Discussion
I think this was down to similar reasons as to why the Speed 12 never made it onto the road.
Although the Cerb was fantastic looking, inside and out, the ballistic performance could not make up for the fragility of the car.
The inevitable problems about putting a pure racing car into the hands of the public was the cars Achilles heel.
Reliability, Driving Characteristics and it's conception from a race driven development programme rather than road/consumer point of view meant that most people just found it too much.
Too hard to drive, too expensive to maintain and in the end the rear 2 seats ended up no more than space fillers. Hence the reality of the sales numbers....
Personally I prefer it that way. I think it takes dedication and character to run one of these beauties. Unfortunately the above reasons are also why so many Cerbs have so many names on the log book.
Whilst it is an amazing car, It was just never the success he was looking for. IMHO.
>> Edited by cerealsurfer on Friday 13th May 21:29
Although the Cerb was fantastic looking, inside and out, the ballistic performance could not make up for the fragility of the car.
The inevitable problems about putting a pure racing car into the hands of the public was the cars Achilles heel.
Reliability, Driving Characteristics and it's conception from a race driven development programme rather than road/consumer point of view meant that most people just found it too much.
Too hard to drive, too expensive to maintain and in the end the rear 2 seats ended up no more than space fillers. Hence the reality of the sales numbers....
Personally I prefer it that way. I think it takes dedication and character to run one of these beauties. Unfortunately the above reasons are also why so many Cerbs have so many names on the log book.
Whilst it is an amazing car, It was just never the success he was looking for. IMHO.
>> Edited by cerealsurfer on Friday 13th May 21:29
Got hand it to you Cereal, your words hit the spot.
But just like you, I love the cerb too, and couldnt see myself driving around in the 'poser boys toys' (tuscan etc)...
The only other cars I would consider are a Lambo, F50 and a Zonda - but economics doesnt quite work out in those departments....
Can you imagine driving a Zonda into Tescos?
But just like you, I love the cerb too, and couldnt see myself driving around in the 'poser boys toys' (tuscan etc)...
The only other cars I would consider are a Lambo, F50 and a Zonda - but economics doesnt quite work out in those departments....
Can you imagine driving a Zonda into Tescos?
Tried getting the Cerb in to Waitrose car park.... some chav, rudeboy, max power hatch bloke decided to park so close I could'nt get into the car! Won't be doing that again.
As for alternative cars.... I think the only car I've sampled that ace's the cerb is the Metro 6R4 Gp4 Spec car I had a go in at Brooklands. Mindblowing.
The Fezza 355 I tried instead of the Cerb was such a disapointing drive
. It confirmed my suspicions and so the Cerb came into the fold.
Personally I think Peter ended up creating a finer car. Unfortunately most people don't see past the prancing horse.
As for alternative cars.... I think the only car I've sampled that ace's the cerb is the Metro 6R4 Gp4 Spec car I had a go in at Brooklands. Mindblowing.
The Fezza 355 I tried instead of the Cerb was such a disapointing drive
. It confirmed my suspicions and so the Cerb came into the fold. Personally I think Peter ended up creating a finer car. Unfortunately most people don't see past the prancing horse.
cerealsurfer said:Care to elaborate? I was thinking of going for a test drive in one in the next couple of weeks, to evaluate it as a potential Cerb replacement.
The Fezza 355 I tried instead of the Cerb was such a disapointing drive
Carl,
I tried a 355 TB... in yellow with black interior. It's a bit of a step backwards from a Cerb IMHO.
The interior is nowhere near as good. OK. the TB spec is not as good as some of the models but I found it bland. (none of that Italian style I was expecting).
My God, it even had black plastic bits like a normal car.
As for the drive, the sound is definately unique but still didn't quite give me the presence I felt I wanted.
As for the ride, even with comfort mode engaged the rive is bone jarringly hard, tramlining over every rut. Oh and their not as fast by A LOT!
On the running costs front.
Although they may be slightly more reliable they also cost more to repair.... oh and just about everywhere has waiting lists. I think Verdi Ferrari have published servicing costs. The Mid Engined Fezzers are a real pain.
It's a bit of a personal thing, I guess you'll find out when you test drive it. What about a RUF? or 993 turbo x50.
>> Edited by cerealsurfer on Friday 13th May 22:28
I tried a 355 TB... in yellow with black interior. It's a bit of a step backwards from a Cerb IMHO.
