Will i regret it ?
Discussion
I have a nice Chimaera, I have just given it a sprue up. New everything underneath. (Wishbone, bushes, brakes, ball joints, track rods, fuel lines etc...) Chassis was going to be re-furbished but after cleaning it, their was no point. Other than a couple finger nail size bits that had chipped off, it is perfect.
It is only a 400, but has less than 10k on the clock. Body work has a few chips in it from being in a garage all its life. Bit i am sorting these out too.
All in it is probably worth 10-13k.
Is this enough to get a ropey Cerb? (Probably an AJP V8).
Will i miss the open top?
Should i just cash in and clear a load of mortgage? (Along with other savings)
Or, should i enjoy the car as it is and try to get it above 10k on the clock this year?
It is only a 400, but has less than 10k on the clock. Body work has a few chips in it from being in a garage all its life. Bit i am sorting these out too.
All in it is probably worth 10-13k.
Is this enough to get a ropey Cerb? (Probably an AJP V8).
Will i miss the open top?
Should i just cash in and clear a load of mortgage? (Along with other savings)
Or, should i enjoy the car as it is and try to get it above 10k on the clock this year?
Hello Stuart, like the Chimaera most Cerberas are getting to its point in life where it requires most of the work you have put into your chimaera, unless you can pick one up that a competent mechanic has already accomplished. The mileage on your chimaera is 100k yes not 10k. The worst area of rot on the Cerb is beneath the air intake beneath the battery. This area holds water like a sponge and with the heat from the manifolds soon breaks down the powdercoat along the main rail. It's either an engine out job, or to do an effective repair it's a body lift.
phazed said:
A ropey cerb will be a money pit.
Your car is in top condition and won't cause you any problems and you can remove the roof!
If I buy in cerb it would be with the intention of changing the engine to an LS or something else.
This ^ even a good one is in a different budget league to a RV8 car anyway inc fuel costs Your car is in top condition and won't cause you any problems and you can remove the roof!
If I buy in cerb it would be with the intention of changing the engine to an LS or something else.
portzi said:
Hello Stuart, like the Chimaera most Cerberas are getting to its point in life where it requires most of the work you have put into your chimaera, unless you can pick one up that a competent mechanic has already accomplished. The mileage on your chimaera is 100k yes not 10k. The worst area of rot on the Cerb is beneath the air intake beneath the battery. This area holds water like a sponge and with the heat from the manifolds soon breaks down the powdercoat along the main rail. It's either an engine out job, or to do an effective repair it's a body lift.
Damn, Facebook crossover?No Sir, the milage is about 9,500.
I'm after a chlange and car i can add value too aswell as enjoy. My fear is i will mis the Chim too much and the Cerb wont fill its place peroperly.
So far as fuil is concerned, My daily driveer averages around 18mpg, so its not a worry.
Prizam said:
Damn, Facebook crossover?
No Sir, the milage is about 9,500.
I'm after a chlange and car i can add value too aswell as enjoy. My fear is i will mis the Chim too much and the Cerb wont fill its place peroperly.
So far as fuil is concerned, My daily driveer averages around 18mpg, so its not a worry.
Its well sorted and the low mileage engine would love a supercharger and after market ecu .. I would keep it .No Sir, the milage is about 9,500.
I'm after a chlange and car i can add value too aswell as enjoy. My fear is i will mis the Chim too much and the Cerb wont fill its place peroperly.
So far as fuil is concerned, My daily driveer averages around 18mpg, so its not a worry.
I wouldn't touch a cheap Cerbera TBH, to be fair I would steer well clear of a cheap Chimaera as well 
Running costs for a Cerbera will be a bit more than a Chimaera, fuel is the same.
Fun wise, they both have plus points, one is not better than the other.
Running costs for a Cerbera will be a bit more than a Chimaera, fuel is the same.
Fun wise, they both have plus points, one is not better than the other.
Edited by TheRainMaker on Thursday 2nd June 14:27
Hi, I dont think you can compare any of the TVRs to another one and thats a good thing, if its a money issue sell the Chimaera and put the money in the bank, to own one is fantastic but it comes at a price and not just in money terms, I think you would enjoy the Cerbera its a wonderful car but could cost more to get sorted. I love my Chimaera its so nice to be in, a bit like a gentlemans club, I have a Cerbera and love that too but its a bit more intense. All TVR owners have a big smile on there faces so you cant loose on that side but the Cerbera will cost more and people tend to side with the car they own, Steve
Prizam said:
I have a nice Chimaera, I have just given it a sprue up. New everything underneath. (Wishbone, bushes, brakes, ball joints, track rods, fuel lines etc...) Chassis was going to be re-furbished but after cleaning it, their was no point. Other than a couple finger nail size bits that had chipped off, it is perfect.
It is only a 400, but has less than 10k on the clock. Body work has a few chips in it from being in a garage all its life. Bit i am sorting these out too.
All in it is probably worth 10-13k.
Is this enough to get a ropey Cerb? (Probably an AJP V8).
Will i miss the open top?
Should i just cash in and clear a load of mortgage? (Along with other savings)
Or, should i enjoy the car as it is and try to get it above 10k on the clock this year?
Have you seen the asking prices of these lately. With 10k miles and a mint chassis it will be worth more than £10-13k IMO. It is only a 400, but has less than 10k on the clock. Body work has a few chips in it from being in a garage all its life. Bit i am sorting these out too.
All in it is probably worth 10-13k.
Is this enough to get a ropey Cerb? (Probably an AJP V8).
Will i miss the open top?
Should i just cash in and clear a load of mortgage? (Along with other savings)
Or, should i enjoy the car as it is and try to get it above 10k on the clock this year?
zed4 said:
Have you seen the asking prices of these lately. With 10k miles and a mint chassis it will be worth more than £10-13k IMO.
Possibly. I am being quite conservative. It might be low mileage but the years of sitting in damp did it no favours. The dash peeled off, now carbon fibre. Had LOADS of electrical faults. Now all resolved. The seats look a bit grubby where they had mould on them, mostly sorted by bleach and a brush... Have some furniture clinic boot polish waiting for them 
I bought a 'cheap' 4.2 Cerb as my first TVR. It definitely needed work and was sold as such for £9k. I do all my own spannering and the AJP V8 is easy to work on. I downloaded the software from the Cerb section and set the engine up using my laptop. It was a good learning curve too.
It was reliable and only one minor starter relay fault which happened at home and after sorting out all the minor issues, sold it after 12 months. The seats were not for me but that aside I really liked that car. In fact when I sold it and watched it being driven away, it was the only time I regretted selling a car.
If you do not do all your own work then it could be a costly experience.
It was reliable and only one minor starter relay fault which happened at home and after sorting out all the minor issues, sold it after 12 months. The seats were not for me but that aside I really liked that car. In fact when I sold it and watched it being driven away, it was the only time I regretted selling a car.
If you do not do all your own work then it could be a costly experience.
Keep the Chim - You know the car, and you have sorted the most important bits
I bought a very ropey Cerb five years ago for very little money, but they don't exist anymore. Now even the cheapest cars are expensive and highly compromised.
If you really want a project there was an early 4.2 in the classifieds that had an RV8 transplant for £9k. Not sure whether it's still around.
Also the AJP8 is almost the exact reverse of the RV8, it has no low rev torque, but a whole shed load of top end power, and that can be difficult to exploit. Would that fit your driving style?
As for the cabin, you really need to try one before even considering a change. The Cerb cabin is Snug assuming you are slight of figure; if you are not then it will be a real challenge. I'm OK with that, but I'm not tall, and that is an issue as well, because I can only just reach the pedals (even though they are adjustable). My GF hates it and refuses to be a passenger, describing it as like being in a raucous coffin. (However she is always willing to assist with bleeding brakes and clutch as she did earlier today.)
I bought a very ropey Cerb five years ago for very little money, but they don't exist anymore. Now even the cheapest cars are expensive and highly compromised.
If you really want a project there was an early 4.2 in the classifieds that had an RV8 transplant for £9k. Not sure whether it's still around.
Also the AJP8 is almost the exact reverse of the RV8, it has no low rev torque, but a whole shed load of top end power, and that can be difficult to exploit. Would that fit your driving style?
As for the cabin, you really need to try one before even considering a change. The Cerb cabin is Snug assuming you are slight of figure; if you are not then it will be a real challenge. I'm OK with that, but I'm not tall, and that is an issue as well, because I can only just reach the pedals (even though they are adjustable). My GF hates it and refuses to be a passenger, describing it as like being in a raucous coffin. (However she is always willing to assist with bleeding brakes and clutch as she did earlier today.)
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