Urgent: new 4.2 vs New 4.5 (vs RR) - differences?

[mmertens]

Hi all,
I'm not exactly new to the Cerbie fold as some of you will know - but still I'd like some answers to this question. What - apart from the obvious 300 cc and the power difference that's supposed to go with it - is the difference between a 2002 4.2 and a 2002 4.5? I've driven a 98 4.5 for 2 years or so and a 2000 RR for a year and a half. I don't race (although I occasionally get the chance to do some high-speed Autobahn cruising), haven't ever done a track day (might some day) and I use the car every day. What would be the noticeable differences, if any? Are there still suspension differences on the new cars? is there still a difference in the diff? gearbox (I know the RR has the CR 'box)? Lowdown torque? Driveability at legal speeds? etc.

I won't go into detail as to why I want to change back from a RR to a 4.2 - there is a good reason though.

Any comment much appreciated.

Cheers,
Maarten

[olly]

As far as I'm aware, the difference's between 4.2 & 4.5 (I assume you mean 4.5, not a RR) are : Smaller brakes on the 4.2 & no hyra track on 4.2. I think the suspension is now the same now they have changed the dampers. The lights are all now seam-less pod style, and you can upgrade a 4.2 to spiders.

Can I ask why your upgrading to a 4.2 ?

Olly (& 4.2 Cerb)

[BCA]

I think hes going to buy the 4.2 he drove a month or so ago IIRC. He said something about it being the fastest/most responsive/most smooth cerbera he had ever driven??

[mmertens]

Errr no. I indeed drove a 4.5 cerb owned by the factory a couple of weeks ago. Let's just say that I'm trying to decide on replacing my 4.5 RR with a newer 4.2 (the RR has had its share of not so minor problems). I'm going to test drive the 4.2 next week or so to see how much of a difference it makes in real life (given my probably not very aggressive driving habits). I only had a normal 4.5 and a RR so far, therefore any advance knowledge of differences in current models would be helpful. On the outside, the 4.2 looks good - 18 inch, airco, new fared-in lights etc. I'm interested in engine/suspension/other under-the-hood differences as Olly indicated already.

[gazzab]

not sure what the suspension set up is n new 4.2s compared to 4.5 RRs. But there are loads of threads that say a 4.2 is as good as or better than a standard 4.5. There are other threads that say a 4.5 RR is the best cerbera ever. Personally I think you wont notice much difference. The 4.5RR might feel a little more refined. But thats just my view.
Cant you just search old threads?

[The Lost Boys]

We test drove a number of used 4.2's and 4.5's from a number of dealers as we wanted to upgrade from a 5 litre Chimeara. We chose the 2002 RR as the drive was more tractable at lower revs in spite of the torque and with the cr gearbox.The car has been perfect and goes superbly with a colossal high end speeds where legally permissable.Obviously a series of test drives cannot be an exhaustive comparison but we consider we made the best decision (including a comparison with the Tuscan 'S')

regards

Lost Boys

[mmertens]

On a related note, does anyone know the white () second hand 4.5 RR that Castle has for sale? Really not sure about the color scheme (some pearlescent white with a slightly purple shine under the right light) but it is a RR of course... it has some 7500 on the clock apparently and they lowered the price recently - mainly because of the color I'd imagine... I don't know the licence number but there can't be many whites around. According to castle it was a "special one off".

[neilus]

The TVR Centre (www.tvr-centre.co.uk/index.htm) have also got a white Cerbera RR for sale. Which has been there a while, I saw it at the end of October.

It does look nice - but I've already got one.

I saw the Castle one advertised last week and the spec's are almost identical, as far as I remember.

Neil.

[mmertens]

That's the very same car. Castle & TVR Barnet are at least partly owned by the same guy, Giles Cooper IIRC.

[beaver]

This was about the 3rd RR car to TVR Centre, (after mine and your silver one)

[granville]

Olly - do/did ALL 4.5s come with hydratrack as standard?

[Beast]

had been talking to Giles a couple of weeks back about the 4.2 Crystal Topaz they have in at Barnet...his view was that this was the best value car now - it's pretty much same engine as 4.5 (different heads and intake (?) but identical underneath).

I have to say having driven T350, Tomora and Cerbera 4.5 RR back-to-back.....the Cerbera feels woefully inadequate in terms of body control - though I still prefer it overall.

If TVR could adopt the manufacturing abilities and overall quality from thr Tam/T350 onto the Cerbera, they would have an unbelievably fantastic car (...I suppose this is the T440/R - but the price diff is a bit steep !)

[gary judd]

hi all
i have got a 4.2 witch engine went bang last year i have had a new engine fitted and is now run in done 2000 miles now and the differences are quite alot , new assa pistons i think thats the right spelling but sounds alot better than my last engine. and the power response is much smoother and faster . i have had grooved disc,s fitted and green stuff pads it stops better than the standard set up .also the latest nitrons witch are great. i have got a hydratrack diff witch was fitted when the car was built as opintal..my advice would to buy an early cerb and get it sorted.
gary and cerb

[olly]

derestrictor said: Olly - do/did ALL 4.5s come with hydratrack as standard?

Sorry for bringing up an old(ish) thread.

Yes - all 4.5's come (and came) with hydra track... Although some people say that the 4.2's without hydra track are more fun to drive (on a circuit) because they go sideways more easily...