Cerbera or Tuscan
Discussion
what one? test drove both cars today and really liked the cerbra.Only problem is i have a max budget of £21000 (£6000 short of asking price).I have been told to stay away from tuscans as they tend to go wrong if you drive them hard And I love the sound of the V8 in the cerbra and have been told that it can take a lot more stick then the tuscans straight six.Has any one had both cars or any advice on what i should do.As it stands at the moment I have put my name down on a 4 liter tuscan but cant help feeling like i am selling my self short of the real thing.thank you to any one who can help me i have till tueday to make my mind up on the tuscan any advice would be great.
Hi
I have never had a cerb, but have a tuscan. I think the major problems people have is because they don't read the manual. It says not to drive the car until the oil temperature has reached 45C. Yet when I was looking at one recently the chap selling it let me look round it and then, having told me it had not ben started that day, started it and we drove off straight away!!I was not impressed!
The V8 engine definately has a charm all of its own, but one of the mechanics now says keeing Cerbs on the road is getting expensive as they get older and things start to break!
Given the choice I would go for the Tuscan. I have no one to put in the back seats (if you can call them that) and I like to bne able to take the roof off when the sun shines!!
I have never had a cerb, but have a tuscan. I think the major problems people have is because they don't read the manual. It says not to drive the car until the oil temperature has reached 45C. Yet when I was looking at one recently the chap selling it let me look round it and then, having told me it had not ben started that day, started it and we drove off straight away!!I was not impressed!
The V8 engine definately has a charm all of its own, but one of the mechanics now says keeing Cerbs on the road is getting expensive as they get older and things start to break!
Given the choice I would go for the Tuscan. I have no one to put in the back seats (if you can call them that) and I like to bne able to take the roof off when the sun shines!!
The choices are easy but only you can decide what you want.
Tuscan - Roof off Cerbera - roof on
Tuscan - 2 seats Cerbera - 4 seats
Tuscan - Speed 6 340ish bhp Cerbera - Racing V8 - 400+bhp on a 4.5, 340ish on a 4.2
Tuscan - modern looks Cerbera - classic undated looks (well maybe apart from the rear lights)
Tuscan - quick Cerbera - the quickest
Oh and the Cerbera has a huge boot.
Obviously I have a cerbera.
Running costs - depends really. If you get a good one that's sorted and drive it sensibly then they don't really cost and are a lot cheaper to run than other exotica with the same performance. The trouble is they need to be looked after and are currently dropping towards an attrcative price where people buy them but don't maintain them.
The achillies heal seems to be the original clutch which seems to break fingers. reports have it as low as 15K miles up to 45K miles, I suppose it depends on how you drive them. Mines done 30k on the original and is working fine. There are improved replacements now though.
The other problem, as with all TVRs is the owners getting too enthusiatic with the throttle, either from cold as mentioned (I let mine get above 70 before playing), or in inappropriate places. I think there's less than half the Cerberas made left now.
It really depends where the itch is, but I doubt you'll be disappointed with either.
Tuscan - Roof off Cerbera - roof on
Tuscan - 2 seats Cerbera - 4 seats
Tuscan - Speed 6 340ish bhp Cerbera - Racing V8 - 400+bhp on a 4.5, 340ish on a 4.2
Tuscan - modern looks Cerbera - classic undated looks (well maybe apart from the rear lights)
Tuscan - quick Cerbera - the quickest
Oh and the Cerbera has a huge boot.
Obviously I have a cerbera.
Running costs - depends really. If you get a good one that's sorted and drive it sensibly then they don't really cost and are a lot cheaper to run than other exotica with the same performance. The trouble is they need to be looked after and are currently dropping towards an attrcative price where people buy them but don't maintain them.
The achillies heal seems to be the original clutch which seems to break fingers. reports have it as low as 15K miles up to 45K miles, I suppose it depends on how you drive them. Mines done 30k on the original and is working fine. There are improved replacements now though.
The other problem, as with all TVRs is the owners getting too enthusiatic with the throttle, either from cold as mentioned (I let mine get above 70 before playing), or in inappropriate places. I think there's less than half the Cerberas made left now.
It really depends where the itch is, but I doubt you'll be disappointed with either.
had the same choice last year, fell in love with a black Tuscan.... end of story.
seriously both special/fast/will cause gratuitous gawping
both will cost a fair amount to run and will need some thing expensive if you keepit long enough.
read the cerbera / tuscan / speed 6 forums and go in knowlegable
Just think of TVRs as highly strung supermodel rather than a reliable german house wife
and when the right TVR comes along i can guarentee you WILL fall in love....
custard
seriously both special/fast/will cause gratuitous gawping
both will cost a fair amount to run and will need some thing expensive if you keepit long enough.
read the cerbera / tuscan / speed 6 forums and go in knowlegable
Just think of TVRs as highly strung supermodel rather than a reliable german house wife
and when the right TVR comes along i can guarentee you WILL fall in love....
custard
nigel.d.robb said:
Hi
I have never had a cerb, but have a tuscan. I think the major problems people have is because they don't read the manual. It says not to drive the car until the oil temperature has reached 45C. Yet when I was looking at one recently the chap selling it let me look round it and then, having told me it had not ben started that day, started it and we drove off straight away!!I was not impressed!
The V8 engine definately has a charm all of its own, but one of the mechanics now says keeing Cerbs on the road is getting expensive as they get older and things start to break!
Given the choice I would go for the Tuscan. I have no one to put in the back seats (if you can call them that) and I like to bne able to take the roof off when the sun shines!!
And many do thorough reserch before parting with £53K, read the manual, get advice from the factory, run the car in with kid gloves and still it goes bang before 4K miles! And if they dont, you spend all your driving time listning for a new rattle or tap you havnt herd before, have you? Ive had both, only miss the Cerb, plan to get another for the winter to kep the Griff company.I have never had a cerb, but have a tuscan. I think the major problems people have is because they don't read the manual. It says not to drive the car until the oil temperature has reached 45C. Yet when I was looking at one recently the chap selling it let me look round it and then, having told me it had not ben started that day, started it and we drove off straight away!!I was not impressed!
The V8 engine definately has a charm all of its own, but one of the mechanics now says keeing Cerbs on the road is getting expensive as they get older and things start to break!
Given the choice I would go for the Tuscan. I have no one to put in the back seats (if you can call them that) and I like to bne able to take the roof off when the sun shines!!
twizellb said:
L1OFF said:
nigel.d.robb said:
Hi
I think the major problems people have is because they don't read the manual. It says not to drive the car until the oil temperature has reached 45C.
I think the major problems people have is because they don't read the manual. It says not to drive the car until the oil temperature has reached 45C.
Alan
Declaration I have a Tuscan,
Ive read all of the above my advice is to buy both if you can afford it !!
Love the Tuscan and would love a cerb. both are great, if different, cars.
Roof off did it for me though but having kids the four, well 2plus 2 seets nearly swung it the other way..
The short of it is look after both propoerly and you shouldn't have too mnay problems (Having just had £1500 worth of work done on the Tuscan , under warranty I might add!)
Ive read all of the above my advice is to buy both if you can afford it !!
Love the Tuscan and would love a cerb. both are great, if different, cars.
Roof off did it for me though but having kids the four, well 2plus 2 seets nearly swung it the other way..
The short of it is look after both propoerly and you shouldn't have too mnay problems (Having just had £1500 worth of work done on the Tuscan , under warranty I might add!)
Go for the Cerb and never look back.
Got mine after lustin for 2 years (yes its soo sad!)
Have test driven Sgs, Chms and Tscns, and i have to say the Cerb did it for me. Go for a late 2002 with the later twin headlight update (not the add-on).
You won't regret it. Goodluck!
regards
mr spectraflair
Got mine after lustin for 2 years (yes its soo sad!)
Have test driven Sgs, Chms and Tscns, and i have to say the Cerb did it for me. Go for a late 2002 with the later twin headlight update (not the add-on).
You won't regret it. Goodluck!
regards
mr spectraflair
mr spectraflair said:
Go for the Cerb and never look back.
Got mine after lustin for 2 years (yes its soo sad!)
Have test driven Sgs, Chms and Tscns, and i have to say the Cerb did it for me. Go for a late 2002 with the later twin headlight update (not the add-on).
You won't regret it. Goodluck!
regards
mr spectraflair
Go for the Cerb and never have a full wallet again, sad to say, but they are a money pit, those that disagree are either in denial or they have been very fortunate so far. Got mine after lustin for 2 years (yes its soo sad!)
Have test driven Sgs, Chms and Tscns, and i have to say the Cerb did it for me. Go for a late 2002 with the later twin headlight update (not the add-on).
You won't regret it. Goodluck!
regards
mr spectraflair
Cost, based over a reasonable mileage, of over two pound a mile pure maintenance for cars used as intended is not uncommon. Standard cars are about the same BHP wise, Cerb is a litle heavier, LWT suffix on the Cerb is a bit of a misnoma.
