anyone here with experiences with TVR Cerbera V8

anyone here with experiences with TVR Cerbera V8

Author
Discussion

uli

Original Poster:

32 posts

261 months

Tuesday 8th May 2007
quotequote all
how can you describe the difference in character of cerbera V8 and Marcos V8 ?
Uli

BossCerbera

8,188 posts

250 months

Tuesday 8th May 2007
quotequote all
uli said:
how can you describe the difference in character of cerbera V8 and Marcos V8 ?
Uli

TVR V8 is like strapping yourself to a large firework.

Marcos V8 is like being smacked up the arse by a sledgehammer.

Horizon arrives quickly either way, it's a question of style.

vmhb

38 posts

212 months

Tuesday 8th May 2007
quotequote all
Some years ago I had a Mantara. I thought the car was fantastic. You could drive the car easily at high or low speeds. When I decided I would like something a little newer there was nothing really available as far as Marcos were concerned so I purchased a Cerbera. I thought the Cerbera looked fantastic and I still do now. Driving it on todays roads was quite different to the Marcos. My car was an early one so the engine sounded like a bag of spanners, the clutch was on or off as was the throttle. I found it very difficult to drive it slowly and smoothly. Something that has to be done, at times, on todays roads. I know it was not really designed for this but I guess it comes down to what you want to use it for. I would imagine the car would have been brilliant on a track. I have been told that later cars, 2000 onwards, or the speed 6 are much better but I have not driven one. In the end I sold the Cerbera and purchased a TS500. I expect it is not as quick as the Cerbera 0-60 but it has a much smoother power delivery. I found the Cerbera very irritating on this point.

BossCerbera

8,188 posts

250 months

Tuesday 8th May 2007
quotequote all
The Cerbera V8 is HUGELY improved with a remap by Joolz at Trackcar Solutions - more power, better economy and better driveability.

I've also done quite a few miles in the new Marcos TSO (which is what I was comparing a Cerbera to in my first post). The Rover-engined Marcos doesn't have the firepower of a Cerbera V8, not by a long shot. However, the Chevy-powered TSO has a lot more grunt than the Cerbera.

vmhb

38 posts

212 months

Tuesday 8th May 2007
quotequote all
BossCerbera said:
The Cerbera V8 is HUGELY improved with a remap by Joolz at Trackcar Solutions - more power, better economy and better driveability.

I've also done quite a few miles in the new Marcos TSO (which is what I was comparing a Cerbera to in my first post). The Rover-engined Marcos doesn't have the firepower of a Cerbera V8, not by a long shot. However, the Chevy-powered TSO has a lot more grunt than the Cerbera.


I don't know much about the cars but as far as I understand the Marcos LM's and Mantis cars have V8 Rover engines which deliver the same sort of BHP as the TVR AJP. The supercharged ones deliver much more. The TS500 has a 5 litre Rover based V8 which also delivers similar BHP. The Mantara however was well down. So I guess it would be helpful to know which Marcos we should be comparing the Cerbera to.

uli

Original Poster:

32 posts

261 months

Tuesday 8th May 2007
quotequote all
I'm speaking only about the new marcos model with 420/462 bhp

BossCerbera

8,188 posts

250 months

Tuesday 8th May 2007
quotequote all
uli said:
I'm speaking only about the new marcos model with 420/462 bhp

Then my first reply applies - that was what I assumed you meant.

VMHB: The Rover motors make nowhere near the power of AJP8 engines. The only pre-TSO Marcos' with serious power are the rare supercharged Ford-powered models and the Chevy-powered LM600.

cazzer

8,883 posts

255 months

Tuesday 8th May 2007
quotequote all
BossCerbera said:
uli said:
I'm speaking only about the new marcos model with 420/462 bhp

Then my first reply applies - that was what I assumed you meant.

VMHB: The Rover motors make nowhere near the power of AJP8 engines. The only pre-TSO Marcos' with serious power are the rare supercharged Ford-powered models and the Chevy-powered LM600.


Or the not supercharged Mantis with 352bhp (Mustang Cobra Engine)
Or the LM500 with 320bhp.
Plenty of power given the weight (which is sod all)

BossCerbera

8,188 posts

250 months

Tuesday 8th May 2007
quotequote all
cazzer said:
BossCerbera said:
uli said:
I'm speaking only about the new marcos model with 420/462 bhp

Then my first reply applies - that was what I assumed you meant.

