Cerbera to Porsche - Page 3 - Porsche General - PistonHeads UK

I would go for cash from a TVR dealer for your car - you may get shafted, but not as much as doing a p/x. Or sell it rock bottom privately. You may find the 996 C2 and Boxster S a little bit boring coming from the TiV, but they are still fantastic cars. Assuming you have up to 40k to spend you should seriously consider a 993RS or maybe a 993 Turbo 4 if you fancy some refinement. These will give you the build quality you probably now attach importance too, but with a huge dose of 'raw' character that the TiV gave you. The Turbo 4 does 0-100 in 9.2 seconds so will not be a step down in performance, whereas the 993RS will hold its value well (again, something you'll like a lot) and outhandle any TiV even if a bit slower on the straights. Rgds Domster

Boxster changes: Glass rear window vs Plastic. 265bhp ('S') vs 252bhp. Glove Box vs None. Rear air intakes minor styling change. Not much basically. Except the glass rear window thing (steams up a bit[ooer]). I want that so I can RainX it. I've got a current 'S' and even though mine is bust right now I still thing is the canine cohones, dogs danglies, pooches privates, mutts nutts etc etc

Thanks for your replies. I have fully excepted that the Porsche performamce will not be the same as the Tiv but I am really looking for the total package - good performance, good handling, bit of refinement, practicality, useabilty, quality etc. This is what lead me to Porsche. I have loved both my Tivs but just want a change for a while. My budget will probably be up to £40k for Boxster and up to £50K for 911. This will have to be a finance deal though so somewhat limits my choices for purchasing. I have also decided that it will have to be a RHD car. The 993t would be a great choice but i think that my budget will be too low.

Kris, I imagin that you'll find the standard 996 C2 too boring cpmpared to the Cerbera. Try it first (obviously), but I would really consider a 993TT if you can - it really is the complete package. Or a 993RS - as fast (though you don't get the rammed in the back feeling), but handles much nicer. If you really are going to go down the 996 C2, make sure you get a car with the sport suspension pacakge (and quick rack) - it really transforms the car, and is (to be honest) a very enjoyable drive. Best bit of advise is drive a hire car for a month inbetween then whatever you buy afterwards will seem really fast again!.

I am test driving a 996 C2 and Box S next week. I do quite fancy the roof off experience again which is why i am considering the box S. However, the most perfect choice would be a 993tt, I have seen a few 993tt for around the £50K mark privately but as I need finance then private is probably not an option (unless I could arrange the finance myself or get hold of a broker - is this feasible?. Also need some kind of inspection i would guess for a private buy). The 993tt would have to be the best option. I guess that following a test drive I will know if the Box S / 996 C2 could be lived with or not.

Try Fernhurst for a price for your TIV ,don't know what you've been offered but I think they are as good as any.They will also do a sale or return deal for a better price if you can wait a while.

I am just about to trade my Audi TT and 4.5 Cerby for a 996 Turbo.....

I have had the worst bids ever for my car - The Cerby inc finance, depreciation, mods & servicing has cost £22k in 12 months. Oooops.

I sold my Griff500 to purchase a C2 - I found it a little enenvolving compared to the Griff - the chassis and handling were amazing - too good if anything. I added all the GT3 "stuff" to liven it up - but never quite worked for me. Sold it after a year and purchased the Cerby - Having said that I now completely back in the frame for a Porsche - having spent a couple of hours with the Turbo last night I am hooked. Amazing power, incredible grip - GREAT car. Pics of my new toy - http://web.ukonline.co.uk/gtcook/996/Turbo996.html

The chap in the pics is not me - Expert from AFN to tell me if it's a lemon!

What did you shift the Cerb for in the end? Did you part ex? Like the 911, very nice. >> Edited by kris wood on Friday 17th May 14:11

If the numbers work this afternoon the Cerby will be gone - £21k - 98 with 42,000 miles

22k in two years running a cerby? Makes my Lotus Carlton seem a cheap runaround (8k in two years)! The 996 turbo is lovely, maybe a slightly dull interior, but you can't have it all. Whack some GT3 seats in and you'd be laughing.

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It's not as much as that Domster, and you also need to exclude all of the cosmetic work Buster has such a irresistable draw to (lights, wheels, tyres, resprays ....). Oh, and what did he expect buying the Pikemobile

Pikey said it was a "good one" He also said he'd buy it back if I sold it. He lied on both counts

Sorry, mistyped the 22k in twelve months bit in my message - still too much money to spend on running a car... even if most of it was on reflex paint resprays, lucky heather and fluffy sterring wheel covers.

Lucky heather is essential - Comes direct from the factory

Greg, I suppose you will get some MAN 3.6L reg?

Actually I have - "A 996 MAN"

You won't regret it Buster they are awesome....

Beautiful car, same colour as mine, where are you in the UK Buster? Cheers Lee.

Hi Kris I went from a Cerbera S6 to a 996 C4 and now have the 996 TT, never looked back. C4 was an excellent car but 996 TT is just totally awesome. Cheers Lee.

Buster, sounds a nightmare, but from memory i think the previous owner had similar experiences and was running a web page with his astronomical running costs on it, I am sure they were in the 10's of thousands! I remember it at le mans a couple of years back with tape all over the nose and a broken manifold or exhaust system or something that made it sound like a nascar? Actually looking at your cars pic, did I not see you Broken down at Brands earlier this year as well. I am fairly sure.. I hope the 996 proves more reliable, I found my old 996 3.4 C2 was almost identical on pace up to 140mph with a 4.2 cerb (a friend and i conducted a highly scientific experiment!) Bennno

In which case there was something wrong with your mate's 4.2. There is a gulf of difference in outright straightline performance

Bennno used to have a Cerb before the 996, so he should be well placed to judge the performance between the two... On paper the Cerb should be quicker, but in real life, who knows? There are so many variables... maybe it is easier for a normal driver to do full bore gear changes in a 996. And a standard 3.4 Carrera isn't that slow anyway.

Hi Beast I had a cerbera SS and no real difference in the SS to my old C4 on performance, only real difference is the C4 went round corners and started every morning. Lee.

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..horses for courses. I've had 2 SS's now and the only reason I went for the second was that the test-ride in the 996C2 was less than impressive - an M5 also "feels" faster after initially getting off the line. But on sheer numbers, 350hp in something about 1100kg is going to be faster than 290 in 1300. As for handling - amazing what decent shocks and a good driver makes. Also how incredulous some (GT3) owners can be at track-days when they've been comprehensively out-driven by an admittedly V good driver. (in this case, Mr Short whilst tuning suspension) I am struggling to see at the moment why anyone would want something more than the Boxster. With pre-conceptions of hairdresser wagon, I was seriously impressed with the abilities of a 4yr old left-hook basic Boxster at the weekend that colleague took me for a spin in.

Blah blah blah.... I tell you what I would quite happily sell the spread on 290 - 350

Just my 2p... I read somewhere reliable (was it here, or Evo? whatever..) that the claimed weights for tiv's are a little wide of the mark. In fact the true measured kerb weights were well over 100kg more than generally quoted. This brings things a little closer together. Especially when talking about the lighter RWD carreras, not the much heavier 4WD tiptronic variants.

300 real bhp in a very aerodynamic shape, with lots of low down torque and a six speed box mean that there is sod all in it. When you look at the stats the latest C2 996 will do a ton in 10secs according to Autocar so that time splits the faster AJP Cerbs from the S6 models. Personally i felt happier nailing the Porsche and you could tell exactly when you needed to shift up, something that was always a bit more difficult in either of my old 4.2 Cerbs. For sure the cerb has a significant on paper advantage but on real roads the 996 is almost as fast and way easier to drive. For sure Shorty would be fast, but then my 996 with a plodder like me driving made easy work of a Cerb at Brands earlier this year! Bennno

Good comments Beast, but I found them to be much closer in performance than I expected in real world driving. I now have the 996 TT and it is truely an amazing car in every department. Cheers Lee

Oh, and the new Carrera in standard trim without sports exhaust etc has 320bhp, not 290.

true, but that wasn't the car discussed in Benno's mail above. Just to put my comments above even more into perspective, the GT3 driver was animated, good-natured and humerous and wanted to know what was under the bonnet as "he'd never been overtaken by one of those plastic pigs before" ( I thought we were going to witness a Basil Fawlty attack on his car)...there was another silver Cerbera there that (RMA) day in TVR1 or 1TVR....and the knob couldn't even raise enough life to say hello to us even though we were in the next "pit" - so much for brand cameraderie. Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not slagging or attempting to bait here, I think they are wonderful cars - it was the topic heading that was of particular interest - it was something I went through back whenever and did again recently. Then I decided to Cerbera again ( I was 'lucky' enough to have a reliable car) this time I decided to M5 and Griffith it for different kinds of reasons. I know somewhere down the line (funds/wife permitting) there will be a 911 derivative in my garage sometime, I'm just not there yet.....but I will be very happy to accompany anyone, in any model, if ever they want (especially if it's a 996TT) Best Wishes Chris (Oh and Mr Wood - get a Boxster )

I must say that Ihave played with a few 911 in my time with my cerb S6. Once time there was not a lot of difference up to 100mph although I was right up the a*se of the 996 C2 but over 100mph I just kept pulling and did start to leave the 996 C2 behind BUT I am only talking meters not miles! There really was not much in it at all! Now give me a Turbo and that would eat me for breakfast in my S6 I am sure! But would it do the same to a well sorted 4.2, 4.5, RR - maybe, maybe not. I think that Cerbs have too many variables - some are just bloody amazingley quick and others are just bloody quick. Beast - Re: Boxster. I have 2 test drives arranged for tomorrow, one in a Boxster S and the other in a 996 C2. I am trying to set another one up in a 993 Turbo for later this week so will decide after these what to go for.

I think your posts have been interesting and well-considered, Chris - I love the old Porsche/TVR debate, as I'm a bit of a speed freak (own a Lotus Carlton) but its the issues like driveability and performance accessibility that can alter things in the 'real world'. The Carlton gearchange, for example, is a piece of clunky rubbish as it's out of a Viper, and really impedes progress. Also, a hot hatch would hassle a Lotus Carlton below the ton, but above 120-130 it really pulls. Maybe they should do 0-150 times as well! I was very nearly seduced a few years ago by a 4.2 Cerb, simply because of their 0-100 time, but then I discovered a bit more about them, and after having already had more than my fair share of maintenance and dubious build quality on the Lotus, I am getting a Porsche 964RS in June. The funny thing is, the 964RS is slower than the Lotus Carlton, and many other cars, on paper - but Evo reckons it fairly-well keeps up with cars like the 996TT and 959 on real roads (in the hands of a better driver than me, no doubt!). I'm not too concerned about the slower on-paper figures any more, although a few years ago I was. The 964RS has a lot of character and probably 'feels faster' because it is so raw, which may make it a more intense drive. I suppose it is this that I was looking for in a car (the Lotus Carlton is mundane at 130, yet my Caterham 7s were quite scary at the ton!). The point about a Boxster impressing more is interesting as well. I have driven virtually all the M cars, and a lot of the BMW model range, and I remember being more knocked out by the relativley unpretentious merits of a 318i E36 than the 'super saloon' E36 M3 (which promised a lot and didn't really deliver). Rgds Domster

The old chestnut of 0-60 really is academic day to day. How many times do you cane your transmission tearing away from the lights? I never do, it knakers the car something chronic. The top end is also irrelavent. It's good to know 180 would be on the cards, but only to establish some kind of pecking order when comparing other fast cars with your mates. The only thing that matters is the 40 - 100 mph midrange thrust. That's where 99% of all driving is done. Packing a hefty mid range punch allows easy overtaking.

In my Cerb you could never really keep the traction in first gear but once you were into sencond it really launched. When you were on a straight then you really felt the power but put the car on a twisty A or B road and things were very different with much slower progress. This is where the real world differences come in, I find that the Cerb really does not like bends and bumpy roads. Give it a straight and it will go better than most but stick a bend in the way and things are very different. I am really looking forward to my test drives tomorrow, just hope it stays dry. Has anyone any experience with test drives at AFN in Reading, do they let you push it a bit when safe?

Haven driven them all and many other high performance cars as well, the 996 TT is just amazing in every area, you feel safe at any speed and in any conditions. I could have pretty much any car I want but the TT is just fantastic. Rgds Lee.

Kris Better than that, AFN in Reading let me have a Boxster S for an extended test drive from Sat pm to Mon am recently. I've now ordered a new one - delivery September hopefully. Having owned 4 TVRs now, in my opinion they are good for straight line speed, but not so great in the bends or on normal (ie poorly maintained) bends. It also seems likely, from what I've heard and seen over the years, that TVR press cars are non-standard, that car weights are understated and power is generally overstated. That said, I still think my Cerbera is the best looking car on the road - which is why I'm just a little bit sad that I'll be selling it to a dealer this afternoon! John Prior

Hi John Glad to hear that you have the Boxster on order. My Cerb is now with Henley Heritage on SOR so hopefully it will be shifted soon. Then I will have my deposit for the replacement, current thinking is Boxster S, 996 CS or 993TT. How did you manage to get a Boxster for the weekend? That really is the way to know which car you can really live with. Cheers, Kris

The previous owner was a thoroughy disreputable character and shouldn't have been trusted! Actually, the car has been much the same with him - totally reliable for 6 months, pain in the arse, and reliable again. At the moment it's the best looking cerbie ever and with the so many bits changed that it's pretty much new! An absolute bargain (but not right for me at the moment)....

Having owned TVR's for the last 4 yrs (currently own Cerbera S6), I decided some time ago that I fancied a change to Porsche. So after a bit of research decided that it will either be a 996 Carerra 2 or Boxster S. The decision really comes down to whether I want roof off experience or not and also what price I eventually get for my Cerb. I have been advertising my Cerb for a month and not had any real interest and so far trade in values from official Porsche dealers have not been favourable. So what I would like know is, do any of you guys know of any non-oficial dealers who sell both TVR's & Porsche as this may provide better trade in values? Also, does anyone know of what changes are going to happen to the Boxster next year? Thanks, Kris