Discussion
Took the TVR to my Essex client today, just a little 130 mile round trip I thought 
How wrong was I
I have never seen floods like it, & I never imagined I'd be driving through them in my TVR.
I ended up forced to go through water so deep I fully expected a hydraulic lock & to hear a con rod to make a bid for freedom.
But the old TVR ploughed on without a stutter, even when some dick head coming the other way in his 4x4s completely submerged me in a tsunami bough wave.
And after all this not a drop entered the car
The return trip started well, some more floods, some up to three foot deep but she kept marching on.
Back on the M25, slow traffic but it was moving, until my junction (18).
The M25 was shut, no problem I'll get off on the slip at 19 and flick round the Watford streets & home to my lockup.
Sadly the diversions forced me down some of the tightest little flooded muddy lanes in Hertfordshire and with only 3 miles to go I found myself in a worse situation than back in Essex.
Then it happened
Rounding a corner I entered another flood, no problem I thought I've forded worse than this today.
Sadly what I didn't see was the huge pot hole hidden below the waves, BANG!!!!
That's fooked my newly refurbished wheel I thought, worse than that it blew my brand new tyre putting a hole I could get my thumb in through the sidewall.
So with a fooked tyre and only a can of sealant to my name I limped the old girl home the last 2-3 miles.
Poor old TVR did her best, and she did get me home, but honestly....
WHAT A SHOCKER OF A DAY
And to think, I'd only just cleaned it
She now looks like Colin McRae has been TVR joy riding
Careful out there guys, I suggest taking a boat instead, it's madness on the roads this week!
How wrong was I
I have never seen floods like it, & I never imagined I'd be driving through them in my TVR.
I ended up forced to go through water so deep I fully expected a hydraulic lock & to hear a con rod to make a bid for freedom.
But the old TVR ploughed on without a stutter, even when some dick head coming the other way in his 4x4s completely submerged me in a tsunami bough wave.
And after all this not a drop entered the car
The return trip started well, some more floods, some up to three foot deep but she kept marching on.
Back on the M25, slow traffic but it was moving, until my junction (18).
The M25 was shut, no problem I'll get off on the slip at 19 and flick round the Watford streets & home to my lockup.
Sadly the diversions forced me down some of the tightest little flooded muddy lanes in Hertfordshire and with only 3 miles to go I found myself in a worse situation than back in Essex.
Then it happened
Rounding a corner I entered another flood, no problem I thought I've forded worse than this today.
Sadly what I didn't see was the huge pot hole hidden below the waves, BANG!!!!
That's fooked my newly refurbished wheel I thought, worse than that it blew my brand new tyre putting a hole I could get my thumb in through the sidewall.
So with a fooked tyre and only a can of sealant to my name I limped the old girl home the last 2-3 miles.
Poor old TVR did her best, and she did get me home, but honestly....
WHAT A SHOCKER OF A DAY
And to think, I'd only just cleaned it
She now looks like Colin McRae has been TVR joy riding
Careful out there guys, I suggest taking a boat instead, it's madness on the roads this week!
ChimpofDarkness said:
I ended up forced to go through water so deep I fully expected a hydraulic lock & to hear a con rod to make a bid for freedom.
Was that at gunpoint?Surely you mean you CHOSE to do that? I was out the other day and came across a similar situation, so I turned around and went back the way I came...
I'm glad you're OK, it's a shame about the wheel & tyre but as you say it could have been worse...
Cheers guys, TBH the hidden pot hole could have happened to anyone in any car, and actually it did.
I wasn't the only victim, I limped to the local Shell where I found an AA man trying to put air in another holed tyre on a Vauxhall.
He said, I know what happened to you, your the fifth today.
And Jules, your right, no body forced me at gunpoint to go through those floods.
But let's be honest we've all been there, a que of cars behind you, faced with being late for your appointment & no other way of getting there, do you go for it or abort?
I did actually refuse two floods that looked well beyond the TVR, the others I freely admit we're my choice, turns out I judged well ( this time)
The point of the tale is that TVRs are tough cars, mine battled on today where lesser cars might let you down, I must have passed 50 breakdowns today & many of them cars no more than 3 years old.
Even after a punishing day of mud, floods, traffic jams & a crippling hidden pot hole, my 16 year old Chimaera still got me home safe & sound.
Not bad for an old car that people say has untrustworthy reliability.
I wasn't the only victim, I limped to the local Shell where I found an AA man trying to put air in another holed tyre on a Vauxhall.
He said, I know what happened to you, your the fifth today.
And Jules, your right, no body forced me at gunpoint to go through those floods.
But let's be honest we've all been there, a que of cars behind you, faced with being late for your appointment & no other way of getting there, do you go for it or abort?
I did actually refuse two floods that looked well beyond the TVR, the others I freely admit we're my choice, turns out I judged well ( this time)
The point of the tale is that TVRs are tough cars, mine battled on today where lesser cars might let you down, I must have passed 50 breakdowns today & many of them cars no more than 3 years old.
Even after a punishing day of mud, floods, traffic jams & a crippling hidden pot hole, my 16 year old Chimaera still got me home safe & sound.
Not bad for an old car that people say has untrustworthy reliability.
Edited by ChimpofDarkness on Tuesday 27th November 21:28
As others have said, well done on that journey, a tough one. Daughter wasn't so lucky on Sunday in her Astra, near Stratford - I think she's done just what you thought you might do - water ingress and damaged engine. B...y RAC wanted £85 plus a couple of quid per mile to come out to her cos she went through the flood. A girl on her own. Fortunately boyfriend not far away got the AA out, no charge. Car now in dealers awaiting assessment for insurers. Bit of a sickener really
ChimpofDarkness said:
But let's be honest we've all been there, a que of cars behind you, faced with being late for your appointment & no other way of getting there, do you go for it or abort?
Yep, I know just what you mean.... I had a similar experience but on a much smaller scale last night, entirely my fault and poor use of judgement. I should have guessed there would be a huge rock in that pond I drove through!Luckily no harm done but the noise was deafening - it's amazing just how much noise hitting a big rock at 5mph can make!
Glad things aren't too bad your end..
pbaker43 said:
Hi Dave sorry to hear about the tyre, must have sent a shuddered through your spine at the time thinking it could have been some thing else. Glad you back in one piece and no real problem with your baby.
Dave, it might be worth getting the wheel alignment before you put the claim in to the council.....Quietlybonkers said:
Dave, it might be worth getting the wheel alignment before you put the claim in to the council.....
Jules is right, if the water don't get ya the rocks & deep craters hidden beneath the flood will.I suggest avoiding any standing water if at all possible.
The bugger is I just put two new boots on her, I've done less that 200 miles in that holed tyre & it's going straight to the dump now.
Because my wheels were a little curbed I decided as the tyres were getting changed I'd have the wheels refurbished, now one needs doing again.
Finally because I had a slight camber issue I had a full four wheel align done at Str8Six, I guess after that crashing pot hole I'll need this doing again.
I reckon the whole incident will cost me £250, just to put me back where I was.
And that's only as long as I haven't bent something, done a top/bottom joint & my wheel is still round.
And all this 3 miles or less from my journey's end.
Sometimes life sucks
i drove mine a few times under tropical rain(malaysia),stuck in the jam for 2 hours at nearly 40degres with aircon on,i use her everyday for the pass 3 years nearly 4.who ever said that TVRs were not reliable must drive a corrola!!!lol actually a friend's corrola broke down the other day!!!anyway get a good example and she ll be good to u!!!TVR for life!!
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