Moving into Central London
Moving into Central London
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Discussion

W7 KAA

Original Poster:

156 posts

253 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
I'm in the process of moving into central london and deciding what to do with the beloved Tuscan.

I will have secure underground parking but the chances are the car won't be used for weeks at a time.

Is there any advice as to what I should do if leaving the car standing for this length of time? I am also assuming there won't be an electrical source so battery charging/jump starting could be an issue.

I have thought of selling, but in the current climate and having recently had a FULL engine build, new clutch and new shocks all round, it would be such a shame.

That said, it would be a great buy for anyone who may be interested!

Any thoughts or advice appreciated.

Keith

Mr. Magoo

686 posts

258 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
Keith,

2 options, coming from an ex TVR Chim owner who had it parked up on a SW London street for 3 years (although moved to storage for winter).

1) Sell
2) Rent a garage or underground car park and deal with all the electronic foibles by disconnecting the battery each time therefore saving the even greater expense and hassle of jumpstarting, followed by an often unecessary long drive and eventual battery replacement.

I feel strongly about this because even though I was forced to store the car in winter and thus miss those sunny wintry days, the car deteriorated quickly sitting outside on the street in summer.

The bigger picture is TVR never could match Porsche and BMW for their useability it would should have been their biggest market.

My tuppence worth.

Mr.Cerbera

5,151 posts

260 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
W7 KAA said:
I'm in the process of moving into central london and deciding what to do with the beloved Tuscan.....Any thoughts or advice appreciated.....
Keith

shout You're Mad !!

seasider

12,728 posts

279 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all

What about one of these i expect you can get a higher rated one


Edited by seasider on Friday 26th January 13:31

gazzab

21,650 posts

312 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
disconnect the battery when parked up? MAybe even keep battery in the house!!??

btom

507 posts

299 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
Ignore the doubters - I've had my Tuscan in Greenwich for nearly 2 years and a Chim 500 before that. Mr Magoo makes a valid point (never thought I'd say those words together) in making sure you keep it off the street but I keep mine in an underground carpark with no problems at all - and with the added bonus that you get free 'tunnel effect' in the morning :-)

I would certainly disconnect the battery but remember you don't need a country road to enjoy a TVR, the Aldgate East one way system at 2 in the morning has a certain charm....

Keep it, at least it will give your neighbours something other than yet another bloody Boxster to look at.

whitey

2,508 posts

314 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
as seasider said, get a much higher rated of those jump packs coupled with the external anderson plug jump leads for the Tuscan. You will get about 3 weeks fully alarmed on a good battery with a full charge on the tuscan, and if you leave it a bit longer then use the jump pack. Easy to connect under the front n/s wheel arch and then off you go.

I used to do this until I finally got power in my garage in London!

over_the_hill

3,334 posts

276 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
Firstly see if there is an electricity supply. If so get an accumate.
Failing that it may be worth spending a few pounds to have the battery rehoused in e.g. the boot for easier access or getting an isolation switch put in so you can effectively disconnect via the switch. Not sure if this would lead to alarm/immobiliser and ECU issues though if they are without power for a period.

badger_boy

34 posts

242 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
Sell it

No point in having it unused and depreciating in your garage.

over_the_hill

3,334 posts

276 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
However, I would wait for a few months before doing anything too drastic. Once you have moved and things have settled down you may discover that it is more "usable" than you thought it would be.

Wildfire

9,948 posts

282 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
over_the_hill said:
However, I would wait for a few months before doing anything too drastic. Once you have moved and things have settled down you may discover that it is more "usable" than you thought it would be.


yes I'm sure you will find that th oppourtunities to use it will be more than you expect. If it really is sitting in the carpark for months at a time then wait a while and sell. But in currnt climate I wouldn't sell now, especially as it's winter.

As for badger_boy's comment about depreciation, if you bought it new then you took most of that now and the difference between now and 6 months will make very little difference. It's not as if it's pouring money out of the tail pipes.

I use my Griff quite regularly, but since the onset of a daily hack and the cold weather I have fund myself useing it less. Some weeks, due to schedule and weather I don't drive it for 3 weeks. No chance of selling it though.

s6boy

1,856 posts

255 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
How much do you love your car? I would guess that if you've just taken the time patience and money to have a re-build you're quite serious about it. Keep it and dis-connect the battery/fit a conditioner. Don't listen to doom mongers :badger boy: thanks to global warming summers are getting longer and so is TVR driving time You know it makes sense.
P.S who is badger-boy apart from Mr negativerolleyes

cactussed

5,363 posts

243 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
Keep it.
I have my Tuscan in Limehouse and there are any number of exotics around my area (2 tuscans, a noble and any number of M3's and porkers in my garage alone).

What you need to remember is:
1. Depending on time and place, there is some fun to be had around London (scaring small children if nothign else); and
2. more importantly, the TVR is a great way to get OUT of London for the weekend.

my 2 bob worth

W7 KAA

Original Poster:

156 posts

253 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
Thanks to everyone who's replied so far! I've given this some serious thought over the past couple of hours and there is no way i'm selling

Just couldn't do it.

So i guess the next questions are...

1. Other than the battery, anything else I should consider if left standing for a few weeks at a time?

2. If the battery is disconnected or removed, will this have an impact on insurance?

Keith

Wildfire

9,948 posts

282 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
W7 KAA said:
1. Other than the battery, anything else I should consider if left standing for a few weeks at a time?

2. If the battery is disconnected or removed, will this have an impact on insurance?

Keith


1. Not really, if it's going to be in an underground car park.

2. If you're going to do it, just take the battery out, that way the the car is imobilised. But my Griff can go for around 3-4 weeks without being charged, why not just run it out once a week? If you're worried then give your insurance co. a ring.

madbadger

11,752 posts

274 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
s6boy said:
How much do you love your car? I would guess that if you've just taken the time patience and money to have a re-build you're quite serious about it. Keep it and dis-connect the battery/fit a conditioner. Don't listen to doom mongers :badger boy: thanks to global warming summers are getting longer and so is TVR driving time You know it makes sense.
P.S who is badger-boy apart from Mr negativerolleyes


Sorry to hear you have to move to London. To have to get rid of the Tuscan would be a double blow. hehe

I'd at least see how you get on for bit.

As for badgerboy - he is giving the badgers a bad name.

Having a decent garage should be ok. Hope it works out.



oggs

8,817 posts

284 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
madbadger said:


As for badgerboy - he is giving the badgers a bad name.




yes

Glad to hear your keeping the car.

Enjoy the tunnels smokin

Ballistic Banana

14,706 posts

297 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
Wildfire said:


1. Not really, if it's going to be in an underground car park.


So Give it a run every Sunday morning ears please the neighbours
Wildfire said:

2. But my Griff can go for around 3-4 weeks without being charged, why not just run it out once a week?



See Answer to one

Badgers! one of my mates is Badgerous so watch out Badgerboy he may be coming to a Den near you soon nuts

gazzab

21,650 posts

312 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
Ideally speed six engines should be exercised regularly - this seems to discourage engine rebuilds.

badger_boy

34 posts

242 months

Friday 26th January 2007
quotequote all
Ballistic Banana said:
Wildfire said:


1. Not really, if it's going to be in an underground car park.


So Give it a run every Sunday morning ears please the neighbours
Wildfire said:

2. But my Griff can go for around 3-4 weeks without being charged, why not just run it out once a week?



See Answer to one

Badgers! one of my mates is Badgerous so watch out Badgerboy he may be coming to a Den near you soon nuts


No worries I'll keep an eye out for him.