29 replies to this topic

[Iridium]

New person here Looking into the VX purchase and was just wondering, how well they stand up to living outside? I don't have a garage to use, so my VX would be living outside all year round. Aside from it been damn cold inside in the winter, is there any other problems? Does the softop take it ok? Anything else I should watch for? Do most of you keep them outside or garage them? Also, on the none central locking equipped models, how hard is it to get a remote central locking alarm fitted? Someone told me they already had all the wiring etc in place for central locking, is this true? I've seen quite a few in my price range now, so it's looking good for summer Thanks for all your help guys! Dan

Edited by Iridium, 27 March 2007 - 07:49 PM.

[rabidh]

They stand up pretty well - although not as well as a 'production' car... Mine's been outside for almost 2 years now. I have: * the odd drop of water on the sills if there was heavy driving rain - but nothing major, and its bone dry for most rain. * slightly misted front lights - newer VS's are better, but I totally fixed mine by putting some sticky-back rubber around the edge of the front lights. * misted rear lights - the cover had detached a bit (but i think thats more because the prev owner had the car rear-ended and didn't tell me ) * a few blobs of paint raised on the rear clam - see previous (it was a shoddy respray) Its not perfect, but you can easily live with it... You'll forget all about it when you're driving anyway

[Pete0810]

I was very concerned about this before I bought mine but you honestly needn't be if you are a considerate owner. Mine lived outside for the first few months I had it in the beginning of winter and i used the rain covers for it. They held of most of the rain but did eventually get saturated when the heavens opened or if it rained for several hours/overnight. Nonetheless, the car worked trouble free and the canvass roof didn't leak. I treated the rubber seals with superglue where there were a few cracks that had let in the very occasional drop and they work fine now. Once you're motoring the airflow carries the water off the roof rather than letting it settle in the drainage lines to the edges, which is when it's likely to get in any gaps between side windows and rubber seals for instance. My advice, buy a cloth and leave it on the inner door sills when you're parked up and it's raining. Some people report faults with the ignition becuase of water getting in the egress holes on the boot lid but I've not had any and I doubt it rains as heavily as it does in South Wales in too many parts of the UK! You can always buy deflectors to guide the rain away from top of engine (about £50 on ebay or easy to make out of sheet of metal). Yes, the lights housings will mist up if you get water in them but that soon clears with the heat of the bulbs and air passing over them as you drive. It doesn't effect the lights though. You can always seal them though as the last post said. Central locking!! Naaaah. You'll get used to sprinting around the car to unlock the door and let your passenger clamber in...and then laughing at them as they unroyally dump themselves on their behind! The only problem is the misted up window in the morning!! But it's all part of the joy of VXing. Happy shopping!

[flamy]

buy a cover theyre only like 50 buck! stop ya roof turning green!

[pugwhizz]

mines just suffered its second winter outside with no major issues... as said before, the odd drop of water on the sills (only after very windy nights in mine) noticed some water down the right-most spark plug hole - could be cured with water ingress kit (also mentioned above) the windscreen steams up quite a bit but, as long as your heater is up to scratch (do a search - its the main topic of conversation come autumn time) it demists in a few minutes... the most annoying thing i found was the locks freezing up. easy to defrost when you have a kettle full of warm water but if you havent you have to use you mouth !!! i have had some strange looks whilst 'snogging' my door lock in the past. haha. i have a car cover but am reluctant to use it as ive heard stories of the wind flapping them about and scratching the paintwork. i would rather keep mine in a garage but hey ho, i dont have one... roll on proper summer - just about to leave work, topless of course. (the car not me! lol!)

[Geebo]

I had central locking retro fitted to my NA see my last post here
http://www.vx220.org...topic=47943&hl=

[BA Baracus]

I keep mine outside all the time and I've just been through this winter with it. I wasnt too bad, I use a shower cap when I'm parked at home and sometimes at work, but like others when it has been rained on I just get a few drops on the drivers side sill. One solution, if a little expensive, is to get a hardtop for the winter. saves the wear on the soft top too.

[dw1]

It helps if its parked outside if you drive it regularly. It also may be agood idea to buy one the is in good condition and has been parked outside as that way you know it's had any problems sorted and its used to being outside.

[Iridium]

That all sounds great cheers guys Roll on new car time... Dan

[madasahatter]

Well, besides the problems with the hood leaking, the main problem as I just found out, is that whether you have the boot lid mod or not, water gets into the DIS pack, and you end up with water round the plugs eventually, leading to a problem with the pack needing to be replaced and the plugs corroded. Not too expensive mind you, but a pain nonetheless. It isn't too bad though....

[casino]

Both my cars have lived outside. Had the griffin stolen from my NA but no real problems other than those mentioned RE rain and leaks/ misting up. So long as you love your car its ok outside. Just fuss and fuss over it every minute you have spare. Finally, finally moving to a house with a garage. Cant wait.

[theotherjonnymac]

No issues tbo. I am lazy cos I have a garage and don't use it very often.

[jules_s]

Some of the replies on here Jesus, its a car for crying out loud.....raincovers???? What were you thinking? the car would somehow decompose if touched by rainfall? Joking aside, mine has been outside for nearly every day of its (5year) life, without a problem......no DIS pack needed, and no water in since the turbot seals fitted. The only slight problem has been water ingress into the boot if parked uphill. PS: All manner of products available to clean/waterproof the hood...mine gets done twice yearly

[cyberface]

Mine's been outdoors since I bought it in November. I have a hardtop, and IMO the car is no worse as a daily driver than stuff like MX-5s etc. which have leak-proof roofs. I presume, like the Lotuses, that the soft top leaks, but I've never used it. My trick is simply to close the windscreen blower vents when I park up so no water vapour can evaporate into the car and mist the windscreen, make sure the windows seal against the hardtop seals, and keep a decent chamois in the car just in case. I've not had a problem since. The only time water enters the car is when there's a storm with *heavy* wind, where water can be blown past the window seals, and then I only get a few drops on the sill. Other than that, don't immediately open the vents and bung the heater on full in the morning during wet winter, since the blower will blow moist air straight onto the windscreen and mist it up. As long as you don't mind a bit of cold, it's fine (just change the gearknob to a leather one if the ally is too cold). I used it as a station car in November and December. No 15 minute warmups or wasting time, just get in and drive. Absolutely brilliant, I think they're awesome cars. But I do recommend a hardtop. Firstly you're probably going to get better weatherproofing, but given my lack of experience I am willing to be proved wrong, but secondly you get better security. I've had soft roofs slashed before and I live in a nice place. As to the engine / brakes / etc. - get the plastic shield to prevent water pooling in the coil packs, and try to dry the brakes before you stop if it's raining - otherwise the pads can stick to the discs. Certainly not something to worry about though. And yes, I've had my big Vauxhall badge ripped off too. I suppose it's the Novadose crew. Luckily they come off without damaging the car much, I just debadged entirely when I had mine stolen. Edited to add: for soft-top waterproofing I recommend Thompsons water seal, it's cheap and intended for brickwork! It's some polymer that soaks in and waterproofs bricks. It also works on fabric roofs at a much cheaper price than Fabsil etc. I used it on a TVR Griff and it worked *perfectly*. Completely weatherproof, that car.

Edited by cyberface, 28 March 2007 - 05:15 AM.

[NOBLE]

I owned an NA for a year and now have a Turbo. I live at the coast about 500 yards from the sea and park my car on a building site everyday. Rain, sea salt and dust are the main things that effect my cars on a daily basis.

Mechanically (starting and running) the cars performs like new and tbh I have trouble using "the car wouldn't start this morning boss". However With regards weathering from the elements well then the car does not fair so well. The rain comes in if its heavy, the doors, windows and locks all freeze in the winter. The paint can become older quicker and the dust lies on the radiator bay and engine bay instantly. But like Jules says, they are only cars. I always hand / trade my cars in well used. Hell thats why I buy them!

If you can put up with losing a bit of cash over a year (you would do on any car anyways) and you can put up with the minor inconveniences the car has (small boot, cold, damp at times, poor visibility when overtaking / reversing and the fact that people dont seem to see you) then get one.

Basically I bought the cars as they are all out racers. Fast as F u c k and look S h i t hot. Nothing like beating Mr. Normal car from the lights looking damn good doing it

"....... its a Vauxhall!?!? Wow I thought it was something better."

Edited by NOBLE, 28 March 2007 - 12:26 PM.

[blue flash]

Hi , Im a newby here. fantastic site ,found out loads. Have been trying to fix that heater for ever . I live in a vilage just outside scarborough to, probably only ten minuits away from you, and can guarantee that with the roads we have around here you will just love the vx so mutch , you would't care if you needed a wet suit.(which you dont) . ppm me if you want a look at mine but it sure aint for sale

[pugwhizz]

i think the hood can be made leak proof with no need for turbo seals. i found the water was dripping in from around the release pegs for the soft top - ABOVE any window/roof seals. after water proofing my hood it still leaked from here, until i sealed it properly. get medium sized paint brush and really work the water proofing solution right down in to the rain gutters, right down on to the stiching - this cured the dreaded leak. i did this in first winter 2005 and when i re-proof the hood (every 6 ,months ish) i still cant get the solution to soak into the gutters cos its so waterproof as for the heater, make sure the silver pipe under the bonnet is secure at both ends and in winter manually move the hot/cold mixer lever using a pair of pliars. there doesnt seem to be enough stiffness in the cable that moves this flap to push it fully closed, thus letting cold air into the system, which is really noticable once on the move. in winter i dont bother touching the hot/cold control - if youre too warm, open a window... both these problems nearly pushed me to sell the vx that winter but once cured the vx was a snug/warm/dry place. happy days indeed...

[Amoger]

the most annoying thing i found was the locks freezing up.
easy to defrost when you have a kettle full of warm water but if you havent you have to use you mouth !!!
i have had some strange looks whilst 'snogging' my door lock in the past. haha.

I really hope the last owner didn't do the more traditional method of unfreezing the lock!! (Can't be done so easily by women, if you get my drift...)

Had the griffin stolen from my NA but no real problems

Where were you parked? Could do with removing mine..

[robfenn]

Mine appeared to of spent a while of it's 6 year life outside. The wishbones are rusty and the suspension tops are even worse to the point of needing replacement ideally. I noticed typical problems like the misted lights as above.

Edited by robfenn, 28 March 2007 - 04:25 PM.

[mainline]

To be honest i'm more worried about my 16 yr old 205 gti being outside than I was the VX. Its not like its going to rust or anything and at least its got an imobiliser and alarm! The annoying things are the locks freezing totally solid in the winter and algae hood syndrome! Best option really is to take a kettle of hot water out with you if its been frosty and buy a VX with a green soft top. Keeping it outside will mean it will show the dirty rain off horribly on the flat surfaces, especially if its red (the voice of experience!). But mechanically it shouldn't be too much of a problem. I never had any ingress issues or leaky roof on an 'x' plate with original seals. Its all about the window adjustment really, for which there is a useful guide on this site. Just buy it!!!!