Running costs in a year...confused about reports I'm reading
Discussion
HI all,
I am think ion of getting a 4.2 Cerb (1999 prob).
I am a little confused... I am reading many posts like "DO not think you can run this car on a cheap budget" and "whilst worth every penny the cerbs are very expensive to run".... but on the other hand I am reading posts along the lines of "If you keep to the service intervals and do not thrash when cold you'll have many many thousand miles of fun" and "The 4.2 engines are very reliable" etc.
Now, I can afford about 14k to 15k sterling for one (as when I take it into Ireland tax etc etc will push up the price) so.... the big question.... if I was driving about 7k miles a year (and it would probably be less) how much should I budget for servicing and running costs (excluding petrol, insurance etc of couse) per year?
Thanks a million again,
Adrian
I am think ion of getting a 4.2 Cerb (1999 prob).
I am a little confused... I am reading many posts like "DO not think you can run this car on a cheap budget" and "whilst worth every penny the cerbs are very expensive to run".... but on the other hand I am reading posts along the lines of "If you keep to the service intervals and do not thrash when cold you'll have many many thousand miles of fun" and "The 4.2 engines are very reliable" etc. Now, I can afford about 14k to 15k sterling for one (as when I take it into Ireland tax etc etc will push up the price) so.... the big question.... if I was driving about 7k miles a year (and it would probably be less) how much should I budget for servicing and running costs (excluding petrol, insurance etc of couse) per year?
Thanks a million again,
Adrian
gazzab said:
3K
Good servicing and not thrashing from start up helps, but it's the unplanned failures that result in the annual running costs to be quite high. You may have a "good" year where a service is all you need, but at some stage you will need the following:
General expected items:
Tyres
Brake Pads
Oil
Unplanned items:
Clutch
Starter Motor
Throttle pots
Radiator
Oil Cooler
Cracked Manifold
Rear Exhaust sections
Differential Seals (Diff if really unlucky!)
Steering Rack (although you can usually tell)
Various Leaks
Alternator
Battery
Various niggly electrical items
Spider (alloys) refurb
I am sure there are items that I have missed.......
Desirable Upgrades (just got to be done
) New exhaust system (preferably bigger bore)
Whirlwind Induction
Engine Remap
Suspension (Protech, Nitron, Ohlin, Avo, Gaz and Intrax)
Big brake kit (discs and pads)
The list goes on........
This is why running costs are not cheap......but it's all part of the ownership experience.
Jules.
Don't be put off by the £3K mark - it doesnt always cost that and in some cases like mine - no where near. Ive spent £350 on mine so far in the last 12 months and that was for a set of spiders. Its due a service now so ill be paying out for that but thats about £500. I turned to PH for advice when i bought mine and i was almost put off - i was gutted when i read all the threads on running costs, and back then the advice was around the £5K mark.... Maybe im just one of the lucky ones but im glad i took the risk as i can safely say its a brilliant experience to own one of these cars. Just do it.
Adrien - I bought my Cerbera in June last year, took it to Le Mans, have driven it regularly through the winter. It lives outside on the drive and without a cover now, cos' that was scuffing the paintwork. The only 'essential' expenditure was a new clutch a couple of weeks ago. This is an expensive job, BUT they don't go every year!
Apart from that, the money I have spent is because I love the car so much, rather than 'have to' spend it! (I am sure this will effect you too!).
I check my water and oil at least once a week and I'm just about to have it serviced at £650 inc VAT (including getting the valve clearances done etc.).
The car is amazing and that comes at a price, but I am also learning to do some of the work myself too and the PH forums are brilliant for help and ideas!
I really hope you buy one and I'm sure you will love it!
Apart from that, the money I have spent is because I love the car so much, rather than 'have to' spend it!
(I am sure this will effect you too!). I check my water and oil at least once a week and I'm just about to have it serviced at £650 inc VAT (including getting the valve clearances done etc.).
The car is amazing and that comes at a price, but I am also learning to do some of the work myself too and the PH forums are brilliant for help and ideas!
I really hope you buy one and I'm sure you will love it!
Hi Adrian,
I thought just the same as you, ie oh my god how much
What I came to the conclusion of was, I'll do as much as I can myself and see how it goes. Last year, my first year with a 4.2, took about £2500 but that was doing some maintenance that was neglected be the previous owner (I knew about the faults before buying) and I gave it a front end respray to cover stone chips. This year, up to now its had nothing except its service, £100 as I did it myself, and I need to adjust the tappets, or get someone else to do do them. Hopefully!
What you need to think of is why you fancy a cerbera, if you look around there aren't many good looking 2+2 cars around and none with a TVR's presence, everything is just too boring! Just like your S2000 will be after you've made the big step and bought a cerb.
