TVR Cerbera??

Post by **pete** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:13 am

My mate bought one a couple of years ago to replace an Elise (although maybe that should be complement as he never got around to selling the 'Liz).

He did some research and bought one which came with a big sheaf of receipts. (Pink/purple with black windows.)

His surgery didn't like him using it as parked outside it looked a little errm ostentatious. It was so loud the exhaust set off car alarms.

He offered me a shot but I'm 6'4 and couldn't drive it, I couldn't actually see out, just a non starter.

Huge boot, four seats (although if his wife was driving he had to go too to work the handbrake). He sold it after a year with a much bigger sheaf of receipts (including new clutch for 2-3k). Lost a packet running it and a further packet selling it. Lovely noise though.

Pete

gorrie · Post by **gorrie** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:30 am

Brave man. Do you want the S6 engine or the AJP? I believe that they are now beginning to find 'some' reliability in the S6 engine but the AJP does sound nicer imo.

I used to have an old TVR S1 and loved it. Looked in to getting either a Tuscan or a cheap Chim at the time I was considering the Elise. The idea with the Chim was that I'd have more cash left if I needed to fix anything. Cerbs however aren't a kick in the ass off the price of a Tuscan. Did some digging myself & spoke with Dreadnought... decided to ditch any thoughts about going AJP after hearing about some AJP cars that had been waiting on parts for months. Then decided to forget about Tuscans and considered T350/Tams.

To be fair, the TVR gang on Pistonheads warned me off and told me to go for the Lotus unless I had deep pockets. When TVR went down the tubes, it was the final thing that swung it for me.

(I'd still love a sorted T350/Tam or Sagaris mind you)

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 11:35 am

I know what you mean , a Sagaris with 911 like reliability would be an epic car.

dlogan · Post by **dlogan** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:19 pm

tuscan_thunder wrote:
Go into it with your eyes open, do your research, find one that's had work done and has been looked after and they're not the nightmare some would have you believe - probably no worse than an S1 to run, except for the fuel bills.

Surely no TVR is in the same ballpark as an S1 Elise for running costs (fuel aside).
Or am I being naive (sp?) to the costs of S1 ownership.?

I went to look at a £17k Cerbera a few years ago, and when the guy mentioned has last 2 services were £4k and £6k respectively I pooped myself and walked away.

In saying that my Griff 500 was reliable 100% for the 8 months i owned it.

H8OAG · Post by **H8OAG** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:33 pm

I have no ownership experience but driven them a few times

It is the only car I have ever driven that could easily hit 150 tuts on the incline North of the Dunblane Roundabout with wheelspin readily available through most gears wet or dry

Blackbird Jim has owned three Cerberas.......

He duped his wife into thinking that they were ideal family transport and supporting the marque whilst he was racing his Dreadnought prepared Griff.

Usual horror stories of vehicles getting occaisionally transported back to Blackpool for Mods which necessitated complete Engine Rebuilds

They can be bought very cheaply because they are unloved in the trade

Fortune favours the Bold.........or it could end in tears

Corranga · Post by **Corranga** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:59 pm

I was behind one the other morning on my way to work.

Wheel spin turning right out of a junction, and not looking particularly quick either, shame I was in the loan barge and not my Elise...

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 5:37 pm

Ref the easy stalling issue - very true - I've driven 3 (all V8s in both 4.2 & 4.5 flavour) - for such a large engine, the flywheel is very light, so the revs drop off soooo easily - that mixed with the aforementioned heavy clutch and it's V tricky

scottyf · Post by **scottyf** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 10:11 pm

rossybee wrote:Not owned one (I had a Griff 500) but considered it and therefore did LOTS of homework, and because of this I didn't buy.

Pots of cash required to run, stories of £5k+ services not unheard of

ditto: did lots of homework. Nearly bought Willie Ball's old Yellow Cerbie.
Need looooaaaddds of attention. nearly every car is different in someway. Some peeps sear by the hydratrak some dont. Comes down to personal pref at the end of the day. A well sorted 4.5 would be my choice.
Still quite fancy one, just dont think I could ever grow the chest wig to go with the car.!

Edin430 · Post by **Edin430** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 10:38 pm

Basically

Dont do it

Dont do it

Dont do it....

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:03 pm

Wacky Racer wrote:Anyone owned one and if so what are they like?
Any Good?

Go for it - but change your name to Wacky Fixer

2F45T4U · Post by **2F45T4U** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 1:29 pm

my mates got one (4.5l). the interior is lovely but the 2 back seats are pretty much a waste of time unless your a midget amputee. the crash helmet holder is a bit of a gimic. and theres buttons for EVERYTHING.
the engine is moved so far back over the front wheels that most of the engine is under the dash. he's already had to replace the starter motor within 2 days of ownership and to do that he had to remove the fuel rail and injectors to reach it. even then, it wasnt a very pleasant job i believe.

on the other hand its a bonny looking car and it goes like hell, sounds like its running crap on idle, but its sweet when it speeds up. it'l pass everything on the road except a petrol station though

and he was talking about stupid money for its next service too.

Baggy · Post by **Baggy** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 3:59 pm

I spoke to a lad who has one & we started talking about running costs.

we'd both had our cars about 3 years, similar miles, similar age, similar condition.

He'd spent 3 x more than me and my figure included tyres (his didn't).

his was off the road awaiting chassis powdercoating and he was running a second car.

The difference runs to more than increased fuel costs...

Oh and although it's difficult to compare because the cerbera interior is a lot more leather handbag esque than the elise, I thought the one I had a close look at made the elise look better finished, particularly door shuts header rail detail, window/door seals & the like.

also..it might be my imagination but the inside of the one I saw smelt of fibreglass...I know this shouldn't come as a shock but it made it feel a bit ho chi min...

I was a bit pissed off cos I'd always fancied a chimera & it put me off. On the other hand it made me further appreciate the elise.

Since then another buddy of mine let me have a seat in his chimera.

Sounded amazing!

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:22 pm

Another person worth asking on this debate is Roger Laing at MMC - he runs the Aston bit. He used to Manage the TVR dealer in Edinburgh who's name escapes me.

I remember him talking about running costs when i bought my 111r as i fancied a Cerbera - scary was the chat running costs were stupid.

Still this thread has gone on too long for a non TVR purchase now

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 5:13 pm

Baggy wrote:made the elise look better finished, particularly door shuts header rail detail, window/door seals & the like.

Very true - some TVR build quality has been shocking - the scallops between front wing & door is there to hide sh*t panel gaps

Baggy wrote:also..it might be my imagination but the inside of the one I saw smelt of fibreglass...I know this shouldn't come as a shock but it made it feel a bit ho chi min...

Didn't you also smell glue too?

They all smell like that - the newer ones still have a faint leathery whiff too

Scottish Elises

TVR Cerbera??

Re: TVR Cerbera??