HELP A NEW CERBERA OWNER PLEASE !!
Discussion
Hi all
Finally after 2 years of wanting a TVR I pick one up this weekend (4.2 Cerbera).
12 months ago, I had put a deposit on another Cerbera (S6, Halcyon Atlantis) but it fell through the day before I was due to pick it up !!
To add to the nightmare, the next 12 months consisted of Sprint magazine coming through the door to give me a monthly kick in the ******* and you can guess why I am quite pleased now !!!
Thought about something a bit more practical, but after taking out a TT, a Boxster and a S2000, then the Cerb ..... guess which one it had to be.
This being my first TVR, there are many questions I have of which here are some .....
How practical is it to use a Cerbera for every day use (going to and from work 20 miles each way) ????
Is there anyone who uses one daily for the similar sort of journey ????
Is there anything else I should know ????
Insurance is £1225 from Direct Line (£250 cheaper than Tesco and A Manning) for fully comp, unlimited miles and Protected NCB ..... is this good ????
Finally after 2 years of wanting a TVR I pick one up this weekend (4.2 Cerbera).
12 months ago, I had put a deposit on another Cerbera (S6, Halcyon Atlantis) but it fell through the day before I was due to pick it up !!
To add to the nightmare, the next 12 months consisted of Sprint magazine coming through the door to give me a monthly kick in the ******* and you can guess why I am quite pleased now !!!
Thought about something a bit more practical, but after taking out a TT, a Boxster and a S2000, then the Cerb ..... guess which one it had to be.
This being my first TVR, there are many questions I have of which here are some .....
How practical is it to use a Cerbera for every day use (going to and from work 20 miles each way) ????
Is there anyone who uses one daily for the similar sort of journey ????
Is there anything else I should know ????
Insurance is £1225 from Direct Line (£250 cheaper than Tesco and A Manning) for fully comp, unlimited miles and Protected NCB ..... is this good ????
Welcome to the clan!
I have often used 'Fluffy' for the trip too work. When the B-i-l lends her to me i never want her to go back
I would say driving the car everyday is a good thing. I used the Cerb. every day for 3 weeks to go too work, 80mile round trip too, no problems at all apart from the fuel bills
I am sure alot of the problems that crop up with Cerbs wouldnt if they were driven more.
I would always look more towards buying one that had been used for 6 to 9K a year to one that spent most of its time under a cover an the garage. Just check the levels and keep her serviced and she will do you proud
I hope others on here agree with me.
Welcome to the club and have fun, be careful she doesnt bite you on the arse in the first week! When they bite they bite hard!!!
I have often used 'Fluffy' for the trip too work. When the B-i-l lends her to me i never want her to go back
I would say driving the car everyday is a good thing. I used the Cerb. every day for 3 weeks to go too work, 80mile round trip too, no problems at all apart from the fuel bills
I am sure alot of the problems that crop up with Cerbs wouldnt if they were driven more. I would always look more towards buying one that had been used for 6 to 9K a year to one that spent most of its time under a cover an the garage. Just check the levels and keep her serviced and she will do you proud
I hope others on here agree with me.
Welcome to the club and have fun, be careful she doesnt bite you on the arse in the first week! When they bite they bite hard!!!
Welcome Paul 
I use mine daily and that might just be for the
school run which is about a 20 mile round trip.
Only ever had one problem with this.
Had been away and came back, car started fine so off
we set in fog and rain, with lights, wipers,
demisters, radio, Snooper etc all blasting away.
Came to use the car next day and dead battery.
Overnight recharge and a good run and it's been
fine since.
Naturally try to open her up beyond the 20 miles a
couple of times a week, but I'm in the use it and
she will treat you right camp.
Have fun, but take it easy at first.
Go create some weather...
It's a road legal Concorde!
Graham
TCR The Cerbera Register
www.TVR-Cerbera.com
I use mine daily and that might just be for the
school run which is about a 20 mile round trip.
Only ever had one problem with this.
Had been away and came back, car started fine so off
we set in fog and rain, with lights, wipers,
demisters, radio, Snooper etc all blasting away.
Came to use the car next day and dead battery.
Overnight recharge and a good run and it's been
fine since.
Naturally try to open her up beyond the 20 miles a
couple of times a week, but I'm in the use it and
she will treat you right camp.
