Do I buy a Cerb?
Discussion
Following on from this thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Is a Cerb right for me? Thinking probably a straight six as its going to be used more as a GT car for days out with the wife and my 2 year old daughter. I may end up having to use it on a regular basis too.
Are they a useable car or can reliability be a bit of an issue, especially with the horror stories of the Speed Six engine.
Also are there any owners in the Rotherham/Barnsley area that would be willing to show me the ins and outs of their cerb and possibly take me for a ride as its a car I'm still yet to experience. I spent a lot of time driving a friends Griffith 4.6 back in my early 20's and it was a great car, but not sure I'd want to use it every day. How does a Cerb compare to that?
Cheers in advance
Jonty
Is a Cerb right for me? Thinking probably a straight six as its going to be used more as a GT car for days out with the wife and my 2 year old daughter. I may end up having to use it on a regular basis too.
Are they a useable car or can reliability be a bit of an issue, especially with the horror stories of the Speed Six engine.
Also are there any owners in the Rotherham/Barnsley area that would be willing to show me the ins and outs of their cerb and possibly take me for a ride as its a car I'm still yet to experience. I spent a lot of time driving a friends Griffith 4.6 back in my early 20's and it was a great car, but not sure I'd want to use it every day. How does a Cerb compare to that?
Cheers in advance
Jonty
Sound like the S6 is the right way to go for me then.
I'd probably be using it all year round. Whether I use for commuting too or not is down to how much juice it uses. Whats your experience with mpg out of the S6 Cerb? If driven sensibly. My route to work is 12 miles, half B-roads and half motorway.
I'd probably be using it all year round. Whether I use for commuting too or not is down to how much juice it uses. Whats your experience with mpg out of the S6 Cerb? If driven sensibly. My route to work is 12 miles, half B-roads and half motorway.
Mr Cerbera said:
Excuse me: a 308 and 355 owner whose job is as a "Test Driver" asking about fuel consumption on a 4 litre sports car ??
You're 'avin me on !!
You're 'avin me on !!
Sounds silly I know, but the Ferraris have only ever been run as the special occasion weekend car so mpg didn't matter - although the 308 was surprisingly good. I've sold that one now and my dad has the Mondial. Still got the 355 though as I've had that one for 7.5 years.As for the test driver bit, I cant know everything! I only do that as an unpaid second job for a magazine reviewing cars anyway. Working in the steel works pays the bills!
jamieduff1981 said:
Hi OP. Glad you came in here to speak with more owners 
My own one is a 4.5 V8 so I can't comment on Speed Six fuel consumption but the V8 one at least is better than I had hoped. Mine will return 25mpg when cruising and nearer 15mpg when horsing about and making noise.
I've got a few cars like yourself so don't use the Cerbera every day, but I rarely get time to just go out for a drive so I do make a point of using the Cerbera if I need to go somewhere. I don't tend to reach for the keys if the weather is miserable but that's me rather than the car. When I drive the Cerb I do like to find excuses to accelerate and if the road is sopping wet there isn't the traction to do that. The car isn't trying to kill you constantly though - the sense of speed is very good and feedback also excellent so it's a hard car to accidently go too fast I find.
I overfilled a Costco trolley and spent £550 on groceries and managed get everything but a crate of beer in the boot.
It's quite gentle on tyres and brakes I find. Despite the power the weight just isn't there to rip the treads off. I fitted brake discs from a group buy run by a Cerb forum member who deals in Carbon Lorraine brakes along with his pads. The pedal feel is amazing but for road use it's actually hard to find a use for them!
As with most performance cars they do need looking after. I think others will agree though that the vast majority of things that 'go wrong' are just fodder to get sorted out at the next service and MOT at your nearest specialist. It's pretty seldom that my car can't actually be driven. On the contrary it's my Cerbera that has stood in for the sensible daily drivers on more than one occassion!
Good to know its big enough for the family. When I was considering a DB7 most folk said that you could only get kids in up to the age of about 4.My own one is a 4.5 V8 so I can't comment on Speed Six fuel consumption but the V8 one at least is better than I had hoped. Mine will return 25mpg when cruising and nearer 15mpg when horsing about and making noise.
I've got a few cars like yourself so don't use the Cerbera every day, but I rarely get time to just go out for a drive so I do make a point of using the Cerbera if I need to go somewhere. I don't tend to reach for the keys if the weather is miserable but that's me rather than the car. When I drive the Cerb I do like to find excuses to accelerate and if the road is sopping wet there isn't the traction to do that. The car isn't trying to kill you constantly though - the sense of speed is very good and feedback also excellent so it's a hard car to accidently go too fast I find.
I overfilled a Costco trolley and spent £550 on groceries and managed get everything but a crate of beer in the boot.
It's quite gentle on tyres and brakes I find. Despite the power the weight just isn't there to rip the treads off. I fitted brake discs from a group buy run by a Cerb forum member who deals in Carbon Lorraine brakes along with his pads. The pedal feel is amazing but for road use it's actually hard to find a use for them!
