Working abroad, what to do with my Chimaera?
Discussion
My company have just asked me to go to Botswana for at least 18 weeks, probably more like 30, going in 3 weeks. I am not sure what to do with my TVR. I really don't want to sell it, but I don't like the idea of leaving it for that period of time. I am coming back for Le Mans so I want to drive it there and back.
A friend of mine has offered to look after it, but I am not sure if I trust him as he knows nothing about cars, also there is the potential for us falling out if something goes wrong.
Are there any companies that look after cars while owners are away? I would ideally like it to be driven every couple weeks to make sure things don't seize up.
A friend of mine has offered to look after it, but I am not sure if I trust him as he knows nothing about cars, also there is the potential for us falling out if something goes wrong.
Are there any companies that look after cars while owners are away? I would ideally like it to be driven every couple weeks to make sure things don't seize up.
no family members who could look after it for you ?
its not like it would need a lot doing.
put a trickle charger on it
check for fluid leaks
start it every few weeks and drive 10 or so miles so everything warms up properly (and check the tyre pressures)
anyone could do this, no specialised knowledge needed - just someone you can trust to drive it.
its not like it would need a lot doing.
put a trickle charger on it
check for fluid leaks
start it every few weeks and drive 10 or so miles so everything warms up properly (and check the tyre pressures)
anyone could do this, no specialised knowledge needed - just someone you can trust to drive it.
Classic Car Club London do storage and own a couple of Chims.
http://www.classiccarclub.co.uk/contact.asp
I'm a member and they have a new premises. Might be pricey if you already have storage, but might be £150pcm for them to do it. Otherwise you might be able to come to an agreement with Mike / Nigel about looking after the car in some way. Worth a try.
Otherwise if you PM me I know a someone who may be able to look after it for you. He is a proper paint sprayer and detailer mainly but could be interested in help you out for not huge amounts of cash either. He machine polished my car and it looked amazing afterwards.
http://www.classiccarclub.co.uk/contact.asp
I'm a member and they have a new premises. Might be pricey if you already have storage, but might be £150pcm for them to do it. Otherwise you might be able to come to an agreement with Mike / Nigel about looking after the car in some way. Worth a try.
Otherwise if you PM me I know a someone who may be able to look after it for you. He is a proper paint sprayer and detailer mainly but could be interested in help you out for not huge amounts of cash either. He machine polished my car and it looked amazing afterwards.
Option 1 - car cover
Option 2 rent a garage for the duration
Option 3 if you have parents etc with space I'm sure you'd trust then to look after it - it is only a car after all
Lastly what do you expect to go wrong with it if its not driven for 6 months? Take the battery out or worst case a new battery when you return £60-80. Or allow someone to actually use the car - I think you'll find the very vast majority of people are totally trustworthy and if they break something they will put their hand up.
Option 2 rent a garage for the duration
Option 3 if you have parents etc with space I'm sure you'd trust then to look after it - it is only a car after all
Lastly what do you expect to go wrong with it if its not driven for 6 months? Take the battery out or worst case a new battery when you return £60-80. Or allow someone to actually use the car - I think you'll find the very vast majority of people are totally trustworthy and if they break something they will put their hand up.
Welshbeef said:
Lastly what do you expect to go wrong with it if its not driven for 6 months? Take the battery out or worst case a new battery when you return £60-80. Or allow someone to actually use the car - I think you'll find the very vast majority of people are totally trustworthy and if they break something they will put their hand up.
I keep reading on here that Chimaeras are better when driven regularly. I don't want to come back then break down on my way to Le Mans. I spent 6 years as a mechanical section engineer in a steel mill. I generally had the most problems with equipment that ran sporadically, so from my experience it is much better to regularly run machinery.I have found a company near me in Kent that offer a service that is £17.50 a week. http://www.carstorageinkent.com/
Phoenixcat said:
I keep reading on here that Chimaeras are better when driven regularly. I don't want to come back then break down on my way to Le Mans. I spent 6 years as a mechanical section engineer in a steel mill. I generally had the most problems with equipment that ran sporadically, so from my experience it is much better to regularly run machinery.
I have found a company near me in Kent that offer a service that is £17.50 a week. http://www.carstorageinkent.com/
I see your point but you are talking about the warm months of the year not cold/damp?I have found a company near me in Kent that offer a service that is £17.50 a week. http://www.carstorageinkent.com/
So battery could need replacing or recharging
HT leads might need a hair dryer on them and te dizzy cap.
That said why not have a full service before you go? New oil plugs filters coolant treat her to new brake fluid and use millers fuel tank water and injector fixer. None of that is pricy and really for the sort of Le Mans driving down you'll be doing you'd want to do that anyway.
Or when you do get back take it on a good shake down 200+ mile drive make sure it goes through the heat cycles.
I agree with you machines like to be used all the time but if its left for 6 months standing clearly all the oil will be I the sump (so open the filler and pour some in) take out the plugs and turn it over or if its that bad a few drops in each plug to ensure oil is in the cylinder). Then plugs back in and go.
End of the day it is only a car things always fail due to wear and tear but I wouldn't worry about rapper springs being compressed for 6 months to be that big a deal its the first start up where no oil at all can be a big problem.
I'd suggest even after a long Easter weekend all oil is in the sump so do you give keys to neighbours to run her daily?
Oldred_V8S said:
I wouldn't bother selling it for such a short duration. I stored mine for 3 years without issues.
Did you change the tappet springs on return as clearly half of them would be fully compressed and would have lost some of their rebound. Or simply in storage then a full service back on the road?Directed here by a friend of mine that's a fellow Chimaera owner...Essentially exactly what you want OP is what I will be offering to clients/PHers/Enthusiasts.
If you're heading off in 3 weeks, although my main facility (Redhill, Surrey) is still undergoing refurb work prior to our launch, I do have a facility the car can be kept safe, dry, and trickle charged. But if you also require, taken on a run out so it behaves.
I have the same issue with my Z4 daily actually, it HATES being stood for more than 3 days and develops a "personality" & more "quirks" once it's been stood. It behaves impeccably when driven every day however.
Cars eh?!
If you're heading off in 3 weeks, although my main facility (Redhill, Surrey) is still undergoing refurb work prior to our launch, I do have a facility the car can be kept safe, dry, and trickle charged. But if you also require, taken on a run out so it behaves.
I have the same issue with my Z4 daily actually, it HATES being stood for more than 3 days and develops a "personality" & more "quirks" once it's been stood. It behaves impeccably when driven every day however.
Cars eh?!
Edited by ironictwist on Friday 22 March 20:01
Welshbeef said:
I agree with you machines like to be used all the time but if its left for 6 months standing clearly all the oil will be I the sump (so open the filler and pour some in) t
doing that can overfill the car with oil.all you need to do is simply pull the coil lead off and crank the car over for 10 - 15 seconds
I'm in Kent near Deal. If you want to sort a short-term rent on a garage near me, I'll check it periodically for you. If necessary, I'll take it out for 30 mins every couple of weeks (weather permitting). I have a friend that has just taken over a farm in St Margaret's at Cliffe (stables and holiday type) and I think he has storage space, although I would have to ask him first, re suitability and price.
Anyway, the offer is there. I think the issues with reliability and not driving them is mainly due to the gaskets drying out. My Chim had hardly been used for a couple of years before I got it and I'm finding that I'm having to de-gunk and re-gasket lots of things.
Anyway, the offer is there. I think the issues with reliability and not driving them is mainly due to the gaskets drying out. My Chim had hardly been used for a couple of years before I got it and I'm finding that I'm having to de-gunk and re-gasket lots of things.
Welshbeef said:
Oldred_V8S said:
I wouldn't bother selling it for such a short duration. I stored mine for 3 years without issues.
Did you change the tappet springs on return as clearly half of them would be fully compressed and would have lost some of their rebound. Or simply in storage then a full service back on the road?Thanks for advice and "offers" to look after my car.
My trip has been delayed for a bit until after Le Mans so I will worry about it then.
I would love to take it to Botswana, but the driving is horrendous out there so someone would run into it at some point. I reckon 4X4 is the way to go!
My trip has been delayed for a bit until after Le Mans so I will worry about it then.
I would love to take it to Botswana, but the driving is horrendous out there so someone would run into it at some point. I reckon 4X4 is the way to go!
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