Wednesday 26 October 2016

5 nuts = £50

Went to the car yesterday. Flat tyre.

Took all the stuff out of boot to put on spare - found that the jack was bent.

Knocked on someone's door and borrowed a crow-bar. Straightened jack.

Fitted jack and took weight of car slightly.

Bent two half-inch wheel wrenches trying to untighten nuts on wheel. Almost popped own nuts with the effort.

Concluded that the tyre-fitter only pretented to put the correct torque on nuts, having virtually welded them to the wheel with a pneumatic impact spanner. Torque clicked too soon, now remember.

Phoned breakdown insurance and spoke to someone whose first language was not English.

Spent 15 minutes given her car's life history, followed by own life history. Kept on hold for another lifetime as she booked the call-out.

Waited for another lifetime for the break-down truck to arrive. An hour late, because his depot was in Weston Super Mare and two roads are closed in Bath at same time due to non-communication between traffic authorities.

Mechanic removed nuts and fitted spare-wheel to car in 5 minutes.

Bill for £50 paid.

Am betting that the tyre company tells me that the Pirelli is not mendable, even though only 3 months old and bought from them.

Expect to have to pay another £140 for one tyre, having spent another lifetime driving through Bath traffic and waiting my turn in queue.

Yadder yadder yadder.

Shit.

27 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Sorry about the lack of dog-sshit. I am sure I could have worked it in if I tried.

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  2. This happened to P recently. He phoned me. I phoned breakdown. I got bill for £85.

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    Replies
    1. Next time you know not what to do.

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    2. The story wasn't so simple as I described. I missed out the colourful bits.

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  3. Feeling your pain ..... my tyres can be £180 each and I drove over a screw the other week and got a flat in tyre that was very new.... luckily tyre man sorted it without having to have a new
    one !! XXXX

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    Replies
    1. Drove over a screw? Were you in a secluded dogging car-park in the dark?

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    2. Haha ..... and that screw only cost me 15 quid !!!! XXXX

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  4. Look at it sunny side up, Tom.

    The other day an awesomely nimble fingered and clever thief "bumped" into me and relieved me of £140.00 cash in a jiffy. At first I didn't even realize what had happened. Instead, I started doubting my own sanity. Until the penny (which was all I had left) dropped.

    So, you see, allowing for wear and tear in life, at least you'll get something out of your money. Whilst I have nothing to show for other than an unpaid council tax bill. Great, ain't it?

    U

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    Replies
    1. I must remember that excuse next time I run short of the council tax demand. 'The dog ate my homework - honest!'

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    2. You are an innocent, my dear Tom. Councils don't entertain "excuses". Instead, if you don't come good within seven days, they'll slam a liability order to the tune of £70.00 on top of your hanging offence. Give me a leech any day - at least you stand a fighting chance.

      U

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    3. No, you should try Bath City Council. Miss a payment by one day and they threaten to come round and take everything you've got - which is usually worth less than you owe them.

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  5. Replies
    1. I think I got off lightly. I suppose it's all relative.

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  6. Well Tom, i do hope you soon have a day that includes some unexpected good news and experiences, just to insert some balance.

    (You've reminded me how fortunate I am to be able to manage with public transport and walking to get around.)

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    Replies
    1. If I relied on public transport, I would remain within about a one mile radius of my house, but I know what you mean.

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  7. Tires are awfully expensive as I just had to buy four. Yes, they always say that the hole is too near something to repair. I think they size you up or have a quota they need to fulfill before they decide to fix a tire.

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    1. There is only one establishment near here which fixes punctures which are not dead-centre of the tread. It costs almost as much as a new tyre.

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  8. Did you get to the job?
    I need to schedule a service call next week, and I need an opinion on using these tires through the winter, or replacing them, which I last did four years and fifty thousand miles ago,

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    Replies
    1. They will not repair the tyre, but I have two others spare - with wheels. 50,000 miles ago? Change them!

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  9. Have a warm, soothing bath, drink a couple of malt whiskies, lie in a darkened room for half an hour and maybe you will begin to feel human again .

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    Replies
    1. Yes, I do that Mr Hyde transformation every night, but I am never sure which way I am going to go...

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  10. I just bought 4 new tyres (€200), then to pass my TC (MOT) I had to fork-out another €530, and I still have a slight problem that will cost me another €500. The car itself is worth about sixpence.

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    1. There comes a time when the loved vehicle costs more to repair/maintain than to suffer the huge depreciation costs and servicing from a garage of a new one.
      Our friend has had a breakdown and the car is in the garage with the 'little man down the road' waiting for a part. As he is a 'LMDtR' there is no curtesy car and she had been without for two weeks so far. We don't have public transport.

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    2. I always buy Volvo estates and I never pay more than £1000. When the repair bill becomes greater than the value of the car - either financially or practically - I toss up whether or not not spend money on it, or throw it away. Right now, the tyres on my car are worth more than the car itself.

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