Early Cerb as a daily?
Discussion
The rear seats are possibily the best of any 2+2 I've seen for children, however it's still a faff getting them in and out and you do need a lot of space for the doors.
The cars are reliable enough for daily use however there is no way I'd want to drive mine daily. I enjoy driving it when I feel like it. It would be a terrible car to drive because I had to go somewhere at night in the rain. That said, I'd sooner drive a Cerb daily than own an Audi.
Children fit in Porsche 997s, which are generally more refined and easier to live with cars. Their relative lack of viceral excitement is probably a good thing given what you appear to need from the car.
That or maybe a Maserati Gran Turismo - they look great, sound great and have excellent rear seats. Maybe a GranSport if your budget doesn't go that far.
The cars are reliable enough for daily use however there is no way I'd want to drive mine daily. I enjoy driving it when I feel like it. It would be a terrible car to drive because I had to go somewhere at night in the rain. That said, I'd sooner drive a Cerb daily than own an Audi.
Children fit in Porsche 997s, which are generally more refined and easier to live with cars. Their relative lack of viceral excitement is probably a good thing given what you appear to need from the car.
That or maybe a Maserati Gran Turismo - they look great, sound great and have excellent rear seats. Maybe a GranSport if your budget doesn't go that far.
Thanks all for the replies, I had an SL55 before the RRS but 2 or 3 times a week the wife would call and ask me to pick the kids up which I obviously couldn't do. Getting one didn't sit too well with her so I really needed 4 seats and as I'd never owned a Range Rover I thought I should try one.
We're moving house shortly so ideally I'd like to move the RRS on and buy something around the 10k mark to hopefully avoid having to sell my pristine Noble.
Tirus said:
Blu what is it about the RR you don't like ?
It's not as comfy as our '56 5 series MSport touring, nor does it ride as well. It's thirstier, more cumbersome, dare I say less refined, dearer on tax/insurance/tyres/etc and I don't think the boot is as big! I just don't see the point. We're moving house shortly so ideally I'd like to move the RRS on and buy something around the 10k mark to hopefully avoid having to sell my pristine Noble.
Yes kids can go in rear seats.
I've had four up in the car although legs and arms were everywhere.
Yes in theory Cerb can be your everyday car.
Would I have it as my only car, no, is it practical for everyday. No.
Takes a lot of love and patience. if you want an early cerb you want to use every day you will want a well sorted one which means paying over the odds unless your up for a bit of a project in your spare time. but that defeats the point.
Just saw your bit about10k budget. At that price prepare to get your hands very dirty!!
I've had four up in the car although legs and arms were everywhere.
Yes in theory Cerb can be your everyday car.
Would I have it as my only car, no, is it practical for everyday. No.
Takes a lot of love and patience. if you want an early cerb you want to use every day you will want a well sorted one which means paying over the odds unless your up for a bit of a project in your spare time. but that defeats the point.
Just saw your bit about10k budget. At that price prepare to get your hands very dirty!!
Edited by Superjuiced on Monday 26th May 08:59
For 10k you can forget it, frankly. That also rules out my other suggestion too. Realistically you're in leggy older M3/M5/S-Type R/XJR/Audi (R)S/4/6 territory if you want it to run every day with a grand or so per year on top of basic servicing for corrective maintenance.
The vast majority of 10k Cerberas are a couple of years at most from having the body lifted off for a full restoration - and lots of time/money in the interim, despite the insistance by magazine journos that Cerbs cost 10k. Early/late is pretty much an irrelevance other than to a handful of people attracted to the 04/05 registered cars. For all others, they're priced on condition and a 10k Cerb really doesn't buy you much in terms of daily usability.
Edited to say: I do carry my children in the TVR, but maybe I'm a bad father.
The vast majority of 10k Cerberas are a couple of years at most from having the body lifted off for a full restoration - and lots of time/money in the interim, despite the insistance by magazine journos that Cerbs cost 10k. Early/late is pretty much an irrelevance other than to a handful of people attracted to the 04/05 registered cars. For all others, they're priced on condition and a 10k Cerb really doesn't buy you much in terms of daily usability.
Edited to say: I do carry my children in the TVR, but maybe I'm a bad father.
Edited by jamieduff1981 on Monday 26th May 13:06
I run a cerb daily again now as I did for nearly three years previously. But my day is probably quite different to yours. I don't do a school run and in fact I no longer commute. When I say daily now I mean I drive it as my primary vehicle most days (probably 4-5 days a week). Previously I drove a cerb as a daily around 45 miles a day every weekday and more at the weekend - it was fine.
Now in my current 4.5 Cerbera I do take the kids out (7 & 6) and there is plenty of room for legs/small bums in the back. It isn't a faff getting the kids in the back if you just use the tilt forward seat lever. Mine manage easily with plenty of room using just that.
Also the side impact protection isn't that bad on Cerberas. Don't forget that have integrated roll cages and side impact bars down the doors.
But, having said all that if I had to do the school run as a primary reason for driving or if it was the major proportion of the journey I wouldn't bother. When my kids are in the car I am "driving miss daisy". 20 in 30s, 30 in 40s, 50 in 60s. Yes it pisses people off, they probably wonder what the f
k I am doing driving that slow in a car capable of 185+, I don't give a st. I drive slow with the kids and that's that.
The real joy of owning a Cerbera is opening up that wonderful engine and you just can't do that with children in the car.
Aside from all the advice the only way you will know if this is going to work for you is to buy one and try it. If it doesn't work then sell it and move on. Nothing lost - at least you tried. It may be the best decision you ever make or it might not work for you. You won't know until you try for yourself and nobodies advice on here will help you find out if it works for you in your life.
Just go buy one and see what happens.
Now in my current 4.5 Cerbera I do take the kids out (7 & 6) and there is plenty of room for legs/small bums in the back. It isn't a faff getting the kids in the back if you just use the tilt forward seat lever. Mine manage easily with plenty of room using just that.
Also the side impact protection isn't that bad on Cerberas. Don't forget that have integrated roll cages and side impact bars down the doors.
But, having said all that if I had to do the school run as a primary reason for driving or if it was the major proportion of the journey I wouldn't bother. When my kids are in the car I am "driving miss daisy". 20 in 30s, 30 in 40s, 50 in 60s. Yes it pisses people off, they probably wonder what the f
k I am doing driving that slow in a car capable of 185+, I don't give a st. I drive slow with the kids and that's that. The real joy of owning a Cerbera is opening up that wonderful engine and you just can't do that with children in the car.
Aside from all the advice the only way you will know if this is going to work for you is to buy one and try it. If it doesn't work then sell it and move on. Nothing lost - at least you tried. It may be the best decision you ever make or it might not work for you. You won't know until you try for yourself and nobodies advice on here will help you find out if it works for you in your life.
Just go buy one and see what happens.
jamieduff1981 said:
Edited to say: I do carry my children in the TVR, but maybe I'm a bad father.
I think you live in a nice part of the country. 
After London, there are more road traffic collisions in west Yorkshire than anywhere else in the UK. And this region is top of the league table for 'Crash for Cash' scams. Oh, and nearly forgot, insurance premiums for some Bradford postcodes are mahoosive.
So I don't think you are a bad father. But you might think differently if you lived around here.
As Tim says there is side protection as shown here but no side airbags of course.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=pictures+of+cras...
or
http://www.wreckedexotics.com/cerbera/tvr_20061030...
The description is telling....
Edited by N7GTX on Monday 26th May 17:54
Edited by N7GTX on Monday 26th May 17:56
You really dont want to be t-boned in a cerb. Side impact bars are unlikely to provide much protection. And god forbid they crash into a rear wheel arch area. The kids heads are right against the seat belt nut too. When they are bigger their heads touch the rear screen.
I rarely take mine out in it partly cos of this.
I rarely take mine out in it partly cos of this.
Blu3R said:
It's not as comfy as our '56 5 series MSport touring, nor does it ride as well. It's thirstier, more cumbersome, dare I say less refined, dearer on
As lovely as the Cerbs are I'm pretty sure the ride would be less comfy than a RR. Also doubt it will be as Comfy as a Msport.Although, if fitted with a good set of Nitrons as mine was its surprisingly smooth/good, but could never be described as "Comfy"
Blu3R said:
We're moving house shortly so ideally I'd like to move the RRS on and buy something around the 10k mark to hopefully avoid having to sell my pristine Noble.
If you want a cheapish fast "Comfy" car then as you came from a Merc why not look at the C32 AMG?Large boot,loads of kiddie space & not too shaby on the performance side & you would have plenty of change from 10k.
I just bought one as I need a Auto with no H/brake & something that is "Easy in Easy out", very good value also if the pulley is changed & a remap (Cough) it does pop on! cheap-Cheap fast -fast Comfy- Comfy!;)
Cerbie not a lot different to your Noble apart from the Noble lacks the special V8 noise factor Grin, but is probably better in the handling dept. Good Luck!!
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