Are CERBERAS crap?
Discussion
Every few hours, on every day of every month, of every year someone posts on this forum with some type of problem, usually quite a major one thats going to cost alot to fix. Some poor buggers are on here every other day and everyone has been on here looking for help with some part of the car that has let them down.
It seems to me that these cars are not just fragile, but to be honest are poor beyond belief. Why do we stick up for them when at the end of the day most of us are scared to go more than a hundred miles without a tool kit and every other just in case measure. I had a Ford Sierra 1.8 LX that was more reliable than this, and that really was crap.
Lets just face it - unless your bloody lucky, these cars are going to cost an arm and a leg and are going to let you down more often than is acceptable. It has to be said that "are these cars in fact crap !!!"
Still not selling mine though as it looks divine and sounds superb (when its working).
Ponderous thoughts MB :ranting:
It seems to me that these cars are not just fragile, but to be honest are poor beyond belief. Why do we stick up for them when at the end of the day most of us are scared to go more than a hundred miles without a tool kit and every other just in case measure. I had a Ford Sierra 1.8 LX that was more reliable than this, and that really was crap.
Lets just face it - unless your bloody lucky, these cars are going to cost an arm and a leg and are going to let you down more often than is acceptable. It has to be said that "are these cars in fact crap !!!"
Still not selling mine though as it looks divine and sounds superb (when its working).
Ponderous thoughts MB :ranting:
stupid question ...
1yr ownership ... major oil leak ... expensive service new clutch & slave ... aircon inop ... cracked manifolds ... hole in chassis and rest of power coating falling off ... new starter motor ...
GOD I LOVE IT TO BITS ...
am now taking to doing work myself ... concider it a bonding process ...
DAS
>> Edited by david smith on Tuesday 16th August 23:50
>> Edited by david smith on Thursday 18th August 19:25
1yr ownership ... major oil leak ... expensive service new clutch & slave ... aircon inop ... cracked manifolds ... hole in chassis and rest of power coating falling off ... new starter motor ...
GOD I LOVE IT TO BITS ...
am now taking to doing work myself ... concider it a bonding process ...
DAS
>> Edited by david smith on Tuesday 16th August 23:50
>> Edited by david smith on Thursday 18th August 19:25
The trouble is people only post in these forums if something goes wrong, or they have had a very good day out.
You do not hear of all the endless days of complete enjoyment that the cars give their owners, just getting to work, going shopping or picking up the kids from school.
I bet id you had the same dedicated owners forum for Ford Mundaino's you would feel that these cars too were indeed piles of poo.
eeerrrrr, bad example.
Hope you see my point.
P.S. I am going though a good patch at the moment (touches anything wood in the aera) but I have had some shite times too.
You do not hear of all the endless days of complete enjoyment that the cars give their owners, just getting to work, going shopping or picking up the kids from school.
I bet id you had the same dedicated owners forum for Ford Mundaino's you would feel that these cars too were indeed piles of poo.
eeerrrrr, bad example.
Hope you see my point.
P.S. I am going though a good patch at the moment (touches anything wood in the aera) but I have had some shite times too.
Having blasted around in quite a few top rides.....
The Presence, Feel and Love Cerberas show their owners is only only topped by men to their women.
(And vice versa for Ph'etts)
Consider it character, charm and shear British Bloody Mindedness.
All the alternatives in comparison lack that soal and real owner involvement.
"But an Arm and a Leg" I hear you cry....
Well the best things in life are never easy and you can't say you didn't know when you purchased the car.
Sometimes it is so much doom and gloom, it can make things round here pretty sad.
How about showing some Luuurrrvvvveeee.... Our cars do!
The Presence, Feel and Love Cerberas show their owners is only only topped by men to their women.
(And vice versa for Ph'etts)
Consider it character, charm and shear British Bloody Mindedness.
All the alternatives in comparison lack that soal and real owner involvement.
"But an Arm and a Leg" I hear you cry....
Well the best things in life are never easy and you can't say you didn't know when you purchased the car.
Sometimes it is so much doom and gloom, it can make things round here pretty sad.
How about showing some Luuurrrvvvveeee.... Our cars do!
Well, there isnt anything more fun to upgrade to..... 
Nope, cant think of anything 
If you find something for £110k or so... actually, if you find anything with 4 wheels at any price, which is as much fun, let us know. At least we'll have something to aspire to. Which I dont. Its a funny feeling 
Its agreed that £3k a year is 'sometimes-but-not-always' needed to keep the car on the road, yearly. You could buy yourself TWO cerberas for the price of a McLarren F1 service. They're in the same league performance wise, and I know which Id rather have re: the fun factor. (Its not the McLarren)
The cerbera is somtimes problematic, and often in need of new parts. But Its a grin a minute. Literally. Ive had niggles, we all have, but none have broken the bank.
