Embarrasing moment

[cloggy]

Have some friends over and we have a look at the Chim in the garage.
I open the the bonnet to show the engine and start the car.
Did n't realise it was in gear and the car jumped forward hitting the corner of a wall.
I now have a 2 inch long tear in the bonnet (arse, arse, arse, I am an arse).
Do you know anyone around Beaconsfield who can repair this ?

[dougc]

Try Ewelme Coachworks. I think they advertise on PH.

[JonRB]

Commiserations, matey.

Which hurt more, the damage to the car or the embarrassment?

[s333tvr]

Sad news Cloggy !

I second the Ewelme Coachworks suggestion - they are up by RAF Benson a few miles from Henley.

They did a spanking job on my Chim a couple of years back when 'Old Lady - Brain Off' ran up the back of me & did about 8 grands worth !!

You could not see the join - as the saying goes

If you cannot find them - mail me & I'll go thru the folder & dig out the invoice

Good Luck

Roy
S333 TVR

Edited by s333tvr on Tuesday 20th March 17:46

[nikman]

There's just nothing to makle this better till you get the repair done. BUT if there were any other small chips/nicks get them to "do those at the same time". When everything comes back all pristine and shiny again, just think how lucky you were to have had a reason to be in the paint shop and get it all done!!

IF everything was absolutely perfect and unmarked before this happened commiserations from me too cloggy .

[900T-R]

nikman said:

IF everything was absolutely perfect and unmarked before this happened...

... he clearly wasn't driving it often enough or hard enough!

Joking aside, commiserations from my side of the Channel, too, hope it gets sorted soon and to your satisfaction.

Edited by 900T-R on Tuesday 20th March 19:23

[cloggy]

Thanks guys, will get in touch with Ewelme Coachworks tomorrow.
Yes, there were a few small chip marks on the bonnet which I thought having 'treated'.
I have calmed down now, although I still think I am a first class arsehole doing this.
OK, a few hundred pounds but she is worth it my baby.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Cloggy

There but the grace of god etc.

Most experienced Chimaera pilots leave the car in gear in preference (or in addition) to the hand brake. Every time I reach in to turn the ignition on to open the boot I pray I don't do the extra click! It must happen regularly! (On the older models, with the extra ventilation fan you do get an extra signal that you've turned the key far enough!)

Bad luck....at least it didn't take off too far!

[targarama]

Specialised Coachworks, J12 M4, light ind estate behind Porsche UK. Very professional outfit. Do lots of Porsches and Lotuses. I went for a quote from Ewelme and Specialised. Went with specialised who did a five star A class brilliant job.

Or I think Perry at the V8 Centre in High Wycombe does a bit of painting - could be wrong.

[5LitreV8]

cloggy said:

Have some friends over and we have a look at the Chim in the garage.
I open the the bonnet to show the engine and start the car.
Did n't realise it was in gear and the car jumped forward hitting the corner of a wall.
I now have a 2 inch long tear in the bonnet (arse, arse, arse, I am an arse).
Do you know anyone around Beaconsfield who can repair this ?

What a bugger ! But, at least it was a small audience!

[mini_ralf]

Hanson Body Shop & Markhams Motor Body Repair Centre in Wycombe are supposed to be quite good. But I haven't used them myself.

[SGirl]

targarama said:

Or I think Perry at the V8 Centre in High Wycombe does a bit of painting - could be wrong.

We went with Ewelme Coachworks when some dozy bint rear-ended the Cerb. They did a superb job, I'd certainly recommend them.

[slikk]

targarama said:

Specialised Coachworks, J12 M4, light ind estate behind Porsche UK. Very professional outfit. Do lots of Porsches and Lotuses. I went for a quote from Ewelme and Specialised. Went with specialised who did a five star A class brilliant job.

Or I think Perry at the V8 Centre in High Wycombe does a bit of painting - could be wrong.

The V8 centre has a full body shop. The results that i have seen have been pretty good to be honest.

kim

[davidlscott]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Every time I reach in to turn the ignition on to open the boot I pray I don't do the extra click! It must happen regularly!

Get Carl Baker's remote boot release conversion - one of the best things I have spent my money on for the Chim as you don't need to open the car to get into the boot.

I have always depressed the clutch before starting any car I have had and that has saved me from some embarrassing lurches across car parks(or into walls).

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

davidlscott said:

I have always depressed the clutch before starting any car I have had and that has saved me from some embarrassing lurches across car parks(or into walls).

Mate, I always select neutral as well as dipping the clutch. (In the 80s I was a car cleaner. On two separate occasions I dipped the clutch, just to find the clutch plates had stuck together, and hence I started the car effectively in gear....was scary!

[Konrod]

i did a beauty. Got a new company Renault a few years ago with the start button. Broke down within 2 weeks, wouldn't start. RAC came out and it atarted first time.

Two weeks later on a ferry to France, boat docks, we all rush to our cars, but the damn thing wouldn't start. Put credit card key in, all lights on dash, but no reaction to start button. Cue kids crying, wife yelling and car getting a damn good thrashing in front of all the other passengers who couldn't get off.

10 minutes later a (French) deckhand saunters up, shakes his head, knocks it into neutral and car starts perfectly. At l;east his mates enjoyed it!

should have read the manual then............