speed six vs 4.5

[funbobby]

currently running a tam but really fancy a late 4.5 cerb. has anyone been lucky enough to own both and how did you find the running costs between the two? i know its a how long is a bit of string kinda question but i get the impression cerbs need that bit more to keep on top of things. touch wood my six has been good to me with only the clutch being the surprise in the past year.

[Pursyluv]

funbobby said:

currently running a tam but really fancy a late 4.5 cerb. has anyone been lucky enough to own both and how did you find the running costs between the two? i know its a how long is a bit of string kinda question but i get the impression cerbs need that bit more to keep on top of things. touch wood my six has been good to me with only the clutch being the surprise in the past year.

Have been lucky enough to own both, but having only swapped to the Tam a month ago i'm loathe to say too much. Initial thoughts are the Cerb will probably cost more in maintenance, fuel and insurance; last year i could have just about had a Speed 6 engine rebuild for what mine cost in repairing/replacing worn out parts. As is often said on PH you need £3k per annum to run a Cerb, although many people dispute this.

[Zarkingfardwarks]

ran a speed six in a Tuscan for 3 years. Admittedly fairly low miles but needed clutch and servicing plus a few bits n bobs (speed sensors etc). Had the Cerb for 8 months and no difference (it had just had a clutch when I bought it). Seems fairly similar to me (so far)

do have less of the "its gonna blow" feeling too. I am no way getting near 3K a year costs - but then it is a"weekend car". More miles = more servicing = more wear......but I would take the 3K for running with a pinch of salt. If you are upgrading then maybe - but that's not the same as running costs!

[Gazzab]

Zarkingfardwarks said:

ran a speed six in a Tuscan for 3 years. Admittedly fairly low miles but needed clutch and servicing plus a few bits n bobs (speed sensors etc). Had the Cerb for 8 months and no difference (it had just had a clutch when I bought it). Seems fairly similar to me (so far)

do have less of the "its gonna blow" feeling too. I am no way getting near 3K a year costs - but then it is a"weekend car". More miles = more servicing = more wear......but I would take the 3K for running with a pinch of salt. If you are upgrading then maybe - but that's not the same as running costs!

I stongly advise that you dont take the £3K a year with a pinch of salt. In some 10 yrs of cerb ownership I have yet to see a year that low re repairs.

[gruffalo]

I am at more than that so far this year!!

[funbobby]

aside from upgrades and servicing where does all the money go then? whats the usual problems large or small?

[scotty_d]

Insurance wise mine cost the same as my old Chim 400 more or less.

[Mr M]

> More miles = more servicing = more wear

and also ones driving style I suspect. I never had to spend more than standard servicing during my ownership of a Cerb and it didn't get anywhere new 3k thank heavens, that said, the 12k service was expensive if you're to stick rigidly to the year, rather than a more laid back mileage approach if it's a weekend toy.

[Zarkingfardwarks]

Gazzab said:

I stongly advise that you dont take the £3K a year with a pinch of salt. In some 10 yrs of cerb ownership I have yet to see a year that low re repairs.

always running costs? and how many miles per year? I await with my pinch of salt - prepared to throw it over my shoulder ....

[Gazzab]

Zarkingfardwarks said:

Gazzab said:

I stongly advise that you dont take the £3K a year with a pinch of salt. In some 10 yrs of cerb ownership I have yet to see a year that low re repairs.

always running costs? and how many miles per year? I await with my pinch of salt - prepared to throw it over my shoulder ....

Always running costs ie servicing and repairs. If I remove upgrades then maybe one year I went below £4K.

I do about 2,000 miles per annum, I have done 6K pa on previous cerbs.

I think my costs are partly down to the fact that I get everything attended to that needs it and I am a fussy b*st*rd.

Mine is in at the moment having Nirtons rebuilt, new springs, new bushese, new bushes on diff, corner weighting, drop links front and rear, throttle sring, rear arb fixed, coolant leak fixed and about another 5 or so niggles etc I guess.

I could have ignored these items but I want the car to be perfect and to be running perfect otherwise I dont enjoy driving it. Raceproved have suggested I get a job for a race team as a test driver as I am clearly far too sensitive and notice too much.

[HARDWORKPAYS]

i agree with gazzab,.. i think there are alot of people driving cerberas that DONOT drive like a cerbera should. they shouldnt rattle..they should clunk and make weird noises they should feel planted and strong.. i am new to ownership with my 4.2 and waiting for my 4.5 to finish refurb. but in the course of my search i test drove 12 cars! many owners said they had not spent that much and you could tell immediately.RATTLES..SLOW WINDOWS.. CLUNK FROM THE NETHER REGIONS, CREAKING.. ROCK HARD RIDES.. RUST THE LIST GOES ON.. if you dont want to spend then you could be potentially driving something that is going to kill you. for example your garage says that your fuel lines are ok but look a little worn.. do you wait for then to split and toast you into the fibre glass or do you spend and get them changed pronto.. i have to put my kids in my car and i am glad the previous owner spent so much.. and in the service history he is definately over 3k a year..!

[itiejim]

Gazzab, I believe, has work done at an indie, rather than doing it himself. Clearly this is going to impact on how much you spend. However, I do all my work myself and have still spent about £7k in 2 years, very little of which was upgrades.

Having said that, I have done an engine rebuild and do hope that having put all the important bits right, I should be able to enjoy the next 2 years for a little less outlay. Don't expect to run one on the cheap.

Now, just to find the £2k to paint it now...


Then I'll want to re-trim it...

[Zarkingfardwarks]

maybe I have been lucky - bought mine very carefully, hasn't got squeaks bangs (ceptin accompanied by a pop!) no rust etc. etc. I can/will do some items myself but servicing etc I leave to the garagista. Even with a 12K service, new clutch, speed sensors etc I only got close to 3K with the Tuscan (ok its a Tuscan) and AFAIK its not needed anymore than servicing etc with its new owner - and its his commuter and still bloody stunning!

I viewed well loved/serviced/coddled Cerbs with lots of £££'s spent that were just a bit ropey - there is more to it than just keeping throwing money at it. Having said that Gazzab you must be one hell of a fussy bugger (or somone is swapping new bits for old in secret)

[Gazzab]

I dont have the time, skills or inclination to the work myself.
I work in a nbka (re-arrange the letters!) in town and work 10 to 12 hours most days plus I am working away from home - so by the time I get home late on a Fri night I want to spend time enjoying my family, house, mountain bike and car (driving it). So there is no DIY, gardening or car maintenance for me over a weekend and so all car work is done by someone else.

[itiejim]

Gazzab said:

I dont have the time, skills or inclination to the work myself.
I work in a nbka (re-arrange the letters!) in town and work 10 to 12 hours most days plus I am working away from home - so by the time I get home late on a Fri night I want to spend time enjoying my family, house, mountain bike and car (driving it). So there is no DIY, gardening or car maintenance for me over a weekend and so all car work is done by someone else.

Gaz, my post wasn't meant to be judgemental in any way I just think that it's important to recognise that a significant amount of the cost of keeping on top of these cars is linked to labour.

As it happens, cars are about the only thing I look after in my house due to the same time / skills / inclination thing. I just seem to have ended up with skills that I have never used professionally but can't bear to let others do stuff that I know that I can do myself!

Also, having seen the horrors wreaked on my my engine by other so-called engineers, I'm very particular as to who I farm work out to.

[Welshbeef]

Cerb v8 ajp8 in purpole or tourquise is one of my top teenage cars wanted one hopefully will have one day.

I'd say it has to be the v8 flat plane crank dry sump.

Mmmm

I'd only have it as weekend fun car but would aim to have it as a keeper.
£3k per year servicing costs seem high but it is a 200mph supercar.

Which engine responds the best to supercharging and turbocharging as I'd want the ability to up the speed to make it insanely fast if I wanted- dream mode off I'd keep it totally STD in tip top condition.

Do most people still consider the 4.5ltr cerb fast these days ?

[itiejim]

Welshbeef said:

... Do most people still consider the 4.5ltr cerb fast these days ?

Yes.

[jammy_basturd]

Welshbeef said:

I'd say it has to be the v8 flat plane crank dry sump.

None of the road cars were dry sump.

[Gazzab]

You mention dry sump, do you want a race car engine rather than the road version?
Am yet to see an ajp succesfully super/turbo charged. But happy to stand corrected.
If you are able to utilise the 400+ bhp of a good 4.5 and you need more then you are best with a 4.7 rebuild or an LS. Or a good red Rose will be near 440. A 4.2 or 4.5 can be sub 370 (or lower if in a poor state of tune). My 436 bhp is a fast car in my opinion.

[Alan Kee]

jammy_basturd said:

Welshbeef said:

I'd say it has to be the v8 flat plane crank dry sump.

None of the road cars were dry sump.

There was no series production dry sump version, but there are dry sump road going specials, bosscerb's car being one such example.