I drove a couple of Cerbs today...

[450Nick]

I was at Racing Green today to pick up a couple of parts for the Chim and having never been there before, I was hugely impressed. It has a very impressive looking showroom with some really nice and knowledgable people working there. I will certainly be using them in future! Anyway while I was there, a couple of Cerberas caught my eye. I've always wanted a Cerb and having never tried one, I thought I'd ask for a test as I may be able to afford one soon.

I tried both a 4.2 V8 and a John Ravenscroft special 4.0 Speed Six 2004 model and was amazed at how different they both felt to the Chim. Much better motorway cruiser and far quieter/more refined at speed. In fact at one point I thought I was doing 50 on a dual carriageway but after noticing some cars moving quite slowly, I checked the speedo and found myself doing 95mph! :s I've not tried any of the late model TVRs, but even the Cerb felt like a leap forward from the Chim in terms of design. Not all in a good way though, I love the look, the interior and the way it drives, but some of the electronics just seemed a little unneccesary such as the strange indicators, slightly hesitant windows and start/stop button.


Another surprise was the speed six, I thought I'd hate it after hearing so much bad press over the years but I have to say that I really did prefer it to the 4.2V8, it felt much smoother, more progressive and strangely more torquey (though the car did have high-torque cams). Perhaps this wasn't a fair test though as it was effectively a high spec Sag engine with uprated cams and a 4.5 exhaust. I have to say that I really did love that speed six though; lovely engine in a really lovely car!

I also always thought that a Cerb would be angrier and more aggressive than the Chim (granted I'm not really comparing like with like here), but I felt that the Cerbera felt like a well built quick motorway cruiser, whist the Chim feels basically like a muscle car. Much more of raw driving experience, and sort of surprisingly; much quicker than the Cerb! I really did miss the torque and despite the Cerb gaining and holding speed very well, it didn't give that familiar kick in the back in doing so. So for all you Chim owners who were thinking about upgrading to go faster, I'd just go with a supercharger - it really feels a fair bit faster than a Cerb.

I would still love a Cerb though, and will endevour to add one to the stable as soon as funds allow, very possibly with a speed six! But I want a Tuscan racer first and couldn't sell the Chim. Suppose I should start playing the lottery!

Out of question, has anyone on here gone from a Chim to a Cerb? What were your thoughts longer term? And is the 4.5 much different to the two that I tried?

[350Matt]

Hi nick

I went from a Cerb to a Griff for pretty much the reasons you say, the Cerb I think is one of the best cars TVR ever made, however it lacks a sense of speed until you're into silly speeds - it doesn't 'feel' fast until triple digits. Bizarre really as its bonkers fast.

That said I'd have another but I'd like to keep the Griff as well.....

[RUSSELLM]

Thing with the Cerb though, is that it doesn't come alive until well in to the rev range. With a salesman next to you in the car, it would have been interesting to see how many times you went past 4000 revs, let alone 7000.

[Obiwonkeyblokey]

Hi Nick

I had 2 Chims, a Griff 500 a 4.5 Cerb and a sp six Cerb, then the Tuscan Racer.

sell the Chim and buy a tuscan Racer - buy a rust bucket to drive every day - You know it makes sense. Then when funds allow again buy a late 4.5 LW.

Once you have raced anything ( class C +, everything road based will seem a little mundane in comparison and if you have to sacrifice a road car to go racing then it will all feel worthwhile when youre sitting on the grid!)

actually - sell the 200SX and buy a tasmin racer - then keep the Chim and you have the best of both worlds for the time being.

HTH



O

Edited by Obiwonkeyblokey on Wednesday 15th April 08:59

[hiltonig]

Question from me Nick is how did the v8 one feel to your supercharged one ? I always fancied a 4.5 cerb but i guess the rover v8 is going to be better for maintaining

Edited by hiltonig on Wednesday 15th April 09:22

Edited by hiltonig on Wednesday 15th April 09:23

Edited by hiltonig on Wednesday 15th April 09:24

[450Nick]

RUSSELLM said:

Thing with the Cerb though, is that it doesn't come alive until well in to the rev range. With a salesman next to you in the car, it would have been interesting to see how many times you went past 4000 revs, let alone 7000.