Just take the plunge with your eyes open, theres good ones and bad ones Its just dificult to tell which is which. Look through PistonHeads, the forum for ccommon faults and the classifieds for the ones owned by someone who loves the car, you'll be able to tell them, they go misty eyed when talking about there car
Good luck
I thought just the same as you, ie oh my god how much
What I came to the conclusion of was, I'll do as much as I can myself and see how it goes. Last year, my first year with a 4.2, took about £2500 but that was doing some maintenance that was neglected be the previous owner (I knew about the faults before buying) and I gave it a front end respray to cover stone chips. This year, up to now its had nothing except its service, £100 as I did it myself, and I need to adjust the tappets, or get someone else to do do them. Hopefully! What you need to think of is why you fancy a cerbera, if you look around there aren't many good looking 2+2 cars around and none with a TVR's presence, everything is just too boring! Just like your S2000 will be after you've made the big step and bought a cerb.
Just take the plunge with your eyes open, theres good ones and bad ones Its just dificult to tell which is which. Look through PistonHeads, the forum for ccommon faults and the classifieds for the ones owned by someone who loves the car, you'll be able to tell them, they go misty eyed when talking about there car
Good luck
There seem to be more and more posts on this subject. It seems that because Cerbs can now be purchased for the same price as a used Civt Tyoe R, Golf GTi etc etc, they are tempting more and more people.
When new the Cerb was a £60k car, the people who bought them were the people who were looking at cars in that price bracket. When you can afford a £60k car then you dont worry about the service costs. If people think they can be run on a budget, they are mistaken. I have 2 friends who run S2000's, when they take it in for the £300 service, it costs £300. When you take a Cerb in for a £500 service it can cost £1000!.
Just because you can afford a Cerb, dont think that you can neccassarily afford to run it for the same price as your S2000. They are expensive cars to run because they are a high performance Supercar, it's that simple. Sure there are people on here who havent spent a penny in 12 months (The money variety of penny that is, befoe someone comes back with a witty remark
), but let them keep it for 3 years and it may well be a different story.
My old Honda has done 140k miles, and has had 2 new front wheel bearings, and has a £100 service once a year
My last Cerb, that I sold last yeear, hasnt cost the new owner anything, but before I sold it I had spent about a £1500 on it getting it sorted.
My new one that I've had for 9 months has had 2 services, a new clutch master cylinder, new Slave cylinder, new radiator and 4 tyres and has cost me £3k. And it has just been transported home by the AA after the Gearbox failed, so now a new Gearbox can be added to the bill. Now if I sold my car someone would buy a totally sorted Cerbera that wouldnt cost them anything for the next 12 months, and that person would reply to you saying "They are cheap as chips to run!"
They are fantastic cars, I love them, thare is nothing that touches them, but please dont buy one without going in with your eyes wide open and a healthy bank balance in reserve just in case.
The more people who buy Cerbs and find thay can't afford to run them, and have to sell them, just results in more 'bad' Cerbs appearing on the market, this worsens the reputation about Cerbs, and affects the values of the cars that belong to us owners who look after them properly. So please all you responsible owners who love Cerberas, stop telling the new prospective wannabee owners that they are cheap to run, just be truthful and attract the type of owners who purchase them knowing full well thay can be, and usually are in the long run, expensive to maintain properly. (But worth every penny)
PS - Edited to put right numerous Speeling misteaks.
When new the Cerb was a £60k car, the people who bought them were the people who were looking at cars in that price bracket. When you can afford a £60k car then you dont worry about the service costs. If people think they can be run on a budget, they are mistaken. I have 2 friends who run S2000's, when they take it in for the £300 service, it costs £300. When you take a Cerb in for a £500 service it can cost £1000!.
Just because you can afford a Cerb, dont think that you can neccassarily afford to run it for the same price as your S2000. They are expensive cars to run because they are a high performance Supercar, it's that simple. Sure there are people on here who havent spent a penny in 12 months (The money variety of penny that is, befoe someone comes back with a witty remark
), but let them keep it for 3 years and it may well be a different story. My old Honda has done 140k miles, and has had 2 new front wheel bearings, and has a £100 service once a year
My last Cerb, that I sold last yeear, hasnt cost the new owner anything, but before I sold it I had spent about a £1500 on it getting it sorted.
My new one that I've had for 9 months has had 2 services, a new clutch master cylinder, new Slave cylinder, new radiator and 4 tyres and has cost me £3k. And it has just been transported home by the AA after the Gearbox failed, so now a new Gearbox can be added to the bill. Now if I sold my car someone would buy a totally sorted Cerbera that wouldnt cost them anything for the next 12 months, and that person would reply to you saying "They are cheap as chips to run!"
They are fantastic cars, I love them, thare is nothing that touches them, but please dont buy one without going in with your eyes wide open and a healthy bank balance in reserve just in case.
The more people who buy Cerbs and find thay can't afford to run them, and have to sell them, just results in more 'bad' Cerbs appearing on the market, this worsens the reputation about Cerbs, and affects the values of the cars that belong to us owners who look after them properly. So please all you responsible owners who love Cerberas, stop telling the new prospective wannabee owners that they are cheap to run, just be truthful and attract the type of owners who purchase them knowing full well thay can be, and usually are in the long run, expensive to maintain properly. (But worth every penny)
PS - Edited to put right numerous Speeling misteaks.
