Should Cerbera be my next Car ?
Discussion
First post here..
Currently making my mind up on a replacement second car.
Had originally set my mind on a Maserati 3200GT but am now being mystically pulled towards a Cerbera.
I've been a Toyota Supra TT owner for last 4 years and found the car to be near bulletproof, reliable and still damn fast.
It seems that just about every advert i see for a 4/5year old Cerberas seem to have had work on them, Clutch, Rad, Gearbox, Exhaust etc.
Is it the norm for things to need replacing on low mileage cars ?
My mechanic who specialises in Japanese performance and runs a near 200mph Supra himself has tried to warn me off, telling me TVRs are no more than glorified Kit Cars !!
I plan on only using the car during dry days, probably a couple of times a week to do 14mile round trips to work - with the occassional sprint up the motorway (never exceeding 70mph of course)
So i think i just need a little convincing that the Cerbera is better than :-
Maserati 3200GT
Aston Martin DB7
Jaguar XKR
Nissan Skyline GTR R34
Just a few choices in my list
Certainly TVR is cheaper to insure than all that lot !!
Comments/advice appreciated.
Perhaps the trip to Henley TVR on Sunday may also help my choice
Dean.
Currently making my mind up on a replacement second car.
Had originally set my mind on a Maserati 3200GT but am now being mystically pulled towards a Cerbera.
I've been a Toyota Supra TT owner for last 4 years and found the car to be near bulletproof, reliable and still damn fast.
It seems that just about every advert i see for a 4/5year old Cerberas seem to have had work on them, Clutch, Rad, Gearbox, Exhaust etc.
Is it the norm for things to need replacing on low mileage cars ?
My mechanic who specialises in Japanese performance and runs a near 200mph Supra himself has tried to warn me off, telling me TVRs are no more than glorified Kit Cars !!
I plan on only using the car during dry days, probably a couple of times a week to do 14mile round trips to work - with the occassional sprint up the motorway (never exceeding 70mph of course)
So i think i just need a little convincing that the Cerbera is better than :-
Maserati 3200GT
Aston Martin DB7
Jaguar XKR
Nissan Skyline GTR R34
Just a few choices in my list
Certainly TVR is cheaper to insure than all that lot !!
Comments/advice appreciated.
Perhaps the trip to Henley TVR on Sunday may also help my choice
Dean.
Dean ,
firstly welcome to the list. Its sounds as if
you've had good fun with your Supra. I also had
a twin turbo,so i know where you are comming from.
Let me just say , that apart from the insane
performance that the Cerb offers,this was'nt the only
factor in my decision for ownership. The looks,
sound, interior ,British made, all stand up for
a little more than the rest of the crowd.
Everyones choice/oppinion varies ,personaly
i would like to think that i have something diffrent.
firstly welcome to the list. Its sounds as if
you've had good fun with your Supra. I also had
a twin turbo,so i know where you are comming from.
Let me just say , that apart from the insane
performance that the Cerb offers,this was'nt the only
factor in my decision for ownership. The looks,
sound, interior ,British made, all stand up for
a little more than the rest of the crowd.
Everyones choice/oppinion varies ,personaly
i would like to think that i have something diffrent.
Cheers Stas
The performance was certainly something that caught my eye
Thats what really ruled out the Maserati, DB7 & XKR. R34 performance is excellent but it just doesnt look sexy, which the others do.
The Cerbera seems to embody all of the important factors, performance exceeds all, interior as good as Maserati, curves similar to XKR etc.
I must admit i do like the idea of buying British too.
Dean.
The performance was certainly something that caught my eye
Thats what really ruled out the Maserati, DB7 & XKR. R34 performance is excellent but it just doesnt look sexy, which the others do.
The Cerbera seems to embody all of the important factors, performance exceeds all, interior as good as Maserati, curves similar to XKR etc.
I must admit i do like the idea of buying British too.
Dean.
3 things.....
1. Read many of the threads over the past couple of months here...you will learn a lot
2. Buy your car from someone who knows what they are talking about..ie James Agger or at least get someone to check the car out for you first ie..Joolz at Joolspeed.
3. Most important of all IMHO...buy a Cerbera with your eyes wide OPEN !!
1. Read many of the threads over the past couple of months here...you will learn a lot
2. Buy your car from someone who knows what they are talking about..ie James Agger or at least get someone to check the car out for you first ie..Joolz at Joolspeed.
3. Most important of all IMHO...buy a Cerbera with your eyes wide OPEN !!
Based on the models you have listed of what you're looking into... I'd say the cerbera is definitely none of them, it doesnt touch some of their reliability, and their class of luxury and overall drivability....
but...
what the cerbera offers, is driver enjoyment and raw power... thats all you get (the nice interior falls apart so keep that in mind, although if looked after well, it will hold up, but not like the other makes you're considering which are bulletproof in many ways).
Yes, your machanic friend is definitely right on the track with "glorified kit car" but, what he has forgotten to mention is, its a kit car that makes you believe its a luxury car with its styling and interior... and then planted under the hood is a serious F1 derived engine....
I'd recommend you drive a few before you jump into it, the Jag XKR is definitely the way to go if you want a little of everything, a nice supercharger, great performance, and great luxury, and reliability on these is better than XK8's and way better than most TVR's....
but without getting flamed by the cerb community, I have been in love with TVR's for their shear performance, I mean 60 comes in around less than 4 seconds and 100mph comes around the 8 second mark... now thats the selling point of a Cerbera.... but it does fail to make a statement when lapping around on track days as its no way near as sharp and responsive as a T350 or Lotus or a Ferrari 360....
If you're looking for a car that will take you to work and back in style and the odd long distance trip up the motorway... nothing much will touch the XKR in its supercar performance blended with luxury and looks.
Cerbera = f'in fast, will make you shit your pants when you see one driven the way its supposed to be, but not a luxury car, yes in principle can be considered a glorified kit car, its a tubular race chassis with a glass fibre shell dropped onto a plastic bucket... and then a ferocious engine planted under the hood and some AP racing brakes... thats about it. Build quality is poor, and reliability is 50/50, either you're lucky or not.
Jaguar = smoothly fast and great top end acceleration... especially with limiter removed! great luxury, with all the creature comforts... and huge tyres, gives the car road presence... its the kind of car, a sensible wealthy lad would buy to enjoy driving and still have the umph when needed.
Maserati = a friend owns one, and he loves it, although he does say the performance is lacking for what its supposed to be... but says the classy build and low running cost makes up for the lack of delivery of performance when needed.
Bottom line:
Buy a Cerbera if you're after 1:Performance and 2:looks
Buy a Jag if you're after 1:Luxury and 2
erformance
Buy a Maserati if you're after 1:the name(ferrari relative remember) 2:individuality
Cerbera wins for me, but most of us have second cars, so we dont miss out on the luxury/reliability and extra passenger space when needed...
Hope I helped in some way...
but...
what the cerbera offers, is driver enjoyment and raw power... thats all you get (the nice interior falls apart so keep that in mind, although if looked after well, it will hold up, but not like the other makes you're considering which are bulletproof in many ways).
Yes, your machanic friend is definitely right on the track with "glorified kit car" but, what he has forgotten to mention is, its a kit car that makes you believe its a luxury car with its styling and interior... and then planted under the hood is a serious F1 derived engine....
I'd recommend you drive a few before you jump into it, the Jag XKR is definitely the way to go if you want a little of everything, a nice supercharger, great performance, and great luxury, and reliability on these is better than XK8's and way better than most TVR's....
but without getting flamed by the cerb community, I have been in love with TVR's for their shear performance, I mean 60 comes in around less than 4 seconds and 100mph comes around the 8 second mark... now thats the selling point of a Cerbera.... but it does fail to make a statement when lapping around on track days as its no way near as sharp and responsive as a T350 or Lotus or a Ferrari 360....
If you're looking for a car that will take you to work and back in style and the odd long distance trip up the motorway... nothing much will touch the XKR in its supercar performance blended with luxury and looks.
Cerbera = f'in fast, will make you shit your pants when you see one driven the way its supposed to be, but not a luxury car, yes in principle can be considered a glorified kit car, its a tubular race chassis with a glass fibre shell dropped onto a plastic bucket... and then a ferocious engine planted under the hood and some AP racing brakes... thats about it. Build quality is poor, and reliability is 50/50, either you're lucky or not.
Jaguar = smoothly fast and great top end acceleration... especially with limiter removed!
great luxury, with all the creature comforts... and huge tyres, gives the car road presence... its the kind of car, a sensible wealthy lad would buy to enjoy driving and still have the umph when needed. Maserati = a friend owns one, and he loves it, although he does say the performance is lacking for what its supposed to be... but says the classy build and low running cost makes up for the lack of delivery of performance when needed.
Bottom line:
Buy a Cerbera if you're after 1:Performance and 2:looks
Buy a Jag if you're after 1:Luxury and 2
erformance Buy a Maserati if you're after 1:the name(ferrari relative remember) 2:individuality
Cerbera wins for me, but most of us have second cars, so we dont miss out on the luxury/reliability and extra passenger space when needed...
Hope I helped in some way...
Well - all cars are the same. And all cars are different.
I'm not sure whether "glorified kit car" isn't a big compliment.
TVRs are a different way of thinking to a japanese motor. In my experience (limited to the Griff really) they tend to give of their best if they get used regularly and subjected to TLC from time to time - they are like a love affair where you have to take them out to dinner from time to time to get teh best deal.
From what I can tell, and experience of bikes, japanese motors? Well, you take 'em out the box, play with them and can put them back when you've finished.
You'll either be won over by the eccentricity and the way they capture you - or you'll be completely mystified as to why people rave about them!
Go and try some out - see if you "bond" with one!
Apart from that, you've come to the right place for info - the search facility should keep you amused for days!
I'm not sure whether "glorified kit car" isn't a big compliment.
TVRs are a different way of thinking to a japanese motor. In my experience (limited to the Griff really) they tend to give of their best if they get used regularly and subjected to TLC from time to time - they are like a love affair where you have to take them out to dinner from time to time to get teh best deal.
From what I can tell, and experience of bikes, japanese motors? Well, you take 'em out the box, play with them and can put them back when you've finished.
You'll either be won over by the eccentricity and the way they capture you - or you'll be completely mystified as to why people rave about them!
Go and try some out - see if you "bond" with one!
Apart from that, you've come to the right place for info - the search facility should keep you amused for days!
[quote=SXS ].... but it does fail to make a statement when lapping around on track days as its no way near as sharp and responsive as a T350 or Lotus or a Ferrari 360....
...[/quote]
Unless the Cerbera has had the Martin Short suspension modifications, then it eats 360s, Lotus and GT3s.
...[/quote]
Unless the Cerbera has had the Martin Short suspension modifications, then it eats 360s, Lotus and GT3s.
B19TOY said:
Unless the Cerbera has had the Martin Short suspension modifications, then it eats 360s, Lotus and GT3s.
So I hear... but then again, I'm sure you can pay the money and get some treatment on your 360 or Lotus or GT3 tooo....
Standard comparison, otherwise we could go on forever with what is possible...
gazzab said:
engines have nowt to do with F1 !
I'm afraid you're very misinformed my friend.
The AJP V8 actually was initially a race engine that got shifted into a road car...
Its race technology is F1 derived, because one of the famous engine designers Al Melling was the guy who was the original designer along with Wheelers input of the AJP (a for Al and J for another geez and P for Peter) V8, and they took many principles from an F1 engine, but tried to keep in mind low cost, so modified specific things in order to achieve longer duration of run between rebuilds, hence why the AJP engines do need a rebuild if run like they were intended to be.
You got me started now.....
1. First of all the AJP does have an extremely sophisticated water circulation system similar to F1 engines, and then ...
2. its lubrication system which delivers oil at high pressure to the engine and at low pressure to the crankshaft...
3. and its fuel delivery at high compression with overlap
4. and remember the block is so solid/rigidly designed, it could be used as a stressed member.
