[EthanEdwards]

Hi, New member here.

I've owned my T30 2.5 SVE auto from new (in Zinc). But it's been looking a bit shabby lately.

Couple of concerns.

The wheels despite my best efforts to keep them clean using the correct stuff, they have suffered a bit of corrosion and on a couple the dirt had gotten under the laqueur. So I had another standard alloy (from Ebay-which I had had refurbished first.) -as well at the steel spare So I've been having them refurbished one wheel at a time (as I didn't want to lose the use of the car for a few days while they did the lot.). Been costing me £45 a wheel. Great results and I'm waiting for the return of wheel no 4 at the moment. So I'm happy to recommend Ash and the guys at http://www.paintituk.com very local to me too!

Exhaust-
When I jacked up the car to swap a wheel the other day. The trolley jack scuffed the underseal off a spot. So I was resealing it with some underseal (yep I really am that fussy) and I noticed the original exhaust is looking dreadful!.
Anyone else changed theirs yet? Do you think I will need to change the Cat too - as the casing is dreadfully rusty. Any top tips about which is best? Dealer or Third Party vendor? Ballpark figure -Projected cost? Obviously I'm going to wait till it goes but I'd like to know what to expect. I notice on Eb*y the boxes are about 80 quid each. Any thoughts guys? Your experience? All welcome...

Scuff on the front side bumper.
Any one out there know a decent cheap body shop? My local 'chips away' franchaise made a pigs ear of the colour a few years ago so I'm not thinking about trying them again. I appreciate that Zinc metallic is awfully difficult to match but still.....
Since 2003 I've had the front bumper resprayed twice and had a new rear bumper (and a lovely dent in the tailgate) courtesy of Mr Bump-n-Scarper (no note..thanks a lot!). The fronts have suffered at the hands of shopping trolleys in Tesco's etc. All of which I have paid myself so as not to mess up my no claims.

Then on 30th Sept 2008 and here's a long story I had a flying TVR Griffith bonnet land on my roof badly denting just over the drivers head missing the glass sun roof edge by inches - A12 high speed accident in front of me about 100yards away. Insurance bodyshop in Canvey did a fantastic job though. Lucky car isn't it! Still won't sell it.

So please respond as I am beginning to wonder if there really is anyone out there!
Cheers,

 

[StevieJ]

Hi Ethan, yes it does sound like a lucky car, that must have been quite a frightening experience being hit by a flying bonnet, speaking a fellow victim of flying vehicle parts ( I was hit by a flying wheel trim in France, which flew gracefully into the air from a car in front, before aiming missile like towards the screen of my X, fortunatly hitting just below the number plate!), pretty scary at the time!

You sound like a local man , you in south Essex too?

 

[EthanEdwards]

Hi StevieJ,
Yep Billericay.

Scary...oh yes. It was weird you kind of saw the TVR fly apart - stood on the anchors and just as we came to a halt ka-wham! My wife and my Greyhounds were with me and freaked out! The TVR was following a white C class at about three inches accelerated past me in pouring rain. His rear fishtailed and he hit the Merc they spun round together and hit the barrier then bounced to the verge. A freelander and a Escort (closer to the accident) also had damage from flying TVR bits but only the landy and myself stayed for the police. She had a busted windscreen. The eejut in the TVR only got a 'driver improvement course' I thought he should have been prosecuted. Colchester bypass nr the Weston Homes stadium. I got the Xtrail repaired and eventually his insurance paid up. More importantly everyone walked away though the TVR was a ruin!

Xtrail is a pretty solid beast isn't it.