"Yes darling a Cerbera is a perfect family car"
Discussion
Hi Folks,
After being a devoted Lotus fanatic for the last couple of years, I have finally come across a problem with the Elise. Unfortunately my daughter is now at an age where folding her into the boot is not an option and the time has come to find a car that will double up as weekend (track) toy and family hols car.
I'm determined to go into the TVR experience with my eyes open, and have been lurking for some time trying to gauge an idea of running costs, servicing etc. but this talk of 3 Grand per year servicing is a tad worrying.
The current familyesque wagon, an Accord Type-R, power delivery is just too peaky for my liking, all I know is that the car has to be NA (no turbo's for me thankyou very much) and preferably British.
Unfortunately my heart normally rules when buying cars and not my head, hence the idea of a Cerbera sprung to the forefront.
Spoken to a few folk who believe that Private is the way to buy, but does the security of a Warranty warrant the extra expense of buying from a dealership?
Looking at spending around 20k on a car that has had all major issues dealt with i.e. Door seals, whisper cams, etc. preferably a post 97 car...Am I in cloud cookoo land?
It also seems to me that after looking around, that all models of Cerbera can now be had in the same price range, Just what are the different characteristics between 4.2, 4.5 and Speed Six and can anyone explain why Evo rates the Speed Six as a 5 Star car and the 4.2 as a 3 Star (I think?).
Any advice muchly appreciated, and if anyone can point me in the direction of a much loved 2nd hand Cerb...all the better.
Just got to persuade the wife to let me keep the Elise now...(yeah right)
ta
Scott
After being a devoted Lotus fanatic for the last couple of years, I have finally come across a problem with the Elise. Unfortunately my daughter is now at an age where folding her into the boot is not an option and the time has come to find a car that will double up as weekend (track) toy and family hols car.
I'm determined to go into the TVR experience with my eyes open, and have been lurking for some time trying to gauge an idea of running costs, servicing etc. but this talk of 3 Grand per year servicing is a tad worrying.
The current familyesque wagon, an Accord Type-R, power delivery is just too peaky for my liking, all I know is that the car has to be NA (no turbo's for me thankyou very much) and preferably British.
Unfortunately my heart normally rules when buying cars and not my head, hence the idea of a Cerbera sprung to the forefront.
Spoken to a few folk who believe that Private is the way to buy, but does the security of a Warranty warrant the extra expense of buying from a dealership?
Looking at spending around 20k on a car that has had all major issues dealt with i.e. Door seals, whisper cams, etc. preferably a post 97 car...Am I in cloud cookoo land?
It also seems to me that after looking around, that all models of Cerbera can now be had in the same price range, Just what are the different characteristics between 4.2, 4.5 and Speed Six and can anyone explain why Evo rates the Speed Six as a 5 Star car and the 4.2 as a 3 Star (I think?).
Any advice muchly appreciated, and if anyone can point me in the direction of a much loved 2nd hand Cerb...all the better.
Just got to persuade the wife to let me keep the Elise now...(yeah right)
ta
Scott
Had 3+ years of excellent service on road and on track with my 4.2. I'd avoid S6, and there's really little to choose between 4.2 and 4.5. 4.5 folks will say their cars are faster, but it isn't really borne out in practice on road/track or dyno. There's probably more difference between individual cars of the same type [no 2 are exactly alike] than the differences between a 4.2 and a 4.5. I'd save a few bob and get a 4.2, then use the savings to revamp the suspension. Mine has different dampers, springs and anti roll bar and it makes a huge difference.
WB
WB
Hi Scott
In my opinion, the 4.5 Cerb is the way to go.
Preferably one with the full leather option, unless you like the "sack cloth" type material that TVR have used on quite a number of cars I have seen.
I bought mine privately 2 years ago and quite honestly nothing has gone wrong with it
When I bought the car, it had 1 year remaining on the TVR warranty and I subsequently purchased another 2 years warranty directly from Warranty Holdings - the TVR Total warranty.
Servicing costs to date are: a major service with Fernhursts including valve adjustment (£897), last year and a 6000 mile service plus MOT with David Batty in June this year (£304) all inclusive of VAT.
Maybe I have been very lucky so far but I do feel that some of the comments posted about Cerb ownership have been rather negative sometimes. I hope that my positive experiences will go some way to convince you that a Cerbera really is a fantastic machine, everything you could have hoped for....and more!!!
Me...a little biased??????? perhaps!!!
Leszek.
In my opinion, the 4.5 Cerb is the way to go.
Preferably one with the full leather option, unless you like the "sack cloth" type material that TVR have used on quite a number of cars I have seen.
I bought mine privately 2 years ago and quite honestly nothing has gone wrong with it
When I bought the car, it had 1 year remaining on the TVR warranty and I subsequently purchased another 2 years warranty directly from Warranty Holdings - the TVR Total warranty.
Servicing costs to date are: a major service with Fernhursts including valve adjustment (£897), last year and a 6000 mile service plus MOT with David Batty in June this year (£304) all inclusive of VAT.
Maybe I have been very lucky so far but I do feel that some of the comments posted about Cerb ownership have been rather negative sometimes. I hope that my positive experiences will go some way to convince you that a Cerbera really is a fantastic machine, everything you could have hoped for....and more!!!
Me...a little biased??????? perhaps!!!
Leszek.
Speed Six is less extreme that the V8's. It has a "softer" suspension set up (although this is relative), is smoother to drive, more refined and easier to live with. It also has better low down torque and delivers the BHP it says on the tin (unlike the 4.5).
Downside, as pointed out, is the reliability of the S6 engine which is not as good as the V8's. This also applies to Tuscan's & Tamora's. Given this is now TVR's engine of choice you would hope they will have it sorted eventually. Plenty of threads in here to read. V8's also sound better.
I test drove about 7 cerbies before buying one (privately) and there really is a huge variation from car to car. In some, the interior rattles were louder that the engine which would do my head in. Others feel rock solid and v well screwed together.
I bought a S6 but this was down to condition, history and overall feel of the car rather than a prefered model choice.
Why don't you contact Rob Ingleby (www.findasportscar.co.uk)
For 500 quid he will locate and inspect a car for you. Well worth it in my opinion.
Downside, as pointed out, is the reliability of the S6 engine which is not as good as the V8's. This also applies to Tuscan's & Tamora's. Given this is now TVR's engine of choice you would hope they will have it sorted eventually. Plenty of threads in here to read. V8's also sound better.
I test drove about 7 cerbies before buying one (privately) and there really is a huge variation from car to car. In some, the interior rattles were louder that the engine which would do my head in. Others feel rock solid and v well screwed together.
I bought a S6 but this was down to condition, history and overall feel of the car rather than a prefered model choice.
Why don't you contact Rob Ingleby (www.findasportscar.co.uk)
For 500 quid he will locate and inspect a car for you. Well worth it in my opinion.
Like any sensitive hand made car they can be a pain and can be expensive. No matter how much effort you put in you could buy a money pit.
£3K pa seems to be the safest amount to consider for running costs (service, repair and consumables). Buy private imho, dont bother with a warranty, get a car that is known and sorted, get a V8, get air con, get full leather, drive it carefully when engine cold, get a late 98 car (£20K), think about suspension upgarde (especially if track days are your thing), de cat a standard exhaust, find a good indie garage re APM, Joolspeed etc....
Then DRIVE the mother.
Gary
£3K pa seems to be the safest amount to consider for running costs (service, repair and consumables). Buy private imho, dont bother with a warranty, get a car that is known and sorted, get a V8, get air con, get full leather, drive it carefully when engine cold, get a late 98 car (£20K), think about suspension upgarde (especially if track days are your thing), de cat a standard exhaust, find a good indie garage re APM, Joolspeed etc....
Then DRIVE the mother.
Gary
I've just picked up my 4.5 and like you, bought it as a family fun car. It is perfect for the job, transports two adults and two kids (aged 5&8) comfortably with loads of boot space.
As for running costs, I'll tell you in a years time, but look at lots of them before you buy.
IMHO, the sp6 was more refined for just pootling about around town and I couldn't tell the difference between the 4.2 and 4.5. I would look at all the cars and go for the one that looks the most cared for, or in the sp6 case, the one thats already had a rebuild.
Go for it, I've had a on my face for two days now, so much so that the siliva has dried up and i've chapped lips.
As for running costs, I'll tell you in a years time, but look at lots of them before you buy.
IMHO, the sp6 was more refined for just pootling about around town and I couldn't tell the difference between the 4.2 and 4.5. I would look at all the cars and go for the one that looks the most cared for, or in the sp6 case, the one thats already had a rebuild.
Go for it, I've had a
on my face for two days now, so much so that the siliva has dried up and i've chapped lips.
Hmmm...yes, they are almost too variable ito individual quality. S6 defo the one for long term UK viability due to what's been said above re 'refinement' but 4.2 and 4.5 give massive urge in the stratosphere. Ok for Europe and empty roads but not happy in Phoney's gridlock...
Sorry to keep banging on about this - and I will be criticised by Tiv addicts - but, completely overlooking design and style for a mo, I bet you £50 you'd get a bigger buzz from an EVO VI.
See, it's hard to be objective about cars you've owned, desired or currently use. Here's a bombshell, perhaps: for typical UK DRIVING, I enjoyed my standard(ish) EVO VII more than my current, near 500bhp 993TT. In fact, it was as good to steer as the Elise! Looked like an Ariston twin tub and the interior was dog doo but hey, you want a buzz..?
Oh dear. Right, tirade away.
Sorry to keep banging on about this - and I will be criticised by Tiv addicts - but, completely overlooking design and style for a mo, I bet you £50 you'd get a bigger buzz from an EVO VI.
See, it's hard to be objective about cars you've owned, desired or currently use. Here's a bombshell, perhaps: for typical UK DRIVING, I enjoyed my standard(ish) EVO VII more than my current, near 500bhp 993TT. In fact, it was as good to steer as the Elise! Looked like an Ariston twin tub and the interior was dog doo but hey, you want a buzz..?
Oh dear. Right, tirade away.
ches said: Souds like that 993TT was a bit of a waste of money!
In an overwhelming majority of circumstances these days, in the UK, absolutely; if I'm being brutally honest. And the same thing applies to ANY so called supercar.
However, when did common sense or value have anything to do with ownership of the latter?
In any case, at least with el porkereeno you know the design's inherent flaw so it makes things, erm, interesting. So you're not inspired tp try and kill yourself like you invariably are in an EVO. Custody of (certainly a non-current) go-faster Beetle involves a large degree of what one could call denial of the real, a frustrating condition in which you spend far too much of your life yearning for the impossible dream of sunny Euroballing...so you wait...and wait...and wait...and every so often IF it's dry and IF the road is free devoid of trilby then ONLY a Ferrari, Lambo or Tiv comes close - you can really open it up and then even the best Japos will wither into insignificance, next to the power of the Force (whoops, sorry about that)...
I guess you really need both.
Maybe one should stop kidding oneself, say sod it all and get an RS6 or a new style S55 AMG? Or a Nova GTE. Many thanks for all the words of advice both on and off list (will contact the latter when I get home from the office). Going to take my time and ease myself into ownership, I appreciate that a hand built TVR is not going to be as well put together as your Repmobile BMW, but thats part of the attraction isn't it. Plus it means I can spend more time in the garage getting my hands dirty which can only be a good thing.
No Mitsi Evo's or Scooby STI's for me thanks, I've paxed and driven a few and theyre all a bit bland really for my tastes, I really want a big rumbly V8 that'll be challenging my abilitys 4 years down the line.
Home circuit is Knockhill and a tuned S1 Elise is about as fast as any of the Evo's can be due to the short straights, so I'm not even that bothered about outright pace. It's all a matter of personel taste I suppose.
Don't knock a Nova either. Seen both Ferrari and Porsche drivers get embarrrased by well prepared Novas at Knockhill...makes you wonder, why bother spending lots of money if lap times are your thing...
Scott
Ohh.. nearly forgot, What year did they change the Seat design???
No Mitsi Evo's or Scooby STI's for me thanks, I've paxed and driven a few and theyre all a bit bland really for my tastes, I really want a big rumbly V8 that'll be challenging my abilitys 4 years down the line.
Home circuit is Knockhill and a tuned S1 Elise is about as fast as any of the Evo's can be due to the short straights, so I'm not even that bothered about outright pace. It's all a matter of personel taste I suppose.
Don't knock a Nova either. Seen both Ferrari and Porsche drivers get embarrrased by well prepared Novas at Knockhill...makes you wonder, why bother spending lots of money if lap times are your thing...
Scott
Ohh.. nearly forgot, What year did they change the Seat design???
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