Hi,
Last week I could drive Barbara's car down the High Street, in first gear, at 20mph, kick the accelerator, and hear a gentle squeal from the front tyres. Doing the same thing on a roundabout got much more "interesting".
Her car is a just-over 3 year old Hyundia iX20 (1600cc) with 9000 miles on the clock from new, full service history by the main dealers.
I do not drive with my foot on the clutch pedal, nor do I slip the clutch when doing a standing start. The front tyres were renewed a few weeks ago, with sub-10,000 miles on the clock, at the same time as the service. No comments were made about the clutch, although they DID comment about a scratch on a rear door .... somebody had left a builders bucket, full of rubble, between my car and the car parked next to me. My rear passenger opened my door.
We had to call the main dealers to collect the car over the weekend, due to sudden on-set of severe clutch slip, requiring minimum throttle, even in first gear. They have quoted a smidgen under
£1,000 to replace the clutch (OK, they are MAIN DEALERS, but even so ......)
Question! In view of my comments above, is it likely that that my "abuse" could have caused such a
sudden and
severe failure.
The garage reported back, saying it needs a new clutch. I assume they made that diagnosis, without any dismantling ... I had already made the same diagnosis, but the low milage threw some doubt into the my mind.
We have spent some time discussing the matter. Our options seem to be ....
A) Pay to have the clutch replaced, accept the £1,000
B) Trade the car in, as it stands, against a new car of but the same marque, which suggestion seems to concentrate their minds.
C) Trade the car in, as it stands, for a new car of a different marque, which has not yet been mentioned to the Hyundai dealer. My choice would be a DACIA.
D) Go and buy a second-hand, one owner, FSH, VED Exempt, SAAB 900i ..... they do exist, at Lo-bucks. Drive the Hyundai into my secret garden, and wait for the return the "£3,000 TRADE IN on anything".
Answers on a postcard, please, nothing is likely to happen in the next 24 hours.
New cars are available without VAT, for the use of disabled persons .... but they must be extensively adapted .... welding is expected. Such cars may be used by able bodied family members. Barbara has not been out of her bed for about a year .... it would require mechanical handling, plus well muscled carers.
I am thinking of writing to Nick Knowles, presenter of
DIY -SOS on Channel 132, weekday mornings at 10.00hrs, and again at 11.00hrs, suggesting that he publishes a book similar to John Seymour's SELF SUFFICIENCY.
DIY SOS ... if you haven't seen it ... records the good deeds (FOC) carried out by dozens of building tradesmen, on houses occupied by severely disabled adults and children. Tears are frequently shed by "hairy A'd" builders. It's not unusual to have a tower crane set up to lift residential caravans over ex-Local Authority houses. Kidney Dialasis machines have been installed in spare bedrooms (I think they are available on the web for £1,000 to £2,000).
It's starting on TV ... NOW.
602
Unfortunately, I don't think Barbara is bad enough to be exigible