Car failed its MOT.

[miasmum]

no no no not a car showroom Frank. A lovely field reunited with his gorgeous Welsh Springer who I think was called Prince

[Suff]

Yes I miss Aggers too. I did notice WM replying that he'd tried to contact him but couldn't.

We have a 54 Citroen C3 diesel exclusive. Last year I put it through a French Control Technique and it failed on two things. One corroded back exhaust box bracket which had finally parted and some damage to the under engine tray which had all come apart and the wing was flapping. I repaired the lot for Zero cost as I took out some of my spare steel and welded it onto what was left of the bracket. The CT guy laughed when he saw it, he said the car would fall apart around it, it was such thick steel.

The car goes really well, it's a 1.6l 109bhp diesel with a combo super/turbo charger on it. We expect to drive it into the ground with me providing the mechanical repairs. So far, besides this work, I've replaced the front discs and pads and freed off one seized caliper. Total cost £55.

If you have the contacts and can get the work done/do the work yourself, keeping an older car these days is not a bad idea. It is only when they start hitting the hundreds of thousands of miles that they start to really fail with big ticket items.

Coming up for us is timing belt and water pump (best to replace both). Trying to decide whether to do it myself or let the garage do it. Might let the garage do it. It'll costs more than the car is worth but gives another 10 years to it.

[Workingman]

It's back! £80 done and dusted. Good for an other few years says Mark, the MOT man.

It might actually last longer than me!

[JoM]

I was only thinking of Aggers the other day, what a lovely man!

Joe’s first car was an 07 reg Fiat Punto, he paid £1700 for it. He and John went down to Coventry to get it one Bank Holiday Monday before he’d passed his test. They had to get a train, which turned out to be a rail replacement bus, seeing as only John could drive. He used it at first for practice with John beside him, after he passed his test he was home for as long as it took to fully insure it for him (12 minutes if I remember correctly) before driving off, he came home four hours later

He kept it a year before trading it in for a Corsa (which has now been traded in for a Seat Leon). It gave him no trouble and John’s checked several times to see if it’s still on the road, last time was a couple of months ago, and each year it’s passed it’s MOT first time.

[cruiser2]

The son of a friend bought a small car for £3600 when he passes his test just after his 17th birthday. He has now sold it for £4100 having had four years
of use from it.Now bought a small Mrec. He is working but wants to go on a Sabbatical round the world. His parents don't object.
They have been strict with them but have made sure they enjoy themselves.

[Workingman]

The quality of things like big end bearings, clutches, brake pads / shoes, windscreen wipers etc. is out of this world compared to yesteryear. My old Hillman Imp and Minis had to be refurbed at about 50,000 miles - the Allegro - don't go there!

There are apparently well over 1 million cars on the roads with over 150,000 miles on the clock and still going strong.

[Suff]

Metallurgy has advanced dramatically over the last 50 years. This leads to longer lifetimes. Also the focus on warranties which exceed 3 years, even if still 100,000 miles, has had a dramatic effect on quality. No good putting all the work into engine and transmission if the suspension, body and interior falls apart inside the warranty period.

Also machining has advanced with laser guided automated machines. Providing finishes which were only possible by master machinists spending hours finishing the milling and lathe work.

Every material part that goes into a vehicle lives longer than 5 decades ago. Meaning these vehicles are going to be on the road for many more years.

[miasmum]

Tims car failed its MOT yesterday, on a bulging tyre. He had an advisory about the other tyre, so arranged for them to replace them both. So far so good, except they couldn't find the locking wheel nuts. Ended up sheering them off, and fitting ordinary nuts. Increased the bill by £90 Look after your nuts is all I can say to that

[Suff]

That is on my radar. 8 studs, 4 for each car, so I can get rid of the damned security nuts.