A Luta Continua - My Merc E class

Admiral Insurance are on the top of my annoyances today now, and it's only 8.50am. They have a "Change Policy" link on the website, which I followed and entered all details, to be met with a message at the end saying they can't do it online and I have to call them.

Jesus Christ. Enter the "Press 2 for Swedish Massage, 3 for a Conservative Party election Broadcast, 4 for Chicken Chow Mein" hell (2, followed by 4 in case you're interested). Why make me do it twice, just tell me to call, for the sake of all that's unholy and good.

Yes, I do shop around every year at renewal, but for our multicar policy they always seem to be as keen a price as anyone, and sod mucking about changing to separate insurers if I don't have to. Ironically Mrs A works for one of the biggest and best known insurance companies, but their quotes, even with staff discount, are astronomical for us. I'm blaming our fashionably urban and scrufulous post code.

Be still my beating heart.. I want that car so badly I would sell a child for it.

The perfect modern car in the early 1970s. Great shape, roomy, soft ride and smooth engine. Compared to the cramped Golf or rusty Alfasud just so much better, and I owned Golfs and 'Suds.

So glad you've found something that ticks your boxes Al, and I hope it works out well for you. Only slightly worrying ( because it's not my money 😉 ) was your comment that you found it "adequate". As a general rule, I've only paid more than I intended for cars that I'd regard as a bit better than that...I've had plenty of adequate ones too, and indeed some that could easily be described as inadequate, but those were never the ones I stretched myself on.

Anyway, maybe I'm reading to much into one word. 'Nother thing, have you looked into GAP insurance or does the PCP thingy cover that?

Re the wheels, I'd just leave them on, they'll add value if you ever sell it even if they're not your favourites, and I wonder if you'd be allowed to change them anyway on a PCP arrangement? (If I understand that correctly, that's when you get the choice at the end whether to hand back or stump up the remaining balance?)

Happy motoring !

Cheers, Humph.  Looking down the line, this is a car which we'll be able to upgrade to something more exciting in 3 and a half years, if necessary.  It's a very nice car for its class, it's hard to drop down a bit from the E in some regards, but needs must.  I'm sure I'll enjoy it though.  Yes, the screen price is higher than I was intending to fork out, but that's the benefit of PCP.  If I financed an older car on a traditional loan, it'd be the same outlay monthly anyway.   Full loan quote was £90 a month higher.  I know, there's a balloon payment at the end.  Cross that bridge when I get to it.

Don't believe in buying GAP insurance - it's a risk I'm happy to take.

Wheels, yes, you're probably right.  I can do what I like to the car though, I own it under PCP.  Terms and conditions apply, if I return it in a less than acceptable state, I can incur financial penalties.  I'm going to be a bit more paranoid about kerbs though, the E and the Leaf both have proper sized wheels and nice fat tyres on them.

I shall give the E one last, slightly regretful booting of torque on the way to the dealer's today.  

I said to the children this morning that it's their last ride in the E, and daughter said she's very happy about that as she hates it.  It's embarrassing because it's so big and noisy, and it smells funny.  Out of the mouths of babes.  Son just did a teenage snort, and said that it's hardly any less embarrassing than a Honda.

Bloody bin lids.

Like our Punto for example...

Astonishing to think that any Fiat built in say 1980 would not have lasted the decade. One built 25 years later is still going strong after 15 years despite being abused by ten years of a 1,000 miles pa and then five years of young driver bashing every panel...

Guess you'll need to get some roof bars for the Civic? ( oh, and don't go putting diesel in it, it won't like like that...)
😉

Maybe they do, I've never tested the theory. Damn stuff is way too expensive for a Scotsman not to be in a heightened state of awareness when putting it in a car.