What lies ahead for the Cerb?
What lies ahead for the Cerb?
Author
Discussion

thewave

Original Poster:

14,864 posts

239 months

Monday 14th January 2008
quotequote all
I've been thinking about getting a Cerb for sometime now, and always frequent this section, dreaming about that day I finally get my hands on my dream car.

However I was thinking, what lies ahead for the Cerbera?

After a certain period, some cars start to slowly appreciate in value. Does anyone think (honestly) that this will happen, because it's so 'potentially' expensive to rectify problems, will that always hinder it's potential future value?

Do they have what it takes to last, and become a pure classic, along the lines of the e-type say?

Any thoughts?


cirvy

2,331 posts

293 months

Monday 14th January 2008
quotequote all
I think in the fullness of time, it may well appreciate better than the other TVRs.

It's rare, generally cherished & frequently regarded as Peter Wheeler at his zenith.....

.....but then i'm slightly biased biggrin

thewave

Original Poster:

14,864 posts

239 months

Monday 14th January 2008
quotequote all
Well I think i'm on the verge of getting one, albeit under circumstances I would normally not be keen on. Borrowing. However, i've finished one car loan, might as well have another.

That leaves me with money to spend on it if necessary, to keep it in tip top condition.

There's a tasy white one for sale, although I'm torn between going for IMO the not as good looking unmodified ones which I think will appreciate more/depreciate less, or the better looking (ie the white one) which I am concerned might not age as well with respect to resale as a classic.

PS Would I get a buggy in the boot?

cirvy

2,331 posts

293 months

Monday 14th January 2008
quotequote all
thewave said:
Well I think i'm on the verge of getting one, albeit under circumstances I would normally not be keen on. Borrowing. However, i've finished one car loan, might as well have another.

That leaves me with money to spend on it if necessary, to keep it in tip top condition.

There's a tasy white one for sale, although I'm torn between going for IMO the not as good looking unmodified ones which I think will appreciate more/depreciate less, or the better looking (ie the white one) which I am concerned might not age as well with respect to resale as a classic.

PS Would I get a buggy in the boot?
Buggy in the boot, no worries biggrin

thewave

Original Poster:

14,864 posts

239 months

Monday 14th January 2008
quotequote all
cirvy said:
thewave said:
Well I think i'm on the verge of getting one, albeit under circumstances I would normally not be keen on. Borrowing. However, i've finished one car loan, might as well have another.

That leaves me with money to spend on it if necessary, to keep it in tip top condition.

There's a tasy white one for sale, although I'm torn between going for IMO the not as good looking unmodified ones which I think will appreciate more/depreciate less, or the better looking (ie the white one) which I am concerned might not age as well with respect to resale as a classic.

PS Would I get a buggy in the boot?
Buggy in the boot, no worries biggrin
I thought so, but just to be sure. Not that the kids will go in it often, but I'm sure there will be times.

Byker28i

92,166 posts

247 months

Monday 14th January 2008
quotequote all
What will happen? Well one view would be that every winter 10-12 will get written off and the eventual few remaining will command a premium?

BLUETHUNDER

7,881 posts

290 months

Monday 14th January 2008
quotequote all
Byker28i said:
What will happen? Well one view would be that every winter 10-12 will get written off and the eventual few remaining will command a premium?
yes

JensenA

5,671 posts

260 months

Monday 14th January 2008
quotequote all
.............and a steady stream of 2nd hand spares as a bonus smile

trooperiziz

9,457 posts

282 months

Tuesday 15th January 2008
quotequote all
They may well start to appreciate, but I can't see that happening for a long time.
Now the £10k barrier is there I can see depreciation slowing but still happening.

Now is as good a time to buy as any wink

Far Eastender

1,362 posts

248 months

Tuesday 15th January 2008
quotequote all
Here's an easier question:

How long is a piece of string?

Nefarious

989 posts

295 months

Tuesday 15th January 2008
quotequote all
Byker28i said:
What will happen? Well one view would be that every winter 10-12 will get written off and the eventual few remaining will command a premium?
Not very scientific but 2 out of 2 4.5's I've seen being broken for parts have been scrapped for mechanical/structural reasons rather than crash damage (well, no visiable body damage anyway), so I'd imagine a fair few are dropping out of the loop this way too (e.g. engine blows, owner contemplates rebuild but then sees the condition of the chassis and decides its not economically viable).

Overall diminishing numbers can be a bit of a two-edged sword. My old man is really into his Merc SLs, and we watched the market (especially on the bigger engined ones) turn two-tier, as the vast majority which had fallen so cheap that they were now being driven into the ground went one way, and a handful of concours-spec ones went the other. The problem is, as lots start to deteriorate, it drags the market down, and unless your one is absolutely A1, it gets tarred with the same brush as the less desirable ones, because people simple aren't prepared to take the risk.

JensenA

5,671 posts

260 months

Tuesday 15th January 2008
quotequote all
I think it will be a long long time, if ever, before the Cerbera becomes a valuble 'classic'. They are quite a few getting under that £10k barrier, which makes them affordable for people who can't really afford to run them, and so there will be an increasing number of rough old Cerb's, many of which will end up being scrapped. Will this increase the value of the remaining good ones? Who knows.
Were all a bit crazy to own a Cerb, you have to be committed enthusiast to own one - if your not, then there is no point even contemplating buying one - and be prepared to to dig deep to keep them in good condition. The only ones that may hold there value re the ones that are used as a second car. Any Cerb tht is used as the only car, and every day transport will deteriorate a lot faster, sorry Guys but that is a fact, just as it is for every other car in the world.
The botton line is don't even contemplate buying as Cerb as an investement, your better off sticking £10k in a savings account, buy a Cerb becaue your heart tells you too, and enjoy owning an old school British monster, and belonging to the diminishing memnership of the 'Crazy Club' smile

Buffoon

881 posts

234 months

Tuesday 15th January 2008
quotequote all
JensenA said:
I think it will be a long long time, if ever, before the Cerbera becomes a valuble 'classic'. They are quite a few getting under that £10k barrier, which makes them affordable for people who can't really afford to run them, and so there will be an increasing number of rough old Cerb's, many of which will end up being scrapped. Will this increase the value of the remaining good ones? Who knows.
Were all a bit crazy to own a Cerb, you have to be committed enthusiast to own one - if your not, then there is no point even contemplating buying one - and be prepared to to dig deep to keep them in good condition. The only ones that may hold there value re the ones that are used as a second car. Any Cerb tht is used as the only car, and every day transport will deteriorate a lot faster, sorry Guys but that is a fact, just as it is for every other car in the world.
The botton line is don't even contemplate buying as Cerb as an investement, your better off sticking £10k in a savings account, buy a Cerb becaue your heart tells you too, and enjoy owning an old school British monster, and belonging to the diminishing memnership of the 'Crazy Club' smile
Not so sure about the every day car comment. Agreed the chassis / rot problems will intensify, but certainly for the speed six lack of frequent engine running accelerates wear. Either way there is a large bill waiting for you at the finishing post, so I say to hell with it and enjoy the car as much as you can, while you can.

MackemPete

965 posts

248 months

Tuesday 15th January 2008
quotequote all
Far Eastender said:
Here's an easier question:

How long is a piece of string?
twice the distance from the middle to one end!

paperbag

Far Eastender

1,362 posts

248 months

Tuesday 15th January 2008
quotequote all
MackemPete said:
Far Eastender said:
Here's an easier question:

How long is a piece of string?
twice the distance from the middle to one end!

paperbag
You are correct sir!

Cyclone1

2,614 posts

276 months

Tuesday 15th January 2008
quotequote all
thewave said:
what lies ahead for the Cerbera?

Any thoughts?
Classic status for sure. I'd predict it in about another 8-10 years. By this time enough Cerb wannabe owners (not aimed at anyone on here) will have had their bank balances well and truely bitten through not being able to maintain the car properly even though they could afford to buy one at £10k silly . This will leave only a small number of Cerbs that will be in the hands of the true enthusiasts, these enthusiasts will have either kept the car completely standard with original wheels and lights etc, or will have modified the Cerb with all of the best upgrades, ironically lights, possibly alloys and then all of the mechanical and software goodies. The Body is best left alone.

Time will tell but we'll see.....

Jules.

BCA

8,651 posts

287 months

Tuesday 15th January 2008
quotequote all
I agree with Cyclone...

In 8 years our Cerb will have the original body style still (We've already got HID lights in the original units) some new wheels with atleast a set of RL7's spare, a refurbished chassis 7 years ago (though rebuilt to a much higher standard to keep rot at bay for atleast 20years+ hopefully) but mechanically I think it'll remain pretty much the same - maybe an ATB differential/ trick dampers... If it keeps on being used as it is it'll be up to 140k miles too, possibly still without rebuild? - we shall see... hehe

RUSSELLM

6,002 posts

277 months

Tuesday 15th January 2008
quotequote all
I think the comment about the engine/chassis rebuild is a good one.

It's A car, and there are few car that ever gain money, and when they do, have much have they cost to get them to that point. Garaging/heating costs etc

I've got an old MGB sat in a garage, that's due an overhaul. I'm fairly confident that by the time the labour, parts, paint, floor & interior have been paid for, I'll be looking at a bill of around £5000. And I'll have a car worth £2000 at the end of it smile

If you want to know how Cerbs will go, have a look at Classic car weekly smile

There are normally tonnes of cars in there, with "E type for sale £20,000 just spent £40,000 on refurb"

God knows why we do it, but we do.

It can be said for anything though, couldn't it ?

I've got an old Rover outside work today that cost me £300 to buy but £600 to insure. But if someone wanted £300 to service it, would you throw it away ?

My 4.2's due back soon, that car's worth no more than £12K. By the time this latest bill is paid, I'll be up to £25k in servicing & repairs for that car.

Surely nobody buys any car as an investment do they ?

Do you all remember gixxers quick SL65 at Fighting Torque. He took A £100,000 3 year depreciation hit on that little beauty, he had some small running costs on top, £6000 brakes etc laugh


Buffoon

881 posts

234 months

Wednesday 16th January 2008
quotequote all
RUSSELLM said:
There are normally tonnes of cars in there, with "E type for sale £20,000 just spent £40,000 on refurb"

God knows why we do it, but we do.
Gave me a cold shivver up the spine. There are two reasons I use the cerb as a daily runner. One is I hate not driving it. Reminiscent of the ''My other car is a...'' stickers from the 70's / 80's. The other reason is the E-Type is in the Garage being restored. If the E-Type had been used regularly instead of sitting in storage, it would be in a better state of health.

Mr.Cerbera

5,151 posts

260 months

Wednesday 16th January 2008
quotequote all
Hmmmm, bit worried about everyone missing the current point.
In 10 years we will not be allowed to drive Cerbs on the road.
Road Tax, here in Lux, has just gone to 420 quid due to emmissions.
Don't even think of buying a monster fossil-guzzler as an investment coz CarFun has a (very) limited future.