Have fun, but take it easy at first.
Go create some weather...
It's a road legal Concorde!
Graham
TCR The Cerbera Register
www.TVR-Cerbera.com
I've had one for 4 months - I learned the hard way about ensuring she is warmed up before letting her idle - if you let it idle whilst cold it'll stall with a flooded engine and its then a disconnect fuel pump job etc etc - just keep the revs at a nice steady 2k for 30 secs or so after starting up and don't blip the throttle - only sends more fuel into the engine. I ended up installing an electric garage door so I didn't need to leave it idling to close the door whilst not fully warmed up. Featherlike throttle control coming out of greasy bends/roundabouts (the back end can develop a mind of its own and it takes a bit of skill to catch it) is also recommended in the early days. Your facial expression will also resemble the Joker after driving it for the first few hundred times 
Welcome
I use mine every day (when it's on the road) and don't want to get out of it. Trust me, your local paper shop will change from a walking distance to the 30 mile round trip. Any excuse just to drive her.
Insurance is what it is. I pay more than that but I have bad convictions and a wife under 25 that is on the policy I call her my little STIG (wife that is)
I use mine every day (when it's on the road) and don't want to get out of it. Trust me, your local paper shop will change from a walking distance to the 30 mile round trip. Any excuse just to drive her.
Insurance is what it is. I pay more than that but I have bad convictions and a wife under 25 that is on the policy
I call her my little STIG (wife that is)Midlandman said:
Hi all
Finally after 2 years of wanting a TVR I pick one up this weekend (4.2 Cerbera).
12 months ago, I had put a deposit on another Cerbera (S6, Halcyon Atlantis) but it fell through the day before I was due to pick it up !!
To add to the nightmare, the next 12 months consisted of Sprint magazine coming through the door to give me a monthly kick in the ******* and you can guess why I am quite pleased now !!!
Thought about something a bit more practical, but after taking out a TT, a Boxster and a S2000, then the Cerb ..... guess which one it had to be.
This being my first TVR, there are many questions I have of which here are some .....
How practical is it to use a Cerbera for every day use (going to and from work 20 miles each way) ????
Is there anyone who uses one daily for the similar sort of journey ????
Is there anything else I should know ????
Insurance is £1225 from Direct Line (£250 cheaper than Tesco and A Manning) for fully comp, unlimited miles and Protected NCB ..... is this good ????
Good for daily use. 3 week storage for eg may fail the battery, electric functions. Agree with the comments elsewhere that many problems may arise by not driving regularly. Cerbera is very happy on an open road. You can tell by the pop & bang and the temparature gauge rejoicing.
Insurance quote is >£250 pounds cheaper than mine.
By accidentally missing out on Speed Six and buying V8 you are miles better off. I hope by now you might have appreciated the difference (eg power bursts, overtaking power, raw & wild).
The only trouble with 20 mile round trips is it is never enough!!.
Seriously, in my limited opinion, the more you use them the better they become, but would agree with Graham and others that you need to give them a good run out at least once a week.
Take it easy for the first few weeks (expect a couple of sideways hairy moments!) and enjoy the looks, feel and sheer grunt of probably the best Coupe on the road today.
Happy motoring and welcome.
Jon
Seriously, in my limited opinion, the more you use them the better they become, but would agree with Graham and others that you need to give them a good run out at least once a week.
Take it easy for the first few weeks (expect a couple of sideways hairy moments!) and enjoy the looks, feel and sheer grunt of probably the best Coupe on the road today.
Happy motoring and welcome.
Jon
Mine is my ownly car and used more or less everyday, not commuting though and have done 12K in the past 9 months! A few niggles to start with but nothing major.
Treat her properly and USE HER and she'll be fine. Warm her up properly and if it's only a 20 mile commute everyday, take her out a few evenings a week for a good proper run, I'm sure you will
I agree with Weatherboard, the more you use them the better they become. I find she acts so well after 30 minutes or so of hard driving, then the Cerbera comes into life, mine sounds so much better after a long hard run. Take her out onto some empty quiet country lanes and get those revs up!! They don't like poodling along and being stuck in traffic all the time.
Check your oil and water levels everyday to be on the safe side. I leave mine out on the street with no cover, no leaks and no problems, touching wood.
Get ready for the servicing costs though, they can be pretty expensive with the big ones, I'd imagine alot more than the Honda, Audi & Porsche you were considering.
You won't regret it though
T.
Treat her properly and USE HER and she'll be fine. Warm her up properly and if it's only a 20 mile commute everyday, take her out a few evenings a week for a good proper run, I'm sure you will
I agree with Weatherboard, the more you use them the better they become. I find she acts so well after 30 minutes or so of hard driving, then the Cerbera comes into life, mine sounds so much better after a long hard run. Take her out onto some empty quiet country lanes and get those revs up!! They don't like poodling along and being stuck in traffic all the time.
Check your oil and water levels everyday to be on the safe side. I leave mine out on the street with no cover, no leaks and no problems, touching wood.
Get ready for the servicing costs though, they can be pretty expensive with the big ones, I'd imagine alot more than the Honda, Audi & Porsche you were considering.
You won't regret it though
T.
Hi Paul,
I use mine everyday for a 24 mile commute to work, this includes traffic work and a motorway run. The car is better for it, I've only had it for about a month, but it really does make for a suprisingly practical car. The fuel costs are a little shocking, but it gives more opportunity for people to admire your new beast every time you fill up!
I would echo the thoughts regarding idling and you may find traffic a pain (in your left leg). I normally wait for a gap to build in front of me and then it allows you to release the clutch fully rather than slipping it all the time.
Weather wise, this mornings wind and rain was a little hairy, but not unmanageable. Icy conditions require a very cautious right foot, but apart from that, wind the window down and enjoy!
>> Edited by pdavison on Thursday 8th January 09:11
I use mine everyday for a 24 mile commute to work, this includes traffic work and a motorway run. The car is better for it, I've only had it for about a month, but it really does make for a suprisingly practical car. The fuel costs are a little shocking, but it gives more opportunity for people to admire your new beast every time you fill up!
I would echo the thoughts regarding idling and you may find traffic a pain (in your left leg). I normally wait for a gap to build in front of me and then it allows you to release the clutch fully rather than slipping it all the time.
Weather wise, this mornings wind and rain was a little hairy, but not unmanageable. Icy conditions require a very cautious right foot, but apart from that, wind the window down and enjoy!
>> Edited by pdavison on Thursday 8th January 09:11
I've had my 4.5 for nearly 6 years from new and now have 43000 miles on it. It's proved to be much more reliable when I've been able to use it regularly than when it has had several periods of enforced idleness. Having it stand around for 2 to 3 week periods has caused various gremlins - knackered batteries (2), stuck starter solanoids (2), wayward ECU's and other, general electrical maladies.
Now, in spite of 43000 miles, my engine (1500 miles per litre oil consumption), gearbox and diff are all in top condition because I take the time and trouble to warm it up throughly before giving it any real stick. That DOES NOT mean when the water temp is up to 82 - 85 degrees (within 3 miles or so). That means when the oil temp is up to operating level - i.e., the oil pressure has stabilised at its proper level of around 52 - 55 p.s.i. @ 3000 r.p.m. and that takes 9 or 10 miles of driving. This will also have warmed up and thinned the gearbox and diff oils too.If you dont a glance through past threads will demonstrate the consequences - knackered camshafts, worn valve guides, scored liners, etc. etc. I'm saying all this because if you do daily short runs, you should resist the temptation to run it hard. Save that for the weekend blasts. Also, avoid the traffic light grand prix getaways from standstill at all times - if you do your clutch will last like mine - still original and tight as a drum which is more than can be said of most owners.
I dont know if you have bought new or not. Regarding others comments on handling, the Cerbera out of the box was a pretty c**p handling car in my opinion although later models have improved a little. Mine has been utterly transformed by fitting Nitron dampers and much uprated springs and 18 inch spiders with Toyo T1 Proxes tyres. The back end is particularly nailed down, even in the wet, and by dropping to a 225/35 section at the front, the natural tendency is now towards very slight understeer which can be balanced out easily to neutral or mild oversteer on the throttle.
I dont know how old you are but your insurance is horrendous!!!!!!! As I'm an old bugger of 50, mine is just £560, £250 excess, ungaraged, 3 pts on licence, unlimited miles, full business use, windscreen cover, protected NCB, legal cover and unlimited track day cover (with only £1000 excess). Eat your heart out guys, lol. Oh and thats with Royal Sun Alliance, not some fly by night.
Regards
John
Now, in spite of 43000 miles, my engine (1500 miles per litre oil consumption), gearbox and diff are all in top condition because I take the time and trouble to warm it up throughly before giving it any real stick. That DOES NOT mean when the water temp is up to 82 - 85 degrees (within 3 miles or so). That means when the oil temp is up to operating level - i.e., the oil pressure has stabilised at its proper level of around 52 - 55 p.s.i. @ 3000 r.p.m. and that takes 9 or 10 miles of driving. This will also have warmed up and thinned the gearbox and diff oils too.If you dont a glance through past threads will demonstrate the consequences - knackered camshafts, worn valve guides, scored liners, etc. etc. I'm saying all this because if you do daily short runs, you should resist the temptation to run it hard. Save that for the weekend blasts. Also, avoid the traffic light grand prix getaways from standstill at all times - if you do your clutch will last like mine - still original and tight as a drum which is more than can be said of most owners.
I dont know if you have bought new or not. Regarding others comments on handling, the Cerbera out of the box was a pretty c**p handling car in my opinion although later models have improved a little. Mine has been utterly transformed by fitting Nitron dampers and much uprated springs and 18 inch spiders with Toyo T1 Proxes tyres. The back end is particularly nailed down, even in the wet, and by dropping to a 225/35 section at the front, the natural tendency is now towards very slight understeer which can be balanced out easily to neutral or mild oversteer on the throttle.
I dont know how old you are but your insurance is horrendous!!!!!!! As I'm an old bugger of 50, mine is just £560, £250 excess, ungaraged, 3 pts on licence, unlimited miles, full business use, windscreen cover, protected NCB, legal cover and unlimited track day cover (with only £1000 excess). Eat your heart out guys, lol. Oh and thats with Royal Sun Alliance, not some fly by night.
Regards
John
Good luck with the new car! Regular driving should be good for it.
I've had my 4.5 for two years now and I use it every day for all sorts of journeys, I've done about 15k miles per year. After I bought it I realised it had been sitting around for quite a while which caused a few problems. Having sorted out those problems in the first year its been pretty good since then apart from electrical niggles and the odd repair.
I agree with the other posting about the Nitron dampers and decent tyres - my car was all over the place on the standard shocks, etc. TVR Power in Coventry fitted the Nitrons and they promised me the difference would be like 'night and day' which was exactly right. No more tram-lining or crashing over potholes and bumps, and the back end stays back.
My insurance is £84 p.m. through Privelege Insurance (sister company to Direct Line), I reckon your quote sounds OK.
Enjoy!
I've had my 4.5 for two years now and I use it every day for all sorts of journeys, I've done about 15k miles per year. After I bought it I realised it had been sitting around for quite a while which caused a few problems. Having sorted out those problems in the first year its been pretty good since then apart from electrical niggles and the odd repair.
I agree with the other posting about the Nitron dampers and decent tyres - my car was all over the place on the standard shocks, etc. TVR Power in Coventry fitted the Nitrons and they promised me the difference would be like 'night and day' which was exactly right. No more tram-lining or crashing over potholes and bumps, and the back end stays back.
My insurance is £84 p.m. through Privelege Insurance (sister company to Direct Line), I reckon your quote sounds OK.
Enjoy!
Congrats on your new car! Or should you have my sympathies?
Issue here is that buying a TVR is a bit of a lottery as to whether you get a good one or not. Get a good one and you will love it forever. Get a bad one and it will make your life a living hell.
I have had a couple of TVRs. My Tuscan was simply the best thing I did for years. Apart from some annoying water leaks when it rained she was fab, everything I hoped for. I then had a Cerbera, and this car was a total bag of ****. I bought her to run as my daily car in place of my M5. The test drive was mind blowing and with full knowledge of the costs of running her daily I still went ahead and bought the 4.5. I was under the the impression that with the Cerbera beinb in production for six plus years, all the little and even not so little problems would have been cured and she will look after me like the Tuscan did. Boy was I wrong!
In the first three months I had her she needed a new alternator, windscreen wiper motor, fuel sender unit, four new door lock sensors and a new passenger door window motor. She also leaked badly. So much so she was sent back to Blackpool by the dealer three times to be fixed and still she leaked. Not just leaked but she would flood the footwells and needed re - carpeting. I only had her on the road for four days throughout a four month period before giving up the ghost. Never again.
I was lucky too. My dealer was fab. The service team were the best and totally supportive. It's a real pity that the factory and that wally Wheeler could not give that same level of support to his dealers.
Once upon a time, even with the build quality failings at the factory, TVRs commanded a premium for pre-owned cars, given the short supply and high desire for this exciting car range. Today is a very diferent story. With less overseas sales through failure to meet regulartory requirements and increased production levels, more cars are flooding the UK market. £ retention values are not as good now, order times are shorter (even stock cars exist now) and even discounts on new car sales can be achieved. What's happening to TVR.
I do love what TVR stand for but can do without the "TVR quality lottery". Visit the factory and you will not see a quality control dept. This resides at the dealers god help them.
Wheeler should step back production and aim for more time spent on finishing each car to a higher quality and better production controls. I would then even pay more for a TVR if quality levels were increased. No car manufacture is perfect, but TVR are not even in with a shout.
I do wish you every success with you new Cerbera and hope it's a good one. If it is, let me know, I would love to buy it.
>> Edited by sportingchariots on Thursday 8th January 11:23
Issue here is that buying a TVR is a bit of a lottery as to whether you get a good one or not. Get a good one and you will love it forever. Get a bad one and it will make your life a living hell.
I have had a couple of TVRs. My Tuscan was simply the best thing I did for years. Apart from some annoying water leaks when it rained she was fab, everything I hoped for. I then had a Cerbera, and this car was a total bag of ****. I bought her to run as my daily car in place of my M5. The test drive was mind blowing and with full knowledge of the costs of running her daily I still went ahead and bought the 4.5. I was under the the impression that with the Cerbera beinb in production for six plus years, all the little and even not so little problems would have been cured and she will look after me like the Tuscan did. Boy was I wrong!
In the first three months I had her she needed a new alternator, windscreen wiper motor, fuel sender unit, four new door lock sensors and a new passenger door window motor. She also leaked badly. So much so she was sent back to Blackpool by the dealer three times to be fixed and still she leaked. Not just leaked but she would flood the footwells and needed re - carpeting. I only had her on the road for four days throughout a four month period before giving up the ghost. Never again.
I was lucky too. My dealer was fab. The service team were the best and totally supportive. It's a real pity that the factory and that wally Wheeler could not give that same level of support to his dealers.
Once upon a time, even with the build quality failings at the factory, TVRs commanded a premium for pre-owned cars, given the short supply and high desire for this exciting car range. Today is a very diferent story. With less overseas sales through failure to meet regulartory requirements and increased production levels, more cars are flooding the UK market. £ retention values are not as good now, order times are shorter (even stock cars exist now) and even discounts on new car sales can be achieved. What's happening to TVR.
I do love what TVR stand for but can do without the "TVR quality lottery". Visit the factory and you will not see a quality control dept. This resides at the dealers god help them.
Wheeler should step back production and aim for more time spent on finishing each car to a higher quality and better production controls. I would then even pay more for a TVR if quality levels were increased. No car manufacture is perfect, but TVR are not even in with a shout.
I do wish you every success with you new Cerbera and hope it's a good one. If it is, let me know, I would love to buy it.
>> Edited by sportingchariots on Thursday 8th January 11:23
gdm_391 said:
I learned the hard way about ensuring she is warmed up before letting her idle - if you let it idle whilst cold it'll stall with a flooded engine and its then a disconnect fuel pump job etc etc - just keep the revs at a nice steady 2k for 30 secs or so after starting up and don't blip the throttle - only sends more fuel into the engine.
Mine did this too, thought it was normal but whilst in Blackpool for some other bits and bobs they couldn't believe how bad it was at cold idle, tinkered with it and now, when i go out to her, i drop the drivers window push the "GO" button and she fires on 2nd turn and rumbles away quite happily while i open the gates etc....worth getting it checked
BigBazza said:
I learned the hard way about ensuring she is warmed up before letting her idle - if you let it idle whilst cold it'll stall with a flooded engine and its then a disconnect fuel pump job etc etc - just keep the revs at a nice steady 2k for 30 secs or so after starting up and don't blip the throttle - only sends more fuel into the engine.
