Griff to Cerb - Good Move?
Discussion
I've had my Griff for 4 years now and it's been superb, my head says keep it - but you know what its like when your heart is saying different - I fancy a Cerbera.
Anyone made this move before and care to comment on their findings afterwards?
Would I be trading reliability for a moneypit?
I would be looking for a 97 - 2000 model I suppose, - any model year to steer clear of?
And whilst the Griff is very DIY friendly on service items, can a Cerbera be mostly looked after at home? - I've done 15,000 miles in the last 4 years so would be probably average 3 - 4000 miles a year. What would a Cerbera cost me per year to run, barring fuel and major mishaps? And would there be much difference in running costs between a V8 and a Speed 6?
Lots of questions I know but knowledgable input would be gratefully received....
Neil
Anyone made this move before and care to comment on their findings afterwards?
Would I be trading reliability for a moneypit?
I would be looking for a 97 - 2000 model I suppose, - any model year to steer clear of?
And whilst the Griff is very DIY friendly on service items, can a Cerbera be mostly looked after at home? - I've done 15,000 miles in the last 4 years so would be probably average 3 - 4000 miles a year. What would a Cerbera cost me per year to run, barring fuel and major mishaps? And would there be much difference in running costs between a V8 and a Speed 6?
Lots of questions I know but knowledgable input would be gratefully received....
Neil
Hi Neil
I asked the same question when I bought my Chim. The dealer told me that because I couldn't afford to run my T350 when I had it and nothing went wrong with it at all then they thought a Cerb would be more expensive than the T350 to maintain again assuming that all runs smoothly. Was to do with the servicing costs and numbers of valves and that sort of thing. Ferhurst might be well worth a chat?
Jim
I asked the same question when I bought my Chim. The dealer told me that because I couldn't afford to run my T350 when I had it and nothing went wrong with it at all then they thought a Cerb would be more expensive than the T350 to maintain again assuming that all runs smoothly. Was to do with the servicing costs and numbers of valves and that sort of thing. Ferhurst might be well worth a chat?
Jim
Hi Neil,
I did exactly this 5 years ago and haven't regretted it at all - occasionally I do miss the soft top, but my change was partly due to the need to get 2 kids in too. I have found the cerb much easier to use for every day use ( and considerbaly faster!), although I do realise I've probably been lucky to get one that's been on the whole very reliable and seems to be a lot smoother to drive than many others. The power delivery being much higher up makes it easier to drive in the wet / slippery conditions.
I have spent quite a bit running the cerb ( have a look on my profile for details) but the griff cost me almost as much - I use an independent for service etc, although there are a number of people on here who seem to look after the cars themselves. I've not spent the £3k per year a lot of people talk about.
Hope this helps.
Pete.
I did exactly this 5 years ago and haven't regretted it at all - occasionally I do miss the soft top, but my change was partly due to the need to get 2 kids in too. I have found the cerb much easier to use for every day use ( and considerbaly faster!), although I do realise I've probably been lucky to get one that's been on the whole very reliable and seems to be a lot smoother to drive than many others. The power delivery being much higher up makes it easier to drive in the wet / slippery conditions.
I have spent quite a bit running the cerb ( have a look on my profile for details) but the griff cost me almost as much - I use an independent for service etc, although there are a number of people on here who seem to look after the cars themselves. I've not spent the £3k per year a lot of people talk about.
Hope this helps.
Pete.
Neil - glad to hear the griff has given you good reliable enjoyment.
I don't have a Cerb but I guess the T350 could be similar in that it does have more electronic controls - like the doors.
When they go wrong - it is not always a DIY fix and is therefore more expensive.
IMHO - I think this has not been a good thing for TVR and the Griff & Chim were a highpoint of design.
I would be in no doubt that a Cerb will cost you more - get a good one and it will be great - get an average one and it will cost more than you currently pay.
I don't have a Cerb but I guess the T350 could be similar in that it does have more electronic controls - like the doors.
When they go wrong - it is not always a DIY fix and is therefore more expensive.
IMHO - I think this has not been a good thing for TVR and the Griff & Chim were a highpoint of design.
I would be in no doubt that a Cerb will cost you more - get a good one and it will be great - get an average one and it will cost more than you currently pay.
Hi Neil,
I had the 'honour' of running a 2000 4.5 Cerb and a 1996 500hc Griff at the same time for approx 2 years. Whilst I can't compare the costs, one was used vastly more than the other - what I can vouch for is the reliability of the Cerb. No it's not a perfect car - but I ran mine for 35k plus miles in two years and the only real niggle was the cooling fans to start with - but when that was cleared up - great times ahead. Real costs start to build up when you need new clutches etc otherwise the more you use it the better it becomes. Can't reccommend the Cerb highly enough - however when I get back to TVRs I'll be buying a Griff!
>> Edited by cerbagriff on Tuesday 25th April 16:29
I had the 'honour' of running a 2000 4.5 Cerb and a 1996 500hc Griff at the same time for approx 2 years. Whilst I can't compare the costs, one was used vastly more than the other - what I can vouch for is the reliability of the Cerb. No it's not a perfect car - but I ran mine for 35k plus miles in two years and the only real niggle was the cooling fans to start with - but when that was cleared up - great times ahead. Real costs start to build up when you need new clutches etc otherwise the more you use it the better it becomes. Can't reccommend the Cerb highly enough - however when I get back to TVRs I'll be buying a Griff!
