North East Cerberas?

[vatanen]

I guess this'll be another blag a ride thread nicely disguised with I know you lot are a friendly bunch and wouldn't mind taking me for a quick spin kind of yarn. And it's my first ever post here, so go easy!

I've wanted a Cerbera since I first saw one pictured in some magazine in the 90s. The car's shape, the Englishness and the power figures, which at the time were mind blowing, all adding to the desire. I'm a little older now and I have driven a lot of powerful cars, mainly Japanese turbo cars, but still I feel like I'm missing out by not owning a Cerbera. The problem is I live in Finland, there are no Cerberas here and I've never seen any TVR on the roads in the UK. The reliability is a worry as there's nothing but stories from Top Gear and pretty much everyone mentions they always break down as soon as you say 'TVR', but with the old RB26 rebuild behind me, car maintenance and the likes is not something I fear! Plus looking at simple perishable parts such as ball joints, they are so much cheaper and easier to find than Skyline parts. There have been times when my car's been off the road for a month waiting for a ball joint or something equally small.

I'll be in the North East of England (Hartlepool) at the end of September (26th until 5th October) for my brother's wedding, so I was wondering if there are any local Cerbera owners (4.2 or 4.5) who wouldn't mind taking me for a ride? Maybe drag the wife along too! Of course, payement for petrol, beer, both is fine with me, I don't expect anything for nothing. I really would like to see one before I finally commit to the decision, even though I think I've already made it! Or if there's a Cerbera/TVR meet in the NE at the time, I could attend that, dates permitting. It would be nice to get a level account of Cerbera ownership.

Cheers

[G20RG B]

Might be worth a visit to Hexam, not to far away from Hartlepool Well about 50 miles ish, they are TVR dealers and normally have some stock you can have a look at.

[vatanen]

I've heard of Hexham if they're of the Horseless Carriage kind, I think I even remember them selling Cerberas back in the 90s. Somehow my mind associates the name with the marque.

Are dealers usually OK with giving test drives (or rides) in cars, that I won't buy just yet? There's no point me buying a car right now as winter is on it's way and when temperatures reach the -35 to -40 level, you need somewhere to store it! Well, I guess I would be evaluating their service and their knowledge and if the right car came up I would maybe go there. I guess I should try as many as I can before buying as I've read not a single one is the same...

[FUBAR]

Come on chaps, where's this northern hospitality I keep hearing about? Surely someone can tie their whippet to a lamppost long enough to take this chap out for a spin?

[Steve_T]

Local TVRCC region perhaps?

[Gowka]

Hexham Horseless are excellent, had recently a need of their help with a new clutch and they were ace about the whole thing.

They are TVR/Noble/Lotus so imagine how good their showroom might look and bloody double it. Fantastic stock on offer and really excellent bunch of guys!!

[peteA]

FUBAR said:

Come on chaps, where's this northern hospitality I keep hearing about? Surely someone can tie their whippet to a lamppost long enough to take this chap out for a spin?

Recently traded my Cerb for a Griff so can't help.

Not sure how Tony @ HHC would react to someone wanting to drive his cars with no intention of buying...maybe when the OP is ready to buy? Having said that its worth asking as its only a phone call and he can only say no?

The next TVRCC NE meeting in on October 10th - 12 Noon at the Wheatsheaf Hotel - Bar & Pub, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Callerton Lane, Woolsington, NE13 8DF. Cant say whether there will be a Cerb there though?

Hartlepool is in between Newcastle and the Leeds/harrogate area - there are other indie's with Cerbs for sale that may be worth a look such as SSCC (they have my old 98 4.2 for sale) and Drivestyle Horseless Carriages (97 4.2).

The Wheatsheaf is convenient as there are a number of lamp posts for us to tie our whipets to and there are tables outside to lay our flat caps on! Im off for a Broon ale.

[Fex2005]

My Cerbera is currntly in getting work done, but "should" be back on the road by then. im fron Durham, and only 15 mins or so away from hartlepool.

No problem, taking you out for a spin. Drop me an email via my profile.

Adam

[vatanen]

Thanks for all the replies.

The original problem was that I could easily go look at the cars at the dealers, but I have no objective experience of owning a TVR, or talking to the owners to see what they're really like. And as stated, I don't think dealers would take too kindly to me turning up and asking for a test drive when my plan is to buy early next spring. I'm trying to be more thoughtful about the TVR buying process than when I bought my GT-R. I've fixed a lot of issues with that car now, and I think most of it has been in pieces at one point or another, and if I can talk to owners who can advise me what to look out for, that would really help. The Skyline had knackered front suspension bushes, rust underneath the rear spats, and a few more issues that I would certainly look out for were I to buy another one. But it was a case of having the blinkers on and kind of awed by the presence of the car, which I'm sure cannot be entirely removed from the buying process, but it's nice to be able to keep it a little more under control! I guess after that will come all of the questions about conformity certificates and DOT/E marked headlights etc, but if it can be registered in Holland etc, then Finland shouldn't be that hard. The Emissions tests are usually the hardest to pass.

I'm originally from Hartlepool, just lived here too long now (11 years), I guess I'll have to dig up a whippet from somewhere just to look authentic

And Thanks for the offer Adam, I'll contact you, been to Durham many times, beautiful place.