5. Weight/physics - The engine is set in a 75degree angle - flat plane crank, and weighing in at 121kg it is quite a lot lighter than the V8 F1 and F3000 engines
6. The pistons and connecting rods are all forged. Dont forget the camshaft is rifle bored and built using EN40B steel!!!
There are quite a few more more technical aspects in the AJP engine that relate to the high compression high performance F1 engines... but that goes over most heads so no need to go into detail.
But remember, the AJP V8 engine, is one hell of a simple old skool engine, chain driven, and single cam layer, and the overall delivery and execution of power is only possible due to its original designers intention of designing a race engine similar to F1 engines but at less the cost and longer times of running between rebuilds... Tuscan Challenge... and now for a few years also been running in the road cars, although a little detuned here and there. The 4.5 came out later and its the same thing effectively but a larger distribution would entail greater acceleration in mid to top end in respect to better combustion.... (hence why many dont notice the performance unless they're really blasting it from standstill to top end and revving to around 6000rpm per gear change!)
Peace!
Thanks for all the replies.
SXS - you certainly seem to know your Cerbera's
I'm going this afternoon to Henley TVR to look at a Halycon Yellow 4.5 - so this should be the turning moment.
Not planning on buying immediately but will hopefully set my mind.
My budget is to buy a suitable car, then probably spend £2-3k a year to keep it running.
Does this sound sensible amount - bar an engine, what are the dearest parts ??
Dean.
SXS - you certainly seem to know your Cerbera's
I'm going this afternoon to Henley TVR to look at a Halycon Yellow 4.5 - so this should be the turning moment.
Not planning on buying immediately but will hopefully set my mind.
My budget is to buy a suitable car, then probably spend £2-3k a year to keep it running.
Does this sound sensible amount - bar an engine, what are the dearest parts ??
Dean.
I'd put aside 4K each year (just in case), I normally just keep a credit card handy, dedicated to the car... give and take, 2K is a little low, really depends on how much you drive her, but the tyres alone are little pricey, and then dont forget servicing costs escalate if parts need replacing due to early unnatural failure....
put 4K aside, give n take, maybe 2k will suffice, it all depends on the build quality of the baby you'll be buying and the amount of miles you put on her and the way you drive her....
Good luck!
put 4K aside, give n take, maybe 2k will suffice, it all depends on the build quality of the baby you'll be buying and the amount of miles you put on her and the way you drive her....
Good luck!
I test drove a Cerb 4.5 last week as I need to replace my Ferrari 355 with 2 plus 2 car.
I found the Cerb handlng quite poor, the engine popped and banged, but when it come together it was very impressive. The door let in a lot of wind noise too.
I also test drove the Maz 4200 which is so far better then the GT3200 turbo car. But now searching for a good Ferrari 456. - I would recommend the 456 over anything in your list.
Good luck in what ever you buy.
I found the Cerb handlng quite poor, the engine popped and banged, but when it come together it was very impressive. The door let in a lot of wind noise too.
I also test drove the Maz 4200 which is so far better then the GT3200 turbo car. But now searching for a good Ferrari 456. - I would recommend the 456 over anything in your list.
Good luck in what ever you buy.
Well, went to Henley's yesterday - OMG....
Unforunately didnt get to take one out
- they dont move the cars on a Sunday - viewing only.
The 4.5 was sold when i got there, but had 2 x Speed 6's.
W Reg in Purple with Pale Grey interior - looked sooo sexy.
T Reg in Oyster - forgot to look inside..
The man there seemed to know his stuff, and i dont think he was selling when he suggested a Speed 6 being a better option for taking the family out.
I anticipate my annual mileage to be considerably less than 4k per year. Most of the time will be driving to work on sunny days. He told me that gear changes in a 4.5 would annoy passengers, and that motorway driving could be a pain as you do a lot of 4th to 5th as 5th is best at 80mph ?
He also told me that a six was ok, if it was checked properly and had a rebuild if it was necessary.
I'm obviously going to have to find a garage with a Speed 6 and a 4.5 to try them both out. Amazingly there are no garages local to Bedfordshire so the family will have to put up with a bit of travelling to see them
I did notice on the T reg that the carbon fibre around the windows was discolouring as was the windscreen - is this normal. The W reg had no carbon fibre and a clean screen.
