Chim, without a garage?

[paulpsz008]

I'm considering a Chim but only have a driveway, not a garage.

Am I nuts?
How water tight are they?

Ta.

[Don]

paulpsz008 said:

I'm considering a Chim but only have a driveway, not a garage.

Am I nuts?
How water tight are they?

Ta.

Short answer:

Yes.
Not very.

Longer answer:

Not necessarily.
They can be leaky buggers. However - it IS possible to seal 'em up properly and also to seal the roof (Autoglym stuff) and get 'em so they can stand torrential downpours and not leak. However you need to be more vigilant than with other cars by checking that the roof has been fitted properly each and every time and so on.

You can also get a sort of car cover that just covers the windscreen, roof, door windows and rear window that some owners swear by for additional security and weatherproofing when parked up. I think it's a Leven Technology item, IIRC.

So. First make sure you buy one that the previous owner had sorted. Secondly always take care fitting the roof and, thirdly, consider the car cover thingmajig.

They are great fun cars.

[drew.h]

I use a full breathable cover. I don't like the idea of water getting to my engine.

What's the wind in your area? I had to modify my cover to stay on, with additional straps around each wheel. When its windy they will blow about and rub the bodywork. My Dutton had some paintwork damage from this, although keeping the Chimaera well polished helps.

[ewan221]

Practicl Classics have a product test of car covers this month

[paulpsz008]

I'll have a look at covers, I know the search for a good un' will be the most difficult bit.

My head says Boxster but the everything else wants a V8!!!!

[teamrecon]

I keep mine on the drive under a 4 layer breathable cover. I'll dig out where I got if if you need the info. It was about £130 ish

Keeps my Chim nice and dry and free from bird lime

Neil

Edited by teamrecon on Tuesday 11th November 17:11

[mak]

paulpsz008 said:

I'll have a look at covers, I know the search for a good un' will be the most difficult bit.

My head says Boxster but the everything else wants a V8!!!!

.....
2 hours and not one poster offering there car to this man!!!, Keep your dignity guys where doing well, To be honest chap i think its a case of some leek and some dont, but if it does, it can be fixed and like said, beware of the toggles scratching your paint from those covers.

[Johnniem]

paulpsz008 said:

I'll have a look at covers, I know the search for a good un' will be the most difficult bit.

My head says Boxster but the everything else wants a V8!!!!

Boxster schmoxster! Take the V8 every day. As the t-shirt says..."Porkahs are for girls" Well, "girls" is actually the symbol for female but hey ho! I took my Chim (450) to Le Mans this year and it blew away any boxster and all the 911 stylie porkahs (in our group) except the Turbo, whose speed would probably cause me to soil myself (or emit a little man wee!). Buy a 450 Chim and be done with it.

BTW, I keep mine on my driveway and I think I might have a little water coming in now (2 years later) so I will also consider the cover thing. Good luck.

[BIGRAH]

Pupp (who is on here), leaves his outside and uses a leven hood cover.

[paulpsz008]

Good to here its a workable situation then!

Now just need to confirm the budget and start the long process of finding a good one.

Ta,

[mb450]

Mine has spent 3 months sat outside whilst the garage is being rebuilt.

It's totally dry inside - no cover - just 2 coats of fabsil about 9 months ago.

It even stayed dry durnig the mother of all downpours at the weekend - wish I could say the same for my range rover as that's now got a swimming pool in the boot!

[900T-R]

Hmmm, my roof is 'well worn' (according to the convertible roof specialist that re-upholsters the roofs for the Dutch TVR importer's workshop one of the former owner having had a new rear screen stitched in the old soft part a few years before was already a false economy) but it stays snug and dry inside even in a downpour. Well, except when I don't center the targa part properly, in which case raindrops will come in via the A-pillar and drip on my right hand .
Thing is, I asked about the annual waterproofing with Fabsil or similar stuff mentioned in the Bible and they advised against it - just a good scrub with soap and water should do. If the fabric leaks, no amount of waterproofing would help and you just need a new roof - at least that's what they said...

Edited by 900T-R on Tuesday 11th November 19:10

[V8 Animal]

Total rubbish IMO
Fabsil is excellent stuff hosepipe it after treating it then see the results.

[That Daddy]

V8 Animal said:

Total rubbish IMO
Fabsil is excellent stuff hosepipe it after treating it then see the results.

Seconded,makes the roof nice and black again too bonus,still wont matter soon i am going blue

[mak]

That Daddy said:

V8 Animal said:

Total rubbish IMO
Fabsil is excellent stuff hosepipe it after treating it then see the results.

Seconded,makes the roof nice and black again too bonus,still wont matter soon i am going blue

.....
Might be a bit brave but i think that mullberry colour would suit your car, sort of red but not if you no wot i mean.

[Pupp]

BIGRAH said:

Pupp (who is on here), leaves his outside and uses a leven hood cover.

And guess who's carpets are drying in the house at present after the last few days?

In fairness, mine is still the original hood (10+ years) and has only got a bit 'permeable' in the last few months. No real worries with them living outside 'though a good garage would be better (can imagine a damp one would be some way worse)...

[Timja]

I use mine as my everyday car, only garaged for 4 nights a week and had a water leak problem when i 1st got it, but was very quickly, cheaply and easily fixed and no problems with leaks since.

Listen to the noise each car makes, and go for the one that gives you the biggest grin!

[The Aardvark]

Have had the Chim since January, lives outside and covered with one of these -

http://www.cover-zone.com/stormforce-car-covers.ht...

Have to be honest, its a superb cover and for approx £125 money well spent. Does come with straps but havent used them as yet as the corners are elasticated and as its tailored to the car it fits incredibly well. After very heavy rain there tends to be a bit of condensation under the cover but that soon disappears. I also find it helpful to keep any heavy rain out of the engine bay as well as the interior.
Next door neighbour has a Cerb kept under the same and again no complaints - will certainly do until I build a garage!

[That Daddy]

mak said:

That Daddy said:

V8 Animal said:

Total rubbish IMO
Fabsil is excellent stuff hosepipe it after treating it then see the results.

Seconded,makes the roof nice and black again too bonus,still wont matter soon i am going blue

.....
Might be a bit brave but i think that mullberry colour would suit your car, sort of red but not if you no wot i mean.

Thanks Mak,but i already have the new carpets and hood in blue but yes that sounds like it would look nice too,part of my winter makover just cant get any interest at the mo,also got a very spiky Kent cam set to go in before all that along with head and inlet mods new valve springs etc,bloody self employed just dont get the time,if i was employed i would thow a sicki

Edited by That Daddy on Tuesday 11th November 22:44

[kevin63]

I had a Chimaera for just over 3 years, it was kept outside all the time, I never had a problem with water leaks or any other damp related problems, it just required washing a bit more than if it was kept in a garage, I used fabseal on the roof.