Considering a Chim
Discussion
Hi all,
I am considering a chim purchase...I am bracing myself for £2k repairs, £1.5k insurance and £1.2k petrol bills...and some big noise
But the only unknown so far is the battery. I will be storing the car in a communal locked garage. It is nice and dry, but has no electrical access, so I am concerned I would not be able to use a battery conditioner. Could I leave the car for 3 weeks without it going flat? Could I buy an uprated battery that held a greater charge?
I would hate to fall at the last hurdle...I hope there is a way around the battery issues!
Cheers in advance
I am considering a chim purchase...I am bracing myself for £2k repairs, £1.5k insurance and £1.2k petrol bills...and some big noise
But the only unknown so far is the battery. I will be storing the car in a communal locked garage. It is nice and dry, but has no electrical access, so I am concerned I would not be able to use a battery conditioner. Could I leave the car for 3 weeks without it going flat? Could I buy an uprated battery that held a greater charge?
I would hate to fall at the last hurdle...I hope there is a way around the battery issues!
Cheers in advance
alephnull said:
Hi all,
I am considering a chim purchase...I am bracing myself for £2k repairs,
I am considering a chim purchase...I am bracing myself for £2k repairs,
Discounting services and MOT's I've not spent that on mine in 10 years!alephnull said:
£1.5k insurance
Are you 4?alephnull said:
£1.2k petrol bills
That bit's about right.alephnull said:
But the only unknown so far is the battery. I will be storing the car in a communal locked garage. It is nice and dry, but has no electrical access, so I am concerned I would not be able to use a battery conditioner. Could I leave the car for 3 weeks without it going flat? Could I buy an uprated battery that held a greater charge?
I would hate to fall at the last hurdle...I hope there is a way around the battery issues!
Cheers in advance
Batteries are funny things in these, 3 weeks is pushing it IMHO, and I've used a solar charger on a different car and it wasn't great. A battery cut off switch is a good idea, there is also a device that monitors voltage at the battery and self disconnects if it gets too low.I would hate to fall at the last hurdle...I hope there is a way around the battery issues!
Cheers in advance
I've heard about Gel batteries, not sure if they have longer life between use?
I leave my Chim over winter in a 'secure storage facility' (ok, a lockup in the village) without battery worries.
As advised above I fitted a cutoff switch to the main battery
... and I connect an old spare battery to the car to run the alarm - and to make sure the doors open when I need them to.
In may case the cigar lighter socket is permanently connected (ie not switched via ignition) so I just soldered a couple of croc clips to the end of a spare power lead with a fused car lighter connection at one end.
Obviously you should avoid trying to start the car until the main battery is reconnected...
As advised above I fitted a cutoff switch to the main battery
... and I connect an old spare battery to the car to run the alarm - and to make sure the doors open when I need them to.
In may case the cigar lighter socket is permanently connected (ie not switched via ignition) so I just soldered a couple of croc clips to the end of a spare power lead with a fused car lighter connection at one end.
Obviously you should avoid trying to start the car until the main battery is reconnected...
I'd say £2k isn't a bad contingency fund. Don't get me wrong, you shouldn't need it, but if something unfortunate does happen then at least you can cover it, rather than being left without a TVR to play with.
However, as mentioned above, £1.5k is way more than you need for insurance. I'm under 30, living in London and I have a recent claim yet my 500 costs me only £400 or so to insure. It could be as little as £250 depending on your circumstances I'd guess (as a second car).
You do need to speak to the specialists, though. Forget Compare The Meerkat or whatever, speak to Manning, Richard Egger (REIS), Footman James, Adrian Flux and so on...
However, as mentioned above, £1.5k is way more than you need for insurance. I'm under 30, living in London and I have a recent claim yet my 500 costs me only £400 or so to insure. It could be as little as £250 depending on your circumstances I'd guess (as a second car).
You do need to speak to the specialists, though. Forget Compare The Meerkat or whatever, speak to Manning, Richard Egger (REIS), Footman James, Adrian Flux and so on...
Could you buy another battery, perhaps the biggest Amp-hours capacity you can find but the same voltage, and have a flying lead running from the car's battery that allows you to plug the spare battery in parallel with it when you're not driving the car? The lead could squeeze out over the top of the passenger window and connect to the battery which could sit on the ground next to the car.
Not sure if that would be safe, though. If the charge on the two batteries isn't similar enough you could get some current flowing from one to the other. And you'd need to keep taking the spare battery indoors to plug it into a charger.
It's a suggestion; I'm just not sure if it's a good suggestion!
Not sure if that would be safe, though. If the charge on the two batteries isn't similar enough you could get some current flowing from one to the other. And you'd need to keep taking the spare battery indoors to plug it into a charger.
It's a suggestion; I'm just not sure if it's a good suggestion!
my chimaera lasted 12 weeks without charge/use, during first winter of ownership....alarm not armed, immobilisor was on. started first time without battery booster pack.
just check there is no power drain from battery.
bills over 18 month came to about a grand including a diff rebuild, rear wheel bearings, door solenoid.
insurance with two drivers , european cover and european breakdown cover came to £460
just check there is no power drain from battery.
bills over 18 month came to about a grand including a diff rebuild, rear wheel bearings, door solenoid.
insurance with two drivers , european cover and european breakdown cover came to £460
Have you driven one yet?.....Once you have you wont worry in the slightest about costs, flat batteries etc, just how many times you can fill her up and go out for a blast. Another big plus is travelling in convoy with lots of other tiv"s, the sound is fabulous, and the looks from other people is priceless. 
You know you want one.........see you at chatsworth.....600 plus tivs roaring around Derbyshire.....cant wait....
You know you want one.........see you at chatsworth.....600 plus tivs roaring around Derbyshire.....cant wait....domV8 said:
Hey guys -
If you fit a battery disconnector, then how do you open the doors..?
..or do you just not lock them in the first place..?
Dom
If the battery disconnects you can't open the door with the key anyway. With the PriorityStart you need to cause a change in demand from the battery eg flick the light switch. With Batterybrain you have a remote switch.If you fit a battery disconnector, then how do you open the doors..?
..or do you just not lock them in the first place..?
Dom
TJC46 said:
Have you driven one yet?.....Once you have you wont worry in the slightest about costs, flat batteries etc, just how many times you can fill her up and go out for a blast. Another big plus is travelling in convoy with lots of other tiv"s, the sound is fabulous, and the looks from other people is priceless. You know you want one.........see you at chatsworth.....600 plus tivs roaring around Derbyshire.....cant wait....
Hell yeah You know you want one.........see you at chatsworth.....600 plus tivs roaring around Derbyshire.....cant wait....Gassing Station | Chimaera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff