96 4.0L Cerb vs 98 4.0L XK8
Discussion
Hi All
I went to look at a Cerb today, but battery was flat so unable to open.
Cerb looked good externally for a 96 10k car, but had low profile boots on spider rims which could possibly loosen my teeth on a bad road surface.
Q - Can the Cerb sleep on the road or do the like to be pampered in a garage?
Q - From some of the posts, it sounds like Cerbs are megga expensive to maintain - true or false?
Q - Will I miss the refinement of the XK8?
Q - Can a Cerb be maintained with some basic spanner work?
Q - Is there such a thing as as mechanically and structurally sound Cerb for <10K?
Sorry for so many questions - thanks for any feed back
I went to look at a Cerb today, but battery was flat so unable to open.
Cerb looked good externally for a 96 10k car, but had low profile boots on spider rims which could possibly loosen my teeth on a bad road surface.
Q - Can the Cerb sleep on the road or do the like to be pampered in a garage?
Q - From some of the posts, it sounds like Cerbs are megga expensive to maintain - true or false?
Q - Will I miss the refinement of the XK8?
Q - Can a Cerb be maintained with some basic spanner work?
Q - Is there such a thing as as mechanically and structurally sound Cerb for <10K?
Sorry for so many questions - thanks for any feed back
LB one said:
Q - Can the Cerb sleep on the road or do the like to be pampered in a garage?
Q - From some of the posts, it sounds like Cerbs are megga expensive to maintain - true or false?
Q - Will I miss the refinement of the XK8?
Q - Can a Cerb be maintained with some basic spanner work?
Q - Is there such a thing as as mechanically and structurally sound Cerb for <10K?
Best posting in the cerb forum.Q - From some of the posts, it sounds like Cerbs are megga expensive to maintain - true or false?
Q - Will I miss the refinement of the XK8?
Q - Can a Cerb be maintained with some basic spanner work?
Q - Is there such a thing as as mechanically and structurally sound Cerb for <10K?
1. It can sleep on the road but it might leak and it may detoriate.
2. Yes they are expensive to maintain
3. Yes you will miss the refinement of the XKzzz8. But you will gain in smiles per mile.
4. Yes but it will mean time off the road as they take some time and experience to do right.
5. Yes but you'll need to look through some cr@p as at that level there wont be many.
I put a thread up recently asking who keeps their Cerb outsde for the winter and quite a lot of people do, even without covers etc. Not sure I would leave it out on the road, mine lives on the driveway with a water proof cover. But I try and use it atleast twice a week for 2 reasons, 1) to 'air' out the car and cover as its not a breatheable cover (but is fully waterproof unlike the 'breatheable' types) and most importantly 2) Cerbs seem to like regular use and are seemingly more reliable for it.
As for pricing it seems very hit and miss, it seems you can buy a really good condition one around the £10k mark, but can also buy a dog at £15k and vice versa! Because of this I had mine inspected prior to purchase.
As for comfort, I find the spring rates on my Cerb very soft and as a result run the dampers a little on the hard side but its not ideal. Mine has a set of new Gaz Golds and my preferred setup is harder springs and soft dampers, so I will be looking into this. But with the dampers on their 'mid' setting many people commented on how comfy the car was compared to what they expected for a car that sits inches off the ground! Can't compare against stock springs and dampers as I've never driven a totally standard car.
They seem expensive to run, but will feel more 'special' than the XK everytime you take it out. I looked into buying an XKR breifly as an alternative to the Cerb, but it just wouldn't compare with the feeling of driving around in the Cerbera! Even if its only for a short period - get one!
Oh, and just to add I would rather an AJP over a 4.0 Speed Six from what I have read. 4.2s seem easier to come by also.
As for pricing it seems very hit and miss, it seems you can buy a really good condition one around the £10k mark, but can also buy a dog at £15k and vice versa! Because of this I had mine inspected prior to purchase.
As for comfort, I find the spring rates on my Cerb very soft and as a result run the dampers a little on the hard side but its not ideal. Mine has a set of new Gaz Golds and my preferred setup is harder springs and soft dampers, so I will be looking into this. But with the dampers on their 'mid' setting many people commented on how comfy the car was compared to what they expected for a car that sits inches off the ground! Can't compare against stock springs and dampers as I've never driven a totally standard car.
They seem expensive to run, but will feel more 'special' than the XK everytime you take it out. I looked into buying an XKR breifly as an alternative to the Cerb, but it just wouldn't compare with the feeling of driving around in the Cerbera! Even if its only for a short period - get one!
Oh, and just to add I would rather an AJP over a 4.0 Speed Six from what I have read. 4.2s seem easier to come by also.
Edited by tejr on Monday 1st November 10:12
Edited by tejr on Monday 1st November 10:13
Personally if I turned up to view a car and the seller hadnt bothered to make sure the battery was charged I would walk away.
As in anything if you look hard enough you will find a good one but I think £10k cerbs will take alot of sifting through (do you need 4 seats? if not maybe loook at a Chim)
As in anything if you look hard enough you will find a good one but I think £10k cerbs will take alot of sifting through (do you need 4 seats? if not maybe loook at a Chim)
pinchmeimdreamin said:
Personally if I turned up to view a car and the seller hadnt bothered to make sure the battery was charged I would walk away.
As in anything if you look hard enough you will find a good one but I think £10k cerbs will take alot of sifting through (do you have a beard? if so maybe loook at a Chim)
good callAs in anything if you look hard enough you will find a good one but I think £10k cerbs will take alot of sifting through (do you have a beard? if so maybe loook at a Chim)
There was an article published probably five years ago in the Jag Enthusiasts Club Magazine with the comparison between the 4.0l as it was at the time and a 4.5 Cerb, I think entitled beauty and the beast. I think the title says it all. The refinement of the Jag against the brutality of the Cerb.
I run a X300 XJR and a Tuscan, not quite the same but close enough for comparison.
The Jag is great for effortless motorway cruising, the Tuscan is used the rest of the time.
I don't see that much difference in running costs, if anything the Jag is heavier on tyres.
They are both cosseted in a garage.
HTH
I run a X300 XJR and a Tuscan, not quite the same but close enough for comparison.
The Jag is great for effortless motorway cruising, the Tuscan is used the rest of the time.
I don't see that much difference in running costs, if anything the Jag is heavier on tyres.
They are both cosseted in a garage.
HTH
You won't get a 4.0 Cerb in 96 - they didn't appear until 1999.
I have had both a 4.2 Cerb and a 4.0 Xk8 rag top. Both lived outside, both were daily drivers.
The Jag cost me about six times as much to run over 12 months and 12k than the Cerb. Or at least it would have done if I didn't have the Jag warranty. It spent 5 out of the 12 months off the road, and all Jag could do was give us a 1.4 Fraud f
kus in its place.
As for the driving, chalk and cheese. The XK8 is a dainty and slow boulevard cruiser with sporting pretensions, the Cerb a snorting beast with pretentions of civility....
Would I have another? Yes, I'd have both at the same time for the best of both worlds.
I have had both a 4.2 Cerb and a 4.0 Xk8 rag top. Both lived outside, both were daily drivers.
The Jag cost me about six times as much to run over 12 months and 12k than the Cerb. Or at least it would have done if I didn't have the Jag warranty. It spent 5 out of the 12 months off the road, and all Jag could do was give us a 1.4 Fraud f
kus in its place.As for the driving, chalk and cheese. The XK8 is a dainty and slow boulevard cruiser with sporting pretensions, the Cerb a snorting beast with pretentions of civility....
Would I have another? Yes, I'd have both at the same time for the best of both worlds.
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