Possible Cerbera Buyer
Discussion
Hi
Following the birth of our first child, I have decided to part ways with my beloved Westfield and buy a toy that has more than two seats; the Cerbera seems to fit the bill for me.
Can anyone advise me on the basics of what to look out for when buying one? Are they really "that" unreliable? Also, can anyone perhaps point me to a good one for sale?
Thanks
David
Following the birth of our first child, I have decided to part ways with my beloved Westfield and buy a toy that has more than two seats; the Cerbera seems to fit the bill for me.
Can anyone advise me on the basics of what to look out for when buying one? Are they really "that" unreliable? Also, can anyone perhaps point me to a good one for sale?
Thanks
David
NumberoftheBeast said:
Hi
Following the birth of our first child, I have decided to part ways with my beloved Westfield and buy a toy that has more than two seats; the Cerbera seems to fit the bill for me.
Can anyone advise me on the basics of what to look out for when buying one? Are they really "that" unreliable? Also, can anyone perhaps point me to a good one for sale?
Thanks
David
Good choice Following the birth of our first child, I have decided to part ways with my beloved Westfield and buy a toy that has more than two seats; the Cerbera seems to fit the bill for me.
Can anyone advise me on the basics of what to look out for when buying one? Are they really "that" unreliable? Also, can anyone perhaps point me to a good one for sale?
Thanks
David
First rule of Cerb club, always buy on condition.
Second rule of Cerb club, make sure you're not short of two cylinders
Are they unreliable? Not if looked after properly, warmed up, fluids kept topped up etc.
What's your budget?
oh no.
have a serch mate there are about 4 or 5 threads in the last month with buying tips.
however EVO mgazine are publishing a buyers guide using Ollys car in august some time.
a cerb is relable if its looked after, and by looked after i dont mean driven nicely and serviced when needed, i mean, had rebuilds when necessary, previous keepers have upgraded parts and sorted any niggles out using better methods or better parts etc.
chasis condition(outriggers), engine rebuilds, cluth change and body damage are your main things to look for. then its down to what variant you want the 4.2, the 4.5 or the speed 6.
the 4.2's have a cast crank, some were poorly made and do snap resulting in knackered engine and ££££'s, some have snapped and have been upgraded etc, some late 4.2's have 4.5 bottom ends which do not suffer from crank snaps.
all 4.5's have solid cranks and snapping isnt an issue. 4.5s are tunable to see good gains, the 4.2 is pretty much at its power limit, some small gains achieveable but via different methods to the 4.5 engine.
have a serch mate there are about 4 or 5 threads in the last month with buying tips.
however EVO mgazine are publishing a buyers guide using Ollys car in august some time.
a cerb is relable if its looked after, and by looked after i dont mean driven nicely and serviced when needed, i mean, had rebuilds when necessary, previous keepers have upgraded parts and sorted any niggles out using better methods or better parts etc.
chasis condition(outriggers), engine rebuilds, cluth change and body damage are your main things to look for. then its down to what variant you want the 4.2, the 4.5 or the speed 6.
the 4.2's have a cast crank, some were poorly made and do snap resulting in knackered engine and ££££'s, some have snapped and have been upgraded etc, some late 4.2's have 4.5 bottom ends which do not suffer from crank snaps.
all 4.5's have solid cranks and snapping isnt an issue. 4.5s are tunable to see good gains, the 4.2 is pretty much at its power limit, some small gains achieveable but via different methods to the 4.5 engine.
Edited by plumAJP on Friday 26th June 13:59
Hi and thanks for the advice. I will do a search for the threads...
Budget-wise, I would say around 12,500 max. I already have an RS6, modified to 500bhp ish (aswell as the Westy and a Fabia VRS) and so would expect ownership to come at a cost.
Like you say, if I find a good one and take care of it - i.e. not scrimping and scraping, I am sure I will be fine. It will only be driven a couple of thousand miles a year at best. It'll just be a toy that can have three of us in rather than two.
I saw a few TVR owners out and about when I was in my Westy a few weeks back. Most of them let on; you seem like a friendly bunch.
Next step is to go and test drive one or see if anyone can take me in theirs (I am in Manchester)
Thanks again
Budget-wise, I would say around 12,500 max. I already have an RS6, modified to 500bhp ish (aswell as the Westy and a Fabia VRS) and so would expect ownership to come at a cost.
Like you say, if I find a good one and take care of it - i.e. not scrimping and scraping, I am sure I will be fine. It will only be driven a couple of thousand miles a year at best. It'll just be a toy that can have three of us in rather than two.
I saw a few TVR owners out and about when I was in my Westy a few weeks back. Most of them let on; you seem like a friendly bunch.
Next step is to go and test drive one or see if anyone can take me in theirs (I am in Manchester)
Thanks again
NumberoftheBeast said:
I already have an RS6, modified to 500bhp ish
Jeeesss - at least the usual warning about taking it easy wont apply...I took my boss out in my cerb the other day, then let him have a drive...we have a deal where we each have a go in others cars...he was totally blown away by the cerb!
His cars...Lexus RX400 hybrid 4X4 and an Aston Martin V12 Vantage.
There are days when driving the cerb is just breathtaking...I really enjoyed driving my chimaera but the cerb is in a different league.
Get one - you wont be dissapointed!
NumberoftheBeast said:
..... I already have an RS6, modified to 500bhp ish (aswell as the Westy and a Fabia VRS) .....
It will only be driven a couple of thousand miles a year at best.....
Listen, I promise this is friendly advice, but may I suggest that you buy something else. It will only be driven a couple of thousand miles a year at best.....
