High mileage better ... I don't get it?
Discussion
There are loads of posts on here saying don't go for low mile cerbs (we're talking pre 1999 here) as they 'haven't had the niggles run out of them' or another such reason.
I don't get it
For sake of argument you have 2 'R' plate Cerbs side by side, one with 20k on the clock and one with 50k on the clock, both with full history - which are you going to opt for. IMO its a no-brainer go for the lower mileage car.
Can some one please enlighten me why it takes so long to 'run the niggles' out of a Cerb and why should it have covered at least 6-8k a year to be 'proven'.
S.
I don't get it
For sake of argument you have 2 'R' plate Cerbs side by side, one with 20k on the clock and one with 50k on the clock, both with full history - which are you going to opt for. IMO its a no-brainer go for the lower mileage car.
Can some one please enlighten me why it takes so long to 'run the niggles' out of a Cerb and why should it have covered at least 6-8k a year to be 'proven'.
S.
I think it's more like a 7-10k mile car versus a 25-30k mile car.
The lower mileage car may well have some teething problems still to be dealt with, plus standing unused for long periods of time can agrievate faults. I would put it down to the handbuilt nature of the marque.
This theory is I'm sure based on others' experience, an applies to all TVRs.
>> Edited by julianhj on Tuesday 30th March 21:06
The lower mileage car may well have some teething problems still to be dealt with, plus standing unused for long periods of time can agrievate faults. I would put it down to the handbuilt nature of the marque.
This theory is I'm sure based on others' experience, an applies to all TVRs.
>> Edited by julianhj on Tuesday 30th March 21:06
julianhj said:
I think it's more like a 7-10k mile car versus a 25-30k mile car.
The lower mileage car may well have some teething problems still to be dealt with, plus standing unused for long periods of time can agrievate faults. I would put it down to the handbuilt nature of the marque.
This theory is I'm sure based on others' experience, an applies to all TVRs.
>> Edited by julianhj on Tuesday 30th March 21:06
julianhj said:
I think it's more like a 7-10k mile car versus a 25-30k mile car.
That's what I'd have said... Much more than 35k, and things'll be wearing out. Much less than 15k, and it must've been left standing around/just had short blats out. I'd say that a car that's done 5-6k per year is a good compromise.
j_s_g said:
I think it's more like a 7-10k mile car versus a 25-30k mile car.
That's what I'd have said... Much more than 35k, and things'll be wearing out. Much less than 15k, and it must've been left standing around/just had short blats out. I'd say that a car that's done 5-6k per year is a good compromise.
ALthoug Im looking for a Griff an not a Cerb, thats exaclty what I scan the service manuals for, to make sure it hasnt been sitting around and has done 5-6K per year.
Second everything that's said. Example, in the last year on a 'low mileage car' I have replaced three of the four fixings for the rear anti-roll bar due to stress fractures. All of these components in later cars are reinforced, hence mine is now up to grade. Had the car done more miles, these would have broken sooner and not been my bill. In fact, if the original owner had used it enough in the first year, TVR would have picked up the bill, not me. 5-6k per annum looks spot on to me.
Due to the relatively low developement monies available to TVR (eg. not the multi-millions of Ford), they have to effectively use the owners of new models as testers. Hence if you check any of the new model forums, the trail of gripes & niggle can look horrendous. If you watch, however, they gradually trail off apart from specifics for each model. Many new posts are new owners playing catchup with the rest of us. Due to the hand-built nature of the cars, and having looked though numerous documents I am actually amazed how few recalls of a safety nature have been needed across the range. If a car isn't driven much, however, the gremlins are not exorcised.
If you buy a TVR, you should be aware that things DO break, but someone out there can fix it for you (dealer/indie) and at the end of the day, your the one the public stares at as you rumble by so enjoy.
[stepsdownfromsoapbox]
>> Edited by suffolkfox on Wednesday 31st March 10:37
Due to the relatively low developement monies available to TVR (eg. not the multi-millions of Ford), they have to effectively use the owners of new models as testers. Hence if you check any of the new model forums, the trail of gripes & niggle can look horrendous. If you watch, however, they gradually trail off apart from specifics for each model. Many new posts are new owners playing catchup with the rest of us. Due to the hand-built nature of the cars, and having looked though numerous documents I am actually amazed how few recalls of a safety nature have been needed across the range. If a car isn't driven much, however, the gremlins are not exorcised.
If you buy a TVR, you should be aware that things DO break, but someone out there can fix it for you (dealer/indie) and at the end of the day, your the one the public stares at as you rumble by so enjoy.
[stepsdownfromsoapbox]
>> Edited by suffolkfox on Wednesday 31st March 10:37
DustyC said:
julianhj said:
I think it's more like a 7-10k mile car versus a 25-30k mile car.
That's what I'd have said... Much more than 35k, and things'll be wearing out. Much less than 15k, and it must've been left standing around/just had short blats out. I'd say that a car that's done 5-6k per year is a good compromise.
ALthoug Im looking for a Griff an not a Cerb, thats exaclty what I scan the service manuals for, to make sure it hasnt been sitting around and has done 5-6K per year.
35k on a RV8 engine and it's just run in! 35k on any car is nothing, to a big V8 it's a tootle round the block!
And yes, I meant RV8 not AJP, because Dusty seems to be looking for a Griff but posting in a Cerb forum
yiw1393 said:
I think it's more like a 7-10k mile car versus a 25-30k mile car.
That's what I'd have said... Much more than 35k, and things'll be wearing out. Much less than 15k, and it must've been left standing around/just had short blats out. I'd say that a car that's done 5-6k per year is a good compromise.
ALthoug Im looking for a Griff an not a Cerb, thats exaclty what I scan the service manuals for, to make sure it hasnt been sitting around and has done 5-6K per year.
35k on a RV8 engine and it's just run in! 35k on any car is nothing, to a big V8 it's a tootle round the block!
And yes, I meant RV8 not AJP, because Dusty seems to be looking for a Griff but posting in a Cerb forum
Agree that to a big (lazy) V8, 35k is nothing (but to an AJP it probably constitutes a larger percentage of its pre-rebuild lifetime). Other things wear out, though... gearboxes, clutches, etc.
Based on JSG's last comment. For a 4.2 or 4.5 AJP engine, what would you say is the lifetime of the average engine between rebuilds?
Took a test drive in a 4.5 the other day and now getting increasingly tempted by cerbs. It was wet so couldn't exploit the power at the end of the loud pedal but what a wonderful sound from the exhaust, pops, bangs and crackles galore, and that was on a standard exhaust system. Quality motor!
Took a test drive in a 4.5 the other day and now getting increasingly tempted by cerbs. It was wet so couldn't exploit the power at the end of the loud pedal but what a wonderful sound from the exhaust, pops, bangs and crackles galore, and that was on a standard exhaust system. Quality motor!
aaandy said:
Based on JSG's last comment. For a 4.2 or 4.5 AJP engine, what would you say is the lifetime of the average engine between rebuilds?
Took a test drive in a 4.5 the other day and now getting increasingly tempted by cerbs. It was wet so couldn't exploit the power at the end of the loud pedal but what a wonderful sound from the exhaust, pops, bangs and crackles galore, and that was on a standard exhaust system. Quality motor!
I'd say it really depends on how it's been driven. If it's been thrashed from cold on a daily basis, <20k. If it's run daily, warmed up properly, and spends most of its time at 2k RPM cruising, there's no reason it shouldn't hit 100k. There are a couple out there with 80k+ on them without rebuilds. Based upon the way they're driven & treated by owners on here (slightly better than punter-done-good-on-the-street), I'd maybe take a stab at a figure of 50-60k ish? I'd be more concerned about the other bits, though, replacing a full clutch + gearbox wouldn't be far off an engine rebuild in price, and is maybe more likely.
Coming to this a little late, but naturally, a major factor to consider is this.
How many miles do YOU plan to put on it in a week, a month, a year etc?
I had a 4.2 that I'd spent a lot on to get right and then I sold it!
Many thought I was mad but the truth is, I bought the car as entry level to see
how I'd get on, loved it and planned to do a lot of miles waving the Cerbera flag.
Today for example, I did a 276 miles round trip in the new Cerbera by 2pm.
That's why I changed cars, the new having only 17000 on the clock as opposed
to 45000 on my last one.
Previously I stood in the 'buy a higher mileage camp', but I bought this car
knowing it had everything bar a new engine fitted in the last 6 months, mostly,
for the sake of it!
The clutch was on the way out, so James Agger got Joospeed to change that, so for me, I
was buying as little a risk as possible..if there is such a thing?!
Even though I had 4 weeks being unable to drive, in the other 4 weeks, I've added
2000 miles, but can now also enjoy the upgrades TVR added to the 4.5 and two extra
years of development.
So decide how many you think you might do, if it's not many, any 'clean' higher mileage car
would be a safe bet, unless you plan to do a lot of miles and can find a sorted lower version
as I now have.
Have to add, pure joy driving up to Runcorn today. Even the tedium of motorways
98% of the time did not detract. The gauges were like a stopped clock with the oil
sitting at 60 and the temp at 80 with only minor movements in traffic.
Pure bliss in the spring sun - off out to wash her now as a reward.
Good luck with the search.
How many miles do YOU plan to put on it in a week, a month, a year etc?
I had a 4.2 that I'd spent a lot on to get right and then I sold it!
Many thought I was mad but the truth is, I bought the car as entry level to see
how I'd get on, loved it and planned to do a lot of miles waving the Cerbera flag.
Today for example, I did a 276 miles round trip in the new Cerbera by 2pm.
That's why I changed cars, the new having only 17000 on the clock as opposed
to 45000 on my last one.
Previously I stood in the 'buy a higher mileage camp', but I bought this car
knowing it had everything bar a new engine fitted in the last 6 months, mostly,
for the sake of it!
The clutch was on the way out, so James Agger got Joospeed to change that, so for me, I
was buying as little a risk as possible..if there is such a thing?!
Even though I had 4 weeks being unable to drive, in the other 4 weeks, I've added
2000 miles, but can now also enjoy the upgrades TVR added to the 4.5 and two extra
years of development.
So decide how many you think you might do, if it's not many, any 'clean' higher mileage car
would be a safe bet, unless you plan to do a lot of miles and can find a sorted lower version
as I now have.
Have to add, pure joy driving up to Runcorn today. Even the tedium of motorways
98% of the time did not detract. The gauges were like a stopped clock with the oil
sitting at 60 and the temp at 80 with only minor movements in traffic.
Pure bliss in the spring sun - off out to wash her now as a reward.
Good luck with the search.
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