considering buying a cerbera -
Discussion
I currently drive a Honda CTR and was looking for abit more muscle, drove an M3 E36 Evo coupe last nite, and for a reported 321bhp it didnt feel too hot, a TVR cerbera is now an option, but i am on a budget of around £13k, what should i look for in the higher mileage/ older cerberas? what engine is the best and most reliable/ cheaperest run day to day?
Iain
>> Edited by princeharry on Thursday 15th December 12:24
Iain
>> Edited by princeharry on Thursday 15th December 12:24
Hi PH,
Have a look through the last months worth of posts as there have been quite a few new owners who have asked exactly the same questions.
The figure generally given is budget 3k a year for servicing and repairs (not inc insurance, fuel etc).
Inthe price bracket you are looking at, an earlyish 4.2 up to about 1998 will be the only option you have. That's no bad thing and performance between an unmodded 4.5 and 4.2 is pretty much the same.
Have you checked out the pistonheads classifieds yet?
Oh, I don't know how much an M3 weighs but I'm sure the power to weight of a cerbera is significantly more.
Scott
Have a look through the last months worth of posts as there have been quite a few new owners who have asked exactly the same questions.
The figure generally given is budget 3k a year for servicing and repairs (not inc insurance, fuel etc).
Inthe price bracket you are looking at, an earlyish 4.2 up to about 1998 will be the only option you have. That's no bad thing and performance between an unmodded 4.5 and 4.2 is pretty much the same.
Have you checked out the pistonheads classifieds yet?
Oh, I don't know how much an M3 weighs but I'm sure the power to weight of a cerbera is significantly more.
Scott
hello your highness 
13k is perhaps a little low - there may be a few speed six's and some CAT repairs around that mark, but a few extra £k would help you get a better one.
best thing is to do a search on this forum, because as PHC says there have been plenty of new owner threads lately.
my only other piece of advice would be 'go for it!' you won't regret it
Oh, and get a yellow one too :0
13k is perhaps a little low - there may be a few speed six's and some CAT repairs around that mark, but a few extra £k would help you get a better one.
best thing is to do a search on this forum, because as PHC says there have been plenty of new owner threads lately.
my only other piece of advice would be 'go for it!' you won't regret it
Oh, and get a yellow one too :0
My car was sourced from ebay but did a deal outside of ebay. Swapped a Mini worth about 11k with 2.5k on top for it. It's by no means a dog let alone a CAT (haha!) and has all the correct stamps. Only thing that has gone wrong so far is my wiper problem. Its been used every day and we have done just over 2000 miles in it since we got it 2 months ago.
At this time of year you are more likely to find someone who will sell their normally 15k car for 13k especially if they need the cash desperately and especially as dealers will be only be offering 11k for that sort of car.
Don't be put off, they really are great cars but you do have to accept gazzab's estimate on maintenance. If that seems steep then don't even consider one.
Scott
At this time of year you are more likely to find someone who will sell their normally 15k car for 13k especially if they need the cash desperately and especially as dealers will be only be offering 11k for that sort of car.
Don't be put off, they really are great cars but you do have to accept gazzab's estimate on maintenance. If that seems steep then don't even consider one.
Scott
www.pistonheads.com/sales/58519.htm
I agree, £3k, a year spare should stop you from sweating / putting your backside up for hire
edited to add, that one's had seven owners.
>> Edited by RUSSELLM on Thursday 15th December 15:03
I agree, £3k, a year spare should stop you from sweating / putting your backside up for hire
edited to add, that one's had seven owners.
>> Edited by RUSSELLM on Thursday 15th December 15:03
do not skint on the car- you ll spend alot more in one hit when it goes in for a service!!,,,spend £15+k ,,and make sure its checked!!!!..
otherwise you could have a very, very, large bill!!...
saying that, its the most fun car i have ever bought! and like most people ive had a few,,,,,,,,
...check manifold gaskets!
check clutch!
discs/pads!
happy buying!
otherwise you could have a very, very, large bill!!...
saying that, its the most fun car i have ever bought! and like most people ive had a few,,,,,,,,
...check manifold gaskets!
check clutch!
discs/pads!
happy buying!
how do you guys come up with the 3k budget? wat all can go wrong? rebuild every year?
I mean usual wear and tear couldnt add up to that much, im alittle worried about this cos with me being out in NI sourcing parts and specialists mechanics could also be a problem!
i mean its the ignorance, mucsle, sound & performance i love about TVR's and would like to own one, not just ready for a refined, comfortable, boring motor just yet!
I mean usual wear and tear couldnt add up to that much, im alittle worried about this cos with me being out in NI sourcing parts and specialists mechanics could also be a problem!
i mean its the ignorance, mucsle, sound & performance i love about TVR's and would like to own one, not just ready for a refined, comfortable, boring motor just yet!
3K is a very easy budget to hit in one year..... servicing if you use it everyday will be 500+ quid for a 12K service 6K services cost 300+quid, When it goes in for a service believe me, they will find lots of perished rubber bits and they all add up, tyres seem to melt over night 
and the nyou have the little odds and sods that will just break!
I have just spent 200quid getting my buttons on my steering wheel sorted because I replaced the whole rig up on it including the control box! that doesn't include labour because I did it myself!
