Guide prices

[charlieboy]

>>> Edited by charlieboy on Thursday 22 July 12:19

[raceboy]

Price seems to be based more on condition and the owners urge to sell rather then anything as dull as age, mileage, etc
Your going to be lucky to find a 4.5 for £18k these seem to start at about £20k, you may find a bargin out there but beware if you don't know what your looking at an £18k car could soon end up costing you £25k
4.2's are in your price bracket and again some are better than others there are some very nice, straight cars out there but there's also cars which may have huge bills lurking around the next apex
If your not a cerbera expert take one with you, and not the AA/RAC blokes as they would be lucky to find the bonnet release without a helping hand

[JakeR]

Also, remember that if you spend £18k on a cerb, you are still gonna get the bills for a £45k handbuilt supercar.

Now they're not gonna be ford fiesta cheap.

Make sure you have some readies to keep it on the road.

[jamster]

Charlieboy, I wouldnt agree with Raceboy about the AA/RAC guys. I had an inspection done by them. The RAC have a specialist team of folks to look at TVR's. THe chap who looked at mine new absolutley everything about them there is to know having stripped one down and rebuilt it himself. Worth checking with the RAC though that you inspector is expert in TVR's just incase.
Would advise to buy as new a cerb as possible, anything older than 97 and your chances of having problems greatly increase.

Jamster

[andy4200]

jamster said:

Would advise to buy as new a cerb as possible, anything older than 97 and your chances of having problems greatly increase.

Don't totally agree with that. Quite a lot of the earlier ones seem to have had the major stuff done to them, i.e. clutches, camshafts, etc. Get proof of this though in the form of receipts from the tvr expert (dealer or indy) that done the job and not some back street mechanic.

Mines is a 96 and the only big thing so far is the clutch slave cylinder (touching wood as I type)

The main thing is to find one that you like and that passes whatever inspection you have done.
Regardless of age of the car and however 'mint' it is there may be something big lurking round the corner so keep a few pounds spare for the unexpected!!!

[raceboy]

As you can see ask 5 people and you'll get 5 answers
I'd probably recommend talking to an 'expert' but either socially, or offer to pay for 1/2 an hours advice as the good ones are very very busy keeping these things on the road

[charlieboy]

Thanks guys this is all very helpful and i think your right "Raceboy" about the 4.2 option but for Example
what big bills could I expect from it terms of bills over a 2 year period say 20,000 miles :- Cerbera 4.2 1997, 34,000 miles. Metallic dark green, biscuit full hide interior, A/C, 6 CD changer, 12 months MOT, outdoor car cover, new clutch, new sports exhaust, new front tyre FTVRSH, 34,000 miles. Genuine reason for sale. He's asking 16K see Classifieds. on piston Heads. Does anyone know this car?

[trooper1212]

charlieboy said:

Thanks guys this is all very helpful and i think your right "Raceboy" about the 4.2 option but for Example what big bills could I expect from it terms of bills over a 2 year period say 20,000 miles :- Cerbera 4.2 1997, 34,000 miles. Metallic dark green, biscuit full hide interior, A/C, 6 CD changer, 12 months MOT, outdoor car cover, new clutch, new sports exhaust, new front tyre FTVRSH, 34,000 miles. Genuine reason for sale. He's asking 16K see Classifieds. on piston Heads. Does anyone know this car?

I went and looked at this car when I was looking for my cerb. It seemed a solid car and the guy seemed genuine to me.
It could do with a few cosmetic touch -ups and needed some work doing for the MOT, which it has obviously since passed.

When I looked at it, it was advertised at £15,500 as it was coming up to a service. The price difference could be due to this having now been done?

It's certainly worth a look, but I didn't investigate it fully.

[andy4200]

Don't know the car but I would be asking one thing.
Why did he only change 1 front tyre. Is it a typo or did he really only change 1. I prefer to change in pairs regardless of wether or not both need changed. If this was to save money then what else has been left.

I may be completely wrong and if anyone knows better then please correct me.

Forgot to say that if it has had the 36k service done then that is a biggie and should really have had the valves checked also on top of this.

>> Edited by andy4200 on Wednesday 12th November 13:52

[gazzab]

dont forget you can easily fork out 3k pa on a cerb (probably the average annual running cost for parts and servicing).
You can get great 4.5s for 18K.
That is what mine is worth !! And it is totally sound (2002 spec engine etc) !
I would say buy a known car rather than a dog from autotrader.
Buy a car thta has lots of bills.