If you can afford the plus 3k annually (?) without grimacing (plus fuel, insurance, etc) then whats the problem? You own a piece of history, and it IS a grin a minute, right?
I drove a saggy a few weeks back. Liked it, but compared to the cerb in terms of fun factor, Id give it a 7/10. Its just not a cerb
Nope, cant think of anything If you find something for £110k or so... actually, if you find anything with 4 wheels at any price, which is as much fun, let us know. At least we'll have something to aspire to. Which I dont. Its a funny feeling Its agreed that £3k a year is 'sometimes-but-not-always' needed to keep the car on the road, yearly. You could buy yourself TWO cerberas for the price of a McLarren F1 service. They're in the same league performance wise, and I know which Id rather have re: the fun factor. (Its not the McLarren)
The cerbera is somtimes problematic, and often in need of new parts. But Its a grin a minute. Literally. Ive had niggles, we all have, but none have broken the bank.
If you can afford the plus 3k annually (?) without grimacing (plus fuel, insurance, etc) then whats the problem? You own a piece of history, and it IS a grin a minute, right?
I drove a saggy a few weeks back. Liked it, but compared to the cerb in terms of fun factor, Id give it a 7/10. Its just not a cerb
ALL TVRs ARE DRIVERS CARS.
A drivers car always requires your FULL unadulterated attention.
When they're running good, you feel good, when they're running bad, you feel bad, its the closest relationship to being married my friends.
In the process of ripping my baby to bits, the list of poor work/parts/wiring/gluing/welding/patching etc etc grew sooo long, I gave up keeping track.
Us owners, be it new/used, we have the luxury of owning cars which are as quick as the grand-daddy supers without the worries of a 60k engine rebuild or 5k services etc.
In my opinion - THATS A FECKIN DEAL AND A HALF!
Hip-hip...
TVR
Hip-hip...
TVR
Hip-hip...
TVR
Hip-hip...
TVR
A drivers car always requires your FULL unadulterated attention.
When they're running good, you feel good, when they're running bad, you feel bad, its the closest relationship to being married my friends.
In the process of ripping my baby to bits, the list of poor work/parts/wiring/gluing/welding/patching etc etc grew sooo long, I gave up keeping track.
Us owners, be it new/used, we have the luxury of owning cars which are as quick as the grand-daddy supers without the worries of a 60k engine rebuild or 5k services etc.
In my opinion - THATS A FECKIN DEAL AND A HALF!
Hip-hip...
TVR
Hip-hip...
TVR
Hip-hip...
TVR
Hip-hip...
TVR
cerealsurfer said:Dont encourage me, Ive consumed beeeeer tonight
Brilliant... more of the above please...
More Love....More Love....More Love....More Love....
Lets get some +ve feeling
THESE CARS ARE F***ing GREAT!!!!
As he said a piece of history.
Seriously though, as I said to a PHer over the phone the other day, what happens next? In 10 years, if we are lucky, there will still be a few low milage cerbs up for grabs, not yet run into the ground, we'll still be able to get our kicks the cerbera way, right? What comes after The Cerbera? I really dont know.
Nothing pops and bangs like a decatted AJP V8 with a sports stack. Its my god given right to be able to settle into the seat, button in and warm her up, and set off winding up the revs as I please, and dropping a few window shattering sonic booms out the arse end when I spy a gaggle of young ladies in Mini skirts on friday nights. Or a dog, a group of kids, an army of foreign students. Even a dog in a miniskirt
All in a way which will one day be illegal in years to come, regarding the volume and raucous sound. I put the pedal down other day, just stretching her legs a little, and a group of people just cheered spontaneously, a goooOnnn woooohoooo!! type 'england just scored' moment. I didnt see them, you just get this type of response, all the time, unexpectedly.
You'd have to be dragging blair on a rope and trailor hitch to rouse a similar response from onlookers, watching a fezza giving it large steam.
I can still remember 4 years ago, after a few kindly cebera owners agreed to take me for a spin, getting off the train, guessing which side of the tracks they would be waiting on, rounding the corner and thinking jesussss, there it is! And the same feeling looking at the cerb Id dreamt of, the low-miler well looked after yellow one I so wanted, which was squatted down chanting its own satanic rituals on the showroom floor that night, the one I spent far too long just staring at mesmerised when delivering the paperwork through the dealers showroom letterbox, whilst my girlfriend waited in her car.
