TVR Living Outside
Discussion
My first post in the TVR forums so please be gentle!
Since the arrival of my little one my car fund now has now been reduced somewhat due to the need to buy a kiddie carrier! So I've been thinking of something a bit cheaper to have fun in; after a research of the classifieds and on here I like the idea of a Tamora - although I'm worried about the speed six engine letting go, so I'm also considering a Chimera which would, I guess be a pretty cheap route into TVR ownership?
Anyway, it could all be a complete no-go as I don't currently have a garage, so I was wondering if anyone left theirs outside all the time? I know obviously the body won't rust, but I am slightly concerned about the roof leaking or the bits underneath getting rusty.
Any feedback would be greatfully accepted.
Since the arrival of my little one my car fund now has now been reduced somewhat due to the need to buy a kiddie carrier! So I've been thinking of something a bit cheaper to have fun in; after a research of the classifieds and on here I like the idea of a Tamora - although I'm worried about the speed six engine letting go, so I'm also considering a Chimera which would, I guess be a pretty cheap route into TVR ownership?
Anyway, it could all be a complete no-go as I don't currently have a garage, so I was wondering if anyone left theirs outside all the time? I know obviously the body won't rust, but I am slightly concerned about the roof leaking or the bits underneath getting rusty.
Any feedback would be greatfully accepted.
Both my Griff and My wife's Chim live outside on the driveway. Once the initial leaks were located both have remained dry inside.
I did consider using a cover but as they are outside I'm sure it wouldn't be long before the wind managed to whip some dust under it and then bye bye paint work. Plus the hassel of taking it off (wet - rains a lot!) and then cleaning the car before I could put it back on again, would soon mean I'm just leaving it off anyway.
I did consider using a cover but as they are outside I'm sure it wouldn't be long before the wind managed to whip some dust under it and then bye bye paint work. Plus the hassel of taking it off (wet - rains a lot!) and then cleaning the car before I could put it back on again, would soon mean I'm just leaving it off anyway.
Man up! my Tam lives outside and it does not leak, the only time water leaked in was because I forgot to put the windows up and it pissed it down! If it does leak its easy to fix, usually door seals. I have a cover for winter when the weather is proper grim. S6 engine cars are not all destined to go bang, good service history & ongoing maintenance + mechanical sympathy should help ensure engine longevity.
I would have a Tam over a Chim as its more powerful & an evolution of what was a good car, I like the sound of a V8 but an S6 with the taps open and a sports exhaust is something else.
Shep
I would have a Tam over a Chim as its more powerful & an evolution of what was a good car, I like the sound of a V8 but an S6 with the taps open and a sports exhaust is something else.
Shep
If you're set on a chimaera, then make sure (as with any TVR), you go into it with your eyes open and understand what you're looking for. The chimaera section will offer some good advice if you've not been already.
As for garaging, then my chimaera's just a weekend toy, so I had the intention of always garaging it. However, when I started I noticed even inside it'd attract a certain amount of condensation anyway purely by virtue of the cooling process the metal goes through after running. The car will stay cleaner inside of course, but it's debatable whether the chassis will survive longer. After only a couple of months, I simply got tired of having to keep everything in the garage tidy and worrying the kids would hit the car with the bikes, so I invested in a halfords premium cover and keep it now on the drive.
The battery is fine in the summer months as long as its run every couple of weeks minimum and as long as I strap the cover up well with some strapping teathers, the wind doesn't blow it about at all, so I don't need to worry too much about paint damage.
I did find I needed to keep a window undone slightly under the cover over the winter to allow air to circulate or I just got a damp build up, but without a dehumidifier, this would he the same indoors as out.
The Chimaera's a wonderful experience (as is the tamora) and if you're reasonably capable with a spanner, it really doesn't cost much to run.
I run an 07 RS4 avant as a day car, and although the performance is miles better than my Chimaera, the noise of the TVR and the roof down/sunny Sunday experience are second to none.
Good luck and have fun,
As for garaging, then my chimaera's just a weekend toy, so I had the intention of always garaging it. However, when I started I noticed even inside it'd attract a certain amount of condensation anyway purely by virtue of the cooling process the metal goes through after running. The car will stay cleaner inside of course, but it's debatable whether the chassis will survive longer. After only a couple of months, I simply got tired of having to keep everything in the garage tidy and worrying the kids would hit the car with the bikes, so I invested in a halfords premium cover and keep it now on the drive.
The battery is fine in the summer months as long as its run every couple of weeks minimum and as long as I strap the cover up well with some strapping teathers, the wind doesn't blow it about at all, so I don't need to worry too much about paint damage.
I did find I needed to keep a window undone slightly under the cover over the winter to allow air to circulate or I just got a damp build up, but without a dehumidifier, this would he the same indoors as out.
The Chimaera's a wonderful experience (as is the tamora) and if you're reasonably capable with a spanner, it really doesn't cost much to run.
I run an 07 RS4 avant as a day car, and although the performance is miles better than my Chimaera, the noise of the TVR and the roof down/sunny Sunday experience are second to none.
Good luck and have fun,
Thanks for all of your replies, I'm glad to hear that quite a few live outside. I've never garaged any my cars in the past and they've always been ok, so I don't know why I thought a TVR might be different!
Just need to deicide what I want now, been looking at pretty much every model non-stop for the past couple of weeks. I might pop along to Racing Green as they'r reasonably local to me and sit in a few to see how I get on.
So far I love the looks of the Tuscan and Tamora but the stories of re-builds puts me off a bit and I don't really have the budget at the moment to buy one already done; so it's either a case of just thinking sod it, I'll risk it, or buy a cheaper Chim and see how I get on.
Just need to deicide what I want now, been looking at pretty much every model non-stop for the past couple of weeks. I might pop along to Racing Green as they'r reasonably local to me and sit in a few to see how I get on.
So far I love the looks of the Tuscan and Tamora but the stories of re-builds puts me off a bit and I don't really have the budget at the moment to buy one already done; so it's either a case of just thinking sod it, I'll risk it, or buy a cheaper Chim and see how I get on.
matc said:
Thanks for all of your replies, I'm glad to hear that quite a few live outside. I've never garaged any my cars in the past and they've always been ok, so I don't know why I thought a TVR might be different!
Just need to deicide what I want now, been looking at pretty much every model non-stop for the past couple of weeks. I might pop along to Racing Green as they'r reasonably local to me and sit in a few to see how I get on.
So far I love the looks of the Tuscan and Tamora but the stories of re-builds puts me off a bit and I don't really have the budget at the moment to buy one already done; so it's either a case of just thinking sod it, I'll risk it, or buy a cheaper Chim and see how I get on.
Hi matc,Just need to deicide what I want now, been looking at pretty much every model non-stop for the past couple of weeks. I might pop along to Racing Green as they'r reasonably local to me and sit in a few to see how I get on.
So far I love the looks of the Tuscan and Tamora but the stories of re-builds puts me off a bit and I don't really have the budget at the moment to buy one already done; so it's either a case of just thinking sod it, I'll risk it, or buy a cheaper Chim and see how I get on.
I hear what your saying and I know where you are coming from. I am surrounded my women in my castle
and there's not alot of spare cash to spend on the servicing cost of an S6, and I have always loved the Chims. After months of looking at Tamora's and chims...Chims won as they are easier to work on whereas the S6 I would consider more specialist..(well more specialist than my knowledge!
I bought my Chim only a few weeks ago and it stays outside on the drive. It has the standard alarm/immobiliser fitted and for added piece of mind I fitted a telescopic post as a visual deterrant. On rainy days its under cover mainly to proctect it from the birds
t. Go for it matey.. you won't regret it!!
And just to sway you... here's a pic!
Zanshin said:
Hi matc,
I hear what your saying and I know where you are coming from. I am surrounded my women in my castle and there's not alot of spare cash to spend on the servicing cost of an S6, and I have always loved the Chims. After months of looking at Tamora's and chims...Chims won as they are easier to work on whereas the S6 I would consider more specialist..(well more specialist than my knowledge!
I bought my Chim only a few weeks ago and it stays outside on the drive. It has the standard alarm/immobiliser fitted and for added piece of mind I fitted a telescopic post as a visual deterrant. On rainy days its under cover mainly to proctect it from the birdst.
Go for it matey.. you won't regret it!!
And just to sway you... here's a pic!
Thanks for a great post! I can't help but look at Tuscans and Tamoras as they seem great value for money, but the reliability and relaitive simplicity of the Chimera keeps drawing me back to it. Plus I'd have a fair few £ should anything happen in the future.I hear what your saying and I know where you are coming from. I am surrounded my women in my castle
and there's not alot of spare cash to spend on the servicing cost of an S6, and I have always loved the Chims. After months of looking at Tamora's and chims...Chims won as they are easier to work on whereas the S6 I would consider more specialist..(well more specialist than my knowledge!I bought my Chim only a few weeks ago and it stays outside on the drive. It has the standard alarm/immobiliser fitted and for added piece of mind I fitted a telescopic post as a visual deterrant. On rainy days its under cover mainly to proctect it from the birds
t. Go for it matey.. you won't regret it!!
And just to sway you... here's a pic!
Yours looks great on the Spiders, I think they really bring the car up to date, very jealous!
I'm going to pop down to the dealer in Hampshire as soon as I get a bit of time off, sit in a few and see if I can blag a drive. The sound of the V8 will no doubt have me hooked!
