Signed on the dotted line
Discussion
Hi there,
Well, after an extensive search I've finally chosen and deposited on a 98 450. Long drive down from Leicester to Taunton but hopefully worth it.
I'm going back on Tuesday to pick it up.
I noticed a few things and thought I'd ask a question or two. I've done the usual searches so hope I'm not covering old ground.
There is a bit of plastic that covers the exposed fibreglass on the door at the window opening (at the open end). Where do you get this bit from?
Adjustment of the wing mirror, I can't seem to get it high enough.
I'm 6'4" and so sit high in the car. First, has anyone got other solutions to sitting lower. Has anyone reupholstered the seat squab with less padding. I know there are after market ones about but the cost is high. I just want the drivers seat lower (I'm thinking 300-400 from an upholsterer). Second, is the lack of movement in the mirror usual?
Best outdoor cover?
Best budger tracker? I notice that you can buy a sender and fit to the car and then monitor it on the internet. www.verilocation.com/
Has any one used there solutions. Seems better value than the usual RAC alternative and interesting to monitor yourself.
Repair of cracks to bonnet. They are just on the vents, I understand it's usual. Flexible epoxy in the gaps or just touch up? Also, can anyone point me to the link for putting mesh over the vents. The car will live near trees.
Other than that it seems pretty sharp and I look forward to picking it up and getting to know it.
Speak to you all soon.
best wishes,
matt
Well, after an extensive search I've finally chosen and deposited on a 98 450. Long drive down from Leicester to Taunton but hopefully worth it.
I'm going back on Tuesday to pick it up.
I noticed a few things and thought I'd ask a question or two. I've done the usual searches so hope I'm not covering old ground.
There is a bit of plastic that covers the exposed fibreglass on the door at the window opening (at the open end). Where do you get this bit from?
Adjustment of the wing mirror, I can't seem to get it high enough.
I'm 6'4" and so sit high in the car. First, has anyone got other solutions to sitting lower. Has anyone reupholstered the seat squab with less padding. I know there are after market ones about but the cost is high. I just want the drivers seat lower (I'm thinking 300-400 from an upholsterer). Second, is the lack of movement in the mirror usual?
Best outdoor cover?
Best budger tracker? I notice that you can buy a sender and fit to the car and then monitor it on the internet. www.verilocation.com/
Has any one used there solutions. Seems better value than the usual RAC alternative and interesting to monitor yourself.
Repair of cracks to bonnet. They are just on the vents, I understand it's usual. Flexible epoxy in the gaps or just touch up? Also, can anyone point me to the link for putting mesh over the vents. The car will live near trees.
Other than that it seems pretty sharp and I look forward to picking it up and getting to know it.
Speak to you all soon.
best wishes,
matt
Yep, good choice! Mine is also a '98 450 - had it just over a year and it hasn't disappointed yet - even a trip round Europe didn't phase it.
On the wing mirrors - if you want a lo-tech solution, carefully prize the mirror glass off the mounting and put sticky spacers on the bottom sticky pad mounts - should cant the glass up by a few degrees and it should be enough. You could try adjusting the mounting / motor gimball - just be sure to read the realavent threads when it comes to taking the thing to bits - it's a simple system made complicated by bad design!
I recently bought a full warterproof car cover from Classic Additions (again - search through the threads and you'll see quite a few people recommend it). Has proven good so far!
On the wing mirrors - if you want a lo-tech solution, carefully prize the mirror glass off the mounting and put sticky spacers on the bottom sticky pad mounts - should cant the glass up by a few degrees and it should be enough. You could try adjusting the mounting / motor gimball - just be sure to read the realavent threads when it comes to taking the thing to bits - it's a simple system made complicated by bad design!
I recently bought a full warterproof car cover from Classic Additions (again - search through the threads and you'll see quite a few people recommend it). Has proven good so far!
You may well find that some spacers have been fitted to the drivers seat so it sits a bit higher than the pax. If so then these can be removed and the seat will sit lower. If not then the seat squab can be changed. If this is the way you want to go then can I suggest a classic car trimmers in Thurmaston called Classic Car Services. They do a bang up job, they replaced the heated seat squabs in my Chim for £47.
Also get yourself along to one of the TVRCC meets, Ive only been to a couple (pressure of work and home) but John Case (the RO) is a really friendly guy, and you will get some great info on where to have the car looked after and all sorts of other things as well!
Happy driving and welcome to the mad house!!
Also get yourself along to one of the TVRCC meets, Ive only been to a couple (pressure of work and home) but John Case (the RO) is a really friendly guy, and you will get some great info on where to have the car looked after and all sorts of other things as well!
Happy driving and welcome to the mad house!!
Good choice, mine's a '98 450 as well!
You can get what looks to be a pretty good budget GSM tracker on ebay. There's a guy on there that makes them himself out of old phones I think. I was going to buy one and stick it in the dash when I change the veneer. If you install it properly there's no reason why it wouldn't be very effective, it would even have some advantages over a proper GPS tracker.
