Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[52classic]

Yes, I need to let off steam (and ease my conscience a bit).

I may have told you before about my old pal who is 85 years of age and still driving - very well I might add - Anyway, last year when his old Rover 800 gave up the ghost I found for him an early V6 Mondeo in absolutely stunning condition with all the gadgets he could want.

Very likely be the last car he'll own and we joked that I wanted to find something nice enough for him to put in his will for me!

Last week he took the car to his local garage for MOT and I got a phone call of despair saying that he thought the car was done for. I rushed over to see the MOT failure slip to find only two faults. Screenwash not working and a tiny hole - 10p piece - in the cill forward of the rear wheel. Of course there was some gabbledygook description written on the sheet but the above is what it amounted to - two minor faults.

The second sheet was 'advisories' - Quite a few but IMHO contrived nonsense like surface rust on road springs. I advised him to ignore the second sheet - The car does less than 1000 miles a year anyway and perhaps we could sort a bit of servicing later in the year - The screenwash fault was a pipe off the reservoir visible from above but best reached from underneath. The cill? A welded patch required - Say 50 quid at the most? OK, 75 on a bad day.

I advised him to get the tester to do it because that way he would probably waive the retest fee. So we're all happy then!!!

Not quite, we met up again this week.. "Car alright now?"
"Yes, but not before it cost me SIX HUNDRED QUID!"



Seems he just took the car back to the garage and told the bloke to get on with it, by which the garage thought they had a free hand to do as they liked!

I'm shocked to find that the propensity for rogues in the garage trade is as strong as ever but above all I am annoyed with myself for not taking the whole job in hand on his behalf. In hindsight it would have been so easy!

[ukdave2002]

Have you spoken to the garage? By law they can only charge a fair rate, given the 2 repairs could only have taken an hour? And no parts involved £600 is real rip off! I'd be inclined to threaten legal action.....

Dave

[Julian]

[peter scott]

It doesn't really matter whether the car is safe (or extra safe). What matters is that the car is safe in the eyes of authority. If it's not then you're on a hiding to nowhere.

Peter
_________________
https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Julian]

[peter scott]

[buzzy bee]

As Moderator can we all stay on topic, not get dragged into the legalities of needing an MOT or not, as there is another thread for that discussion.

As Buzzy bee, I would be going back to the garage with your Elderly friend, and raising your comment in the middle of a busy waiting room if you could, it is amazing what this can do at times. Of course don't be rude, etc.

[52classic]

Thanks lads, and whilst I don't want to incur the wrath of 'buzzy bee' I do want to justify the gobbldygook & nonsense comment.

No mistake, I do support the MOT process and it has served me well in the past. However current practice is to weave a web of mystery around it IMHO. The holed sill for example was described as 'an unauthorised design modification within xxxmm of a structural member' !! Gobbldygook or what?

Why can't it say small area of corrosion in o/s rear sill?

Dare I say that the first description justifies a big bill, the second doesn't!

Who determines that surface corrosion on a roadspring is worthy advisory anyway? It'll be 'cupholders innefective' next!

My old pal is determined that he doesn't want me to 'have a word' with the tester and in the end it's only money and a valuable lesson learned.

Clearly he had asked the bloke to take care of things and thereby left himself open to exploitation. I just wish I had taken control of the matter in good time. Judging from your responses I needn't feel too guilty about it and I am pleased about that at least!