Opinions on Speed Six Cerbera

[harry henderson]

I'm looking to get back in to a TVR early summer and would be grateful of opinions from owners. I used to have a 4.2 Cerb which I had for about 3 years and loved it. However, it was a very early car and I was always worried about it going bang due to stories about the small journal crank and engine parts being relatively scarse.
This time I was thinking about the Speed Six variant so if anyone could give me an insight into them that would great. Thanks in advance.

[ukkid35]

Because of the number of SpeedSix engined cars across the entire TVR model range, I reckon you are unlikely to experience the sort of issues that AJP8 owners may

However, that is a price I am willing to pay myself

It doesn't explain the fact that two frequently needed components used by SpeedSix engined cars have been NLA for several years

• T5WC 5th Gear Set
• Blue Throttle pots

https://partsfortvrs.com/tvr-parts/part-details/tv...
https://partsfortvrs.com/tvr-parts/part-details/tv...

[DCerebrate]

I’ve had mine for 6 years now. Many of the issues with the car would be common to both v8 and speed6 - ageing electrics, chassis rust, slave cylinder etc. the speed6 doesn’t have the ultimate power of the v8 but it is still plenty for the road, and it has an outstanding soundtrack and sense of theatre. Look for one that has been regularly serviced by one of the top marque specialists.

[harry henderson]

Thanks for the insight. There's a good looking one advertised on here, a 2000 car with less than 30,000 miles but no mention of any sort of rebuild. Is it a given that it will need a rebuild or are some more durable than others?

Edited by harry henderson on Wednesday 9th February 17:13

[RedSpike66]

A large percentage of Speed6 engined cars have had at least one rebuild. The situation has improved massively since the factory rebuild issues and many Speed6 owners have had many happy miles post-rebuild with the many specialists out there who can do the job very well with the proper components... Ian at TrackVRoad, Dom, Jason etc.

i would advise to factor in the potential cost of a rebuild if no trace of a quality rebuild since leaving the factory - anything from £4k upwards I suppose depending on how exotic parts you go for - and probably buy a car that meets all your other requirements first, like inside and outside colour, chassis condition, mileage, provenance of ownership, maintenance etc.

At the end of the day, it is a great engine once sorted !

Hope that helps
Mike

[harry henderson]

Thanks for the advice. I have noticed on a few Tuscan ads where they mention a recent Powers rebuild. Hopefully a few more cars will become available as we move towards summer.

[Speed 3]

Given the Cerb was the first application of the S6 and then went out of production before the T cars did, it is safe to assume (IMO) that any Cerb S6 needs a rebuild if not already done (and I don't mean factory rebuilds). Not sure any of the current respected rebuilders could do it for anything like £4k, more like £8-9k AIUI.

[fullpull]

I have had my late 2004 S6 Cerbera since 2009. Great, reliable car with very low maintenance cost. No engine rebuild needed so far. Just an annual tune-up done by a specialist.

[Byker28i]

...and my 97 4.2 AJP had the small crank and did 60K miles before needing engine work, which included several trackdays. Only reason I went the rebuild route was because the valve guides were worn, losing some compression. It was converted to large bearing crank because noone would warrenty it otherwise.

But then if you're looking at 2000 cars, you wouldn't be looking at those issues, so I wouldn't write off AJP cars from your search...

[harry henderson]

I'm not knocking the V8 Cerbera in any way, had mine for 3 years and engine wise it was spot on. My problem was a bit of anxiety about it going wrong. From what I can see there seems to be a lot of support/new parts for the speed six if it goes wrong.
There seems to be a bit more choice with Tuscans that have Powers rebuilds for sale at the moment so I might have a look at those.

[Byker28i]

Yup, certainly I'd have no issues with a speed 6 engined car now.

[harry henderson]

With a speed six engine does it matter when they were built, as in is a later engine any more reliable than an early one? There are a couple of speed six powered cars from 2003 with low miles for sale so was just pondering.

[LucyP]

No. What matters is that it's had a rebuild and who rebuilt it. No rebuild, or not rebuilt by one of the recommended names that you will easily find on here, and run away from the car as fast as you can.

[Zeb74]

I know people having their original speed six and having no troubles with them. And they have miles, they have not sat in a garage.
So yes, the later the better but if it is original, the less mileage it has, the more doubtful it is.

[Speed 3]

There is some debate around specific timing but the factory did start fitting non-chocloate parts around 2003. If you think how many Tamora/T350/Sagaris/Tusc Mk2 are seen as complete liabilities (very few) you'll get the point. I had a last of line Mk1 late 2003/4 Tuscan and sold it at 60k+ on original unrebuilt engine with no signs of anything incoming.

[Jhonno]

Speed 3 said:

There is some debate around specific timing but the factory did start fitting non-chocloate parts around 2003. If you think how many Tamora/T350/Sagaris/Tusc Mk2 are seen as complete liabilities (very few) you'll get the point. I had a last of line Mk1 late 2003/4 Tuscan and sold it at 60k+ on original unrebuilt engine with no signs of anything incoming.

It was 2001 I believe..

[porterpainter]

At this stage, any SP 6 car that's done decent mileage will have had any potential engine implosions occur if they were going to (at least ones due to original build defects).

If a car has not been properly maintained / serviced, then definitely think twice about it... but rebuilds aren't an absolute necessity as Lucy seems to think.

[LucyP]

That 's just nonsense. The problem definitely was not solved in 2001, or 2003 either. Take off your rose tinted and look at the Speed Six Engine forum on here. There is thread after thread after thread on there about the problems. Just by way of example, the first one that you come to that has "rebuild" in the title is from 2018. The first post on it shows a T350 from 2004 that was needing it's 2nd rebuild.

[Zeb74]

LucyP said:

That 's just nonsense. The problem definitely was not solved in 2001, or 2003 either. Take off your rose tinted and look at the Speed Six Engine forum on here. There is thread after thread after thread on there about the problems. Just by way of example, the first one that you come to that has "rebuild" in the title is from 2018. The first post on it shows a T350 from 2004 that was needing it's 2nd rebuild.

Why people who have no issue with their S6 would have posted in this section?
I had a look at a medical forum and I can say that 100% of the population is suffering illness.

[LucyP]

Look up the meaning of the word "naive" sometime. It will help you in life.