Cerbera 2nd hand value?

[razor]

I'm thinking of P/x-ing my virtually new Cerbera Speed 6 for a "family car" due to the recent arrival of a baby and all her accompanying baggage (not TVR-friendly). I approached BMW, who apparently approached numerous TVR dealers asking whether they'd take the car and, if so, for how much.

The car is a stunner - bought it new in march 02; it's silver, with two tone interior full leather (silver and blue), 18" tuscan alloys fitted at factory, air con - done only 1500 miles so far - runs like a (wet) dream, as you'd expect. Cost new - 48k.

So far, not a single TVR dealer is willing to take it and the only values suggested by them are in the low 20,000s!!!! I knew that the car would depreciate, but this is not even funny. They should certainly come with a health warning - namely "Virtual Write Off".

What to do?

[Paul V]

You could try selling privately, You could have a look in the classifieds on here and price it for a quick sale. If you need another car urgently they get something older to run the misses and little’un around in until it’s sold.

[Prince_Charming]

That is absolutely outrageous Razor - really feel for you. I agree - try selling it privately, but it really shouldn't have to come to that.

Who is going to buy new TVRs if this happens all the time?

[Paul V]

Had a quick look on Autotrader and there are 2000 spec models in the low to mid 30’s so you should get somewhere near that fairly quickly for a 2002 car.

>> Edited by Paul V on Tuesday 17th December 10:04

[davidd]

Razor

This is not a good time to sell a sports car, if you can try to wait until the weather picks up a bit in the New Year you might get a better price for it.

I'm surprised you cannet get everything in, I bought a Cebera as a sensible car when we had our son 3 months ago, you could spend a couple of grand on an older family car and save yourself taking the hit on the cerbera.

Hope it all works out.

D.

[Peter]

Speed 6s aren't the easiest to sell on. I traded my 1999/T speed 6, with 26000 miles against a Z3M coupe in July and got low 20's for it. So you should get much more. Try Duncan at Damon Hill BMW he did the deal for me. Even delivered the car to me personally up in Edinburgh.

[p7ulg]

I think the trouble is that the TVR dealers will not be looking to shell out 30-40K to add a car to their stock.Obviously if the price is ridiculously low they will have it.Unfortunately I would imagine most garages work on part ex, wereby they are rotating stock without handing over large amounts of money .There was a thread a while ago about someone who was looking for a garage which dealt in , I think, BMW and TVR so that they might get a part ex. I would imagine you options are to sell it privately or find a garage which will part ex at a realistic price.

[razor]

Thanks for all your replies - I think that, having got over the initial shock, I will sit it out - from your replies, I guess the best strategy is to try to sell it in the spring and, if I get the same naff response, I'll just hand on to the car and get a cheap family wagon (oh dear!).

Just feel a bit cheated at the moment: I knew that TVRs depreciated, but had no idea that it would be by so much, so quickly. Guess you live and learn.

[p7ulg]

razor said: Thanks for all your replies - I think that, having got over the initial shock, I will sit it out - from your replies, I guess the best strategy is to try to sell it in the spring and, if I get the same naff response, I'll just hand on to the car and get a cheap family wagon (oh dear!).

Just feel a bit cheated at the moment: I knew that TVRs depreciated, but had no idea that it would be by so much, so quickly. Guess you live and learn.

I don't think it is just TVRs you would probably have the same trouble with most performance cars.Good idea to hang to the Cerbera though.


>> Edited by p7ulg on Tuesday 17th December 12:47

[kris wood]

I purchased an ex-demo Cerb S6 when it was 6 mths old from a main dealer for £44K. I sold it 20 mths later (last June) on a sale or return basis through the supplying dealer. It took about 6 weeks for them to sell it and teh sale price was £32,000 and they charged me 10% + VAT commission.

I was also talking to porsche & BMW dealers and the trade in prices from them were crazy. Sound like a sale or return option with your supplying dealer would be a sensible option to explore.

However, you may be worth putting it on the forecourt in march as sales will start to pick up.

[RUF 3]

It is happening throughout the motor trade. A guy I know took in a secondhand Jaguar XJ five months ago at £17,700 which at the time was slightly below book. He is now faced with a drop in the book which places the car at a shade over £12,000. Sadly everybody is getting hammered presently. The consolation (if it can feel like one) is that if you are not about to buy a new car, things can be bought at equally cheap prices.

[daver]

Razor,

Unless you're dead set on a Bimmer, you could always try someone like Newtown motors who deal in both TVR and MG. That way, they could sell the Cerb themselves and maybe offer you a more sensible trade-in on one of those Z-somethings for your family. Maybe even MG plus cash if your S6 is *that* nice - which it sounds like it is.

Dave.

[jamesk]

I bought my Griff from Fernies on a sale or return basis. God knows what the owner took out of it though cos when I was selling I asked them what they would do for sale or return again and they quoted me a £4k commission on a car worth about £17k!!!

Sell privately if you can stand the aggro and wait till next year. You'll get far more than you've been quoted.

[razor]

The idea of buying a second-hand family car and holding on to the TVR, at least for the time being seems like a good one.

The baby is only 6 weeks old and can't yet use the TVR supplied Recaro for the Cerb. Maybe, in a few months, when the baby can use the Recaro, my outlook will change. I just thought that it would be a good idea to sell the TVR while it was still under warranty - think again, I guess.

The added pressure comes from my thinking that, if I'm to part with the TVR (my pride & joy) for a 5 door, it has to be a "performance" wagon, like the M5. The thought of buying a Volvo just doesn't work any wonders for me. MG would certainly be better than that. But, one of the things I'm learning from this nightmare is to invest in BMW, which seem to have good residual value.

Thanks for all your replies, which have been v. helpful.

[gazzab]

The recaro (in my view) isnt a very good seat for more than a short journey ie the head support (even with the head holder bit on) isnt good. So when they fall asleep they look horibly uncomfortable and destined for whiplash. You can use a normal baby seat in the front for a while though (but your partner wont like the rear squeeze - oooeer missus).

[RUF 3]

razor said:



The added pressure comes from my thinking that, if I'm to part with the TVR (my pride & joy) for a 5 door, it has to be a "performance" wagon, like the M5. The thought of buying a Volvo just doesn't work any wonders for me. MG would certainly be better than that.
----------------------
Can't quite agree. My Volvo V70R (Estate of course), with small modification to get it up to 285 bhp, is an awful lot quicker, better built and more exciting than any MG. Even the dullest manufacturer has the odd hidden little gem !!

[sjc]

Yep' I'd go along with the sale or return theory,did it with all 4 of my TVRs when buying a new one. Razor can't you have a chat about it to your supplying dealer? If you fancy the MGZT route (its a very good car having driven one)try Kerridges 01449 720222 ( not "too" far from you) as they are a TVR/MG dealer. I bought 5 cars from them and they were exceptionally helpful in these sort of circumstances. Even sold my Tuscan quickly on sale-or-return when they knew I was buying an HSV. Good luck anyway and congrats on the baby.

>> Edited by sjc on Thursday 19th December 07:34

[cammy]

Razor

My wee one is now 4 months old, and I bought new in Sept 01. the wife was adamant that the car had to go (she is not the biggest TVR fan) when the baby came. However, she trade her sports car for a sporty estate and is now GLAD she didn't make me get a 2nd hand M5!
Ride it out and you will keep the TVR and no rash, regretable decision will have been made.

[razor]

I suppose I should count myself lucky that I didn't buy a Tuscan - I was really torn between the 2 at the time.

Anyway, I'm gonna ride it out, as recommended, and check the market in Spring.