Buy the best you can afford and you shouldn't regret it. Choice is personal, both very compitent cars.
Daftlad - and S6 engine failures are cheap to fix are they?
Both my cerbs have cost me a fair bit. I was unlucky enought to have two engine rebuilds on 4.5s. One was a total engine failure (bought a lemon) and 2nd was a valve issue that didnt really HAVE to be fixed. So I do agree that they cost a packet to run. But I dont see why a S6 is going to be cheaper.
Both my cerbs have cost me a fair bit. I was unlucky enought to have two engine rebuilds on 4.5s. One was a total engine failure (bought a lemon) and 2nd was a valve issue that didnt really HAVE to be fixed. So I do agree that they cost a packet to run. But I dont see why a S6 is going to be cheaper.
Gazzab said:
Daftlad - and S6 engine failures are cheap to fix are they?
Both my cerbs have cost me a fair bit. I was unlucky enought to have two engine rebuilds on 4.5s. One was a total engine failure (bought a lemon) and 2nd was a valve issue that didnt really HAVE to be fixed. So I do agree that they cost a packet to run. But I dont see why a S6 is going to be cheaper.
I've never had to pay for a S6 failure so I wouldn't know - I would suggest that they are cheaper to fix than what is currently charged by some specialists with their niche pricing heads on. Both my cerbs have cost me a fair bit. I was unlucky enought to have two engine rebuilds on 4.5s. One was a total engine failure (bought a lemon) and 2nd was a valve issue that didnt really HAVE to be fixed. So I do agree that they cost a packet to run. But I dont see why a S6 is going to be cheaper.
Back to your question,
What I was suggesting is, over a reasonable period a V8 Cerb used as intended can easily cost more than a Tuscan to run - even taking into consideration a head rebuild every 20000? miles at say 6K a throw. Maybe I'm using what tends towards extreme cases to demonstrate the point, but I don't think I'd be too far from the point in many cases.
Edited by Daftlad on Tuesday 17th July 12:54
We've been quite fortunate so far... 71k miles and counting.
Both cars can potentially be lemons or a pleasure - my choice would be the Cerbera, either a nice late one or a well looked after early one with plenty of money to keep it going/upgrade etc etc...
Tbh, instead of the Tuscan I would be looking very closely at the prices of T350s
Both cars can potentially be lemons or a pleasure - my choice would be the Cerbera, either a nice late one or a well looked after early one with plenty of money to keep it going/upgrade etc etc...
Tbh, instead of the Tuscan I would be looking very closely at the prices of T350s
Edited by BCA on Tuesday 17th July 13:54
Daftlad said:
What I was suggesting is, over a reasonable period a V8 Cerb used as intended can easily cost more than a Tuscan to run - even taking into consideration a head rebuild every 20000? miles at say 6K a throw. Maybe I'm using what tends towards extreme cases to demonstrate the point, but I don't think I'd be too far from the point in many cases.
IMHO the genral concensus view from various PH threads appears to be that the Cerb is, on balance, the most expensive TVR to run. This is also the feedback I have had personally from Cerb owners who have owned other TVR's.Edited by Daftlad on Tuesday 17th July 12:54
The Tuscan is likely to be closer to the quoted power figures than a 4.5 cerb, though the 4.2's appear to get close to their quoted figures.
Gazzab said:
Still dont understand this ie S6 engines pop frequently, AJPV8s pop sometimes. S6 engines are often quoted as more expensive to service than AJPV8s. So I cant see why a tuscan will end up cheaper to run. It might be but I just dont know why.
Well first off I don't believe the SP6 engines fail as often as PH threads would have you believe. Another aspect to factor in is voluntary expenditure on the engine. By this I mean that there aren't many tuning options available for the SP6 engine except for a re-map and in general they appear to make fairly close to their quoted power figures.Conversely, the 4.5 cerb often appears to make less or similar power to a SP6 engine, but can be made to get 400+bhp via induction and mapping mods. These are obviosuly not cheap, but many Cerb 4.5 owners appear to go down this route. I know if I had a 4.5 Cerb putting out say 330bhp, I would pay the £x,xxx needed to get it to 400+ bhp.
Thanks to every one who has taken the time to write in and help me with my choice.Shortly after posting this a ph user emailed me his cerb picture and at the moment we are talking about maybe having a deal.But a black on black tuscan s with 35 000 miles has also come up for same money its in classified section.The cerb im looking at is GAZM one you can see it on his profile.Please look at both cars and tell me what you really think.Any history on either car would be great.thanks again james
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