Expensive start to the year.
You might as well say that it was an expensive end to last year with the Chook Ranch! But that was planned, and a new car was definitely NOT on the agenda. Still isn't really, but I might not have a choice. On
Xmas Eve my brakes failed while I was backing down the driveway of a friend's house. Thank goodness for manual transmission: I jumped on the clutch and put the car into first gear, at the same time using the hand brake to slow down. Came to a stop at the foot of the driveway just as a car drove past...
When I tried to re start the car it kept stalling. Just as well I was only around the corner from home, and I just made it into the garage before it stalled again. Luckily the ABS garage was open and they said to bring my car around, which I did, driving very carefully with Ken behind me in the ute. They fixed the brakes which needed replacing at a cost of $380. Fine, but when I drove off I only got about three blocks away when the car stalled again. I phoned ABS on my mobile (what did we do before mobile phones?) and they said bring the car back. I did, and they spent half an hour on it at no cost (now that's what I call the Christmas spirit) but with not much improvement.
I had to wait until this week when the mechanic at our usual garage started work, and he did some more work, replacing a gadget at a cost of nearly $700. I drove off, but it was no better, so back it went. They've had the car for three days, taken it to other places, and had experts in, and finally today some computer bloke came in and did some tests and announced the cause of the problem is the car's internal computer. It will have to be replaced at a possible starting cost of over $1000, and that's before labour costs. Ken wants me to trade it in right away on a newer model. In the present condition I'd be lucky to get $1000 trade in value, and the cost of a good second hand car (I don't want a brand new car) would be about $10,000 or more. My opinion is that I should get the computer replaced and keep my car, as it has only done 106,000 kl, and is still very reliable, and seeing I've just spent $1000 to keep it going, I'm reluctant to let it go so soon!
I'd be interested to read any opinions from readers....
Xmas Eve my brakes failed while I was backing down the driveway of a friend's house. Thank goodness for manual transmission: I jumped on the clutch and put the car into first gear, at the same time using the hand brake to slow down. Came to a stop at the foot of the driveway just as a car drove past...
When I tried to re start the car it kept stalling. Just as well I was only around the corner from home, and I just made it into the garage before it stalled again. Luckily the ABS garage was open and they said to bring my car around, which I did, driving very carefully with Ken behind me in the ute. They fixed the brakes which needed replacing at a cost of $380. Fine, but when I drove off I only got about three blocks away when the car stalled again. I phoned ABS on my mobile (what did we do before mobile phones?) and they said bring the car back. I did, and they spent half an hour on it at no cost (now that's what I call the Christmas spirit) but with not much improvement.
I had to wait until this week when the mechanic at our usual garage started work, and he did some more work, replacing a gadget at a cost of nearly $700. I drove off, but it was no better, so back it went. They've had the car for three days, taken it to other places, and had experts in, and finally today some computer bloke came in and did some tests and announced the cause of the problem is the car's internal computer. It will have to be replaced at a possible starting cost of over $1000, and that's before labour costs. Ken wants me to trade it in right away on a newer model. In the present condition I'd be lucky to get $1000 trade in value, and the cost of a good second hand car (I don't want a brand new car) would be about $10,000 or more. My opinion is that I should get the computer replaced and keep my car, as it has only done 106,000 kl, and is still very reliable, and seeing I've just spent $1000 to keep it going, I'm reluctant to let it go so soon!
I'd be interested to read any opinions from readers....
posted by Gina E. | 11:05 pm
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