Buying a high milage Cerbera
Discussion
I've taken a look at a 4.5 with nearly 50K on the clock.
The car looks tidy for a 6 year old motor, owned by an enthusiast - who's probably going to read this!
Is it true to say that a Cerb that makes this sort of milage without any major problems was probably built right in the first place and should continue for another 50k?
Or should I be looking for a cerb with the lowest mileage possible?
The car looks tidy for a 6 year old motor, owned by an enthusiast - who's probably going to read this!
Is it true to say that a Cerb that makes this sort of milage without any major problems was probably built right in the first place and should continue for another 50k?
Or should I be looking for a cerb with the lowest mileage possible?
I weighed this up for some time ... Mine has 52k (4.2 98)
runs well been looked after quite well and price reflected all of this ...
you pays your money you takes your chances ...
it all depends what you are after ... if you want a young strong motor to thrash around at max revs all the time and track day then thats one scenario ...
my scenario is ... enjoy the looks the character and performance with all the respect the car deserves ...
there does seem to be higher milers out there(do a search!) ... roll on the next 50K - I wont be doing a rebuild until necessary ...
Im a strong believer that little use does more harm than good!!!
Buy one and enjoy it - Im 3 months in and enjoying the experience!! .... DAS
runs well been looked after quite well and price reflected all of this ...
you pays your money you takes your chances ...
it all depends what you are after ... if you want a young strong motor to thrash around at max revs all the time and track day then thats one scenario ...
my scenario is ... enjoy the looks the character and performance with all the respect the car deserves ...
there does seem to be higher milers out there(do a search!) ... roll on the next 50K - I wont be doing a rebuild until necessary ...
Im a strong believer that little use does more harm than good!!!
Buy one and enjoy it - Im 3 months in and enjoying the experience!! .... DAS
Byff said:
Mines done 55k miles (4.2 '97)
Is 55k really a high milage? If it was in a eurobox, it wouldn't be run in yet.
There's far too many people on here scared to put too many miles on the clock. Get out there and use it, that's what it was built for.
Mine is now 57k & running like a dream. worry about the condition, not the mileage.
Bought my car with 46k on the clock in May and it now has 51.5k on the clock 
.
Definitely of the same thinking as Simon. Use the car the more the better.
I couldn't care less how many miles I clock up and hope to still own it over the ton
.
Clatter cams for me too btw and old clutch (eek!).
I'm not interested in having a car this special as a weekend special.
One thing I would do though is pay special attention to the oil level and pressure as these things use a litre/per 1k miles in my experience (normal!).
Get one and have fun
.
Duncan
. Definitely of the same thinking as Simon. Use the car the more the better.
I couldn't care less how many miles I clock up and hope to still own it over the ton
. Clatter cams for me too btw and old clutch (eek!).
I'm not interested in having a car this special as a weekend special.
One thing I would do though is pay special attention to the oil level and pressure as these things use a litre/per 1k miles in my experience (normal!).
Get one and have fun
. Duncan
I commute to work, which has been about 8 miles from home over the last year, so its all sub-3K revs as its still warming up.
Longer trips on weekends to visit friends etc. Been to Le Mans twice, a couple of trackdays, some holidays in the UK etc.
So a mixed bag really, but track days apart, it doesn't really get caned. I find I'm going much faster than most traffic with sub-4K revs.....
Not sure what the use was over the first 80,000 miles.
Longer trips on weekends to visit friends etc. Been to Le Mans twice, a couple of trackdays, some holidays in the UK etc.
So a mixed bag really, but track days apart, it doesn't really get caned. I find I'm going much faster than most traffic with sub-4K revs.....
Not sure what the use was over the first 80,000 miles.
Again similar to Simon .
I drive a 26 mile commute (one way) but very seldom use much more than 3.5-4k rpm.
Still miles faster than most cars on the road and only put the hammer down for overtakes and when I just feel like it.
Always warmed up nicely first.
Cars are for driving.
Duncan
. I drive a 26 mile commute (one way) but very seldom use much more than 3.5-4k rpm.
Still miles faster than most cars on the road and only put the hammer down for overtakes and when I just feel like it
. Always warmed up nicely first.
Cars are for driving
. Duncan
Mine's a 50k '98 4.5. Bought it in Jan 2002 at 20k and it had been sitting around for about 2 years (unbeknownst to me at the time!).
Had quite a few niggles in the first few months (not engine-related) due to having been sat around. Pipes splitting and that sort of thing.
Its used daily for short and long journeys, about 1k per month. South of France, Scotland, Yorkshire, etc, aswell as going down to the post box every afternoon and doing the school runs in term-time.
It's been much better behaved for the last 18 months now that its being used a lot and is looked after by a great garage.
I'd agree with the above. I'd rather have a 50k (or 100k in Simon's case!) Cerb that's been well-used, than one which has been gathering dust between the occasional caning.
Had quite a few niggles in the first few months (not engine-related) due to having been sat around. Pipes splitting and that sort of thing.
Its used daily for short and long journeys, about 1k per month. South of France, Scotland, Yorkshire, etc, aswell as going down to the post box every afternoon and doing the school runs in term-time.
It's been much better behaved for the last 18 months now that its being used a lot and is looked after by a great garage.
I'd agree with the above. I'd rather have a 50k (or 100k in Simon's case!) Cerb that's been well-used, than one which has been gathering dust between the occasional caning.
Thom said:
Do you chaps with high mileage cars use them rather for long trips or for short commutes (~ 50 miles) ?
Mine gets used nearly everyday for short trips to get shopping in etc then on a weekend, normally give it a good blast out for a long drive.
Always warmed up properly but once it is warm, it gets thrashed, unless the wife is in with me.
I believe mine still has the clatter cams and only been back to the factory once for a head bolt snapping. The gearbox is sounding past it's best these days, but it should hold out until a track day in September where I'm aiming to destroy it completely before a re-con box goes in.
Thanks for the replies.
This leads me to believe that many Cerberas that have suffered from engine issues (in V8 form, at least) have been thrashed from cold and generally taken care of with little to none mechanical sympathy, driven by ham-fisted hooligans who think a TVR can be driven with no mercy, like a company car eurobox.
... voluntarily throwing flames at other Cerb owners in the hope to get some more replies
This leads me to believe that many Cerberas that have suffered from engine issues (in V8 form, at least) have been thrashed from cold and generally taken care of with little to none mechanical sympathy, driven by ham-fisted hooligans who think a TVR can be driven with no mercy, like a company car eurobox.
... voluntarily throwing flames at other Cerb owners in the hope to get some more replies
bruciebabie said:Not really. You get new rings, bores rehoning and presumably new bearing shells, but it's the same crank, cams, pistons, con rods etc. Certainly a good idea to get the upgrade if you need a minor rebuild anyway though.
Mines 50K ish. Put Optimax in, drive. Change weather.
If , unlikely, it shows any signs of old age, it will be straight into TVR power for a Red Rose upgrade as they comes with a totally rebuilt motor. Zero miles again.
Lost track of the Cerbs mileage, but it cant be far off 50k. Its used as it was intended - daily commute of about 15miles to the station and back. Then most weekends its either sprinting/hillclimbing/speed trialing or driving down to Le Mans/ Mulhouse. Certainly feels better than ever, doesnt seem to pull any less strongly and still uses the same amount of oil. I see no reason why it wont continue to run on to much higher miles?
Just warm it up, keep it looked after properly (ours is serviced by Joolz/Joospeed) and then use it as you would any decent sportscar. I pity anyone who buys a Cerbera and feels the need to limit its exposure to trackdays/the more interesting revs etc etc - the AJP8 seems to cope with things well enough.
Just warm it up, keep it looked after properly (ours is serviced by Joolz/Joospeed) and then use it as you would any decent sportscar. I pity anyone who buys a Cerbera and feels the need to limit its exposure to trackdays/the more interesting revs etc etc - the AJP8 seems to cope with things well enough.
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