Thinking of joining the ranks
Discussion
Hi all,
Currently looking at purchasing my first sports car and have found a few Cerberas that are both in my price range and fit my other requirements well. Could anyone recommend what to look for when visiting potential purchases and maybe any problems to look out for.
Also will the storage compartment hold a pair of laptop bags as i'll be looking to use the car as my daily commuter.
Many thanks
OLYC
Currently looking at purchasing my first sports car and have found a few Cerberas that are both in my price range and fit my other requirements well. Could anyone recommend what to look for when visiting potential purchases and maybe any problems to look out for.
Also will the storage compartment hold a pair of laptop bags as i'll be looking to use the car as my daily commuter.
Many thanks
OLYC
OLYC said:
Also will the storage compartment hold a pair of laptop bags
The boot is huge. OLYC said:
...i'll be looking to use the car as my daily commuter
and OLYC said:
...first sports car
and OLYC said:
...fit my other requirements well
Take a long, hard read of this forum and think even harder about i) owning a Cerbera as your first sports car and ii) using one as a daily commuter. I'm not saying it can't be done, but you need to go into it eyes wide open...
What's your budget?
What's your ¨commute¨
What is the impact to you if it doesn't start one morning and it takes days/weeks to get the parts to fix?
Depending upon your commute I'd advise buying an old car for work and use the Cerbera for occasional commutes and fun at nights and the weekend.
It can be done, but a TVR can and will go wrong (just expect it or it'll stress you out when it does happen), so have some backup.
Also bear in mind while the Cerb isn't difficult to drive the controls are a bit heavy, with an older clutch your left leg can ache somewhat on a stop/start commute, especially if you get to do the M25 on occasion.
It can be done, but a TVR can and will go wrong (just expect it or it'll stress you out when it does happen), so have some backup.
Also bear in mind while the Cerb isn't difficult to drive the controls are a bit heavy, with an older clutch your left leg can ache somewhat on a stop/start commute, especially if you get to do the M25 on occasion.
BCA said:
Hate to say this having just read this one post, but this car isnt for you yet.
Sorry.
Sorry.
I agree with you BCA !
A Cerb is a PetrolHeads car, an enthusuisasts car. Not long ago they were £50k cars, bought by people who could afford £50k cars, and chose a Cerb in preference to Porsche. Mercs, Ferraris etc because they loved the Cerb. As prices dropped they were bougt by real Petrol Heads. people who are really into cars, know about cars, but could never quite afford one, but now can (people like me). I kove TVR's, and loved the idea of owning an iconic British V8 supercar from a quirky independent british car manufacturer, and having a car of that could P**ss all over the other car exotica costing 5 times the price.
Now that some of them are getting to the 10-12k mark, people who have reached the age where car insurance becones cheaper, are looking around for cars to buy, and just happen to come across the fact that a Cerbera is within there price range, and what questions do they ask "Will I be able to fit my Laptop in the Storage cmpartment"
Oh God help us all !!!
OLYC said:
Also will the storage compartment hold a pair of laptop bags as i'll be looking to use the car as my daily commuter.
The storage compartment will comfortably hold a pair of desktops, never mind laptop bags. Then you'll be able to fit your shopping in from Marks & Spencer aswell, but you may have to put the bottles of Bolly on the back seats as the exhausts heat the boot up a bit.
BTW, I use mine as a commuter car, but I only work 3 days a week, so I don't think it really counts. As long as it's not stop/start traffic for two hours, it should be ok. My commute is 20 minutes, 10 minutes of 30mph and 10 minutes of motorway to let her stretch her legs.
In 1998 I was talked out of buying a Cerb. It was a mistake, I spent the next 8 years driving Merc's, Jag's and Porsche's, all the time thinking about that TVR experience. So finally this year I bought a Speed 6 (I was planning long haul journey's, rather than tracking.
I've driven 6500 miles since June (3,000 following England at the WC and 3,500 in the last weeks touring Germany, Swizerland and France). Not a single problem during this time. However, I have spent GBP 5,000 on servicing and upgrades.
These cars are INCREDIBLY good value, if you're looking for raw power, but if you want a vehicle that's going to start every morning and evening, you have to give them plenty of TLC and that is going to cost.
I've driven 6500 miles since June (3,000 following England at the WC and 3,500 in the last weeks touring Germany, Swizerland and France). Not a single problem during this time. However, I have spent GBP 5,000 on servicing and upgrades.
These cars are INCREDIBLY good value, if you're looking for raw power, but if you want a vehicle that's going to start every morning and evening, you have to give them plenty of TLC and that is going to cost.
I've used mine for an occaisional commute, but then I do get to do 80 miles along the M4 or the equivilant along the twisty A4. I also have secure parking at work and have a wide parking slot available next to the directors cars, so I know it's not going to get dinked by doors.
I couldn't afford to use it every day as I do 20K miles a years and have restricted mileage on the Cerbera. I have a motorbike for daily commuting and two other cars to fall back on.
If you've the hint of traffic, you'll soon notice your left leg is twice the size of your first if you were to use it everday.
However as a weekend and occaional use car it's without exception the best car I've ever had. It's boot is enormous, you can fit small children in the back for long journeys, it's 'king fast and overtaking is a joy. It's so far had nothing but positive's from anyone whose seen it (apart from Mr Jealous Focus guy who tried to block me into the inside lane of a dual carrigeway yesterday - I slowed, he slowed so I booted - he couldn't respond).
I've had preferential treatment from Ferry Companies, been stopped by a copper who just wanted to tell me it was the best car ever and if I had a quid for every admiring glance I could afford at least 3 brand new ones
I couldn't afford to use it every day as I do 20K miles a years and have restricted mileage on the Cerbera. I have a motorbike for daily commuting and two other cars to fall back on.
