Cerbera With Reliable Engine - Worth More or Less ?
Discussion
I've seen a few Cerberas now with LS or Rover V8 engine transplants instead of the characteristic but incredibly unreliable TVR ones.
The Cerbera forums tend to sneer at them / not regard them as a Cerberas any more and whilst I can understand that point of view, every time I work up the courage to buy a Cerbera I come across ads with multiple engine rebuilds within 20k and I'm not that much of a gambler.
I'm drawn to cars with an alternative engine swapped in.
Personally I'd value one with higher performance as worth more than a standard one but with most Rover V8s struggling to hit 275bhp should they be worth less does the improved reliability mean they are worth more ?
I have no doubt that a Ferrari / Lambo with an LS engine would be worth far less but does TVRs affordability change things ?
Obviously it's only personal opinion but I wondered what others think ?
Mods please don't move this as it'll hardly be a representative view in the Cerbera forum.
The Cerbera forums tend to sneer at them / not regard them as a Cerberas any more and whilst I can understand that point of view, every time I work up the courage to buy a Cerbera I come across ads with multiple engine rebuilds within 20k and I'm not that much of a gambler.
I'm drawn to cars with an alternative engine swapped in.
Personally I'd value one with higher performance as worth more than a standard one but with most Rover V8s struggling to hit 275bhp should they be worth less does the improved reliability mean they are worth more ?
I have no doubt that a Ferrari / Lambo with an LS engine would be worth far less but does TVRs affordability change things ?
Obviously it's only personal opinion but I wondered what others think ?
Mods please don't move this as it'll hardly be a representative view in the Cerbera forum.
BlueEyedBoy said:
A Cerbera containing and 4.2 or 4.5 engine is not considered unreliable.
By whom ?There are loads with rebuilds at 25k !
This one was rebuilt at 35k AND 49k
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3826475.htm
Dave 500 said:
I wouldn't call mine unreliable 51000 miles and its never had any work done to it, just servicing.
would you buy a Porsche with an American V8 or an Aston with a Honda power plant.
Yours is one of the few exceptions though.would you buy a Porsche with an American V8 or an Aston with a Honda power plant.
Yes I would (I don't like wasting money and £3k+ rebuilds fall into that category)
The reason I'm asking is I want to know if I buy / build one would others value it as I do.
Dave 500 said:
redgriff500 said:
Yes I would (I don't like wasting money and £3k+ rebuilds fall into that category)
But spending 10-15K on a Good install of a different engine isn't wasting money 
thats a lot of rebuilds (if they are needed at all).The only way you could ever justify it is if you are never going to sell it as you will never ever get your money back.
The second hand market will be tiny and I can't see anyone paying 30K for a Cerb with a non TVR engine.
I've seen a 4.2 with a blown engine at £6k I can get a 250+bhp Rover V8 for £2000ish so lets say £10k done.
Yes down on power but still faster than most cars.
Basil Brush said:
redgriff500 said:
We are using different maths...
I've seen a 4.2 with a blown engine at £6k I can get a 250+bhp Rover V8 for £2000ish so lets say £10k done.
Yes down on power but still faster than most cars.
If you did that for £10k, I reckon it would be worth about £5k tops when you'd finished.I've seen a 4.2 with a blown engine at £6k I can get a 250+bhp Rover V8 for £2000ish so lets say £10k done.
Yes down on power but still faster than most cars.
BlueEyedBoy said:
redgriff500 said:
BlueEyedBoy said:
Replacing a screaming motorsport derived engine with the down on power rover lump is just wrong. Just buy one of the other TVR's already having it.
Which others are 2+2 ?
And what are you expecting from the 2+2, adults cannot fit in the back.
Dave and SoCalled - you clearly haven't read this thread very well.
On the 3rd post I put up a link to an AJP that was rebuilt by TVR Power at 35k and it then needed ANOTHER rebuild at 49k - how do you explain that ?
Look down the classifieds how many have had a rebuild ?
A rare few haven't had one but is that a good engine or just lucky so far ?
I'm not saying anyone's opinion is wrong regarding price / desirability of alternative engines but saying the TVR engines are reliable is ridiculous even rotaries last longer.
On the 3rd post I put up a link to an AJP that was rebuilt by TVR Power at 35k and it then needed ANOTHER rebuild at 49k - how do you explain that ?
Look down the classifieds how many have had a rebuild ?
A rare few haven't had one but is that a good engine or just lucky so far ?
I'm not saying anyone's opinion is wrong regarding price / desirability of alternative engines but saying the TVR engines are reliable is ridiculous even rotaries last longer.
DonkeyApple said:
I'm sure that if a Cerbera was in fact a truck and was being sold in the USA this would be extremely relevant.
No he has a valid point.When an LS engine was first put in a Cerbera quite a few said it spoiled it.
Now it has "official backing" it's accepted by most.
I'd far rather have a Honda engined Elise - as would most judging from the prices but that is a considerable performance upgrade rather than comparable or even downgrade.
One of the reasons for this post was because I saw a Rover V8 engined Cerb for sale and it appeals to me but I guessed less so to others and it looks like I was right.
Basil Brush said:
Why not go the whole hog. Put a Fiat Twinair in and then you'll have reliability, low car tax and exemption from the congestion charge.
Ah yes - the old a 4.6 Rover V8 is too slow...Approx 250bhp in 1100kg car - so what is your DAILY driver ?
I see this a lot on the RX7 forum where people look down on 300odd bhp cars, when you look at their posts you see their 450bhp RX7 hasn't been on the road for a year and they drive a Mondeo everyday.
Jayho said:
I'm guessing you wouldn't hesitate to replace your Rotary with a V block then? Speaking from the RX7 point of view, if you replace the engine I'd assume that the characteristics and charm of the original car would be significantly reduced?
Yes I'm planning a 1UZ V8 Transplant on it - I have both donors.The charm of constantly looking at gauges and 15mpg is somewhat over rated
Fire99 said:
redgriff500 said:
So in the example I gave... your saying TVR Power don't rebuild them properly then.
Strange I thought they were supposed to be one of the best.
To be fair it sounds like you already have the answer you want, in your own head. Do what pleases you.Strange I thought they were supposed to be one of the best.
This part of the thread has simply wandered into farce due to some thinking that just because a small percentage haven't been rebuilt before 30k that makes then reliable.
I would far rather have one without a TVR engine BUT I don't want to left with an unsellable car if I'm in a minority of one and I must admit that I'm very surprised at the percentage prefering TVR engines.
Would I stick an Audi / Lexus V8 in a Ferrari or a Lambo - yes I would.
Indeed Audi already do
DonkeyApple said:
Mr2Mike said:
DonkeyApple said:
It's kind of very relevant and I'm not saying it is OK for an engine to be unreliable.
It's still not relevant to the original post I quoted. You probably wouldn't want to put a different engine in your Honda or your Porsche because the one it comes with is very robust. The same logic can not be applied to the TVR, and the fact that the development budget for the AJP was very small by most manufacturers standards does not change this.I'm not convinced that the sole arguement is based around whether an engine is 'robust' or not. That's a bit of a budget arguement. There are plenty of classic cars out there where the engine is the heart and soul of the character of the car but not a robust engine. It isn't a reason to junk it and stick a Chevy in. Maybe it becomes more of a reason to do if you haven't the money to fund the upkeep? I don't know.
No one really cares what powertrain is in a snotter but there is clearly an arguement over character and originality when you are looking at more esoteric cars. People have even stuffed LS units in 911s. Why? Who knows but it was probably fun to do and fun to drive.
But when the TVR engines are built by proper people using proper parts and within the realms of common sense you get a product which is actually extremely reliable for such an immensely low volume product.
I can afford to buy 100+ TVR engines but it simply seems stupid to do so. I like telling people how I've only ever lost money on 3 cars in my life. Some prefer telling people how they've spent 5k a month maintaining theirs - I think they're mental, they think I'm tight.
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