Ive got used to the car, the abysmal turning circle, niggles, and initial jaw dropping "holy snotrags, is that thing legal" feelings I experienced when I bought it. But I re-live my first impressions through others. This weekend, a few guys begged me to leave the BBQ at my girlfriends house and walk them to my place, to show them my Cerb. I enjoyed 20 minutes of monalogue, "wow, this is a proper car, its so low such nice lines, it looks so evil..." before having to drag them back to the party.
There are good things in life, and great things. And truly great things. And truly great things with the magical X factor. And Im a very happy cerbera owner, hoping that just once more in my lifetime, I'll be lucky enough to discover one of those truly great things which also has the magical X factor. Like the Cerbera
It wont last forever, and money aside, I believe its just about the most fun money can buy. --------
I often wonder about others, and their preferences. Except nervous who we all know is gay
But what I wonder the most, is how much of a trade off is a Saggy, should you buy one and sell the cerb? Im an enthusiast and therefore biased, but its my belief that the cerb is king of all beasts. Old lions must die, and new packs and prides bring their own enthusiasm and life. Change is not a bad thing, but its this enthusiasts opinion that the Cerbera was the closest TVR ever got to perfection, as regards all things fun, and the ability to create your own weather.said:
Brilliant... more of the above please...
More Love....More Love....More Love....More Love....
Lets get some +ve feeling
THESE CARS ARE F***ing GREAT!!!!
As he said a piece of history.
Dont encourage me, Ive consumed beeeeer tonight
Seriously though, as I said to a PHer over the phone the other day, what happens next? In 10 years, if we are lucky, there will still be a few low milage cerbs up for grabs, not yet run into the ground, we'll still be able to get our kicks the cerbera way, right? What comes after The Cerbera? I really dont know.
Nothing pops and bangs like a decatted AJP V8 with a sports stack. Its my god given right to be able to settle into the seat, button in and warm her up, and set off winding up the revs as I please, and dropping a few window shattering sonic booms out the arse end when I spy a gaggle of young ladies in Mini skirts on friday nights. Or a dog, a group of kids, an army of foreign students. Even a dog in a miniskirt
I put the pedal down other day, just stretching her legs a little, and a group of people just cheered spontaneously, a goooOnnn woooohoooo!! type 'england just scored' moment. I didnt see them, you just get this type of response, all the time, unexpectedly.
You'd have to be dragging blair on a rope and trailor hitch to rouse a similar response from onlookers, watching a fezza giving it large steam.
I can still remember 4 years ago, after a few kindly cebera owners agreed to take me for a spin, getting off the train, guessing which side of the tracks they would be waiting on, rounding the corner and thinking jesussss, there it is! And the same feeling looking at the cerb Id dreamt of, the low-miler well looked after yellow one I so wanted, which was squatted down chanting its own satanic rituals on the showroom floor that night, the one I spent far too long just staring at mesmerised when delivering the paperwork through the dealers showroom letterbox, whilst my girlfriend waited in her car.
Ive got used to the car, the abysmal turning circle, niggles, and initial jaw dropping "holy snotrags, is that thing legal" feelings I experienced when I bought it. But I re-live my first impressions through others. This weekend, a few guys begged me to leave the BBQ at my girlfriends house and walk them to my place, to show them my Cerb. I enjoyed 20 minutes of monalogue, "wow, this is a proper car, its so low such nice lines, it looks so evil..." before having to drag them back to the party.
There are good things in life, and great things. And truly great things. And truly great things with the magical X factor. And Im a very happy cerbera owner, hoping that just once more in my lifetime, I'll be lucky enough to discover one of those truly great things which also has the magical X factor. Like the Cerbera
--------
I often wonder about others, and their preferences. Except nervous who we all know is gay
ooooo! ho dat den?
Phantom Cerbie driver!
Are CERBERAS crap?
Are you crazy!!
I agree with UK Bob on this one, I really can't think of many other cars I would rather own that the Cerbera. It has always been my dream car and thankfully the dream has come true, and apart from thinking I don't drive it enough, and maybe that is a waste, I love my car. Even if all I get to do most nights, is turn on the lights in the garage and look at her, that's enough! When I try and think of a car with 4 seats ( 2 for children under 12) with the looks, power, noise, individuality, rarity etc I just cannot really think of anything else. Yeah there are cars that are faster, handle better, more reliable etc, but as an overall package it can't be beaten. I have only had one car stopping incident in the car, and that was a starter motor, other than that there have been niggles, which although you can sometimes do without, it keeps you interested in the car and like others have said, feels more like a relationship! sad eh!
