AM V8 Vantage to Cerbera / Chimarea / Tuscan

[anonymous-user]

Hello all,

Having had a recent change in jobs and cost of running a V8 Vantage im thinking about replacing it with a TVR e.g. (https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F183242470678).

I always wanted one and originally I was going to buy a Cerbera rather than a V8V but at the time a V8V was what I wanted.

Asking about similarities in running costs? (Surely less!? I use AMMD), known issues (I remember a little about the Speed6 engine), or what I should be looking for with a circa £20k budget.

Thanks, I don’t have FB so can’t join any groups or what not on there.

[esso]

If your looking at reducing running costs then steer clear of a Cerbera, a Chimaera is what you should be looking for.

[anonymous-user]

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

https://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/...

Something like that would be fantastic, although over budget ...

Or the blue chim I posted above, just waiting on a few valuations of my Vantage to come back, retail is circa £41k so I'm guessing offers around £32-4k.

ETA; there is a blue Griff 500 on eBay that looks good for under £20k too.

Edited by Lord.Vader on Thursday 31st May 14:18

[citizen smith]

Hi,

A little while ago I purchased a Griff 500 that was previously owned by a chap the bought an Aston Vantage V8 to replace it. Back in January this year, the guy with the Aston got back in contact with me - wanting to buy the Griff back at any price, but unfortunately I had sold it on a couple of years ago .

He said that although the Aston was very nice, BUT it wasn't as invigorating or as exciting to drive as the Griff was!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That speaks volumes about how good the Griff was from the initial conception.

[ollyh1988]

Hello,

It's a good change to make, if that helps. I had a Chimaera just before my V8V and liked it just as much (if not more than the Aston). Neither of them were used every day, but I would have found the Aston easier to do this in than the TVR. Although my Chimaera was a power steering model it is still a more physical car to drive, and does feel from a much earlier time than the Aston.
For your budget you would get a very nice Chimaera and from a dealer if you wanted, which might help with any maintenance issues. I spent quite a bit on my TVR early on to get it running brilliantly, and after that it didn't cost much to run at all!

[QBee]

You started off listing a Chimaera that is for sale by Amore Autos.
Those guys are getting a lot of good reports from our community - I would go see them when you have your budget sorted and let them help you find a well sorted car that fits your needs and comes with a warranty.

For my money a TVR needs to be convertible and as trouble free as possible - just get in, turn the key and go.
This decribes the Chim and Griff more than any Speed 6 or Cerbera, but you know what you want out of a car, and even I have to admit that for looks alone a Tuscan floats my boat every time (even though I am a Chimaera owner).

Good luck.

[Shanksy87]

As mentioned, if you're looking to reduce running costs the Chimarea would be a smart place to start. The Cerbera whilst being my choice is likely to cost the same if not more than an Aston on averaged running costs (£3kpa seems normal, can be a lot more) if it needs any form of work doing, which for your suggested budget, it likely would.

[PGNSagaris]

I suspect the drive of the TVR’s will thrill you more than the Aston.

Also, the Cerbera can, above all others in my opinion and experience , give your wallet a terrififying amount of angst.

In your shoes I’d jump into a Griffith.

Enjoy the hunt

[NuddyRap]

There's a saying usually applicable to shoes which from my experience also applies to the Cerbera:

Buy cheap, buy twice.

Go for a Chimaera. It seems rebuilding a rover V8 is a right of passage for almost everyone involved in the mechanics of classic cars, and generally they're cheaper to maintain.

[Byker28i]

Shanksy87 said:

As mentioned, if you're looking to reduce running costs the Chimarea would be a smart place to start. The Cerbera whilst being my choice is likely to cost the same if not more than an Aston on averaged running costs (£3kpa seems normal, can be a lot more) if it needs any form of work doing, which for your suggested budget, it likely would.

On the other hand, and in support of the Cerbera, I put £250 a month away to pay for the car. I'd get a rubbish lease car for that.
After 12 years I'm still nowhere near spending that, despite a full body off rebuild, respray, most upgrade options and just paid for a very expensive engine rebuild.

For that you get the fastest car, 4 seats, a roof that doesn't leak. With the Cerbera you don't take the roof off, you lower the windows to remove the sides

But yes the V8 powered cars can be cheaper. Or look at the Speed 6 T cars, still look very current today.

[anonymous-user]

I’d be happy with £3k p.a., the V8V has cost me around £1000 per month so far (inc depreciation), excluding next weeks service and paint repair (guess £3k) nor does it include the £4K of brake work or £1k of AC work I had under warranty.

So £250-300 a month is fine.

I’m giving AM a chance next week to see what they’ll do about the paint issue (thread on the AM section), if it’s under goodwill I might keep it ... if I have to pay (a lot) it’ll go.

Tuscan would be my first choice, £20k is the target but if it needs to be £25 then so be it!

Thanks for the input

[chrishart54]

Ive had the AM v8 Vantage. Nice car but I smile a lot more when I get into the Tuscan. I have also found it cheaper to run than the Aston. MPG similar but a service is a lot cheaper at SD Autotec than Aston were charging. Road tax lower and insurance has been cheaper.
Perhaps I've just been lucky as my Tuscan has so far proved to be 100% reliable despite all the horror stories youve heard of