Damsel in distress
Discussion
We have a 5L Chimaera and now have an addition to our family who is now 5 months old. I am trying to persuade my husband to change from the Chimaera to a Cerbera. His main concerns I think are: unreliability and its not convertible (can't do much about that). Has anyone been in the same position? Any advice re which model etc?
All I can say is that both my 3month old and my 3yr old fit into the back of my cerbera without any difficulty. As for reliablity - its fine so far (2 months). Just keep going, I'm sure he'll see sense eventually, try whispering "Get a cerbera, get a cerbera......." into his ear when he's sleeping! good luck from a very happy 4.5 cerbera owner.
I sold my chimp when my first child was born and recently bought a cerbera. We have a 2.5 yr old and a 6 month old and we struggle to get all four of us in. But when the youngest is 9 months or so then they can both get in the back it will be much easier. But even then I will have to move the driver seat forward to let the kiddies legs have a little bit of room which means my driving position isnt good. But if you have only the one child then once it is in the back you will be ok ie a cerb isnt much good for a baby seat but is ok for the rear child seats.
I switched from a Griff to a 4.5 Cerb - only had a couple of minor niggles so far(touch wood).Yes a convertible is fun but the Cerb is faster safer bigger and even more grin factor (that I did not think was possible). If you buy as new as possible like I did then the newer models tend to be better built and more reliable. My two minor niggles were rear shocks and oil pressure spring breaking that knack'd my oil pump - but everything on warranty so who cares !!
I've just changed from a griff 500 that my kids were not able to enjoy, to a Cerbera 4.2. My kids are 9 and 11 and although I only see them every 3rd weekend, there have been no complaints so far with regard to the room in the back. Ok so I'm 5' 8" and the seat is in its forward most position, but it works.
I would have thought for small children there would be no problem.
I certainly dont regret buying the Cerbera, it is even more fun than the Griff.(and better behaved)
Go on, you know it makes sense!!!
I would have thought for small children there would be no problem.
I certainly dont regret buying the Cerbera, it is even more fun than the Griff.(and better behaved)
Go on, you know it makes sense!!!
My son is 4 and my daughter 21 Months old.
Both sit fine in the back without any booster seats. I just use an attachment to keep the seatbelt down to their shoulder level so they dont have their necks pulled under braking (£10 each from Halfords).
When my daughter was a bit younger I sat her in a Britax seat which fitted snugly in the front passenger seat or the rear (behind the passenger seat). I beleive that you can get a 'baby seat' if yours are younger.
Just do it - The car is great and the kids love it!
Both sit fine in the back without any booster seats. I just use an attachment to keep the seatbelt down to their shoulder level so they dont have their necks pulled under braking (£10 each from Halfords).
When my daughter was a bit younger I sat her in a Britax seat which fitted snugly in the front passenger seat or the rear (behind the passenger seat). I beleive that you can get a 'baby seat' if yours are younger.
Just do it - The car is great and the kids love it!
In more or less similar situation as Gazzab. 2 yr 8 month old and an 8 month old, so when I drive, my wife sits behind the baby and vice versa.
Can't wait till the baby is heavy enough to be transferred to the rear seats. Driving position for me is restricted with the toddler behind me as I prefer to drive in an 'extended leg' position.
Start looking for a child seat which is small enough to fit into the Cerbera...there aint't that many. I know some people use the Recaro, but I prefer the Britax. The TVR ones are around £350 ish!
My toddler learned to say "daddy, drive faster" when she was 15 months....it's a lot of fun as our kids love some mild acceleration and the pop, crackle & bang. Go for it.
>> Edited by yellowcerbie on Thursday 11th April 21:25
Can't wait till the baby is heavy enough to be transferred to the rear seats. Driving position for me is restricted with the toddler behind me as I prefer to drive in an 'extended leg' position.
Start looking for a child seat which is small enough to fit into the Cerbera...there aint't that many. I know some people use the Recaro, but I prefer the Britax. The TVR ones are around £350 ish!
My toddler learned to say "daddy, drive faster" when she was 15 months....it's a lot of fun as our kids love some mild acceleration and the pop, crackle & bang. Go for it.
>> Edited by yellowcerbie on Thursday 11th April 21:25
I have a 5, 7, 10 & 12 yr old - the 10yr old is about as large as can be squeezed in the back for anything over half an hour. Have had 2 cerbera's over the past 3 years (both Sp6's) and don't regret any of it. Have the recaro kids seat in back, but to be honest, it is actually a bit intrusive and the tiddlers prefer the little hamster-arse rear seats or a booster on the flat-panel-TVR-seat-prep
Having said that, in complete vice-versa mode to the thread, just about to change into a Griff (our first soft-top) for missus & I as family Shazza and M5 runabout do the vast ferrying work.
If it's not your prime means of transport and you can love, cherish and cosset in a garage, you won't look back and there are some fabulous value for money cars out there - just see the for-sales in Ted's site.
Having said that, in complete vice-versa mode to the thread, just about to change into a Griff (our first soft-top) for missus & I as family Shazza and M5 runabout do the vast ferrying work.
If it's not your prime means of transport and you can love, cherish and cosset in a garage, you won't look back and there are some fabulous value for money cars out there - just see the for-sales in Ted's site.
thought I would add my twopenneth worth - my 2 year old sits in the back no worries and shouts "faster daddy faster". Here's how to sell it to your husband..
we all know that taking your cute little toddler to Sainsburys makes you a modern man and has single women swarming round you like flies to the deli counter.. now imagine what effect it has when you turn up in the mother and baby parking spaces driving a Cerby!
we all know that taking your cute little toddler to Sainsburys makes you a modern man and has single women swarming round you like flies to the deli counter.. now imagine what effect it has when you turn up in the mother and baby parking spaces driving a Cerby!
Wife's trying to get me to sell Cerbie and get a 2nd hand M5. Holding out strongly, but baby due in August. Are the baby seats secure enough in the front when only using a seat belt to secure. Also, wife is worried about crash with the type of body material. Please help 1st time father-to-be keep his Cerbera.
I would say TVRs are very strong in accidents. So dont think that is a reason to get rid of it. Personally I dont put my baby in the front seat often as it is a real squeeze to get the belt to fit round, the dash board is very close and my wife struggles to sit comfortably in the back behind the passnger seat. So it is hassle but it is ok.
I think the Britax seat is a Freeway (the chequered blue design one).
We have personally found the baby seat to be very secure at the front (more so than in the rear) - year 2000 model which I think have some slight seat mods. The seat belt is not a problem for us...just takes some getting used to.
In any case, I doubt if you can have a rear facing baby seat at the back due to the limited depth of the Cerbie rear seats.
We have personally found the baby seat to be very secure at the front (more so than in the rear) - year 2000 model which I think have some slight seat mods. The seat belt is not a problem for us...just takes some getting used to.
In any case, I doubt if you can have a rear facing baby seat at the back due to the limited depth of the Cerbie rear seats.
cammy
My cerbera crashed after skidding on black ice (note the careful sentence construction there!). Admittedly my son burst into tears, but my daughter laughed and shouted "Hey dad, great crash!". Needless to say we were all fine - I personally believe that the internal structure of the car is strong enough that your wife should have no more worries than in any other car.
My cerbera crashed after skidding on black ice (note the careful sentence construction there!). Admittedly my son burst into tears, but my daughter laughed and shouted "Hey dad, great crash!". Needless to say we were all fine - I personally believe that the internal structure of the car is strong enough that your wife should have no more worries than in any other car.
Cheers GrahamMS,
My wife is slowly turning to this point of view. Shown her pictures of Cerbera structure under construction with roll cage etc. From other responses, it would appear that Cerbera is not ideal for newly borns anyway, and that one sporty estate will be sufficient. Stay of execution/debate until older it seems.
Cammy
My wife is slowly turning to this point of view. Shown her pictures of Cerbera structure under construction with roll cage etc. From other responses, it would appear that Cerbera is not ideal for newly borns anyway, and that one sporty estate will be sufficient. Stay of execution/debate until older it seems.
Cammy
Cammy, if you lose the argument try an HSV GTS it's as close (for a saloon) to a TVR in the way it drives as you'll find and much more involving than an M5. I got mine when I was in a similar position (baby arrived after 2 Griffs, Cerby and Tuscan). Did look into going back to a Cerb but the amount of stuff you have to take everywhere is unbelievable!
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