I am very lucky to have this car which is impressed upon me every time I take her for a drive!
Are you crazy!!
I agree with UK Bob on this one, I really can't think of many other cars I would rather own that the Cerbera. It has always been my dream car and thankfully the dream has come true, and apart from thinking I don't drive it enough, and maybe that is a waste, I love my car. Even if all I get to do most nights, is turn on the lights in the garage and look at her, that's enough! When I try and think of a car with 4 seats ( 2 for children under 12) with the looks, power, noise, individuality, rarity etc I just cannot really think of anything else. Yeah there are cars that are faster, handle better, more reliable etc, but as an overall package it can't be beaten. I have only had one car stopping incident in the car, and that was a starter motor, other than that there have been niggles, which although you can sometimes do without, it keeps you interested in the car and like others have said, feels more like a relationship! sad eh!
I am very lucky to have this car which is impressed upon me every time I take her for a drive!
marcus1970 said:
. I had a Ford Sierra 1.8 LX that was more reliable than this,
I've got a Ford Transit van at work & the missus has a 97 metro, neither of which have cost us a penny in four years,
Neither of which can do 60 in 4.2 seconds, neither do 180 mph, neither sound like the Cerb & not once has someone stopped me in the Metro & told me what a Beautiful car it is, can you rev the engine for me ?
In defence for the transvestite van, in 2001 it was the first of the new shape & I did find some old git looking at it
Are cerberas crap? well....
Moany negative part
I have had my 4.2 since the beginning of June this year. Second week I owned it took it to Le Mans, following 3 weeks spent back with the dealer fixing several minor but annoying problems.
Next battery started playing up which I have now replaced so a few more potential good weather trip opportunities lost.
Trip to Al Melling gig resulted in reoccurrence of a previous problem and a new one, smoke appearing through gear leaver gaiter on the way back, so yes you guessed it, back to dealer for another potential few weeks!
Firstly I should be grateful problems are fairly minor and covered by dealer goodwill and excellent after sales service, however I do wonder sometimes if I am mad buying such an expensive and unreliable, yes lets face it, toy! especially in the light of my TR6 which I sold earlier this year. The TR was eight years of unreliability, breakdowns, and probably several thousand pounds spent fixing it, even though I did a lot of the work myself, being to scared to go any distance on a hot day in case I encountered any traffic which may result in overheating followed and half an hour sitting with the bonnet open until I could restart her.
Friends just shake their heads and sigh, say I must be some kind of masochist!
Positive part
Before buying the Cerb test drove a variety of cars in my price bracket (more or less), couple of 3.8 fhc e-types, 964 911 with RS spec suspension and an Elise 2. All very nice and some probably more sensible, but I must admit that long, low snarling Cerb image just kept creeping back into my mind! I think the dealer knew when I first sat in her it was like selling candy to a baby! I think I am at the sart of another very physical relationship, will probably get to know some of her most intimate oily, rusty parts only too well,
I think what one has to bear in mind is they do have a whole load of problems, some serious, if you want an easy life of care free motoring then leave them alone, but what else can you buy for under 20k with that much performance and road presence. I was also rather chuffed to discovered, at the Melling lecture, the AJP8 is an engine with strong links and possibly shared DNA (to use a motoring journalist cliché) with the original jaguar XK220 super car, the Silk Cut Lemans Jaguar, Matras and of course a whole race series based around the AJP8 in the Tuscan challenge.
I think as time goes on the dedicated fan base and independent specialists will probably go some way to continue the improvement and de-bugging of the Cerbera. Just the knowledge base on this site has helped that process to a large extent and as we discover the source of more of the spares and if Steve Heath finishes his Cerb bible I think the future will be good for us enthusiasts.
Moany negative part
I have had my 4.2 since the beginning of June this year. Second week I owned it took it to Le Mans, following 3 weeks spent back with the dealer fixing several minor but annoying problems.
Next battery started playing up which I have now replaced so a few more potential good weather trip opportunities lost.
Trip to Al Melling gig resulted in reoccurrence of a previous problem and a new one, smoke appearing through gear leaver gaiter on the way back, so yes you guessed it, back to dealer for another potential few weeks!
Firstly I should be grateful problems are fairly minor and covered by dealer goodwill and excellent after sales service, however I do wonder sometimes if I am mad buying such an expensive and unreliable, yes lets face it, toy! especially in the light of my TR6 which I sold earlier this year. The TR was eight years of unreliability, breakdowns, and probably several thousand pounds spent fixing it, even though I did a lot of the work myself, being to scared to go any distance on a hot day in case I encountered any traffic which may result in overheating followed and half an hour sitting with the bonnet open until I could restart her.
