Decisions ... Decisions

[PAS]

Looking to purchase a Cerbera … my first TVR !!

Have been looking and asking for the last 2-3 months to ensure that I get as much info as possible, and found the PH website invaluable.

The car will be my only form of transport, and I am a little cautious, as I have heard many comments about TVR reliability.

Question is ... Most reliable ... 4.2, 4.5 or Speed 6 ??

Have had a few people warn me away from the 4.2’s (which seem a little cheaper)

Seriously considering a T, Speed 6, with 27,000 on the clock that I have seen

Any useful comments/advice would be appreciated from the guys in the know !!

[jurdy]

IMHO Buy a 4.5. Better manners at lower speeds. Still mind bendingly quick and as I have found it 100% reliable.

[p7ulg]

Had a 4.2 for two years and no reliabilty problems whatsoever.I think in a three car range if you go for the smaller engine you will always hanker after the 4.5.Prefered my Cerbera to the Tuscan that replaced it

[Prince_Charming]

jurdy said: IMHO Buy a 4.5. Better manners at lower speeds. Still mind bendingly quick and as I have found it 100% reliable.

Do you mean 4.2? Surely the 4.5 is the quickest of the three mentioned?

[williamball]

Nope.

Get yourself the latest copy of 'Sprint' and read Julian's article. There are individual fast and slow cars as both 4.2 and 4.5, and it is certainly not true that a 4.5 is necessarily faster than a 4.2. Earlier 4.2s were [are] quicker than a lot of the 4.5s.

WB

[jamer]

The 4.2 can actually feel quicker at low down acceleration but then the 4.5 just keeps going.IMHO

Check each individual car out to decide.

[jurdy]

The performance figures have always been a little overstated, but the early 4.2's are faster than the 4.5's. But believe me unless you find a really well sorted one then I personally would stay away from them. My 4.5 is so well put together that I don't think that any TVR knocker could pick holes in the car.

I may be persuaded to let it out of my garage if you are interested

[granville]

jurdy said: IMHO Buy a 4.5. Better manners at lower speeds. Still mind bendingly quick and as I have found it 100% reliable.

Blimey! My 4.5 was a real b1tch at urban speeds; the factory and 'people in the know' all said this was the trade off for a race bred engine...

The speed six lump was always much preferred in the reviews, ito overall tractability as well as soundtrack and in most non-continental/drag strip scenarios, more or less as potent.

I never drove one but my first outing in an early Tusan felt like a BMW by comparison - it was SO smooth!

Luck of the draw?

[paulk]

I have a early 4.2 with the clatter cams etc. And yes it is quick out dragged a Tuscan over 2 miles at Elvington the Tuscan had about 3 car lengths on me at the start.
The 4.5 boys stated that top speed over the two miles was in the region of 190+ I could only touch 180. However no body came past me funny that.
The down side to this is my car is quite raw and can be a handful to drive. The later 4.5's and 4.2's IMHO are a lot easier to live with on a day to day basis.

I use mine as a weekend play thing so the extreamness suites me nicely

Good luck with watever you buy you will love it.

Paul

[mark123]

I purchased my first Cerbera in May, a Speed 6 2001 model and 11000 miles.Have done 22,000(total) already and use it every day. Fantastic car copes on the slow drag from junction 13 to 10 on the M1 as well as the fun touring around Herts/Beds country roads.. go for it!

[hexhamhc]

Zebedee, what are these cars advertised in Newcastle? I noticed a guy with some 'damaged repaired' cars somewhere up this way Are these the ones?

[raceboy]

Was it one of the 2 in the classified's one yellow, one blue, but he's admitting to being 'Trade'

[PAS]

Cheers for all the comments, I didn't expect that many so soon.

As I mentioned ... I went to have a look at a Speed Six this morning, and having driven several of all the 3 variants over the last 2-3 months, it certainly seemed to go well enough.

Have put down deposit, and should pick it up next week ... rather than taking the Mrs away this weekend, which I had promised to do ... so if you see a bloke in a cardboard box this weekend ... spare some change for a coffe hey ??!!!

There are so many positives about the car that I can't list them all ... but heres a few ..

Immaculate Halcyon Atlantis Blue/Green pearl paintwork (with stonechips all sorted)
18" Tuscan Wheels
Headlamp Conversion
Imaculate Interior
Full 12 month TVR Warranty

Will be speking to previous owner prior to settling up.

Insurance was better than I thought ... very surprising as normally they are right robbing bast*rds

Sat here with a big smile on my face, looking forward to next week.

Again cheers for all the comments !!

[madasahatter]

Another Warwickshire owner!!

Where abouts are you from Paul?

I'm in Studley - not too far from Redditch.

Steve

[basher]

Buy a 4.5 or a late 4.2 DO NOT BUY an ealry 4.2 unless it has had everything sorted by previous owner....it may end up costing a lot....and the speed six is very smoothe but I personally would still not risk a speed six yet....unless maybe it was BRAND new....most reliable buy is a late 4.5....IMHO

[simond001]

Zebedee

Can you send me your email address pls.

A friend of mine wants the yellow Cerb. I offered to go to Newcastle to look at it, bit sounds like you have saved me a journey.

Cheers

[Ston]

And again please Zebedee, my email is in my profile, what are the state of the cars?