Ground Clearance - Help

[pdavison]

I am hoping to get a Cerbera in the New Year, but I have one slight problem. The slope leading to my garage is fairly steep and I need to see if a Cerbera would go down it without grounding.

Now this obviously won't be a popular appeal, but I need some suggestions as to how I could find out. If anyone owns a Cerbera in the Camberley area and would like to try, you're more than welcome !

I know an S3 goes down without scraping (in reverse) and a Griff goes down with a mild bit of scraping so any ideas as to how to find out would be gratefully received !

Cheers

Paul

[madasahatter]

Not sure whether this helps, but the ground clearance of a Cerbie in standard form is 130mm.

Not much, but there again a Grif/S3 doesn't ride high...

Steve

[VYT]

My Cerbera grounds going into my garage, had to make a ramp to make the slope longer, the Chimaera was OK. Ground clearance is the same for both cars but the wheel base is longer. If a standard Griff grounds a standard Cerby will likely be worse.

[pdavison]

That was my worry as there is a ramp leading down to a block of garages and I suspect it will scrape as it goes down.

[davidy]

I suspect that it would only be the exhaust grounding, if this is the case then you could get some skid plates welded to it to prevent the boxes being ground away. Also if the ramp leading down to the garages can be taken at an angle this may prevent it grounding.

I had some skid plates on my M-series car (much modified with only 85mm ground clearance ) on both the exhaust boxes and the sump and it seemed to work well.

Hope that helps

davidy

[anonymous-user]

I've got a friend with a bit of a slope going down his driveway and made the mistake of trying to get the Cerbera down it.

Came to a very abrupt halt with an expensive sounding noise !

I'd definitly try and borrow one to give it a go before you buy.(If thats the only place the car can be kept). They are very low to the ground.

[rolexblue]

VYT is right the Cerbera’s wheel base is longer then the Griff/Chimaera, I used to have a Chimaera and speed humps weren’t to much hassle but now I’ve got the Cerbera if I’m not very careful I ground the rear exhaust box. If however your Cerbera has/is going to have a sports exhaust then this may not be an issue as the sports system do not hang down anywhere as low as the standard items.

Pdavison – where is Surrey are you?

Cheers
Paul

[pdavison]

rolexblue - I live in Camberley, whereabouts are you ?

I think it would be worth me trying to borrow one before I buy as I would be keeping it in the garage as I wouldn't want to leave it outside.

[Byff]

I have a very steep drive with a raised kerb at the top. I thought i'd never get a cerb down it, but luckily, my cerb goes down with no contact at all.

Thankfully, It was tested first by a reader of these forums who very kindly came round and gave it a go. I hope you get lucky and find a volunteer aswell.

[futie]

Paul, I own a Cerbie and work in Camberley - live in West End. Am on holiday at the moment, but if you want to drop me a line in the next few days, i'll happily pop down and see if the car grounds!

It's on Joospeed suspension too, so slightly lower than normal - if mine gets down there, a standard one will be fine!

[pdavison]

Thanks Futie,

I've sent you an email with my mobile number.

Paul

[rolexblue]

pdavison said: rolexblue - I live in Camberley, whereabouts are you ?

I think it would be worth me trying to borrow one before I buy as I would be keeping it in the garage as I wouldn't want to leave it outside.

Sorry Paul I haven't seen this earlier but I've been on leave! I'm over in Bromley, Kent. If you were this side of Surrey it would have been easier to pop over - sounds like futie may be able to help out, if not mail me via my profile and we'll try and sort something out.


Happy new year
Paul

[pdavison]

Thanks Futie for testing the ground clearance today - great news, a Cerbera WILL go down my drive !

The Beemer & bike are for sale, so once they have gone I will start my search. Just got decide whether to go for a Cerbera or an early LHD Ferrari now . All unbiased opinions will be gratefully received !

Thanks for all the info and help so far guys.

Cheers

Paul

[gazzab]

If you are spending over 40K on a car then a ferrari starts to become a good alternative to a cerbie ie a lhd 355. But if you are looking at 20Kish then the cerb wons no probs. A 348 is a good but aint a great car.
Go TVR.
I am not far from Camberley and have a cerb 4.5 and could have popped over but you have it sorted i see. so go for it.

[pdavison]

Gazzab - It would be around the £20k mark (unfortunately !), so I think I will have to try a 348 & 328 and see how they compare to the Cerbie.

Cheers

Paul

[damol]

I had a Ferrari 348 GTS but had to seel it due to an impending birth. The Ferrari was an awesome car but on a value for money basis I would go for the TVR. Whilst the Ferrari had an tremendous cache and was stared at wherever I went it costs a fortune to service and repair, for example a service would be at least £1,000 and a cam belt change (every 3 years) is £3,000. Add to this the cost of parts (Radiator £600 each , you need 2) and it starts to become a very expensive hobby. I would certainly go for the Cerbera, well actually I am.

[pdavison]

Cheers Damol,

Do you know if the 328 running costs are similar ? As far as I am aware the engine is mounted transversely in the 328 and longtitudinely (sp ??) in the 348 which means that the engine has to come out of the 348 for most maintainance work, but this isn't the case with the 328.

Apologies as this is probably the wrong place to ask this !

[damol]

I don't really know much about the 328s but the place where I had mine serviced said that the 348 was not bad to work on as the engine comes out really easily.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

Damol

[gazzab]

I would be suprised if a 328/348 was cheaper than a Cerb to run.