Latest I've manged it
Discussion
It's normally about mid to late oct, but due to the recent mild weather (and terrible summer) I've managed to delay the winter hibernation of my beloved chimaera until today.
It's a sad day, but it's wrapped up and tucked away in the dry now until around the end of march next year
It's been such a crap year weather wise, so the old girl's probably only covered 1500 miles this year
Still, she's still taxed and insured, so if the sun does come out and we get a dry, crisp, sunny weekend, she'll get a blast in the countryside to blow the cobwebs away and remind my eardrums of why I love TVR's
Has anyone else hibernated their P&J for the winter ?
On the plus side, I lifted it up and had a good, poke and tap of the outriggers, and I think they're good for one more year
I'm putting some serious thought to a spring time turbocharger conversion too
It's a sad day, but it's wrapped up and tucked away in the dry now until around the end of march next year
It's been such a crap year weather wise, so the old girl's probably only covered 1500 miles this year
Still, she's still taxed and insured, so if the sun does come out and we get a dry, crisp, sunny weekend, she'll get a blast in the countryside to blow the cobwebs away and remind my eardrums of why I love TVR's
Has anyone else hibernated their P&J for the winter ?
On the plus side, I lifted it up and had a good, poke and tap of the outriggers, and I think they're good for one more year
I'm putting some serious thought to a spring time turbocharger conversion too
Hi,
I am probably going to make some enemies, but I believe that all of you out there that “lay the car off” for the winter just simply do not like the TVR enough… as simple as that.
Every year during the winter there a few people moaning on the forum saying “I miss the car, but it’s laid off so cannot get it out… Well, you have the solution to your answer, if you miss the car, do not lay it off…?
I guess if you do less than 3k miles a year, unless you own a fleet of other “classic” / performance cars, it’s the same story…
I live in London and often do not take the TVR out for 2 – 3 weeks in a row (use public transport / the Vespa or the Mrs’s car) and still manage over 3K miles a year. If I do not use it for 2 – 3 weeks I get an “itch” and find an excuse to go for a drive: weekend away, lunch in the country side, hook up with other car lovers and go for a spin….
The car is not made or bloating paper or sugar and will “disappear” if it gets wet…
I know it is harder to drive when wet and also less appealing to drive with the hood down in winter, but there are occasional dry Sunday days in the winter and equally, even if it does get wet, it is still manageable…?
3 year back I had not had a car for 7 years, bought my previous Chimaera 450 in July and at Christmas that year I drove to my parents (ain France, at the German boarder), over 1100 miles round trip, it pissed down the whole way, while there I went up the mountain, there was some snow (not on the road off course) and guess what, I did not die, the car did not crumble…
My view and I am sure there are many people like this out there: you like your TVR, you drive it all year around…. I do understand that you take it out less in the winter (convertible, more wet weather, more chance to rush, etc…), but not using it at all is just a complete waste…
Come on, it me with your arguments with regards to why the car cannot be driven in the winter… (beside, if my memory serves me right, the weather is better now than it was this summer…).
Frenchie
I am probably going to make some enemies, but I believe that all of you out there that “lay the car off” for the winter just simply do not like the TVR enough… as simple as that.
Every year during the winter there a few people moaning on the forum saying “I miss the car, but it’s laid off so cannot get it out… Well, you have the solution to your answer, if you miss the car, do not lay it off…?
I guess if you do less than 3k miles a year, unless you own a fleet of other “classic” / performance cars, it’s the same story…
I live in London and often do not take the TVR out for 2 – 3 weeks in a row (use public transport / the Vespa or the Mrs’s car) and still manage over 3K miles a year. If I do not use it for 2 – 3 weeks I get an “itch” and find an excuse to go for a drive: weekend away, lunch in the country side, hook up with other car lovers and go for a spin….
The car is not made or bloating paper or sugar and will “disappear” if it gets wet…
I know it is harder to drive when wet and also less appealing to drive with the hood down in winter, but there are occasional dry Sunday days in the winter and equally, even if it does get wet, it is still manageable…?
3 year back I had not had a car for 7 years, bought my previous Chimaera 450 in July and at Christmas that year I drove to my parents (ain France, at the German boarder), over 1100 miles round trip, it pissed down the whole way, while there I went up the mountain, there was some snow (not on the road off course) and guess what, I did not die, the car did not crumble…
My view and I am sure there are many people like this out there: you like your TVR, you drive it all year around…. I do understand that you take it out less in the winter (convertible, more wet weather, more chance to rush, etc…), but not using it at all is just a complete waste…
Come on, it me with your arguments with regards to why the car cannot be driven in the winter… (beside, if my memory serves me right, the weather is better now than it was this summer…).
