Is this a silly question

[kev north]

Is this a silly question my car has been garaged for 10 years . I hardly driven it will the chassis be rotting away ?
how much life has she got left in her ? She is a 1996

[jamienshelly]

It all depends on how well it has been stored, and what condition it was in when laid up
You will need new tyres, new oils and lubes, the brakes may well be seized, and that's on a car that has been stored well. But until you go round it and look you cant really say, but it will probably be ok within reason

[kev north]

I have been driving it only on sunny days .6 times a year if that. I was worried about the chassis ,been reading up a bit on hear . I mite put a heater underneath her in the winter will that help ? I do still lover her the same as when I purchase her

[swallet]

Unfortunately I do not think that garaging is a sure fire way to prevent corrosion. Even if you never drive in the wet.

I have a central heated garage which is completely dry but you still get condensation on the windows same as in any building.

The condensation will I'm sure also be settling on the car and therefore chassis.

Alright so it's not like driving it down the m62 in the winter but unless you put the car in a proper dehumidified bubble/cocoon you are going to get some corrosion on any exposed ferrous metal.

[rigga]

OK, slightly different scenarios there as first i thought it had been laid up for 10 years in a garage, which would have rightly caused issues with getting it back on the road, then you say its been driven albeit only 6 times or so a year .... some tvr car's are like that anyway, high days and holiday car's, so on that basis its all about how its been garaged and cared for generally .....cold moisture prone garage, then it might well have corrosion issues, warm well vented garage, might well have corrosion issues ...can't tell see, though being a 96 and the earlier grey coated chassis it could be be in decent nick, needs a good inspection to be sure, and then guess the parts you can't see.
What's your service Guy's opinion of it when its serviced and mot tested? .

[yknot]

Invest in a dehumidifier! Much more important than a heater IMO! I only used mine for a few days last summer and has been laid up since November but I do keep it on trickle charge and start from time to time and move it up and down the drive. Also pump the tyres up to 40psi so they don't flat-spot.

[rigga]

yknot said:

Invest in a dehumidifier! Much more important than a heater IMO! I only used mine for a few days last summer and has been laid up since November but I do keep it on trickle charge and start from time to time and move it up and down the drive. Also pump the tyres up to 40psi so they don't flat-spot.

Basically my set up ....