These cars have underrated parts in them for what of a better description, they are built with parts that couldn't stand the job properly I think and that's why EVERYTHING on the car is upgradable!
My car has 32K on the clock, it's a 4.2 P plate and I have reciepts for over 17.5K quid.... that's alot of work on a car that has only covered 32K as you would agree (this does include a Full TVR AJP rebuild though)
Buy one mate, it is the best car I have every owned and I have had some exciting cars in the past!
and the nyou have the little odds and sods that will just break! I have just spent 200quid getting my buttons on my steering wheel sorted because I replaced the whole rig up on it including the control box! that doesn't include labour because I did it myself!
These cars have underrated parts in them for what of a better description, they are built with parts that couldn't stand the job properly I think and that's why EVERYTHING on the car is upgradable!
My car has 32K on the clock, it's a 4.2 P plate and I have reciepts for over 17.5K quid.... that's alot of work on a car that has only covered 32K as you would agree (this does include a Full TVR AJP rebuild though)
Buy one mate, it is the best car I have every owned and I have had some exciting cars in the past!
i can imagine how good a car these would be and how much fun i could have in one, but the repair bills really are scaring me!
at 21yrs old i dont think i could let myself in for it! used to driving fast cars myself, and need sumthing with some propper (CC) go and grunt!
Im going to go and drive one anyways and see what i make of it!
has anyone else anyother suggestions for me motor wise?
Iain
at 21yrs old i dont think i could let myself in for it! used to driving fast cars myself, and need sumthing with some propper (CC) go and grunt!
Im going to go and drive one anyways and see what i make of it!
has anyone else anyother suggestions for me motor wise?
Iain
princeharry said:
i can imagine how good a car these would be and how much fun i could have in one, but the repair bills really are scaring me!
at 21yrs old i dont think i could let myself in for it! used to driving fast cars myself, and need sumthing with some propper (CC) go and grunt!
Im going to go and drive one anyways and see what i make of it!
has anyone else anyother suggestions for me motor wise?
Iain
Try insurace quotes first for 21 year old PRINCE...
If 12k, is your budget & you want lower running costs, why don't you have a look at the Chims,
With the Cerb, you could get lucky & have absolutely nothing go wrong with it or you could end up with it sat on the drive looking pretty but unable to drive it due to lack of funds.
Remember that most places are going to charge around £40 an hour plus vat to work on it, tyres £100 a corner, clutch £1000 fitted, servicing, pads, discs (they're cheap), the occasional leak, the well made exhaust system that it doesn't come with.......
New film...The good, the bad & the beautiful
With the Cerb, you could get lucky & have absolutely nothing go wrong with it or you could end up with it sat on the drive looking pretty but unable to drive it due to lack of funds.
Remember that most places are going to charge around £40 an hour plus vat to work on it, tyres £100 a corner, clutch £1000 fitted, servicing, pads, discs (they're cheap
), the occasional leak, the well made exhaust system that it doesn't come with....... New film...The good, the bad & the beautiful
if you search hard enough then you can get a good eaarly one for the 13k mark! believe me...i know! i went from a 320bhp pulsar to the cerb (still got the pulsar) and believe me, the cerb is madness compared to it! I think my R would be all over the cerbs rear end tbh, but the driving experience and fun factor is SO much bigger! its so much fun to have a proper sports car that you can just dab the throttle to slide the rear end out! Its a very scary car to drive at this time of year, and if you're taking one out for a test drive, be carefull. They have SO much low down torque that if your going from a ctr you will not be used to it at all!
Also the fuel consumption is far greater than my R! I worked out the other day i was ave around 15mpg. Ive so far got around 250 miles to a full tank (60quids worth)! It'll be a much more expensive car to run than the civic, but so much more fun, plus ctr's are SO popular now!!!
The cerb is such a good fun car to own despite the reputation they have! which doesnt do them much good, and i think the majority of people that spread the bollox have never owned one!!! Dont buy one tho if your shy, or dont like people staring at you!lol!
Buy on general condition, and if you dont know much about cerbies get someone local who does to help you look!
Do it mate!!!!!
Also the fuel consumption is far greater than my R! I worked out the other day i was ave around 15mpg. Ive so far got around 250 miles to a full tank (60quids worth)! It'll be a much more expensive car to run than the civic, but so much more fun, plus ctr's are SO popular now!!!
The cerb is such a good fun car to own despite the reputation they have! which doesnt do them much good, and i think the majority of people that spread the bollox have never owned one!!! Dont buy one tho if your shy, or dont like people staring at you!lol!
Buy on general condition, and if you dont know much about cerbies get someone local who does to help you look!
Do it mate!!!!!
oh and btw, i had a great laugh last week when i met up with a mate in his elise and his mate in his M3 coupe. We all went for a leisurely convoy drive, and guess what car got the most looks when driving through Rye high street with the sports exhaust bouncing its notes off the shops either side of us!!!lol! plus i had to take them both out in the cerb afterwards, and having aready been in the elise a few times i had to go out in the m3 to see what it was like, it felt SO slow and boring to the cerb, and didnt rev anywhere near like the 4.2ajp in mine!!! and nowhere near as responsive either!
oh, and did i say......get a cerb!!!
>> Edited by Toady1 on Thursday 15th December 17:17
oh, and did i say......get a cerb!!!
>> Edited by Toady1 on Thursday 15th December 17:17
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