Looking for a Cerbera
Discussion
Ok, I have been thinking very hard about getting a Cerbera and am looking to buy one around the New Year.
I have about £16k to spend on a car and i have always wanted a TVR, therefore I am starting to look around and see whats on offer etc... I am thinking of buying one in the new year as my job will be more secure then (if you can say jobs are secure in the media these days) and it gives me time to start looking.
I need some advice as to what to look for, reliability, issues to check all the usual stuff.
I have been warned not to get a V8 pre 1999, is this the case, and S6 owners, how do you find them and if anyone has test driven all engine sizes can you post up letting me know what you found with regards to differences etc?
Thanks for reading this and all your help will be really appreciated.
I would add though, i am not looking right now as i need to sort out my situation , but i will be seriously looking come the new year.
[edited = as i do not want my personal stuff detracting from the main question at hand]
I have about £16k to spend on a car and i have always wanted a TVR, therefore I am starting to look around and see whats on offer etc... I am thinking of buying one in the new year as my job will be more secure then (if you can say jobs are secure in the media these days) and it gives me time to start looking.
I need some advice as to what to look for, reliability, issues to check all the usual stuff.
I have been warned not to get a V8 pre 1999, is this the case, and S6 owners, how do you find them and if anyone has test driven all engine sizes can you post up letting me know what you found with regards to differences etc?
Thanks for reading this and all your help will be really appreciated.
I would add though, i am not looking right now as i need to sort out my situation , but i will be seriously looking come the new year.
[edited = as i do not want my personal stuff detracting from the main question at hand]
Edited by sl114 on Thursday 3rd August 15:49
If you have a little more to spend, I have a really great Speed 6 which, due to arrival of two adopted children, I have sadly decided to sell as I simply do not have time nowadays to use it. I have only had it just over a year but since then I have had a new engine (including block), new clutch, new cats and it is going beautifully. Let me know if you may be interested although it is probably worth a bit more than £16k. Not sure where you are based but I am in Lancashire and can be contacted on 07976 555 423. Let me know.
Wooster said:
If you have a little more to spend, I have a really great Speed 6 which, due to arrival of two adopted children, I have sadly decided to sell as I simply do not have time nowadays to use it. I have only had it just over a year but since then I have had a new engine (including block), new clutch, new cats and it is going beautifully. Let me know if you may be interested although it is probably worth a bit more than £16k. Not sure where you are based but I am in Lancashire and can be contacted on 07976 555 423. Let me know.
Unfortuantly i am not looking for one right now and i am going on my current wages etc for the £16k which is maximum i can look at as insurance etc ups this a bit as i like to take into consideration all of this. Thanks for the offer though buddy
sl114 said:
Ok, I have been thinking very hard about getting a Cerbera and am looking to buy one around the New Year.
I have about £16k to spend on a car and i have always wanted a TVR, therefore I am starting to look around and see whats on offer etc... I am thinking of buying one in the new year as my job will be more secure then (if you can say jobs are secure in the media these days) and it gives me time to start looking.
I need some advice as to what to look for, reliability, issues to check all the usual stuff.
I have been warned not to get a V8 pre 1999, is this the case, and S6 owners, how do you find them and if anyone has test driven all engine sizes can you post up letting me know what you found with regards to differences etc?
Thanks for reading this and all your help will be really appreciated.
I would add though, i am not looking right now as i need to sort out my situation , but i will be seriously looking come the new year.
[edited = as i do not want my personal stuff detracting from the main question at hand]
I have about £16k to spend on a car and i have always wanted a TVR, therefore I am starting to look around and see whats on offer etc... I am thinking of buying one in the new year as my job will be more secure then (if you can say jobs are secure in the media these days) and it gives me time to start looking.
I need some advice as to what to look for, reliability, issues to check all the usual stuff.
I have been warned not to get a V8 pre 1999, is this the case, and S6 owners, how do you find them and if anyone has test driven all engine sizes can you post up letting me know what you found with regards to differences etc?
Thanks for reading this and all your help will be really appreciated.
I would add though, i am not looking right now as i need to sort out my situation , but i will be seriously looking come the new year.
[edited = as i do not want my personal stuff detracting from the main question at hand]
Edited by sl114 on Thursday 3rd August 15:49
The only issue i'm aware of is of a weak crank on some early 4.2's
(Edited due to bad editing) by me!
And again
Edited by headcase on Thursday 3rd August 17:00
And again wouldnt you think that there would be a preview button to use instead of continuose edditing
Edited by headcase on Thursday 3rd August 17:01
Edited by headcase on Thursday 3rd August 17:03
I wasn't aware of a V8 problem pre 99.
My advice, keep a spare credit card for running costs, anything from £500 a year for a service to ......well, mines booked in for another clutch & a new air con condenser on Sunday, that gets me up to £11,000 for the last 13 months
Beware of rotten chassis, 98 or older.
As for the rest, engine, clutch, gear box, can all work perfectly on your test drive, but be knackered the following day. Goes for all cars though
My advice, keep a spare credit card for running costs, anything from £500 a year for a service to ......well, mines booked in for another clutch & a new air con condenser on Sunday, that gets me up to £11,000 for the last 13 months
Beware of rotten chassis, 98 or older.
As for the rest, engine, clutch, gear box, can all work perfectly on your test drive, but be knackered the following day. Goes for all cars though
sl114 said:
mark r skinner said:
Things not going well at home? If you think a Cerb is a wife/GF substitute, you`re wrong. It`s the other way round! 
I know buddy, hence post edit as id like some info on the car really. Thanks But seriously! I think Russell`s right. There`s no guarentee of engine reliability with either of the AJPs or the S6. And that`s just the start. Various clutch and electronic problems are always high on the list of wallet-lighteners. Read this forum to find a long list of other headaches! Two things I would say are a MUST are a full service history and an inspection by an independant, like Rob Ingleby. Once you`ve run a Cerb for a bit, you`ll realise there`s more truth in my "joke" than you thought! 
big_treacle said:
One thing I found - I didn't like the letterbox windscreen on the older cars, so i saved a bit more and went for a 2000. Not sure what year they changed that though.
I did think that the windscreen area was small, but I soon got used to it and now don't even notice. I don't find it a problem and I wouldn't let it put you off buying a car...
MB
mark r skinner said:
sl114 said:
mark r skinner said:
Things not going well at home? If you think a Cerb is a wife/GF substitute, you`re wrong. It`s the other way round!
I know buddy, hence post edit as id like some info on the car really. Thanks But seriously! I think Russell`s right. There`s no guarentee of engine reliability with either of the AJPs or the S6. And that`s just the start. Various clutch and electronic problems are always high on the list of wallet-lighteners. Read this forum to find a long list of other headaches! Two things I would say are a MUST are a full service history and an inspection by an independant, like Rob Ingleby. Once you`ve run a Cerb for a bit, you`ll realise there`s more truth in my "joke" than you thought! Good advice there though mate. I really want a tvr as i have wanted one since i was 10, and i am nearly in the situation to get one. i am looking really for some great advice here as my other option is the 350z, which is no where near the performance looks or style as the Cerbera, but has reliability, but, i reliability aside, if its not that bad, then its a tvr for me!
I hope
lurkio said:
You only live once, get yourself a 4.5 Cerb now, get a really good one just under 22k, get out there, this is not a rehersal, live it fast cos it dont last !!!!!!
You know what, thats the best advice i have heard in a long time, but i do have to wait until after christmas, DOH!gazzab said:
Can you afford £3K pa for repairs and service?
Simple answer is yes to that. mark r skinner said:
Louis, just think of a Cerb as the best looking woman you`ve ever seen.
She wants a new (expensive) pair of shoes every day. It`s worth it when you get her into the sack, though! 
See the experience i have has is that those women are not all that in the sack She wants a new (expensive) pair of shoes every day. It`s worth it when you get her into the sack, though! On a serious note, i know exactly where you are coming from there
Edited by sl114 on Thursday 3rd August 18:24
RUSSELLM said:
I wasn't aware of a V8 problem pre 99.
There isnt a V8 problem pre 99!
RUSSELLM said:
Beware of rotten chassis, 98 or older.
I was told, on good authority, that very early Cerbs (with the chassis finished in silver rather than white) were made from better steel and have lasted a lot better than a lot of the 98 onwards ones!
So as has often been said, buy according to condition rather than age.
spartacus said:
RUSSELLM said:
I wasn't aware of a V8 problem pre 99.
There isnt a V8 problem pre 99!
RUSSELLM said:
Beware of rotten chassis, 98 or older.
I was told, on good authority, that very early Cerbs (with the chassis finished in silver rather than white) were made from better steel and have lasted a lot better than a lot of the 98 onwards ones!
So as has often been said, buy according to condition rather than age.
There isn't a problem with the V8's full stop.
All this weak crank crap has happened to one or two cars and keeps getting brought up over and over again so it sounds like a problem - but isn't. You could probably say that of the S6 engines aswell, but as the post above proves - you'll find an awful lot of S6 engines that's needed work, so there might be more truth in that.
As I haven't owned a S6 car, I can't comment but as for the 4.2/4.5, I've owned both and can honestly say there isn't a jot of difference between the two, they are both stonkingly powerful engines as standard. The 4.5 only gets the upper hand if you decide to start tuning it.
Don't be put off by age or mileage, go off how the owner has looked after it and how it's been used. I'd be very wary of a low mileage older car - it proves it hasn't been used often and could still have niggles to be sorted.
The most important point to make is make sure the owner warms up the engine before giving it big beans and lastly, learn as much as you can about them from owners at meet-ups, talk to owners and ask for advice. We're a friendly bunch and will gladly talk about them forever and will usually give you a spin.
Good luck in your search - p.s - Mines for sale aswell
All this weak crank crap has happened to one or two cars and keeps getting brought up over and over again so it sounds like a problem - but isn't. You could probably say that of the S6 engines aswell, but as the post above proves - you'll find an awful lot of S6 engines that's needed work, so there might be more truth in that.
As I haven't owned a S6 car, I can't comment but as for the 4.2/4.5, I've owned both and can honestly say there isn't a jot of difference between the two, they are both stonkingly powerful engines as standard. The 4.5 only gets the upper hand if you decide to start tuning it.
Don't be put off by age or mileage, go off how the owner has looked after it and how it's been used. I'd be very wary of a low mileage older car - it proves it hasn't been used often and could still have niggles to be sorted.
The most important point to make is make sure the owner warms up the engine before giving it big beans and lastly, learn as much as you can about them from owners at meet-ups, talk to owners and ask for advice. We're a friendly bunch and will gladly talk about them forever and will usually give you a spin.
Good luck in your search - p.s - Mines for sale aswell
Byff said:
There isn't a problem with the V8's full stop.
All this weak crank crap has happened to one or two cars and keeps getting brought up over and over again so it sounds like a problem - but isn't. You could probably say that of the S6 engines aswell, but as the post above proves - you'll find an awful lot of S6 engines that's needed work, so there might be more truth in that.
As I haven't owned a S6 car, I can't comment but as for the 4.2/4.5, I've owned both and can honestly say there isn't a jot of difference between the two, they are both stonkingly powerful engines as standard. The 4.5 only gets the upper hand if you decide to start tuning it.
Don't be put off by age or mileage, go off how the owner has looked after it and how it's been used. I'd be very wary of a low mileage older car - it proves it hasn't been used often and could still have niggles to be sorted.
The most important point to make is make sure the owner warms up the engine before giving it big beans and lastly, learn as much as you can about them from owners at meet-ups, talk to owners and ask for advice. We're a friendly bunch and will gladly talk about them forever and will usually give you a spin.
Good luck in your search - p.s - Mines for sale aswell
Thanks for this mate, really appreciate it, if you are doing any meets or anything around london you should let me know, id love to come along and get to speak to you all first hand etc...Plus, your car is stunning, i just wish i had the money now All this weak crank crap has happened to one or two cars and keeps getting brought up over and over again so it sounds like a problem - but isn't. You could probably say that of the S6 engines aswell, but as the post above proves - you'll find an awful lot of S6 engines that's needed work, so there might be more truth in that.
As I haven't owned a S6 car, I can't comment but as for the 4.2/4.5, I've owned both and can honestly say there isn't a jot of difference between the two, they are both stonkingly powerful engines as standard. The 4.5 only gets the upper hand if you decide to start tuning it.
Don't be put off by age or mileage, go off how the owner has looked after it and how it's been used. I'd be very wary of a low mileage older car - it proves it hasn't been used often and could still have niggles to be sorted.
The most important point to make is make sure the owner warms up the engine before giving it big beans and lastly, learn as much as you can about them from owners at meet-ups, talk to owners and ask for advice. We're a friendly bunch and will gladly talk about them forever and will usually give you a spin.
Good luck in your search - p.s - Mines for sale aswell
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