Cerb alternatives - there are none!

Cerb alternatives - there are none!

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Discussion

fatjon

2,141 posts

212 months

Monday 15th May 2017
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By the time all the other gremlins had been sorted along with the chassis job mine was over 8k.

Diff bushes, bolt kits, fuel lines, brake lines, aircon pipes fell apart, Air con rad leaking when reassembled, re-gas, fluids, chaffed and damaged wiring, squidgy engine and box mounts, rusty condensor, fuel pump rotten plus assorted bushes and stuff that you would just never put back in service 3/4 of the way through their life. All the suspension arms were blasted and powder coated or replaced so factor in a full bush kit. It adds up and it's all a damn site easier when the body is off.

WhyTwo

1,114 posts

191 months

Monday 15th May 2017
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An Marcach said:
The only thing I can think of that I'd consider a replacement for my Cerbera is a Nissan GT-R but that is in a whole different price range frown
GT-R is on my wish list. Ideally I'd love to keep the Cerbera and buy a GT-R as a daily driver but I don't think that's going to happen. Whenever I think of selling the Cerb to fund a GT-R I take it out for a blast and remind myself why I love it so much

davidd

6,443 posts

283 months

Monday 15th May 2017
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WhyTwo said:
GT-R is on my wish list. Ideally I'd love to keep the Cerbera and buy a GT-R as a daily driver but I don't think that's going to happen. Whenever I think of selling the Cerb to fund a GT-R I take it out for a blast and remind myself why I love it so much
I went from a Cerb (I've had two) to a GTR (I'm now on my second)....

They are more alike than you may think...

Currently trying to work out what to get next, hence being back in the Cerbera section!


Cerberaherts

1,651 posts

140 months

Tuesday 16th May 2017
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The mas 4200 is a good shout. Cracking engine (although very slightly similar to the Ferrari engine it doesn't share much apart from the block and oil pump!) they make a great noise and service wise it's every 6,250 miles or 12 months. No cam belts as it's chain driven. Personally, my cerb is likely going after this summer, though I'm going off-piste and I'm building myself a model a coupe hot rod! wink

Incognegro

1,560 posts

132 months

Wednesday 17th May 2017
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davidd said:
WhyTwo said:
GT-R is on my wish list. Ideally I'd love to keep the Cerbera and buy a GT-R as a daily driver but I don't think that's going to happen. Whenever I think of selling the Cerb to fund a GT-R I take it out for a blast and remind myself why I love it so much
I went from a Cerb (I've had two) to a GTR (I'm now on my second)....

They are more alike than you may think...

Currently trying to work out what to get next, hence being back in the Cerbera section!
I had been in this boat. Then thought maybe get an SL55 AMG to get best of summer and winter... then came to my senses and got neither just invested a whole load into the Cerb to make it a real everyday super car. Can't wait for its return... I honestly don't know what could replace it but some McLarens are giving me an itch recently wink

Erich Stahler

2,878 posts

269 months

Thursday 18th May 2017
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Tell you what would make a good Cerbera replacement, the latest GT350/R Mustang.
Its flat plane crank V8 revs to 8k rpm and I believe is the engine that will be used in the new TVR. Here's a clip of a Cerbera test mule fitted with this engine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juy1HxoXuzs

and GT350R comapred to new Z28 Camaro, both sound great!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtdtGgf1BF0

Edited by Erich Stahler on Thursday 18th May 16:35

Pooh

3,692 posts

252 months

Thursday 18th May 2017
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fatjon said:
Maserati, hmmmm...

Just bought a Ghibli for Mrs fatjon. 9k miles on the clock and quite easy on the eye, the car that is. She had it 3 days before it went into limp mode. It's now gone away on a low loader to the dealer with a failed EGT sensor, blocked CAT, duff throttle sensor and 4 safety recalls to do. I'm getting a bad feeling about it. That little voice was saying "you really don't want to do this" as I was paying for it. Maybe I should have listened.
I ran a 2012 Maserati GranTurismo S for two years/12k miles and it was fantastic, the only issue I had was an intermittent fault with a front parking sensor and that was fixed under warranty.

Erich Stahler

2,878 posts

269 months

Friday 19th May 2017
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Incognegro said:
davidd said:
WhyTwo said:
GT-R is on my wish list. Ideally I'd love to keep the Cerbera and buy a GT-R as a daily driver but I don't think that's going to happen. Whenever I think of selling the Cerb to fund a GT-R I take it out for a blast and remind myself why I love it so much
I went from a Cerb (I've had two) to a GTR (I'm now on my second)....

They are more alike than you may think...

Currently trying to work out what to get next, hence being back in the Cerbera section!
I had been in this boat. Then thought maybe get an SL55 AMG to get best of summer and winter... then came to my senses and got neither just invested a whole load into the Cerb to make it a real everyday super car. Can't wait for its return... I honestly don't know what could replace it but some McLarens are giving me an itch recently wink
Hi Incognegro, would be interested to hear what mods you have invested in to make your Cerbera a real everyday super car?

Diablos-666

2,786 posts

177 months

Friday 19th May 2017
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How about a Lotus Evora, although not sure if the rear seats are actually of any use.

