Takin the plunge! The real story
Discussion
Hi folks, a well worn topic but I'm thinking of buying a used Cerbera 4.5 (99 to 2000 model). This sites great for info on do's & don't on how to buy and for that I'm greatful - but your all too passionate and I need to know the cold, hard facts
1. I'm OK with annual bills of £1000+ (excluding service)
2. I'm OK with £500 - £600 p.a. servicing
3. I know its not benz reliable
I'm not OK with engine re-builds at £2000+ a time. No modern car should need an engine re-build through wear n tear until at least 50K miles. So what the real deal? If I buy a TVR, I want to keep it for 2-3 years and expect to do about 20K miles in that time. Do I get the car I really want and just expect a major bills or do I get a 996 and forever wonder ..... All feedback welcome
1. I'm OK with annual bills of £1000+ (excluding service)
2. I'm OK with £500 - £600 p.a. servicing
3. I know its not benz reliable
I'm not OK with engine re-builds at £2000+ a time. No modern car should need an engine re-build through wear n tear until at least 50K miles. So what the real deal? If I buy a TVR, I want to keep it for 2-3 years and expect to do about 20K miles in that time. Do I get the car I really want and just expect a major bills or do I get a 996 and forever wonder ..... All feedback welcome
Hello and Wellcome 
Big Al. said:
eeeEERRR! with a name like roofdown.. you sure your choosing the right model? 
Welcome to the mad house!
The TT's no TVR, but I've had it a while now, done 60K, all weathers, UK & Europe, no probs, no leaks, no drama, looks too good (with the roof down) - but I've adored the Cerb since they made the thing but been too scared to buy.
TT_Roofdown said:
Hi folks, a well worn topic but I'm thinking of buying a used Cerbera 4.5 (99 to 2000 model). This sites great for info on do's & don't on how to buy and for that I'm greatful - but your all too passionate and I need to know the cold, hard facts
1. I'm OK with annual bills of £1000+ (excluding service)
2. I'm OK with £500 - £600 p.a. servicing
3. I know its not benz reliable
I'm not OK with engine re-builds at £2000+ a time. No modern car should need an engine re-build through wear n tear until at least 50K miles. So what the real deal? If I buy a TVR, I want to keep it for 2-3 years and expect to do about 20K miles in that time. Do I get the car I really want and just expect a major bills or do I get a 996 and forever wonder ..... All feedback welcome
I don't think a TVR is the right car for you. double your servicing costs minimum, prepare for engine rebuilds to be on the safe side, otherwise look elsewhere.
TT_Roofdown said:
Thanks Joospeed for keeping it real. Let me get this right, if I'm an 8K a year driver and keep a Cerb 4.5 for 20K miles, I should budget £1000 p.a. for servicing plus £1000 p.a. for wear n tear and expect a likely engine re-build during the time ???
I'd say that's a fair start, if you're prepared for 3k a year like danny says then you'll win some years and lose others. What you don't really want to do is buy a cerbie and try to run it on a budget, you'll get disheartened if something big does go wrong and the last thing you'll want is that with a Cerbie .. they can be frustrating if not kept in tip-top form, skimp and you'll tire of it quickly - keep it right and it'll reward you with one of the best driving experiences around, certainly for the price.
This is all good stuff to know. I'm not trying to run one on the cheap, but a fool and his money are easily parted. I've wanted a Cerb since forever and I'm sure most people new to the marque have the same concerns as me. (unless there loaded £££) If 3K bills a year is about the norm for running a newish Cerbera then I think I'm ready to be that fool .........
could you run to two cars? I'v got my 10 year old deisel astra for work and for when the tivs havin a bad day,problem is i'v not used the astra since i got the tiv, two grand in bills inculuding service(£1000) £100 a week for fuel at least, new shocks and springs (thanx joolz) light conversion and full respray (thanx woman who backed into me) but if it gets to much I got summit to fall back on. when i bought mine i had all the same worrys as you have. now i think if you take care and use a bit of common and do a bit your self they'er ok, but they will NEVER be a TT. Come to pissedenfest an talk to ALL of the cerb owners, then buy one anyway you won't regret it.
Im by no meams an expert and joospeed knows all there is to know about servicing however from a new owners perspective I think a lot of stuff you read about Tivs take with a pinch of salt.
I researched Cerbs for 2 years before buying and found various owners who had cars that never required rebuilds or major cost outside of regular servicing.
I always wanted one and it was this that frightened me away. So on reflection I went out and spent £24K on a new car (non TVR) that depreciated by £15k over 3 years of ownership so even though servcing was minimal that was a £5K a year hit.
What ive found is that all you see on sites is the neagative/problematic stuff but people rarely post about the lack of expense or problems they have had.