If you've the hint of traffic, you'll soon notice your left leg is twice the size of your first if you were to use it everday.
However as a weekend and occaional use car it's without exception the best car I've ever had. It's boot is enormous, you can fit small children in the back for long journeys, it's 'king fast and overtaking is a joy. It's so far had nothing but positive's from anyone whose seen it (apart from Mr Jealous Focus guy who tried to block me into the inside lane of a dual carrigeway yesterday - I slowed, he slowed so I booted - he couldn't respond).
I've had preferential treatment from Ferry Companies, been stopped by a copper who just wanted to tell me it was the best car ever and if I had a quid for every admiring glance I could afford at least 3 brand new ones
I've also been thinking long and hard about cerbera ownership. I assume like you, the cerb would be an only car (although i would have use of a family honda as well).
At the moment I own a 1992 TVR Griffith. the thing with TVR's is that they need constant attention if they are to be used every day. So, if you owned a cerbera you'd have to be prepared for things to go wrong pretty much out of the blue. So far my griff has needed a new radiator, petrol pipe, clutch master cylinder and exhasut manifold in less than about five months. While most of these problems were down to the cars age, it is not uncommon for these kind of things to go on much newer cars. Clutches, pads, brakes, gearboxes, tyres, electrics and essentially everything can go at any time. So taking this into account you have to go into TVR ownership with eyes wide open and a fairly tolerant wallet.
BUT, a TVR in good shape is like any other car and SHOULD be able to cope with things like traffic and day to day communitng with no problems. Remember, it is largley the cooling system's job to deal with traffic and the increased engine temperatures. The car will only struggle if there are weaknesses in the cooling system. If the car gives out bad signals, it is up to you to act quickly to prevent the problems and costs from escalating.
If your wallet is of a limted size there are ways of pre-empting this kind of maintenance cost:
Firstly, know your budget and allow a section of it for either
(a) an official TVR-approved warranty (available on speed six engine cars (cerb speed six, tuscan, tamora, t350, sagaris) under eight years old, not sure about the V8 cerbs) which will cost about £1500 overall. This will cover all areas, even wear and tear for 12 months (this may sound expensive but if engine problems and gearbox problems come along it will seem like a very wise investment) or...
(b) enough extra cash (up to £3k) for any mechanical ptoblems you may encounter.
Secondly, if you go for an older V8 via a private sale that maybe costs less outright, make sure you have done your homework, and know what to look out for when viewing the car: engine, chassis, gearbox, oil pressure, coolent temperature, electrics etc or better still get a TVR expert to look at it. An even safer bet (in my opionion) would be to go to a reputable TVR dealer and buy one with a decent 12 month warranty.
If you go for option (b) and buy a good private sale cerb that been well looked after with documented repairs and full TVR maintenance history you may end up with some of the £3k left over!
On the issue of day-to-day driving, i am of the belief that TVR's need to be used regulalry. The engine needs to be turned and lubricated as often as possible. I beleive this can only add to engine longeivity. ALAWAYS remeber to warm up the engine before raising the revs, and longer journeys will be better than constant short journeys.
TVR ownership will probably cost a bit more than you first think, but nothing on the road can compare for the money. If you decide to go for it, good luck!
At the moment I own a 1992 TVR Griffith. the thing with TVR's is that they need constant attention if they are to be used every day. So, if you owned a cerbera you'd have to be prepared for things to go wrong pretty much out of the blue. So far my griff has needed a new radiator, petrol pipe, clutch master cylinder and exhasut manifold in less than about five months. While most of these problems were down to the cars age, it is not uncommon for these kind of things to go on much newer cars. Clutches, pads, brakes, gearboxes, tyres, electrics and essentially everything can go at any time. So taking this into account you have to go into TVR ownership with eyes wide open and a fairly tolerant wallet.
BUT, a TVR in good shape is like any other car and SHOULD be able to cope with things like traffic and day to day communitng with no problems. Remember, it is largley the cooling system's job to deal with traffic and the increased engine temperatures. The car will only struggle if there are weaknesses in the cooling system. If the car gives out bad signals, it is up to you to act quickly to prevent the problems and costs from escalating.
If your wallet is of a limted size there are ways of pre-empting this kind of maintenance cost:
Firstly, know your budget and allow a section of it for either
(a) an official TVR-approved warranty (available on speed six engine cars (cerb speed six, tuscan, tamora, t350, sagaris) under eight years old, not sure about the V8 cerbs) which will cost about £1500 overall. This will cover all areas, even wear and tear for 12 months (this may sound expensive but if engine problems and gearbox problems come along it will seem like a very wise investment) or...
(b) enough extra cash (up to £3k) for any mechanical ptoblems you may encounter.
Secondly, if you go for an older V8 via a private sale that maybe costs less outright, make sure you have done your homework, and know what to look out for when viewing the car: engine, chassis, gearbox, oil pressure, coolent temperature, electrics etc or better still get a TVR expert to look at it. An even safer bet (in my opionion) would be to go to a reputable TVR dealer and buy one with a decent 12 month warranty.
If you go for option (b) and buy a good private sale cerb that been well looked after with documented repairs and full TVR maintenance history you may end up with some of the £3k left over!
On the issue of day-to-day driving, i am of the belief that TVR's need to be used regulalry. The engine needs to be turned and lubricated as often as possible. I beleive this can only add to engine longeivity. ALAWAYS remeber to warm up the engine before raising the revs, and longer journeys will be better than constant short journeys.
TVR ownership will probably cost a bit more than you first think, but nothing on the road can compare for the money. If you decide to go for it, good luck!
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