The 500 might have to go...
Discussion
... as the arrival of my first child looms closer I'm considering my options. I was going to simply sell the Chimaera and that be an end to it, but having thought about it, I'm only becoming a father not dying!
So, the crux of the question - has anyone had experiences of changing from a 500 Chimaera to a Cerbera, if so what are your comments or findings? I'm only looking at spending around £16K, and the TVR only covers around 5K PA.
Anyone want to swap a nice Cooper Green 500 with biscuit interior for a simarly coloured Cerbera?
Any experiences would be most welcome.
Thanks
Tim
So, the crux of the question - has anyone had experiences of changing from a 500 Chimaera to a Cerbera, if so what are your comments or findings? I'm only looking at spending around £16K, and the TVR only covers around 5K PA.
Anyone want to swap a nice Cooper Green 500 with biscuit interior for a simarly coloured Cerbera?
Any experiences would be most welcome.
Thanks
Tim
Tyre Smoke!I went from Griff 500 to a 4.5 Cerb. Admittedley I had other motives (one of which was LOTS more power and another being a decent rollcage) but I also fancied the idea of taking out the whole family, not just using the car with my missis when we could find babysitters.
For newborns you're pretty stuffed I think. Up to at least 9 months they need to go in rear-facing seats and as there's not really enough room in the back for these it means having the baby seat in the front. Unless your missis is a very slim and small lady she won't find it very comfy in the back. You're also likely to hear the same comment that I get from pretty mcuh everyone who has ever been in the back of mine - that it is very claustrophobic back there.
After 9 months when they can go in proper child seats it is a different thing. There are seats that will fit in the back of the Cerb.
So althogether not ideal but fine for shortish journeys. Whatever it is way better than the option taken by one of our regular visitors to regional meets who would come with 4 kids in a Chim - two being perched on the parcel shelf
For newborns you're pretty stuffed I think. Up to at least 9 months they need to go in rear-facing seats and as there's not really enough room in the back for these it means having the baby seat in the front. Unless your missis is a very slim and small lady she won't find it very comfy in the back. You're also likely to hear the same comment that I get from pretty mcuh everyone who has ever been in the back of mine - that it is very claustrophobic back there.
After 9 months when they can go in proper child seats it is a different thing. There are seats that will fit in the back of the Cerb.
So althogether not ideal but fine for shortish journeys. Whatever it is way better than the option taken by one of our regular visitors to regional meets who would come with 4 kids in a Chim - two being perched on the parcel shelf
Bah humbug Angus - I got my six foot cousin in the back the other day! Admittedly he needed a chiropractor afterwards, but he enjoyed the experience! 
Tim, I went from a 400 Chim to a 4.2 Cerbera last autumn for exactly the same reason (four weeks and counting until my world comes crashing down...
) and spent £16k on a 1996.
So far it has proved more expensive than the Chim, both on fuel and servicing, though to be honest, at £16k you're buying slightly older tattier cars, so I've spent a couple of grand getting her into tip-top shape. From my indie, a Chimaera 12k service and Cerb 6k are the same price - that gives you an idea of the ball park.
I'm not convinced yet over the rear-facing seat issues. We've bought the Graco Autobaby 0+, which comes with a base onto which you snap the seat. One more inch, and it'll fit in the back, and we're planning on shifting the front seat forward on its rails to gain the extra. The Cerbera passenger footwell is vast compared to Chims and Griffs, so there's space to push the seat forward and still give a front passenger the legroom required.
HTH.
Tim, I went from a 400 Chim to a 4.2 Cerbera last autumn for exactly the same reason (four weeks and counting until my world comes crashing down...
) and spent £16k on a 1996. So far it has proved more expensive than the Chim, both on fuel and servicing, though to be honest, at £16k you're buying slightly older tattier cars, so I've spent a couple of grand getting her into tip-top shape. From my indie, a Chimaera 12k service and Cerb 6k are the same price - that gives you an idea of the ball park.
I'm not convinced yet over the rear-facing seat issues. We've bought the Graco Autobaby 0+, which comes with a base onto which you snap the seat. One more inch, and it'll fit in the back, and we're planning on shifting the front seat forward on its rails to gain the extra. The Cerbera passenger footwell is vast compared to Chims and Griffs, so there's space to push the seat forward and still give a front passenger the legroom required.
HTH.
Thanks guys, so I guess my 500 may be for sale in the summer as I've got a Freelander for the first few months hacking it around.
Would ideally like a Lotus Chrome Orange Cerb' with anthracite Spiders, and biscuit full leather, but I guess that's a tall order, so I'll be on the hunt for a nice dark green example.
But if anyone sees one like this...
Tim
Would ideally like a Lotus Chrome Orange Cerb' with anthracite Spiders, and biscuit full leather, but I guess that's a tall order, so I'll be on the hunt for a nice dark green example.
But if anyone sees one like this...
Tim
Menu service prices for Chim and Cerb will indeed be comparable, it's the other bits and pieces that can make for some eye-watering bills with a Cerb.
Moving away from the venerable V8 and mundane clutch and braking systems to a bespoke AJPV8 engine, racing clutch etc. needs to be carried out with rose-tinted specs removed and more than a cursory glance to those previous bank statements!
If your savings account is awash with surplus cash and you've no doubt done your homework, then do it - you won't regret it!
apprentice
Moving away from the venerable V8 and mundane clutch and braking systems to a bespoke AJPV8 engine, racing clutch etc. needs to be carried out with rose-tinted specs removed and more than a cursory glance to those previous bank statements!
If your savings account is awash with surplus cash and you've no doubt done your homework, then do it - you won't regret it!
apprentice
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