The official AA appreciation thread...
Discussion
OK, just like to say I have no connection whatsoever with this organisation...
Last night, whilst on holiday in deepest mid Wales, Mrs WR and myself returned to our car after doing some extensive fellwalking to find the electrical power completely dead, no lights, nothing.
This was really very frightening as we were miles from anywhere, (The nearest house was about three miles away, we were down a narrow winding road, it was blowing a gale, completely pitch black as it was 5:30pm).....I checked the battery connections using my trusty maglite and everything seemed fine.
Fortunately we managed to pick up a mobile phone signal, so I rang the AA, and a patrol van arrived 50 minutes later. Within five minutes the chap found the problem, a lead to the main battery fuse had come adrift, this could not be readily seen, especially in the very poor light, there was zero chance I would have found this. We would have been up the creek without a paddle.
The patrolman in question was 100% courteous, extremely friendly and apologised for taking so long to arrive.....he travelled over 25 miles to get to us on a very wet and filthy night.
Now I have been an AA member since 1972, I have probably called them out maybe eight or nine times, both with my cars and motorbikes and they have never once failed to get me on my way, except once in 1978 when a valve spring snapped on my one day old (from new) 3 litre Capri on the top of the Kirkstone pass in the Lake District at 10pm and I had to be taken home 150 miles on the back of a low loader.
I know they sometimes come in for stick on here, but I can't praise them enough.....(as long as you haggle with them every year over their fee, as they seem to try it on quite a bit, especially with long term members)
Two or three quid a week, the bargain of the century.
Well done the AA, and thank you.
Last night, whilst on holiday in deepest mid Wales, Mrs WR and myself returned to our car after doing some extensive fellwalking to find the electrical power completely dead, no lights, nothing.
This was really very frightening as we were miles from anywhere, (The nearest house was about three miles away, we were down a narrow winding road, it was blowing a gale, completely pitch black as it was 5:30pm).....I checked the battery connections using my trusty maglite and everything seemed fine.
Fortunately we managed to pick up a mobile phone signal, so I rang the AA, and a patrol van arrived 50 minutes later. Within five minutes the chap found the problem, a lead to the main battery fuse had come adrift, this could not be readily seen, especially in the very poor light, there was zero chance I would have found this. We would have been up the creek without a paddle.
The patrolman in question was 100% courteous, extremely friendly and apologised for taking so long to arrive.....he travelled over 25 miles to get to us on a very wet and filthy night.
Now I have been an AA member since 1972, I have probably called them out maybe eight or nine times, both with my cars and motorbikes and they have never once failed to get me on my way, except once in 1978 when a valve spring snapped on my one day old (from new) 3 litre Capri on the top of the Kirkstone pass in the Lake District at 10pm and I had to be taken home 150 miles on the back of a low loader.
I know they sometimes come in for stick on here, but I can't praise them enough.....(as long as you haggle with them every year over their fee, as they seem to try it on quite a bit, especially with long term members)
Two or three quid a week, the bargain of the century.
Well done the AA, and thank you.
I can't fault them, had a patrolman who knew a petrol station miles away that sold spark plugs and was open 24hrs which is a bit unusual, he went there and got some then managed to get the threaded remains out the head without damaging it at the roadside when my rover started pinking then fired a plug out the head and dented the bonnet.
The last few times i used them though they took hours to attend and sent subcontractors but i suspect that migh be because it was a fleet account and everybody that dealt with my works fleet managment company always moaned about always being paid late and not enough.
The last few times i used them though they took hours to attend and sent subcontractors but i suspect that migh be because it was a fleet account and everybody that dealt with my works fleet managment company always moaned about always being paid late and not enough.
Left my mum with three young kids at the side of a dual carridgeway for 4 f*cking hours on the hottest day of the year and then diagnosed but failed to fix a broken HT lead on a Mk2 Golf. I will never forget or forgive.
RAC every time, although to be honest it depends on the engineer rather than the company. AA also used to have a shortage of low loaders, not sure if that's still the case.
RAC every time, although to be honest it depends on the engineer rather than the company. AA also used to have a shortage of low loaders, not sure if that's still the case.
Twice this year they have gone above and beyond my expectations. I have the full personal cover with parts+labour cover for the RS6.
First time I broke down on a Sunday with a failed alternator. Not wanting to drive it the 30 miles home to then try and get it in my preferred garage on the Monday the AA man asked which garage it was, turned out he knew the owner who lived around the corner.
He kept the car at his overnight with my battery on charge and the garage owner came round and collected next day to take it to work. The AA then paid out £400+ for the repair.
2nd time was a failed driveshaft 250miles from home whilst camping. The AA picked up the car and dropped me and the other half off at the pub 2 mins from the camp site. They then transported the car to my usual garage 250miles away whilst they organised a hire car to be delivered to the camp site for me. Next day a lovely turd brown Citroen C4 shows up at reception.
By the time I got home from our holiday 3 days later the car was fixed and ready to be picked up and the AA had paid the bill. Happy days!
This year I'm looking at £40 a month for personal cover for 2, with the parts and labour for the RS6. It also includes breakdown cover for any car my son happens to be in at the time. I still think it's money well spent.
First time I broke down on a Sunday with a failed alternator. Not wanting to drive it the 30 miles home to then try and get it in my preferred garage on the Monday the AA man asked which garage it was, turned out he knew the owner who lived around the corner.
He kept the car at his overnight with my battery on charge and the garage owner came round and collected next day to take it to work. The AA then paid out £400+ for the repair.
2nd time was a failed driveshaft 250miles from home whilst camping. The AA picked up the car and dropped me and the other half off at the pub 2 mins from the camp site. They then transported the car to my usual garage 250miles away whilst they organised a hire car to be delivered to the camp site for me. Next day a lovely turd brown Citroen C4 shows up at reception.
By the time I got home from our holiday 3 days later the car was fixed and ready to be picked up and the AA had paid the bill. Happy days!
This year I'm looking at £40 a month for personal cover for 2, with the parts and labour for the RS6. It also includes breakdown cover for any car my son happens to be in at the time. I still think it's money well spent.
kers, just like insurance. It has become an annual battle to get the price down.I had to make use of the AA a couple of weeks ago after the radiator on my BMW split (insert the " they all do that Sir" jokes)
Originally I was told they would be 45minutes, luckily I had limped the car to the service station so I wasn't that fussed. The guy arrived in 20 minutes , did a quick pressure test of the coolant system and loaded me up to take me home all within 45minutes of my original call.
It was about as good as any breakdown experience could be.
Originally I was told they would be 45minutes, luckily I had limped the car to the service station so I wasn't that fussed. The guy arrived in 20 minutes , did a quick pressure test of the coolant system and loaded me up to take me home all within 45minutes of my original call.
It was about as good as any breakdown experience could be.
Ug_lee said:
Twice this year they have gone above and beyond my expectations. I have the full personal cover with parts+labour cover for the RS6.
First time I broke down on a Sunday with a failed alternator. Not wanting to drive it the 30 miles home to then try and get it in my preferred garage on the Monday the AA man asked which garage it was, turned out he knew the owner who lived around the corner.
He kept the car at his overnight with my battery on charge and the garage owner came round and collected next day to take it to work. The AA then paid out £400+ for the repair.
2nd time was a failed driveshaft 250miles from home whilst camping. The AA picked up the car and dropped me and the other half off at the pub 2 mins from the camp site. They then transported the car to my usual garage 250miles away whilst they organised a hire car to be delivered to the camp site for me. Next day a lovely turd brown Citroen C4 shows up at reception.
By the time I got home from our holiday 3 days later the car was fixed and ready to be picked up and the AA had paid the bill. Happy days!
This year I'm looking at £40 a month for personal cover for 2, with the parts and labour for the RS6. It also includes breakdown cover for any car my son happens to be in at the time. I still think it's money well spent.
So... under £500 a year and if anything breaks, they fix it? That's incredible! What does that exclude?First time I broke down on a Sunday with a failed alternator. Not wanting to drive it the 30 miles home to then try and get it in my preferred garage on the Monday the AA man asked which garage it was, turned out he knew the owner who lived around the corner.
He kept the car at his overnight with my battery on charge and the garage owner came round and collected next day to take it to work. The AA then paid out £400+ for the repair.
2nd time was a failed driveshaft 250miles from home whilst camping. The AA picked up the car and dropped me and the other half off at the pub 2 mins from the camp site. They then transported the car to my usual garage 250miles away whilst they organised a hire car to be delivered to the camp site for me. Next day a lovely turd brown Citroen C4 shows up at reception.
By the time I got home from our holiday 3 days later the car was fixed and ready to be picked up and the AA had paid the bill. Happy days!
This year I'm looking at £40 a month for personal cover for 2, with the parts and labour for the RS6. It also includes breakdown cover for any car my son happens to be in at the time. I still think it's money well spent.
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