Life after rebuild?
Discussion
I am considering the Cerb Sp6 as next TVR - having looked around, most seem to have had engine rebuild/upgrades, so are they more reliable after this is done (assuming its done properly), or are they still as unpredictable as original even after the rebuilds?
ie am I still looking at a potential time bomb in my bank balance??
All experiences welcomed....
ie am I still looking at a potential time bomb in my bank balance??
All experiences welcomed....
robertp said:
so are they more reliable after this is done (assuming its done properly), or are they still as unpredictable as original even after the rebuilds?
That's the 64 million dollar question. Read this thread above and see if you can come to some conclusion.
>> Edited by groucho on Wednesday 24th August 10:18
I got my Cerb speed six about 4 months ago, after testing both the 2 V8s and the speed six. I found the S6 a better option as it was more flexible, and easier to drive altogether. Mine had 24,000 miles on the clock on the original engine and is going as strong ever. I work away and come back to the uk for about 3 weeks at a time, using the car daily. last time i put 1300 miles driving all over the country, she didn't miss a beat. If you look through the threads on this and other web sites the AJP8 had just as much of a bad name as the S6 seems to have at present. The RV8 is a bullett proof option (well as much as it can be) but TVRs own engine always was going to be a bit different, didn't realise just how. The speed six is a good engine and the power availiable from it is superb, just abibe by a few simple rules (warming up etc) and she'll be fine.
lundy1543 said:
I got my Cerb speed six about 4 months ago, after testing both the 2 V8s and the speed six. I found the S6 a better option as it was more flexible, and easier to drive altogether. Mine had 24,000 miles on the clock on the original engine and is going as strong ever. I work away and come back to the uk for about 3 weeks at a time, using the car daily. last time i put 1300 miles driving all over the country, she didn't miss a beat. If you look through the threads on this and other web sites the AJP8 had just as much of a bad name as the S6 seems to have at present. The RV8 is a bullett proof option (well as much as it can be) but TVRs own engine always was going to be a bit different, didn't realise just how. The speed six is a good engine and the power availiable from it is superb, just abibe by a few simple rules (warming up etc) and she'll be fine.
I don't think that is a strictly accurate picture, you will find the AJP8 is considered pretty robust in its own right, there have been some rebuilds, broken crank shafts, snapped timing chains, but these tend to be quite rare and definitely no where near as many as with the SP6 engine, as far as one can tell from what is reported on here. Most common Cerbera problems have been with clutches, starter motors and electrics.
>> Edited by spartacus on Wednesday 24th August 21:05
sideways mostly said:
Just out of interest Spartacus what is your personal experience of a Speed Six?
I think my quoting should have been more accurate, this what I was commenting on...
sideways mostly said:
If you look through the threads on this and other web sites the AJP8 had just as much of a bad name as the S6 seems to have at present?
I simply meant I don't agree, based on what I also read on this site, on the above comment.
I have no personal experience of the speed six engine. I also base my comments on the opinions of people like Trackcar (Joospeed) and Al Melling (designer of both engines). I have no doubt that a Speed6 engined Cerb is a fine car indeed and probably easier to live with day to day, I wasn't knocking the car!
lundy1543 said:
Still going wrong then? i looked at Cerbs in 1997/98, when the S6 wasn't an option. still had a bad name, even then. the S6 came along and things didn't get much better. I am giving a owners view. I have one. Its fine. All i can say really!! Nuff said.
All I was saying is the AJP8 is not a bad engine and most problems with Cerbera's are not due to engine failure, e.g. Clutch, starter motor and electrical problems. I am giving an owners view as well!
spartacus said:
Still going wrong then? i looked at Cerbs in 1997/98, when the S6 wasn't an option. still had a bad name, even then. the S6 came along and things didn't get much better. I am giving a owners view. I have one. Its fine. All i can say really!! Nuff said.
All I was saying is the AJP8 is not a bad engine and most problems with Cerbera's are not due to engine failure, e.g. Clutch, starter motor and electrical problems. I am giving an owners view as well!
The Speed Six does what it says on the tin... If it s says 350, then you get 350, it is says 400, you get 400. if you treat the engine badly, beit 4.2, 4.5 4.0 (s6) you get a load of trouble...
When the s6 go well they absolutly fly, faster that a 4.5 to 100, or even 130 for that matter...
Mr F
Spartacus of course you have a view-lots of people have a view-thats the problem.
I did not comment on the AJP 8 I asked a question for clarification. I would not want to make a statement about an engine I did not know and did not own.
As an owner of an SP6 I find it worrying that people pile into this debate without considering how their comments might impact on other peoples P&G's.
