'Gris grounding out

[rpa.janwell]

Starting to take some damage underneath on the rear - splits appearing either side of the securing plate where the plate and glass is grounding out.
Not much I can do as the roads around Aberdeen are not brilliant - the bad ones you remember and avoid, but always get caught out every now and then.
Also, following other traffic which had a bit more clearance than the 'Gris, went over a road kill - a deer - the other day: had to go up on a ramp, the underside was like a meat rack afterwards.
Venison, medium rare to well done!!

[Kurgen_]

rpa.janwell said:

Venison, medium rare to well done!!

Nice.!
Saved a few quid on Sunday roast, and oven gas.


My car has grounded a couple of times.. def most upsetting to think my very fragile new toy, is getting extra grief, underneath..

Poet.

[garyf]

Ive only just collected mine last Sat and on the first day experienced 1 grounding at the rear. A very light one mind, but I wasn't going quick at the time, nor over very bumpy stuff.

I'm going to have to be particularly careful when I take it down south onto the ROI roads.

I was gazing at it on the drive last night whilst cutting teh grass and the drive has a very gentle slope. The front of the car looked like I could halrdly slide my foot under it. I've heard no complaints about ramps or underground car parks - how on earth can it manage them?

Little camera mounted on the front at the base of the front splitter would be nice. You'd get some great driving shots, but you could also use it to guage whether you can make it over any ramps

Gary.

[rpa.janwell]

Take it easy over the speed bumps - if you rush at them you will scrape at both ends, but it's only the really abrupt / short high edged ones that are a pain, since you can drop either side of them!!
Same applies to ramps etc: -the spring loaded ones do make a hell of a racket as I found while staying in Newcastle recently. Hotel Concierge stated emphatically that my car should not have passed MOT if it couldn't clear them. His jaw dropped off when I took him out and showed him the 'Gris, patiently explained to him that it was fully taxed and MOT'd. I said sod it, and just went up the other side.

[dvpeace]

Mine grounds out all the time both front & back. I have put in some complaints to the local road authority. Some of the roads have been fixed! So might be worth a moan.

I guess the underside of the car is always going to take some hammer. When I test drove the one from the dealer it bottomed out and the rep was not at all worried.

All part of the fun

[Kurgen_]

Driving over speed humps, can be made slightly easier, by stopping just before hump, then accelerating gently over it. As you accelerate you lift the front slightly, which makes it easier, if gap is close.

If you brake going into hump, you will dip the front, and make it more likely to scrape.

I take speed humps mega carefully, which pisses off cars behind, but tough, I'm not gonna damage my car.!

Rob

[rpa.janwell]

Applying the same technique where possible - the seat/fiesta/clio drivers chasing along behind get apoplectic - always good for a laugh!

[rev-erend]

I have that on the rear of my T350 - was thinking of some Titanium (or steel) plate - so at least I'd get some impressive sparks

[garyf]

Now had my first frontal grounding out too. 40mph into an inoccuous looking downhill dip and rise. Nothing that looked steep.

The sound of GRP grinding against tarmac in your brand new steed is not pleasant. I was expecting to see the leading edge of the front splitters in tatters. However, the impact was dead centre under the nose. Nothing visible without looking right underneath - which was a relief. I'll give it a little wet n dry and touch up.

I can see this happening quite a bit though unless you are really pootling. I'm still running in!

Are all you guys that are negotiating speed bumps letting the front end scrape over them? I don't think my heart could take that and if you are gounding out at the front on undulating roads is the damage becoming overtly visible at all at the front end??

Gary.

>> Edited by garyf on Wednesday 12th October 12:27

[alans]

garyf said:

Now had my first frontal grounding out too. 40mph into an inoccuous looking downhill dip and rise. Nothing that looked steep. The sound GRP grinding against tarmac in your brand new steed is not pleasant. I was expecting to see the leading edge of the front splitters in tatters. However, the impact was dead centre under the nose. Nothing visible without looking right underneath - which was a relief. I'll give it a little wet n dry and touch up. I can see this happening quite a bit though unless you are really pootling. I'm still running in! Are all you guys that are negotiating speed bumps letting the front end scrape over them? I don't think my heart could take that and if you are gounding out at the front on undualting roads is the damage becoming overtly visible at all at the front end?? Gary.

When I borrowed one for a long test drive I needed to make sure I could get it on my drive, I had a look under the front and I will proberbly paint it in black when the inevitable scrapes occur. You can't see under the front spoiler bottom edge anyway, so repainting in body colour is not really worth the effort or expense. IMO
Alan

[julianc]

My Tamora used to ground at the front splitter fairly regularly - the clearance was only around 3 3/4 inches. Later, when I was at the factory for a service, I noticed that the (at the time) new factory press Tamora (blue) had a splitter clearance around an inch more. Turns out my front suspension was adjustable and the factory just lifted it the extra inch. I always knew that extra inch makes all the difference

Presumably the Saggy has adjustable suspension and you can have it raised if you so desire?

Julian

[garyf]

alans said:

I had a look under the front and I will proberbly paint it in black when the inevitable scrapes occur. You can't see under the front spoiler bottom edge anyway, so repainting in body colour is not really worth the effort or expense. IMO Alan

Alan, mine will be touched up in black. Reflex paint is expensive (£30 + VAT for touchup, as opposed to ~£8 for 'ordinary' paint). It's not going to rust, but I'd feel better if I applied some TLC & ointment.

julianc said:

My Tamora used to ground at the front splitter fairly regularly - the clearance was only around 3 3/4 inches. Later, when I was at the factory for a service, I noticed that the (at the time) new factory press Tamora (blue) had a splitter clearance around an inch more. Turns out my front suspension was adjustable and the factory just lifted it the extra inch. I always knew that extra inch makes all the difference Presumably the Saggy has adjustable suspension and you can have it raised if you so desire? Julian

Don't know if the Sag is adjustable Julian - don't really want to raise it unless it is really necessary.

Gary.

[DJC]

Ive got a good few scrapes under the front splitter now. It is underneath so you cant see anything.

I havent yet scraped over a speed bump. Kerbs are my worst enemy.

[dvpeace]

Mine bottoms out all over front & back. I dare not look underneath cannot be much paint left anywhere.

Had the backend bottom out a high spped over a very slight undulation in the road, the car must get pushed further down at speed?

I'll worry about it another day......

[garyf]

Sounds like we just have to live with it then. Just gave mine it's first wax. God it looks good. Will take a few shots when the sun pokes out again. Really pleased with the Reflex Charcoal

Gary.

[loulis]

I can't seem to judge the length of my Sag but soon learned a valuable lesson...

I had had several near misses parking, just perching the front splitter on top of several kerbs. One day, went to collect Mrs from Kwik Fit, got lots of attention from the Kwik fit lads as I rumbled in (Sag was untelevised at that stage). I drove into parking spot, thought I was taking care and drove into a particularly high kerb up front. All of cars momentum focussed on front left splitter pointy bit and it made the most outrageous cracking sound! The shame , all the kwik fit guys soon swarmed round, but thankfully were more inclined to commiserate with me than ridicule thankfully!! Camera up front (and one behind) is a great idea! Damage surprisingly light thankfully.

[cmj]

Having read the posts I share most experiances except mine regulary bottoms out at speed somewhere on the passenger side towards the rear. I check for damage but cannot see any - although when you are pushing it and you hear something like this you ant help but brake - not good !!!. Any one any ideas what I am progressivley scrapping away ?

[rpa.janwell]

Had the 'Gris on the ramp today - whatever was there in the way of securing nuts under the rear assembly support plate is down to a pair of very fine rivets now. Possibly 0.5mm left!!
The sound of grounding out does appear to come from the offside, but appears it is only the rear assembly - mainly centre. Had a good look around, front splitter scratched up underneath as described above, but nothing too drastic.
Have had a rattle from underside - appears that one of the trays was lodged/close to part of the exhaust. Moved the plate slightly - problem solved.