You can pick them up for sub £30k. Decent enough reliability, you don't see a lot of them on the road. Seems to tick all your boxes?

tvrolet

4,251 posts

281 months

Friday 19th May 2017
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If the comparison is a 2+2 fibreglass V8, then there are indeed no alternatives. But of course the Cerbera was a compromise too. I ran mine for the best part of 5 years and I loved every minute of it - and it looked awesome in Sunset Pearl Yellow with black leather. But for long runs it was a bit too wearing (and I did quite a few), and for track days it really wasn't focused enough to play with the really fast boys. I put stiffer suspension on mine, upgraded the brakes, messed with the anti-roll bars, lowered it etc...and while it made it lots better on track it made it far worse on the road. I probably should have left it alone as it was a better compromise as standard.

But then there are plenty other things with different levels of the road/track/looks compromise. I've had a Maserati 4200 for the best part of 10 years now, and as a long distance mile-eater it's much much better than the Cerbera, plus usable back seats. Sounds just as good in a different way, and with the paddle shift it's every bit the driving experience the Cerbera was...on the road. But I've never had it on track, and wouldn't dream of it. I've a Tuscan Challenge car with a Chevy LS3 for track days, and it just highlights the difference between a road car with mods on track, and a race car chassis.

If I had to run a single car as a 'Cerb replacement' for road and track days, then if I could live with just 2 seats (which I can) then it would be a Corvette C7 Stingray. I've rented a couple in the states and they are, without doubt. astonishing cars. Seat-of-the-pants says quicker than a Cerb; certainly handles better, stops better and rides much much better. Sounds good and looks astounding too, although I admit that's subjective...but my rental Stingrays were both yellow, like my cerb of old.

If you need the +2, then for me I'd be going down the Challenger, Camaro, Mustang route...in that order. BUT that's only having driven the previous model Mustang (and also a Shelby Mustang) against current and previous Challengers and Camaros. For a Cerbera comparison though I'd guess the latest Mustang with the Voodoo flat plane crank motor would be a good choice - 2+2, V8 etc.

Interesting I'm homing in on US motors - but the ones I've driven (and that's quite a few, and many thousands of miles in rentals) as they all seem to mee to touch on the same 'rough and ready' style of power deliver, handling and noise the Cerbera had. The European stuff I've driven has always seemed a bit too clinical. Not saying they're not possible quicker, better handling or whatever - but for me it's currently the US cars that deliver that sort of hooligan experience.

end of ramble...

Incognegro

1,560 posts

132 months

Saturday 20th May 2017
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Erich Stahler said:
Hi Incognegro, would be interested to hear what mods you have invested in to make your Cerbera a real everyday super car?
Hi Erich see https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

for a more comprehensive info but in short for me the rebuild to 4.5 and all its benefits. The ceramic coating, and heat shielding to add efficiency 1st then the anti knock MBE with tcs and launch control. For me the sequential injection and overall better/smoother more computer controlled running of the car is the pull to everyday driving but also having decided to switch to electric PAS is part of that. Now many will say it's for girls bla bla bla but anyone that has to manoeuvre thier Cerb out of garage and do a 180 knows that the whole process can stop a quick nip to the shops lol

Erich Stahler

2,878 posts

269 months

Tuesday 23rd May 2017
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Incognegro said:
Erich Stahler said:
Hi Incognegro, would be interested to hear what mods you have invested in to make your Cerbera a real everyday super car?
Hi Erich see https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

for a more comprehensive info but in short for me the rebuild to 4.5 and all its benefits. The ceramic coating, and heat shielding to add efficiency 1st then the anti knock MBE with tcs and launch control. For me the sequential injection and overall better/smoother more computer controlled running of the car is the pull to everyday driving but also having decided to switch to electric PAS is part of that. Now many will say it's for girls bla bla bla but anyone that has to manoeuvre thier Cerb out of garage and do a 180 knows that the whole process can stop a quick nip to the shops lol
Wow, That's a pretty comprehensive set of upgrades, should be fantastic. In my case its the more mundane bits like hand brake efficiency, silencing and maybe better headlights that would make it a car i would use more often.

Incognegro

1,560 posts

132 months

Tuesday 23rd May 2017
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Erich Stahler said:
Wow, That's a pretty comprehensive set of upgrades, should be fantastic. In my case its the more mundane bits like hand brake efficiency, silencing and maybe better headlights that would make it a car i would use more often.
HID upgrade big plus I feel if you have the hella quad front lights and not single pods. Hand brake apparently the softer compound pug 406 shoes bite better. Silencing... now having the act decat sports set up (which is super loud and beautiful) it think the standard s6 box with cats would be brilliant for your needs and decatting perhaps the best compromise of noise & volume

Edited by Incognegro on Thursday 8th June 14:26

Erich Stahler

2,878 posts

269 months

Friday 26th May 2017
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Incognegro said:
Erich Stahler said:
Wow, That's a pretty comprehensive set of upgrades, should be fantastic. In my case its the more mundane bits like hand brake efficiency, silencing and maybe better headlights that would make it a car i would use more often.
HID upgrade big plus if feel if you have the hella quad front lights and not single pods. Hand brake apparently the softer compound pug 406 shoes bite better. Silencing... now having the act decat sports set up (which is super loud and beautiful) it think the standard s6 box with cats would be brilliant for your needs and decatting perhaps the best compromise of noise & volume
Thanks for those ideas, will try the 406 shoes, not keen on decatting as tends to to produce a significant un-burnt fuel smell.