Borrowed car - Failed MOT...
Discussion
Hi guys.
I've been borrowing a car for 2 months now, and I've racked up a mighty 2000 miles in the time, mainly pootling but a little motorway miles, and certainly no ragging!
It's a 1.9 TDI mk4 golf with 150,000 miles on it, it's awful if I'm honest but it's saved me a fair chunk of money with not having to insure it (company policy) and it seems to go forever on £20 of devil juice...Cheap and cheerful...
However, it's MOT was due, and I've been asked to sort it which I feel is fair enough, but it's failed, badly...
£942 to be exact...
Full exhaust is corroded (in fairness this did happen whilst I was using it, so I've accepted responsibility for this, even if it is just bad timing it did it during me using it!)
Rear brake callipers need replacing along with discs and pads, and handbrake adjustment...
Two wheel bearings
Various other bits and bobs, probably normal for a 2003 car with such an awful service and repair record..
But, I asked my uncle who owns the car and basically told him the situ, and although the agreement was if anything breaks, I fix it, but this stuff is definately not stuff that happens in 2000 miles!
Uncle basically said, what do I feel a fair contribution is towards the £942 repair bill?
Opinions? It's not been a life saver, it's just meant I didn't really need to buy a car for 6 months until my cousin needs it...It has been useful, and cheaper than the car I would of bought, but what's the opinion of the PH massive?
Thanks
I've been borrowing a car for 2 months now, and I've racked up a mighty 2000 miles in the time, mainly pootling but a little motorway miles, and certainly no ragging!
It's a 1.9 TDI mk4 golf with 150,000 miles on it, it's awful if I'm honest but it's saved me a fair chunk of money with not having to insure it (company policy) and it seems to go forever on £20 of devil juice...Cheap and cheerful...
However, it's MOT was due, and I've been asked to sort it which I feel is fair enough, but it's failed, badly...
£942 to be exact...
Full exhaust is corroded (in fairness this did happen whilst I was using it, so I've accepted responsibility for this, even if it is just bad timing it did it during me using it!)
Rear brake callipers need replacing along with discs and pads, and handbrake adjustment...
Two wheel bearings
Various other bits and bobs, probably normal for a 2003 car with such an awful service and repair record..
But, I asked my uncle who owns the car and basically told him the situ, and although the agreement was if anything breaks, I fix it, but this stuff is definately not stuff that happens in 2000 miles!
Uncle basically said, what do I feel a fair contribution is towards the £942 repair bill?
Opinions? It's not been a life saver, it's just meant I didn't really need to buy a car for 6 months until my cousin needs it...It has been useful, and cheaper than the car I would of bought, but what's the opinion of the PH massive?
Thanks

£942 for work that has become due since the last MOT. Which was about 12 months ago.
You've had it 2 months of those 12. So 1/6 seems a fair starting point - £157.
Then factor in that you've had free use of it for two months, and that a car of your own over that period would have cost you a lot more. I'd round it up to £200 or £250.
What's the cost of the exhaust plus 1/6 of the rest (ie £942 minus the cost of the exhaust)?
You've had it 2 months of those 12. So 1/6 seems a fair starting point - £157.
Then factor in that you've had free use of it for two months, and that a car of your own over that period would have cost you a lot more. I'd round it up to £200 or £250.
What's the cost of the exhaust plus 1/6 of the rest (ie £942 minus the cost of the exhaust)?
The exhaust is the thing I’d be least likely to pay for based on 2 months of motoring.
It’s not really a wear and tear item.
In fact, none of the stuff on there is something I’d expect you to be responsible for in just two months of driving.
I was going to say that you could stump up for some pads.
But really, would you expect to go through a set of pads in 2 months.
How long do pads normally last.
A year at least.
So, at best you should pay 20% of the cost of the pads.
Do the same maths with a conservative estimate of how long discs, exhausts and bearings should last.
If it was me, I might offer £250 as a gesture of goodwill for using the car for 2 months.
But there’s no way I’d pay for 10 years worth of maintenance because I drove it for 2 months.
It’s not really a wear and tear item.
In fact, none of the stuff on there is something I’d expect you to be responsible for in just two months of driving.
I was going to say that you could stump up for some pads.
But really, would you expect to go through a set of pads in 2 months.
How long do pads normally last.
A year at least.
So, at best you should pay 20% of the cost of the pads.
Do the same maths with a conservative estimate of how long discs, exhausts and bearings should last.
If it was me, I might offer £250 as a gesture of goodwill for using the car for 2 months.
But there’s no way I’d pay for 10 years worth of maintenance because I drove it for 2 months.
Deva Link said:
I wondered that too - what sort of place did the MOT and who quoted the pricing?
It went to a 'friends' garage, who sends the cars to a MOT garage round the corner. I find it a little fishy, but my 'mate' has done the MOT at cost (£35) and the garage aren't going to fail it on stuff if they won't be doing the work anyway?Typically, the quote is only about £300 on labour, I need about 8 different parts, all £70 odd each...adds up!
Will be taking it to another garage my uncle usually goes too, to let them have a look at stuff tomorrow!
redgriff500 said:
I find it hard to believe all that needs doing.
+1Be surprised if the calipers need to be changed, new seals maybe.
Pads and discs are cheap and easy to fit, bearings might be a bit more trouble though
eBay exhaust if a pattern one is rediciously expensive, normally the cat that is expensive.
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k himself for lumping you with this heap of scrap!