Chim to Cerby?
Discussion
OK, so until 3pm this afternoon, I was in love with my Chim 500. Sunny day, shiny car, roof down, open roads etc. You get the picture.
At 3pm, Drew at Fernhurst Motor Co let me drive a 51-plate 4.5 Cerb lightweight with 6600 miles on the clock. Holy crap!
I'm smitten - I think. While it actually felt like it was lacking in torque compared with the Chim, I only had to look at the speedo a couple of times, and it was reading 25mph more that I would have guessed. And the handling - peachy. But most of all the looks.
Needless to say, I am seriously interested in buying it. So - my question - anyone else gone from Chim to Cerb? Did you regret it?
Are they really as expensive to run as everyone says?
SHOULD I DO IT???
At 3pm, Drew at Fernhurst Motor Co let me drive a 51-plate 4.5 Cerb lightweight with 6600 miles on the clock. Holy crap!
I'm smitten - I think. While it actually felt like it was lacking in torque compared with the Chim, I only had to look at the speedo a couple of times, and it was reading 25mph more that I would have guessed. And the handling - peachy. But most of all the looks.
Needless to say, I am seriously interested in buying it. So - my question - anyone else gone from Chim to Cerb? Did you regret it?
Are they really as expensive to run as everyone says?
SHOULD I DO IT???
Another here who made the change, 450 Chim to a 4.2 Cerb and no going back. I remember being shocked when I first drove the Cerb, it revved like a motorbike in comparison. Seems normal now so can only imagine the old Rover would feel woolly now. Costs can be big, no getting away from that one. Handling another level too, seems so much more resolved than the Chim, and I am still on standard shocks.
I really liked my Chim, but I love my Cerb, the way I feel at the moment is that I will always have it, sure I will have other cars but the Cerb won't go to make way for them. Just do it
I really liked my Chim, but I love my Cerb, the way I feel at the moment is that I will always have it, sure I will have other cars but the Cerb won't go to make way for them. Just do it
JUST DO IT!!!!
That car looks lovely, I saw it the other day when I was at Fernies. What work is needed on their workshop report, as I see it is being sold as an 'un-prepared' car? Is it mainly cosmetic? From a brief walk around it, the car looks to be in very good order generally.
I am sure Fernies will do whatever is needed at a very competitive price. They have that uncanny ability to make you feel like the car is 'brand new' when you get it back!
I bought my Cerb there after looking at many more recent cars (including a '52' Plate 450LW at another dealer) that were not as good in terms of their general condition, particularly the underside and chassis which on my car are immaculate!
The main thing with running a Cerby is 'pre-emptive maintenance'. You need to deal with things as and when they crop up rather than leave them and end up with a major failure and a big bill, although this is the case with any TVR or performance car. A Cerb (like any TVR) also benefits from regular use. I use mine almost every day! Other than a few minor niggles, the only problem I have had is when the clutch started to fail, so had that changed and it is fine now.
Mechanically they are strong, just make sure you regularly check the oil and coolant levels, the main glitches can be with the electrics, so make sure you check that everything works as it should with 'repeated' tests and you should be fine. Also the main reason a/c fails is because people don't use it and seals dry out or pipes fracture etc. As with the car, use it regularly and you should be fine.
Best of luck!
Cerby4.5
Fernhursts are great people to deal with, and I am sure that you will enjoy the 'migration' over to a Cerbera.
That car looks lovely, I saw it the other day when I was at Fernies. What work is needed on their workshop report, as I see it is being sold as an 'un-prepared' car? Is it mainly cosmetic? From a brief walk around it, the car looks to be in very good order generally.
I am sure Fernies will do whatever is needed at a very competitive price. They have that uncanny ability to make you feel like the car is 'brand new' when you get it back!
I bought my Cerb there after looking at many more recent cars (including a '52' Plate 450LW at another dealer) that were not as good in terms of their general condition, particularly the underside and chassis which on my car are immaculate!
The main thing with running a Cerby is 'pre-emptive maintenance'. You need to deal with things as and when they crop up rather than leave them and end up with a major failure and a big bill, although this is the case with any TVR or performance car. A Cerb (like any TVR) also benefits from regular use. I use mine almost every day! Other than a few minor niggles, the only problem I have had is when the clutch started to fail, so had that changed and it is fine now.
Mechanically they are strong, just make sure you regularly check the oil and coolant levels, the main glitches can be with the electrics, so make sure you check that everything works as it should with 'repeated' tests and you should be fine. Also the main reason a/c fails is because people don't use it and seals dry out or pipes fracture etc. As with the car, use it regularly and you should be fine.
Best of luck!
Cerby4.5
Fernhursts are great people to deal with, and I am sure that you will enjoy the 'migration' over to a Cerbera.
Thanks to everyone - Concensus is GO FOR IT. I was up again this morning, and it looked every bit as seductive as yesterday. I also took a look at a silver 4.5 lightweight they have there. Not quite so tidy, but only 22K on the clock, and £5K less. Sports exhaust, which sounded fantastic for the first 5 minutes, then I think it would get wearing.
I would be using mine as a daily driver, and I would cover about 10-12K per year, based on Chim useage. But I sense the way I would use it would change - can't imagine going out in the Cerb to take advantage of a sunny day, as I do in the Chim BUT when I had the need for speed, I am sure the Cerb would quench the thirst better than the Chim.
Both the blue Cerb and the silver Cerb at Fernies had NOTHING on their workshop reports - Silver had a couple of areas where a bit of polish would help.
HELP - dont know what to do! I need to sleep on it a day or two...
I would be using mine as a daily driver, and I would cover about 10-12K per year, based on Chim useage. But I sense the way I would use it would change - can't imagine going out in the Cerb to take advantage of a sunny day, as I do in the Chim BUT when I had the need for speed, I am sure the Cerb would quench the thirst better than the Chim.
Both the blue Cerb and the silver Cerb at Fernies had NOTHING on their workshop reports - Silver had a couple of areas where a bit of polish would help.
HELP - dont know what to do! I need to sleep on it a day or two...
I personally would buy private. Fernies cars are not keenly priced. The warranty is really that fantastic. I always ask myself - if they can find so many cerbs then how do they ensure they are as tidy as I would like to think I could sort by using an indie to inspect a private deal.
Sports exhaust is a must! As is uprated suspension.
Sports exhaust is a must! As is uprated suspension.
gazzab said:
I personally would buy private. Fernies cars are not keenly priced. The warranty is really that fantastic. I always ask myself - if they can find so many cerbs then how do they ensure they are as tidy as I would like to think I could sort by using an indie to inspect a private deal.
Sports exhaust is a must! As is uprated suspension.
Sports exhaust is a must! As is uprated suspension.
Why is a sports exhaust a must?
MB
marcus1970 said:
gazzab said:
I personally would buy private. Fernies cars are not keenly priced. The warranty is really that fantastic. I always ask myself - if they can find so many cerbs then how do they ensure they are as tidy as I would like to think I could sort by using an indie to inspect a private deal.
Sports exhaust is a must! As is uprated suspension.
Sports exhaust is a must! As is uprated suspension.
Why is a sports exhaust a must?
MB
I take it you havent got a sports exhaust?
What I mean is a standard exhaust with cats is a horrible sound - like a flymo.
A decatted standard exhaust is great.
A sports exhaust makes the car sound like a racer.
I went from a Chim to a 4.2 Cerb with a standard exhaust, and it sounded horrible, so I put on a sports exhaust and loved the sound.
I've just got a 4.5 with a Standard exhaust and to my amazement I prefer the sound, still plenty of pops and bangs, but a bit less of the 'Hey everyone - Look at me'.
Each to his own I guess but a standard 4.5 with a std exhaust still sounds good.
I've just got a 4.5 with a Standard exhaust and to my amazement I prefer the sound, still plenty of pops and bangs, but a bit less of the 'Hey everyone - Look at me'.
Each to his own I guess but a standard 4.5 with a std exhaust still sounds good.
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