The world of used cars

[VintageWomble]

@scoundrel

Just get a copy of the key made. You don't need that gizmo to open it from a distance.
That's what I did with the Rover 200: cost me about a tenner if memory serves me right.

[VintageWomble]

So, scoundrel, what did you end up doing?

[scoundrel]

Originally Posted by VintageWomble

So, scoundrel, what did you end up doing?

So far, nothing; but there is still time. After 1,100 miles or so of ownership including two London-Leeds round trips, I have had to make the first mechanical repair, which is new rear brake disks and pads. I took my dry cleaning to the shop this morning and there was a sinister knocking noise coming from the back. I suspected a wheel bearing, but it turned out to be a crack in a rear brake disk. Naturally the garage insisted on replacing them as a pair (plus new brake pads of course). £190.92, thank you very much.

Ah well, these things happen.

[scoundrel]

I have reached 2,400 miles of ownership now but it is proving to be a rocky ride.

1. Catastrophic clutch failure climbing a 1 in 8 hill in Yorkshire.
2. I simply had to do it on a Saturday afternoon when the garages were closing anyway.

Initially the AA were fairly obliging, towing me to my mother's house and letting me know that I could have another tow to London. Just call them on Sunday when its time.

So I anticipated a certain amount of delay and phoned in on 3pm Sunday to arrange the tow to London. How I laughed when they explained that I am only entitled to one tow and that they were going to charge megabucks to tow me to London. Eventually, after a lot of extremely baleful language and very plain explaining of what was on my mind, they conceded that my first tow was because I was blocking traffic and that I still had my relay membership tow.

I could have my tow, but not until 1 am. Oh, and by the way, they would be handing me along like a baton in a relay race and I could expect to spend long intervals in motorway service stations waiting for the next towing vehicle to collect me and pass me another 50 miles or so. Given that I was due at work at 9 am Monday, I decided not to go with this option, and instead to make them collect the car 9 am Monday and to take the train back to London (£54 for a one way ticket).

Next weekend I arranged for a garage to collect the broken car and the weekend after I collected it, a going concern again. Not just the clutch: I had managed to ruin the flywheel as well. Do you have any idea how much one of those bastards weighs, let alone what has to come out first before you can remove it? So: another £795 to get my cheap car back on the road and she ain't so cheap any more.

Ah well: I need to hope now for a very long interval before the next major incident. Price per mile so far is £0.79, which is a lot of depreciation in my book.

Crickey.

[Estreeter]

Originally Posted by scoundrel

Crickey.

Talk to me





What can I say to have you drive away in this English Classic .... Today

[otokonomidori]

Originally Posted by scoundrel

Not just the clutch: I had managed to ruin the flywheel as well. Do you have any idea how much one of those bastards weighs, let alone what has to come out first before you can remove it? So: another £795 to get my cheap car back on the road and she ain't so cheap any more.

Clutch on my Renault 5 needed replaced back in April .
Beyond my limited facilities to do it myself as f*cking engine had to come out.
50 quid for clutch, 150 quid for labour!!!
Got car back, used it for a month . Engine suddenly lost 90% of power and began emitting dense clouds of smoke. Buggered!

Sold car on Gumtree for spares. £150!!

Don't mind the engine blowing up but why did bastard car wait until it had a new clutch in it

[Nobody1]

Originally Posted by scoundrel

I have reached 2,400 miles of ownership now but it is proving to be a rocky ride.

Easy fix in three steps.

Step one : Sell your car.
Step two : Buy a good Audi.
Step three : Enjoy driving the Audi.

[Estreeter]

Originally Posted by otokonomidori

Don't mind the engine blowing up but why did bastard car wait until it had a new clutch in it

Don't worry

Originally Posted by otokonomidori

£150!!

Maybe you can now buy that one special Caddy Johnny Cash made famous

[Dropped52]

Guessing your I'm the eu, if you can get one I say Subaru impreza or wrx

[otokonomidori]

Originally Posted by Dropped52

Guessing your I'm the eu, if you can get one I say Subaru impreza or wrx

Any Impreza or WRX that was within the miserable, tight fisted bastard price range where I [and Scoundrel] operate would already have been thrashed to death by the sort of people who buy Subarus.