Hibernation Time

[ALiRi]

I couldnt deal with winter hibernation as I'd miss out on my favourite Xmas day tradition. IMHO it's the best day all year to go for a proper drive as the roads are almost deserted. Don't really suffer from ice and snow in Cornwall either.

 

[Slowly]

I anticipate mine will only be hibernating for periods of up to two weeks - want to use it if I get the chance.
Have put in a regulated solar trickle charger (though the isolator switch will be "off" and I'll put the charger clips onto the terminals as the 12V socket immediately above the isolator switch appears to be isolated from the battery, bought the mousetraps, read the debate about handbrake and gear position.. but there's one problem I can't get round; the combination of 1960s size garage and a modern car. It just fits in; the problem is me getting out. Since taking the photo I've put some carpet on the walls so will be able to open the door without risk of scraping and will see if I can exit without resorting to yesterday's manoeuvre of taking my shoes off and wriggling out of the window. Fortunately for that purpose I have the build of the man who got sand kicked in his face (before he took to the springs) in the Bullworker ad! I've tried closing the windows by keeping the keyfob pressed but that doesn't shut them and the (US) online manual says it isn't meant to. Apart from inching perilously close to the passenger side of the garage when parking, any suggestions?

 

[conaero]

I have just rented a single small garage for he Spider and what I did was screw a batten to the floor to chock the wheels and make sure I am in, and as you have done, spray glue some carpet to the walls. Mines a soft top so I always have the option of leaving the roof down and scurrying out the back.

 

[safrane]

Gosh...makes my garage look positivity capacious!

 

[highlander]

Gosh...makes my garage look positivity capacious!

Yup, that can definently be described as a tight fit alright!

 

[D Walker]

Gosh...makes my garage look positivity capacious!

And I thought mine was tight!!!

 

[Slowly]

...yes, too tight for comfort - given that the doorframe is narrower - bit of a clutch pong when I'd got in for the first time, very gingerly. The Caterham was no problem as 1) I could push it in and out if I wanted ... a tonne lighter, 2) no roof and 3) it was far smaller. Would like to keep the car in the garage when possible as though we rarely have problems on my road occasionally there are irritations - an evil smelling tramp took to sleeping in the back seats of cars if you forgot to lock them - I once got into my Zafira at ~11pm to notice a vile stench and, moments later as I started the engine, blearily rising from the rear seat, said tramp who, when I asked what he was doing in my car said he was "resting". I explained that I needed to go somewhere so he wasn't able to "rest" there any more. Later, noting neighbour with BMW estate, all doors wide open all afternoon to try to dispel the aroma, discovered that many neighbours had had the same. Unlikely to be a problem with the GS as the rear seat isn't very "resting" friendly and I try harder to remember to lock it but last night there was a drunken student party nearby and at 02:15 they emerged and, spotting the neighbour's Audi R8 opposite, started taking selfies with it - since some could hardly stand I was wincing in sympathy for the potential dents and ready (though I'm not very intimidating, even fully clothed, let alone in dressing gown and flip-flops) to emerge and intervene. Fortunately they were fairly harmless and they didn't spot the stealthy black GS in my driveway!
Of course the garage would have been fine for the cars of the time - just compare an original mini cooper with the current minis, especially the SUV type one - there's a registration BL04 TED on the DVLA site which would be appropriate.

 

[D Walker]

Haha, that thought reminds me of an incident about 6 years ago..
Night before Halloween is generally known as mischief night round here. Dressing gown and slippers. Peaked out of my curtains, huge group of youths and I saw one karate kick my wing mirror(Nissan Algeria), I went straight out of the door in pursuit, helped by the fact he had a bright blue jacket on, I was totally focused and was through the group in no time, caught him within 150 yards and marched him back to my house, sat him on my wall, gave him house phone and said, ring your Dad, at that point he burst out crying and the police came round the corner. They took him away, the plod that took my statement was amazed, slippers he kept on saying, then Wife mentions I have a metal hip, didn't mention that during my teens I was a county level sprinter though!! The lad was in my daughters class and was on his final warning with the police, apparently that changed him and he has been on the right side of the law since..

