Can you keep a 7-esque kit car without a garage??

[ninemill]

Was just wondering whether this is possible? I'm due to buy one as soon as I can find a good'un (I'm laying all my hopes on Kit Car and Which Kit? mags' classifieds out in two weeks time!!)

I currently live with my folks who have a fairly decent garage that they say I can use but I hopefully won't be living at home for much longer!! I was wondering whether it is feasable to keep one in a driveway wrapped up in a really hard-wearing bit of tarpaulin(sp?) or canvas type stuff?

Obviously a garage is the ideal option but has anyone done this or is it a stupid idea?

Tom.

[simonbell]

Garage is advisable but you can get decent outdoor covers nowadays. Plenty of people keep them outside.

By the way I have a Birkin for sale if you are interested. Email me on [e-mail]

Simon

[rushdriver]

Tom

I sometimes keep my Dax Rush on the drive if I am working on my wifes car in the garage. It's fine as long as you get a cover for it and most importantly use it all year round if you are going to keep it outside, just my opinion though.

John

[ninemill]

You don't have to worry about me driving all year round Rush, trying keeping me out of the thing!!!

Are there any particular materials/manufacturers to look out for when buying a cover?

Simon, your car looks great but I think it's a bit out of my price range unfortunately!!

Thanks for your help,

Tom.

[supersixfan]

ninemill said:

Was just wondering whether this is possible? I'm due to buy one as soon as I can find a good'un (I'm laying all my hopes on Kit Car and Which Kit? mags' classifieds out in two weeks time!!) I currently live with my folks who have a fairly decent garage that they say I can use but I hopefully won't be living at home for much longer!! I was wondering whether it is feasable to keep one in a driveway wrapped up in a really hard-wearing bit of tarpaulin(sp?) or canvas type stuff? Obviously a garage is the ideal option but has anyone done this or is it a stupid idea? Tom.

Hmmm, don't talk to me about garages..........

I decided early last year to think about buying another seven type car, having built a Westfield over 12 years ago.

Anyhow, I was fortunate to have a house with a nice large double garage, the trouble was both my wifes and my "tin top" resided in there.

One night I plied my misses with wine and "suggested" that she might like to leave her brand new Mercedes coupe on the drive, so I could fit my new Tiger in, anyway two black eyes later that was the end of that!

So I decided as we had enough spare land at the side of the existing garage, and as I had a cement mixer and was fairly handy at d-i-y I thought I'll build a nice detatched garaged myself.

Well, £9000 later, it's just about finished, and yes, It has been quite rewarding, (if hard work) doing it, but I suppose it has put at least that in value on the house. (that's if it doesn't fall down in a high wind)

Would I build another? No! (but I said that about kit cars after the last Westfield)

So now my Tiger is tucked up nice and snug.

Back to your original question, I did consider sheeting it over, or building a basic car port, but up here in hilly Rossendale the weather can get a bit grim in the winter.

One final point, watch your insurance, my car is NOT covered if it is stolen from the drive, ONLY if it is in a locked garage, or in the COURSE of a journey.

Good luck anyway,

[dern]

I keep mine on the drive under a cover and it's not a problem at all.

Mark

[rushdriver]

[quote=ninemill]You don't have to worry about me driving all year round Rush, trying keeping me out of the thing!!!

Are there any particular materials/manufacturers to look out for when buying a cover?

Simon,

Mine is grey vinyl on the outside with like a brushed cotton on the inside to make sure that it does not scratch the GRP. Obviously you have to make sure that it is tightly secured so it will not move in the wind and therefore not catch or scratch your pride and joy. As for using it all year round, fair play to you. I go on a rally every year on boxing day in mine come rain ,hail etc and whilst you do get a few odd looks from people it keeps everything well lubricated!

John

[ninemill]

Some things are worth catching a cold for I guess!!! I take your point about the insurance, it'll probably send the premiums sky rocketing if I tell them I'm keeping it on the drive under a sheet of polythene!!!

I suppose I could try asking the folks if I could rent their garage when I've moved out, but the idea of having to drive 3 or 4 miles have a play in it seems like it'll be rather annoying!!

[corax]

Sent you a few useful links and pointers.

My advice is rent the garage, less risk, less hassle and reduced fear of having your new baby half inched!

Regards
C

[domster]

ninemill said:

Was just wondering whether this is possible? I'm due to buy one as soon as I can find a good'un (I'm laying all my hopes on Kit Car and Which Kit? mags' classifieds out in two weeks time!!) I currently live with my folks who have a fairly decent garage that they say I can use but I hopefully won't be living at home for much longer!! I was wondering whether it is feasable to keep one in a driveway wrapped up in a really hard-wearing bit of tarpaulin(sp?) or canvas type stuff? Obviously a garage is the ideal option but has anyone done this or is it a stupid idea? Tom.

As Gordon Gekko would say, 'garages are for wimps'. I owned and commuted in a Caterham Seven for 2.5 years whilst living in a flat with merely a parking space. I even serviced it outside (the oil spills are still there today ). BUT it wasn't easy sometimes; the car was a bugger to start in the snow and it filled up with water until I put drain holes in the floor. Still, if you love your cars, like I did and still do, then it is possible.

Mine you, I am building an Ultima now, so had to go for the wimp option and bought a place with a large-enough garage.

I would go for a garage these days, but it is not impossible if you are committed enough. Don't let it spoil your dream

[enginearin]

my rush gets used all year round, and lives under a cover on the driveway.

insurance is no problem foa a 7 on a driveway; try osbourne and sons / LINKIT

My cover is from specialised car covers see www.carcoversuk.com i went for the full on all weather cover £179 iirc. tailor made for the rush and definately worth the cash. tarpaulin was trashing the gel coat lacquer

[ninemill]

I admire your spirit Domster!! It sounds from all of your comments like it's fine to keep one un-garaged - hopefully M+D will be kind enough to let me carry out maintanance work in their garage (hopefully not too often!!).

Now all I've gotta do is find one!!!

Tom (the search continues...)

[docevi1]

You know, my parents bought a Toyota Avensis (S plate) on Saturday, I bought my marlin on Friday. My car now resides in their garage, where-as the Avensis is on the back lane and the citroen that resided in the garage is in the front street

Thats the way to do it

[ninemill]

Nice work DOC. Fortunately there's no such re-shuffling required at our house, Dads ZS is too big for the garage and Mum can't be bothered to put her MX-5 in because she has to unscrew the aerial to do it - lazy?, mother?... never!!!

[domster]

Go for it... blatchat.com is good for finding a Caterham. You can get a good one for about 8k - I'd recommend a K-series as electronic fuel injection means they start easier than the carb cars.

And as has been pointed out, insurance is no problem, and a tailored car cover is a must. I had a cover systems one for about 80 quid on the Seven when it was outside, 01933 410851.

Cheers
Domster

[docevi1]

now I had a thought the other day which might help you.

Why not get a enclosed box-trailer and some ramps... Put wheel clamps/take the wheels off and it's a make-shift garage. If it needs to be moved simply roll it out of the way.

So are there any cars in the garage at all?

[ninemill]

Nope, none at all, just a collection of bikes from my youth and A LOT of junk!!! Not sure about the box trailer idea, sounds like it might be a case of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?

Caterham's are out of my league I'm afraid Dom, much as I hate to admit it. If I wanted one of them I'd have another year or so of saving up - I've already got 5 years of uninvolving driving under my belt, not sure I could take another!!!

Looks like its gonna be a 5k Tiger/MK/Sylva, or maybe a dirt cheap Westy... who knows, I'll just have to see what the classifieds throw up!

BTW - I might be completely wrong here, but don't big twin carbs (40s/45s) contribute to the throaty sound of these cars? Or is the soundtrack purely down to the exhaust used? (V8's excluded obviously) That's why I've got an inclination towards a carb-fuelled car - I'm willing to sacrifice some "go" for some "growl"!!!

[rushdriver]

ninemill said:

BTW - I might be completely wrong here, but don't big twin carbs (40s/45s) contribute to the throaty sound of these cars? Or is the soundtrack purely down to the exhaust used? (V8's excluded obviously) That's why I've got an inclination towards a carb-fuelled car - I'm willing to sacrifice some "go" for some "growl"!!!

When I had my 45's put on the Dax it certainly made a big difference to the sound, not sure if it "growls" more though.


John

[ninemill]

perhaps "growls" is not the right word - I reckon it adds to the experience though!!

[chumley-warner]

My Westy woofles from the exhausts (and spits flames left and right when I'm trying, plus huge bangs on overrun). But all the real noise is induction through the Dellortos into a 4.6 V8. In gear, accelerating hard it makes a lot more noise from the engine bay than next to my right elbow....

C-W