Mine did this too, thought it was normal but whilst in Blackpool for some other bits and bobs they couldn't believe how bad it was at cold idle, tinkered with it and now, when i go out to her, i drop the drivers window push the "GO" button and she fires on 2nd turn and rumbles away quite happily while i open the gates etc....worth getting it checked
Just to pick up on this aswell.
In the summer it starts first time and idles pretty good but in winter it does tend to cut out if it's particularly cold. It seems to be better if I just jump in and drive it and by the time I get to the main road (about 300m) it will be fine from there on.
Firstly thanks to everyone who replied, it realy is most appreciated !!!
From your comments I feel much happier, as there seems to be quite a few Cerb owners who use them daily.
As for only driving for 20 miles each way to work .... this will be the minimum I am sure !!!
The fuel bills hopefully will not be too much of a shock, after having an S Type which does around 18mpg on average, but I am expecting to be at the garage filling up a bit more !!
The "WARMING UP" certainly seems to be a big point, can someone please explain in pigeon s*it english the best way !!!
Are there any other things that I should know ??
I know the car is a completely different toy to most, thus please explain as if you are talking to a complete novice .... I would much sooner know things and do things right, rather than think I know it all .... and feel the pain !!
Thanks again guys
From your comments I feel much happier, as there seems to be quite a few Cerb owners who use them daily.
As for only driving for 20 miles each way to work .... this will be the minimum I am sure !!!
The fuel bills hopefully will not be too much of a shock, after having an S Type which does around 18mpg on average, but I am expecting to be at the garage filling up a bit more !!
The "WARMING UP" certainly seems to be a big point, can someone please explain in pigeon s*it english the best way !!!
Are there any other things that I should know ??
I know the car is a completely different toy to most, thus please explain as if you are talking to a complete novice .... I would much sooner know things and do things right, rather than think I know it all .... and feel the pain !!
Thanks again guys
Midlandman said:
daily.
The "WARMING UP" certainly seems to be a big point, can someone please explain in pigeon s*it english the best way !!!
I don't know about anyone else, but these are the rules I warm it up by:
Once you've got it started, don't let it stall straight away - if it's cold hold the revs at about 1500 RPM or so in neutral for a good few seconds until it's happy (I only need to do this when it's bl**dy cold)
I keep the engine below 2k RPM or so for the first couple of minutes of driving, and below 3k RPM for about 10 mins, with the car generally rumbling around at 1800RPM ish for most of this.
I guess if you're being really careful you'll take even longer to warm it up, and I generally don't push the engine above 3500RPM in normal driving at all - only when I'm out for a weekend/evening run and am having some proper fun... it takes me about a 15 minute drive to get somewhere decent to do this.
Midlandman said:
As for only driving for 20 miles each way to work .... this will be the minimum I am sure !!!
The fuel bills hopefully will not be too much of a shock, after having an S Type which does around 18mpg on average, but I am expecting to be at the garage filling up a bit more !!
I wouldn't be so sure, I use mine pretty much everyday. On my old commute on traffic heavy A-roads I would get 18mpg. On the motorway home last night I managed 26mpg, averaging 80-85mph.
Midlandman said:
The "WARMING UP" certainly seems to be a big point, can someone please explain in pigeon s*it english the best way !!!
I don't know about "best" way, but I know mine.
Warming up is all about bringing the essential fluids up to operating temperature. This is obviously mainly the enging oil, but also includes diff & hydratrak (if fitted) oil too. Hence, leaving it to idle for twenty minutes then ragging it isn't being kind to the diff. (and you'll still have cold tyres).
Anyway, bottom line is keep it below ~3/3.5k revs until the oil is warmed up. This takes longer in winter than summer, and depends which oil you've put in it. But you can determine when it's happened as the oil pressure at idle will have dropped from the idle pressure with the cold oil running around it. My car drops by about 10psi.
At this point everything should be happy and you're off. Bear in mind that this will likely be some time after the coolant temp is "normal" and could be approx 10miles/15 minutes in "normal" conditions. i.e. not the middle of winter.
Don't leave it to idle for too long to warm up as this is not ideal for a number of reasons.
hth.
edited to add: good advice from j_s_g regarding the short period of fast idle just after starting. I do this too and find it helps get everything a bit "happier".
>> Edited by whatever on Friday 9th January 17:41
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