The interior is nowhere near as good. OK. the TB spec is not as good as some of the models but I found it bland. (none of that Italian style I was expecting).
My God, it even had black plastic bits like a normal car.
As for the drive, the sound is definately unique but still didn't quite give me the presence I felt I wanted.
As for the ride, even with comfort mode engaged the rive is bone jarringly hard, tramlining over every rut. Oh and their not as fast by A LOT!
On the running costs front.
Although they may be slightly more reliable they also cost more to repair.... oh and just about everywhere has waiting lists. I think Verdi Ferrari have published servicing costs. The Mid Engined Fezzers are a real pain.
It's a bit of a personal thing, I guess you'll find out when you test drive it. What about a RUF? or 993 turbo x50.
>> Edited by cerealsurfer on Friday 13th May 22:28
)
cerealsurfer said:
Oh and a Fezzer move is OK!!!!
Yeah, Fezza road presence is in similar territory as our cerbies... come one you gotta admit, line a porkie up with a fezza and a cerb.... the porkie gets a glance, the fezza gets a stare, the cerbie gets a wolf whistle and a lap dance followed by a good wax...
Getting vaguely back on topic, I thought one of the other main reasons for the AJP8 was the demise of the Rover V8 - there was a time towards the end of the 80s when Rover no longer used it, only Landie, and then of course BMW bought out Rover and introduced their own 4.4V8 for the Rangie.
Just a thought, but I read that Wheeler was concerned about being held hostage over an engine so decided to tread his own path - which started with the AJP8 (yes for racing too, a double whammy) and ultimately led to the Sp6, thus replacing the RV8 entirely.
Just a thought, but I read that Wheeler was concerned about being held hostage over an engine so decided to tread his own path - which started with the AJP8 (yes for racing too, a double whammy) and ultimately led to the Sp6, thus replacing the RV8 entirely.
redleicester said:
Getting vaguely back on topic, I thought one of the other main reasons for the AJP8 was the demise of the Rover V8 - there was a time towards the end of the 80s when Rover no longer used it, only Landie, and then of course BMW bought out Rover and introduced their own 4.4V8 for the Rangie.
Just a thought, but I read that Wheeler was concerned about being held hostage over an engine so decided to tread his own path - which started with the AJP8 (yes for racing too, a double whammy) and ultimately led to the Sp6, thus replacing the RV8 entirely.
Quite right and the RV8 cannot be developed to produce the bhp figures of todays engines - 350bhp for a heavily modified engine is not good against a standard 4.2AJP.
Obviously the BMW takeover of rover was not in the interests of TVR, but that wasnt their main concern... If I remember correctly, Wheeler wanted to show that he could be 100% TVR and not a fancy bucket round an aging engine originally based upon the american counterpart. Plus the new emmissions legislations also played a part in this. Also dont forget, the AJP was out long before the BMW takeover took place.
Going all british was his game and to have his own engines was his aspiration, I believe he looked into this as soon as he took over from the Lillys, but it was only after the great success of the griff/chims era that the funding was in place to follow his dream. The rover takeover by BMW was not the main reason behind this, that was a catalyst behind the driving force for the Speed 6 engine - which in comparison to the AJPV8 - a very very different engine.
>> Edited by S-X-S on Saturday 14th May 15:22
Going all british was his game and to have his own engines was his aspiration, I believe he looked into this as soon as he took over from the Lillys, but it was only after the great success of the griff/chims era that the funding was in place to follow his dream. The rover takeover by BMW was not the main reason behind this, that was a catalyst behind the driving force for the Speed 6 engine - which in comparison to the AJPV8 - a very very different engine.
>> Edited by S-X-S on Saturday 14th May 15:22
[quote=s,one]
Fair point but let's not kid ourselves that Ferrari,s are 3 times more reliable or 3 times better put together.(still love one though)
Steve[/quote]
I agree Steve, but for TVR it was very ambitious and i'm very glad they did produce the AJP & S6, there aren't many company owners willing to gamble that amount of money, Peter Wheeler is a very brave man indeed.
2 sheds said:
Peter Wheeler had a passion to be like Ferrari, building most bits in house, great plan but Ferraris cost 3 times as much
Fair point but let's not kid ourselves that Ferrari,s are 3 times more reliable or 3 times better put together.(still love one though)
Steve[/quote]
I agree Steve, but for TVR it was very ambitious and i'm very glad they did produce the AJP & S6, there aren't many company owners willing to gamble that amount of money, Peter Wheeler is a very brave man indeed.
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