DC10

Am thinking about going for a Cerbera 4.5. I currently own a Griff and have done for about ten years. To be honest, I haven't really had reliability issues and she's done me proud for the best part of the last 100,000 miles.

I don't have any experience of TVR's new engine and would appreciate *genuine* feedback (please, no "I knew a guy who knew a guy who shared a table down at my local pub and was p'ssed at the time, but...").

Basically: now that the engines (AJP8) have had some time in the market-- how do they fare? It's the 0 - 100 in 8 seconds that's a bit tempting ... but do the cam shafts really fracture after the first 500 miles?

Thanks,

DC.

Scumbag

Try the forums on:
Pistonheads
you'll get more knowledgeable information on TVRs than most of the (uninformed) opinion here

Edited to say to look under the GASSING section

[Edited by Scumbag - 20/03/2003 10:36:18]

GCollier

Dave,

You don't want one of these.

You want one of these.

You know it makes sense

Gary.

Mufasa

You must have deep pockets!

loadsamoney!

[Edit]

Not quite as bad as he makes out as he had his loan payments in there...

[Edited by Mufasa - 3/21/2003 6:13:36 AM]

DC10

Very interesting-- got mixed thoughts about it. I think I've seen more "problem" reports than "non problem" reports. Either that is because genuinely the car is very unreliable or that the "problems" are reported more and no one really advertises "hey, bought a TVR and ... no worries!"

As someone told me-- it's probably like smoking: you're not guaranteed to get lung cancer; only, you're just increasing the chances.

For me, the attraction has to be the speed. The parting shot in the "loadsamoney" link above is basically-- "this car grabs you and wills you to go faster ... etc." I noticed this in the Griff. And in terms of an initial outlay-- can you really top out between 180 - 200+ for around £35,000?

foz01

aS LONG AS YOU CAN STOMACH 2K+ service/maintenace bills then go for it, for the money nothing can touch them! if i had the cash to run one i would in a second

Stephen Read

200.2 MPH

BCA

195 is pretty realistic (REAL gps varified speed) I think the 200.2 may have been slightly rigged...

..however the 4.5 RedRose cars have an extra 50bhp (REAL) which would see them pass 200mph I should think.

TVR Cerbera 4.5's are great, dads had one for nearly three years and isnt even close to getting bored of it. Its his only car and so it has to be reliable and reasonable to run. Thankfully it has been fairly reasonable, certainly not 4k a year, let alone 40!!

The trick to it is to find a decent independant to look after it (http://www.joospeed.net) Joolz looks after our car and knows more about the car than TVR do. Far superior quality of work than a franchise dealer and a damn sight cheaper.

Do it!!!

If you have a 30k budget: buy a standard 4.5 (98-99?)for about 25k and then get the Red Rose engine mods done at TVR for 4k. Then you have a real monster!! Expect 1/4 mile times in the early 12's for 4.2/4.5/4.5RR

A 4.5 car will be smoother due to far more low down torque, though a 4.2 has more or less the same power. AFIAK the Cerbera should out handle the griff too, never had a griffith but other who have had them have said this.

Fuel consumtion is anywhere between 9mpg (croft) and 28 (on the way back from croft)

The boot is big and 3 of the 4 seats are usable, I have been in the back a few times and im 6'3". The Cerbera will be a nice step up from the griff in terms of raw pace. It doesnt have the dangerous levels of torque at low rpm, but when your griff starts to feel limp as the revs rise the Cerbera just gets into its element and shoots off!!

Ignore the engine worrys stuff, our car is currently 36,000miles and going strong - there are a few around 80k without rebuilds too!!! The AJP8 is very strong for what is essentially a race engine, however the Speed 6 has issues, I recommend you avoid these at all costs.

Go for a test drive, after that, theres no turning back

Mungo

A close friend has a 4.5 and has had a few reltively minor problems - the cable ribbon from the steering column controls broke so he had no wipers, etc. The starter motor also failed recently without warning. The engine itself has given no problems besides finding enough grip to get all the power onto the road! It's a W-reg ('00?) with only about 15k miles.

carl

I'm seriously considering getting a 4.2 Cerb to replace the Scoob (either that or an early NSX), but there's a 4.5 on Pistonheads classifieds for £19,950
Tempting....(but I don't have the money right at this moment )