VMHB: The Rover motors make nowhere near the power of AJP8 engines. The only pre-TSO Marcos' with serious power are the rare supercharged Ford-powered models and the Chevy-powered LM600.

Or the not supercharged Mantis with 352bhp (Mustang Cobra Engine)
Or the LM500 with 320bhp.
Plenty of power given the weight (which is sod all)

The weight isn't a fat lot different to a TVR - a healthy AJP8 delivers around 400bhp, my 4.5 makes 420bhp (it made 360bhp before ECU/induction/exhaust mods). A lot of Cerbera owners have tweaked their cars now.

I mentioned the blown Mantis as a contender as I've driven one of those and it was pretty spectacular (great sound too!). It had a claimed 500bhp, not sure it was quite as strong as that but it was certainly bloody quick! (Started unpeeling its roof at 140, at Millbrook!).

The new TSO is another league to Cerberas though, in the absence of anything new from TVR it's the logical performance step up from a Cerbera.

cazzer

8,883 posts

255 months

Tuesday 8th May 2007
quotequote all
BossCerbera said:

The weight isn't a fat lot different to a TVR - a healthy AJP8 delivers around 400bhp, my 4.5 makes 420bhp (it made 360bhp before ECU/induction/exhaust mods).

I dunno, my 58 plymouth makes just under 400bhp but at 3.5 tonnes its not exactly quick

BossCerbera

8,188 posts

250 months

Tuesday 8th May 2007
quotequote all
cazzer said:
BossCerbera said:

The weight isn't a fat lot different to a TVR - a healthy AJP8 delivers around 400bhp, my 4.5 makes 420bhp (it made 360bhp before ECU/induction/exhaust mods).

I dunno, my 58 plymouth makes just under 400bhp but at 3.5 tonnes its not exactly quick

LOL! Have you weighed your Marcos? My 4.5 was 1202kg with half a tank of gas and various crud lurking in the boot so probably about 1175kg empty.

O/T Any photos of the Plymouth?

cazzer

8,883 posts

255 months

Tuesday 8th May 2007
quotequote all
BossCerbera said:


O/T Any photos of the Plymouth?


www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=374100

BossCerbera

8,188 posts

250 months

Tuesday 8th May 2007
quotequote all
smokin

dinkel

27,177 posts

265 months

Wednesday 9th May 2007
quotequote all
Now THAT is a cool thingy.

Imelda

793 posts

273 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
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dinkel said:
Now THAT is a cool thingy.


No 't ain't.

It's old, ugly and overweight.

scratchchin

Bit like it's owner then.

Daftlad

3,324 posts

248 months

Thursday 10th May 2007
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V8 00MPH that posts on here had a Cerb RR before changing to a TSO.

cazzer

8,883 posts

255 months

Friday 11th May 2007
quotequote all
Imelda said:
dinkel said:
Now THAT is a cool thingy.


No 't ain't.

It's old, ugly and overweight.

scratchchin

Bit like it's owner then.


Havent you got a barn to muck out or something?



Edited by cazzer on Friday 11th May 01:17

v800mph

146 posts

246 months

Friday 11th May 2007
quotequote all
as daftlad said replaced very well sorted rr cerb for tso.Bosscerbera has hit the nail on the head,cant describe any better.However i believe the tso is quicker in a straight line but very hard to judge as the tso feels more refined it hides the real pace.One things for sure the cerb was left in the garage most weekdays as the very short journey to work wasnt worth the effort warming her up wheras the tso -push button & go- very easy in town.

Imelda

793 posts

273 months

Monday 14th May 2007
quotequote all
cazzer said:
Havent you got a barn to muck out or something?





Yes.

briano

117 posts

291 months

Tuesday 15th May 2007
quotequote all
Had a 4.2 Cerbera, then a 4.5 which was probably quicker, but the more linear power delivery didn't make it feel any faster. Talked to Chris Marsh, who wanted me to buy a Mantis and he built me the first RHD factory supercharged Mantis: S500 BHP, which was quicker than the Cerberas, though I doubt it matched the top speed. It was greatly improved when they retrofitted an intercooler and a couple of other mods.

Brian