Bodywork / Interior Trim Tidyup - Recommendations?

[Don]

Our Chimaera has been in constant use for two or three years now and is beginning to look like it could use a little TLC.

In particular the car could do with a tidyup respray (probably all over) and the gearstick gaitor replacing and a tidy up of the hood fabric and seals. Fair wear and tear only - no actual damage.

Any recommendations for who to take it to in the north Hampshire / south Berkshire area...

[craigw]

there is a company called chipsaway, think they have a website, they have a sister company who do all sorts of interior trim repairs. Sorry I cant be more specific.

[Don]

I've seen the chipsaway web site - I was thinking more of a Glassfibre specialist/car trimmers like Webbs in Bristol or...

Thanks anyway!

Edited by Don on Monday 14th January 17:18

[trefor]

Don - I would recommend Specialised Paintwork in Send Road, Caversham, Reading. They do loads of Lotuses so know their plastic cars. They did a great job on a full front end respray for my Chimaera (bit more than a nose job), perfect paint match, nice people etc. They did some work on the girlfriend's TT with good results too.

[zippy500]

quote:
I've seen the chipsaway web site - I was thinking more of a Glassfibre specialist/car trimmers like Webbs in Bristol or...

Thanks anyway!

Edited by Don on Monday 14th January 17:18

Avon classic cars are better, webbs are cowboys and it will probably have an extra scratch or 2 when you get it back

[JeffGleed]

People should take comments about dealers etc with a large pinch of salt. As anyone in business can tell you, it's not possible to satisfy everybody all of the time. I have been using Webbs for 18 months now and they have always been great. There are always several TVR's being worked on (mechanical and paintwork) and 99.9% of their customers are dead chuffed with the end result. Many people bring their cars from London because the work is so good. Last month during a camshaft change Webbs were sent the wrong gasket and rather than let me down they drove to Exeter on a Saturday morning to get another one. This was not charged for which is not the actions of a 'bunch of cowboys'. I doubt there is a single dealer/specialist who has not been critiscised at some point and in many cases probably deservedly so but this does not qualify someone to comment on their general quality/commitment.

[manek]

You're right -- every business no matter how good has an off day -- which is another reason for not simply 'naming and shaming' (reference to a debate in another place). Plus, it's possible for customers to be unreasoable or get the wrong end of the stick.

-Manek-

[zippy500]

Yes but when they have an off day they should accept responsibility for their cockups instead off accusing people of lying.

[Don]

Thanks for the recommendation, trefor. Reading is just up the road for me so that's excellent. I'll give them a call when I get a minute.

[pbrettle]

Chaps,

Try www.liquidleather.com/ for some leather cleaner and re-conditioning stuff. Takes quite a lot of arm work to get good results, but it does work. My seats are quite badly cracked (to be expected over time) and the scuff master stuff actually does make a difference. Though the leather cleaner is not fantastic. For cleaning things then use a good quality foam cleaner from somewhere like Halfords. Be careful and read the instructions - some are NOT suitable for leather and you must not use them.

However, you can get some rather good results (as I have discovered from mine). Plenty of time and lots of arm action (ooerr) and you can make a big difference. As for bodywork - T-Cut is OK in very small amounts. The paint quality on TVRs is a variable thing and you really should be very careful. If it is a large area then I would recommend to take it to a specialist, but for small part then you might be OK. Shame the bloody thing is Fibreglass - have seen some excellent results from "dent master" fixers on metal bodied cars!! Shame.

Cheers,

Paul

[jpritchard]

I used the Mrs' eye makeup remover on my leather the other day (seats not pants!) - came up a treat! I would test on inconspicuous area first but was fine on Magnolia. Then I used liquid leather conditioner... Not got the smell of real leather yet though!!