GTV + nail + the AA = Big bill
Discussion
Yesterday I had a puncture. No problem, except that my alfa GTV doesn't have a spare wheel. To save boot space the original owner had specified the optional puncture repair kit. Needles to say the repair kit was useless because the tyre was slightly unseated from the rim. The pump just couldn't pump fast enough to make it seal.
OK, not a disaster, lets call the AA. Eventually they arrive and decide to tow the car to a tyre place. The AA bloke puts the flat on the front so the back wheels were ok for towing (he had one of those trucks that lifts the front wheels off the ground, leaving the rears to roll on the road).
We put the car on the front wheel lifter thing, but it's not quite right so we have to take it off again.
Now, a GTV is fairly low at the front anyway and with a flat tyre one side it's very low indeed.
Guess what ? When the car rolls back over the wheel lifter the front corner catches. The whole right side of the bumper is pulled off and it snaps in the middle. Oh joy, a 1p nail just ended up causing 4 figures worth of damage.
To be fair the AA have been reasonable about it. They have agreed to fix it without quibbling, and to provide another car in the mean time.
I just thought I'd mention this as a cautionary tale. If I'd been a little more awake and thought about what was happening, instead of just standing watching with my brain in neutral, things would have been a lot better.
Oh yes, and make sure you have a spare wheel. I'll be buying one asap.
OK, not a disaster, lets call the AA. Eventually they arrive and decide to tow the car to a tyre place. The AA bloke puts the flat on the front so the back wheels were ok for towing (he had one of those trucks that lifts the front wheels off the ground, leaving the rears to roll on the road).
We put the car on the front wheel lifter thing, but it's not quite right so we have to take it off again.
Now, a GTV is fairly low at the front anyway and with a flat tyre one side it's very low indeed.
Guess what ? When the car rolls back over the wheel lifter the front corner catches. The whole right side of the bumper is pulled off and it snaps in the middle. Oh joy, a 1p nail just ended up causing 4 figures worth of damage.
To be fair the AA have been reasonable about it. They have agreed to fix it without quibbling, and to provide another car in the mean time.
I just thought I'd mention this as a cautionary tale. If I'd been a little more awake and thought about what was happening, instead of just standing watching with my brain in neutral, things would have been a lot better.
Oh yes, and make sure you have a spare wheel. I'll be buying one asap.
I was hovering over the options list when I ordered mine and very nearly ticked the 'puncture kit' box as it makes a huge difference to boot space. Manage to persuade myself not to after imagining myself with a torn tyre on the edge of a remote road...won't post the whole saga, but my car runs about 2 inches off the ground at the front.
Broke down at 5.30pm on wet rainy sunday evening, due to it being so low took them till 10.30pm to get a full lift truck out to me.
The idiots couldn't fix the problem, simple alternator belt twisted = flat battery. Anyway made a formal complaint.
Here's to hoping I don't break down again for a while.
Broke down at 5.30pm on wet rainy sunday evening, due to it being so low took them till 10.30pm to get a full lift truck out to me.
The idiots couldn't fix the problem, simple alternator belt twisted = flat battery. Anyway made a formal complaint.
Here's to hoping I don't break down again for a while.
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