Tivving on a budget? you could get a really nice S Series for the price of an average Chim.
Or if it's the V8 soundtrack you're after, try for a V8S. Getting a bit hard to find now, but well worth it I believe. It's all a matter of personal taste.
If you're a golfer, get the Chim, and always carry two sets of clubs in the boot to help with the traction
No space in the garage? Don't waste your money buying various crappy leaky flappy chafey covers. Just purchase a tailored Leven Car Hood Cover, and you'll never regret it. Just leave the windows down about 1/2 an inch to avoid condensation in the car. Brilliant!
Whatever you decide, get someone who knows the model to give it the once-over, and HPI before you part with your pennies.
Good luck, see you at Chatsworth 29 April?
Or if it's the V8 soundtrack you're after, try for a V8S. Getting a bit hard to find now, but well worth it I believe. It's all a matter of personal taste.
If you're a golfer, get the Chim, and always carry two sets of clubs in the boot to help with the traction
No space in the garage? Don't waste your money buying various crappy leaky flappy chafey covers. Just purchase a tailored Leven Car Hood Cover, and you'll never regret it. Just leave the windows down about 1/2 an inch to avoid condensation in the car. Brilliant!
Whatever you decide, get someone who knows the model to give it the once-over, and HPI before you part with your pennies.
Good luck, see you at Chatsworth 29 April?
For what its worth I strongly believe a car is much better off sitting outside than cooped up in badly ventilated garage.
And there are a lot of badly ventilated garages out there.
Drive your pride & joy in the garage, close the door & walk away feeling she is well protected.
WRONG
As the hot car cools, water in the atmosphere condenses on those cooling parts.
You really need good airflow at this point or oxidisation will be accelerated.
A car port is best for airflow, it keeps the direct weather off but allows air to circulate as the car cools.
Parking a car on anything other than well drained hard standing should also be avoided, keep away from bare earth, grass, even gravel drives are less than ideal.
All these surfaces hold a huge amount of water especially after it's rained, that water will condense on the underside of the car as it cools.
A well drained concrete or tarmac hard standing is what you want.
In all cases good air flow is the key to avoiding corrosion, as stated above by others the Leven roof cover is an excellent product.
Ultimately there's do reason why not having a garage should stop you buying a TVR.
And there are a lot of badly ventilated garages out there.
Drive your pride & joy in the garage, close the door & walk away feeling she is well protected.
WRONG
As the hot car cools, water in the atmosphere condenses on those cooling parts.
You really need good airflow at this point or oxidisation will be accelerated.
A car port is best for airflow, it keeps the direct weather off but allows air to circulate as the car cools.
Parking a car on anything other than well drained hard standing should also be avoided, keep away from bare earth, grass, even gravel drives are less than ideal.
All these surfaces hold a huge amount of water especially after it's rained, that water will condense on the underside of the car as it cools.
A well drained concrete or tarmac hard standing is what you want.
In all cases good air flow is the key to avoiding corrosion, as stated above by others the Leven roof cover is an excellent product.
Ultimately there's do reason why not having a garage should stop you buying a TVR.
Robsti said:
matc said:
Robsti said:
PCP is your friend! it can get you into a car you can't afford to own! 
Stop stalking me! 
Can get you a good deal on a new Merc if you fancy it, 2k deposit, 299 a month....
matc said:
Robsti said:
matc said:
Robsti said:
PCP is your friend! it can get you into a car you can't afford to own!
Stop stalking me! Can get you a good deal on a new Merc if you fancy it, 2k deposit, 299 a month....
that the people selling PCP and tell their victims/customers it's the cheapest way seem always to buy outright! 
Robsti said:
matc said:
Robsti said:
matc said:
Robsti said:
PCP is your friend! it can get you into a car you can't afford to own!
Stop stalking me! Can get you a good deal on a new Merc if you fancy it, 2k deposit, 299 a month....
that the people selling PCP and tell their victims/customers it's the cheapest way seem always to buy outright! Is it because you've been proved wrong so many times on so many threads in the past that you feel the need to keep making these little jibes?
Just look at all the current deals for an example, 640d for 13k over 2 years, are you telling me you'd rather give 75k cash for that? 6500 for a golf cab over 2 years, how much would you lose with your oh so powerful cash buy over the same period?
If buying a car on a PCP isn't for you then fair enough, the way you keep going on is quite frankly, pathetic. How about you believe what you like and let everyone else get on enjoying their new cars, it's not as though they're spending your money!
Oh and I'm just about to buy my partners car on a PCP if that makes you feel any better? I like to spend my savings on something fun rather than something to ferry the kids round in.
What a strange little fellow you are....
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