Parking Chim on road. Wise?

[Slicker]

I would value some advice on how realistic it is to park a Chim on the road in a pretty dodgy area for car crime in central London. In your experience, how prone is a Chim to vandalism and theft (both of the car or cotents/radio? Does it help to have a hood or cover.

Am I simply nuts to even consider parking a TVR on the road in a dodgy area?

I would love to buy a Chim but have not solved the problem of where to keep it safely as there are no garages for rent in my area. So I am considering just keeping it on the road.

I would be very grateful for your advice. I have posted here about this once before but I am still agonising over the decision and would welcome some additional views, especially from those who actually keep their pride and joy on the road.

Thanks, Tom

[plotloss]

All depends how dodgy an area I suppose.

Mine is parked on the street in London and so far (crossed fingers touching wood) nothing has happened.

There have been posts on here recently about low life scum car vandals although I dont think they were in London.

Hope this helps.

Matt.

[MikeyT]

quote:
There have been posts on here recently about low life scum car vandals although I dont think they were in London.

They're everywhere and it only takes one idiot.

Mike

TVR owner in 2002!!

[Graham]

My chim has lived out on the side of a main road for 2 years now with no problems, other than getting covered in road shit all the time.
the closest it came to getting done was when it was down the quiet side road and some one went down the road with a can of psint.. the chim was the only car they left alone !!!!..

My car has been broken into though.... Outside the reception of a museum !!!!!!! in view of the girls on the desk... car drives up, parks next to it smashes the side window leans in takes radio and drives off.

It also had a scratch on the top of the wing whilst in a secure airport car park !!!!!

On balance the car is always going to be a risk when its away from home, so im not sure parking it at night makes that much difference, although there is the increased possibility of non malicious damage i.e car knocks, people bumping into it on the path and maybe knocking the mirror.

I also spent 2 years parking it in a dodgey car park in cheltenham all day for twice a week and despite the crunchy glass feel to the car park it never got touched...


Im not so sure a cerby would cope as well on the street purely because of the roof. If someone leans on the chim roof it wont scratch but a cerbies roof would... as you can see im thinking of a cerby...

have fun
G

[chimpboy]

I would advise against it, I bought mine when still living in a place with a garage or off-street parking and some fvckwit keyed it.

This was leafy suffolk, it was a Friday night though, pissed up twats who only have enough bottle when they've had a skinfull.

[atg]

Mine's street parked in London and so far no vandalism. I'd have thought they were safe from theft, at least by pros, as they are so rare. Never heard of them being joy ridden either which is a bit of a surprise (maybe becoz there is no standard for the fitted alarm/imobiliser?). Be warned though. Its is really easy to get into the cabin without opening the doors so you'd be mad to leave anything that looks valuable inside the car.

[Anto]

I guy I work with bought a Chim in October (after a lot of encouragement from me) and he rented a garage but it was two miles from his home, so he bought a cheap scooter which he uses to get to and from the garage.
Not the best solution but at least it would wake you up in the morning.


Anto

[strat]

I wonder if it would help to buy one of those all over car covers?

[vince n]

Sadly there are pea brained dohnuts everywhere. I have mine in a garage, if it was on the street I would be risking a prison sentence as I would be very cross if I cought somebody messing with my car.
What a sad world we live in.

[paul]

My experience with my 3 Tivs(for what its worth)
Grif parked on street in Battersea for 18 months without incident.
Chimp#1 parked on street in Wandsworth for 1 year without incident.
Chimp#2 parked on same street for 1 year was heavily vandalised one Friday night...
I figure that the cost & inconvenience of a garage is more than a respray once in 4 years...

There's always going to be a risk from the odd tw@t jealous of your nice car. That said I know of no-one having their wheels nicked off a TVR, I had 2 sets of BBS alloys nicked of my Calibra in 6 months....

[MikeyT]

quote:
I would be risking a prison sentence as I would be very cross if I cought somebody messing with my car. .

No, you'd be risking a slap on the wrist and being told politely not to do it again

Mike

TVR owner in 2002!!

[steveab]

quote:

quote:
I would be risking a prison sentence as I would be very cross if I cought somebody messing with my car. .

No, you'd be risking a slap on the wrist and being told politely not to do it again

Mike

TVR owner in 2002!!

Not in the nanny UK, you would get the book thrown at you and the other bastard would probably get some form of compensation :rage

[xenradio]

picking up my 1st chimp 2moro , i also thought about the on/off road thing but hey...will u EVER park in a carpark and leave it un-atteneded? - yes, you will. then surely the risk is just as great and whats more, atleast if its on a road outside your house and its vandalised you may hear it and have a slim chance of reprimanding the b@st@rds however if you're in a cinema and harry is just about to slay the troll, then i doubt you'll hear bugger all.....chance it my friend we are young but once...

[MikeyT]

quote:
however if you're in a cinema and harry is just about to slay the troll

superb xen

Mike

TVR owner in 2002

[Slicker]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I am going through a process familiar too many of you. I know purchasing one is nuts and leaving it on the road is nuts, but when i read the posts here about big big grins, I just cannot resist.

OK, I am going to nvestigate buying one further...

I am going to start a new thread asking for advice on the most *secure* hood cover.

Thanks again, Tom

[andyr]

I had mine parked in Battersea for 2 years with no problems. I live in an area where there is window glass everywhere from radios being nicked, but as mine was covered it was always ok. I even (this is a bit sad but worked!) got some foam pipe lagging things from B&Q and put them under the cover at the front and rear of the car - completely stopped the paintwork from being bashed by bad parkers.

[jessica]

i confess mine is garaged..i hate leaving him alone in car parks and shopping centres.Overall most peopleare positive and love seeing a tasty car. but one in 20 actively go out to pull in front and cut u up and be nasty.. jealousy is a very negative emotion.....

BE HAPPY

[the jiffle king]

Mine is parked on the street and yes I am careful about where I leave it, but if you are worried about it all the time then it's not worth having. After about a month you get over it and then it really is worth it!!

[ATG]

One word of warning for the street parking fraternity --- "Birdshit"

one word, but not one turd ... thousands of pigeons brought up on a diet of meusli and araldite

[shadowninja]

from what i hear you might have to worry about charming people using bumpers to park... and chimaeras dont have bumpers. cue cracked bodywork. selfish fvckers. also i heard of someone having their car cover stuck to their car using glue.

good luck!

Frankly if i lived in london i'd buy a land rover defender (an old one thats seen war) and stick bull bars on, extra spikey things, and have the bodywork linked up to the battery

-D