When will it end

[Dougster]

Sorry, I just needed to get this one out.

What an awful year. Now I admit, others have had worse, and my family are all healthy but this is water torture, one little damn drip at a time.

I bought a new (used)car in January) (£3500)

In February the rear calipers failed - new ones with discs and pads. (£250)

In March the kids broke the central locking on my wifes car (£300)

In April the engine management systems failed. (£120)

In June the gearbox failed, so I replaced the clutch too (£260)

In July the boiler gave up on us (£1997.50)

In August the head blew off the gasket - new engine (£1300)

In September the gearbox failed again (just a week without)

In November I was told the dog had terminal cancer and our best friends had a job fall through here after three years in Dubai to have one come up in California.

In December the turbo has failed. Merry bloody Christmas. (£1500)


I can't wait for auld lang syne, I've had enough of this year, I can't afford it any more.

All that on a teachers pay and Gordon gave us 2%.

 

[gorilla]

fingers crossed for a better new year for you mate
i know how it feels to have a year that makes your wallet fibrillate and generally makes you feel like the patch of grass under the cows backside

 

[Mirius]

Ouch! And funnily enough I've had more car trouble this year than ever I can remember, including the cambelt going a bit prematurely though fortunately it was just a head rebuild. Even now I've got some weird electrical gremlin which is draining the battery overnight.

Still look on the bright side. Thats 2% more than I got - so much for working in the private sector!

 

[Dougster]

Oh but for the public sector....

We had a lock down today, some of the kids had stolen a bottle of potassium in oil......they didn't get it back by the time I left................

 

[decorum]

Sometimes it never rains but it pours. I can't wait for the weather to change either. Our thoughts are with you and yours for a better time to come.

 

[Bernie Garland]

it must be a motor sort of year, a week ago the turbo blew on my pajero blowing the exhaust as well,£150 for a turbo fitted myself,£140 exhaust fitted,mot due tyres £270 wife's driving back from having tyres fitted engine blows,when the turbo blew it blew loads of bits of metal into the engine, another engine £450 guaranteed a good runner,mate to fit it £150 and all at Christmas,i also can't wait to see the back off this year
bernie

 

[C_Claycomb]

Man, I really feel for you. When cars go bad it can be awful. I am stunned that so much went wrong on one vehicle so quickly, at least, one that cost that much to start with.

My last car was a Honda that sprang a radiator leak, over heated, then blew the head gasket. I first took it to a Honda garage and they charged me £113 for a service, £300 for the radiator, discovered the cylinder head only after doing the radiator and offered to fix that for £700-£800. They also said that all the following were needed

rear trailing arm bushes £290
central section nof exhaust £140
Tracking control arm bushes £210
4 tires £70



I was a fool not to just junk the car there and then. I took it elsewhere and had the head gasket changed and the head skimmed for £350, got four part worn tires and had it sail through its MOT, then traded it in...and lost £100 on the deal.:11doh:

At least I had had four years out of the car without much else going wrong.

I really hope that 2008 brings a turn in your fortunes, it sounds like it is long overdue.
All the best

 

[scanker]

I had a starter and an alternator on the Bongo this year. Still, hopefully the electrics are sorted for the time being! *fingers crossed*

I do feel for you - we've another nipper due next month and I can feel my wallet straining already!

 

[Shewie]

Wow Dougster that`s a costly year for running a new motor, it`s not made by a popular French manufacturer is it ?? We had a similar nightmare a couple of years ago with the wifes new (used) car, not quite on the scale of your paid out mind. They seem to come and go in spells, hopefully nothing will go wrong now for a few years.
We`ve had a few toughies this year, including getting ripped off by an incompetent plumber who managed to screw us for nearly three times the existing quote, this was for some fairly straight forward work in a new bathroom. After 3 months I had to tell him not to come back and I`d finish it off myself.
Then there was the regular vandalism being caused to both our cars parked outside the house, this also cost us each time. Either new wing mirrors after the others getting kicked off, or new tyres them being stabbed. I wouldn`t care but I don`t even know anybody round here.

Here`s to 2008 Dougster


Rich

 

[Oakleaf]

Read thread after sent PM.

No scientific basis, but I cant shake belief that good things happen to good people. Dougster is a good person.

Wish I could offer something more than just words or potentially over optimistic 'faith'. But keep putting one foot in front of 'tother and it will come right.

 

[Dougster]

Wow Dougster that`s a costly year for running a new motor, it`s not made by a popular French manufacturer is it ??
Rich

It is indeed an X reg 306 2.0 HDI

Piece of crap.

Thanks fellas. But it's going soon, I'm after that golf. hopefully more reliable.

Here's to 2008, for us all.

 

[British Red]

Rich,

Go for a 'Yota mate. Mine is older than your Pug. Got 75,000 miles on. Its had seven problems from new

3* holed out tyres (POS Michelin A/Ts - switched to BFGs - never had a problem since)

1* rusted out rear light cluster.Now to be fair the underneath was caked in mud from offroading. And had been for 2+ years

3 bulbs.

So ignoring bulbs, tyres and abuse - nada, zip, nothing. Starts first turn of the key every time, never broken down, no faults (think the brake pads will need doing soon. Still they are the new ones on a W reg!

My first Toyota (Its a Landcruiser), but it sure won't be my last!

Red

 

[Dougster]

I do 50 miles a day and this took biodiesel. It's gonna have to do 50/gallon and do the same fuel.

I am looking a Toyotas but do they do something of a similar size in diesel and just pipping 100bhp?

 

[British Red]

Hmmm not sure...bet they do - mines an oil burner and pretty good on the juice for its size and having the airodynamics of a breeze block! You after new or used?

Red

 

[Dougster]

I have heavy boots, I don't dawdle. Saying that I'm good with circles and numbers in them, it's that black line I don't understand, so big engine.

I have environmental guilt, so diesel - big diesel engines should take my biodiesel.

Small ish - 306 rather than 106 - I do a bit of motorway stuff and have two wee people in it from time to time, I shall have a nosey around tomorrow.

Must sell mine then see what I can get, I'm eyeing up the Golf GTTDI, fun and 50mpg.

Used, I'm not giving money away. Well, not any more.

 

[SOAR]

a friend of mine got a Golf GTTD nice car, that blew a turbo in its second week he had it, saying that I think he did have it chipped I think it had 150bhp until it killed his turbo, that wasn't cheep to put right, still its a really nice car.

Simon.

 

[Shewie]

Go for the Golf Dougster, I had a GTTDI 130bhp when they first came out on a W plate, 600 miles to the tank and I screwed it all week long. Had 3 happy years in it and was sad to see it go. Got another one now but it`s the stupidly quick Gti 2.0T petrol and drinks like a fish, but I thought I`d have a bit of fun for a few years.


Rich

 

[Tengu]

Get a banger and replace it yearly.

I have had very little trouble with cars (of the expensive sort, as I treat them as disposable) though today I got a Vauxhall Nova with 12months MOT for £300 (after a lot of haggling)

My previous car was a Rover 214, but it now has an intermittent electrical fault (plus other petty matters) so I needed a new.

It has a sound engine and gearbox, so Im sure to get a `little` on Ebay

 

[Matt Weir]

Dougster,

My Mum and Dad had a rough time last year culminating a a double heart attack for my Dad so I know at times things can seem to conspire to bring you down so grit those teeth, tell it yuck fou and look forward.

Best wishes,

 

[-Switch-]

$orry to hear of your misfortunes mate Sometimes it all piles up at once like that.
I hope 2008 gives you a better time of things.

Dig your leatherwork tools out and have a bit of a play - you know it'll make you feel better