Interested Buyer
Discussion
I am looking at buying a 2001 or newer TVR Cerbera and I am new to the market. I have been a long time fan of the car and now have the funds to spend up to £19. More importantly, I can afford to run the car as I understand you need a reasonable amount to spend on annual servicing. Any advice or suggestions would be grateful. I am particularly interested in the 'Silver bullet' advertised in the classifieds section of the site.
Thanks.
Thanks.
you wont get a Cerb for that 
I think Silver bullet is a speed 6 Cerbera so running cost will proabably be cheaper than an AJP engine. A 6k service for a speed six is around £500 and the AJP is around £550.
The speed six engine is the less powerful engine it is a 4 litre in the Cerb i think it is supposed to develop 350 bhp. Then there is the 4.2 AJP this engine develops 360bhp, after this you can get a 4.5 which is supposed to develop 420bhp and finally the 4.5 Red Rose with 440bhp.
some more info on the engines:
Speed 6
Capacity: 3966cc
Max Power: 350 bhp @ 6800 rpm
Max torque: 330 ft.lbs @ 5000 rpm
0 - 60 mph: 4.4 secs
0 - 100 mph: 10.2 secs
Top Speed: 170 mph+
4.2
Capacity: 4185 cc
Max Power: 360 bhp @ 6500 rpm
Max torque: 320 ft.lbs @ 4500 rpm
0 - 60 mph: 4.2 secs
0 - 100 mph: 9.9 secs
Top Speed: 180 mph+
4.5
Capacity: 4475 cc
Max Power: 420 bhp @ 6750 rpm
Max torque: 380 ft.lbs @ 5500 rpm
0 - 60 mph: 3.9 secs
0 - 100 mph: 8.3 secs
Top Speed: 195 mph+
4.5 Red Rose
Capacity: 4475cc
Max Power: 440 bhp @ 7250 rpm
Max Torque: 390 @ 5500 rpm
0 - 60 mph: 4.0
0 - 100 mph: 9.0
Top Speed: 201 mph
Cars built 2000 onwards look slightly different to the earlier cars. The later cars have a higher roofline, different rear lights, painted door pillars and a different interior (Tuscan style). Some speed 6 cars kept the single round light at the front and the v8 cars got the tiny 3 lights. 2001 V8 cars will show a ring around the lights at the front.
In late 2001 and 2002 onwards the lights were blended in to the bodywork and in 2003 it was given a rear angled number plate (not many cerbs have this).
The later cerbs 2000 onwards with tiny lights were called lightweights this is because the bonnet, roof and wings were made lighter.
Hope this is some use to you.
Ps. Silver bullet looks awsome
Edited to fix previous errors and add some more info.
The speed six engine is the less powerful engine it is a 4 litre in the Cerb i think it is supposed to develop 350 bhp. Then there is the 4.2 AJP this engine develops 360bhp, after this you can get a 4.5 which is supposed to develop 420bhp and finally the 4.5 Red Rose with 440bhp.
some more info on the engines:
Speed 6
Capacity: 3966cc
Max Power: 350 bhp @ 6800 rpm
Max torque: 330 ft.lbs @ 5000 rpm
0 - 60 mph: 4.4 secs
0 - 100 mph: 10.2 secs
Top Speed: 170 mph+
4.2
Capacity: 4185 cc
Max Power: 360 bhp @ 6500 rpm
Max torque: 320 ft.lbs @ 4500 rpm
0 - 60 mph: 4.2 secs
0 - 100 mph: 9.9 secs
Top Speed: 180 mph+
4.5
Capacity: 4475 cc
Max Power: 420 bhp @ 6750 rpm
Max torque: 380 ft.lbs @ 5500 rpm
0 - 60 mph: 3.9 secs
0 - 100 mph: 8.3 secs
Top Speed: 195 mph+
4.5 Red Rose
Capacity: 4475cc
Max Power: 440 bhp @ 7250 rpm
Max Torque: 390 @ 5500 rpm
0 - 60 mph: 4.0
0 - 100 mph: 9.0
Top Speed: 201 mph
Cars built 2000 onwards look slightly different to the earlier cars. The later cars have a higher roofline, different rear lights, painted door pillars and a different interior (Tuscan style). Some speed 6 cars kept the single round light at the front and the v8 cars got the tiny 3 lights. 2001 V8 cars will show a ring around the lights at the front.
In late 2001 and 2002 onwards the lights were blended in to the bodywork and in 2003 it was given a rear angled number plate (not many cerbs have this).
The later cerbs 2000 onwards with tiny lights were called lightweights this is because the bonnet, roof and wings were made lighter.
Hope this is some use to you.
Ps. Silver bullet looks awsome
Edited to fix previous errors and add some more info.
