Very short daily journey - bad or very bad....
Discussion
Had my Chimaera now for 2 weeks with (touch wood) no problems at all - still crap myself every time I sqeeze that right pedal. I was just wondering though if anyone uses their Trev daily for short journeys of approx 1 mile each way and what sort of damage (if any) this might cause. I do average 150-200 miles per week but that is mainly weekend driving. I've checked old threads but no one mentions v short journeys.
Also I've just split the plastic screen in the hood, does anyone know where I can get this replaced without getting ripped off in the North Kent area. Again checked old threads with no joy.
Cheers
Also I've just split the plastic screen in the hood, does anyone know where I can get this replaced without getting ripped off in the North Kent area. Again checked old threads with no joy.
Cheers
Donkfish1 said:
Had my Chimaera now for 2 weeks with (touch wood) no problems at all - still crap myself every time I sqeeze that right pedal. I was just wondering though if anyone uses their Trev daily for short journeys of approx 1 mile each way and what sort of damage (if any) this might cause. I do average 150-200 miles per week but that is mainly weekend driving. I've checked old threads but no one mentions v short journeys.
Also I've just split the plastic screen in the hood, does anyone know where I can get this replaced without getting ripped off in the North Kent area. Again checked old threads with no joy.
Cheers
Short journeys will not do the engine any good at all. The oil will never get hot and the most wear happens when the oil is cold. The exhaust will also not get warm and condensation mixed with exhast gasses will eat away at the metal. Although I am 3 miles from work I usually travel 6 to ensure that everything is good and warm before leaving the car.
If its only a mile to work and you do not need the car during the day I would recommend walking and allowing the car to get its exercise at the weekend.
No idea on the hood BTW.
Bob
Donkfish1 said:
This may sound stupid of me but if it takes 5-10 miles for the engine to warm up surely the engine will go through the same wear and tear as it still has to do the first mile...I'm obviously not mechanically minded!
Quite correct, however, the build-of condensation, and un-burnt combustion material in the heads/inlet will never be cleared if you switch-off after a mile. The next drive "back home" will add to the contamination of the oil etc.
Whilst wear will intially be like any other "start" of a journey, the cumulative effect after a month or so will be quite marked if the Chim never gets to get its oils and engine to normal temperatures.
I also doubt your battery will last unless you do those 150 weekend miles at some reasonable speeed ?? Brake discs will also suffer, probably rust erosion of pads. Exhaust will become seriously coked and cat could get contaminated. Also expect to see Mayonaise (white stuff) when you remove the oil filler - the condensation created when the engine is running, mixed with engine oil which never reaches is operating temperature. Inlet system will have lots of unburnt petrol vapour, which condenses and either lies in the manifold or runs into cylinders, past pistons rings, and contaminates the oil.
It all adds up to "very bad" considering the potential TVR costs that could be incurred - probably more cost effective to use a diesel, bus or walk ??
Trev McM
Would question the power to weight ratio, but a VERY nice Saab Eric.
Donkfish, think you're getting a tad nasty now, none of my business, but 900T-R clearly knows his stuff and has a lot of mechanical knowledge of his Saab, something I would personally question of yourself if you think it's okay to drive your TVR a mile to work and a mile back.
Perhaps a Z3 would have been a better choice for you?
Donkfish, think you're getting a tad nasty now, none of my business, but 900T-R clearly knows his stuff and has a lot of mechanical knowledge of his Saab, something I would personally question of yourself if you think it's okay to drive your TVR a mile to work and a mile back.
Perhaps a Z3 would have been a better choice for you?
Oh, it would. Imagine the conversations you would have with all your 'clients' under the dryer or whilst you set and permed their hair.
Not suggesting you are of the hairdresser persuasion, but I've never met one yet that doesn't like to talk and talk and talk and talk...........
Enjoy the Tiv - just don't use it for short journeys!
Not suggesting you are of the hairdresser persuasion, but I've never met one yet that doesn't like to talk and talk and talk and talk...........
Enjoy the Tiv - just don't use it for short journeys!
yiw1393 said:
Would question the power to weight ratio,
Saab: verified power at static dyno 184.2 kW (250 hp) - and that was before I put back the blown fuse for the air/liquid intercooler pump...
Weight -1,200 kg
Result - 205 hp/tonne at worst
Chimaera 4.0 : verified power at dyno typically 210-215 bhp
Weight - 1,060 kg according to Blackpool, likely more
Result - 201 bhp/tonne at best
I've been growing a 'TVR fund' towards getting a Chim or Griff in the near future for the past year or so - but if this is the kind of attitude I'll be encountering of TVR owners towards me having something in the stables that's individualistic, well engineered (both by Saab and myself) and very capable even in standard form (I bet you haven't driven a 900 Turbo or even read contemporary road test reports - Evo's forebear Performance Car gave a bum-basic 900T 8 valve five stars in the 'fun to drive' category back then) I'm not so sure I'll bother.
>> Edited by 900T-R on Tuesday 30th March 11:44
>> Edited by 900T-R on Tuesday 30th March 11:44
I like Saabs - Chill out.
I stand corrected over your power/weight figures (but you only win against a 4.0L
)
You are right, I've never driven a 900 turbo, or any 900 for that matter - not a huge number of them left over here. Bring yours over, buy my Chim and I'll happily have a blast in your Saab!
I stand corrected over your power/weight figures (but you only win against a 4.0L
) You are right, I've never driven a 900 turbo, or any 900 for that matter - not a huge number of them left over here. Bring yours over, buy my Chim and I'll happily have a blast in your Saab!
Oh (this is directed at the original poster btw, not yiw1393 
) - agreed value on the Saab is 11,700 euro right now and that was before a very comprehensive engine upgrade performed over the past year. Probably more like 15,000 right now - I'm not even sure I'd entertain a straight swap with your Chim. Not with the kind of use it's seen over the past couple of weeks anyways...
Oh well - instead of saving and modifying I could of course have run off to the bank, got a big loan, buy a Tiv or Porker for posing, berate owners of cars I perceive as 'lesser' with my limited knowledge, then dumped the thing after summer because wife/girlfriend thought it's too expensive and driven Cavaliers for the rest of my life....
>> Edited by 900T-R on Tuesday 30th March 11:56
) - agreed value on the Saab is 11,700 euro right now and that was before a very comprehensive engine upgrade performed over the past year. Probably more like 15,000 right now - I'm not even sure I'd entertain a straight swap with your Chim. Not with the kind of use it's seen over the past couple of weeks anyways... Oh well - instead of saving and modifying I could of course have run off to the bank, got a big loan, buy a Tiv or Porker for posing, berate owners of cars I perceive as 'lesser' with my limited knowledge, then dumped the thing after summer because wife/girlfriend thought it's too expensive and driven Cavaliers for the rest of my life....
>> Edited by 900T-R on Tuesday 30th March 11:56
Sorry, the last part of my post was -obviously- not directed at you. To the contrary, I appreciate your appreciation of my pride and joy...
yiw1393 said:
I like Saabs - Chill out.
I stand corrected over your power/weight figures (but you only win against a 4.0L
You are right, I've never driven a 900 turbo, or any 900 for that matter - not a huge number of them left over here. Bring yours over, buy my Chim and I'll happily have a blast in your Saab!
Obviously aimed at me then. I too appreciate the 900 as I owned a 1982 900 2lt GLS Auto for several years. 
It went like a train, but stopping it was always fun!
It went like a train, but stopping it was always fun! 900T-R said:
Sorry, the last part of my post was -obviously- not directed at you. To the contrary, I appreciate your appreciation of my pride and joy...
yiw1393 said:
I like Saabs - Chill out.
I stand corrected over your power/weight figures (but you only win against a 4.0L
You are right, I've never driven a 900 turbo, or any 900 for that matter - not a huge number of them left over here. Bring yours over, buy my Chim and I'll happily have a blast in your Saab!
Heh... I had the exact same car as my first one. Acceleration was pretty much non-existent (particularly 5-up and with a bootful of studio equipment)... but when you finally got it at 100 mph it could cruise there all day.
Saved my b*tt too when an unlit Mercedes van drove into me at 45ish mph on a roadcrossing in downtown Brussels one morning... Unfortunately he came from the right, and police said they couldn't do anything as there were no brake marks on the road to calculate his speed from...
't Was a good car to learn to drive in, although not very representative of the inherent capabilities 900 range in terms of dynamical behaviour - there's a BIG difference between turbo and non-turbo models, as I found out one year later...
The brakes are normally quite powerful on these beasts, but the old Girling (front handbrake) calipers can be troublesome...
Saved my b*tt too when an unlit Mercedes van drove into me at 45ish mph on a roadcrossing in downtown Brussels one morning... Unfortunately he came from the right, and police said they couldn't do anything as there were no brake marks on the road to calculate his speed from...
't Was a good car to learn to drive in, although not very representative of the inherent capabilities 900 range in terms of dynamical behaviour - there's a BIG difference between turbo and non-turbo models, as I found out one year later...
The brakes are normally quite powerful on these beasts, but the old Girling (front handbrake) calipers can be troublesome...
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