How long did you search before buying

[ukBOB]

Im curious, how long on average did everyone here wait, after deciding roughly what you spec cerb you wanted to buy, before finding the one that was just right for you?

[davetherave1970]

I drove a Griff, then a Cerb and then bought the 2nd Cerb I saw. Took all of 2 weeks.

[cirvy]

I tried about 6, but knew of the one i wanted, i had seen it in magazines so tracked it down through the TVRCC & persuaded the owner ( over a period of about 6 months) to sell it to me. It was just one of those 'must have' moments (& i just like Orange!)
That was 3 years ago, me & the previous owner are now good friends, i'm still loving the car, we've even talked about him buying it back off me in a year or so when i decide to change up, ( to another Cerb!)

[gbbird]

In quite at the deep end for me. Looked at one or two, test drove one with just the spec interior i wanted, went away and pondered for a week, and when the price was reduced i thought 'this is a sign from up above' and went ahead and got it

So are you getting one then ukBOB? I know where there might (and it is a big might at the mo) be a lovely Halcyon Midas Pearl one going in the new year

[morebeanz]

A couple of weeks, thought I knew what I was doing , then I drove two and bought the second one!

Unless you have been inoculated, i reckon the killer is getting behind the wheel. Unless, the car's a dog, how can you resist!

[njw 77]

Just posted on another thread I bought the 1st Cerb, 1st Griff and 1st wedge I saw.

Well, not quite true with the Cerb, decided it was to be a 4.5, tried to buy a purple one from James Agger but hadnt sold the Griff & when I had he had sold the car. The week I sold the Griff I heard about the car I now have, but it was in the Midlands. Wasnt sure about the colour so went to Dream Machines and test drove one they had, although that was actualy Halycon Midas. Made an offer there and then which they turned down (but came back to me saying they would sell at the price, but by then I had bought (you snooze, you loose). Had the Midlands car inspected by Rob Ingleby on the Friday morning and was on the late train up Friday night, Bankers Draft in hand, paid the money and collected the car 1st thing Saturday morning. I think from selling the Griff to driving my current car into the garage was about 10 days. If work/time off would have allowed I would have bought the car on day 1

[Tripps]

Was looked quite seriosuly mid last year, but decided to go sensible, so put a deposit down for a brand new Leon Cupra-R 225 last September, which arrived this February, after getting bored with that very quickly the plant was hatched for the Cerbera, as after looking around for a sensible 2+2 and being quite despondent as they were all dull (fave choice was a 911) my wife told me to go and get a Cerbera

Sold the S3 in September, the LCR ten days later, then expected to wait for a few months as we were away on holiday at the start of October, BUT I spotted "the" one, and moved heaven, earth and Rob Ingleby to get in in my garage two days before our holiday

I'd previously driven a dozen of so different Cerberas of various specs so knew exactly what I wanted in terms on engine, interior and exterior.

Cost of dithering like a muppet, £4k depreciation of the LCR in 7 months

[ukBOB]

Interesting stories, and some fast buys! In 3 months, I havn't seen the right cerb for me. It HAS to be yellow, 98 or newer, 30k miles or less, ideally a 4.5 (Id buy a purple 4.5 if I couldnt find a yellow one) and with the right spec interior. Not fussy at all then Im hoping to keep the car for a very long time.

The trouble is, I'll need to sell my V8S to get the full amount of cash together, and dont want to be carless for 3 months, that would be hell.

Too bad blue isn't my favourite colour!

[ukBOB]

gbbird said:

So are you getting one then ukBOB? I know where there might (and it is a big might at the mo) be a lovely Halcyon Midas Pearl one going in the new year

Yes, for sure, but not sure when next year. Hopefully before le mans. It all depends on money, and then... finding the right car.

Whats Halcyon Midas Pearl? Is that a shade of yellow, per chance?

[gbbird]

ukBOB said:

gbbird said: So are you getting one then ukBOB? I know where there might (and it is a big might at the mo) be a lovely Halcyon Midas Pearl one going in the new year Yes, for sure, but not sure when next year. Hopefully before le mans. It all depends on money, and then... finding the right car. Whats Halcyon Midas Pearl? Is that a shade of yellow, per chance?

check out my profile

[davetherave1970]

gbbird said:

check out my profile

Fotango is down at the moment so you won't see much

[blue 4.5]

I think it took me around 6 years! The first time I ever saw one drive through Haselmere (near Fernies) where I lived on my graduate placement, to actually having the money to buy one! Went to Fernies and was going to buy the first one I drove, but went on hols and it sold, went back and they had a 4.5 in with the interior colours I had always wanted, so the deal was done. Only model of car I have ever really wanted to own and have been very happy ever since!

(Also, juts found the heat vents under the dash on both sides and winter driving has become much nicer!!!)

[Mrs BlueCerbera]

It took us about a fortnight. Husband test drove one down at Penninsula mid-Feb. Fell in love. Did some sums. Spent hours on the internet, tracking down ones that were as close as possible to the spec we wanted. Took a day off and drove from Northampton, down to Kent, through Sussex, round to Surrey and then Oxfordshire looking at all of the ones that we'd found. Called HH that evening and put a deposit down. Picked it up the following week.

Never looked back....

We could have spent a lot longer looking, but we didn't have the patience!! In the end it was love at first sight and even though we blew our budget (oops) we couldn't help ourselves.

Happy as pigs in st now.

[seamus]

Hate to say it but I didn't have a spec, I just wanted one at the right price, I managed to achieve this within a month of deciding a Cerb was what I was after, as luck would have it it's in a colour I have grown to really like (may have been my 3rd choice) with full leather and aircon as an added bonus. I can now make the car what I want with all the usual mods and possibly change a bit of the interior carpet away from the green tweed.. otherwise one happy bunny.

[jmh99]

4 years and a 4-part plan.

A) Researching
Two years of looking – decided the kids wouldn’t fit in the back of Cerb anyway (ages 6 & 10yrs), so plumped for a roadster option and bought a Chimp.

B) Driving
One year driving Chimp – enjoyed it thoroughly but something was missing. Downturn in business meant it had to go.

C) Reassessing
One sad year in the wilderness but at least business difficulties resolved by end of year.

D) Final solution
Decided the kids would fit now 11 & 15yrs whether they liked it or not(even though eldest is now 6 foot). Looked at 2 Cerbs and bought the 2nd one. Very, very happy and it’s Blue.

[Tripps]

blue 4.5 said:

(Also, juts found the heat vents under the dash on both sides and winter driving has become much nicer!!!)

Where's the driver's side one? I found the passenger one, but even after shoving my head underneath the dash couldn't spot the drivers one.

Would be good to have my feet as warm as the rest of me

[alinton]

Feel with your right hand underneath into the footwell, it's above your shin!
It's a round outlet like the passenger side dash one.

But someone tell me - why do I only get cold air out of my drivers side one whereas the passenger footwell gets hot?

[Tripps]

alinton said:

Feel with your right hand underneath into the footwell, it's above your shin! It's a round outlet like the passenger side dash one. But someone tell me - why do I only get cold air out of my drivers side one whereas the passenger footwell gets hot?

Found that one but figured it was the cold vent as it was about as warm as a cold thing! As I recall reading there were three cold vents and two hot (+ dash top vents) I went hunting for another vent underneath there but with no look and simply ended up getting even colder with the door open

However, having spotted the passenger's vent was closed I've now opened that so I can stay lovely and warm when commuting

[blue 4.5]

There are 2 in the drivers footwell, one is like the dash tops vents, on the right hand side under the dash, the other is on the tranmission tunnel on the left, same as the the one in the passenger footwell. I think if you don't have the heating on, then cold air comes out (draught), but if the heat is on, hot air does come out, the bottom of my seat was hot! Plus the heater doesn't whine now when driving, but makes a of eerie hum!

[Tripps]

blue 4.5 said:

There are 2 in the drivers footwell, one is like the dash tops vents, on the right hand side under the dash, the other is on the tranmission tunnel on the left, same as the the one in the passenger footwell. I think if you don't have the heating on, then cold air comes out (draught), but if the heat is on, hot air does come out, the bottom of my seat was hot! Plus the heater doesn't whine now when driving, but makes a of eerie hum!

Looks like TVR changed things at some point then, as mine isn't like that.

The ball mount (as passenger and steering column blower) is situated on the right underneath the dash (just visible), just about my right leg. This one is most definitely cold only, unless of course of the warm piping through to it is kapput.

I never considered when groping around that they'd have used dash-top vents in there, so will have a feel around again to see what I can find.