As with most performance cars they do need looking after. I think others will agree though that the vast majority of things that 'go wrong' are just fodder to get sorted out at the next service and MOT at your nearest specialist. It's pretty seldom that my car can't actually be driven. On the contrary it's my Cerbera that has stood in for the sensible daily drivers on more than one occassion!
I'll be using it on a regular basis. Basically we'll have 1 practical car (Ford C-Max) then the lesser used practical-ish car (TVR Cerbera) and then the once in a blue moon for a very special occasion if I can afford to put fuel in it car (Ferrari F355 Spider).
Sounds like they're a better car for being used.
Do any of you know this car?
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
Also any of you dealt with James Agger before? Spoke to him earlier on the phone and he sounds like a nice chap.
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
Also any of you dealt with James Agger before? Spoke to him earlier on the phone and he sounds like a nice chap.
jamieduff1981 said:
1998 and 1999 were the worst years for powdercoating.
Mine is a 1999 and could do with a body-off in a couple of years but it passes its MOTs and I touch up the underseal that gets damaged. Was going to do it this year but work in oil and gas... it'll last a bit longer.
TBH I think the chassis rust thing is overstated. Yes it happens, no the chassis don't completely dissolve and the reason the restorations cost so much is because most owners (and I'll be the same) go bananas and go to town on it while it's all apart.
If you were being objective you could do it for much less.
On the plus side, unlike most cars you can add value to a TVR.
Car that I'm going to look at is a 1999 car so doesn't bode well for the chassis, but then its apparently been waxoyled... Could this just be hiding rust though?Mine is a 1999 and could do with a body-off in a couple of years but it passes its MOTs and I touch up the underseal that gets damaged. Was going to do it this year but work in oil and gas... it'll last a bit longer.
TBH I think the chassis rust thing is overstated. Yes it happens, no the chassis don't completely dissolve and the reason the restorations cost so much is because most owners (and I'll be the same) go bananas and go to town on it while it's all apart.
If you were being objective you could do it for much less.
On the plus side, unlike most cars you can add value to a TVR.
Edited by jamieduff1981 on Thursday 28th May 20:33
I don't mind having work done on a car, but as long as I pay the right money for it to begin with.
Anyone know this one or the people that are selling it?
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/t...
PGNCerbera said:
James Agger is one of the good guys and will look after you. Spoke to him each time I was buying my TVR's and he was very good to talk to and helpful.
2 things that would worry me on that car would be chassis and the engine. Get them checked, budget for a rebuild and go for it.
Great cars. And the S6 is a fabulous engine.
So its unlikely to be a lemon then? I'm off to see the car in the morning so wish me luck.2 things that would worry me on that car would be chassis and the engine. Get them checked, budget for a rebuild and go for it.
Great cars. And the S6 is a fabulous engine.
I'd previously been looking at getting an Aston Martin DB7 but gave up when I realised how badly built they were and how poorly they'd all been maintained. They were all horrid cars, but from private and trade sellers.
I'd seen a few comments on here about James Agger after a google search so I may actually be making a 140 mile round trip that wont be yet another waste of time if his cars are as good as people say they are. I've wasted so much time and petrol over the past few months searching for a new car. Its about time I had a bit of luck and viewed something decent.
Tanguero said:
Are you sure a Cerb is for you?? Much as I love them the build quality is somewhat "agricultural". A DB7 is positively the height of sophisticated construction in comparison!
Yeah, The DB7 was dull!! I like the idea of saying 'Darling, shall we take the Aston' but in reality the cars I drove just weren't that great and not really me. I initially set out for a DB7 because I thought they were in budget and would be a good investment, but then they all need a hell of a lot of expensive work doing to them. I know the Cerb can suffer from some serious chassis rot problems and there's the finger followers or whatever on the Speed 6, but I like agricultural and would rather have a car I loved driving rather than an investment.
Byff said:
Found my stuff - based on a 4.2 V8
Date litres price mileage cost mpg
19/11/2013 45.75 127.7 167.9 £58.42 16.68392071
27/11/2013 38.07 127.7 159.1 £48.62 18.99878475
07/12/2013 43.26 127.7 120.6 £55.24 12.67358005
20/12/2013 50.56 126.7 172.9 £64.06 15.54627864
30/12/2013 37.6 127.7 151.9 £48.02 18.3657407
08/01/2014 45.27 127.7 143.6 £57.81 14.42057126
09/02/2014 47.94 126.7 161.6 £60.74 15.32434237
20/02/2014 43.84 126.7 153.7 £55.55 15.93829429
18/03/2014 52.58 127.9 151.9 £67.25 13.13335585
14/04/2014 50.3 126.7 185.4 £63.73 16.75638245
21/04/2014 31.1 126.7 90.8 £39.40 13.27284366
30/04/2014 44.68 127.7 171.6 £57.06 17.45993564
Real world driving, start stop traffic jams, mixture of dual carriageways, motorways and A-Roads.
Hmmmm, maybe its worth keeping the snotter for the daily commute?Date litres price mileage cost mpg
19/11/2013 45.75 127.7 167.9 £58.42 16.68392071
27/11/2013 38.07 127.7 159.1 £48.62 18.99878475
07/12/2013 43.26 127.7 120.6 £55.24 12.67358005
20/12/2013 50.56 126.7 172.9 £64.06 15.54627864
30/12/2013 37.6 127.7 151.9 £48.02 18.3657407
08/01/2014 45.27 127.7 143.6 £57.81 14.42057126
09/02/2014 47.94 126.7 161.6 £60.74 15.32434237
20/02/2014 43.84 126.7 153.7 £55.55 15.93829429
18/03/2014 52.58 127.9 151.9 £67.25 13.13335585
14/04/2014 50.3 126.7 185.4 £63.73 16.75638245
21/04/2014 31.1 126.7 90.8 £39.40 13.27284366
30/04/2014 44.68 127.7 171.6 £57.06 17.45993564
Real world driving, start stop traffic jams, mixture of dual carriageways, motorways and A-Roads.
Oh well, its too late to worry about mpg now.
I'VE BOUGHT A TVR CERBERA SPEED SIX!!!!!!!!! 
The car looked great at James Aggers, and as soon as I'd driven it I knew I had to have it. I've driven so many supercars in the past few years to review for the Supercar Driver magazine and this rates so highly in them all. It is most definitely a supercar too, I don't care what anyone says! Looking at the figures its even quicker than my F355!
The noise was amazing, the interior feels special and the entire car gave me what James May likes to call 'The Fizz'!
Only problem is that I have to wait 2 weeks until I can collect it. James, being the perfectionist that he is, wants the car to leave him with everything done. Which is fine by me! He'd not had chance to finish prepping the car so he wants to change the rear shocks as one is leaking, plus an engine mount that looks like its on its way out and also to retune the engine as its just had new cat sensors.
The chassis was in unbelievably good condition compared to what I expected, and the interior looks extremely good considering its supposed to be a 48,000 mile car.
Anyway, thanks to you guys for all of your advice, I'm sure I'll be back to annoy you all with several million more questions.
Now I've just got a 2 week wait that may seem like 6 months. I'm so excited!
Here's a quick picture anyway, only taken on my iphone so not great quality.
I'VE BOUGHT A TVR CERBERA SPEED SIX!!!!!!!!! The car looked great at James Aggers, and as soon as I'd driven it I knew I had to have it. I've driven so many supercars in the past few years to review for the Supercar Driver magazine and this rates so highly in them all. It is most definitely a supercar too, I don't care what anyone says! Looking at the figures its even quicker than my F355!
The noise was amazing, the interior feels special and the entire car gave me what James May likes to call 'The Fizz'!
Only problem is that I have to wait 2 weeks until I can collect it. James, being the perfectionist that he is, wants the car to leave him with everything done. Which is fine by me! He'd not had chance to finish prepping the car so he wants to change the rear shocks as one is leaking, plus an engine mount that looks like its on its way out and also to retune the engine as its just had new cat sensors.
The chassis was in unbelievably good condition compared to what I expected, and the interior looks extremely good considering its supposed to be a 48,000 mile car.
Anyway, thanks to you guys for all of your advice, I'm sure I'll be back to annoy you all with several million more questions.
Now I've just got a 2 week wait that may seem like 6 months. I'm so excited!
Here's a quick picture anyway, only taken on my iphone so not great quality.
Gray_101 said:
Congrats on your new purchases, it looks very shinny.
I live near Bramley, I know Phil and he still has his Cerb I was only talking to him last week at the SYTVR meet. I'm not sure if he s on here tho
Good to know he still has it. He lives just round the corner but not seen him in a while. Next time you see him let him know Jonty around the corner with the yellow 355 is now a Cerb owner! I remember having a good look at his car a few years back. That car is a wonderful colour. And the sound is amazing! I could always tell if he passed my house as it would shake to the sound of the overrun! Is his a 4.5?I live near Bramley, I know Phil and he still has his Cerb I was only talking to him last week at the SYTVR meet. I'm not sure if he s on here tho
Thanks for all of the comments. Yeah I'm aware if the potential chassis problems but it looks in very good order so might get a fair few years out of it yet. My plan was to only have it 18 months - 2 years. But after driving it that may be extended.
I'd always said my F355 was a keeper but the Cerb may have the potential to change that?
I'd always said my F355 was a keeper but the Cerb may have the potential to change that?
v8chimmy said:
I'll let him know, we're off to Anglesey with him for a long weekend next week. You should try and make it to one of the South Yorkshire meets.
When are they? I know one of the meets is at a pub just around the corner from where I live.Edited by v8chimmy on Sunday 31st May 17:05
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