T350 - street parking?

[admoss]

I know its really an impossible question, but just after an opinion I guess. I live in a fairly quite street, terrace houses etc but there is only street parking. Whilst the idea of leaving a TVR on the street doesnt fill me with joy - the idea of not owning one at all fills me with even less!

I always thought (hoped) that kids would steer clear of keying and screwing around with something like a TVR because they would 'get it' as a motor and not want to mess it about, but maybe I'm just being optimistic.

Anyone had any kid type trouble with their cars or park them on the street?

Cheers,
Andrew.

[kevin63]

I used to own a Saphire Cosworth 4x4 and it was parked down my drive and sometimes behind another car, thing was, everybody and their grandmother wanted to nick or break into it, I kept it for just over 6 years without it being nicked but lived in the knowledge that it attracted a lot of unwanted attention, I then bought a TVR Chimaera and straight away all the trouble stopped, I only got admiration, I have now owned TVR's for over 10 years with no trouble, a member of our region had a Griffith and parked it on a main road in a quite doggy area, he also had no trouble to my knowledge, you should be ok but I would get a highly visable disc lock and a tracker too, just incase.

[ropey]

I park my T350 on the street in West London. So far (touch wood) i've had no issues. It is a very quiet road though - no through-route, it basically loops back onto the same main road. Also, my part of the road is pretty quiet for parking so I usually get a space right outside.

When we moved here i tried very hard to get a garage, and it was just impossible. The only issue you might find is finding an insurer who will cover you. Depends on how dodgey your postcode is but i had to cancel my existing policy and change to A-Plan.

My personal view is it would be a shame to not have the car of your dreams just because you're parking it outside - but I guess only you know what your road is like. We have a few nice-ish cars on the road so I was reasonably confident all would be OK. But I guess it only takes 1 pi$$ed tt at 2am.... But then again, that's what car insurance is for!

I get more annoyed that I can't keep it clean. You spend all day Saturday getting it nice and shiny and then 2 days later it's covered in dust. Then it rains, and it looks like you haven't touched it in months!!!

Oh, and I also don't have that many trees on my road, so I can normally park it under 'clear sky'. Then ones that do get parked under trees normally have a new 'pattern' but morning, care of the local bird life!!

Ropey

[SpeedBuzz]

When I brought my Tuscan from the owner SE27 he use to keep it parked in the street with not a hint of a problem.
He did however have one of those outside fabric car covers so it could be tucked up at night as it was only a weekend car.

[SEN 18]

admoss said:

I know its really an impossible question, but just after an opinion I guess. I live in a fairly quite street, terrace houses etc but there is only street parking. Whilst the idea of leaving a TVR on the street doesnt fill me with joy - the idea of not owning one at all fills me with even less!

I always thought (hoped) that kids would steer clear of keying and screwing around with something like a TVR because they would 'get it' as a motor and not want to mess it about, but maybe I'm just being optimistic.

Anyone had any kid type trouble with their cars or park them on the street?

Cheers,
Andrew.

Take the local kids for a spin round the block they will like that.Should get them on your side and they will think Christmas has come early.

[jev]

My chimaera and now my Tamora have lived on the street in central London for six years now. Its a case of on street parking or not owing one. The only problems I've had are from the 4x4 criminal parkers.
My car has been badly damaged by reckless parking 3 times - a note was left once.

Park selfishly (!) to prevent another car squeezing in. And under a street light (although this has bird related consequences!)

[admoss]

Cheers for the replies.

The area im in is pretty quiet, but like you say - shame to be put off by the possible p**sed up stupidness that could happen anywhere I take it anyway. I know that I get alot less sympathy at junctions etc in my Z4 than I ever did in the old TVR or Elise.

[admoss]

SEN 18 said:

admoss said:

I know its really an impossible question, but just after an opinion I guess. I live in a fairly quite street, terrace houses etc but there is only street parking. Whilst the idea of leaving a TVR on the street doesnt fill me with joy - the idea of not owning one at all fills me with even less!

I always thought (hoped) that kids would steer clear of keying and screwing around with something like a TVR because they would 'get it' as a motor and not want to mess it about, but maybe I'm just being optimistic.

Anyone had any kid type trouble with their cars or park them on the street?

Cheers,
Andrew.

Take the local kids for a spin round the block they will like that.Should get them on your side and they will think Christmas has come early.

Actually thats a cracking idea... I live a couple of doors away from some friends with a spot on kid, get him on side.

[admoss]

bloody hell.. isn't it a shame to even have to take this into account, Thatchers Britian eh!!?!

[grumbledoak]

I don't think you need worry. In my experience a T350 gets a lot of attention anywhere you park it, from kids to adults, from questions (often 'the usual') to taking photographs, so there are normally quite a few potential witnesses! The reputation for poor reliability seems to mitigate against the 'rich wr' attitude that some can have re: pork, etc.

In any case, both joy-riders and armed robbers have other targets in mind.

[EnjyBenjy]

I've had mine parked outside for 2 years, never had a problem. It mainly gets respect. If it was a Boxster or something it may be a different story. Probably depends on the area you live - pikeys/square inch

[cropsprayer]

Sorry to burst the bubble on this one.......I keep mine in my garage when at home but I parked outside my Mum's house overnight last year and some tw@t keyed my T350.....real pain and very annoying! Guess like people say it depends where its parked but this was a quiet street in Billericay which isnt exactly a rough area!

Good luck im sure you will be fine and most people in my experinec just love looking at the car and make comments or ask questions......you will love T350 ownership :-)

[cramorra]

Maybe not what you are expecting as an answer but be aware you'll need wellies if the weather's like now...
and don't believe other comments most of them leak
ow good luck

[Risoli]

I've had bad experiences too...love my T350 so much i was driving it as an everyday car..not anymore....twice i've had it vandalised. once in a private car park of a solicitors office; someone took a stanley knife to the offside wing and door. ended up getting the whole car re-sprayed. the other time was a keying incident. no idea where it happened. i just noticed that it had. people are tossers. its not even as if its an expensive car! now my love is in showroom condition and garaged and taken out for special drives only. my brilliant TVR mechanic tells me he has dealt with too many vandalism jobs in his time; he warned me not to street park it and he was right. in fact he's always right. he's annoying; but a great mechanic! of course, another issue about street parking is that you have a delicate car open to the elements. T350s can leak in heavy rain particularly into the passenger footwell area where all the electrics are kept. v pricey. the cold and damp also gets into the dash and can damage the LCD display. I know this is a bit of a downer but a T350 on the road in winter 24/7? i wouldn't advise it. they need looking after.

[G_Sleigh]

I personally only store it in my garage and driveway if have to and live in good area...

HOWEVER if i visit people i make a point to get to know the local kids and the yobs..

Now stick with me on this thinking... At first your going to think im mad but hold this thought.

If i see a bunch of kids hanging about the streets or know they can be trouble in different areas and they giving the car attention i been known to pull up and chat with em and even give em a quick ride down the streets at speed.

My reason: Once you got em on side... Instead of em all waiting for you to leave the car and doing damage or thinking your dick. Once you taken em out in it and given em a spin they tell all there mates your alright and brag they been in it and they dont damage your car

Keep enemies close

[EnjyBenjy]

EnjyBenjy said:

I've had mine parked outside for 2 years, never had a problem. It mainly gets respect. If it was a Boxster or something it may be a different story. Probably depends on the area you live - pikeys/square inch

Saying this, mine got keyed last night - but then so did every other car parked in the street.
Mindless scum.