Cerby 4.2 - my 4th TVR. Advice please....
Cerby 4.2 - my 4th TVR. Advice please....
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Discussion

plipton

Original Poster:

1,302 posts

287 months

Saturday 31st December 2005
quotequote all
Greetings to all.

I am seriously considering buying a 99 S reg 4.2 Cerby I've been offered but have no experience of that particular motor (or the model). What I do know is the AJP V8s sound awesome and the car looks fantastic

It's done about 22000 miles, has a sports (noisy) exhaust (coz the standard ones are too quiet.....yeah right), FTVRSH and looks in almost perfect nick but having had a Tussy AJP S6 go "pop" at 6000 miles and remembering last year when a mate's Cerby 4.2's crank snapped at 53000 miles I'm a little wary to say the least.

I know TVRs are not mass produced and will never be built like Hondas/VWs and the motors won't last 100000 miles without any problems but if anyone can give me any (sensible) advise it would be very welcome.

My main concerns are;
Mechanical reliability
Cost of maintenance
Electrical problems
Leaks
Bits that fall off
Spurious other faults that owners have suffered.

Ta

Plipton

purpleheadedcerb

1,143 posts

251 months

Saturday 31st December 2005
quotequote all
You said, "Sounds awesome, looks fantastic."

All I would add is that they go as quick as they sound and look. Worry about the other things if they happen. Get the £50 AA breakdown warranty and it should relieve the strees on the wallet if one of the expected things breaks down.

The car you mention sounds fairly low mileage so be prepared to work through niggles that haven't been sorted yet. Only going by what others have said on here. 2 months of ownership and I'm loving every minute. Couple of horror stories mentioned by others but on balance there seems to be more people enjoying rather than regretting.

HNY.

Scott

leebus

170 posts

256 months

Sunday 1st January 2006
quotequote all
go with your instinct!
that means get it checked out by a indipendent specialist and buy it!
ive had griffs, chimearas, m3s, evos, cosworths, 911turbos,etc etc and the cerb is the best in everyway shape and form!
as for cost, look at it like this! "everything in life thats good costs money"
just go steady in it untill you get used to it, it is a WOLF IN WOLFS CLOTHING

raf dug

3,515 posts

283 months

Sunday 1st January 2006
quotequote all
Go for it,had mine 10 days now and driven it every day I love it.I'm working tonight but I don't care because I get to drive It to work and whilst I have to go to bala and the west welsh coast for 12 hours at work, i will be looking forward To driving my baby home

plipton

Original Poster:

1,302 posts

287 months

Thursday 12th January 2006
quotequote all
Thanks for you replies.

I think I've made up my mind.....but then again there's a nice Tuscan S for sale in cklassifieds......Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrghh

igg

273 posts

289 months

Thursday 12th January 2006
quotequote all
I think you should go for it (but obviously after you've had it checked over)

I've never had a TVR,although I've wanted once ever since the wedges came out and I was old enough to drive one, however the one I will have to sample is the Cerbera - they look very cheap for the performance, look absolutely sensational and what else can you get that seats 4(ok 2plus2), and looks and sounds like one?

I plan to get one in a years time for the run to Le Mans and back (hopefully ), and wish it could be this year, but got a few things to sort out on the marriage front first - so this year I'll be heading down to Le Mans at a steady 60mph in my Teal Bugatti type 35 look-a-like as usual!

Igg

gazzab

21,633 posts

311 months

Thursday 12th January 2006
quotequote all
igg said:
I think you should go for it (but obviously after you've had it checked over)

I've never had a TVR,although I've wanted once ever since the wedges came out and I was old enough to drive one, however the one I will have to sample is the Cerbera - they look very cheap for the performance, look absolutely sensational and what else can you get that seats 4(ok 2plus2), and looks and sounds like one?

I plan to get one in a years time for the run to Le Mans and back (hopefully ), and wish it could be this year, but got a few things to sort out on the marriage front first - so this year I'll be heading down to Le Mans at a steady 60mph in my Teal Bugatti type 35 look-a-like as usual!

Igg

Think I saw your car last yr in LE Mans. If my memory serves me right I saw that car parked up in the town on parade night?

igg

273 posts

289 months

Thursday 12th January 2006
quotequote all
Didn't make it last year - there is (should be) a photo of my car on my profile. Dark Blue, 18"wire wheels and LOUD!
Igg

plipton

Original Poster:

1,302 posts

287 months

Thursday 12th January 2006
quotequote all
igg said:
Didn't make it last year - there is (should be) a photo of my car on my profile. Dark Blue, 18"wire wheels and LOUD!
Igg


Nice car. Is that the Beetle based version?