Dean.
Unforunately didnt get to take one out
- they dont move the cars on a Sunday - viewing only. The 4.5 was sold when i got there, but had 2 x Speed 6's.
W Reg in Purple with Pale Grey interior - looked sooo sexy.
T Reg in Oyster - forgot to look inside..
The man there seemed to know his stuff, and i dont think he was selling when he suggested a Speed 6 being a better option for taking the family out.
I anticipate my annual mileage to be considerably less than 4k per year. Most of the time will be driving to work on sunny days. He told me that gear changes in a 4.5 would annoy passengers, and that motorway driving could be a pain as you do a lot of 4th to 5th as 5th is best at 80mph ?
He also told me that a six was ok, if it was checked properly and had a rebuild if it was necessary.
I'm obviously going to have to find a garage with a Speed 6 and a 4.5 to try them both out. Amazingly there are no garages local to Bedfordshire so the family will have to put up with a bit of travelling to see them
I did notice on the T reg that the carbon fibre around the windows was discolouring as was the windscreen - is this normal. The W reg had no carbon fibre and a clean screen.
Dean.
Dean, not sure where you are in Bedfordshire but can you get to Stansted fairly easily? Castle are good bunch of guys to deal with. Not sure if they have any speed six Cerbs but they certainly have a few Cerbs in stock. I would suggest the 4.2 V8 makes for an easier car to live with than the 4.5 too. Also, comes in cheaper than a 4.5 and none of the uncertainty of the earlier speed six. It is fair to say that the speed six is a smoother car around town and slightly softer ride too. Not sure what all this gear changing is about. If you can drive properly your passengers should barely know you've changed gear anyway.
Washy
Washy
Darbyweb said:
Well, went to Henley's yesterday - OMG....
Unforunately didnt get to take one out
The 4.5 was sold when i got there, but had 2 x Speed 6's.
W Reg in Purple with Pale Grey interior - looked sooo sexy.
T Reg in Oyster - forgot to look inside..
The man there seemed to know his stuff, and i dont think he was selling when he suggested a Speed 6 being a better option for taking the family out.
I anticipate my annual mileage to be considerably less than 4k per year. Most of the time will be driving to work on sunny days. He told me that gear changes in a 4.5 would annoy passengers, and that motorway driving could be a pain as you do a lot of 4th to 5th as 5th is best at 80mph ?
He also told me that a six was ok, if it was checked properly and had a rebuild if it was necessary.
I'm obviously going to have to find a garage with a Speed 6 and a 4.5 to try them both out. Amazingly there are no garages local to Bedfordshire so the family will have to put up with a bit of travelling to see them
I did notice on the T reg that the carbon fibre around the windows was discolouring as was the windscreen - is this normal. The W reg had no carbon fibre and a clean screen.
Dean.
I'd recommend a 4.2 too (but I suppose I would, owning one). His comments about motorway cruising is a fair one. My 4.2 cruises very well on the motorway (I mean back straight) at 90mph in 5th with immediate acceleration to 110 without any effort at all. It will do 60 upwards in 5th but it's not at its most comfortable. The AJP delivers power at 4k+ so you have to use the gears to make good progress.
Since sorting out my car (getting rid of all the rattles, fitting decent suspension, wheels, ICE etc) it really is a great all rounder. I had an hour long conversation yesterday without raising my voice at all travelling 'quickly' and covering 80 miles some of which was through heavy traffic.
Darren.
_DJ_ said:
My 4.2 cruises very well on the motorway (I mean back straight) at 90mph in 5th with immediate acceleration to 110 without any effort at all.
Darren.
An ex-Cerbie owner pointed out the fifth gear thing to me recently. You can floor it at 90, and it'll pull cleanly to 130, where it actually feels like it comes on cam and it starts accelerating harder! Then its up to you, keep your foot planted and fly past 180 given the space/ time... or back off. then again, as fun as fifth is at these speeds, you might as well flick it down into third at 90 and get the best of the engines power. Then fourth at 115ish etc etc...
Gotta love these cars!!!
Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff