Buying advice worst repair costs? Engine choices servicing
Discussion
Just sold a V8 Ginetta sadly as I now have two children passegers to cater for so looking at various 2 plus 2 cars. I had a TVR wedge for a while and visited the factory several times when the Cerberas and speed 12's were being built. Its a real shame what happend since the sell off.
I'm used to chassis rot and GRP bodies but to me the biggest worry would be the engines and larger jobs I cant do myself such as valve clearances, Timing chains cambelts, etc.
From reading a few Cerbera articles they seem to suggest the speed 6 versions as the best engine option as power is not much less than the V8 and the cars are a little more refined to drive? Is this the case and are the V8 repair costs much higher. All have plenty of power so I dont yearn to have the biggest fastest of the lot like some do! Of course the V8s sound better but read about AJP problems!
Prices are good but long term will prices drop through the floor due to the high repair bills for certain specs I wonder? Will a V8 hold its value better than a 6 or are all the none rover engined cars going to drop in value more so becuase of the engine reputations? I'd love the Griff but need the plus 2 option which only gives me 1 TVR along with TVR/AJP engines.
I have a couple of cars to look at soon which are both speed 6 engines and I know to check the electrics and chassis outriggers. One has a new engine and box but why I wonder after less than 40k? Who can build the engines well I wonder?
If an engine is worn or knackered what do I look for on any of the engines?
What problems create the biggest service costs and what can be done DIY wise?
I would assume access to do a lot of jobs would be a nightmare with the body on so its always handy to know what can be fixed easily or NOT?
Are the diffs and gearboxes generally long lasting and who made them(Ford)?
I wont be using the car as daily driver and I hate paying dealers silly money for repairs but I know TVRs do need specialist work now and then. Is there anyone in the York area who would be willing to look at cars with me and advise? Is there a local club to York?
Sorry lots of questions but I like to do my research before buying noisy plastic missiles.
Cheers for now Harvey
I'm used to chassis rot and GRP bodies but to me the biggest worry would be the engines and larger jobs I cant do myself such as valve clearances, Timing chains cambelts, etc.
From reading a few Cerbera articles they seem to suggest the speed 6 versions as the best engine option as power is not much less than the V8 and the cars are a little more refined to drive? Is this the case and are the V8 repair costs much higher. All have plenty of power so I dont yearn to have the biggest fastest of the lot like some do! Of course the V8s sound better but read about AJP problems!
Prices are good but long term will prices drop through the floor due to the high repair bills for certain specs I wonder? Will a V8 hold its value better than a 6 or are all the none rover engined cars going to drop in value more so becuase of the engine reputations? I'd love the Griff but need the plus 2 option which only gives me 1 TVR along with TVR/AJP engines.
I have a couple of cars to look at soon which are both speed 6 engines and I know to check the electrics and chassis outriggers. One has a new engine and box but why I wonder after less than 40k? Who can build the engines well I wonder?
If an engine is worn or knackered what do I look for on any of the engines?
What problems create the biggest service costs and what can be done DIY wise?
I would assume access to do a lot of jobs would be a nightmare with the body on so its always handy to know what can be fixed easily or NOT?
Are the diffs and gearboxes generally long lasting and who made them(Ford)?
I wont be using the car as daily driver and I hate paying dealers silly money for repairs but I know TVRs do need specialist work now and then. Is there anyone in the York area who would be willing to look at cars with me and advise? Is there a local club to York?
Sorry lots of questions but I like to do my research before buying noisy plastic missiles.
Cheers for now Harvey
As a generalisation, the V8AJP is a "stronger" engine than the S6 which has had it's fair share of issues. Check the entire subforum dedicated to that engine - rebuild by 40K is not uncommon, often more than once!! Plenty will tell you that a S6 rebuilt now by Power or Str8Six will be fine now and the issues have been ironed out, it may well be the case.
Personally speaking, I wanted the V8. It's unique to the Cerbera at least in road car form, it only otherwise featured as the engine in the Tuscan Race series. It's rorty and probably yes less well mannered than the S6, but for a weekend toy it's great.
Spannering wise, I leave that to people who can on the whole, but it's not a complicated car compared to a lot of modern stuff - easily workable if you have the inclination, ask as you go and you'll find the forum has vast knowledge base.
Personally speaking, I wanted the V8. It's unique to the Cerbera at least in road car form, it only otherwise featured as the engine in the Tuscan Race series. It's rorty and probably yes less well mannered than the S6, but for a weekend toy it's great.
Spannering wise, I leave that to people who can on the whole, but it's not a complicated car compared to a lot of modern stuff - easily workable if you have the inclination, ask as you go and you'll find the forum has vast knowledge base.