Igg

273 posts

289 months

Thursday 12th January 2006
quotequote all
Thanks!

But no, it's not the beetle version. Beetle version sits too high off the ground and has engine in the wrong place (in my humble opinion) - plus they tend to be GRP. I wanted something that sat at about the same height ie: quite low, and had an alloy body as I just love the detailing which is difficult to get in GRP.

The engine is a blueprinted straight 6 2.5L from a Triumph. I run it on cross plies to give a more 'authenic' driving experience and it scares the **** out of most people who come for a ride - can't think why

Igg
PS. Will be at Le Mans this year - we go every 2 years so perhaps see you there this time!

darreni

4,520 posts

299 months

Friday 13th January 2006
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Rick, long time no speak!
mail me if you want a chat about cerbs, & my crank snapping was two and a half years ago, believe it or not!

Darren.

plipton

Original Poster:

1,302 posts

287 months

Friday 13th January 2006
quotequote all
Hi Darren,

Blimey is it that long ago!! What are you driving now?

That Cerby's been sold but I have my eye on a Tussy S now. Ah, well....what are banks for if it isn't lending oodles of cash to 10 year old boys (with 30 extra years on the clock)

Rick

darreni

4,520 posts

299 months

Friday 13th January 2006
quotequote all
Rick, i've still got the Audi RS2, though i'm sort of looking for a jag XKR.
Wot you got?, last i heard it was the VX220 turbo?

Must get myself along to the next meet i think.

plipton

Original Poster:

1,302 posts

287 months

Friday 13th January 2006
quotequote all
VX was sold about 9 months ago. It was really good fun but my knees are too old and knackered to struggle in and out of it all the time.

I'm driving a 335 BHP STi Impreza these days - almost a family car. Arrrrgggghhhh!!!
The current plan is to sell it and get another Tiv.

Is this a sensible idea?? No.
Do I care?......... when have I been known to be sinsible??

We must catch up soon. I'm away for this month's meet (taking the STi skiing) but hope to turn up to the the next meet in something shiny

Rick

nsparey

926 posts

280 months

Friday 13th January 2006
quotequote all
plipton said:
Thanks for you replies.

I think I've made up my mind.....but then again there's a nice Tuscan S for sale in cklassifieds......Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrghh



Dont do it, Tuscan S is no comparison to the Cerb, as you have had a Tuscan before, you should be able to see why TVR reconed the Cerb cost too much to build! They say the 4.2 is as quick as the 4.5 so in that case the Cerb will leave the Tuscan S for dead, not to mention that unlike the Tuscan (if my 04 S was anything to go by) the Cerb wont try to kill you every time you get to a decent bend. Go for it.

plipton

Original Poster:

1,302 posts

287 months

Friday 13th January 2006
quotequote all
nsparey said:


Dont do it, Tuscan S is no comparison to the Cerb, as you have had a Tuscan before, you should be able to see why TVR reconed the Cerb cost too much to build! They say the 4.2 is as quick as the 4.5 so in that case the Cerb will leave the Tuscan S for dead, not to mention that unlike the Tuscan (if my 04 S was anything to go by) the Cerb wont try to kill you every time you get to a decent bend. Go for it.



Oooooh replex charcoal. Very tasty. Do you think the remap may have hindered progress? Mine was 380BHP and on a steady throttle was pretty good in bends. Nail it though and it'd start pointing in various directions. Fun...but in a buttock clenching way.

nsparey

926 posts

280 months

Saturday 14th January 2006
quotequote all
plipton said:
nsparey said:


Dont do it, Tuscan S is no comparison to the Cerb, as you have had a Tuscan before, you should be able to see why TVR reconed the Cerb cost too much to build! They say the 4.2 is as quick as the 4.5 so in that case the Cerb will leave the Tuscan S for dead, not to mention that unlike the Tuscan (if my 04 S was anything to go by) the Cerb wont try to kill you every time you get to a decent bend. Go for it.



Oooooh replex charcoal. Very tasty. Do you think the remap may have hindered progress? Mine was 380BHP and on a steady throttle was pretty good in bends. Nail it though and it'd start pointing in various directions. Fun...but in a buttock clenching way.


Nah, shorter wheelbase, silly quick steering and nasty tramlining front end. MII was quite the opposite, numb and uniformative wich is why I bought the Cerb, does make you wonder when they got the steering so right, how they got it so wrong (twice IMHO)on the Tusc!