PH Help needed: Which Car dilemma...

[GI Jnr]

I need your collective opinions peeps. Got an absolute max of £20k to spend, ideally around £18k...

Anything goes!

Considerations so far:

Cerb
For: Never had one, so like the thought of scratching the itch.
Against: Hard top. The repair/maintenaince bill stories scare me. Higher mileage ones at that price.

Tusc
For: Targa. Love the look of them. Have a great Tuscan plate to transfer onto it.
Against: Higher mileage at price. Potential age range for chocolate tappets. Owned a few one them...? (Not sure if that's a negative though)

Griff
For: Bullet proof engine. Sports pipes with de cat
Against: May be a little too classic shaped for me.

Tamora
For: Never had one. Good value alternative to Tuscans.
Against: Not sure...

I've owned 2 Griffs (4.3 pre cat/No 83 SE) 3 Tuscans and a T350C, so know know the usual stuff... Just really struggling to make a decision this time round. Anybody spotted a good example of any of these?

Thanks for any posts.
Tuan

[carl_w]

GI Jnr said:

Cerb
For: Never had one, so like the thought of scratching the itch.
Against: Hard top. The repair/maintenaince bill stories scare me. Higher mileage ones at that price.

Huh? "Higher mileage"? You should get a nice one at that price.

GI Jnr said:

Griff
For: Bullet proof engine. Sports pipes with de cat
Against: May be a little too classic shaped for me.

Maybe a Chimp then? Similar styling to a Cerb, but with the "bullet proof engine"?

[coach]

Tamora

Scratch THAT itch!

Coach

[oggs]

How's this one

Or yes you could get a chim... chimps are in a zoo!!

[Touching Cloth]

Hi Tuan,

Well biased as I may be, I would defintely vote for Cerb. You have highlighted the reasons yourself, but to reiterate. Tuscan at sub £20k could be a lottery, Griff probably feel old to go back to being that you have had the newer stuff. Cerb has the AJP which you have yet to have and I think it has a place in TVR history, as you say it is an itch you should scratch and the longer you leave it the older they will all become. A Cerb with decat and Sports pipes is just a popping and banging beasty - I also think £18k can get you a very nice example.

[GI Jnr]

coach said:

Tamora
Scratch THAT itch!
Coach

They do look like good value for money. I'm seriously tempted with a Tam.

carl_w said:

GI Jnr said:

Cerb
For: Never had one, so like the thought of scratching the itch.
Against: Hard top. The repair/maintenaince bill stories scare me. Higher mileage ones at that price.

Huh? "Higher mileage"? You should get a nice one at that price.

...compared to S6 engine cars...

GI Jnr said:

Griff
For: Bullet proof engine. Sports pipes with de cat
Against: May be a little too classic shaped for me.

Maybe a Chimp then? Similar styling to a Cerb, but with the "bullet proof engine"?[/quote]
Never been a big fan of the Chimaeras, so they're not an option.

I know it's not right, but I have a real bee in my bonnet about mileage... Basically the lower the better. Not necessarily to do with the mechanics, but general wear and tear to the interior and bodywork...

Yeah yeah I know, I want my cake and eat it...

Tuan

[pblake]

The question has got to be why did you get rid of the others.
Its got to be the cerb the ultimate TVR

[pjac67]

If it were me, this would be it: (scroll down to 'T8TVR' same colour as front of Sprint )
http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW/

[GI Jnr]

pjac67 said:

If it were me, this would be it: (scroll down to 'T8TVR' same colour as front of Sprint )
http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/WWW/

Yep, it's on the list!

It's a private sale, so I've got to shift the Sagaris before I bother private sellers.

Tuan

[UncleDave]

Go for the Tamora
Roof comes off which rules the Cerb out, decision made Can't beat the styling either.. looks great if you are not too sure on the Griff!

[UncleDave]

Just wanted to add.. Go to the Tamora Meet on Sunday!
That should persuade you

[micky g]

If it's performance you're after it's a no contest vote for the Cerb. Low mileage means (to me) taken out odd weekends and possibly abused. Reasonable annual mileage would be my advice, say 6k / year. The interiors keep well apart from the outside of the seat seams which I'm told are relatively cheap to have reconditioned.

If all out performance is not the issue then the Tam seems a nice choice, but considering the models you've owned I'm suprised you've yet to own a Cerby.

Happy hunting

Edited by micky g on Tuesday 13th June 01:33

[forthright MC]

i would be torn between a good Cerb or a Tam. both of which would more than take care of your performance/noise requirements and both are great drivers TVR's too. shame the Cerb never came with 350T style removable roof panels really.

Edited by forthright MC on Tuesday 13th June 01:05

[Wildfire]

You have a Fezza and a Lambo amongst other things and you want another fast car!!! Some would say that's just greedy

Go for the Tam, I've not heard a bad word said about them. They're supposed to handle great, they're convertible and sound about the best you can get out of the Speed Six. If I could, I would.

[Cyclone1]

Scratch the itch..................

[Ffirg 005]

micky g said:

If it's performance you're after it's a no contest vote for the Cerb. ... If all out performance is not the issue then the Tam seems a nice choice, but considering the models you've owned I'm suprised you've yet to own a Cerby.

Leaving aside significantly modified examples of Cerbs or Tamoras, a Tamora offers comparable straight line performance to a Cerb and will slaughter it around any circuit. Not having a crack at Cerberas - I love them - but the Tamora is IMO a much quicker package than it's generally given credit for in these forums and in numerous track days with Cerbs present I never came across one that matched the Tamora point-to-point.

But go and drive some examples - no amount of desk research compares to a 20 minute test drive.

[micky g]

Ffirg 005 said:

micky g said:

If it's performance you're after it's a no contest vote for the Cerb. ... If all out performance is not the issue then the Tam seems a nice choice, but considering the models you've owned I'm suprised you've yet to own a Cerby.

Leaving aside significantly modified examples of Cerbs or Tamoras, a Tamora offers comparable straight line performance to a Cerb and will slaughter it around any circuit. Not having a crack at Cerberas - I love them - but the Tamora is IMO a much quicker package than it's generally given credit for in these forums and in numerous track days with Cerbs present I never came across one that matched the Tamora point-to-point.

But go and drive some examples - no amount of desk research compares to a 20 minute test drive.

I take your word as I've never driven a Tamora and never seen them head to head on a track with Cerbera's. The top end particularly, (by TVR's own figures), seems to lend itself to the Cerb and this usually has an effect on acceleration over 100mph. The Tamora is probably easier to drive(? - you tell me?); and I suppose the type of track would also be an issue.

I'll have to get a drive in a Tamora now!!

[zippee]

Tuan,
If it were my cash I'd be seriously looking at a Tamora though for 18-20k you 'may' be hard pressed to find a decent one.
I'd love a cerb and seriously considered a 4.2 instead of the Chim but the potential running costs and lack of convertible roof put me off.
For your budget you could also get one of the very last 500 Griffs. I know you've had a couple before but they are a fantastic car (though not as good looking as the Chim IMHO) though I'd still have a Tam, bit of a marmite shape but I love it.