TVR Cerbera??

Wacky Racer · Post by **Wacky Racer** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 8:20 pm

Anyone owned one and if so what are they like?
Any Good?

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:17 pm

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

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:53 pm

and on first name terms with the AA man

neil · Post by **neil** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 9:58 pm

rossybee wrote:and on first name terms with the AA man

Is that not the same as driving an S1?

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:00 pm

I did actually think of Tut whilst typing that

kenny · Post by **kenny** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:37 pm

The only marque that makes Ed's old moneypit seem good value for money

Edin430 · Post by **Edin430** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:24 pm

If you think a Lotus is unreliable buy a TVR.....

Uncle had 3 over a period of a year and only got the 1 clear month of driving... And servicing was not far off the above price

s333fee · Post by **s333fee** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:20 am

yep, dad had one briefly, we both drove it,

start diggin your grave now you'll be in it soon.

they are too fast in the dry and deadly in the wet unless you really know what you are doing, we overtook a landrover sideways in the wet, didn't meant to be sidays just happend as we passed it the tail stepped out. handy having a rally driver piloting at the time.

Cousin had a griffith and some other model, got rid eventually as well, too expensive and too unreliable.

apparently most can't get them to move when you first drive them, they stall easily and are very agricultural in gear changes, tunnel is too narrow for proper heel toe.

Enjoy

S333FEE Support Team

woody · Post by **woody** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 12:35 am

Practical, 4 seats and a big boot - the car I always told the ex i'd sell the elise for if she ever found herself in the pregnat situation.

I'd love one, but it scares my credit car too much too contemplate. There is a very nice blue speed six, albeit without spiders, for sale for not a lot of cash in my village (trying not to sound country as fcuk).

haggis catcher · Post by **haggis catcher** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:05 am

A Guy up the road from me had one of these for fifteen months. He bought it from a TVR dealer in Edinburgh, and said that he had real big engine probs. If i can remember correct, It was somthing to do with the cams, and the head. This was meant to me a common with these types of cars. Once the car was repaired he decided to sell it, and sruggled for for months. Even the TVR dealership did not want to buy it back from him. Even though he had just spent a fortune on it with them.

mmmmmm Not for me.

tuscan_thunder · Post by **tuscan_thunder** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 10:09 am

I have a lot of experience with TVRs. Not as bad as many will make out.

Things you need to have done:

tappet adjustment is a must.

Geometry checking (like an Elise) and uprated dampers are very much advised.

Always warm it gently and allow it to cool (like a K-Elise?)

I do not think they are easy to stall merely that it has a heavy duty clutch (with 400bhp+ it needs it) nor do I find the pedal layout odd - I find it suits me better than the Elise.

The gearbox is a Tremec box as used by Holden etc so it can handle the torque - I personally think the only 'box better than it is the 911 GT3's.

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.

I recommend talking to Dreadnought in Callander - honest, sensible advice, lots of experience and their servicing is excellent and well priced.

Post by ed » Fri Dec 07, 2007 10:11 am

One rolled past me on the way to work this morning!

They sound awesome! I nearly made a mess!

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Fri Dec 07, 2007 10:59 am

ed wrote: They sound awesome!

Still remember running in to 2 Grif's when on Skye just after i passed my driving test - followed them just to hear the noise......epic.

Always wanted one since, although head has managed to rule heart, till my current purchase that is

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)