 

[highlander]

My Alfa GT daily now has a "floppy ear" passenger mirror because some drunken lout took to it the last time I left it in town.....only the wiring holding it on......brats

 

[Contigo]

Haha, that thought reminds me of an incident about 6 years ago..
Night before Halloween is generally known as mischief night round here. Dressing gown and slippers. Peaked out of my curtains, huge group of youths and I saw one karate kick my wing mirror(Nissan Algeria), I went straight out of the door in pursuit, helped by the fact he had a bright blue jacket on, I was totally focused and was through the group in no time, caught him within 150 yards and marched him back to my house, sat him on my wall, gave him house phone and said, ring your Dad, at that point he burst out crying and the police came round the corner. They took him away, the plod that took my statement was amazed, slippers he kept on saying, then Wife mentions I have a metal hip, didn't mention that during my teens I was a county level sprinter though!! The lad was in my daughters class and was on his final warning with the police, apparently that changed him and he has been on the right side of the law since..

Quality, but didn't you know that slippers are the best training shoe? How fast can you run in slippers?

 

[D Walker]

Quality, but didn't you know that slippers are the best training shoe? How fast can you run in slippers?

I think that night charged with Adrenalin @ 39 yr old I "possibly" did a 12/13s 100m. As I marched him to my house, I said how old are you, 15, I said you should be ashamed, the only person that would have caught me @ 15 was Linford Christie!!!!

It still makes me laugh and funnily enough comes up every year at this time!!!

 

[daverichardson]

Good man, so much better if you capture the culprit by himself, as they are really scaredy cats
Let's hope it taught him a lesson to be a bit more socially aware and respectful
You may have just saved a potential ne'er do well

 

[D Walker]

Back on track - thought mine was cosy

http://www.sportsmaserati.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=30241&d=1436978481

 

[2b1ask1]

Hibernation...!

Just put the winters on mine and she is off to Gateshead/Newcastle on Wednesday till Friday and the Great North Run (meet) Brand new rubber on the back, third winter veterans on the front. Three of the rims are in a shocking state the fourth is new to me and puts the others to shame! Am I bothered?

Wonder how long it will take me to bed the rears in this afternoon... I may even venture for a Bosniwash or should I save that for Friday in Newcastle? At the very least I should wash the muddy dog prints off the front seat!

 

[Slowly]

Update - I claim the Houdini prize

Well, with carpet in place I slithered out of the open door and window, put upper body back in to raise window and retrieve keys and wiggled out again. Well chuffed. Also the metal bar I put across (not fussing at the time too much about being too close to the door coz the Caterham was so small) to resist, to a degree kicking in of the lower part of the door and act as a disincentive to thieves (unless they had an angle grinder) fits with about 10mm to spare between it and the rear bumper!

Solar charger and regulator (Maplins N30CX and N35HG) seem to be doing their stuff despite it being grey and foggy here.

Right, back to work..

 

[2b1ask1]

Slip sliding away... That was fun! About 10 miles it turns out Suddenly came into grip and it all felt right. Pressures all held up on the fronts over the summer which must be a good thing, within 0.1 bar in both.

 

[Spartacus]

you should keep driving it regularly , they don't like being left sat still for months .Thats when you get sensor faults and a dash board like a Christmas tree ;P start it every couple of weeks and let itr get up to temerature

 

[D Walker]

you should keep driving it regularly , they don't like being left sat still for months .Thats when you get sensor faults and a dash board like a Christmas tree ;P start it every couple of weeks and let itr get up to temerature

This is what I do and be aware as I found out the other day, after 10 minutes or so of idling / gentle revving to temp you may hear a rattling noise from mid ships - its the clutch apparently!!

 

[Spartacus]

yeah its just the clutch rattling . nothing to worry about

 

[Ianed0]

That situation is vaguely familiar to mine all though not quite as tight I usually have to perform some kind of Indian rubber man routine, good job I'm built like a racing snake or I'd be well stuffed