From 4.2 to 4.5 - First impressions

[jensena]

After a year with my 4.2, I've just bought a 4.5 and driven it home. My 4.2 was fully sorted, the new one was a private sale, so I'm still in that 'Oh my god, I hope this one is going to be OK' state !!

Driving wise it is very similar, the 4.2 engine was a lot more 'revvy', and had a with a very light throttle pedal. I find in the 4.5 is not as revvy, it has a more sort of 'solid' feel to it, doesnt rev as freely. Also I have to push a lot harder on the pedal, it feels as if someone is trying to stop me pushing it to the floor, is this normalDoes the 4.5 have a pedal that requires a bit more effort? Personally I think it might just be the cable needs replacing. I would welcome any views from others who have done the same.

[Toady1]

good to see this thread as i was thinking earlier what it would be like to go for a 4.5 next when funds allow! So would you say from reading so far then that the car isnt exactly any better? ie the 'better' brakes etc? Is it actually an upgrade or did you prefere the revvy 4.2? thats one thing i loved with mine!

[S1mon.]

Hi Alan. nice to see you yesterday, When i left you last night i met another Cerb on the way home on Thamesdown drive!!
The chap was more than willing to give it some beans on the way.
Met him at some traffic lights and he had just bought it that day!
And yes it was Liams old car (Toady)
What a coincidence

Must get my car sold ASAP

[jensena]

Hi Simon - See it's an omen, you have to get one mate :-)

Toady - Bit to early yet to say whether or not I prefer it the driving characteristics, I'm confident in my one, and the other one does need some work doing on it, but not too much I hope - fingers crossed. But I do like the revvy nature of the 4.2, I didnt really notice any difference in the brakes to be honest, I suppose it's a bit like on paper the 4.5 is quicker to 60, 3.9 vs 4.2 secs, but would anyone really notice that in real life?
I've had to put the new 4.5 into storage due to moving house and lack of space, so I wont be able to do anything till the 4.2 is sold - bit frustrating to say the least.

[Toady1]

s1mon - im just going to go and cry now! why did i have to sell it! he got a damn good price out of me for it too!

[jensena]

Cheer up Liam, on those lovely summer days that are coming up, you'll have a lovely Conservatory to sit in and relax, while the bloke you sold the car to will have to sit in that horrible leather cockpit with that awful noisy engine thingy in front of him - so cheer up! Hee hee :-)

[S1mon.]

It did sound very very nice, popping and banging

[keithyboy]

jensena said:

. . . Also I have to push a lot harder on the pedal, it feels as if someone is trying to stop me pushing it to the floor, is this normalDoes the 4.5 have a pedal that requires a bit more effort? Personally I think it might just be the cable needs replacing. I would welcome any views from others who have done the same.

When I bought my 4.5 I drove another back to back. The first one had a featherlight clutch and a heavy throttle pedal, whilst the one I actually bought had the reverse (and required a new clutch soon after!). It could be something as simple as a lighter or replacement return spring required or as you say a new cable.

[cramorra]

I had exactly the same impressions when I did comparing testdrives @ fernies---as I think the better "paper form" of the 4.5 does not make a big difference in real street life and for the better tuning options again the car is rocket already I bought a 4.2-- it feels lighter and more lively, the 4.5 more like a haevy car- what IT IS not:
however with all of them beeing very variable due to being handbuilt there will be probably others around??? However Simon @ Fernies also thinks the 4.2 is revier...