Friends just shake their heads and sigh, say I must be some kind of masochist!
Positive part
Before buying the Cerb test drove a variety of cars in my price bracket (more or less), couple of 3.8 fhc e-types, 964 911 with RS spec suspension and an Elise 2. All very nice and some probably more sensible, but I must admit that long, low snarling Cerb image just kept creeping back into my mind! I think the dealer knew when I first sat in her it was like selling candy to a baby! I think I am at the sart of another very physical relationship, will probably get to know some of her most intimate oily, rusty parts only too well,
I think what one has to bear in mind is they do have a whole load of problems, some serious, if you want an easy life of care free motoring then leave them alone, but what else can you buy for under 20k with that much performance and road presence. I was also rather chuffed to discovered, at the Melling lecture, the AJP8 is an engine with strong links and possibly shared DNA (to use a motoring journalist cliché) with the original jaguar XK220 super car, the Silk Cut Lemans Jaguar, Matras and of course a whole race series based around the AJP8 in the Tuscan challenge.
I think as time goes on the dedicated fan base and independent specialists will probably go some way to continue the improvement and de-bugging of the Cerbera. Just the knowledge base on this site has helped that process to a large extent and as we discover the source of more of the spares and if Steve Heath finishes his Cerb bible I think the future will be good for us enthusiasts.
I've had mine for almost 12 months now and, yes it has cost a bit to keep it in good condition (never let me down though). Would I change it for something else.....you must be joking. Still open the garage and just stare at it sitting there, and the grin factor when you have just found yet another excuse for getting in and driving down the road, the time I've wasted turning a quick trip to the shop into a 3 hour round trip.
CRAP more like perfection.
CRAP more like perfection.
Al's right that certainly is a proper car, and nearly as quick as my red rose if the blast up the A40 is anything to go by.
I have had mine about 4-5 month’s now.
Problems in that time.
Rear exhaust pipe fell off; it had been welded before and has been welded again, cost to fix nothing.
Warped rear disks, again free replacement.
Pas side electric mirror not working, will ask dealer to sort.
Cracked manifold, dealer sorting right now.
These are problems many others have also had. I do not see this s a problem, as others have said where can you get this type of performance for the money.
As UKBob says these cars are fantastic. You are driving a future classic no doubt about it.
The way these things get up to speed, the interior, the body work and of course the engine well what can I say.
This is the best car I have ever owned, every outing is an occasion.
With regard to the niggles, I feel that as we all like to keep our cars in tip top order then we will continually find little bits to sort, You could probably find little bits with any car if you chose to be fastidious about it. Ok you get things going wrong and once again as others have said supercar ownership does come at a price, and I for one feel this is a great deal.
Nick.
I have had mine about 4-5 month’s now.
Problems in that time.
Rear exhaust pipe fell off; it had been welded before and has been welded again, cost to fix nothing.
Warped rear disks, again free replacement.
Pas side electric mirror not working, will ask dealer to sort.
Cracked manifold, dealer sorting right now.
These are problems many others have also had. I do not see this s a problem, as others have said where can you get this type of performance for the money.
As UKBob says these cars are fantastic. You are driving a future classic no doubt about it.
The way these things get up to speed, the interior, the body work and of course the engine well what can I say.
This is the best car I have ever owned, every outing is an occasion.
With regard to the niggles, I feel that as we all like to keep our cars in tip top order then we will continually find little bits to sort, You could probably find little bits with any car if you chose to be fastidious about it. Ok you get things going wrong and once again as others have said supercar ownership does come at a price, and I for one feel this is a great deal.
Nick.
I thought this made intersting reading, currently on sale fot £50k on Autotrader
1991 LAMBORGHINI Diablo 5.7 V12, Trident Performance J reg. 31000 miles, RHD, UK car, FSH, stunning Pearlescent Yellow with Magnolia leather interior, rear spoiler, Tracker, Clifford alarm, just had £17,000 engine rebuild, full MOT, Taxed, warranty . . . . (trade)
From a car in 4.5 Cerb territory, performance wise
1991 LAMBORGHINI Diablo 5.7 V12, Trident Performance J reg. 31000 miles, RHD, UK car, FSH, stunning Pearlescent Yellow with Magnolia leather interior, rear spoiler, Tracker, Clifford alarm, just had £17,000 engine rebuild, full MOT, Taxed, warranty . . . . (trade)
From a car in 4.5 Cerb territory, performance wise
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