Buying a cerbie... decisions decisions

[ukbob]

I know there are no right or wrong answers, and this ground must have been covered before a few times but...

(And before I start, Im the kind of person who always likes the newest, bestest, etc etc... dont want to buy something and wish Id saved a few months more...)

My ideal cerbie is
a 98 or newer
4.5
interior I like
certain colour
low miles

Ive found one. Not overly keen on the interior, but its ok. The colour is perfect (yellow!) Its only a 4.2 (no big deal I spose) milage is low but its a 97.

Its had a lot of work done on it, should be a good buy but... (I dont really have a question, if I had one it would be this I suppose... read on and apologies for such a drively post, Im just after some thoughts and comments I suppose)...

Wouldnt it be better to save longer and harder, wait a while, get more money together, and find a newer cerbera?

Perhaps I picked up a bad idea along the way, but thought 97 cerbs were to be avoided if newer ones were available... given that a little time and money and I could buy a 99, shouldnt I do that... wait for a 99?

Im torn in two, I want one now, but also want a newer one, something I can keep for 5 years or... forever, perhaps.

[TimW]

Would it be this yellow cerb? www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=32326&s=6


BTW 11.5k for this!
you prob wouldnt make it home
www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=34030&s=6

[ukbob]

[quote=TimW]Would it be this yellow cerb? www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=32326&s=6

Yup, thats the one. I cant decide whether to go for it or not (if its around when my car sells, just waiting for the ad to appear on classifieds)

All subject to an ingelby/agger inspection, on paper it looks good but Im not sure... I know if I saw it Id want to buy it on the spot, trying to decide if its right for me first...

If anyone knows anything about the car, feel free to email me privately in confidence. The owner, I believe, doesnt post here much.

[GCerbera]

Although the car must be local to me, I've not seen it around.

I'd not hesitate to buy ANY age of Cerbera, provided it was:
a) So cheap it could sorted within budget and I didn't expect to drive it for at
least six months.

b) It came with all the required work carried out and passed a full ramp inspection / test.

You can save your self a lot of time and heartache by sourcing the history of a 'good' car
via the service providers and the factory by supplying the chassis number and in the region
of about £30.

[ukbob]

GCerbera said:

Although the car must be local to me, I've not seen it around. I'd not hesitate to buy ANY age of Cerbera, provided it was: a) So cheap it could sorted within budget and I didn't expect to drive it for at least six months. b) It came with all the required work carried out and passed a full ramp inspection / test. You can save your self a lot of time and heartache by sourcing the history of a 'good' car via the service providers and the factory by supplying the chassis number and in the region of about £30.

Forgive me for not having read more in the cerbera forum, but I do recall hearing a few comments along the lines of parts on order from the factory, and suchlike?

Generally speaking, arn't many of things that go wrong usually fixable by the likes of austec, without having extended waits for parts, or is this not the case.

Is a second car a necessity? This would be my only car...

[GCerbera]

ukbob said:

Generally speaking, arn't many of things that go wrong usually fixable by the likes of austec, without having extended waits for parts, or is this not the case. Is a second car a necessity? This would be my only car...

Generally, yes, Joospeed, Topcats, Austec, TVR Power etc will normally be able to sort you.

There have been delays with clutch parts etc in the past, but that seemed to depend
on who you spoke to.

Several times people complained they could not get this or that part and a few
email leads later, they were sorted.

I never had a second car, the Cerbera was my daily runner and I had just
trivial problems in the 18 months (once the first car had been brought up to spec)

If you use the right people and they give the thumbs up from the get go, then you
SHOULD be ok.

[kojak]

ukbob said:

Its only a 4.2 (no big deal I spose)

Why do people always assume the 4.2 is far inferior to the 4.5. You'll be supprised how wrong you are. Read through some of the past threads. Buy a 4.2, save money, and pay for upgrades such as Nitrons etc...