Sorry can't help with the rest but welcome, oh and make sure you join the TVRCC!
You can get what looks to be a pretty good budget GSM tracker on ebay. There's a guy on there that makes them himself out of old phones I think. I was going to buy one and stick it in the dash when I change the veneer. If you install it properly there's no reason why it wouldn't be very effective, it would even have some advantages over a proper GPS tracker.
Sorry can't help with the rest but welcome, oh and make sure you join the TVRCC!
Hi. Congrats on new car. Had mine, 1995 400, for all of three days now and what fun. Re cover I have a Halfords, silver, breathable cover that I originally bought for my wedge. The cover is a very good fit on the Chim and I think cost about £70. Only problem for me is that it tends to set off the alarm (an aftermarket Sigma system) even with doors and windows firmly closed and the ultrasonics disabled. Wierd.
Congrats on the new purchase... you'll love it
With regards the door mirrors, I've just repaired mine and adjustment is limited due to the glass hitting a plastic stop at the top... in fact I'm 6'2" and I recon the glass fell out of mine because I kept trying to adjust it higher. The previous suggestion on using more double sided tape on the bottom sounds like a feasible idea, and I'd wished I'd thought about that before putting mine back together.
With regards the seat, I'm surprised you don't have enough room, unless as per the previous post someone has made the pedal reach shorter (it can be done), or they've lifted the seat somehow... mine's already quite low, with loads of headroom with the top on and I'm factory spec.
Enjoy
With regards the door mirrors, I've just repaired mine and adjustment is limited due to the glass hitting a plastic stop at the top... in fact I'm 6'2" and I recon the glass fell out of mine because I kept trying to adjust it higher. The previous suggestion on using more double sided tape on the bottom sounds like a feasible idea, and I'd wished I'd thought about that before putting mine back together.
With regards the seat, I'm surprised you don't have enough room, unless as per the previous post someone has made the pedal reach shorter (it can be done), or they've lifted the seat somehow... mine's already quite low, with loads of headroom with the top on and I'm factory spec.
Enjoy
Thanks for all the replies and I'll be on the look out in the Leicester area.
Cheers for the tip on classic car services in Thurmaston. I'll look them up. That sounds like a fantastic price. Was that just to add the leccy bits or to renew the whole squab???
I've got to wait until Thursday before collecting. Managed to wangle a work reason for heading down to Yoevil. Saves me the cost of the train fair...which looks like it works out nicely as a tank of fuel. Can hardly wait, that coupled with the realisation that hotmail was sending all the enquiries on the Corrado to my junk mail. Looks like I'll have a buyer soon.
When I get it i'll be able to have a better root around the seat to see the fittings. I'm definitely at the furthest back and max rake position. Legs will be fine once pedals are moved back.
I like the idea of adjusting the mirrors using spacers.
How about that plastic bit on the door to cover the fibreglass? I could always make one I suppose.
Thanks for all the replies. Look forward to meeting up ....
Matt
Cheers for the tip on classic car services in Thurmaston. I'll look them up. That sounds like a fantastic price. Was that just to add the leccy bits or to renew the whole squab???
I've got to wait until Thursday before collecting. Managed to wangle a work reason for heading down to Yoevil. Saves me the cost of the train fair...which looks like it works out nicely as a tank of fuel. Can hardly wait, that coupled with the realisation that hotmail was sending all the enquiries on the Corrado to my junk mail. Looks like I'll have a buyer soon.
When I get it i'll be able to have a better root around the seat to see the fittings. I'm definitely at the furthest back and max rake position. Legs will be fine once pedals are moved back.
I like the idea of adjusting the mirrors using spacers.
How about that plastic bit on the door to cover the fibreglass? I could always make one I suppose.
Thanks for all the replies. Look forward to meeting up ....
Matt
Again welcome and as usual lots of advice already.
Mines a 97 450 and don't quite know what you mean about the plastic cover on the door. As no one else has mentioned it I presume they don't either. Doesn't sound too important so I suggest taking a picture when you have her and posting it to show what you mean.
Also as far as cracking of the fibreglass on the vents I certainly have not had a problem with this and never seen it mentioned on this forum before. Could be worth a few more detailed questions about how it is supposed to have happened from the seller. Did you have a professional inspection?
>> Edited by razorman on Monday 6th March 22:29
Mines a 97 450 and don't quite know what you mean about the plastic cover on the door. As no one else has mentioned it I presume they don't either. Doesn't sound too important so I suggest taking a picture when you have her and posting it to show what you mean.
Also as far as cracking of the fibreglass on the vents I certainly have not had a problem with this and never seen it mentioned on this forum before. Could be worth a few more detailed questions about how it is supposed to have happened from the seller. Did you have a professional inspection?
>> Edited by razorman on Monday 6th March 22:29
Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff