Views wanted on poss new motor.

[GRAV888]

I may have the chance to do a px with a guy who has a raspberry pearl TVR Cerbera.
39000 miles, fsh from main dealer.
Really clean motor.
Anyone know any bad points about these?
It is a 4.2 ltr.

 

[Alfie]

Yes. They are quick, sound good and....they are unreliable and ive seen a few on fire by the side of motorways in the past. Not sure i'd want to be in one in an accident either! The build quality wont be anything like that of a Mercedes or a BMW. Some say its even worse than Ford!

Think carefully about the colour!

Just my opinion. I guess if you love them then wild horses wont change your mind!

Good luck.

 

[BaldGuy]

Hi,

If it was me I'd go for it.. you have the CLK with 4 seats if you need to take any passengers, can't remember if you have kids or not...
The TVR is an absolute missile... I've driven a Griffith and that was awesome... I'd go for it you only have one life....

Just my 2p worth..

 

[Mozzer]

Hmm, 6K servicing, crap build quality and even worse aftersales.

I looked at a Griffith 500 before I bought the S'line and went to the Henley showroom. The guy there showed me every car in the showroom and within 30 seconds I found something wrong with each of them.

I put them through the "If I parked this in the pub car park for the first time how long would it take for a mate of mine to take the p***" test and even a brand new tuscan with 16 miles on the clock failed.

TVR make gorgeous looking cars - congratulations on your taste, they just make them really badly - run away, RUN AWAY - FAST !!!

IMHO

S

 

[Anders]

You would do a PX with the E55 or the CLK?

In either case, you would get a (distinctly if the CLK) faster car, with real credibility (albeit not reliability), and one of the greatest engine sounds ever.

As for safety, remember that it comes without ABS, airbags, traction & stability control, so anything but an MB. But for an actual crash (heavens forbid), I undestand that the fibre glass construction actually does very well?

The 4.2 V8 is supposed to be much more reliable than their straight-6.

However, I would personally not touch one in that colour...

 

[Dieselman]

I like the Cerbera and think the colour is pretty cool, but you could only use this car as a toy because as has been said, the reliability is atrocious.

A commonly hels rumour is that it'll only get you to the end of the road before it breaks down. At the end of the day it's a kit car.

 

[Howard]

My old boss had one of these, very very fast, very very unreliable.......

On a track day in gloucestershire (runway can't remember where) the brake pedal went to the floor on one run, as we braked for the 90 degree left hander at the end causing us to slide on the grass for about 600 feet !!

Expensive if anything goes wrong, electrical problems, etc etc

Steer clear unless you have unlimited money Graeme !

Just as well it looks so sexy standing still..... cos thats what it will be doing most of the time !!

 

[esox]

Ive looked at one at a local specialist dealer-it was built like a poorly put-together kit car.
The only time they stop smelling of fibre-glass is when they start smelling of petrol...
Awesome sound though...

 

[JumJum]

Nice car

Pistonheads is a good TVR site, they will tell you all about the reliability issues.

Get a good test drive, try it in the wet .

I test drove a later model a TVR tuscan, salesman said it was a big improvement on earlier cars, scared me silly lost it twice (wasn't pushing too hard and this was in the dry ), scared the poor saleman too.

I've passed TVRs at the track too, Chimps and even a 350c, these cars should be quicker but whereas the Mercs fairly easy to drive right to the limit, I think it was just harder to get the best out them.

I do love the way they look and the sound of them, but they are too hairy for me and as said above no safety kit .

 

[Flyer]

Graeme, here's a post that I made when I was a passenger in one. Been in it a few times since, and every time, it blows me away.

TVRs are NOT kit cars. Yes, the reputation isn't sound, but if looked after, and more imprtantly, actually DRIVEN, they are reliable. My client has had zero problems with his (also a 4.2). Newer TVRs are vastly improved.

As said, there are no electronic driver aids (no ABS or TC) which can make the drive interesting, but go back a few years and no cars had them . On the accident front, the Cerbera has a full race car roll-cage built-in. Extremely strong.

The interior is stunning; no other make of cars come close to TVR for building "wow" interiors.

If you go into ownership expecting MB levels of reliability and build quality ( ), then you might be disappointed. Go in expecting a few things to go wrong, and get into "TVR-mode", then I'm sure the experience will far, far outweigh any problems you may encounter.

As JumJum says, check out the Cerbera forum on Pistonheads and put your question there. You will, as expected, get a much different response Have a think about your budget for servicing first though ...

 

[R2D2]

I've driven a 500 Griffith and agree that they go like nothing else and the engine looks and sounds wonderful. BUT the car I drove rattled like a bag of nails and the wind noise and intake noise was deafening, and it felt skitish and a handful in the dry in the wet it would require 100% effort all the time. Summary wonderful car to drive on a nice sunny day for about 10 miles but then I'd want back in the Mercedes wth its safety and effortless performance and quietness. Summary: Fun, but only if someone else owns it!

 

[PJH]

....Think carefully about the colour!

We will still be able to see you in fog!
Why not save your money and just respray your E55?

 

[GRAV888]

Thanks guys.
Just fancied a change for a while, as I'm getting extremely p****d off with MB and their attitude with regards to the rust claims on my motor.
Can see my E55 appearing on Top Gear soon with a tank barrel aiming at it

 

[glojo]

By pure coincidence one drew up next door yesterday, what a beautiful sounding engine. The car was a convertible with the roof down no idea though what model, it looked the part and sounded spectacular.

As a second car\plaything go for it, as the main driver, I seriously would be concerned about the reliability issues. I take onboard what Flyer has said, but....... Any breakdown cost time and time is money.

I can still hear that deep rumble of the V8

John

 

[peterchurch]

TVR are a _REAL_ sports car from the old skool Yes they can be a little unreliable but the buzz of driving them far outweighs the issues, and to be honest MB cant claim spotless reliabilty anymore... Funnily enough theres a jet black P reg for sale in the next village and I too am sorely tempted to swap out the SL

I like the colour too Do it they aren't comfortable and the gear box can be a bitch but what the hell

 

[SportsCoupeRich]

DO IT. DO IT (starsky & Hutch film anyone!!!!)

 

[nickg]

DO IT. DO IT (starsky & Hutch film anyone!!!!)

.....................provided you don't mind driving a very fast grape.
Can't you find a silver one??

 

[peterchurch]

.....................provided you don't mind driving a very fast grape.
Can't you find a silver one??

I doubt it given that you can have a TVR sprayed _ANY_ colour you can find, primer is not a very common choice

 

[Satch]

As suggested, have a look on Pistonheads.

Yes, they go really well but are something you may have to spend a lot of time and money on to get right. Hand built so variable quality.

Old jokes about getting twice the fuel economy you expect because you go out in style but always return on the the back of an AA recovery wagon are unfair but make the point well enough. Be careful!

Quite a lot for sale at any one moment, some with very low miles, so take your time..

 

[pammy]

TVRs sound like nothing on earth - an awesome sound, but you have to look at the whole package. My bro had one many moons ago - was quite happy to let it go!

Like most things - depends what you want from it - family saloon it aint - ice lolly with serious attitude - it is

If you've no reason not to - do it, if you have reason to doubt - then don't