Some Pointers please.
Some Pointers please.
Author
Discussion

MAC5

Original Poster:

254 posts

285 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
quotequote all
Hi all,

Just sold my 2nd chim after a very short ownership period missed the power of my 5.ol and couldnt resist a quick profit.

Have been toying with the idea of a cerb for a bit but have been cautious dut to running costs.

Have the oppurtunity of looking at a 97P 33K mile 4.2
Blue with magnolia and Aircon with 18inch spiders just 600 miles old.Also last serviced in june or only 1200 miles ago.Body is said to be very good as is interior, Also has balance of warranty.

The chap bought it from a dealer back in June but just doesnt use it.

1. What do you think it worth?
2. If i miss the soft top how easy will it be to re-sell.?
3. What are the main points to look out for when inspecting?
4. Are there TWIN headlamp pods available without having to blend if so how much?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Mac

>>> Edited by MAC5 on Wednesday 23 February 21:08

longbow

1,610 posts

264 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
quotequote all
Hi...

1) 16-17k is the going price for a 97 Cerb in good nick.

2) Totally subjective - Cerbera prices seem to be in free fall at the moment. Some are going for 11-12k!! A good one wil hold its value relatively speaking, but I for one am concerned at the recent price fall - I guess the AJPv8 is now out of production and spare parts will be increasingly hard to come by.... Due to the small numbers of Cerbs I doubt anyone else will fill the void...........

3) Depending on which cams are in there, check the engine thoroghly. Actually, check as much as you physically can............

4) Yes, you can fit the new headlights in pod form - speak to Penninsular or TVR body shop for parts. Expect the parts alone will be circa £600!!

Cerb ownership probably more than any other TVR is a risk - you can do all of your homework and still get burnt - you need to be brave.... but as they say, fate favours the brave!!

Good luck!

eddie 4.2

1,996 posts

266 months

Wednesday 23rd February 2005
quotequote all
HOW MUCH HAVE U GOT TO SPEND I MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP.
EMAIL ME

rocket

1,282 posts

313 months

Thursday 24th February 2005
quotequote all
Or, you might consider this little beauty....

www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=36905&s=6

davetherave1970

2,144 posts

275 months

Thursday 24th February 2005
quotequote all
rocket said:
Or, you might consider this little beauty....

www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=36905&s=6


What the hell........after 5 years!! Why on earth are you selling?

GCerbera

5,161 posts

280 months

Thursday 24th February 2005
quotequote all
davetherave1970 said:

rocket said:
Or, you might consider this little beauty....

<a href="http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=36905&s=6">www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=36905&s=6</a>



What the hell........after 5 years!! Why on earth are you selling?
I thought the same.

yellow peril

5,131 posts

301 months

Thursday 24th February 2005
quotequote all
Neil....I'm shocked.....

Can't lose the 'Rocket' from the region

Please tell me that you have something else on order mate.....

PLUS..what am I going to do without my STAR counter of TVRs....

No....not you.....your eldest.......
I need to ask his name for Sprint this month.

...//P//

MAC5

Original Poster:

254 posts

285 months

Thursday 24th February 2005
quotequote all
Hi ,

Looking to spend under £18k but to be honest am looking for that bargain that i can get out of without a loss over the summer if i miss the soft top.

Some help on my original post would be helpful.

Thanks Guys and Girls

Mac

redleicester

6,869 posts

274 months

Friday 25th February 2005
quotequote all
Mac, sorry to burst your bubble, but there's no such thing as a "bargain" Cerbera, unless you've contracted the Luck Virus.

In comparison to Griffs / Chims, Cerb values remain pretty much steady year round, as they don't suffer from Sunny Convertibleitis, however, as one of the posters pointed out, Cerb prices (especially Speed6) are in freefall at the moment.

The Cerb is a car that scares even TVR die-hards. This is in part from the huge performace, and no-nonsense handling, but also the massive running costs. I bought a "bargain" 1996 Cerbera for £16k in November, and have thus far spent a further £3k on a minor service, plus much fettling and fixing. Morever my monthly fuel bill has gone from £300pm in my Chim400 to £500pm in a Cerb 4.2 - mostly from the higher consumption of the AJP V8, but admittedly partially from "enjoying" the performance.

As to losing the roof (or rather gaining a roof), it's either for you or it's not. I have owned three convertibles, and three hardtops in recent years. I've often thought I'd miss putting the roof down, but for me the Cerbs looks, performance and interior more than made up for the loss of sunburn. That's very much a personal choice.

To be honest, I think the only advice we can give is to go drive a few - if you love it, you'll buy it. If not, then you know where you stand.