Both were TVR in-house engines and both with initial input from a chap called Al Melling (the A of AJP). They were coded the AJP6 and AJP8 - rumour then has it the AJP6 was adapted by TVR and renamed the SpeedSix (to distance it from the original and/or avoid paying Mr Melling ... politics). TVR would argue they had to adapt it as the original was not fit for purpose, Melling would later argue that the issues that built up around (what was now) the SpeedSix engine, were in facts due to the changes TVR made. TVR accused basically of cost cutting, and his AJP6 was just fine. Truth? who knows - maybe somewhere in the middle.
The AJP8 neatly sidestepped all that, by basically being pretty bloody good
The AJP8 neatly sidestepped all that, by basically being pretty bloody good
costs are not wildly different, a 12k service which means tappets on both engines will cost around £1K.
From the experience of the group of TVR owners I meet with on a regular basis then the V8 seems more reliable. Mine is 15 years old and is just about to have a rebuild, not really nessecary but a few bits need doing that mean it has to come out of the car so may as well go the whole hog while it is out really. Bits that need doing are from age rather than wear, oil seals gone hard and starting to leak and things like that.
The speed 6 is smooth and sounds great but the V8 just wants to accelerate to the horizon and head but it and then accelerate all the way back, simply brilliant if rather brutal.
From the experience of the group of TVR owners I meet with on a regular basis then the V8 seems more reliable. Mine is 15 years old and is just about to have a rebuild, not really nessecary but a few bits need doing that mean it has to come out of the car so may as well go the whole hog while it is out really. Bits that need doing are from age rather than wear, oil seals gone hard and starting to leak and things like that.
The speed 6 is smooth and sounds great but the V8 just wants to accelerate to the horizon and head but it and then accelerate all the way back, simply brilliant if rather brutal.
As far as engines are concerned drive both a S6 and V8 - they are chalk and cheese. The V8 owners will point the exclusivness of the AJP and the extra power of the 4.5. The S6 owners will point to their engines better manners.
The reliabilty thing is in my opinion a bit of a moot point. The S6 is fragile however a large amount of R&D has been done into its weaknesses and resolved. It is more likely a S6 will need a rebuild however the costs are well documented (bank on about 6k for a full rebuild) The AJP is a lot stronger but in no way bullet proof, the downside is rebuild costs if needed will be higher and parts harder to come by.
Just for info James Agger has a beautiful 4.5 about to come up for sale. Its virtually identical in colour, year condition to my Sp6. So my heart and head are having a little internal battle.
Head is saying stick with the S6. Its much less of an issue if there is a problem and on the road there is nothing to choose between them. Some like the V8 noise, personally I think it sounds a bit to boy racer like. The S6 is a much nicer sound and with the right exhaust will pop and bang as good as any AJP.
Heart however is saying - yeah but the 4.5 V8 is the big boy! ACtually the more I think of it thats the only reason I would really want a V8..because it is the big boy!
The reliabilty thing is in my opinion a bit of a moot point. The S6 is fragile however a large amount of R&D has been done into its weaknesses and resolved. It is more likely a S6 will need a rebuild however the costs are well documented (bank on about 6k for a full rebuild) The AJP is a lot stronger but in no way bullet proof, the downside is rebuild costs if needed will be higher and parts harder to come by.
Just for info James Agger has a beautiful 4.5 about to come up for sale. Its virtually identical in colour, year condition to my Sp6. So my heart and head are having a little internal battle.
Head is saying stick with the S6. Its much less of an issue if there is a problem and on the road there is nothing to choose between them. Some like the V8 noise, personally I think it sounds a bit to boy racer like. The S6 is a much nicer sound and with the right exhaust will pop and bang as good as any AJP.
Heart however is saying - yeah but the 4.5 V8 is the big boy! ACtually the more I think of it thats the only reason I would really want a V8..because it is the big boy!
Not worried about having the big boy V8 but if cheaper and more reliable then fair enough. Why does a 12K service cost 1K out of interest? Does the engine have to come out? I service my own cars normally but is it the labour costs or special parts that make it so expensive? I can see this will have the effect of lowering prices and putting people are put off buying them.
Normally I buy good synthetic oil and service parts and allow a day or so to do the jobs right but apart from time I dont spend £100 on parts unless the brakes need replacing or something extra? Anyone do their own 12k servicing or are very specialist tools required? I dont mind getting stuck in to save some labour costs.
Maybe a Loads of trouble LOTUS ????
Normally I buy good synthetic oil and service parts and allow a day or so to do the jobs right but apart from time I dont spend £100 on parts unless the brakes need replacing or something extra? Anyone do their own 12k servicing or are very specialist tools required? I dont mind getting stuck in to save some labour costs.
Maybe a Loads of trouble LOTUS ????
12K service can be done at home, they are kwerky rather than complicated to work on, what will take a specialist a day to do would take me a week but I would be able to do it I just don't have tiume so mine goes to a specialist to be looked after.
