What do you get after your Cerbera?

[joelk]

Hi there... this could be a controversional topic as I know I shouldn't even consider leaving the flock but doesn't harm to think about it....

What would you get that can provide :
1. The driving experience
2. The character and individuality
3. Added reliability
4. Ideal budget between £40-£50k

Any thoughts appreciated !

[rocket]

Working on the theory that you would still want 4 seats, I'd go for the Maserati 3200/4200GT. Not sure about the added reliability bit, but it should satisfy the other 3 points.


Neil

[davidd]

yes I've been thinking about a masser for my next car. Have driven a couple and although very different from the cerbera they were still fcukin quick. Bit more lux as well.

D.

[olly]

It would have been a Tuscan R with the rear seat option (if I had the money), but that option has now apparantly been removed....

I know a few people who have "upgraded" to a 996 Turbo, but it's not really my cup of tea....

I guess it'll probably have to be a 2 seater, but I have no idea what, a Diablo would be great, but it's a bit too big for regular driving.....

[j_s_g]

Guess it depends on whether it's *primarily* a reliability thing, a growing up thing, or a boredom thing. Trying to ignore the reliability bit, as that's down to the individual car as much as anything...

1993 Lambo' Diablo 5.7 (£50k on the nose, and my personal choice )
1996 Ferrari 456
Marcos Mantis GT

Other "alternative" cars I fancy in that price-range:
Supercharged DB7
Morgan Aero 8 (if it wasn't for the BMW VANOS)
Noble M12
Venturi Atlantique (just to be different to everyone else)

Oh, and if it's a growing up thing... Audi S6.

[FourWheelDrift]

j_s_g said:

Oh, and if it's a growing up thing... Audi S6.

Or wait a bit and get a 2nd hand RS6 or 500bhp E55

>> Edited by FourWheelDrift (moderator) on Monday 28th July 22:19

[gixxer1000]

For those thinking of Maserati, last year I asked the mechanic at my local Ferarri, Maserati, Lotus, TVR dealer which marque was the least reliable (expecting him to reply with TVR). "Maserati, by a country mile" was his response!

Survey of one I know, but (mildly) interesting all the same.

[loon]

If your looking for a performance match... then its got to be "Saturn 5".

[j_s_g]

FourWheelDrift said:

j_s_g said: Oh, and if it's a growing up thing... Audi S6. Or wait a bit and get a 2nd hand RS6 or 500bhp E55

D'Oh! Just spotted that typo and was about to fix it. Meant an RS6, obviously!

Agree with gixxer's comment about the Maseratis though... known a couple people with them who're ALWAYS complaining about faults cropping up. Wasn't too impressed with the handling of the 3200 when I took one out for a spin, either... didn't get any real feedback from it. It didn't have the handling pack on it that I think you can get now, though.

Thinking about it a bit more, how about doing some serious work on the Cerbera? For me, a supercharger, 6 speed box, and a few handling upgrades would be a very tempting package. And if you could trim 6 inches off the back of the car, that'd be perfect. Sorry, getting sacrilegious now!

[FourWheelDrift]

j_s_g said:

FourWheelDrift said: j_s_g said: Oh, and if it's a growing up thing... Audi S6. Or wait a bit and get a 2nd hand RS6 or 500bhp E55 D'Oh! Just spotted that typo and was about to fix it. Meant an RS6, obviously! Agree with gixxer's comment about the Maseratis though... known a couple people with them who're ALWAYS complaining about faults cropping up. Wasn't too impressed with the handling of the 3200 when I took one out for a spin, either... didn't get any real feedback from it. It didn't have the handling pack on it that I think you can get now, though. Thinking about it a bit more, how about doing some serious work on the Cerbera? For me, a supercharger, 6 speed box, and a few handling upgrades would be a very tempting package. And if you could trim 6 inches off the back of the car, that'd be perfect. Sorry, getting sacrilegious now!

I thought you meant an RS6 (that's why I edited my response to include the E55 ).

I think I have seen superchargers for Cerbera's advertised in Sprint, but I've never heard of one done. Nitros yes but Super/turbo charging no. There's enough space in front of the block for some nice extras

TVR are working on a sequential 6 speed box for the T550 (retro fit anyone )

[tvrslag]

joelk said:

Hi there... this could be a controversional topic as I know I shouldn't even consider leaving the flock but doesn't harm to think about it.... What would you get that can provide : 1. The driving experience 2. The character and individuality 3. Added reliability 4. Ideal budget between £40-£50k Any thoughts appreciated !

Joelk

Are you after an out and out sportscar like the Cerb or something a bit more practical? Or possibly impractical.
If you need only two seats, then really the sportscar world is your oyster. But in terms of reliability and running costs everything is going to be pretty much in the same vein, ie high servicing, high part prices, etc. Fpor the mony you're talking about you could pick up any number of Ferraris, Porsche's or even some Aston Martin's.
Do you trust yourself and your mechanical abilities? If so there are some interesting kit options, such as a GT40 or Foreman canam or lastly an Ultima. Then you've only got yourself to blame if it goes wrong, and most can be built upto a rolling chassis stage for you by the experts if required.
What about an uber saloon from one of the German three. BMW are bringing out an M3 CSL version soon with lots of interesting options (limiter removed!!) and there are of course, as already suggested the RS6 and E55 AMG as alternatives.
How about staying with british and waiting till the new MG supercar appears (don't know about the reliability though) big stonking V8, mid front engine, rear wheel drive (sound familiar?).

