Should I do it?
Discussion
I've been reading with interest for a couple of months now all the 'should I buy one' type stories and also the 'my engines buggered - again' stories regarding Cerbera's. Problem is I drove a 4.2 on Saturday and it is indeed fabulous to drive and I'd love to have one. I drive a 4.3 Chim at the moment which has been a paragon of reliablity, now I realise it'll cost me 3 times as much to run - which I can handle - but I really cannot have a car which is at risk of detonating its engine/gearbox/pther expensive parts at any given moment and cost £5k + in the process. I would be using it for fun drives / holidays / trackdays. So tell me, really, should I do it or do I have to leave TVR (REALLY dont want to) to step up from my Chim. Does mechanical sympathy / lots of TLC help or is it down to luck? How do I find a car which won't blow its engine? I REALLY want to be talked into this, the car has done most of the work already - I love it, just want a real opinion on the useability of them... cheers...
I considered running one as a company car, to replace a 400 Chimaera.
I know a few people who have had 4.2 nd 4.5 Cerbies and had only minor problems.
But then I know a few more who've had financial nightmares that I just couldn't have coped with.
So I bought a German diesel instead.
The problem I had was - how DO you know if the car you buy isn't going to blow up? The ones that do are often the most pampered - and you get no warning.
If you can afford the risk, go for it. But I couldn't.
I know a few people who have had 4.2 nd 4.5 Cerbies and had only minor problems.
But then I know a few more who've had financial nightmares that I just couldn't have coped with.
So I bought a German diesel instead.
The problem I had was - how DO you know if the car you buy isn't going to blow up? The ones that do are often the most pampered - and you get no warning.
If you can afford the risk, go for it. But I couldn't.
For each one that you hear about with major engine problems, there must be loads that are fine. A few niggles sure, but not major problems. In the end it will be down to luck in not having had a duff component as part of manufacture, but in terms of overall wear, signs of TLC are definitely required - evidence of having sorted out any problems early on is essential.
I use mine in the same way you would, and the only problem is expense of new tyres & brakes!
danny
I use mine in the same way you would, and the only problem is expense of new tyres & brakes!
danny
I'm thinking of buying a cerbera sometime before christmas, and I'm having the same dilemma as regards reliability. Should I buy a car that has done a reasonable amount of reliable mileage (so far so good mentality)or get a lower mileage car whose reliability hasn't been fully tested? 
I went through the same worries about buying one a couple of months ago. In the end i bought a 97 4.2 from a dealer, warranty till dec 04. I had thought about getting a super low mileage one but in the end the one i bought has 45k on the clock as the general opinion was that more miles are better as any problems should have been sorted by this stage.
i use mine every day & i'm sure the car runs better for it, coming back to it after 3 weeks holiday the car ran poorly for a couple of days but is now back in its stride.
2 months & 1200 miles on 7 i've had no problems.
One word of warning - if you are the sort of person who never opens the bonnet & relies on warning lights to tell you if somethings amiss, don't buy a cerb, your maintenence needs to be very proactive to ensure a happy wallet (& wife).
Darren
i use mine every day & i'm sure the car runs better for it, coming back to it after 3 weeks holiday the car ran poorly for a couple of days but is now back in its stride.
2 months & 1200 miles on 7 i've had no problems.
One word of warning - if you are the sort of person who never opens the bonnet & relies on warning lights to tell you if somethings amiss, don't buy a cerb, your maintenence needs to be very proactive to ensure a happy wallet (& wife).
Darren
Hmmm,
The mileage is a tricky one but just to add my 2 pence worth I feel that it should be about average mileage for its age.
A 'super low' mileage early example will either never have been used or done lots of short trips, neither of which is any good for a cerb (or any other car).
A car with starship mileage is going to be shagged unless it has had a new engine.
As danny said, look for signs of TLC and plenty of history.
Rob.
The mileage is a tricky one but just to add my 2 pence worth I feel that it should be about average mileage for its age.
A 'super low' mileage early example will either never have been used or done lots of short trips, neither of which is any good for a cerb (or any other car).
A car with starship mileage is going to be shagged unless it has had a new engine.
As danny said, look for signs of TLC and plenty of history.
Rob.
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