The only problem of DIY servicing is the service history, many still insist on seeing a good history when buying a car.
There will be a dark metalic green Cerb coming up for sale at STR8SIX soon, comes with a full 12 months parts and labour warantee, chassis is sound but not spotless, looked like an honest car.
Another thread has mentioned that there does seem to be a lack of Cerb V8's for sale at the moment.
The only problem of DIY servicing is the service history, many still insist on seeing a good history when buying a car.
There will be a dark metalic green Cerb coming up for sale at STR8SIX soon, comes with a full 12 months parts and labour warantee, chassis is sound but not spotless, looked like an honest car.
Another thread has mentioned that there does seem to be a lack of Cerb V8's for sale at the moment.
I have speed 6....it blew up.
My mate has a 4.5 ajp....it blew up.
mine cost less to sort.
The real life differences between the two are neglible.Sound wise they are different but both awesome.Mine also sounds different to most sp6's.Most people want the exclusivity of the ajp and it does & will be worth more.
The saving in price on the 6 can always go towards the rebuild ! Lol
A sp6 has more than enough power to kill me so I wasn't bothered about having "the bigboy"either.Sometimes I have found myself wondering ifI should've gone for the ajp but belive me the sp6 is no slouch.
Once you've spent half an hour trying to work on anything by the bulkhead you'll realize why the 12k is expensive.A right PITA!
My mate has a 4.5 ajp....it blew up.
mine cost less to sort.
The real life differences between the two are neglible.Sound wise they are different but both awesome.Mine also sounds different to most sp6's.Most people want the exclusivity of the ajp and it does & will be worth more.
The saving in price on the 6 can always go towards the rebuild ! Lol
A sp6 has more than enough power to kill me so I wasn't bothered about having "the bigboy"either.Sometimes I have found myself wondering ifI should've gone for the ajp but belive me the sp6 is no slouch.
Once you've spent half an hour trying to work on anything by the bulkhead you'll realize why the 12k is expensive.A right PITA!
Bud don't even think about what the costs may be with these cars ,if you do you will never get one. I have had mine for three years and I don't think they are that bad when it really boils down to it......if you are into cars as you must be we all spend big bucks on our cars(any make and model) because its our hobby. Just do what you can and spread the jobs out...and have the cerb as a second car.my last car cost me mental money and was sold for peanuts at least with the cerbera you have a classic car which will surely only rise in value and make you smile...Go on and do it 
I have just took my v8 out,starting to get oily , it has 57k on it of which i have done 20000.Warm it up for 10 miles and then unleash it .Its been a daily driver and apart from the clutch release bearing in 2008 all ive done is service it and put fuel in it.Go for it,a real hypercar for silly money and that is any of them ,they are all manic.
ginV8 said:
I service my own cars normally but is it the labour costs or special parts that make it so expensive?
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I dont mind getting stuck in to save some labour costs.
In that case it probably won't cost you much to run. My biggest cost to date by far has been fuel. I've only had mine for a little over two years, but that has included several UK track days, Spa and Zolder, as well as DN6, DN8 and DN9, and even some TF laps..
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I dont mind getting stuck in to save some labour costs.
Biggest irritants have been exhaust manifolds, clutch slave, steering rack and diff rear bush.
I wouldn't want to keep one outside though, that would definitely exacerbate the chassis issues.
Just for info on costs. I am a couple a weeks from having my Cerbera 2 years and its cost me about 1.5k in servicing and repairs in that time. However its appreciated by about 5k. In other words by owning a Cerbera I am about 3.5k richer
That sort of man maths works for me
And of course I bought it as an investment and not as a toy (well that's what I tell the Mrs)
That sort of man maths works for me
And of course I bought it as an investment and not as a toy (well that's what I tell the Mrs)
The AJP Police will tell you to get a V8 and that the Speed Six is rubbish
The Speed Six boys will tell you they are smoother more refined and a better drive (which they are)
If the Speed Six engine has been rebuilt by people like TVR Power then they are very very strong engines but drive both if you can and see what you like best.
I wasn't bothered what engine I had in my Cerb as in SP6,4.5 and 4.2 form they are ALL cracking engines. I bought the newest car I could find in the best colour and spes I could find within my budget and it just happened to be a SP6 and its fantastic. So dont get to hung up on the engine type buy the best one you can find regardless of engine.
The Speed Six boys will tell you they are smoother more refined and a better drive (which they are)
If the Speed Six engine has been rebuilt by people like TVR Power then they are very very strong engines but drive both if you can and see what you like best.
I wasn't bothered what engine I had in my Cerb as in SP6,4.5 and 4.2 form they are ALL cracking engines. I bought the newest car I could find in the best colour and spes I could find within my budget and it just happened to be a SP6 and its fantastic. So dont get to hung up on the engine type buy the best one you can find regardless of engine.
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