hi folks -
i am just looking for alternative methods of pre heating the wife's car on frosty mornings...
she plans to use the car everyday come rain shine snow etc!
not sure what will be left of the car after 6 months of gritting though
we have tried a cover but if wind picks up during the night we have had problems with it blowing off.
have thought about an extension cable over to the car with an electric fan inside the car but we share drive with a neighbour so could cause damage to cable if they drive over it or someone like post - person trips up!
any one else use alternative self contain heaters or gadgets that work and are in expensive?
this is my austin maxi from a couple of years back covered under 6" of snow and minus 15 that night - but it turned over perfectly and was only one of few cars on the road that day probably due to the great weight over the front wheels from the 1750 engine lump and the low gearing
it took me half an hour to clear the drive enough to give freedom to move - been told the dyane should be as good in the snow due to skinny tyres?

In Holland an Germany there are Webasto of Eberspacher heaters (which works on the petrol and battery of the car) used, but they are pricy,, but can work with a timer or even remote control (pritty cool looking out of your houses window an see if the car is frozen and if then pre-heat the car by remote control)

ipgo
you say expensive - how much is too much
do you know what the product is actually called so i can do a search
thanks
bob

just done a quick google on prices for webasto etc heater - gulp
glad i was sat down
any other cheaper ideas out there.....

Hi Bob

The Eberspacher starts at £600 and up to £1500.

And if you run them of petrol as IPGO stated it will certainly warm the car up
as they only ones I have seen run on diesel fuel.

Peter

There's no such thing as being cold. It's just a case of not having enough clothes on.

Quite!

Must admit I just get in, turn the key, and go (though sometimes the door lock freezes which can make stage one interesting).

Cold isn't the isssue........ Rubbing, scrapping windows inside and outside several times, frozen locks is..... (for me)

I'm looking forward to trying my girlfriends Allegro in the snow. That has the same E series (ships engine) that's in you maxi albeit in 1500cc form. I think the Sump acts as a snow plough as the ground clearance on E series BL iron is not great.

Mind you its a powerful amount of cast iron to heat up, like the worlds largest Le Creuset pan and once its hot it stays hot for ages and gives it a great heater.