Cross channel ferries

[shropshire lad]

Sailing on the overnight ferry to France on Friday - can't wait. Should I leave the Chimeara unlocked on the ferry and risk something going missing fromm inside ( but then again how many none tvr owners know how to open the door ). Or should I lock it and risk that the movement sets off the alarm ?

[CLN1]

When I took the Griff I left it unlocked and it was ok.

[Medic-one]

I usually lock my GTO just with the keys, so the doors are locked, but the alarm isn't armed and can't be set of by the movement.

[shropshire lad]

Assuming a standard Chimaera , is there any way of locking the car without setting the alarm .

[scotty_d]

shropshire lad said:

Assuming a standard Chimaera , is there any way of locking the car without setting the alarm .

No

[ChrisnChris]

Copied from a topic I started a couple of years ago....sorry don't know how to link to the topic.............

I don't know if this has been posted before, I did a quick search but found nothing, so here is a word of warning for all you intrepid travellers intending to use a cross channel ferry.

We had a brief visit to France last week. Boarded the ferry ok from Dover, went in with the lorries, didn't want to risk the ramps. All ok but when I went to unlock the car (Tuscan).......nothing, no response from the key fob. We were right at the front in the middle & most of the lorries had a job squeezing past.
A crew member from the bridge came down & after I explained what the problem was....couldn't get in the car, he suggested that the ship's radar might have interfered with the immobilizer & shut it down said it had happened before to 'one of those'. Apparently the owner had it fork lifted off the ferry
I had to break in, using the prescribed method alarm going full blast, put the immobilizer fob into the slot, drove about 400yds, stopped the car, unlocked it from the inside, locked & unlocked it again just to make sure, put the bits back together & off we went.
I'll leave you to guess what we did on the way back!!

Had a great time in France........the Tuscan was...well, you know

Perhaps this should be posted in the Tuscan forum as well

[tobeee]

Another vote here for leaving unlocked!

[grumbledoak]

I've done several cross channel trips in a Chimaera and a T350. I always locked them. Even got a funny look from another TVR owner once, as I automatically put on the steering wheel lock.

I've never had any issues.

[Clippy]

Move everything valuble to the boot, which can't be opened from the cabin without the keys anyway, and leave it unlocked...

G

[scotty_d]

I am heading to europe in a couple of weeks i will be putting anything of value in the boot and not locking it just in case

[Derek Smith]

ChrisnChris said:

Boarded the ferry ok from Dover, went in with the lorries, didn't want to risk the ramps.

I've used the tunnel with a T350 and a Chim and both times there were no problems with the ramps. The staff were very helpful and one said that they'd had 'plenty' of TVRs with no problems.

[ChrisnChris]

quote=Derek Smith]

ChrisnChris said:

Boarded the ferry ok from Dover, went in with the lorries, didn't want to risk the ramps.

I've used the tunnel...............could be a clue there

[Cider Andy]

It's possible to lock the car and set the alarm with the internal movement sensor disabled. This depends, of course, on which alarm is fitted. But I don't have the manual to hand (Meta) and I can't remember how to do it! I don't think the alarm will be tripped by the movement of the ship anyway.

I've used all of the cross-channel ferry operators in Dover and most of the operators and ports on the western channel. I've yet to experience a problem with ramps. However, I'd never leave my car unlocked. Whilst I've had no problems with theft personally, I've heard stories that suggest it can and does happen.

[Far Eastender]

I was at the front of a Norfolk Line ferry to Dunkirk and couldn't get in when we arrived. Since then I've always asked to be parked away from the radar station.

[Konrod]

Done ferries (traditional and the catamaran type) and chunnel two up and with boot full and not had a problem with ramps but take it gently and occassionally take them at an angle rather than straight on if they look high.

I have a '94 Chim so have the luxury of locking without alarms if I choose. Bit pointless if the roof is down though......

[WOO5IE]

[quote=Cider Andy]It's possible to lock the car and set the alarm with the internal movement sensor disabled. This depends, of course, on which alarm is fitted. But I don't have the manual to hand (Meta) and I can't remember how to do it! I don't think the alarm will be tripped by the movement of the ship anyway.


You just have to hold the button in the fob in a little longer. You get 3 flashes of the indicators instead of 2 .

Good for windy nights aswell or if you park and leave the top off for a while.

Trev

[sgrimshaw]

In gear, handbrake on, locked and alarmed.

Done this two years running on the Portsmouth - Bilbao crossing, and the first year the outward crossing was Force 8 - 9 in the Bay of Biscay.

No problems with alarms, ramps etc.

[jimbo fr]

I do the channel crossing every 2 months as i live in Paris and have a 98 Chim 500 , i've used p&o , sea france and ld lines and never had a problem , i usually leave the car unlocked , most people don't know how to open them anyway !

[Quentin1]

Usually the park decks are locked during the crossing anyway.

At least Hull - Rotterdam is like that.

I left the TVRs unlocked and never had anything stolen from them.

Regards,
Björn.

Edited by Quentin1 on Tuesday 28th July 10:06