What really interests me is that TVR clearly have taken several steps to improve the reliability of the SP6,they have even alluded to it in the press release on the warranty, but all this is ignored.
I am very mindfull that a lot of well meaning people have done some serious work on this issue-but to ensure I get thoroughly flamed I think they fall into a four groups-people who bought cheap and got early engines with problems, people who want to distance their reputations from the SP6,people who want to make money from the SP6,and people who want TVR to build V8's
Then there are people who bought with eyes wide open -people who bought early cheap cars and have set aside an engine fund,people who have bought new and rely on the new warranty.
All they want to do is enjoy their cars without having to listen to loads of opinion from a whole stack of vested interests.
As a result of all this values on Tuscans are currently taking a pounding and appear to be dragging other TVR's down with them.See the thread on the Tuscan forum
Not getting you at all Spartacus-you are entitled to say what you want-just trying to make myself crystal
>> Edited by sideways mostly on Friday 26th August 08:58
>> Edited by sideways mostly on Friday 26th August 09:16
I did not comment on the AJP 8 I asked a question for clarification. I would not want to make a statement about an engine I did not know and did not own.
As an owner of an SP6 I find it worrying that people pile into this debate without considering how their comments might impact on other peoples P&G's.
What really interests me is that TVR clearly have taken several steps to improve the reliability of the SP6,they have even alluded to it in the press release on the warranty, but all this is ignored.
I am very mindfull that a lot of well meaning people have done some serious work on this issue-but to ensure I get thoroughly flamed I think they fall into a four groups-people who bought cheap and got early engines with problems, people who want to distance their reputations from the SP6,people who want to make money from the SP6,and people who want TVR to build V8's
Then there are people who bought with eyes wide open -people who bought early cheap cars and have set aside an engine fund,people who have bought new and rely on the new warranty.
All they want to do is enjoy their cars without having to listen to loads of opinion from a whole stack of vested interests.
As a result of all this values on Tuscans are currently taking a pounding and appear to be dragging other TVR's down with them.See the thread on the Tuscan forum
Not getting you at all Spartacus-you are entitled to say what you want-just trying to make myself crystal
>> Edited by sideways mostly on Friday 26th August 08:58
>> Edited by sideways mostly on Friday 26th August 09:16
sideways mostly said:
,,,,,,,people who want to make money from the SP6,,,,,,,,,,,,
Then there are people who bought with eyes wide open -people who bought early cheap cars and have set aside an engine fund,people who have bought new and rely on the new warranty.
All they want to do is enjoy their cars without having to listen to loads of opinion from a whole stack of vested interests.
As a result of all this values on Tuscans are currently taking a pounding and appear to be dragging other TVR's down with them.See the thread on the Tuscan forum
Not getting you at all Spartacus-you are entitled to say what you want-just trying to make myself crystal
>> Edited by sideways mostly on Friday 26th August 08:58
so true 
sideways mostly said:
I think they fall into a four groups-people who bought cheap and got early engines with problems, people who want to distance their reputations from the SP6,people who want to make money from the SP6,and people who want TVR to build V8's
And what of those of us who went in eyes wide open and bought earlier cars that'd had more recent rebuilds that "cured" the problems of earlier "defective components" and "driver abuse"
(so, how come only the S6 is this prone to "driver abuse..." 
), only to find that they then needed another rebuild. Perhaps there's a fifth category - those that actually genuinely just want the truth to be publicly known? I sure as hell don't fall into the first 4 categories...
As an aside, fact is, the AJP8 engine has proven itself to be, on average, a far more long-lived engine. Yes, there have been a number of failures, but nothing like on the order of magnitude (even taking into account relative numbers produced) of the S6, and rarely at sub-10k (or even 20k) mileages. And if you want anecdotal evidence, too - there's not "AJP8 Engine" forum on PH...
J_S_G said:
As an aside, fact is, the AJP8 engine has proven itself to be, on average, a far more long-lived engine. Yes, there have been a number of failures, but nothing like on the order of magnitude (even taking into account relative numbers produced) of the S6, and rarely at sub-10k (or even 20k) mileages. And if you want anecdotal evidence, too - there's not "AJP8 Engine" forum on PH...
Thank you J_S_G, that's exactly the point I was trying to make, obviously I did not express myself nearly well enough!
sideways mostly said:
Spartacus of course you have a view-lots of people have a view-thats the problem.
I did not comment on the AJP 8 I asked a question for clarification. I would not want to make a statement about an engine I did not know and did not own.
As an owner of an SP6 I find it worrying that people pile into this debate without considering how their comments might impact on other peoples P&G's.
What really interests me is that TVR clearly have taken several steps to improve the reliability of the SP6,they have even alluded to it in the press release on the warranty, but all this is ignored.