I truly believe that Cerbs respond well to frequent use and I would hate to think of something as beautiful as a Cerb, rotting away in someone's motoring stables, crying for a chance to get the wind in its manifolds.
Just a suggestion....
Edited by Mr.Cerbera on Saturday 27th June 12:27
I wouldnt say they are great for very young kids - no room for a rear facing baby seat in the back. And in the front it just dont feel safe and is a pain. the recaro seat is ok for kids aged about 1 - 3. After that you start to need to take em out without a car seat as boosters dont fit. So not strictly speaking legal. Once the kids are aged about 8 or 9 then the back is getting a bit if a squeeze for them.
Gazzab said:
I wouldnt say they are great for very young kids - no room for a rear facing baby seat in the back. And in the front it just dont feel safe and is a pain. the recaro seat is ok for kids aged about 1 - 3. After that you start to need to take em out without a car seat as boosters dont fit. So not strictly speaking legal. Once the kids are aged about 8 or 9 then the back is getting a bit if a squeeze for them.
Or if you are a short person and have little kids then the odd hour in the back isn't bad. I've put my 19yr old daughter in the back, and my 11 year old son and friend go in regularlyplumAJP said:
4.5s are tunable to see good gains, the 4.2 is pretty much at its power limit, some small gains achieveable but via different methods to the 4.5 engine.
Well, I'd have agreed with you up until this post http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Seems the 4.2 can grab an extra 30 horses, which puts it into 4.5 territory.
Thought I recognised your nickname, I too have had an RS6 for 3 years and been a poster on the RS246 forum, have also owned two Chimeara's and my current Cerb, so know exactly how to compare Tiv's and the RS!
The RS6 is an armchair ride to top speed and so damn quick it blows other cars away, including Tiv's if you are not ready for a spurt.
However, Tiv's are far more involving and every journey is a great one, if you want a driver's car get a Tiv, if you want a beast, get a Cerb!
My other half has driven the Chim and Cerb no issue, and been scared silly by me driving them..... never scared her in the RS6 though!
The maintenance costs are the same as the RS, £000's annually. Mine's back in the garage again with niggles. Just keep sorting them out and enjoy the car. I've racked up 7,000 miles in 4 months and just keep enjoying it.
Drove back from Le Mans with 3 Lambo's, guess who got the thumbs up and was loudest????
Search for the right Cerb and drop me a line if you wish, happy to tell you more. I miss the RS6 now its sold, but can't stop loving the Tiv's with a Chimeara as a daily driver and the Cerb as back up!!!
The RS6 is an armchair ride to top speed and so damn quick it blows other cars away, including Tiv's if you are not ready for a spurt.
However, Tiv's are far more involving and every journey is a great one, if you want a driver's car get a Tiv, if you want a beast, get a Cerb!
My other half has driven the Chim and Cerb no issue, and been scared silly by me driving them..... never scared her in the RS6 though!
The maintenance costs are the same as the RS, £000's annually. Mine's back in the garage again with niggles. Just keep sorting them out and enjoy the car. I've racked up 7,000 miles in 4 months and just keep enjoying it.
Drove back from Le Mans with 3 Lambo's, guess who got the thumbs up and was loudest????
Search for the right Cerb and drop me a line if you wish, happy to tell you more. I miss the RS6 now its sold, but can't stop loving the Tiv's with a Chimeara as a daily driver and the Cerb as back up!!!
I have two young kids - the Recaro Start seat is by far the best option (see other threads on here too) - but only useful from about 12-18months onwards...... my daughter has been in it since about 18 months in the back - it will fit behind the front passenger seat if you slide it all the way forwards (which still gives enough room for an adult up front). I am 6 foot - so would be a squeeze to get in behind me. I have a 3 yr old son - when he's in the front he uses the Recaro Start, but when we are all in the car he uses a Recaro Start Impact cushion. It fits over the legs / lower torso, and redirects the seat belt away from his neck. The rear seats are so deeply moulded it's like being in a bucket seat anyway - the Impact cushion just pins him in there.
Both of mine regularly fall asleep in the back - so you shouldn't have a problem with using it as a practical family car. Hell, mine's used for trips to the coast, trips to Chester zoo, just down the to the park, even been to IKEA and fitted stuff in the (very deep) boot.
Oh - and you should be able to get a pushchair in there with ease, as long as it isn't one of those masive three wheeled things - the standard collapsable buggy fits a treat.
So there you have it, four seats, big boot, takes the whole family. There's nothing quite like pulling into the parent and child only spaces getting glared at, then folding the seats forwards and getting the kids out!!!
Both of mine regularly fall asleep in the back - so you shouldn't have a problem with using it as a practical family car. Hell, mine's used for trips to the coast, trips to Chester zoo, just down the to the park, even been to IKEA and fitted stuff in the (very deep) boot.
Oh - and you should be able to get a pushchair in there with ease, as long as it isn't one of those masive three wheeled things - the standard collapsable buggy fits a treat.
So there you have it, four seats, big boot, takes the whole family. There's nothing quite like pulling into the parent and child only spaces getting glared at, then folding the seats forwards and getting the kids out!!!
Cheers guys.
Yes, I have posted on RS246.
I know the RS6 is fast, but like you say, it doesn't feel fast because of the comfort levels.
My Westfield is quick too; real fun with well over 200bhp in something that weighs very little. I'd miss it, but a TVR or four seater seems the logical option.
Yes, I have posted on RS246.
I know the RS6 is fast, but like you say, it doesn't feel fast because of the comfort levels.
My Westfield is quick too; real fun with well over 200bhp in something that weighs very little. I'd miss it, but a TVR or four seater seems the logical option.
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