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Post by tyrednexited on Jun 17, 2017 16:56:58 GMT
...took the lad's (ex-SWMBO's) Fiesta in for MOT today.
I use a local bus/coach company as they are cheap, don't have a vested interest in manufacturing work for themselves, and (the prime reason for seeking them out in the first place) they can handle, and are used to, motorhomes. (which require the same Class IV MOT as a car, but also require heavy-duty testing bays.
Saw the tester as we arrived, and also when we returned an hour later, when he confirmed there were no issues at all. I was handed the pass certificate by the receptionist, and away we came.
This afternoon, I checked the MOT history online (we know how to do it, of course, but not many of the general public, I suspect).
Lo and behold, it had failed! (on an low nearside headlight beam). This was followed by a second entry with a pass.
If it were a genuine fail, I'm sure the tester would have mentioned it (it was more than a passing conversation), and confirmed he'd quickly adjusted it to get it to pass. My suspicion is, given I didn't get a failure certificate, that it was a "manufactured" fail to keep the stats in line, and there was no expectation I would ever get to know about it. (My understanding is that high pass rates attract VOSA attention).
It's mildly niggling, though not a blemish on the MOT history that would make me worry over much. I do know that the headlight hasn't been touched, and certainly shows no sign of being worked on to correct it.
Maybe I'm just über-cynical ;-)
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Post by Humph on Jun 17, 2017 21:17:20 GMT
Or, he's just trying to be helpful?
Take it you're back from your travels then? Going again this summer?
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Post by tyrednexited on Jun 17, 2017 21:52:36 GMT
Or, he's just trying to be helpful? Take it you're back from your travels then? Going again this summer? I'd take the helpful tack if either he'd mentioned it, or I'd been given the failure certificate along with the pass. (and, in fact, some years ago they did adjust a headlight on a motorhome, but it didn't result in a failure before passing). No, I suspect some manipulation of the statistics, but it's no skin off my nose, so....... --- Yes, got back on Wed after three enjoyable weeks. There will be a few short forays in the summer in the UK, before a week in Jockland (on Mull) at the start of September (sans motorhome motorcaravan campervan, but en famille), and then we've just been discussion whether to head back to Germany for the latter part of September for a few weeks. It's a hard life..... |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 17, 2017 22:46:09 GMT
Got a friend on Mull. Built a house for herself and husband in the middle of nowhere. Must go and visit, but it's a long drive...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2017 18:13:24 GMT
I received an email today from Volvo informing me my car has not been into one of their UK dealerships for quite some time, if I were to do so my car would receive a free software update.
I politely replied the car was no longer registered in the UK. Then it occurred to me that CRM system has missed a trick, no mention of the MOT being well and truly expired. That actually being a legal requirement. How hard would it be to get that information when we can all do it manually, online, for free?
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Post by tyrednexited on Jun 22, 2017 20:01:00 GMT
...following the MOT mystery, number one son now has his first tussle with sorting an accident to complete.
He was back-ended this morning whilst stationary waiting to exit a petrol station - a slow-speed collision, but damage to the rear-bumper.
Bloke in a fairly beat-up Punto immediately put his hand up, exchanged details and suggested avoiding an insurance claim.
People tend to underestimate the cost of remediation, and I'm always a bit suspicious of such avoidance (car not insured? (it was on AskMID), or not the insured driver?) but, before going anywhere with it, I picked the car up and dropped it in a local, back-street repairer for a look-see.
£300 to fix (strip bumper, straighten one crease, rub down all over and respray - and a few brackets to sort).
The other party is still, surprisingly, up for direct payment, and we have all the admission and evidence of the offer by text/email.
Son's excess is £350, so unless a subsequent recovery from the third party is successful, (which is admittedly likely) nothing to be gained by claiming on his insurance.
With the admission and offer to pay in the back pocket, Son's insurance has been informed for notification purposes only, with a reserved option to turn into a full claim, and protecting against a fraudulent "return claim".
I'm still a bit suspicious, but we'll now see what happens - there are, of course, still a few honest people left. ;-)
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Post by Humph on Jun 22, 2017 20:48:04 GMT
Confucius he say, Broke in Plunto most rikery not insured.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2017 20:55:00 GMT
On the MoT front, we acquired a small estate agency in March which came with a liveried Hyundai i10 2012. It usually lives with one of the staff, but is genuinely used as a pool car as it can and does go elsewhere overnight as there is nowhere safe to leave it at the office.
I drove the car for the first time tonight as it is being used in a local carnival parade on Sunday. I though the car was a little uncared for so I looked for the service book. Last entry was May 2014. I looked online for the MoT history. MoT expired two weeks ago. So no-one takes ownership of the car maintenance....I will try to get the car booked in tomorrow for service and MoT, otherwise no parade.
I have a good look around. All tyres down at 22psi - should be 33psi. Thought the steering was heavy and leaden. There are no carpet mats and there is a large hole in the carpet under the brake pedal where high heeled shoes have worn it away. Mats would have avoided that. The clutch is floppy for the first couple of inches of travel and the power outlet and cigarette lighter sockets have no power. Remarkably the car is otherwise in good order. Bodily it is very good indeed, it actually drives pretty well and the a/c works beautifully...
Time to chat with the main driver and tell her to accept responsibility for the maintenance and cleanliness of the car.
However, I am thinking about giving it to my son to take to university instead of the 12 year old Punto. So if you wanted a small, slightly funky and cheap car to advertise your estate agency business what would you choose? I am thinking Twingo?
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Post by Humph on Jun 22, 2017 21:01:29 GMT
Or a Smart?
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Post by tyrednexited on Jun 22, 2017 21:11:14 GMT
...Estate Agent round here has a small fleet of them (ForTwo). They are the previous model, however, which IMO is more 'funky' than the current model (SWMBO has one of those as you know) but considerably less practical. I really enjoy the Smart for local journeys, and, though it wouldn't be first choice, at a push I could just about hack a long journey in it. |
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Post by Humph on Jun 22, 2017 21:13:19 GMT
Wonder if they describe the cars as bijou?
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Post by tyrednexited on Jun 22, 2017 21:23:31 GMT
Wonder if they describe the cars as bijou? ....wouldn't know how to spell bygo bije bigoo snug round here..... |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 22, 2017 21:32:21 GMT
What car do you think the Americans would give an example of 'compact'? I think it's boot would swallow a Smart ForTwo.
Isn't the Twingo much better value than the identical four door Smart?
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Post by Humph on Jun 22, 2017 21:35:46 GMT
Probably, but then I'd guess the Smart would have better residuals ?
Dunno, both sort of cool.
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Post by tyrednexited on Jun 22, 2017 21:45:58 GMT
I really don't "get" the ForFour. If you want a four seater, four door car, then there are much better, much better value, alternatives. Some might think it funky/quirky, but it just doesn't look right to me. I'm not sure about the current Twingo, either, but it is better value (at list) than the Smart (but gets outsold by the latter by quite a degree!).
The ForTwo, on the other hand, is much more funky/quirky, is a niche product that there are little or no competitors for, and is a much more attractive proposition*.
(*albeit that it is vastly over-priced, which is why I only bought an unused, pre-registered version at a huge discount)
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