The AJP8 sound v The Speed Six sound

[slippery]

I love the idea of a Cerbera. They are quite simply one of the most beautiful looking cars on the planet. I've loved TVRs since the Wedges were current and I remember drooling over the Cerbera at the Motor Show when it was launched.

For me, one of the big things about a TVR is the sound it makes and I read a lot on here about owners of the AJP8 engined cars, when it comes to loving the noise they make. I'm sure you have all played the Clarkson runway race video time and time again (I know I have!) and that car sounds utterly thunderous and other worldly as it comes down the runway. However, I've never found another video of an AJP8 Cerbera that gives that same 'make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up' feeling.

Obviously I know that the flat plane crank design of the engine gives it a totally different characteristic to that of the Rover V8 derived cars, but am I alone in feeling a little disappointed by the noise and preferring the howl of the Speed Six alternative, or am I 'not getting it' due to not having experienced the AJP8 engine first hand?

If I were looking for a Cerbera and I'm not quite yet and may even still be tempted by a Chimaera instead (sorry!), it would appear that the sweet spot for me could be a Speed Six with a rebuilt and even potentially upgraded engine by one of the renowned specialists. There is a lovely one in the classifieds at the moment that fits that description. http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...

I'm sure that many of you looked at examples of six and eight cylinder cars before buying. What made you pick the one you eventually bought? Because I'm confused, although I will admit, that doesn't take much!

[C3BER]

http://youtu.be/m5FKfGgN0AY

Both V8 but ones in a different class .

Nothing wrong with a 6 and it depends on the exhaust what sound it makes.

[slippery]

Thanks for posting that video C3BER, not one I'd seen before. It seems the AJP8 comes into its own from a noise perspective, once it's in the upper rev ranges then.

[C3BER]

Sport exhausts with cats still in place. I think it sounds fantastic but some prefer the harsher sound of de-cats.

[spitfire4v8]

The clarkson vid car may have had the high flow backbox. Its a std box with nothing inside. They sounded epic

[m4tti]

All you need to hear from a TVR is this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSlkKO-ERD0

[slippery]

C3BER said:

Sport exhausts with cats still in place. I think it sounds fantastic but some prefer the harsher sound of de-cats.

I think I'm done with stupid loud. I did 600+ miles a week in a very loud VXR8 for quite a few months and I gave in and toned it down in the end. Must be getting old!

[slippery]

m4tti said:

All you need to hear from a TVR is this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSlkKO-ERD0

This is what I'm thinking, although it must sound a little more muted when in the cockpit of the Cerb.

[aide]

This is my favourite one of all time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VshqCSPjVcg

[gruffalo]

From a following TVR, mostly all you can hear is my Cerb.

http://vimeo.com/40103614

From Inside at the same time for the last 8 mins before my brake fluid boiled.

http://vimeo.com/25257039

[aide]

aide said:

This is my favourite one of all time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VshqCSPjVcg

I wish work was at the top of a steep hill!

[slippery]

So did any of you lucky owners try both engine types?

[gruffalo]

For me there is only one type, the V8.

I know the Speed 6 is a great engine but I like the animal side of the Cerbera with the 4.5 V8 fitted.

[Pursyluv]

slippery said:

So did any of you lucky owners try both engine types?

Owned a 4.5 Cerb, now a Tamora - both sound great, but imho the Speed 6 sounds much better especially with the decat/sports exhaust set up; as for power delivery both very different, both exhilarating, but on balance i think the sheer grunt of a 4.5 AJP8 just wins.

[scotty_d]

Had a RV8 Chim And now a Cerb and soon a tuscan to add to the fleet all going to plan.

My Cerb last summer sports exhaust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNMZM2cr6Sc

Rv8 Sleeved is amazing

The Ajp is nice but never thought it sounded as good as a RV8 Sleeved

I do like the sp6 as well but to be honest for me there is not much in the 3 of them they all sound Awesome.

Edited by scotty_d on Friday 12th April 13:20

[slippery]

Pursyluv said:

slippery said:

So did any of you lucky owners try both engine types?

Owned a 4.5 Cerb, now a Tamora - both sound great, but imho the Speed 6 sounds much better especially with the decat/sports exhaust set up; as for power delivery both very different, both exhilarating, but on balance i think the sheer grunt of a 4.5 AJP8 just wins.

Interesting. So one of the larger capacity, upgraded and re-built S6 engines could be an ideal world scenario then.

[slippery]

scotty_d said:

Had a RV8 Chim And now a Cerb and soon a tuscan to add to the fleet all going to plan.

My Cerb last summer sports exhaust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNMZM2cr6Sc

Rv8 Sleeved is amazing

The Ajp is nice but never thought it sounded as goos as a RV8 Sleeved

I do like the sp6 as well but to be honest for me there is not much in the 3 of them they all sound Awesome.

It's hard to ignore some of the very well priced and presented Chims, but I do wonder if I would find the drive dramatic enough, even though I love the sound.

[m4tti]

If only capristo made TVR exhausts..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDcNs-b6tCU

[m60ddy]

gruffalo said:

For me there is only one type, the V8.

I know the Speed 6 is a great engine but I like the animal side of the Cerbera with the 4.5 V8 fitted.

Same for me too. Tried an s6 but I think I always knew it was going to be the v8 so a 4.2 is in my garage.

If I ever get any spare money I could be very tempted to a s6 in a Westfield or similar.

[scotty_d]

slippery said:

It's hard to ignore some of the very well priced and presented Chims, but I do wonder if I would find the drive dramatic enough, even though I love the sound.

Looking at your profile and cars you have owned i think a Cerb would suit you very well. How ever If you are not fanatic about TVR's you need to be lol. It is very far away from a normal car in terms of easy to live with day to day. I would hate to drive mine daily, But some do. They do need love and maintenance to be kept in good order and mechanical sympathy goes a long way with them.

As a toy there are amazing so much so I am going to view and hopefully buy a 2nd one to stable mate the cerb at the end of the month all going well

For sheer Drama the Cerb is great and good handling if set up well next to my old chim, The AJP never seems to run out of puff even at 150+ it pulls strong only car i have owned that revvy. Defo try one out.

Scotty