Which Cerb?

[Kentish]

Can anyone direct me to the lowdown on all things Cerb?

I'd like the most reliable engine option as it would be run on a restricted budget as a second car.

[MackemPete]

Kentish said:

Can anyone direct me to the lowdown on all things Cerb?

I'd like the most reliable engine option as it would be run on a restricted budget as a second car.

Depends how limited your budget is mate. You might struggle if your not prepared to spend a couple of £k a year on the car. Though if your pretty handy with the spanners this figure will drop quite a bit.

[Kentish]

MackemPete said:

Kentish said:

Can anyone direct me to the lowdown on all things Cerb?

I'd like the most reliable engine option as it would be run on a restricted budget as a second car.

Depends how limited your budget is mate. You might struggle if your not prepared to spend a couple of £k a year on the car. Though if your pretty handy with the spanners this figure will drop quite a bit.

I'm fairly handy but not equipped for complete engine removal and strip downs.

I could handle the yearly budget as long as there was nothing catastrophic

I'd perhaps have to part with my current Audi.

Do many folks run them as daily drivers?

I could have one as my only car as my wife has a sensible car. My current TT Roadster is quick and fun but lacks that sense of occasion you get with a TVR and I like a normally aspirated engine where the power can be put down straight away, every drive was an event in my old Tiv and felt special.

[Kentish]

Is the 4.2 the most reliable and easiest to work on and cheapest to run?

[Dave 500]

Kentish said:

Do many folks run them as daily drivers?

I do not had any problems so far.....

Edited by Dave 500 on Monday 29th September 11:09

[900T-R]

Kentish said:

Is the 4.2 the most reliable and easiest to work on and cheapest to run?

Don't know, but early ones (up to late '97?) with the small journal crank definitely aren't by the sound of things...

[BLUETHUNDER]

I dont use mine as a daily drive.But i use it on a regular basis.These cars ned to be used if you want to keep the gremlins at bay.What you dont do is bury it in a garage for 6 months of the year.

[JensenA]

Kentish said:

Can anyone direct me to the lowdown on all things Cerb?

I'd like the most reliable engine option as it would be run on a restricted budget as a second car.

You can't buy a Cerbera to run on a Restricted budget, but it depends how you define restricted. £3k pa is the figure to be prepared for. Use the search facilty on here to find all the info you need. It's a fantastic car but they need commitment from the owner of both time and money - they are not a cheap car to run.

Edited by JensenA on Monday 29th September 11:32

[Kentish]

Thanks for the replies so far.

What were the engines types and what years did they span?

The one with engine issues was the TVR designed and manufactured engine wasn't it?

Was this the engine with horror stories of really epensive rebuilds every 20k miles or so?

[touching cloth]

There are 2 types of TVR own engines and both found their way into Cerbies, AJP8 (as found in the Tuscan Racers and Cerbs) and the SpeedSix (as also found in some Cerbs and then all the later cars since). The AJP8 is comparatively a safe engine in comparison to the S6 (I won't go into the history an problems with the S6 but there are pages devoted to it, some founded and some unfounded allegations), the early 4.2 V8 did also have an issue with weak cranks, although I think we are really getting to the stage now that they have either gone and been replaced, or they ain't gonna go anyway - that issue was sorted anyway by late 97 and 98 onwards cars in either 4.2 or 4.5 guise are equally safe bets. Some AJP8's are having rebuilds around the 50-60k mark, mostly due to increasing oil usage etc rather than they go bang, some are upto approx 130k without rebuild, a lot depends on how they were run in when new I think so it's a bit of a lottery.

Personally I'd go with a V8 version of either size but if it's a 4.2 try to get a 98 onwards, or check the history to see if it had an early engine change or work due to crank. Go 4.5 if you want to develop it for bigger power, 4.5 can be modded with short induction and remapping to get to the power they should have had anyway, 420ish - 4.2 however came pretty much with the power they claimed which is around 360. An unmodded 4.5 will be very unlikely to have more power than a standard 4.2 and you tend to be able to get 4.2's a wee bit cheaper, so if you are happy with circa 360 then 4.2's are a good buy.

Edited by touching cloth on Monday 29th September 11:59

[MackemPete]

Kentish said:

Thanks for the replies so far.

What were the engines types and what years did they span?

The one with engine issues was the TVR designed and manufactured engine wasn't it?

Was this the engine with horror stories of really epensive rebuilds every 20k miles or so?

Think your getting mixed up with the speed six engine (also available in cerbs). The AJP V8 that come in 4.2 and 4.5 varietys are pretty reliable and should last a lot longer than 20k. Though there was some problems with early 4.2's cranks as mentioned earlier. If you are looking 98+ and for a V8 then the engine shouldn't be your biggest concern as long as its been looked after.

[morebeanz]

Three engines aside from specials:

- 4.2 litre V8 AJP
- 4.5 litre V8 AJP
- 4.0 litre straight six (speed six)

All of them are TVR built, and, given the style of engine, reasonably reliable. Generally very little to choose between the 4.2 and 4.5, although the larger engine is more tunable. The speed six is the one where TVR had some reliability issues, some argue down to component quality, others down to design changes made by TVR - you can search the other TVR forums for more info as this engine is used in the Tuscans/Sagaris and T350s too.

[MackemPete]

were like buses... you wait for ages then 3 come at the same time!

[touching cloth]

The real question of course, is do you like purple???

[smash]

I see the words "restricted budget" and instantly I think a cerb may not be for you.

I went in at the low end price wise @ £10K not because I had to (the Noble P4 it replaced went for £24K so I have a mjor slush fund!) but because the car that came up had been cosseted and everything done, it felt right, it felt honest and because I spoke to both the indy who looked after it for the last 2 years and the engine rebuilder. This car has been looked after like a Cerb should be - there's been no scrimping whatsoever and I'll tell you that, off the top of my head, I think the bills for the last two years add up to more than I gave for the car. (Pete - hope your wife doesn't read this!!)

Yes, it's already in with Taylor TVR at the moment but that's turned out to be a small issue that I think Dan may have nailed already (the rear bearing on the air con pump is prime suspect). Point is I went in with eyes open and on the basis I knew I had money to throw it when (not if) it needed it.

It's truly a stunning car and having looked underneath on Dan's lift I know I made the right choice (only 3 previous owners was also a good sign, lol!).

Hmm - what am I trying to say here? I guess keep some of the money back for unforeseens and as has been said many times here, buy on condition and good history, not age.

Re: 4.5 vs 4.2 - the 4.5 I drove didn't actually feel as quick as my 4.2, certainly didn't have the 'cam kick' @ around 4K! So I suppose budget for a remap if you go that route.


Meant to say - if you're a spanner monkey, download the workshop manual the engine (AJP) is nowhere near as scary as you might first think. Bear in mind affect on resale if you go down home servicing route.

Edited by smash on Monday 29th September 12:37

[Kentish]

Thanks everyone, they are each very helpful summaries.

I would only consider this if I have it as a regular use car and my only car (plus my wifes diesel of course) - the reason being is that I would have a larger budget for keeping the Cerb in fine form rather than the same budget split between 2 cars and as many have said, TVRs like to be used and not sat in a garage.

I've spent getting on for £3.5k on my Audi so far this year in maintaining it and upgrading parts, I guess the Cerb could be a fair bit worse - obviously the running costs will be too but if I look for a while and do my homework and buy the right car it should reduce the chances of hitting the reapir budget too often.