Frenchie
Mine is off the road at present and will be until after crimbo due to planned works on it. Thats the only reason I will be off the road as I believe that half the running issues with TVR's is due to the garage queens not getting enough road time throughout the year, sorry for any offence caused just my opinion. All mechanical parts need to be kept in motion lubricating seals and the likes to stop things jamming up or perishing. All cars need running regular this aids in unforseen mechanical breakdown.
I drive mine in the winter (when it's working) 
It's made of plastic, plastic doesn't rust. I do make a point of spraying the bits I cn get to with GT85 to disperse the water and give it a coat to keep the worst of the salt off, outriggers etc. I don't like to leave it sittign around too long. The one winter I did leave it wrapped up I had moisture inside and it knackered my dash veneer. I'm going to use mine as much as possible/practical.
Besides, as long as you're not an idiot it won't spin out and hit things. Plus, you get even more attention in the winter because there's less nice cars on the road.
It's made of plastic, plastic doesn't rust. I do make a point of spraying the bits I cn get to with GT85 to disperse the water and give it a coat to keep the worst of the salt off, outriggers etc. I don't like to leave it sittign around too long. The one winter I did leave it wrapped up I had moisture inside and it knackered my dash veneer. I'm going to use mine as much as possible/practical.
Besides, as long as you're not an idiot it won't spin out and hit things. Plus, you get even more attention in the winter because there's less nice cars on the road.
My position is somewhere between Frenchie's and the winter lay-up gang. I've been averaging about 6,000 miles per year since I got mine 2 years ago, and I feel torn between two competing desires to "do the right thing" for my TVR.
On the one hand, the worst thing for an engine is to be sat unused. Oil drains off the internal surfaces, and corrosion sets in. When next started, the faces of the cam lobes grind themselves like sandpaper until the tiny layer of rust is gone, and each time this takes you a step closer to the time when you'll need to replace the cam shaft. Starting it up every week or so doesn't cut the mustard either, because oil needs to get properly up to temperature to drive off the acidic water that builds up in it. TVR electrics don't like to be unused, either.
But on the other hand, the chassis is very vulnerable to the salt on Britain's roads in the winter. I'm lucky, in that mine was refurbished with new outriggers, a zinc primer and brand new powder coating when I bought it - but even so, I can't help but feel guilty whenever I take it out on a salty road.
I try to limit my winter usage to those bright, crisp and dry days - and I try to rinse it off by directing a jet of water along the outriggers afterwards. (Whether this does any good, I don't know.) I also try to drive it at least every 10 days or so. But these are often mutually-exclusive aims.
On the one hand, the worst thing for an engine is to be sat unused. Oil drains off the internal surfaces, and corrosion sets in. When next started, the faces of the cam lobes grind themselves like sandpaper until the tiny layer of rust is gone, and each time this takes you a step closer to the time when you'll need to replace the cam shaft. Starting it up every week or so doesn't cut the mustard either, because oil needs to get properly up to temperature to drive off the acidic water that builds up in it. TVR electrics don't like to be unused, either.
But on the other hand, the chassis is very vulnerable to the salt on Britain's roads in the winter. I'm lucky, in that mine was refurbished with new outriggers, a zinc primer and brand new powder coating when I bought it - but even so, I can't help but feel guilty whenever I take it out on a salty road.
I try to limit my winter usage to those bright, crisp and dry days - and I try to rinse it off by directing a jet of water along the outriggers afterwards. (Whether this does any good, I don't know.) I also try to drive it at least every 10 days or so. But these are often mutually-exclusive aims.
No Winter lay up for me although I probably only do about 2-3k miles per year and admit to being a bit of a fair weather poser. Yesterday was a prime example of why I keep mine 'ready'. Beautiful sunlit day and I had a fabulous blast around the Herts countryside. I do try to get a 50 or so mile drive in every 2-3 weeks during the Winter.
frenchie TVR said:
Hi,
I am probably going to make some enemies, but I believe that all of you out there that “lay the car off” for the winter just simply do not like the TVR enough… as simple as that.
Frenchie
haha, No, I just have something else better suited to the winter.I am probably going to make some enemies, but I believe that all of you out there that “lay the car off” for the winter just simply do not like the TVR enough… as simple as that.
Frenchie
The fun for me in my TVR is, and always has been, Warm Sunny days with the roof down out on a dry country lane with no winter salt, grease or slippery leaf corners to catch me out.
I'll keep mine taxed and insured during the winter incase there is a sunny, dry day, but other than that, it'll stay wrapped up in the garage ready for the that first sunny day of 2013. A day I'll look forward to all winter and cherish when it comes along.
TVR's are great cars for this purpose, but they're not a great everyday proposition over the winter for me.
s
te wipers, lights, heater, no ABS and a slightly leaky roof are just examples of whyIf any of you drive yours all year, then I tip my hat to you, but rather you than me
Took mine out for a blast yesterday, the roads were very greasy then it started to rain so when I got back it was filthy and soaking wet. A mate came with me in his Porsche 911 and he said his traction control light was coming on constantly, funnily enough mine wasnt
Edited by cjj799 on Monday 19th November 15:17
I ended up having the engine re-built this year and the car only had 32,000 miles on, 3 owners from new - in absolutely lovely condition throughout - perfect chasis etc etc - so signs are it was never mis-treated. I just couldn't understand why therefore the cam' and barings were knackered and I end up with a nigh on £4k bill. Reason given to me by the engine builder was probably the low mileage and lack of use over the 11 years of the cars life ... said he's seen quite a few like mine. So therefore I will certainly not be putting her away for winter without use. Any sunny, salt free days we get I'll be sure to run her even just for 30 mins. I'm very lucky to have a perfectly dry, warm garage where she lives but putting some miles on throughout the year is essential.
Vmax64 said:
Reason given to me by the engine builder was probably the low mileage and lack of use over the 11 years of the cars life.
I do hope he's mistaken (but I suspect not) as my Old S has just 39k miles in 24 years and my Chim has just 21k in 16!Having said that I have put around 3k on the S so far this year and around 2k on the Chim (but then I've only had her just over a month).
The low mileage/infrequent use is taking a toll though as numerous seals and gaskets are weak/leaking and it'll probably need a bit of work in the spring. Certainly the rear gearbox seal will need doing as having to top it up every 750 miles is becoming a PITA so I had better get to that soon... And the Power Steering - but that looks like someone bodged fitting a new pump and used jubilee clips to hold the high pressure hoses on (not ideal) so that's on the list too (topping that up every 600 miles at the moment).
In the spring I'll look to replace the valley gasket, rocker gaskets, power steering hoses, gearbox output seal and all the fuel lines - they "look" OK but I suspect they've never been looked at properly so I will get to them as a priority.
Low mileage "garage queen" cars aren't always quite the "bargain" they appear, but having said that, for the investment of a few hours of my time and not a lot of money it should be as good as new after that.
in the meantime I drove down to Andover on the weekend (~70 miles) witht he roof off and really enjoyed that, and even the trip back at 2 in the morning was roof off time too... But it was certainly slippery!
I note the car runs far too cold when it's cold out... ~50 according to the guage as opposed to around 70 when it's warmer out. I think it may be a bit overly efficient in cooling so may just put a new thermostat in at some stage - roof off and a poor heater isn't a good combination LOL.
I might park the S up for the winter.... but TBH I don't think I will. It's nice to have the choice :-)
Julesprivate said:
Vmax64 said:
Reason given to me by the engine builder was probably the low mileage and lack of use over the 11 years of the cars life.
I do hope he's mistaken (but I suspect not) as my Old S has just 39k miles in 24 years and my Chim has just 21k in 16!My car gets run every couple of weeks over the winter, even if it's just started up and warmed through in the garage before moving forwards/backwards a couple of feet to avoid single position tyre pressure (and the subsequent flatspotting/tyre wall splits)
Admittedly, if you leave it for 6 months at a time, you'll get issues with the seals and some of the rubber bushings will start to perish, but certainly not cam or bearing wear (?!)
As Peter Wheeler said, TVR's are generally used as Toys
Edited by graeme4130 on Monday 19th November 15:34
graeme4130 said:
Admittedly, if you leave it for 6 months at a time, you'll get issues with the seals and some of the rubber bushings will start to perish, but certainly not cam or bearing wear (?!)
You will, as the oil film protecting these parts will long have drained into the sump and the first traces of corrosion have formed, then you start the engine and the surfaces that are not perfectly smooth anymore will work like sandpaper on one another until oil pressure has built up... The worst scenario for an engine would be letting it sit for a long period and start the engine every month or so without actually running the car (to operating temperature and keep it there for a while)... 900T-R said:
graeme4130 said:
Admittedly, if you leave it for 6 months at a time, you'll get issues with the seals and some of the rubber bushings will start to perish, but certainly not cam or bearing wear (?!)
You will, as the oil film protecting these parts will long have drained into the sump and the first traces of corrosion have formed, then you start the engine and the surfaces that are not perfectly smooth anymore will work like sandpaper on one another until oil pressure has built up... The worst scenario for an engine would be letting it sit for a long period and start the engine every month or so without actually running the car (to operating temperature and keep it there for a while)... graeme4130 said:
But as far as I've always understood, that residual oil film will be gone in days or weeks rather than months, so you'll get the same friction protection loss if you don't use the car weekly as you would seasonally ??
Even if the bearings and journals would be completely unprotected after a week of non-use (which I don't think they are) you're simply leaving far more time for corrosion to do its work if you leave it for months on end. Worse if you're not running the engine oil up to operating temperature when you're finally starting the engine...Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff