't hesitate to use them again.
However, can someone confirm the EX TVR mechanic has left(John), this would be dissapointing as I always found him excellent.

By what i have heard Dave has gone and is setting up on his own.