Winter Strategy - bit early but anyway.
Discussion
Just wondered what people do with their non daily-driver S6 cars over winter.
I am a new Tuscan owner but a battle hardened TVR owner for 15 years total. It has a TVR Power rebuild.
I have never worried about leaving my previous TVRs standing over winter with little or no use but am a little more concerned with the S6.
I'm happy to start it up now and then but the conventional wisdom seems to be that they don't appreciate starting up and then not going anywhere pretty soon after.
I am a new Tuscan owner but a battle hardened TVR owner for 15 years total. It has a TVR Power rebuild.
I have never worried about leaving my previous TVRs standing over winter with little or no use but am a little more concerned with the S6.
I'm happy to start it up now and then but the conventional wisdom seems to be that they don't appreciate starting up and then not going anywhere pretty soon after.
I leave mine in the garage for 3-4 months over the winter, I have it hooked up to a battery charger and occasionally start it up just to get some lubrication through the engine. When it comes out for it's first drive it is a bit lumpy for a few minutes but soon settles back to normal.
A good question that bothered me all last winter, my first winter as a TVR owner.
I unfortunately do not have a garage, and used a car cover last winter. BIG mistake; paintwork scuffed due to buffeting of cover in even a moderate wind.
Had been toying with the idea of two car covers, a high quality fleece lined indoor cover and then a non fitted outdoor cover over the top. Condensation howvever is a big issue and has lead me to believe that leaving a car open to the elements is the best option. If there is a better option I hope somone posts it!
Finally a trickle charger between uses. I will attempt to drive the car on any sunny days as long as roads have not been gritted without a good amount of rain to get rid of salt, obviously waiting until road is dry.
There is a couple of threads around discussing heat pads to help heat the oil up prior to starting. I personally use an indoor fan heater placed under the car for an hour prior to starting, which does get the oil up to 20 degrees.
Steve
I unfortunately do not have a garage, and used a car cover last winter. BIG mistake; paintwork scuffed due to buffeting of cover in even a moderate wind.
Had been toying with the idea of two car covers, a high quality fleece lined indoor cover and then a non fitted outdoor cover over the top. Condensation howvever is a big issue and has lead me to believe that leaving a car open to the elements is the best option. If there is a better option I hope somone posts it!
Finally a trickle charger between uses. I will attempt to drive the car on any sunny days as long as roads have not been gritted without a good amount of rain to get rid of salt, obviously waiting until road is dry.
There is a couple of threads around discussing heat pads to help heat the oil up prior to starting. I personally use an indoor fan heater placed under the car for an hour prior to starting, which does get the oil up to 20 degrees.
Steve
Thanks for your replies. I think I will go for the occasional start up to temperature in the garage and the odd run when the roads aren't covered in salt.
Heating pads look like a fair idea but don't seem that simple a job.
SteveT350, having kept a TVR in the open for some years, I too found that a cover did more harm than good. I had a Chimaera so in the end opted for a top half only cover. This kept the water out but sat mostly on the softtop and had less contact with paint. Still scratched though.
I don't know how leaky T350's are. If it only lets small amounts of water in I'd be inclined to put the footwell carpets in the boot and just mop it up now and again. It is far better than letting anything contact the paint.
Your idea of a close fitting cover under an outdoor cover may work but remember that any type of cover on dirty paintwork is a recipe for disaster so you would have to clean the car after every outing before putting the covers on.
Heating pads look like a fair idea but don't seem that simple a job.
SteveT350, having kept a TVR in the open for some years, I too found that a cover did more harm than good. I had a Chimaera so in the end opted for a top half only cover. This kept the water out but sat mostly on the softtop and had less contact with paint. Still scratched though.
I don't know how leaky T350's are. If it only lets small amounts of water in I'd be inclined to put the footwell carpets in the boot and just mop it up now and again. It is far better than letting anything contact the paint.
Your idea of a close fitting cover under an outdoor cover may work but remember that any type of cover on dirty paintwork is a recipe for disaster so you would have to clean the car after every outing before putting the covers on.
Druid said:
swisstoni said:
Heating pads look like a fair idea but don't seem that simple a job.
I did it so can't be that difficult 
)I try and drive mine at least once a week as long as there isn't salt on the road. I put the oil heater on 2 hours before I go out.
Its much easier to drive it every now and then that it is to lay it up, with all the possible issues of clutch sticking, asymmetrical tyres, oil draining down the engine, buses losing flexibility, electrical joints drying out etc etc
As mentioned, it's much better to take the car for a run whenever possible as oppose to leaving it in the garage & letting it idle upto temperature.
They like to be used & niggles tend to surface more regularly when they're stood for any length of time. Make sure the chassis is protected & it should be ok outside.
Mine lives outside but I do use a full cover to keep the rain/snow off.
They like to be used & niggles tend to surface more regularly when they're stood for any length of time. Make sure the chassis is protected & it should be ok outside.
Mine lives outside but I do use a full cover to keep the rain/snow off.
I tend to drive the car at least once a week during the winter (obviously subject to the roads, so if its wet/greasy or there's too much salt it may see 2 weeks in the garage).
I like to think its because I'm helping oil get around the engine, or keeping things in their best conditions.. but its really just to put a smile on my face
I like to think its because I'm helping oil get around the engine, or keeping things in their best conditions.. but its really just to put a smile on my face
The only thing I'd suggest is getting the car under cover. Rent a garage somewhere if you're not going to be using it anyway - it doesn't have to be next to your house.
Mine can sit for a month or more without being used, at any time of year. It is garaged, in a well ventilated garage, but with a boiler (garage attached to house) in there so it never freezes. We'll be away for most of Oct and it will just sit there. I won't even leave the trickle charger on. I'll turn the charger on when I get home and just use the car like a normal car when I'm in the mood. I never leave it ticking over after starting. I never pre-heat the oil (remember the engine will still be cold anyway). The car deals with it just fine. I do only use it on nice winter days though, but that is because I have other cars for crappy weather.
Mine can sit for a month or more without being used, at any time of year. It is garaged, in a well ventilated garage, but with a boiler (garage attached to house) in there so it never freezes. We'll be away for most of Oct and it will just sit there. I won't even leave the trickle charger on. I'll turn the charger on when I get home and just use the car like a normal car when I'm in the mood. I never leave it ticking over after starting. I never pre-heat the oil (remember the engine will still be cold anyway). The car deals with it just fine. I do only use it on nice winter days though, but that is because I have other cars for crappy weather.
Targarama said:
The only thing I'd suggest is getting the car under cover. Rent a garage somewhere if you're not going to be using it anyway - it doesn't have to be next to your house.
Mine can sit for a month or more without being used, at any time of year. It is garaged, in a well ventilated garage, but with a boiler (garage attached to house) in there so it never freezes. We'll be away for most of Oct and it will just sit there. I won't even leave the trickle charger on. I'll turn the charger on when I get home and just use the car like a normal car when I'm in the mood. I never leave it ticking over after starting. I never pre-heat the oil (remember the engine will still be cold anyway). The car deals with it just fine. I do only use it on nice winter days though, but that is because I have other cars for crappy weather.
I am not sure if it is a good idea not to leave the charger on. I was told that a rarely used battery will last longer if it is being charged by a charger constantly rather than being charged when it is low. If the battery is too dead, it actually won't charge.Mine can sit for a month or more without being used, at any time of year. It is garaged, in a well ventilated garage, but with a boiler (garage attached to house) in there so it never freezes. We'll be away for most of Oct and it will just sit there. I won't even leave the trickle charger on. I'll turn the charger on when I get home and just use the car like a normal car when I'm in the mood. I never leave it ticking over after starting. I never pre-heat the oil (remember the engine will still be cold anyway). The car deals with it just fine. I do only use it on nice winter days though, but that is because I have other cars for crappy weather.
Tuscan Wil said:
I am not sure if it is a good idea not to leave the charger on. I was told that a rarely used battery will last longer if it is being charged by a charger constantly rather than being charged when it is low. If the battery is too dead, it actually won't charge.
I could leave it on, just being paranoid if we're away for a month. Bit like unplugging the TV. I mean it doesn't blow up while we're in the house for 10 years, so why would it choose to blow up in the week we're away 
I change my TVR's battery after 4-5 years anyway, just as a precaution.
On mine when its 5 deg C outside 2 hours raises the oil temp to about 55 deg C and it drops back to about 25 when I start the engine. It does make the car warm up faster after 10 mins of running it will be back up to 60 whereas without the oil heater it takes 20 mins when its that cold.
..... jeeez its like a girls club with all the flapping!!
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