Chaz's daily Cerbera
Discussion
After years of wanting one, I bought my first Cerbera.
Almost as long as I can remember I wanted one - seeing Clarkson race one down a runway in Top Gear, and it trashing the other exotica if the time sealed the deal.
After a few years of umming-and-arring, I found one (with the help of the PH Cerbera community) for sale at James Agger. It has a huge file of history, with some pretty big bills involved, going back about half its life.
I sold my Landcruiser to a really good guy, and was surprisingly sorry to see it go - a brilliant car which I genuinely enjoyed driving. Even if it is very, very different to my new car.
Telling my friends and family about my new car, they had to offer their advice about how unreliable it is, how it must break down every 20m, and have bills run into 9 figures etc etc. I told them that - the problems are all sorted! If the cars are on the road, they're probably pretty sorted now. I know they'll be a few issues, but nothing catastrophic.
Anyway, a few days prior to picking up my car - something I'd wanted to do for years... I had a message from James. While it sailed through its MOT, it has a minor gearbox oil leak. I might not be able to take it away! He was good enough to send a few photos so I could see for myself.
Now, this is where I had a problem. I didn't have a car, and this was the only time I could easily get up from Plymouth to Leicester. We talked, and he kindly offered me a courtesy car. For those of you who don't know James's courtesy car - I wasn't disappointed!
OK, so maybe I was a tiny bit disappointed. But he was good enough to offer me the car - for free - for the whole week. Actually, he offered me a deal to simply swap my Cerbera for the Volvo! I didn't want to take this beauty from him, so I politely declined
After much ribbing from my friends (told you so, broken down before you have even driven it out of the dealer etc etc), I put it this way; he could have been shadier, and not said anything. I'd have a leaky gearbox and potentially not know for a while. But, his integrity was such that he phoned me up, told me the bad news, and provided a transport solution.
Now, about my thread title - this is my only car. While I don't really have a commute (I live very close to my workplace, so I can walk to work) it will be used as my only transport.
I do a fair number of miles each year, but they are mostly longer runs, than short trips about town.
Anyway, I figured a thread on my (honest) experiences of using one as a fun weekend car and as a daily driver could be interesting for those who want one, or for anyone who's merely interested.
If you see me out and about - give me a wave! I guess I'll stand out a bit from the hoards of Mondeos and 3 series! ]
Almost as long as I can remember I wanted one - seeing Clarkson race one down a runway in Top Gear, and it trashing the other exotica if the time sealed the deal.
After a few years of umming-and-arring, I found one (with the help of the PH Cerbera community) for sale at James Agger. It has a huge file of history, with some pretty big bills involved, going back about half its life.
I sold my Landcruiser to a really good guy, and was surprisingly sorry to see it go - a brilliant car which I genuinely enjoyed driving. Even if it is very, very different to my new car.
Telling my friends and family about my new car, they had to offer their advice about how unreliable it is, how it must break down every 20m, and have bills run into 9 figures etc etc. I told them that - the problems are all sorted! If the cars are on the road, they're probably pretty sorted now. I know they'll be a few issues, but nothing catastrophic.
Anyway, a few days prior to picking up my car - something I'd wanted to do for years... I had a message from James. While it sailed through its MOT, it has a minor gearbox oil leak. I might not be able to take it away! He was good enough to send a few photos so I could see for myself.
Now, this is where I had a problem. I didn't have a car, and this was the only time I could easily get up from Plymouth to Leicester. We talked, and he kindly offered me a courtesy car. For those of you who don't know James's courtesy car - I wasn't disappointed!
OK, so maybe I was a tiny bit disappointed. But he was good enough to offer me the car - for free - for the whole week. Actually, he offered me a deal to simply swap my Cerbera for the Volvo! I didn't want to take this beauty from him, so I politely declined
After much ribbing from my friends (told you so, broken down before you have even driven it out of the dealer etc etc), I put it this way; he could have been shadier, and not said anything. I'd have a leaky gearbox and potentially not know for a while. But, his integrity was such that he phoned me up, told me the bad news, and provided a transport solution.
Now, about my thread title - this is my only car. While I don't really have a commute (I live very close to my workplace, so I can walk to work) it will be used as my only transport.
I do a fair number of miles each year, but they are mostly longer runs, than short trips about town.
Anyway, I figured a thread on my (honest) experiences of using one as a fun weekend car and as a daily driver could be interesting for those who want one, or for anyone who's merely interested.
If you see me out and about - give me a wave! I guess I'll stand out a bit from the hoards of Mondeos and 3 series! ]
TobyLerone said:
aide said:
Nice!
You have to take it on a euro trip and get it filthy dirty now!
AideYou have to take it on a euro trip and get it filthy dirty now!
I'm off to Switzerland in a few weeks. It's only for 5 days, but it'll be about a 2000 mile round trip. More photos will follow!
Been considering this combo for next May (saw the ad in Sprint);
http://www.sceniccartours.com/laon-v2/4593848024 plus http://www.sceniccartours.com/laon-black-forest-pt...
Anyone been away 'with' Scenic or have been to Laon Historique?
Lots of bad press out there on reliability, but I only have TVR's these days and manage fine. Thinking back I can only remember two breakdowns in the last 10 years - one was a pin hole in a bottom hose, the other was clutch slave cylinder seals giving up (no clutch).
In my experience the secrets to keeping TVR's reliable are as follows:
- Drive them throughout the year which keeps everything nicely lubricated, but wash the underside occasionally to remove mud/salt/etc. to prevent corrosion
- Have them serviced by someone that knows TVR’s backward every year
- Give them lots of TLC and sort out all of those little things as they occur
TVR’s can deteriorate rapidly if they don’t have a sympathetic owner, so don’t suit everyone, but if you like doing a little fettling they are as good as any other specialist marque.
In my experience the secrets to keeping TVR's reliable are as follows:
- Drive them throughout the year which keeps everything nicely lubricated, but wash the underside occasionally to remove mud/salt/etc. to prevent corrosion
- Have them serviced by someone that knows TVR’s backward every year
- Give them lots of TLC and sort out all of those little things as they occur
TVR’s can deteriorate rapidly if they don’t have a sympathetic owner, so don’t suit everyone, but if you like doing a little fettling they are as good as any other specialist marque.
Really great looking car, very clean interior and engine bay as well.
It really does look like it's been spared no expense, with Nitrons and six pot calipers.
I never understand why someone would spend huge amounts of money on a car (2014 engine rebuild, new clutch etc) and then sell it just 2000 miles later.
I reckon it has a really good chance of being a reliable daily driver, although the Sports Tails are guaranteed to drive you mad and deaf.
As for the ATF leak, that can only really come from the tail/box mating surface. I had the same after rebuilding the box recently, fixed by torquing the bolts properly, can probably be done in situ in minutes (with a lift).
Why did you decide against a Griff in the end?
It really does look like it's been spared no expense, with Nitrons and six pot calipers.
I never understand why someone would spend huge amounts of money on a car (2014 engine rebuild, new clutch etc) and then sell it just 2000 miles later.
I reckon it has a really good chance of being a reliable daily driver, although the Sports Tails are guaranteed to drive you mad and deaf.
As for the ATF leak, that can only really come from the tail/box mating surface. I had the same after rebuilding the box recently, fixed by torquing the bolts properly, can probably be done in situ in minutes (with a lift).
Why did you decide against a Griff in the end?
ukkid35 said:
Really great looking car, very clean interior and engine bay as well.
It really does look like it's been spared no expense, with Nitrons and six pot calipers.
I never understand why someone would spend huge amounts of money on a car (2014 engine rebuild, new clutch etc) and then sell it just 2000 miles later.
I reckon it has a really good chance of being a reliable daily driver, although the Sports Tails are guaranteed to drive you mad and deaf.
As for the ATF leak, that can only really come from the tail/box mating surface. I had the same after rebuilding the box recently, fixed by torquing the bolts properly, can probably be done in situ in minutes (with a lift).
Why did you decide against a Griff in the end?
ukkid35 - do you know the car, or just from the advert? It really does look like it's been spared no expense, with Nitrons and six pot calipers.
I never understand why someone would spend huge amounts of money on a car (2014 engine rebuild, new clutch etc) and then sell it just 2000 miles later.
I reckon it has a really good chance of being a reliable daily driver, although the Sports Tails are guaranteed to drive you mad and deaf.
As for the ATF leak, that can only really come from the tail/box mating surface. I had the same after rebuilding the box recently, fixed by torquing the bolts properly, can probably be done in situ in minutes (with a lift).
Why did you decide against a Griff in the end?
If the exhaust is a bit loud, there's a ton of things I can do to quieten a bit. I sat down with James for an hour as we talked about the car and poured through its history. I can sort of understand the motives for the rebuild then sale.
I chose the Cerbera over a Griff for a few reasons - a big one being prices. For an equally tidy Griff, it would have been more expensive. To be fair, the Cerbera was a bit over my budget. But the 'right' car from the right dealer doesn't come around every day.
Not to mention that, while the Griffith is no doubt a special car, even sitting in a Cerbera is an event. Few cars - even Lamborghini and Ferrari - have interiors as wild and unique. A bespoke engine was another big pull factor. Yeah, servicing is more expensive, as are the parts (I have a file of bills as testament to that...), I think it's more of a special car.
And as I mentioned at first - I just wanted one. A car I saw 2 decades ago, that could murder just about anything else on the road. Something old-school in design, with a big V8.
TobyLerone said:
ukkid35 - do you know the car, or just from the advert?
.
.
.
I chose the Cerbera over a Griff for a few reasons - a big one being prices. For an equally tidy Griff, it would have been more expensive. To be fair, the Cerbera was a bit over my budget. But the 'right' car from the right dealer doesn't come around every day.
Not to mention that, while the Griffith is no doubt a special car, even sitting in a Cerbera is an event.
Don't know the car, advert could have benefited from some pics of the underside..
.
.
I chose the Cerbera over a Griff for a few reasons - a big one being prices. For an equally tidy Griff, it would have been more expensive. To be fair, the Cerbera was a bit over my budget. But the 'right' car from the right dealer doesn't come around every day.
Not to mention that, while the Griffith is no doubt a special car, even sitting in a Cerbera is an event.
If a Griff is still more highly valued than a Cerb in similar condition, then that must mean people simply don't understand Cerbs.
ukkid35 said:
Why did you decide against a Griff in the end?
Obviously an owner with class 
ukkid35 said:
I never understand why someone would spend huge amounts of money on a car (2014 engine rebuild, new clutch etc) and then sell it just 2000 miles later.
Circumstances, it could be a lot of money tidied up in a toy. Having just got mine to where I want it to be, there's a couple of comments from indoors with "now might be the time to consider selling it..."Not going to happen though.
TobyLerone said:
I chose the Cerbera over a Griff for a few reasons - a big one being prices. For an equally tidy Griff, it would have been more expensive. To be fair, the Cerbera was a bit over my budget. But the 'right' car from the right dealer doesn't come around every day.
Is exactly the right way to buy it. Buy a good one.As for Griffs - highly overrated cars, mostly by the owners. I mean, why have a slow one... If questioned, just ask if their cars can do 190mph..
If they mention tops down, just say we take our sides off when we open the windows...
HarryW said:
Nice, storm grey or highlands grey pearl?
Err, the book says Highland Starmist Grey. To anyone (myself very much included) who isn't a paint-nerd, it's a multi layer glittery grey. A bit reserved for my tastes, so it may very likely get a respray in something a bit more wild.
To you paint nerds who can decode it...
After my first weekend with the Cerbera... I love it!
Genuinely, I don't know why I didn't do it years ago. Still, it's really days in my ownership, we'll see how it goes.
It's fairly practical - the boot is big enough for my usual day to day needs. Swallows shopping easy enough, and the mirrors are good enough that parking in car parks is OK.
The visibility out of the car is generally good, but reversing up to a wall / kerb is tricky without really knowing where the car ends. I may yet invest in a reverse camera.
I can't speak for everyone, but around B roads, it's fantastic. The suspension on mine has been set up on the firm side, but it's not jiggly or unsettled.
Faster A roads and it really comes alive. The direct steering, and freely revving engine are wondrous. This, I think, was what the car was designed for.
I had a long (~250 mile) motorway journey today. As a GT car, it's better than anything I've owned before. OK, the radio sucks. Reception is awful. The sound quality is terrible. Massive distortion when you turn the volume up, but whatever. The exhaust is quite loud too - I think a 500+ mile day would be tiring.
However, I was smiling the entire time! Having an aerodynamically efficient (ish) car and a powerful engine makes cruising at 70 effortless. I think you could sit all day at 140 and it wouldn't miss a beat.
Around the back roads, and around town, it is a bit juicy. I think high teens MPG would be optimistic, but possible. On my motorway run, I've calculated 31mpg. From a V8 TVR. Cruising between 70 and 100 (kph, maybe.....) without racing, but I wasn't afraid to push on the accelerator. Oh, and the air con has been on all day.
The windscreen wipers aren't brilliant, but they cleared the screen well enough to make me not hate them.
I think this really is a car you can use every day. Still, only one way to know for sure...
Genuinely, I don't know why I didn't do it years ago. Still, it's really days in my ownership, we'll see how it goes.
It's fairly practical - the boot is big enough for my usual day to day needs. Swallows shopping easy enough, and the mirrors are good enough that parking in car parks is OK.
The visibility out of the car is generally good, but reversing up to a wall / kerb is tricky without really knowing where the car ends. I may yet invest in a reverse camera.
I can't speak for everyone, but around B roads, it's fantastic. The suspension on mine has been set up on the firm side, but it's not jiggly or unsettled.
Faster A roads and it really comes alive. The direct steering, and freely revving engine are wondrous. This, I think, was what the car was designed for.
I had a long (~250 mile) motorway journey today. As a GT car, it's better than anything I've owned before. OK, the radio sucks. Reception is awful. The sound quality is terrible. Massive distortion when you turn the volume up, but whatever. The exhaust is quite loud too - I think a 500+ mile day would be tiring.
However, I was smiling the entire time! Having an aerodynamically efficient (ish) car and a powerful engine makes cruising at 70 effortless. I think you could sit all day at 140 and it wouldn't miss a beat.
Around the back roads, and around town, it is a bit juicy. I think high teens MPG would be optimistic, but possible. On my motorway run, I've calculated 31mpg. From a V8 TVR. Cruising between 70 and 100 (kph, maybe.....) without racing, but I wasn't afraid to push on the accelerator. Oh, and the air con has been on all day.
The windscreen wipers aren't brilliant, but they cleared the screen well enough to make me not hate them.
I think this really is a car you can use every day. Still, only one way to know for sure...
perhaps a reverse camera is in order to avoid smashing my exhausts up.
TobyLerone said:
After years of wanting one, I bought my first Cerbera.
Almost as long as I can remember I wanted one - seeing Clarkson race one down a runway in Top Gear, and it trashing the other exotica if the time sealed the deal.
After a few years of umming-and-arring, I found one (with the help of the PH Cerbera community) for sale at James Agger. It has a huge file of history, with some pretty big bills involved, going back about half its life.
I sold my Landcruiser to a really good guy, and was surprisingly sorry to see it go - a brilliant car which I genuinely enjoyed driving. Even if it is very, very different to my new car.
Telling my friends and family about my new car, they had to offer their advice about how unreliable it is, how it must break down every 20m, and have bills run into 9 figures etc etc. I told them that - the problems are all sorted! If the cars are on the road, they're probably pretty sorted now. I know they'll be a few issues, but nothing catastrophic.
Anyway, a few days prior to picking up my car - something I'd wanted to do for years... I had a message from James. While it sailed through its MOT, it has a minor gearbox oil leak. I might not be able to take it away! He was good enough to send a few photos so I could see for myself.
OK, so maybe I was a tiny bit disappointed. But he was good enough to offer me the car - for free - for the whole week. Actually, he offered me a deal to simply swap my Cerbera for the Volvo! I didn't want to take this beauty from him, so I politely declined
After much ribbing from my friends (told you so, broken down before you have even driven it out of the dealer etc etc), I put it this way; he could have been shadier, and not said anything. I'd have a leaky gearbox and potentially not know for a while. But, his integrity was such that he phoned me up, told me the bad news, and provided a transport solution.
Now, about my thread title - this is my only car. While I don't really have a commute (I live very close to my workplace, so I can walk to work) it will be used as my only transport.
I do a fair number of miles each year, but they are mostly longer runs, than short trips about town.
Anyway, I figured a thread on my (honest) experiences of using one as a fun weekend car and as a daily driver could be interesting for those who want one, or for anyone who's merely interested.
If you see me out and about - give me a wave! I guess I'll stand out a bit from the hoards of Mondeos and 3 series! ]
Wow Chaz, she looks gooooorjus - Congratulations !Almost as long as I can remember I wanted one - seeing Clarkson race one down a runway in Top Gear, and it trashing the other exotica if the time sealed the deal.
After a few years of umming-and-arring, I found one (with the help of the PH Cerbera community) for sale at James Agger. It has a huge file of history, with some pretty big bills involved, going back about half its life.
I sold my Landcruiser to a really good guy, and was surprisingly sorry to see it go - a brilliant car which I genuinely enjoyed driving. Even if it is very, very different to my new car.
Telling my friends and family about my new car, they had to offer their advice about how unreliable it is, how it must break down every 20m, and have bills run into 9 figures etc etc. I told them that - the problems are all sorted! If the cars are on the road, they're probably pretty sorted now. I know they'll be a few issues, but nothing catastrophic.
Anyway, a few days prior to picking up my car - something I'd wanted to do for years... I had a message from James. While it sailed through its MOT, it has a minor gearbox oil leak. I might not be able to take it away! He was good enough to send a few photos so I could see for myself.
OK, so maybe I was a tiny bit disappointed. But he was good enough to offer me the car - for free - for the whole week. Actually, he offered me a deal to simply swap my Cerbera for the Volvo! I didn't want to take this beauty from him, so I politely declined
After much ribbing from my friends (told you so, broken down before you have even driven it out of the dealer etc etc), I put it this way; he could have been shadier, and not said anything. I'd have a leaky gearbox and potentially not know for a while. But, his integrity was such that he phoned me up, told me the bad news, and provided a transport solution.
Now, about my thread title - this is my only car. While I don't really have a commute (I live very close to my workplace, so I can walk to work) it will be used as my only transport.
I do a fair number of miles each year, but they are mostly longer runs, than short trips about town.
Anyway, I figured a thread on my (honest) experiences of using one as a fun weekend car and as a daily driver could be interesting for those who want one, or for anyone who's merely interested.
If you see me out and about - give me a wave! I guess I'll stand out a bit from the hoards of Mondeos and 3 series! ]
In 12 days I will have had mine for 12 Years as a daily. She has been wonderful, Just passed 100K miles.
Did a trip last month that was 2,400 miles over a long weekend.
Broken throttle cable at 50K.
Had to replace the Clutch at 60K.
The only pain in the Arse is the Wiper Return Switch - Just put my fourth one in
Cerbs LOVE regular use, which'll fit nicely in with your forthcoming desire to drive her constantly.
When you replace the windscreen wipers get a set from PPC (ex-Leven). They fit the profile of the widscreen better and don't lift at speed
If you come past Lux, why not pop in, get some cheap petrol, booze and fags and have a cuppa with a fellow Cerbera nut
and above all.....
Welcome to The Madhouse
Edited by Mr Cerbera on Tuesday 8th August 08:43
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