Sp6 need to be garaged...?

[jh_007]

Hi All

I'm moving from a moden complex with underground parking to a town house in west london with on-street parking.

Would a Tam survive? in terms of it starting / being stolen / being scratched..?

For the above reasons I'd probably get a Chim, but I really really want a Tam.

What do you reckon?

[swilly]

jh_007 said:

Hi All I'm moving from a moden complex with underground parking to a town house in west london with on-street parking. Would a Tam survive? in terms of it starting / being stolen / being scratched..? For the above reasons I'd probably get a Chim, but I really really want a Tam. What do you reckon?

What out for people parking and bumping you, three times in so many months. Never had a prob with vandalism and suspect a TVR is too visible for any car thief, could be wrong.

[holmsie]

I'm more worried about leaving it (t350) outside during the winter weather, what with the bonnet openings etc. Maybe time to buy a car cover!!

[Patsy]

Mine isn't an I've never had issues with weather or pikeys.

[holmsie]

Don't you worry about heavy rain or snow getting in the engine bay though?

[alloypearltam]

Ours has lived outside for a month and has endured some heavy rain in that time.

Fingers crossed it starts first time every time and we will continue to leave it outside.

[TheHobbit]

Ours has lived outside since May. Before that, we had a Chim, which lived outside for 20 months.

[cheeky]

I've had a Tuscan and before it an M3 convertible out in the street for the last 6 or 7 years in Battersea and have never had a thing happen to it other than occasionally a bag of chips left on the bonnet!

If you've got a residents' parking permit even the local villains seem happy to leave the cars alone.

[sideways mostly]

I live in Ealing and park on the street.Never experienced an vandelism and the only weather related problem has been leaves getting through the vents on my T350-you always know if it happens because it stinks as the exhaust pipes warm up.Certainly rain not a problem

[justinp1]

My Tuscan survived last winter just fine. The worst part were the cold starts. The Tusc started first time, every time, just you could really feel it struggle to push the cold and thick oil around the engine for the first few minutes. You just need to wait a bit longer warming it up that all.

To be honest I was quite surprised, as you would assume it would be fenickety and delicate, but obviously not! I would go as far to say it had less winter problems than my old Rover or M3!

[TSS]

Don’t worry. It’s a car not a pet!

My Tuscan lived outside in all weathers for over 2 years with no problems. My Sagaris also lives outside and it’s fine. I’d mainly be worried about clumsy parking by other people.

[targarama]

I'm not sure about the garaging thing any longer after discovering we have 4 legged visitors of the mouse variety. Spent a while clearing the garage up, removing all food traces and laying some tasty mouse snacks for them (poison pellets).

So much for having a cat. Mind you he can't get in the garage unless I open the internal door for him so I'll let him off.

Last thing I want is mice living in the TVR or the TT and chewing the wiring. Took the TVR for a thorough blast this afternoon to make sure there are no hangers on and closed the windows upon return (usually leave the drivers' window down for the trickle charger - it can survive without for a few weeks).

[parke]

Hi jh 007.
My sagaris also lives outside on the driveway as I dont have a garage, I've heard rumours that its better outside than in (unless you have a dehumidified unit that is ). I've just purchased a Noah car-cover from Covercraft which is a superb fit for the saggy, although expensive at £350! I thought initially that I'd been ripped off, as it's quite thin material compared to my last cover I had for my Tuscan. However, during recent downpours and torrential wind and rain, not one drop of water got through, it also "breathes" apparently, leaving the paintwork as good as your last polishing! The cover comes with a security wire and lock preventing, hopefully,any theft.

[jimmyt]

I think the Tamora is a bit more susceptible to rain than the hardtops mentioned in this thread, and for that reason alone I've always had mine garaged.

And as for leaving it in London, I live in East Dulwich and there's no way I'd leave it on the street! Its a bit posher out west so you might be ok though

[Mustang Baz]

James - I live in Mortlake and have had no issues parking around the local area. However, due to leakage concerns in the past, I bought a Covercraft Europe Tuscan cover which works well - not 100% waterproof (not designed to be), but breathes well and protects car. Main thing I am concerned about protection from is bird s**t - can be vicious!

[jh_007]

Thanks very much for your insight!

I perticularily liked the Pet comment. You're absolutley right, screw it, you only live once! Tam it is.

Thanks again, James.

[sideways mostly]

Good man-you won't be disappointed

[pamelahaswell]

The acid burns straight through! For a hard top I've used 'Wonder' (before they were taken over by a commerical brand) then 'Autoglym' to good effect. After the polish stage you put on several layers of the 'glaze.' It seems to last for months.

Please can anybody recommend insurers for cars not garaged? I have a garage but there's a car permanently in it! The difference between 'in the garage' and 'on the drive' is about £400 with my insurer. They actually said, 'we could knock £400 off that if it was in the garage!'

I also wonder about garaging. Because I put draught excluders on the doors, (!) my garage has no ventillation to speak of, so if I put the car in wet, where does the damp go? I had to replace 'corroded' master cylinder in spring, but the car hadn't been anywhere for six months! At the same time I had a little Fiat of all rust-prone things sit outside for six months under a cheap cover and it was fine - clean as a whistle when I took it off. Then my son took this car off to flat in a very nice part of Harrogate and it has been 'keyed' to shreds. Heartbreaking. Bird-shit, overhanging trees and horrible kids ... I think the cover idea comes up trumps.

[targarama]

I'm away on business, but my girlfriend tells me the mice are munching my poison biat nicely, so hopefully no more mice in our garage soon.

I still think a garage is best really, as long as it is ventilated. Our house is only 3 years old and the boiler is in the garage (double attached garage). The builders left just under an inch gap at the top and bottom of the doors (hence the mice visitation), I assume for ventilation due to the boiler being there. This allows fresh air to circulate nicely and its only a few weeks during the coldest part of the winter I don't want to tinker out there due to the cold - stays reasonably warm otherwise.

[K.K.]

When my Tam is parked on the street (Central London SE1), I have never experienced any issues with leaking nor vandalism etc. (apart from my valve caps being pinched twice - but that's a given!). Cold starts last winter were no problem at all (but it took longer for the car to reach its desired temperature). In my area there is also an Elise and an MG Roadster parked on the street every day. I think that generally Tivs and Elises etc are seen as "specialist" or "enthusiast" cars rather than show-offy bling mobiles! I don't think they inspire as much jealousy as say a porky. I've only ever had good comments, thumbs up and requests for loud revs from the local boys. Well, so far so good - I hope I'm not speaking too soon!