Decisions, decisions!!

[Alistair H.]

depends on budget...I have thought about this a bit, if money were no object and I was still flush, then I would go for a lambo. This is about the only thing I would prefer. Thought about the the noble, or pehaps an ultima.

Current finances mean I am struggling to keep Cerbie, so I have set my heart on keeping it forever. I believe the Cerb(and perhaps the Griff500) will be seen as the last of the great TVR V8's, and take there place in TVR history.

[beemer]

...or a Brabus SL 7.3 litre V12 with 580 bhp??

[url]http://uk.mobile.de/SIDlX4zQW2yjJmh8XybgEl40w-t-vaNexlCsAsK%F3P%F3R~BmSB10LsearchPublicJ1059481075A2LsearchPublicCCarY-t-vctpLtt~BmPA1B41B20B67%7C-t-vMkMoSm_xcoprsO~BSRA5E17200FbrabusFBRABUSA0ADI332446489A0/cgi-bin/da.pl?top=50&sprache=2&bereich=pkw&id=11111111118080111&[/url]

Not bad value for £48K!!

cheers
sean

PS not sure what DM415,000 price when new equates to in Euroland, but got to be thick end of £150K!

>> Edited by beemer on Tuesday 29th July 12:27

[bbt11]

How about deepdive's T350

[joelk]

Thanks for the thoughts! A few new ideas in there... I'm going to keep with the cerby until the next breakdown... how many times have I said that to myself?!? Still, it's running sweet at the mo.

My favourite options so far are :
AM DB7 (Vantage) - Classy, but bit over my budget at about £60k +
Ferarri 456 - Unusual but have slight stigma about being a "Ferrari" driver (ie wanXer).
Dodge Viper - awesome, but do you want to go that fast with the visibility of a left hand drive car?

Lambos, Ultimas and Nobles - all amazing driving fun, but nowhere to put your luggage for even a weekend break ! Luggage or the girlfriend?

Decsions, descions, eh?



>> Edited by joelk on Friday 1st August 16:20

[gazzab]

456 and AM will cost you three arms and four legs to run. Makes a cerbera look cheap to run.

[basher]

355 ferrari - 2 seats fantastic handling unbeatable sound (if u get a tubi) in my experience far more reliable in general and has not cost me much more in servicing than my 4.5 did......plus they are still gorgeous looking......

And you are not a wan*er if you have a ferrari..impossible.....
I never w*nk

Bash
www.theratpac.com

[davidd]

joelk said:

Thanks for the thoughts! A few new ideas in there... I'm going to keep with the cerby until the next breakdown... how many times have I said that to myself?!? Still, it's running sweet at the mo. My favourite options so far are : AM DB7 (Vantage) - Classy, but bit over my budget at about £60k + Ferarri 456 - Unusual but have slight stigma about being a "Ferrari" driver (ie wanXer). Dodge Viper - awesome, but do you want to go that fast with the visibility of a left hand drive car? Lambos, Ultimas and Nobles - all amazing driving fun, but nowhere to put your luggage for even a weekend break ! Luggage or the girlfriend? Decsions, descions, eh? >> Edited by joelk on Friday 1st August 16:20

Hmm viper....not red though...get a blue one

[j_s_g]

joelk said:

My favourite options so far are : AM DB7 (Vantage) - Classy, but bit over my budget at about £60k + Ferarri 456 - Unusual but have slight stigma about being a "Ferrari" driver (ie wanXer). Dodge Viper - awesome, but do you want to go that fast with the visibility of a left hand drive car?

Well, if you're considering a LHD Viper, then there's a LHD DB7 Vantage going on Autotrader for £40k. As for the 456, the stigma's the reason I picked that one - doesn't really look like an over the top Ferrari - bit more understated. Looks gorgeous in the Blue Tour de France.

[joelk]

I am rapidly losing faith brothers... I think this may have been the straw that broke the camel's back?

While about to set off for a weekend on the coast, looking forward to giving the Cerby a proper airing - a elecrical fault popped up - and it's grounded - again!!! Absolutely gutted! It's something I had "fixed" 2 months ago - and while is only a tiny little problem, with an easy fix (if you are a mechanic and know your way to the underside of the engine) - it still meant leaving the car at home - again. Yeah.. I'm sick.

I've decided to rule out the left hand drive options (as too dangerous for my overtaking needs). Which includes that bargain LHD AM Vantage for £40k and the Dodge Vipers. I was a passenger in a 456 Ferrari today which is the main contender at the mo. It was very fast (but not as fast as the Cerb), spacious, but lacking the almighty ROAR I have become acustomed to. Perhaps a sports exhaust could slove that. Unless I can find an RHD AM DB7 Vantage for about £50K. (Wishful thinking).

Also saw an old skool 1968ish Ferarri 256 Dino for about £55k. Absolutely beautiful, but probably wouldn't offer the reliability that I need (and I don't have a garage).

I'm struggling with the performance Vs. reliability Vs. rareness of the car. Whatcha think of the Merc CL500? Is that selling out to corporate hell?