Edited by jensena on Sunday 11th March 16:52
It is a bit like asking about insurance ie who has claimed in the last few years, oh you havent, then sod it I wont bother with insurance. The chances are that a cerb will cost a bob or two to run. They can cost 5 or 6K a year to run, sometimes a lot lot less. Hence why £3K is not a bad number to budget / prepare for.
look at my profile. for a 4.2 96. also you need to figure insurance and depreciation these figures are sometimes used in certain peoples costs per year in others ther are forgotten! One of the nice things about the older cars is there is a good chance most of the stuff that breaks has and has been replaced with uprated gear and the depreciation is glacial (almost).
£450 squid a year on insurance. Use the car mostly during the summer, so about six months a year, but during that six months every day.
The car costs very little to run, but never sees the inside of a dealers for routine stuff, which, I think is where the famed 3K comes in.
To summerise
Dealer serviced budget 3K yearly
Home serviced budget 1K yearly
but have a 5K pot of money somewhere in case of the worst happening.
I think thats a pretty fair indication.
The car costs very little to run, but never sees the inside of a dealers for routine stuff, which, I think is where the famed 3K comes in.
To summerise
Dealer serviced budget 3K yearly
Home serviced budget 1K yearly
but have a 5K pot of money somewhere in case of the worst happening.
I think thats a pretty fair indication.
Buy a good one - but I think you have to be lucky?
I've got Alan's old one (see above) and it hasn't cost me a penny (touches wood) yet, but I've got 3K+ cash put away ready for the day when it does.
Alan knows his stuff, has probably looked after both cars with the same care, but has been unlucky with his new 4.5 as that ones had the problems.
Even if you don't have any problems you're looking at probably £1000 a year running costs, for servicing & parts. Brake pads are £150, synthetic oil is £50/gallon etc etc. Oh and that rubbing sound as you put your foot down is the Chancellor rubbing his hands with glee for the tax on fuel he's about to get.
But, and here's the big but. I've driven lots of things from karts to formula ford and nothing gives me soooooo much grin factor. It's even pleasureable to just look at the car (hum is that why my missus let me buy a cover for it in the garage - jealousy?).
I've got Alan's old one (see above) and it hasn't cost me a penny (touches wood) yet, but I've got 3K+ cash put away ready for the day when it does.
Alan knows his stuff, has probably looked after both cars with the same care, but has been unlucky with his new 4.5 as that ones had the problems.
Even if you don't have any problems you're looking at probably £1000 a year running costs, for servicing & parts. Brake pads are £150, synthetic oil is £50/gallon etc etc. Oh and that rubbing sound as you put your foot down is the Chancellor rubbing his hands with glee for the tax on fuel he's about to get.
But, and here's the big but. I've driven lots of things from karts to formula ford and nothing gives me soooooo much grin factor. It's even pleasureable to just look at the car (hum is that why my missus let me buy a cover for it in the garage - jealousy?).
Adrian
I'd say budgeting about £3k is about right .. maybe a little more. The key piece of advise is you must go into this with your eyes wide open, just for a moment think about what the car is, its not a hot hatch, its not a Skyline GTR, its an out and out supercar. To get the equivelant performance/looks package from other supercars you are talking spending 40/50 grand so when you think about it a cerb is actually a very cheap supercar. Cheap to buy but not to service etc (though having said that how much does a ferrari cost to service)..
I bought mine just 6 weeks ago and within 10 days the clutch went ... £600 .. it needs a service about now so there's another £500 (though im budgeting for about £750 as they're bound to find summit else that needs doing
).. so it soon adds up and you can see why it can easily reach £3k
Steve
I'd say budgeting about £3k is about right .. maybe a little more. The key piece of advise is you must go into this with your eyes wide open, just for a moment think about what the car is, its not a hot hatch, its not a Skyline GTR, its an out and out supercar. To get the equivelant performance/looks package from other supercars you are talking spending 40/50 grand so when you think about it a cerb is actually a very cheap supercar. Cheap to buy but not to service etc (though having said that how much does a ferrari cost to service)..
I bought mine just 6 weeks ago and within 10 days the clutch went ... £600 .. it needs a service about now so there's another £500 (though im budgeting for about £750 as they're bound to find summit else that needs doing
).. so it soon adds up and you can see why it can easily reach £3k Steve
Yes you can buy a cerbera for 15k or less but is it really a 15k car is it hell. Keep the car for 1,2,3,4,5 years and it will cost but keep it for a year and sell it on after a good year and it will cost you sod all. Look in the adds and see how many are sold after just one year and see how many owners the car has had. These cars cost in the long run and need looking after. What you have in a cerb is a total classic and they need looking after by somebody that knows what there doing. aaaaaarrrrgggggggg........ just look at the PH profiles of some of the cars that just look fantastic and you will see that money has been spent on them big style.
Takes deep breath now.
Nitrons in May for mine, yipeeee.
Takes deep breath now.
Nitrons in May for mine, yipeeee.
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