>> Edited by cerbagriff on Tuesday 25th April 16:29
Hi,i did it about a year ago went from a 98 griff 500 to 98 4.2 cerb(drove both 4.2 & 4.5,4.2felt livelier) did'nt regret it at all,then i ran into a bit of trouble cash wise so i had to sell it(gutted)so now im back to looking for another griff, both bloody good cars and at least you can say you've had the two best looking cars TVR ever made
rev-erend said:
I don't have a Cerb but I guess the T350 could be similar in that it does have more electronic controls - like the doors.
Sorry if i'm throwing a slight swerve ball here but doesn't the T350 have the same door opening (button under mirror) as the latter Chimaera? (i.e. Mine)
One thing to bear in mind is that, if you can stretch to it, the later 2000 Cerbs had smaller front roll bar profile and hence a better view out of the windscreen. Was certainly an issue for me when I bought mine...
Plenty of people seem to do their own work on the cars, including engines. I can't imagine that they are anything like the rover V8s though, and the mere thought of doing anything under the bonnet except fluid checks sends me in to the shakes!
Plenty of people seem to do their own work on the cars, including engines. I can't imagine that they are anything like the rover V8s though, and the mere thought of doing anything under the bonnet except fluid checks sends me in to the shakes!
rev-erend said:
Neil - glad to hear the griff has given you good reliable enjoyment.
Its been brilliant Alan. Did a 3000 mile round trip tour of Spain earlier this month and it didn't miss a beat. Trouble is - there were a couple of Cerberas on the same trip and they've got me all fired up about changing again!
I thought my Griff sounds great but a De-catted Red Rose Cerbera comes a very close second
Neil
neilmac said:
...I fancy a Cerbera.
Anyone made this move before and care to comment on their findings afterwards?
Would I be trading reliability for a moneypit?
I made the move in '98 - and never looked back.
A Cerbera could be a money pit but buy wisely with as much history as possible and there's no reason to be scared of a Cerbera's running costs. A spare Capital One card would be belt and braces I suppose.
Inherent niggles (there are very few) usually get sorted by previous owners. Cerberas do have quirks but PH is the best place to get a virtually instant answer if one arises. If you can keep it garaged when you're not using it, with a trickle charger plugged in you'll probably not even see 'niggles' either.
The biggest problem you'll have is where you go after a Cerbera. I still haven't figured that out, 8 years later.
Go for it, I say.
BossCerbera said:
...I fancy a Cerbera.
Anyone made this move before and care to comment on their findings afterwards?
Would I be trading reliability for a moneypit?
I made the move in '98 - and never looked back.
The biggest problem you'll have is where you go after a Cerbera. I still haven't figured that out, 8 years later.
Go for it, I say.
Therein lies the problem for me
Went from a Griff 4 years ago to my present Cerb which has been truly outstanding, an awesome machine, but it won't last forever!
If anyone knows of a true successor, please let us know
neilmac said:
Neil - glad to hear the griff has given you good reliable enjoyment.
Its been brilliant Alan. Did a 3000 mile round trip tour of Spain earlier this month and it didn't miss a beat. Trouble is - there were a couple of Cerberas on the same trip and they've got me all fired up about changing again!
I thought my Griff sounds great but a De-catted Red Rose Cerbera comes a very close second
Neil
Neil that is excellent but at times in the heat TVR's aircon is no substitute for being able to just take the roof off..
There are days in the summer when I would rather be in the SEAC than the T350 - so I just pop home and change cars
You will miss the convertible as soon as you change.
cirvy said:
...I fancy a Cerbera.
Anyone made this move before and care to comment on their findings afterwards?
Would I be trading reliability for a moneypit?
I made the move in '98 - and never looked back.
The biggest problem you'll have is where you go after a Cerbera. I still haven't figured that out, 8 years later.
Go for it, I say.
Therein lies the problem for me
Went from a Griff 4 years ago to my present Cerb which has been truly outstanding, an awesome machine, but it won't last forever!
If anyone knows of a true successor, please let us know
I know exactly what you mean, I bought the Cerb for one years ownership - didn't want to fall behind with depreciation etc but twenty months on wtf am I supposed to buy now??
Without spending over double what the Cerb cost there is nothing that fulfills the gap that the Cerb will leave, test drove a new Noble at the end of last year but it didn't have the upper end grunt and the cab looked drab by comparison. Don't know where to go from here.....
>> Edited by micky g on Wednesday 26th April 00:44
I am hoping to get Griff 500 aswell as the Cerb soon, (if my old car is still around I would have it back) best of both worlds. I would go for it, the Cerb is another step up IMHO.
Performance wise, my Cerb is a lot lot quicker and a lot more stable than my Griff ever was. The Cerb is much more comfortable at higher speeds.
I was contemplating spending a heap of cash on the Griff to take up another level then I test drove a Cerbera and realised the Cerb had it all to start with, but the Cerb does need money spending on it (on a regular basis) to make it into the car it should have been when it left the factory...
Performance wise, my Cerb is a lot lot quicker and a lot more stable than my Griff ever was. The Cerb is much more comfortable at higher speeds.
I was contemplating spending a heap of cash on the Griff to take up another level then I test drove a Cerbera and realised the Cerb had it all to start with, but the Cerb does need money spending on it (on a regular basis) to make it into the car it should have been when it left the factory...
micky g said:
Andy, to be fair I think they had just about got the Cerb right when they stopped making it!!
Pillocks
>> Edited by micky g on Wednesday 26th April 01:05
Maybe we'll all get a surprise at the motor show - Cerb MkII... (With a sorted supercharged SP6 or a stonking twin turbo V8??)
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