No this is true, it doesn't come alive until further up the rev range, but I did take both of them up to the red line in 2nd and 3rd and into 4th a couple of times. Crazy long throttle travel!

Obiwonkeyblokey said:

Hi Nick

I had 2 Chims, a Griff 500 a 4.5 Cerb and a sp six Cerb, then the Tuscan Racer.

sell the Chim and buy a tuscan Racer - buy a rust bucket to drive every day - You know it makes sense. Then when funds allow again buy a late 4.5 LW.

Once you have raced anything ( class C +, everything road based will seem a little mundane in comparison and if you have to sacrifice a road car to go racing then it will all feel worthwhile when youre sitting on the grid!)

actually - sell the 200SX and buy a tasmin racer - then keep the Chim and you have the best of both worlds for the time being.

HTH



O

Thats a pretty impressive list of TVRs Owen! How did you rate the Speed Six against the 4.5? Sorry but after the amount time and money I've put into the Chim, I couldn't sell it. And its such good fun, I just love it - it feels like a muscle car!

I have actually just sold the Nissan though and some of it is helping me pay for racing this season in Graham's Taz. I don't really want to buy my own as I know I'll want a Tuscan fairly quickly, so I'll get my eye in with G's Taz, then hopefully have enough for a Tuscan for next season.

hiltonig said:

Question from me Nick is how did the v8 one feel to your supercharged one ? I always fancied a 4.5 cerb but i guess the rover v8 is going to be better for maintaining

It obviously revs quicker than the RV8 which was really good fun, but felt like a quick 4 pot rather than a v8... Probably because it sort of is a powerful 4 pot! It had a pretty smooth pull up to the top, with a noticable increase in oomph as it went through around 4k revs, but nothing like you'll get from your 5.4 sc.

As has been said though, it is much better at 100+ and does pick up speed relentlessly. At 100+ it still feels like you're doing 50 whereas the Chim feels like you're doing 200 just from the noise and wind rush.

I would still love a Cerb though, it is awesome. I think the pull of racing is a little stronger though at the moment...

Edited by 450Nick on Wednesday 15th April 10:27

Edited by 450Nick on Wednesday 15th April 10:27

[hiltonig]

cannot blame you nick for wanting one they always look mean on the road, I like the later model ones and it would have to be a 4.5lw..... now am i doing the right thing sc ing ????

[450Nick]

I'd say so... Just been out for a drive to a country pub in the Chim today having not driven it for a couple of weeks waiting for a new radiator. Its just unspeakably good! I can't wait for Cadwell on Monday, its just going to be awesome.

[micky g]

RUSSELLM said:

Thing with the Cerb though, is that it doesn't come alive until well in to the rev range. With a salesman next to you in the car, it would have been interesting to see how many times you went past 4000 revs, let alone 7000.

My test drive was pretty uninspiring, I thought it was a nice, quick car and all, but not the untameable beast I had been lead to believe...

Once bought and acclimatised I thought lets give that long pedal a proper push and see what happens... first time I've had to steer to keep a car in a straight line.

[hiltonig]

Nick has the old rad given up ?, have you gone for an alloy one for more cooling with the SC kit ? I have a new alloy one in garage and just waiting for an reason for fitting it although some say they are too efficient.

[RUSSELLM]

micky g said:

RUSSELLM said:

Thing with the Cerb though, is that it doesn't come alive until well in to the rev range. With a salesman next to you in the car, it would have been interesting to see how many times you went past 4000 revs, let alone 7000.

My test drive was pretty uninspiring, I thought it was a nice, quick car and all, but not the untameable beast I had been lead to believe...

Once bought and acclimatised I thought lets give that long pedal a proper push and see what happens... first time I've had to steer to keep a car in a straight line.

