Oh nooooooo.....
Author
Discussion

cosmoschick

Original Poster:

7,977 posts

277 months

Sunday 11th January 2004
quotequote all
...I've lost confidence in my Chim and I've started to feel nervous about taking it out again on my own It's conked out on me so many times in the past through having a faulty ECU and then the latest episode with the sump plug falling out, that I can't help but think "I wonder what's next?"

Unfortunately, when Trev broke down it was invariably on a blind bend/large roundabout/busy 'A' road or in the middle of nowhere, ie, potentially dangerous.

I'm afraid to say it's somewhat clouded my enjoyment And that's an awful feeling.

And today when I went out I took the beemer instead of
the Chim...

haggishead

8,489 posts

280 months

Sunday 11th January 2004
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Well I think you should lend it to someone to iron out those teething troubles (I have an S so would be gentle)...

powelly

490 posts

310 months

Sunday 11th January 2004
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If you don't know of him already... go and see David Baty in Guildofrd and spend the money on making sure it's in tip-top shape... he's very good and relatively cheap..

Drive the BM for a few weeks, get totaly bored with the lack of acceleration and grin factor.... then fall back in love with your TIV!

fatsteve

1,143 posts

305 months

Sunday 11th January 2004
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Try and look at things pragmatically (which unfortuantly might equate to "spending money").

1. Sump plug - I've never known them to drop out on it's own, generally user / garage error.
2. ECU, may well be fecked, get it replaced.

It also may be worth giving the car a serious health check. I always do this before any major drives (ie Le Mans etc). Give a piece of mind (oh and piece of wallet!!)

Chin up though!!, once she's/he's all sorted you'll rue the day you had doubts!. Just keep thinking, I could own an MX5/MGF/MR2 (delete as applicable) that should focus the mind

Steve

Big Al.

69,336 posts

286 months

Sunday 11th January 2004
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Don't worry too much Roz, your confidence will return with the warmer weather and the top down. (the Chim's that is).

Then you'll be absolutely chomping at the bit, to take him out on your own and give him a good thrashing. OH

chim_girl

6,268 posts

287 months

Sunday 11th January 2004
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Roz

I can understand your sentiments completely, I had a few problems with my Tuscan recently and I lost my trust in it. My advice is to take it to a professional and get the niggles sorted out. I was so unhappy that I considered selling, even if I lost lots of £'s in the process. After leaving it in the care of a good mechanic my car is running perfectly again, I'm pleased to say that I'm in love with it all over again.

Good Luck, stick with it, it's like any love affair, there are always tough patches.

mustard

6,992 posts

273 months

Sunday 11th January 2004
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Give Trevor one last chance Roz... he told me he promises to be a good boy, just dont mention the P or the M words to him

chim_knee

12,689 posts

285 months

Monday 12th January 2004
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Roz,

If it helps - not for the same reasons but I sold my Chim last year (June/July - member "ropey") and I honestly haven't stopped regretting it since (the person I bought it off said I would too!)!.

You can see my "heart belongs to" thread on General Gassing but nothing, IMHO, will give you the visceral thrill that TVR does.


Don't do it!!

Edited to add - honestly, you will regret getting rid of it... give it a chance. You didn't buy it as a "faultless" euro-box (I drive "quick" one now and it makes me shrug my shoulders and say "hmmm, it's not a TVR!!") - you bought it because everytime you drive it you get the "yeaaaah!!" feeling!! didn't you?!!

>> Edited by chim_knee on Monday 12th January 02:45

>> Edited by chim_knee on Monday 12th January 10:21

zippy500

1,883 posts

297 months

Monday 12th January 2004
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Dont do it Cosmos, I agree with Fat Steve, let someone else sort out the problems. I know Id regret it. I can understand it harming your confidence in the car though. I know ECU's arent cheap, but a few hundred quid will make you happier about your little baby. i would think twice about where you get it serviced too, thats worrying th eplug driopping out. On the whole you seem to have a good car as I cant say I remember you posting many car problem threads. It would be a shame. Hope it works out well for you.

cosmoschick

Original Poster:

7,977 posts

277 months

Monday 12th January 2004
quotequote all
Big Al. said:
Then you'll be absolutely chomping at the bit, to take him out on your own and give him a good thrashing. OH


With that thought in mind I feel better already

Seriously tho', the ECU was replaced months ago without any recurrent problems and the sump plug has been secured in place. but always in the back of my mind there's a nagging doubt whether I'm going to make it back in one piece...

OTT maybe and I'm sure you guys would cope better than me if you broke down but for me it's a nerve-racking experience(s)

I do still love him and wouldn't ever contemplate selling but I just need to try and find a way to get over this lack of confidence and take him out again. He's just sitting in the garage, abandoned!

I'll start threatening him with the ultimate swear word:

PRRRRRSSSSSCCCCCHHHHHEEEEE

Oh dear



Mrs Fish

30,018 posts

286 months

Monday 12th January 2004
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Just take him out on some short trips in the areas you know well, if anyything did happen it wouldn't seem so daunting then.

As they say if you fall off a horse you have to get straight back on.

andy4200

5,124 posts

301 months

Monday 12th January 2004
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I know how you feel about the confidence thing.
When I bought mine I had a couple of things that left me on the roadside and I was wondering if I had done the right thing in selling my uber-reliable german machine and buying homegrown talent.

The best thing I done was get it fixed and take it immediately (straight from garage to ferry) on a 1500 mile trip to France and back.
I still have the odd niggling doubt some days but my confidence is definately restored.
Just get out there and go visit and old friend who lives miles away or something.

Andy

.Mark

11,104 posts

304 months

Monday 12th January 2004
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Hey Roz chin up!
Like Mrs. Fish said, make some short journey's first. It is a Catch22 though, because the more you leave it in the garage the more likely it is to have something go wrong, you know they like to be used.

Anyway in the unlikely event of something going wrong you always have you sugar daddy Big Al to come out on his steed and rescue you.

hut49

3,544 posts

290 months

Monday 12th January 2004
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The problem with short trips in the South East is that they tend to involve stop start driving on crappy roads amid a preponderance of numpties. Hardly the best conditions to fall in love again with your TVR.

I suggest an alternative strategy which is to pack your survivial kit (phone, AA/RAC, flask of hot coffee, rugs, wellies, shovel and bar of Kendal Mint Cake) and get out for at least a 200 miler. Bet you get back without using any of the survival kit - and Trev will really appreciate the exercise.

yellow peril

5,131 posts

300 months

Monday 12th January 2004
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What about getting out the little black book and finding a reliable friend, (who won't disappear into a puddle of water if the worse happens and you do break down)

Ask them to go on a long drive out riding shotgun and stop and treat them to a cracking lunch and then drive home.

Result....a good blat with hopefully no breakdowns

a good lunch with a mate

and restored confidence in the TVR.......

Go on....you know you want to....


....//P//

funinthesun

1,170 posts

293 months

Monday 12th January 2004
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having had many cars stop on me for unscheduled personal time, i look at it like this,

car breaks......bit of swearing.....slight feeling of embarresment......phone AA, read paper for an hour....AA man checks car a) fixes it...b) tows to gagage who fit it.....bit of a bugger but in the end it gets fixed and no one get hurt.....life goes on....everyone breaks down at some time,yes its an inconvenience but ultimately you have one of the best looking , fastest, most admired cars on the road..so enjoy iy...life really is too short not too....

cosmoschick

Original Poster:

7,977 posts

277 months

Monday 12th January 2004
quotequote all
funinthesun said:
everyone breaks down at some time,yes its an inconvenience


Yes point taken but unfortunately it felt a little more than inconvenient when the engine cut on the outside lane of a heavily trafficked, fast moving dual carriageway!



caro

1,018 posts

312 months

Monday 12th January 2004
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Cosmoschick, I do know that feeling, mine stopped as I was zooming onto the M25 (you'll note from the word zoom that it wasn't too busy, tho')

My confidence in my (otherwise utterly reliable) Chimaera 450 was shaken, but as others have said, it's best to follow the British Sportscar Owners Code - get it looked at by someone who knows them, and find a way to get out in it THIS WEEK, whether that's a short local trip - just go out for a paper! - or a longer drive, followed by a friend as YP suggests, or preferably both. It's obvious, but always take your mobile and warm kit, just in case, drive as cautiously as you like to start with, and I promise within a few miles that rumble will start to take effect...

Bob the Planner

4,695 posts

297 months

Monday 12th January 2004
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It may be useful to go for a trip with another car - not neccessarily another Tiv (so that if you break down you have some company whilst you wait - Not that it will break down). After 2 or 3 trips out I'm sure your confidence will be restored.

Bob

simpo two

92,584 posts

293 months

Monday 12th January 2004
quotequote all
yellow peril said:
What about getting out the little black book and finding a reliable friend, (who won't disappear into a puddle of water if the worse happens and you do break down) Ask them to go on a long drive out riding shotgun and stop and treat them to a cracking lunch and then drive home.

Me me me me me me me