I am very mindfull that a lot of well meaning people have done some serious work on this issue-but to ensure I get thoroughly flamed I think they fall into a four groups-people who bought cheap and got early engines with problems, people who want to distance their reputations from the SP6,people who want to make money from the SP6,and people who want TVR to build V8's
Then there are people who bought with eyes wide open -people who bought early cheap cars and have set aside an engine fund,people who have bought new and rely on the new warranty.
All they want to do is enjoy their cars without having to listen to loads of opinion from a whole stack of vested interests.
As a result of all this values on Tuscans are currently taking a pounding and appear to be dragging other TVR's down with them.See the thread on the Tuscan forum
sideways mostly said:
Spartacus of course you have a view-lots of people have a view-thats the problem.
I did not comment on the AJP 8 I asked a question for clarification. I would not want to make a statement about an engine I did not know and did not own.
As an owner of an SP6 I find it worrying that people pile into this debate without considering how their comments might impact on other peoples P&G's.
What really interests me is that TVR clearly have taken several steps to improve the reliability of the SP6,they have even alluded to it in the press release on the warranty, but all this is ignored.
I am very mindfull that a lot of well meaning people have done some serious work on this issue-but to ensure I get thoroughly flamed I think they fall into a four groups-people who bought cheap and got early engines with problems, people who want to distance their reputations from the SP6,people who want to make money from the SP6,and people who want TVR to build V8's
Then there are people who bought with eyes wide open -people who bought early cheap cars and have set aside an engine fund,people who have bought new and rely on the new warranty.
All they want to do is enjoy their cars without having to listen to loads of opinion from a whole stack of vested interests.
As a result of all this values on Tuscans are currently taking a pounding and appear to be dragging other TVR's down with them.See the thread on the Tuscan forum
Why dont you state the obvious...
but...
are you saying that Pistonheads has THAT MUCH of an impact on TVR?
Damn, if thats the case, NS should get on the hooter to ted and buy him out!
I'm sorry, but I do not agree that the banter on here is the cause of TVR cars values falling, the falling began a few years back, and I have noticed a steady trend in TVR value depreciation. So have many dealers, who have pulled the plug and left the show... and this started escalating just a few months after NS took over... county the number of dealers that went independant since Wheeler put the word out that he was selling....
...exactly.
SXS said:
Spartacus of course you have a view-lots of people have a view-thats the problem.
I did not comment on the AJP 8 I asked a question for clarification. I would not want to make a statement about an engine I did not know and did not own.
As an owner of an SP6 I find it worrying that people pile into this debate without considering how their comments might impact on other peoples P&G's.
What really interests me is that TVR clearly have taken several steps to improve the reliability of the SP6,they have even alluded to it in the press release on the warranty, but all this is ignored.
I am very mindfull that a lot of well meaning people have done some serious work on this issue-but to ensure I get thoroughly flamed I think they fall into a four groups-people who bought cheap and got early engines with problems, people who want to distance their reputations from the SP6,people who want to make money from the SP6,and people who want TVR to build V8's
Then there are people who bought with eyes wide open -people who bought early cheap cars and have set aside an engine fund,people who have bought new and rely on the new warranty.
All they want to do is enjoy their cars without having to listen to loads of opinion from a whole stack of vested interests.
As a result of all this values on Tuscans are currently taking a pounding and appear to be dragging other TVR's down with them.See the thread on the Tuscan forum
Why dont you state the obvious...
but...
are you saying that Pistonheads has THAT MUCH of an impact on TVR?
Damn, if thats the case, NS should get on the hooter to ted and buy him out!
I'm sorry, but I do not agree that the banter on here is the cause of TVR cars values falling, the falling began a few years back, and I have noticed a steady trend in TVR value depreciation. So have many dealers, who have pulled the plug and left the show... and this started escalating just a few months after NS took over... county the number of dealers that went independant since Wheeler put the word out that he was selling....
...exactly.
I agree completely with SXS.
Furthermore I think it would only be fair to add the fifth (and perhaps most obvious) group of 'vested interests' on here:
That is the group of people who own SP6 cars and are against numerous discussions on SP6 reliability due to the fact that it would either (or all of)
1) Affect the residual value of their car
2) Provide the view that their car may not be perfect
3) Provide the evidence of the very real possibility that they may be hit with some of the costly problems many others have encountered thus making it difficult to enjoy their car without thinking about them.
It must also be said that many of the vociferous proTVRtilIdie guys contribute a lot of the anti-anythingbutTVR opinions when the subject of rebuilds are raised. And yes, as it has been mentioned it is important to remember the background and experiences as a projective viewpoint to their comments. Not many of this group have had rebuilds.
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