Chim on snow. I can see it now...
Discussion
Am a big fan of TVRs and fairly new to this great site. I thought that some might be interested in how I get my TVR kicks. I am member of the Classic Car Club and they have just got a Chim in. Have it booked for a week in early January.
Driven a Chim only once before and then only for an hour or so. So not entirely convinced that taking one out for a week in the middle of winter is the best way of initiating myself, particularly as a weatherman says there is a chance of snow. Eeek! I suspect I shall be only gingerly caressing the loud peddle (I read the very amusing threads about fishtailing exploits – Oh no, oh no!).
I find the club the perfect balance between cost and worry. Sometimes you don't get the car you want when you want it (downside) but at least you cannot be surprised with a chequebook bending bill for a new diff (or those other items I have seen here). Besides as I do not have off road parking, and live in car theft central (Islington, London), owning a TVR myself would I suspect be a short-lived joy. Local thieves would be delighted. Even if they didn’t nick it, I would be worried that they would vandalise it. On the other hand I would be interested to hear of any brave soles that do actually park their cars on the road in a semi-dodgy area.
Wish me luck for January!
(p.s. If anyone else wants details of the CCC, do feel free to contact me.)
Driven a Chim only once before and then only for an hour or so. So not entirely convinced that taking one out for a week in the middle of winter is the best way of initiating myself, particularly as a weatherman says there is a chance of snow. Eeek! I suspect I shall be only gingerly caressing the loud peddle (I read the very amusing threads about fishtailing exploits – Oh no, oh no!).
I find the club the perfect balance between cost and worry. Sometimes you don't get the car you want when you want it (downside) but at least you cannot be surprised with a chequebook bending bill for a new diff (or those other items I have seen here). Besides as I do not have off road parking, and live in car theft central (Islington, London), owning a TVR myself would I suspect be a short-lived joy. Local thieves would be delighted. Even if they didn’t nick it, I would be worried that they would vandalise it. On the other hand I would be interested to hear of any brave soles that do actually park their cars on the road in a semi-dodgy area.
Wish me luck for January!
(p.s. If anyone else wants details of the CCC, do feel free to contact me.)
Actually Slicker, I chap I work with has a friend with an Lotus Exsige (sp). He lives in a crappy part of Hendon and apparently no-one touches the car since owning a nice car in that neighbourhood indicates you are probably a drug dealer and hence a force not to be reckoned with. Of course this chap is an IT contractor (or is that the same as a dealer!!!)
I feel you concern though, I hate parking my chim anywhere, I'd rather someone nicked it than key'd though.
Steve
I feel you concern though, I hate parking my chim anywhere, I'd rather someone nicked it than key'd though.
Steve
My Chimaera spends much of its time parked around Archway or Highbury in London. My two previous cars (VWs) both had windows smashed and screwdrivers stuck through door locks, two of my brothers' cars have been broken into while they've been staying with me. In eighteen months (BIG touch wood!), the only damage to the TVR has been scuffs from people trying to park who use my car to tell them when to stop. Maybe the vandals just like the shape!
Russell
Russell
Tom,
Well, I have recently acquired a 450 Chimaera, which is parked on the streets of London NW6, near Kilburn High Road. Not a dodgy area but not the best either! So far not a single problem (hug a large tree) , but I must admit that I am not worried. I use a hood cover purchased from Leven Technologies (150 GBP). It is strange to see how people tend to ignore a car in which the interior cannot be seen. PhD material I believe... Concerning car theft, I think few cars are safer that TVRs, and this is how I explain this: there are 3 reasons to nick a car 1) Need a car for some illegal purposee.g. bank robbery, burglary 2) For resale, e.g. in Eastern Europe 3) For a joy ride. For point 1, you'd rather go for soemthing really strong, reliable and less identifiable, wouldn't you? Point 2 is quite obvious, no spare parts dealers, etc and Point 3, although not impossible is very unlikely as nicking a car implies some knowledge of how the car is built and runs. Your average car thief wouldn't know all the TVR specific settings, and make better use of their time learning about Beemer, Mercs and others
Finally, insurance cost me a sizeable 1530 GBP per annum, full cover, 6000 miles, this also includes the top RAC cover (including Europe), track days. I had 0 NCB but was granted 2 years as a welcome - because no insurance history in this country.
Hope this helps. Happy Y2.002K
Roms
Antigua Blue Chimaera 450
MCC Smart Passion Grey with Bungee Red interior ;o)
Well, I have recently acquired a 450 Chimaera, which is parked on the streets of London NW6, near Kilburn High Road. Not a dodgy area but not the best either! So far not a single problem (hug a large tree) , but I must admit that I am not worried. I use a hood cover purchased from Leven Technologies (150 GBP). It is strange to see how people tend to ignore a car in which the interior cannot be seen. PhD material I believe... Concerning car theft, I think few cars are safer that TVRs, and this is how I explain this: there are 3 reasons to nick a car 1) Need a car for some illegal purposee.g. bank robbery, burglary 2) For resale, e.g. in Eastern Europe 3) For a joy ride. For point 1, you'd rather go for soemthing really strong, reliable and less identifiable, wouldn't you? Point 2 is quite obvious, no spare parts dealers, etc and Point 3, although not impossible is very unlikely as nicking a car implies some knowledge of how the car is built and runs. Your average car thief wouldn't know all the TVR specific settings, and make better use of their time learning about Beemer, Mercs and others
Finally, insurance cost me a sizeable 1530 GBP per annum, full cover, 6000 miles, this also includes the top RAC cover (including Europe), track days. I had 0 NCB but was granted 2 years as a welcome - because no insurance history in this country.
Hope this helps. Happy Y2.002K
Roms
Antigua Blue Chimaera 450
MCC Smart Passion Grey with Bungee Red interior ;o)
Thanks Roms, that's very informative. The idea of a car cover seems great. I assume it is lockable?
The only other concern is vandalism and you have evidently avoided that, and moreover others on this site have indicated that TVR tend to be endearing rather than threatening and so avoid some of the worst aspects of driving a top car.
Thanks for the feedback.
Tom
The only other concern is vandalism and you have evidently avoided that, and moreover others on this site have indicated that TVR tend to be endearing rather than threatening and so avoid some of the worst aspects of driving a top car.
Thanks for the feedback.
Tom
Tom,
I see you're still worried - can't blame you really. Just to answer your question below - the Leven hood cover is not lockable but you need access to the car to take it off (bonnet + boot). Not 100% foolproof but then what is ? By the way, still not probs... (hug another tree. What part of London do you leave in?
Cheers
Roms
Antigua Blue Chimaera 450
MCC Smart Passion Grey with Bungee Red interior ;o)
I see you're still worried - can't blame you really. Just to answer your question below - the Leven hood cover is not lockable but you need access to the car to take it off (bonnet + boot). Not 100% foolproof but then what is ? By the way, still not probs... (hug another tree. What part of London do you leave in?
Cheers
Roms
Antigua Blue Chimaera 450
MCC Smart Passion Grey with Bungee Red interior ;o)
when I go to Islington, there seems to be a Chimp more or less always parked on the road (on the bit between the old Gracelands pub and Highbury and Inslington corner). He doesn't seem to have any problems.
As an interesting aside, it must be the TVR which is most often photographed by GATSO - it's always parked right in front of it.
As an interesting aside, it must be the TVR which is most often photographed by GATSO - it's always parked right in front of it.
quote:
Am a big fan of TVRs and fairly new to this great site. I thought that some might be interested in how I get my TVR kicks. I am member of the Classic Car Club and they have just got a Chim in. Have it booked for a week in early January.
Driven a Chim only once before and then only for an hour or so. So not entirely convinced that taking one out for a week in the middle of winter is the best way of initiating myself, particularly as a weatherman says there is a chance of snow. Eeek! I suspect I shall be only gingerly caressing the loud peddle (I read the very amusing threads about fishtailing exploits – Oh no, oh no!).
I find the club the perfect balance between cost and worry. Sometimes you don't get the car you want when you want it (downside) but at least you cannot be surprised with a chequebook bending bill for a new diff (or those other items I have seen here). Besides as I do not have off road parking, and live in car theft central (Islington, London), owning a TVR myself would I suspect be a short-lived joy. Local thieves would be delighted. Even if they didn’t nick it, I would be worried that they would vandalise it. On the other hand I would be interested to hear of any brave soles that do actually park their cars on the road in a semi-dodgy area.
Wish me luck for January!
(p.s. If anyone else wants details of the CCC, do feel free to contact me.)
Until a year or so ago, I lived in Islington (now in Lewes). I had the Chimaera parked onstreet for two years with no problems. Once though, when I parked for a few hours in a leafy lane in opulent Windsor, the car was broken into and stuff I'd foolishly left in it stolen.
Go figure.
-Manek-
Edited by manek on Thursday 10th January 15:49
quote:
Actually Slicker, I chap I work with has a friend with an Lotus Exsige (sp). He lives in a crappy part of Hendon and apparently no-one touches the car since owning a nice car in that neighbourhood indicates you are probably a drug dealer and hence a force not to be reckoned with. Of course this chap is an IT contractor (or is that the same as a dealer!!!)
Had the same expierience in a real shitty part of Copenhagen used to part my Maserati and then the Jaguar there over night i think every one thought i was the new drug baron for the area
My mates could not belive i parked them there .
Going back to the original posting about driving a Chim on snow, I was up at Christopher Neils (getting a chim 4 checked out) and the car park was full of very bent TVRs.
Lots of Tuscans, Cerbs, and the odd Griff. Didn't actually spot any Chims surprisingly.
Twas a worrying sight when you're about to buy a Tiv.
Lots of Tuscans, Cerbs, and the odd Griff. Didn't actually spot any Chims surprisingly.
Twas a worrying sight when you're about to buy a Tiv.
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