About to take the plunge!
Discussion
Hi guys, i'm shortly to buy my first Tvr, a 97 4.2 cerb.( hopefully nxt week). I've been reading the threads re running costs and have to admit though i'm excited at the prospect of ownership( & who would'nt be!) i'm concerned at some of the horror stories i've read.
The car has 45k on it & comes with 3 yrs motorcover gold warranty(2k limit per claim).
I'll be using the car daily for work, popping to the shops, posing etc(don't say you don't), probably clocking up 8k miles p.a.
My question: is the car suitable for this kind of use? I currently run a 1997 M3 Evo & am used to the car taking general day to day use (& abuse) in its stride, & while i realise the cerb is a handbuilt sportscar etc, it will still need to pay its way.
As you are the guys who are living with these cars everyday, do you think my expectations are realistic?
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Darren.
The car has 45k on it & comes with 3 yrs motorcover gold warranty(2k limit per claim).
I'll be using the car daily for work, popping to the shops, posing etc(don't say you don't), probably clocking up 8k miles p.a.
My question: is the car suitable for this kind of use? I currently run a 1997 M3 Evo & am used to the car taking general day to day use (& abuse) in its stride, & while i realise the cerb is a handbuilt sportscar etc, it will still need to pay its way.
As you are the guys who are living with these cars everyday, do you think my expectations are realistic?
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Darren.
I also changed from an M3 evo to the cerb, big difference. M3 much easier to live with day to day, reliability, build quality and just general peace of mind also. I have now run the cerb every day since Feb 02 and after the initial shock of 10mpg and its particular peculiarities would I go back, and I have thought about it many times. Answer is always the same, no chance. My M3 was heavily modified and was puming out 355bhp used to eat up M5's, 911's etc. My Cerb is not running very well just now and needs a good service and bits and pieces done, even in this state my M3 is two hundred yards back on the standing quarter.
Its not an easy car to live with but if your passionate about your cars, well worth it.
Brian
Its not an easy car to live with but if your passionate about your cars, well worth it.
Brian
go for it. i have got a 4.2 and love it . with 45k on the one you are going to buy check what upgrades has been done. i would recomend adjustable shocks bigger brakes . these improve the cerb 100%.try joospeed .com he will only be to happy inspect the car for you for a small fee but well worth it. happy cerbering gary and cerb
10 Mpg! really? is this round town or when booting it?
just one other thing, how servicible is the car for a fairly competent home spannerer?
I'm not trying to be a tight sod but i live in Guernsey, & there is no TVR dealer/ agent here( there is one in Jersey- this is where the car will go for its annual service).
I'm thinking that if i get any Hiccups with the car - major disaster aside,- i will need to try & sort it myself.
Darren.
just one other thing, how servicible is the car for a fairly competent home spannerer?
I'm not trying to be a tight sod but i live in Guernsey, & there is no TVR dealer/ agent here( there is one in Jersey- this is where the car will go for its annual service).
I'm thinking that if i get any Hiccups with the car - major disaster aside,- i will need to try & sort it myself.
Darren.
i get 18-20mpg. i think you'll be able to do a lot of jobs yourself,oil changes,spark plugs,HT leads,air filters etc all pretty straight forward(if a little fiddly) brakes and suspension ok too.i find its the setting up and of course major work that will require a dealer.having said that you can't beat the inside knowledge of someone like joolz,to whom i'm indebted for help.had my cerb 4 months,done 3k miles in it,no real problems and enjoying it very much.
I'm in a similar situation to you - live on the Isle of Man with no local dealer, and a ferry ride to the nearest one. Had mine over a year and haven't had too many issues I haven't been able to deal with myself, or pass on to a local garage who can always ring TVR for advice.
The main problem you will come across is if the car starts running badly and you need to plug the TVR diagnostic gear in to find out what's up. Case in point - had to limp my car to Harrogate three weeks ago with an intermittent misfire to find out I needed a new ignition coil. Don't get to pick it up until next week - arranged to leave it in the UK for 4 weeks so that there was ample time to sort it out.
The car is great though and perfectly manageable on an Island. You may need to buy some spare teeth for when they get shaken out - stiff suspension and small bumpy Island roads are interesting...
The main problem you will come across is if the car starts running badly and you need to plug the TVR diagnostic gear in to find out what's up. Case in point - had to limp my car to Harrogate three weeks ago with an intermittent misfire to find out I needed a new ignition coil. Don't get to pick it up until next week - arranged to leave it in the UK for 4 weeks so that there was ample time to sort it out.
The car is great though and perfectly manageable on an Island. You may need to buy some spare teeth for when they get shaken out - stiff suspension and small bumpy Island roads are interesting...
Bought a 98 4.5 last October. 17k on the clock. I use it as my main-ish car and it behaves fairly well. It has its quirks as they all do, but for me the grin factor (so far) has outweighed the niggles. Although I havent got the island angle and am quite near a few main dealers. As BrianM says....if your passionate about cars...
Do it. If you don't you'll never know
Do it. If you don't you'll never know
thanks for the input guys. As far as the TVR diagnostic gear is concerned, is it Tvr specific, or would a good garage/rolling road have this sort of kit?
I've got a good rolling road very close to me & wondered if they could be of any use when it comes to fault finding.
Is there a decent workshop manual avaliable?
My head still has some small doubts about the step from M3 to cerb, but the rest of me is saying F**k it! do it!
I've even managed to convince the wife it's a good idea, so it looks like this is going to happen!
Darren- counting down the days!
I've got a good rolling road very close to me & wondered if they could be of any use when it comes to fault finding.
Is there a decent workshop manual avaliable?
My head still has some small doubts about the step from M3 to cerb, but the rest of me is saying F**k it! do it!
I've even managed to convince the wife it's a good idea, so it looks like this is going to happen!
Darren- counting down the days!
First of all - do it. It may cause you some pain once in a while but you won't regret it. My wife (who isn't a car fanatic) loves it.
My understanding is that the software is specific to the ECU which I believe is made by MBE Systems (www.mbesystems.com/). Thought about trying to get a copy so that I could get more local work done, but I've dropped that idea for the time being as I've been advised that an untrained operator (me) could do more harm than good with it. Basically, its a specialist engine and a specialist job.
My understanding is that the software is specific to the ECU which I believe is made by MBE Systems (www.mbesystems.com/). Thought about trying to get a copy so that I could get more local work done, but I've dropped that idea for the time being as I've been advised that an untrained operator (me) could do more harm than good with it. Basically, its a specialist engine and a specialist job.
MikeyT, the speed limit here is a whopping 35mph-with some areas at 25, & just as uk limits, this is obviously religously(?) adhered to!( with a bit of sense- not 60 up the high st like the MaxyP guys).
The limits can be a pain but I get back to the mainland a few times a year & release my stresses.
The petrol here is cheap though- 45p for a litre of super u/l, & we have no VAT payable on anything.
DarrenI
The limits can be a pain but I get back to the mainland a few times a year & release my stresses.
The petrol here is cheap though- 45p for a litre of super u/l, & we have no VAT payable on anything.
DarrenI
Like Simond00's response, I'll send the tanker, probably the same one that follows me around. The 10MPG is actually nearer 12 on avaerage but its mostly city driving to and from work, seeing clients etc. When I go for a longish drive say to the west coast of scotland, some 150 miles I'll get around mid 20's no problem. I also get a massage at the same time from the constant vibration, bet you donnt get that in your M3.
As far as the deal is concerned just go for it, with the new M3 out now the old E36's values are dropping like a stone so you wont be worse off when it comes to another deal down the line and best of all your going from a well designed mass produced performance touring car to a virtual cult car, nuff said.
Mind you I might buy your M3 for the missus.
Brian
As far as the deal is concerned just go for it, with the new M3 out now the old E36's values are dropping like a stone so you wont be worse off when it comes to another deal down the line and best of all your going from a well designed mass produced performance touring car to a virtual cult car, nuff said.
Mind you I might buy your M3 for the missus.
Brian
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