Your other questions:

Headlamp pods - around £600ish, plus light units and fitting. Call it a round £1000 or so. A non-blended conversion is cheaper, but probably still around £600 in all including fitting. Have a chat with TVR Body Shop - www.tvrbodyshop.co.uk

How easy to resell - see above. Prices are all over the place, and buyers wary. However, it's always easier to sell a performace motor car in the summer. Do be careful with colour choices - I'm not terribly fussed by the exterior colour of mine, but the interior is glorious. Yellows and Oranges are fabulous, but an accquired taste, and thus you're limiting your resale market. All common sense really. Having said all that, Cerbs rather like Tuscans are outrageous looking cars, and thus can handle being presented in outrageous colours.

Inspection - don't do it yourself, get it done by a specialist such as Rob Ingleby. Or buy from a dealer, and then you've got some comeback.

Hope that helps.


shell

148 posts

294 months

Friday 25th February 2005
quotequote all
My advice would be to find the cerb you want-condition, colour combo, miles, history etc from an owner on here, even if the car isn't for sale try to convince the owner to sell. Then you are getting what you want and the price you pay is at least for the car you want. As said before, for a good cerb with all the right personal boxes ticked you will have to be luck Eddy to get it for a bargain.
The car you want is only worth what you are prepared to pat for it, then add a few quid for the owner who has spent £000 looking after it for you!!

Cyclone1

2,614 posts

275 months

Friday 25th February 2005
quotequote all
I agree with most of the above, but do believe that you can get a "bargain". Prices do vary from autumn / winter to spring / summer, in that during the colder months the Cerbs are certainly cheaper than in Summer. The skill is to find one that suits your requirements and has had as many of the upgrades done as possible, such as clutch etc on the 4.2, if not then you need to factor this into the price. You also need to find out as much as you can about the Cerbera, I am currently on my second Cerb and am still learning about it. In your situation I would find the cleanest one possible both mechanically and cosmetically, this way you will not have to spend too much on it (fingers crossed) and you should be able to sell it ok in the summer, should you wish to.

rocket

1,282 posts

313 months

Friday 25th February 2005
quotequote all
Davetherave/Pauline,

I know, I know....not 100% sure this is the right decision. I still love the car to bits, but can't help thinking it's time for a change. We've been considering getting something a little bit more pratical, with a bit more room for the kids, a bit cheaper to run and something that Mrs.Rocket will be happier to drive. Currently, the plan is to sell the Cerb and our family wagon and buy....a Monaro! 5.7l of Chevy power wrapped up in a rather sexy 4 seater GT.

I'm sure I wouldn't be turning my back on TVR. I'll return again once they decide to build a suitable replacement for the Cerb, or when the kids are older and the 4.3BV Griff is the established classic it is destined to be.

If...and I mean if...the Cerb goes, we will remain members of the TVRCC and will bring the Monaro along to the mid-Essex meet. Pauline, it is James who usually does the car count for you. I'll let him know how important his job is and try make sure that he is at as many meetings as possible.

Cheers,

Neil

mac5

Original Poster:

254 posts

285 months

Friday 25th February 2005
quotequote all
Hi all,

Working in the trade makes buying a car hard as am always looking for that bargain(soundslikemywifesshoppinghabits). I believe they are out there if the above mentioned car was in good condition any guides on prices?


Mac

GCerbera

5,161 posts

280 months

Friday 25th February 2005
quotequote all
rocket said:
I know, I know....not 100% sure this is the right decision. I still love the car to bits, but can't help thinking it's time for a change. ,

Neil
Been there seen it done it, BIG mistake.
Trust me, as it drives away, you'll be saying, shouldn't have done that...

Don't do it.

yellow peril

5,131 posts

301 months

Saturday 26th February 2005
quotequote all
rocket said:
Davetherave/Pauline,

Pauline, it is James who usually does the car count for you. I'll let him know how important his job is and try make sure that he is at as many meetings as possible.

Cheers,

Neil


Thanks Neil...he does a great job and I would miss him.

I can understand your wish for the Monaro. It will probably be my next company vehicle.
But all the reports say the repairs will be costly as they will be quite rare on the road.

www.channel4.com/4car/road-tests/V/vauxhall/monaro04-/monaro04-.html

So if you are looking for something less expensive
to run this might not be the car to opt for.

It would a shame if you sold her...the number plate has made her famous at the Meet.

...//P//






simond001

4,519 posts

306 months

Sunday 27th February 2005
quotequote all
I moved from a Chimp to a cerb about 4 years ago, and only recently have I got used to not having a topless car.

I find that I use the cerb a lot less than i did the Chimaera, mainly due to that fact it is so much more "hard core", and whereas the chimaera was a fast fun car, the cerb seems to be more an all out thrash. It isnt as much fun in the sun(you get hot, even with air con), isnt as easy (in my experience) to drive slowly through traffic (noise aside).

The upside is that its an all out foot to the floor race car, leaves most things standing, sounds like the four horses have come to visit, and on a track will keep up (and then some) with cars costing 5 times as much.

Maintenance isn't the killer that people talk about. I had a clutch replaced this month (£100 parts (Joolz) and £350 labour, and the labour included uprating all brake hoses to Stainless braided (£37).

The question is can you live without the roof, I can, but it took me four years to realise that.