Edited by Torque07 on Friday 9th March 13:54
Torque07 said:
Cars built 2001 onwards look slightly different to the earlier cars. The later cars have a higher roofline
Are you sure about that? thought the only difference with the roof was a slimmer front cross bar on the roll cage to make visibility better out of the windscreen....
spartacus said:
Torque07 said:
Cars built 2001 onwards look slightly different to the earlier cars. The later cars have a higher roofline
Are you sure about that? thought the only difference with the roof was a slimmer front cross bar on the roll cage to make visibility better out of the windscreen....
Im almost 100% sure that the roof line was changed. This web site also seems to think so too: www.21stcentury.co.uk/cars/tvr_cerbera.asp. (however i could be wrong)
Please feel free to buy my...it is a lovely example and looks far more classic than any of the newer modded cerbs out there...:-)
1999 T Reg...[url]http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/137427[/url]
I am open to offers also....plus u have to buy a 4.5 really...as they pop and bang!
1999 T Reg...[url]http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/137427[/url]
I am open to offers also....plus u have to buy a 4.5 really...as they pop and bang!
When I say £19... I mean £19k, poor proofing reading on my part! Due to my age (25, 26 in Oct) I'm pretty sure I can only consider the straight six variation as insurance costs will become prohibitively expensive. Does anyone of a similar age know of an approximate quote for the car, I have had a rough quote for £1300. My current car is a mk3 VW Golf GTi. It is a good car but I am looking for something more enjoyable and have always thought highly of the Cerbera. I am keen to go on a track day with the car once I have bought one so i can see what it can do without throwing it off the road into a tree. Thanks for all the previous information, very helpful!
The roofline & A pillers were changed in 2000 not 2001 affording better visibility and making the cabin feel more spacious, also the speed six doesnt have 320 hp, it develops 350 bhp with 330 lbs of torque against the 4.2 which develops 360 hp and 320 lbs of torque. The six also has different gearing which in use makes it feel quick as the 4.2 (until you rev the 4.2 hard that is) . The six has higher profile tyres, and is quieter than the 4.2. I have owned both and its really horses for courses, but I did like the speed six an awful lot, but go for the best latest model you can (4.2 also had the uprated dampers in 2002 but I doubt you will get a 4.2 2002 for 19 K as yet)
I was 25 when i had my 4.2, cost me £750 to insure! Its a TVR, it wont matter what engine its got in it!lol!
Good luck in your search, theyre awesome cars! Ill prob be buying another this year, but a 4.5 for the tuning potential!
The 4.2's are pretty much just as quick as the 4.5s straight out the box, theyre supposed to be more revvy. The 4.5's very rarely make the power what tvr quote, till they are re-mapped. The majority of 4.2's however are spot on.
Good luck in your search, theyre awesome cars! Ill prob be buying another this year, but a 4.5 for the tuning potential!
The 4.2's are pretty much just as quick as the 4.5s straight out the box, theyre supposed to be more revvy. The 4.5's very rarely make the power what tvr quote, till they are re-mapped. The majority of 4.2's however are spot on.
cerberafan said:
Cheers fellas, Again, very useful contributions which is only making my mind up even further. A little nervous about the reliability though, can anyone tell me how reliable their car is, does it cost a lot to run? Does it fail to start etc?
You don't buy a Cerb for reliability and economy, Yes they do cost a lot to run, and do about 17 to the gallon on Super unleaded. Its a car that will always have something that needs sorting at the weeend. Mine has never let me down, but it's only used at weekends. If I had to rely on it to get to work every day I'm sure there would be quite a few days I'd be having to catch the bus.
jensena said:
cerberafan said:
Cheers fellas, Again, very useful contributions which is only making my mind up even further. A little nervous about the reliability though, can anyone tell me how reliable their car is, does it cost a lot to run? Does it fail to start etc?
You don't buy a Cerb for reliability and economy, Yes they do cost a lot to run, and do about 17 to the gallon on Super unleaded. Its a car that will always have something that needs sorting at the weeend. Mine has never let me down, but it's only used at weekends. If I had to rely on it to get to work every day I'm sure there would be quite a few days I'd be having to catch the bus.
Not as many as you'd think.
Equally, the fuel economy isnt too horrific, we average 19 and have seen 28 before on a long motorway run (typically 26 IIRC) - which considering the smiles per gallon isnt bad at all, far better than equivelent super/hypercars. Treat it well, get it looked after by the best and be prepared to occaisionally put up with a niggle or unexpected reasonable cost - it should be pretty fine. Good to have a back up car, but Dad didnt for a loooong time, and only really does now so his sons can use it.
Of course, the upside to the occaisional problem is something none of us here can put into words, but you'll know when you've got one.
Nope - I got an average of 27Mpg on a 95mph cruise from Swindon to the Lake district, around for 4 days and back again last October. Just over 1000 miles, 27mpg - I couldn't believe it.
That included a wife nagging excessive speed on the way back to shake of an Alfa who was being annoying.
Mind you I get about 22mpg on my usual mixed driving.
That included a wife nagging excessive speed on the way back to shake of an Alfa who was being annoying.
Mind you I get about 22mpg on my usual mixed driving.
Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff