Tunnel fun in a TVR Cerbera

[737speedster]

Cerberas make you best friends with the horizon in about 10 seconds

[tvrcyprus]

Lovely sound. Great engine. Yet another brilliant flat-plane crank v8-just like ferrari and maserati STILL use to this day in their high-reving v8's.

[TheGarandGuy]

Dartford tunnel?? And brill vid

[scaryGTM]

Such a shame that the Cerbera's V8 had a flat-plane crank - would have sounded much better in that tunnel otherwise....

[inca10]

@scaryGTM

Thank God the AJP is a flat plane crank - that way it doesnt sound like ANY other car on the road....American V8's are ten a penny....very very boring.

[scaryGTM]

@inca10 Proliferation of engine type only cements the popularity of a good product which keeps getting better. The ZR1's LS9 sounds like a beast & produces well-over 600 Hp. The AJP is long-defunct. It produced reasonable power but no more than a standard LS6 Z06. If the sound of 2 4-cylinders in concert floats your boat, then knock yourself out. The simple fact is that there is nothing more bestial-sounding than a traditionally-designed V8. 4 cylinder sounds are for 'go-faster' boy-racers.

[inca10]

Your comment wasn't on "popularity" or power or the fact there's is no TVR at all anymore....you said it would have sounded better with effectively a crate US V8. I disagree.....your comments above are totally irrelevant to that argument!! Im very happy with the sound of my Cerbera....and wouldnt want to switch to an LS. IMO, they sound the same as any other crate engine. ie, pretty dull. You prefer it...fine!! Go enjoy!!.

[scaryGTM]

@inca10 I mentioned proliferation because out of all of the world's production V8s - whether in Italy, the UK or the USA, the regular crank V8 is far more prolific and AM didn't choose it for cost! The point is furthered when we understand that TVR and their AJP are dead. All iterations of flat-plane crank V8s are dead infact (Lotus' previous Esprit another example). The Rover V8 was originally of Buick design - either way, it matched Griffith's character & nobody commented on a 'boring' sound.

[inca10]

@scaryGTM "...The Rover V8 was originally of Buick design - either way, it matched Griffith's character..." your'e corecct Buick not Chevy...my apologies. But as u say, that engine matches the cars character....likewise the AJP is perfect for the Cerbera, its a bonkers cars with a bonkers engine and it suits that cars character.

"...I simply think that a flat-plane crank ruins the entire character of the engine...." - wrong...the flat plane crank IS the character of the engine!!!

[scaryGTM]

@inca10 Again, my opinion..... it's not as 'bonkers' as a C6 Z06, and neither does it sound as good being less bonkers, in my opinion. A sound like that is the character of an in-line engine. Heaps of tradition and familiarity have defined the V8's character - a character that masses of people still remain uniquely happy with. A few flat-plane crank V8s have not challenged the dominance of new, traditionally-profiled V8s, and they will therefore remain characteristically atypical and niche.

[scaryGTM]

@inca10 I'm glad you like the sound of your car - you bought it. I simply think that a flat-plane crank ruins the entire character of the engine... a character which has not been broken and has never needed fixing since Ford designed a Flathead V8 for the common man in 1932. The sound of a 'natural' V8 is guttural; it burbles with potential and rocks the car with power. The AJP sounds like 2 4-cylinders, and you could rev 10 4 -cylinders together and they still wouldn't sound like 1 proper V8.

[scaryGTM]

@inca10 If you really think that the majority of people thought that the Griffith sounded 'dull' and that it's popularity was not - in a large part - due to the precise, classic V8 burble, you're seriously kidding yourself. Amplified monotones are more dull and generic than anything and totally the domain of any smaller in-line engines, but nobody is ever in two minds about the amplified sound of a traditional V8 - no matter how common/widespread they are in the US.

[scaryGTM]

@inca10 Oh, I seriously DO enjoy the combination of sound and performance that an LS-series engine provides - I can assure you. The fact that an LS-engine is crated means nothing other than it is hugely popular and profitable. However - with any number of aftermarket pipes - the sound is unbeatable - as attested by the vast majority of V8 enthusiasts worldwide. By all means, enjoy your AJP - I just think that your perspective is represented by an extremely tiny proportion of V8 enthusiasts.

[scaryGTM]

@inca10 I happen to like TVRs, but the Griffith was a far better sounding engine. Regardless of it being a 'ten a penny' American Buick design, TVR thought enough of it to use it in the Griffith; and the Griffith was the best, no compromise TVR.

[inca10]

@scaryGTM

The engine in a Griff is a Rover V8...not the in house TVR designed AJP engine. That old Rover unit was based on a small block Chevrolet engine that was rejected by Chevvy in the late 60's I believe. Hence it sounds the same as every other Yankee V8!!

Your entitled to prefer that engine sound to the flat plane crank V8 of course...but gimme my Cerbera's engine note over a Girff any day! Theres not a single car on the road that sounds like it :-))

[scaryGTM]

@inca10 I know what engine powered the Griffith; as mentioned it was an aluminum design which Buick rejected - Chevrolet had nothing to do with it. It wasn't rejected by Griffith owners, however - not least because of it's sound!

[scaryGTM]

@inca10 Sure the Cerbera would sound different, but to me and the majority of others it would sound less powerful.... different, but definitely less powerful. To me, that's not a good different no matter how many 'normal sounding' V8s there are revving-up in the line-up you suggest. I would in-fact, think there was a smaller in-line engine present, and would be shocked to see it was a V8. I'm not trying to insult you, I'm just giving my honest opinion... and that's what my comments are about.

[inca10]

@scaryGTM You cant compare a C6 Z06 7.0l engine built in 2005 onwards to a mid 90's design....its not a sensible comparison! Of course the 4.5l engine will be less powerful....however the Yanks need 7.0l to make just over 500hp....TVR managed 400ish from 4.5.....but then mate to a frame that weighs 1,160kg, no traction control, no ABS with a BHP/tonne better than nearly every other car of its time....and you sure do have one bonkers car.

I too am only proffering my response to your opinion!

[inca10]

@scaryGTM and that opinion is the there are enough standard V8's in the world for you to be more than happy blasting through a tunnel in....I do not agree that a Cerbera would sound better with a Yankee V8 replacing the AJP. The AJP is the soul of that car, no other engine would suit the car as well...including TVR's own Speed 6.

[scaryGTM]

@inca10 I'm genuinely glad you like the sound; it's all about having fun. The design of any engine isn't sacred, but the traditional V8 almost has a religious following, and we all know how defiant people can be about their religion! Have fun.

[scaryGTM]

@inca10 It's a fair point; the engines are from different times. I believe the AJP was an achievement - and you're right about power:displacement, I'm just remain passionate about the traditional sound of a V8. It may sound crazy to you but I loved the Griffith and couldn't wait for the Cerbera when they announced it.... then I heard it and felt robbed..... sorry, but that's the way I felt. I wanted Cerbera looks but Griffith sound. It remains a potent, historic achievement nonetheless.

[inca10]

@scaryGTM The AJP sounds like a metal bucket of nuts and bolts being thrown down a flight of stairs until it gets warmed up properly....and many owners simply didn't bother and ruined them. Poor design or poor ownership? We'll never know the answer. But there are a handful of Cerbs with an LS engine fitted, I think there's a vid of one on here...but it just doesnt fit with my view of how it should sound. Like a bacon/egg sandwich with mayo not brown sauce....just not quite right!!

[scaryGTM]

@inca10 I guess an LS in a Cerbera is good for reliability, but I've never been a fan of swapping-out different engines. Flat-plane crank or not the AJP belongs in that car so I agree with you to a point. I guess I just wish that TVR hadn't upset the cart by departing from an element which had almost become a brand trademark to me. I even liked the wedges and their gruff V8 sound... the Griffith continued it, and then with the Cerbera the 'trademark' was gone. To me, it was like "what the hell?"

[inca10]

@scaryGTM Peter Wheeler needed an additional revenue stream to grow the company...paying for engines wasn't a good business plan for growth...plus rover had been looking to phase out production of their V8 even back then...so Al Melling, John Ravenscroft and Peter Wheeler designed the AJP (first initial of first names). In the main the engine is very solid...my own Cerb has done 96,000miles and no rebuild...so the unit can be a proper engine if treated correctly.

[scaryGTM]

@inca10 Yea, I'd heard that, and any company looking to the future has to develop their own engine, even if Rover were hinting at discontinuing their Buick design. The AJP looked great on paper and you can't fault Melling's engineering or the 'AJP team' as a whole. It was designed to be a high-revving engine and that was the point to it's flat-plane crank; for me TVR just lost their soul at that point - the British 'Bulldog' sound that other British V8-developers were also known for was gone...

[scaryGTM]

@inca10 Solid engineering is still at the heart of the engine, and respect where it's due for that; it's just not my kind of V8, even if the characteristic yields higher revs. I was disappointed in TVR at the time. Nowadays the LS7 has the capacity for high revs and it retains a regular profile crank.... but again we're talking about contemporary vs 15 years ago.

[paynebabes123]

bang b-b-b-b bang overrun lovin

[QwerkyGeek01]

I used to do that in my Cerbera but it is a bit expensive petrol wise...

[shelfridges]

@QwerkyGeek01

I didn't buy my TVR based on miles per gallon. It's smiles per gallon that matter!!

[richboy900]

eargasm lol

[MrCheeseface1000]

I currently own a Elise s1, i'm after on of these as they sound fantastic. Have you had many problems with the car at all?

[schpongled]

Haha, nice one. I drive through there often, wish I had my own Cerbera to make it a little more interesting, nothing else sounds like them they're beasts!

[Dime2oo7]

That is the tyne tunnel lol

[davetherave1970]

@Dime2oo7

Stop making trouble :D hehe

DARTFORD!!!!!!

[FeaRInsTincT09]

@davetherave1970 do you live near dartford or in dartford

[PTKilowatt]

If there was any justice in the world all TVR owner's homes would be equipped with tunnels to drive through!

[wayneburgess]

Biggest problem seems to be holding the camera down lol its a wonder the person holding it didnt just film the inside of the roof lol :)

[strandvaskeren]

It's like those nature shows, every bird stops chirping, ever monkey stops creaming, everything is engulfed in this eerie silence while the panther walks by.. Everyone in that tunnel knows a predator is on the lose, everyone tries their best to be invisible, because the God of Thunder is lurking in there.. What a fabulous car!

[LePacha2010]

TVR : the best sport car in the world nowadays!!! english car!

[grenadierguard3]

thats the tyne tunnel in the north east of england.

[davetherave1970]

@grenadierguard3

Nope. Dartford tunnel Kent to Essex.

[hippylegs]

Oh, is that the mersey tunnel in liverpool?! Me and my dad go through there all the time.

[eddycerb]

A speed six doeas not pop and bang so much!!

[PijnigeR]

Maybe it's the quality of the video. But it almost sounds like a Speed Six.

[davetherave1970]

It really is a AJP 4.5

Maybe because it's in the tunnel and the video quality of course :)

[PijnigeR]

I believe you. Awesome car. Looking for a buyer for my 300ZX Twin Turbo so that I can buy a Tuscan S actually:)

[iNtAlps]

300zx tt's are sexy cars, but yeah i would do the same thing :)

[dasvedas4]

is that not blackwall tunnel?

[davetherave1970]

It's the Dartford tunnel.

[leroybrown1984]

ive got goosebumps listening to that engine!!!

[Shadowrom]

Ive got a 5.0 chimaera. You got to admit, those wipers are nasty.

[Az260790UK]

forgive my ignorance but is the car supposed to 'pop and bang'?

[davetherave1970]

All Cerbera's pop and bang a little but when you de-cat them (like this car was) it makes it louder.

Used to spit blue flames also!

[rob2859]

The sound is caused by air getting sucked into the exhaust. its not harmful. Some sport exhausts do it or any car if you take the backbox off.

[turner6002]

it is unburnt fuel exploding as it meets the air

[MrSkeff]

That car's got soul- that noise! Wow!

[PossibleTerrorist]

I´d get one instantly if the steering wheel woud be on the right side for my country :(

And the LHD ones are twice the price of a RHD here in Germany

[lovingtanja]

F A N T A S T I C

[Dugster11]

i like the spitting of flames!!!

dammn cool car

greetz from germany

tvr rules

[isctony]

gotta love dartford tunnel :D:D

[Humps1]

Very nice =)

[revega]

apsolutely beautiful lucky you being there!

[darrensurrey]

You've definitely mastered the art of drawing out the popping and crackling. Gentle feathering of the throttle. Love it. :D

[LolaLadyRacer]

Blackwall Tunnel northbound is the best one I've found so far for making noise.

[slaminbones]

you should try either cardiff or newport tunnel.this year maybe off to ireland as theres a 3 mill tunnel there :-)

[LolaLadyRacer]

Or Rouen of course, for all of the 2009 Le Mans pilots out there! Roll on June! (Crap-buckets excluded - if you only have half an engine don't try to play with the big boys - or girls, lol!)

[mopasaurus]

fuck you panther dickhead ur probs a sketty driver in corsa thinkin its fastest best ever car in the world , ma mums cav will kick its arse even if u had a twin port , she's got a 2.0ltr one btw and for a 4 door car it does move wen u need it 2.. but TVRS RULE!! so fuck off sayin shit about the tvr .. i'm laughin at the person recording this.. the cam just flies back as he/she shits themselves on the acceleration.. fuck me it sounds good.. =] TVRs 4 LIFE!

[PantherDB7]

Yea TVRs for life thats all I read, loving the bias in that comment!

[pakitovcf]

jajajajajaajjajaj LOVE SONG

[AlexTheZebra]

Lol, bangs and pops are fun? My crappy motorcycle can do that too, lol.

[Snooker247]

Gotta love the pops and bangs :D

[funkey37]

LOL that is so funny I actually laughed just before the guy in the film did, I hope to get one before in the next year or so.

I just need to save up a slush fund for the repairs apparently they break a lot.

[bartybartybartylisa]

Panther DB7 if you own a 92 corsa that alone demonstrates that you dont have a clue about sophistication(thats how you spell it by the way)or what a good car is...TVR's rule!

[PantherDB7]

wtf, my 92 Corsa doesnt even sound that bad. TVR's lack sophistaction.

[davetherave1970]

Where's the fun in your life??????

Makes most people smile!

[PantherDB7]

all I'm saying is if that was a Merc/BM, everyone wld be trashin it.

[PantherDB7]

Mind you I do like TVRs, I just hte the crap tht comes with it and by the sound of things......

[mjd775]

..panther, shut your hole!! Twat!!

[PantherDB7]

I agree, the TVR should shut its hole!Twat!

[andybaby1970]

twat, its a racing v8, its not supposed to be, those engines have more in common with the formula 1 engines of the day rather than road engines. see the tope gear review on the car, it's on here, you may understand then, corsas are the biggest pile of crap on the raod cos they are made by vauxhall lol

[PantherDB7]

Actually corsas are made by Opel and I was judging it as a road car not a formula one car.

[10eleven]

are u dumb?

where did you get the idea that tvrs are supposed to be refined?

tvrs are meant to be firebreathing nutters. not quite, sophisticated bmws. in fact...those exhaust pops were PURPOSELY left in on the biggest engines.

the executives had a battle trying to get the engineers not to map them out.

[PantherDB7]

Hi, Iv already heard what your saying. Road cars are better if refined it may be a novelty to spurt noises like that but that doesnt mean it wouldnt sell more without it. Being refined is an advantage for ANY road car. I dont think they were meant to be "firebreathing nutters", I think that is just what happened but they kept it because they found a market for it. Yea I am dumb.

[sasslash]

very nice sound, is this the mersey tunnel?

[davetherave1970]

No, it's the Dartford Tunnel Kent to Essex.

They were the good old days :)

[andybaby1970]

you were trying to compare a corsa with a tvr. Opal, vauxhall, who cares they are still crap and no comparson can be made what so ever between the two

[mjd775]

...awesome sound!! Proper grunt!!

[techkrill]

Those clattering sounds are parts of the bodywork falling off, aren't they? Yea, I know TVRs.... :)

[cornflakes002]

(o o) 0

Thats

Very

Real

[nIsMoALEX]

sh!t mate! thats awesome!

[pyro74boy]

Sounds like great sex. I love TVR cars I just wish I had one.

[SBGuitars]

Multiple orgasms there? I think there is a high risk...

[klassiekerrally]

Cerbera V8's rock!

[nathanpwilliams]

wot about the sagaris they rock more!!!!

[speed4040]

I love it!

[s0015]

sweet

[TommyLowRider]

hmmm seen better

good btw

[richlawes]

sweet

[qcmanjimbo]

fuk me...sounds like 5 niggers bangin a fukin dustbin !!...good stuff!!!

[slaminbones]

fuck me that made me laugh

[qcmanjimbo]

cheers mate!!

[slaminbones]

wen you do let us know well u want to look at my profile got sum great clips of some tvr griffs and tvr s but tvr's have to be the best cars for tunnel runs depending what you have done to the pipes

[Hkydd]

Yeah i love most tvrs but the sound of a sagaris, AMAZING!

still perfer my bro's lotus with sports exhaust. ill get a vid on it soon

[slaminbones]

cool u may no pasco or clive ford they both got griffs

[slaminbones]

by the way where is that tunnel

[davetherave1970]

It was a beast. Sold over a years ago now. Had a Griff for the last year. Not so many pops and bangs but a lovely noise!

It is the Dartford Tunnel.

[slaminbones]

OMG what a sound never have i hear that before check my vids sum great clips on the tvr s v6 that my dad drives