Cerbera With Reliable Engine - Worth More or Less ?
Discussion
I've seen a few Cerberas now with LS or Rover V8 engine transplants instead of the characteristic but incredibly unreliable TVR ones.
The Cerbera forums tend to sneer at them / not regard them as a Cerberas any more and whilst I can understand that point of view, every time I work up the courage to buy a Cerbera I come across ads with multiple engine rebuilds within 20k and I'm not that much of a gambler.
I'm drawn to cars with an alternative engine swapped in.
Personally I'd value one with higher performance as worth more than a standard one but with most Rover V8s struggling to hit 275bhp should they be worth less does the improved reliability mean they are worth more ?
I have no doubt that a Ferrari / Lambo with an LS engine would be worth far less but does TVRs affordability change things ?
Obviously it's only personal opinion but I wondered what others think ?
Mods please don't move this as it'll hardly be a representative view in the Cerbera forum.
The Cerbera forums tend to sneer at them / not regard them as a Cerberas any more and whilst I can understand that point of view, every time I work up the courage to buy a Cerbera I come across ads with multiple engine rebuilds within 20k and I'm not that much of a gambler.
I'm drawn to cars with an alternative engine swapped in.
Personally I'd value one with higher performance as worth more than a standard one but with most Rover V8s struggling to hit 275bhp should they be worth less does the improved reliability mean they are worth more ?
I have no doubt that a Ferrari / Lambo with an LS engine would be worth far less but does TVRs affordability change things ?
Obviously it's only personal opinion but I wondered what others think ?
Mods please don't move this as it'll hardly be a representative view in the Cerbera forum.
A Cerbera containing and 4.2 or 4.5 engine is not considered unreliable. You are much more likely to have issues getting in to it than the engine giving you problems, which is not fixed by the yank lump transplant.
I to some extent are in the camp that any car with the engine it shouldn't have loses something. If for example you stuck in the engine out of a ZR1 and pretty much added 200bhp, then I could see that being pretty fun! A like for like performance match, I see pointless and loses the cars identity.
I to some extent are in the camp that any car with the engine it shouldn't have loses something. If for example you stuck in the engine out of a ZR1 and pretty much added 200bhp, then I could see that being pretty fun! A like for like performance match, I see pointless and loses the cars identity.
BlueEyedBoy said:
A Cerbera containing and 4.2 or 4.5 engine is not considered unreliable.
By whom ?There are loads with rebuilds at 25k !
This one was rebuilt at 35k AND 49k
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3826475.htm
I'm not sure the AJP counts as "incredibly unreliable" (or the S6 for that matter) but it depends what you're comparing it to. If you want the power benefits, lower servicing requirements etc that a 7L yank V8 brings then fair enough. I'm not sure I could justify the £15-20k cost to do the job properly on reliability alone.
Long term I think it will affect values unless done very well. Look at the Triumph Stag.
Long term I think it will affect values unless done very well. Look at the Triumph Stag.
Edited by Basil Brush on Tuesday 24th April 20:19
I wouldn't call mine unreliable 51000 miles and its never had any work done to it, just servicing.
I would never buy a Cerbera without a TVR engine just think, would you buy a Porsche with an American V8 or an Aston with a Honda power plant.
I can understand why people do it but it's not for me.
I would never buy a Cerbera without a TVR engine just think, would you buy a Porsche with an American V8 or an Aston with a Honda power plant.
I can understand why people do it but it's not for me.
Dave 500 said:
I wouldn't call mine unreliable 51000 miles and its never had any work done to it, just servicing.
would you buy a Porsche with an American V8 or an Aston with a Honda power plant.
Yours is one of the few exceptions though.would you buy a Porsche with an American V8 or an Aston with a Honda power plant.
Yes I would (I don't like wasting money and £3k+ rebuilds fall into that category)
The reason I'm asking is I want to know if I buy / build one would others value it as I do.
redgriff500 said:
BlueEyedBoy said:
A Cerbera containing and 4.2 or 4.5 engine is not considered unreliable.
By whom ?There are loads with rebuilds at 25k !
This one was rebuilt at 35k AND 49k
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3826475.htm
t post personallyReliability not fixed by a yank transplant?
redgriff500 said:
Yes I would (I don't like wasting money and £3k+ rebuilds fall into that category)
But spending 10-15K on a Good install of a different engine isn't wasting money 
thats a lot of rebuilds (if they are needed at all).The only way you could ever justify it is if you are never going to sell it as you will never ever get your money back.
The second hand market will be tiny and I can't see anyone paying 30K for a Cerb with a non TVR engine.
Jag-D said:
redgriff500 said:
BlueEyedBoy said:
A Cerbera containing and 4.2 or 4.5 engine is not considered unreliable.
By whom ?There are loads with rebuilds at 25k !
This one was rebuilt at 35k AND 49k
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3826475.htm
t post personallyReliability not fixed by a yank transplant?
t...I had one for 3 years and did over 30K in it taking it up to about 50K, nothing went wrong with the engine other than the starter motor, which I wouldn't class as the engine, oh and a cat died which was replaced under warranty. I had more issues with been locked out of it.
BlueEyedBoy said:
Jag-D said:
redgriff500 said:
BlueEyedBoy said:
A Cerbera containing and 4.2 or 4.5 engine is not considered unreliable.
By whom ?There are loads with rebuilds at 25k !
This one was rebuilt at 35k AND 49k
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3826475.htm
t...I had one for 3 years and did over 30K in it taking it up to about 50K, nothing went wrong with the engine other than the starter motor, which I wouldn't class as the engine, oh and a cat died which was replace under warranty. I had more issues with been locked out of it.
I'm smelling a bulls
t post personallyReliability not fixed by a yank transplant?
t...I had one for 3 years and did over 30K in it taking it up to about 50K, nothing went wrong with the engine other than the starter motor, which I wouldn't class as the engine, oh and a cat died which was replaced under warranty. I had more issues with been locked out of it than mechanical.
Unless the Cerb forum has changed a lot over the last 5 years, the 4.5 litre engine was considered to be reliable.
So in the case of yourself, it's classed as reliable? Funny as most of the people I've known with Cerberas have had several rebuilds on both 4.2 and 4.5
But I'm Mr Bulls
t...what the fk would I know eh?If I was in the market for a Cerb, one of my all time favourite TVRs, I think I would run it as is until the engine expired (or not) and then have the LS conversion carried out.
Why? I love the Cerbera but I also love the GM LS motor and a frankenstein of the 2 would be pretty much a dream car for me.
TVR, an itch that requires scratching at some point for me.
Why? I love the Cerbera but I also love the GM LS motor and a frankenstein of the 2 would be pretty much a dream car for me.
TVR, an itch that requires scratching at some point for me.
Dave 500 said:
But spending 10-15K on a Good install of a different engine isn't wasting money thats a lot of rebuilds (if they are needed at all).
The only way you could ever justify it is if you are never going to sell it as you will never ever get your money back.
The second hand market will be tiny and I can't see anyone paying 30K for a Cerb with a non TVR engine.
Why the huge quotes for a LS transplant, I thought they were available new in a create for £3K then putting it in should be easy? thats a lot of rebuilds (if they are needed at all).The only way you could ever justify it is if you are never going to sell it as you will never ever get your money back.
The second hand market will be tiny and I can't see anyone paying 30K for a Cerb with a non TVR engine.
Dave 500 said:
redgriff500 said:
Yes I would (I don't like wasting money and £3k+ rebuilds fall into that category)
But spending 10-15K on a Good install of a different engine isn't wasting money thats a lot of rebuilds (if they are needed at all).The only way you could ever justify it is if you are never going to sell it as you will never ever get your money back.
The second hand market will be tiny and I can't see anyone paying 30K for a Cerb with a non TVR engine.
I've seen a 4.2 with a blown engine at £6k I can get a 250+bhp Rover V8 for £2000ish so lets say £10k done.
Yes down on power but still faster than most cars.
Jag-D said:
Hang about there bossman, I fully admit I didn't read the post properly as I was working at the time, but nice to see that small mistakes can be overlooked on PH these days
So in the case of yourself, it's classed as reliable? Funny as most of the people I've known with Cerberas have had several rebuilds on both 4.2 and 4.5
But I'm Mr Bullst...what the fk would I know eh?
If we are talking about the old days you wouldn't have posted a comment saying you could smell bullsSo in the case of yourself, it's classed as reliable? Funny as most of the people I've known with Cerberas have had several rebuilds on both 4.2 and 4.5
But I'm Mr Bulls
t...what the fk would I know eh?t and would have maybe asked me to clarify the comment I thought I was quite clearly saying that just replacing the engine is not going to make a cerbera reliable. Yes I got lucky and mine was, and to some extent why I sold it before the magic was lost, but at the back of my mind was always the thought of something going wrong and the 2K average bill, but it was never the engine that worried me.
redgriff500 said:
Dave 500 said:
redgriff500 said:
Yes I would (I don't like wasting money and £3k+ rebuilds fall into that category)
But spending 10-15K on a Good install of a different engine isn't wasting money thats a lot of rebuilds (if they are needed at all).The only way you could ever justify it is if you are never going to sell it as you will never ever get your money back.
The second hand market will be tiny and I can't see anyone paying 30K for a Cerb with a non TVR engine.
I've seen a 4.2 with a blown engine at £6k I can get a 250+bhp Rover V8 for £2000ish so lets say £10k done.
Yes down on power but still faster than most cars.
redgriff500 said:
Dave 500 said:
redgriff500 said:
Yes I would (I don't like wasting money and £3k+ rebuilds fall into that category)
But spending 10-15K on a Good install of a different engine isn't wasting money thats a lot of rebuilds (if they are needed at all).The only way you could ever justify it is if you are never going to sell it as you will never ever get your money back.
The second hand market will be tiny and I can't see anyone paying 30K for a Cerb with a non TVR engine.
I've seen a 4.2 with a blown engine at £6k I can get a 250+bhp Rover V8 for £2000ish so lets say £10k done.
Yes down on power but still faster than most cars.
I was looking at a good Cerbera with a working engine (15K) then a LS7 transplant done by one of the well known companies.
If you want to put a Rv8 in one go for it and enjoy but i don't think you will get much for it when/ if you sell.
redgriff500 said:
We are using different maths...
I've seen a 4.2 with a blown engine at £6k I can get a 250+bhp Rover V8 for £2000ish so lets say £10k done.
Yes down on power but still faster than most cars.
If you did that for £10k, I reckon it would be worth about £5k tops when you'd finished.I've seen a 4.2 with a blown engine at £6k I can get a 250+bhp Rover V8 for £2000ish so lets say £10k done.
Yes down on power but still faster than most cars.
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