Exactly ...When I read this

450Nick said:

but I did take both of them up to the red line in 2nd and 3rd and into 4th a couple of times. Crazy long throttle travel!

I'm thinking to myself, that's way past 140 mph in a very short space of time .... Must have been knackered Cerbs

[450Nick]

They were quick, don't get me wrong! Just didn't have the torque that I'm used to so didn't give the familiar shove in the back, instead you tend to get a gentler surge which lasts longer. The speed six did feel a fair bit quicker though. Much smoother engine as well Why don't the Cerb guys rate them?

Edited by 450Nick on Thursday 16th April 10:21

[dirty boy]

450Nick said:

The speed six did feel a fair bit quicker though. Much smoother engine as well Why don't the Cerb guys rate them?

In their own right, all three TVR engines are bloody fantastic (RV8, AJP, SP6) it's just that they all have different characteristics.

No-one slates the SP6 engine Cerbs, people tend to stear clear of them due to the potential problems, that's all.

[Obiwonkeyblokey]

dirty boy said:

450Nick said:

The speed six did feel a fair bit quicker though. Much smoother engine as well Why don't the Cerb guys rate them?

In their own right, all three TVR engines are bloody fantastic (RV8, AJP, SP6) it's just that they all have different characteristics.

No-one slates the SP6 engine Cerbs, people tend to stear clear of them due to the potential problems, that's all.

^^^^^ what he said although when the SS came out it was proposed as the softer more touring cerb. Hence the tractor size tyres.

Ive always lioved the 4.5 - just purely personal preference. Its got a more hooligan feel to it. I liked my Speed Six ( especially in Oyster Pearl> but preferred the brutality of the V8

[RedLeicester]

RUSSELLM said:

Thing with the Cerb though, is that it doesn't come alive until well in to the rev range. With a salesman next to you in the car, it would have been interesting to see how many times you went past 4000 revs, let alone 7000.

Wot he said. Lots of people with Rover V8 engined cars find the Cerb "quick, but not as quick as I'd expected" or the like.... I did myself when I went from my Chim400 to my Cerb 4.2. Then comes the day when you realise the accelerator has even more travel than the Chim/Griffs, and you discover the extra 3000rpm...... utterly bonkers.

[RedLeicester]

hiltonig said:

cannot blame you nick for wanting one they always look mean on the road, I like the later model ones and it would have to be a 4.5lw..... now am i doing the right thing sc ing ????

Dont rule out an early 4.2 on clatter cams..... monstrous beasts.

[verminator]

Drove my mates chim the other month and loved it, but make no mistake, the cerb, even the slower speed 6 is in a different league, and would leave a chim a very very long way behind.

[Chris71]

Had my first ride in a (4.5 AJP) Cerb last week at the MoT track day. The acceleration wasn't savage in the way that some cars can be, but it was unrelenting - a smooth wave of power that just didn't seem to stop. What surprised me slightly (from the passenger seat) was the handling. It seemed to be sliding very progressively, not the nail-biting beast people often make out. Of course, it's difficult to tell - the guy in the other seat may just be a driving god, but he assures me he's not and there was no sign of him breaking a sweat.

[tamore]

Chris71 said:

Had my first ride in a (4.5 AJP) Cerb last week at the MoT track day. The acceleration wasn't savage in the way that some cars can be, but it was unrelenting - a smooth wave of power that just didn't seem to stop. What surprised me slightly (from the passenger seat) was the handling. It seemed to be sliding very progressively, not the nail-biting beast people often make out. Of course, it's difficult to tell - the guy in the other seat may just be a driving god, but he assures me he's not and there was no sign of him breaking a sweat.

blimey, what other cars are you referring to?

i had an early 4.2 cerb, and without spending 300k or modding the engine to blow up inside 1000 miles, i can't think of much with more savagery.

[Phil Dicky]

450Nick said:

I'll get my eye in with G's Taz, then hopefully have enough for a Tuscan for next season.

A bet Grahams given you a nudge as to where there is a good Tuscan for sale