I decided to take the plunge and bought a 98 4.5 Cerb three months ago, I did all the checks and bought private from two owners who did minimal (5k/year) mileage and serviced religiously paying to get anything done.
Im running mine on a budget with an open mind that something will go wrong at some point but the experience to date has been worth it. Lets face it there is nothing that looks, sounds or goes like a Cerbera!
I would agree with some that as any everyday car, especially in winter you could do better, so I keep it for weekends and the occasional long trip.
Just take your time find a good one thats been loved where someone else has had the expense and take the plunge. Even if you do it for 12 months and sell it on at least youve lived!!!!!!!
I researched Cerbs for 2 years before buying and found various owners who had cars that never required rebuilds or major cost outside of regular servicing.
I always wanted one and it was this that frightened me away. So on reflection I went out and spent £24K on a new car (non TVR) that depreciated by £15k over 3 years of ownership so even though servcing was minimal that was a £5K a year hit.
What ive found is that all you see on sites is the neagative/problematic stuff but people rarely post about the lack of expense or problems they have had.
I decided to take the plunge and bought a 98 4.5 Cerb three months ago, I did all the checks and bought private from two owners who did minimal (5k/year) mileage and serviced religiously paying to get anything done.
Im running mine on a budget with an open mind that something will go wrong at some point but the experience to date has been worth it. Lets face it there is nothing that looks, sounds or goes like a Cerbera!
I would agree with some that as any everyday car, especially in winter you could do better, so I keep it for weekends and the occasional long trip.
Just take your time find a good one thats been loved where someone else has had the expense and take the plunge. Even if you do it for 12 months and sell it on at least youve lived!!!!!!!
Just to say that this is a really interesting thread. I'm in exactly this position, and read alot about the problems - but want to know just how realistic it is.
Unfortunately I can't really add any useful info, as I've only just started researching them myself - however, just to say thanks to all those who've posted as I am another user that is getting something out of this thread !!
ta !
Unfortunately I can't really add any useful info, as I've only just started researching them myself - however, just to say thanks to all those who've posted as I am another user that is getting something out of this thread !!
ta !
Hi Tony
Well there are a few of us in the same boat of do we or don't we?
I have opted for the 'do' and although I have had to adjust my outlay for the initial car, I've tried to do my homework.
I hope to post details of the car I am going for and why, later this week.
Hope you find it of some help.
Well there are a few of us in the same boat of do we or don't we?
I have opted for the 'do' and although I have had to adjust my outlay for the initial car, I've tried to do my homework.
I hope to post details of the car I am going for and why, later this week.
Hope you find it of some help.
This has been a really useful thread for me. Thanx to you all for your contributions. What I'm getting from yourselves is go in with my eyes open - which I am. The engine is my main worry. I cannot imagine paying to have an engine re-built that only covered say 20k miles! To me that's insane if the cars been maintained by a dealer. Any car I buy will be dealer (or specialist) maintained, occasionally thrashed (no track days - the GSX-R does that) but never abused and racing engines are supposed to take a bit of hammer
A question for Jools or anyone who knows - I know many SP6 engines have been re-built due to doggy "fish fingers" Is there any history of major engine issues with the V8's in particular the 4.5??
A question for Jools or anyone who knows - I know many SP6 engines have been re-built due to doggy "fish fingers" Is there any history of major engine issues with the V8's in particular the 4.5??
Cerberas can be cheap to run, apart from oil, and fuel mine has only cost me about £600 to run for the last year. Fair enough I will need tyres soon and I'm looking at Nitrons.
Oh yes and it does get used...most days..
The thing people will keep telling you is buy the bext one you can get, best history, least owners, used a reasonable amount etc, etc and ensure you have enough spare on your plastic to fund the thing if it does go pop!
D.
Oh yes and it does get used...most days..
The thing people will keep telling you is buy the bext one you can get, best history, least owners, used a reasonable amount etc, etc and ensure you have enough spare on your plastic to fund the thing if it does go pop!
D.
I purchased my '96 4.2 12 months ago from Peninsula. Since then I have used the car almost everyday, (leave it at home when its icy), It does every thing including the school run and trips to B&Q.
In the last 12 months I have had 2 services, a new set of brake pads all round, and new rear tyres.
I have had some Electrical issues with the iginition, lighting, windows and wipers but nothing I could not sord out myself at almost no cost and none of the issues ever stopped me using the car.
The engine sounds like a bag of nails but it has been totally reliable.
In all no so dissimilar to the Chim I had before.
In the last 12 months I have had 2 services, a new set of brake pads all round, and new rear tyres.
I have had some Electrical issues with the iginition, lighting, windows and wipers but nothing I could not sord out myself at almost no cost and none of the issues ever stopped me using the car.
The engine sounds like a bag of nails but it has been totally reliable.
In all no so dissimilar to the Chim I had before.
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