Is a Cerbera right for me?
Discussion
After selling my Tuscan 18 months ago after 2 1/2 years of ownership, (house purchase forced the sale), i'm looking in to getting back behind the wheel in the not too distant future.
Initially I was thinking about another speed 6 in the form of a T350 or newer style Tuscan but the Cerbera keeps catching my eye.
I would be looking for the newest one available and definately a 4.5 whether it be a LW or RR.
Kids will be round the corner so the rear seats in the Cerb would be a bonus. Also play a lot of golf so fitting clubs in the boot as a biggy!
What are they like to live with? It will be a second car like the Tuscan was but I spent a fair bit, (£4500) in the ownership so used to some big bills. Is the clutch as weak in the Cerb as the Tuscan? I've heard the engines are pretty solid in comparison to the speed 6, anybody have any different views? I'm gussing electrics are same across the board, ie hysterical and work when they feel like it.
Any views greatly appreciated.
Initially I was thinking about another speed 6 in the form of a T350 or newer style Tuscan but the Cerbera keeps catching my eye.
I would be looking for the newest one available and definately a 4.5 whether it be a LW or RR.
Kids will be round the corner so the rear seats in the Cerb would be a bonus. Also play a lot of golf so fitting clubs in the boot as a biggy!
What are they like to live with? It will be a second car like the Tuscan was but I spent a fair bit, (£4500) in the ownership so used to some big bills. Is the clutch as weak in the Cerb as the Tuscan? I've heard the engines are pretty solid in comparison to the speed 6, anybody have any different views? I'm gussing electrics are same across the board, ie hysterical and work when they feel like it.
Any views greatly appreciated.
Go for it.
Had my 4.5lt RR for over five years now and they are a dream to live with. Usual electricals due to plugs all over the place and damp and time getting into them but that's the way it is.
A new clutch on mine at 54k which was it's first so far better than some more modern cars I've had.
My kids when they could fit in loved it but now they are bigger it's front seat only travel.
Buy a good one and get it checked.
Had my 4.5lt RR for over five years now and they are a dream to live with. Usual electricals due to plugs all over the place and damp and time getting into them but that's the way it is.
A new clutch on mine at 54k which was it's first so far better than some more modern cars I've had.
My kids when they could fit in loved it but now they are bigger it's front seat only travel.
Buy a good one and get it checked.
Hi M3, I made the same move from a Tuscan to a Cerb but stayed with the Speed 6 engine. I found that for the money I had I got a far newer car with a SP6 than with the AJP8 and I wanted as late a model as possible I believe the chassis and electrics are better the newer the car in my opinion.
The Cerb has been great for the kids, I get to take them with me now, and they love going in it especially getting dropped/collected at school.
The difference hasn't been that big but I find the Cerb to be better at high speeds more stable but thats probably down to the Gaz gold pros I have fitted, I aways felt the tuscan was trying to kill me at anything over 80mph!!.
The Cerb also feels better put together, the interior is great looking, and I have also virtually no wind noise which I found to be a problem on the Tuscan.
In the last 2 years I have done about 8k miles with no electrical or mechanical problems apart from a broken rear droplink, easy fix.
I loved my Tuscan and the flexibility of the roof but I love the Cerb also so If you liked the Tuscan you will be more than happy with a Cerbera.
The Cerb has been great for the kids, I get to take them with me now, and they love going in it especially getting dropped/collected at school.
The difference hasn't been that big but I find the Cerb to be better at high speeds more stable but thats probably down to the Gaz gold pros I have fitted, I aways felt the tuscan was trying to kill me at anything over 80mph!!.
The Cerb also feels better put together, the interior is great looking, and I have also virtually no wind noise which I found to be a problem on the Tuscan.
In the last 2 years I have done about 8k miles with no electrical or mechanical problems apart from a broken rear droplink, easy fix.
I loved my Tuscan and the flexibility of the roof but I love the Cerb also so If you liked the Tuscan you will be more than happy with a Cerbera.
Go for it. You've owned a TVR already so your prepared for the pleasure and pain. Don't discount the 4.2 though, both Thr AJPV8's are blisteringly quick And you don't get a V8 sound, you get an AJP sound, totally different. I've done 2 South of France trips in mine and it's a wonderful fast, long distance car (and nothing at all went wrong with car either)
I say go for it too! with your tvr background that is a great help & gives you a good understanding of the marque anyway.
My clutch only lasted 19k miles & dont always drive like a muppet!
I have a young daughter & its nice to nip out in the cerb as a family every now & again,good luck with whatever you decide to do.
My clutch only lasted 19k miles & dont always drive like a muppet!
I have a young daughter & its nice to nip out in the cerb as a family every now & again,good luck with whatever you decide to do.
As a second car that hits all the desireability buttons, looks great and goes like stink - then the Cerbera is for you! The fact that there are two small, but useable, seats in the back for young children is what swumg my choice of TVR from the Tuscan I was initially looking to buy towards the Cerbera - which I've now had for over 2.5 years.
