want a Chimaera but no garage...can it be done??
Discussion
raceboy said:
Not a problem at all.
I had mine outside for about 6 years, yes it does make it a bit more of a job keeping it clean, it can age the hood quicker, but it's easier to get in and use, mine was even a daily driver for a year or 2.
Just get one bought and start enjoying it.
Yes and you needed a body lift and new outriggers because of that ...Im no expertI had mine outside for about 6 years, yes it does make it a bit more of a job keeping it clean, it can age the hood quicker, but it's easier to get in and use, mine was even a daily driver for a year or 2.
Just get one bought and start enjoying it.
Certainly.
Mine has lived outside since 2002, used daily. Fabsil and mastik sealant are your friends. Fabsil the roof about once every 18 months and as long as you don't scrub it with a sponge when you wash the car, it'll stay waterproof. Mastik is for the inner front wings to seal around the hatches and rivets if they leak. Once done it should be fine. The body certainly won't rust !
Downside is that the car isn't usually as clean as you'd like it to be.
Big upside is that the car is much more reliable for having frequent use.
Matt
Mine has lived outside since 2002, used daily. Fabsil and mastik sealant are your friends. Fabsil the roof about once every 18 months and as long as you don't scrub it with a sponge when you wash the car, it'll stay waterproof. Mastik is for the inner front wings to seal around the hatches and rivets if they leak. Once done it should be fine. The body certainly won't rust !
Downside is that the car isn't usually as clean as you'd like it to be.
Big upside is that the car is much more reliable for having frequent use.
Matt
Had mine for just under two years and it lives on the driveway. Summer months it is used as a daily drive, in the winter occasional use when there is no ice or grit on the roads.
A car cover is used in the winter to keep the worst of the weather off it but in the summer it stays 'undressed'.
Only gotcha is if you are going to use it infrequently in the winter you need to be close enough to a power source to connect a battery conditioner.
A car cover is used in the winter to keep the worst of the weather off it but in the summer it stays 'undressed'.
Only gotcha is if you are going to use it infrequently in the winter you need to be close enough to a power source to connect a battery conditioner.
I've never been fully convinced of the advantages of keeping your car in an unheated garage. A few years ago I walked around the hangar at Rochester airfield one damp late-autumn day, and was shocked at how every aircraft was dripping with condensation - whereas the ones parked outside were completely dry. That made me question whether it's really worth paying to hangar an aircraft, and hence I'm not convinced about garaging a car either.
My Chimaera lives outside, mostly under a full-body cover. The air can circulate freely underneath the car, allowing the chassis to dry out and stay dry, while the cover reduces the chances of leaking and keeps the sun off the paintwork. I'm reasonably happy that it isn't going to rot away.
My Chimaera lives outside, mostly under a full-body cover. The air can circulate freely underneath the car, allowing the chassis to dry out and stay dry, while the cover reduces the chances of leaking and keeps the sun off the paintwork. I'm reasonably happy that it isn't going to rot away.
Mine lives outside all year round with no problems. I tried a full body cover initially but found a Leven hood cover much better. It covers areas that might leak, protects the hood and is easier to get on and off than the full cover. http://mobile.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=... Not my Chimeara but you get the idea.
Briskdub said:
Mine lives outside all year round with no problems. I tried a full body cover initially but found a Leven hood cover much better. It covers areas that might leak, protects the hood and is easier to get on and off than the full cover. http://mobile.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=... Not my Chimeara but you get the idea.
Exactly what I did for two years.I used mine whenever I left the car for a period of time (including the summer) simply to stop prying eyes.
Briskdub said:
Mine lives outside all year round with no problems. I tried a full body cover initially but found a Leven hood cover much better. It covers areas that might leak, protects the hood and is easier to get on and off than the full cover. http://mobile.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=... Not my Chimeara but you get the idea.
Aha, my cover is from Leven then ! Bought it off a guy who had sold his TVR and wondered which one it was. Good cover and no paint scratches. Tried a full cover but it kept blowing away or setting the alarm off and paint scratches.I bought a standard Polytunnel from a company called First Tunnels Ltd and just modified the height to fit the car. I rest it on bricks so that the air can circulate. It does not get that hot in the summer. You can get coloured polyethenes to cover it with if required. I went for clear so that I could see the car.
To get into it I made some drop down legs, so you just lift up one and and the legs drop down and you can drive in and out.
To get into it I made some drop down legs, so you just lift up one and and the legs drop down and you can drive in and out.
I had my Griff on a drive for a while, as said the leven roof cover is excellent(!). i just kept extra coats of wax on the paint. One thing to note is that the availability of insurance can be an issue. When insuring in a garage the prices come down a lot and company that will offer cover increase.
I had the same concern as yourself before I bought mine and I do not have a driveway either so keeping the car attached to a battery conditioner is also an issue for me.
Don't let it put you off these cars are absolutely fine outside. So long as the roof seals are in good condition and you waterproof the roof every now and again no worries.
An added advantage of having the car outside is that I think you use it more often as you can literally jump in, turn the key and off you go without the debarcle of having to get it out the garage.
Don't let it put you off these cars are absolutely fine outside. So long as the roof seals are in good condition and you waterproof the roof every now and again no worries.
An added advantage of having the car outside is that I think you use it more often as you can literally jump in, turn the key and off you go without the debarcle of having to get it out the garage.
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