>> Edited by kojak on Friday 31st December 17:29

[ukbob]

kojak said:

ukbob said: Its only a 4.2 (no big deal I spose) Why do people always assume the 4.2 is far inferior to the 4.5. You'll be supprised how wrong you are. Read through some of the past threads. Buy a 4.2, save money, and pay for upgrades such as Nitrons etc... >> Edited by kojak on Friday 31st December 17:29

I have read the threads, which was why I said "no big deal" - other than that, Im just torn between waiting till the right money and perfect spec are both in check, vs diving in early and buying a cheaper 4.2 to enjoy till Im ready for a newer model, after promising myself I wouldnt jump in early

If I hadn't read the threads I wouldnt be considering a 4.2

[ukbob]

Kojak, love the interactive flash experience in your profile

Just curious, what do you have, a 4.2 or .5?

[ukbob]

GCerbera said:

Generally, yes, Joospeed, Topcats, Austec, TVR Power etc will normally be able to sort you. There have been delays with clutch parts etc in the past, but that seemed to depend on who you spoke to. Several times people complained they could not get this or that part and a few email leads later, they were sorted. I never had a second car, the Cerbera was my daily runner and I had just trivial problems in the 18 months (once the first car had been brought up to spec) If you use the right people and they give the thumbs up from the get go, then you SHOULD be ok.

There have been a few dogs out there as far as rotten cerberas go, but fingers crossed and all that, I should be ok.

If my V8S doesnt sell or I cant raise the cash fast enough, a while spent waiting might land me a newer yellow cerb anyway. Will have to see what the new year brings!

[kojak]

ukbob said:

Kojak, love the interactive flash experience in your profile Just curious, what do you have, a 4.2 or .5?

Cheers.


I have a late '98 4.2.
I think if I was going for a 4.5, I think I would try and get a '99 onwards, rather than one of the earlier ones. Seem to think i'd read somewhere on here of a few minor teething problems. I may be wrong, and stand being corrected.

[ukbob]

kojak said:

ukbob said: Kojak, love the interactive flash experience in your profile Just curious, what do you have, a 4.2 or .5? Cheers. I have a late '98 4.2. I think if I was going for a 4.5, I think I would try and get a '99 onwards, rather than one of the earlier ones. Seem to think i'd read somewhere on here of a few minor teething problems. I may be wrong, and stand being corrected.

Some nice photography too kodak

The hole your 10 inch is fitted in, what was that for? Im guessing either lightweight or to put skis (or whatever long things people cart around) or both?

Ideally, Id get a low milage 99, but I just dont know how much money is coming in nor when its coming, and waiting all year could be too painful What niggles are you talking about, engine niggles? Was the 4.5 introduced long after the 4.2 (seem to recal reading something, I think... sorry if this ground has been covered)

Rob

[kojak]

I too cant remember what it was, but dont think it was anything major, such as engine problems etc...I just cant remember sorry.

As for the hole where the sub is. A helmet fits in apparantly.

The yellow cerbera has one. Take a look.

>> Edited by kojak on Friday 31st December 18:10

[BCA]

97' seems to be a good year for a Cerb 4.5 if ours is anything to go by...

arent the post 98 4.2's meant to be a little less insanely quick too IIRC?

[jacko996]

Can anyone say what the differance is in interior and styling between 97 4.2 & 98 4.5 if any?

[Fishh]

I bought my first Cerbera back in April - a '98 4.5. I had all the usual concerns and tried 3 - the 3rd feeling much more lively than the others. The owner had just put it through a major service at Austec and invited me to talk to them. I had a long chat with them and they put my mind at ease - saying that it was a good one. From what I understand, every one built is different and there are some duffers out there.

If you come across one that has been serviced at any of the good dealers (never tried them but Joospeed & TVR power are often mentioned, as well as Austec), you might be able to do the same - give them a bell and see what they say about the car. Not a guarantee that nothing will go wrong but should help

Bought my boy a TVR scalextric for Christmas, and one of the cars broke down after 30 mins - how do they make them so realistic! (just kiddin, Ive no regrets and Luuurve driving the Cerb - driving my Golf after is like getting into a milk float)

Hope you get what you want