Cerbara + kids: there are a number of threads on here discussing this, including which car seats to go for. I think that young babies are going to need a forward facing seat and that this may only go in the front passenger seat; but once child is able to sit up in forward facing seat then the Recaro Start seat is one I use and seems to have good feedback from a lot of Cerbara PH owners. Can also combine this with the Impact Cushion to really pin them in place! I've got two small kids, now 4 and nearly 6yrs, and they's travelled in Cerb since my youngest was 18months. They like it, tend to fall asleep in there on longer journeys, and my son loves travelling in the Recaro in the front passenger seat when we go out together.
Cerbera AJP: this is a flat plane crank engine - therefore sounds different to the "rover" V8 with it's off-beat idle noise (think US muscle car). The AJP is a bit lit two superbike engines on the same crank - it has a distinctive (and addictive) noise all of it's own. Perfectly tractable in traffic and low rev's (particularly if yuo get a remap) and then builds through a howl to a scream as it rapidly closes in to 7k revs. The pops and bangs on the overun are much fun
Running costs: as a previous TVR owner you will be only too aware that these are cars than need TLC, not a 20K oil change when a dashboard light tells you it is time for a service. The AJP needs oil at 6K then tappets at 12K, so will need regular service - but OK if you keep the mileage lower by using a "regular" car for day to day drudgery. General "rule of thumb" on this forum seems to be to budget about £3K per year for "consumables" and running costs. I personally have spent more than this, but there are other who have spent less (also through doing a lot of the work themselves).
I'd say if you loved the Tuscan - you will also love the Cerbera. I think that the slighly longer wheelbase, and with better suspension (e.g. Gaz, ProTech or better) it may well handle better and more predictably than the Tuscan? (Don't mean to insult Tuscans......)
Go in with your eyes open, buy the best condition you can, and enjoy!
Cerbara + kids: there are a number of threads on here discussing this, including which car seats to go for. I think that young babies are going to need a forward facing seat and that this may only go in the front passenger seat; but once child is able to sit up in forward facing seat then the Recaro Start seat is one I use and seems to have good feedback from a lot of Cerbara PH owners. Can also combine this with the Impact Cushion to really pin them in place! I've got two small kids, now 4 and nearly 6yrs, and they's travelled in Cerb since my youngest was 18months. They like it, tend to fall asleep in there on longer journeys, and my son loves travelling in the Recaro in the front passenger seat when we go out together.
Cerbera AJP: this is a flat plane crank engine - therefore sounds different to the "rover" V8 with it's off-beat idle noise (think US muscle car). The AJP is a bit lit two superbike engines on the same crank - it has a distinctive (and addictive) noise all of it's own. Perfectly tractable in traffic and low rev's (particularly if yuo get a remap) and then builds through a howl to a scream as it rapidly closes in to 7k revs. The pops and bangs on the overun are much fun
Running costs: as a previous TVR owner you will be only too aware that these are cars than need TLC, not a 20K oil change when a dashboard light tells you it is time for a service. The AJP needs oil at 6K then tappets at 12K, so will need regular service - but OK if you keep the mileage lower by using a "regular" car for day to day drudgery. General "rule of thumb" on this forum seems to be to budget about £3K per year for "consumables" and running costs. I personally have spent more than this, but there are other who have spent less (also through doing a lot of the work themselves).
I'd say if you loved the Tuscan - you will also love the Cerbera. I think that the slighly longer wheelbase, and with better suspension (e.g. Gaz, ProTech or better) it may well handle better and more predictably than the Tuscan? (Don't mean to insult Tuscans......)
Go in with your eyes open, buy the best condition you can, and enjoy!
I have just come back from a long weekend of TVRing. I drove my friends lovely Tuscan he has just bought. I have owned my 4.2 cerbera for many years now and still love it. It was interesting jumping into the Tuscan straight after a 150 mile journey in the cerb. The performance seemed the same, but the Tuscan did seem a little twitchy compared to the cerb. Dont be taken in by the hype, a 4.2 can be as quick as a 4.5, and i will be very suprised if you could tell the difference. As for my car, it has been fantasticly reliable. Had to sit in a ten mile traffic jam on the M25 yesterday, no worries with over heating the fans work really well. I was going to buy a 4.5 originally, but was advised to get the best car you can for your money. I haven't regreted that decision in 9 yrs. It is said that the 4.2 is more agressive to drive and better mapped from standard. Just get the best you can.
I've had a 4.2 and got a 4.5. I doubt most of us will get close to worrying too much about differnces TBH as we won't normally get to explore near the limits.
For me, running costs have been nowhere near the figures often quoted (well under 1k pa, professionally serviced etc) but that will depend on luck and usage, and this winter I will have a big bill coming as the engine comes out.
For me, running costs have been nowhere near the figures often quoted (well under 1k pa, professionally serviced etc) but that will depend on luck and usage, and this winter I will have a big bill coming as the engine comes out.
and its a good one,and theres more to do yet;)much more infactI am on about £35K or more but who's counting (ok thats for all 3 cerbs). It could be a lot more :-) !
Talk to the indies eg APM, Raceproved, Fernhursts...re what it takes to run a cerb. Ignoring the difference in costs between diy and indie maintained I dont see how its possible to get away with under £3K pa on average over an extended period of ownership (except for the very lucky few). I however am a very fussy bast&rd and can 'feel' every niggle and so I am always going to spend more than upper average. That plus I have had 2 or 3 unlucky failures. However my experiences are also from when the cars were younger ie before chassis rot and mileage built up on these cars.
But as I say my experiences are worse than most will experience. However talk to the indies - there are many cerbs out there where maintenance has been less than ideal as people cant all afford the bills, dont notice/care etc...
Talk to the indies eg APM, Raceproved, Fernhursts...re what it takes to run a cerb. Ignoring the difference in costs between diy and indie maintained I dont see how its possible to get away with under £3K pa on average over an extended period of ownership (except for the very lucky few). I however am a very fussy bast&rd and can 'feel' every niggle and so I am always going to spend more than upper average. That plus I have had 2 or 3 unlucky failures. However my experiences are also from when the cars were younger ie before chassis rot and mileage built up on these cars.
But as I say my experiences are worse than most will experience. However talk to the indies - there are many cerbs out there where maintenance has been less than ideal as people cant all afford the bills, dont notice/care etc...
The problem with chassis rot is one of my main concerns. I know it can be a problem with all TVR's but obviously the T cars are that bit newer so the problems are reduced.
I used to get my Tuscan serviced at Green Star but they have closed however there is now a TVR indie in Dundee so servicing should be easier and not have the £250 transport charge.
Although i'll be looking at the higher end of the market, Cerbera's are still cheaper than most late Tuscan's and T350's so I should hopefully have money to hold back for any issues.
Looks like i'll be keeping an eye on the classifieds and seeing if anything interesting comes up.
I used to get my Tuscan serviced at Green Star but they have closed however there is now a TVR indie in Dundee so servicing should be easier and not have the £250 transport charge.
Although i'll be looking at the higher end of the market, Cerbera's are still cheaper than most late Tuscan's and T350's so I should hopefully have money to hold back for any issues.
Looks like i'll be keeping an eye on the classifieds and seeing if anything interesting comes up.
Lots of good advice - I'd have posted something similar to mikeinsheffield. My own advice would be don't use it every day or the novelty will wear off. I've got a cheap snotter for day-to-day running and winter.
I bought a good one and am lucky enough to have a decent garage who know the car not too far away - but consumables like clutches and brakes don't come cheaply. Do the work yourself and you can cut down the costs but there will always be something with a Cerbera you'll want to get sorted. £3k a year on average is a good ballpark figure (over an average of a couple of years, one year may just be a minor service, the next = valve timing, brakes, maybe clutch etc etc).
As for kids, I've had a friend up last week with a 12yo daughter and seven-year-old son and only one of them got in the back. Not a problem really as it meant two test drives for them
but if you're thinking long drives with the family it would be.
Great cars - chances are you'll want to buy the first one you drive but be strong, take your time, and get the best your budget will allow.
I bought a good one and am lucky enough to have a decent garage who know the car not too far away - but consumables like clutches and brakes don't come cheaply. Do the work yourself and you can cut down the costs but there will always be something with a Cerbera you'll want to get sorted. £3k a year on average is a good ballpark figure (over an average of a couple of years, one year may just be a minor service, the next = valve timing, brakes, maybe clutch etc etc).
As for kids, I've had a friend up last week with a 12yo daughter and seven-year-old son and only one of them got in the back. Not a problem really as it meant two test drives for them
but if you're thinking long drives with the family it would be.Great cars - chances are you'll want to buy the first one you drive but be strong, take your time, and get the best your budget will allow.
Edited by bobbins on Friday 26th August 14:51
bobbins said:
Lots of good advice - I'd have posted something similar to mikeinsheffield. My own advice would be don't use it every day or the novely will wear off. I've got a cheap snotter for day-to-day running and winter.
I bought a good one and am lucky enough to have a decent garage who know the car not too far away - but consumables like clutches and brakes don't come cheaply. Do the work yourself and you can cut down the costs but there will always be something with a Cerbera you'll want to get sorted. £3k a year is a good ballpark figure.
As for kids, I've had a friend up last week with a 12yo daughter and seven=year-old son and only one of them got in the back. Not a problem as it meant two test drives for them.
Great cars - chances are you'll want to buy the first one you drive but be strong, take your time, and get the best your budget will allow.
Know what you mean about not using it every day. Did that for a while with the Tuscan and it began to annoy me slightly especially when it rained and the wipers would mess about.I bought a good one and am lucky enough to have a decent garage who know the car not too far away - but consumables like clutches and brakes don't come cheaply. Do the work yourself and you can cut down the costs but there will always be something with a Cerbera you'll want to get sorted. £3k a year is a good ballpark figure.
As for kids, I've had a friend up last week with a 12yo daughter and seven=year-old son and only one of them got in the back. Not a problem as it meant two test drives for them
.Great cars - chances are you'll want to buy the first one you drive but be strong, take your time, and get the best your budget will allow.
Put it away for a while and when I got back in it, I was in love again.
Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff