Best to clean the snow off the car or leave it on ?
Discussion
Hi all, I dropped the chimaera off for a service just before snow arrived. They serviced the car and then left it outside ready for my collection and then the snow came. I had an interesting drive home :-) which wasn't far. Unfortunately it lives outside under a Hamilton classics cover. It's covered in snow. Do I just leave it till it thaws, find a way of cleaning and drying it safely without damaging the paint or hood or melt and blow the snow off with a run out on these salt covered roads?
Lester
Lester
I'm actually using her through the winter and yes stays outside alot! this yr only. Had the car a year and want to get her reliable, she is really good and as long as no electrical problems show themselves then I'm really happy, err snow and TVR don't go well mind. Garage plans have expanded in size, we have footprint in place so next year she can stay warm! I had a roof expert stop water leaks, She's almost bone dry inside, money well spent.
Shall I just clean as much as I can off gently and put the cover on top of that so it doesn't get any more snow on it ?
I'm tempted to go on a little drive. The road outside my house is pretty good and so are the main roads nearby. I could drive it up to temperature which would clear the bonnet. The roof doesn't matter as I will have it recovered and mourn warm water over the boot. So that's my immediate plan
I'm tempted to go on a little drive. The road outside my house is pretty good and so are the main roads nearby. I could drive it up to temperature which would clear the bonnet. The roof doesn't matter as I will have it recovered and mourn warm water over the boot. So that's my immediate plan
I drove mine on fri nite, don't go out! It's terrible and your car will not do anything other than hit something. My only option is to hope the snow stops then dry it and put cover on. I've put extension on hold to advance a garage I could sleep in let alone the car! The car inspires such decisions, should have done it years ago, see a couple of guys on here have lovely big garages. It's like s dog, mans best friend! We all should have one by law, nation would be rich again, lol lol lol.
If it were me, I wouldnt be trying to scrape snow off the body. Instead I would just start it up and let it tick over fo a few mins (unless its under a cover of course). The V8 is a great heat producer, as we all know, so why not use it to good effect and simply melt the snow off the bonnet and if the interior heater works whack it on full and it wont take long to melt the snow from the roof and rear window either.
If you leave it running for a while, it will also defrost your garden, the local back roads, the duck pond and the rest of the County you live in
They're not just good to drive, these TVR's. Owners should be able to qualify for free fuel so they can run their TVR's in order to warm up the countryside and dry out the sodden fields following the rain we had last year.
Meanwhile, back to reality....If you are going to remove snow from the car, just be careful with the rear plastic window as I think it might become a bit brittle in very low temperatures - another good reason to warm it up using the cars own heater.
If you leave it running for a while, it will also defrost your garden, the local back roads, the duck pond and the rest of the County you live in
They're not just good to drive, these TVR's. Owners should be able to qualify for free fuel so they can run their TVR's in order to warm up the countryside and dry out the sodden fields following the rain we had last year.Meanwhile, back to reality....If you are going to remove snow from the car, just be careful with the rear plastic window as I think it might become a bit brittle in very low temperatures - another good reason to warm it up using the cars own heater.
Mines outside with a Hamilton cover too. Brushed top snow off, pealed cover back 2/3rds of the way, got her started and let her warm up until the fan had kicked in a couple of times. Meanwhile, I sat behind the wheel, looking at the dials and taking in the lovely classic smell of the interior, thinking... why can't today be dry and sunny!?
Turned-off, locked up, replaced cover and came inside to do more sensible things...
Turned-off, locked up, replaced cover and came inside to do more sensible things...

Marty V8 said:
Meanwhile, back to reality....If you are going to remove snow from the car, just be careful with the rear plastic window as I think it might become a bit brittle in very low temperatures - another good reason to warm it up using the cars own heater.
Yup ... I put my hand through mine a couple of months ago during a very sharp frost.. 
lestershaw said:
tricky one,
whether to leave it running or drive off straight away debate.
as much as i dont want to im going to leave it as it is and wait for weather to get better.
has ANYONE take their tvr out in this weather?
Have a look on the Random TVR pucs thread - one hardy soul haswhether to leave it running or drive off straight away debate.
as much as i dont want to im going to leave it as it is and wait for weather to get better.
has ANYONE take their tvr out in this weather?
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