How do your family manage cars?
Discussion
I'm always interested in how similar or differently family members approach cars. It comes up all the time on here about Mother's being car killers, brothers having no interest and the like. Doesn't always run in the blood does it?
Recently my sister declared her 5 year old Kia Ceed needed trading in against a close-to-new one because it would plummet in value when the Kia 7 year warranty came to an end. Not only this but as a nearly new car itself upon purchase and having done not all that many miles - front pads and disks are due which she was quoted £500 for at the dealer and she could therefore avoid the bill by giving it the heave-ho.
I pointed out that not only would the value not plummet, but of course Kia's have had their same warranty since moses wore short pants so it was half-hour's work tops on Autotrader to get an idea what the depreciation was per year - didn't land.
I pointed out the brakes were probably half the price at a decent independent and we could check even using a chain which often let you lookup the cost during booking - patient had no response.
I pointed out I'm driving a vehicle 4 times the age with 5x the mileage and all is (relatively) well - blinking only
Fact is it's fine - she wants to drive a newish car and doesn't want to maintain it or worry about a huge car-ending bill. Those of us not doing this are rolling the dice to make things a bit more palatable cost-wise or drive metal we couldn't afford new etc.
She's ultimately the sort of person I need to exist to buy my vehicles too, so one shouldn't be too sniffy.
My dad absolutely must buy cars at 2 years old and he'll go on an absolutely spree of brandless trinkets and accoutrements. Door shields, badges, dashcams that look like the IRA have been fitting them, things glued irreversibly onto surfaces and the like. True madness.
A couple of dents will go on, and it'll lose thousands come trade-in but it's fine as his head's all geared to avoiding the first couple of years of depreciation - fair enough but the cars lose thousands more having been tossed with in a way he can't or won't reverse on the back-end.
Everyone is different, we can't all be the same - usual caveats.
What do your lot do?
Recently my sister declared her 5 year old Kia Ceed needed trading in against a close-to-new one because it would plummet in value when the Kia 7 year warranty came to an end. Not only this but as a nearly new car itself upon purchase and having done not all that many miles - front pads and disks are due which she was quoted £500 for at the dealer and she could therefore avoid the bill by giving it the heave-ho.
I pointed out that not only would the value not plummet, but of course Kia's have had their same warranty since moses wore short pants so it was half-hour's work tops on Autotrader to get an idea what the depreciation was per year - didn't land.
I pointed out the brakes were probably half the price at a decent independent and we could check even using a chain which often let you lookup the cost during booking - patient had no response.
I pointed out I'm driving a vehicle 4 times the age with 5x the mileage and all is (relatively) well - blinking only
Fact is it's fine - she wants to drive a newish car and doesn't want to maintain it or worry about a huge car-ending bill. Those of us not doing this are rolling the dice to make things a bit more palatable cost-wise or drive metal we couldn't afford new etc.
She's ultimately the sort of person I need to exist to buy my vehicles too, so one shouldn't be too sniffy.
My dad absolutely must buy cars at 2 years old and he'll go on an absolutely spree of brandless trinkets and accoutrements. Door shields, badges, dashcams that look like the IRA have been fitting them, things glued irreversibly onto surfaces and the like. True madness.
A couple of dents will go on, and it'll lose thousands come trade-in but it's fine as his head's all geared to avoiding the first couple of years of depreciation - fair enough but the cars lose thousands more having been tossed with in a way he can't or won't reverse on the back-end.
Everyone is different, we can't all be the same - usual caveats.
What do your lot do?
My daughter takes massive depreciation hits, in the name of convenience.
She bought a Focus Ecoboom and after a couple of years didn't want to pay to have the wet belt replaced so she went to a dealer who used that to bid her part-ex right down to peanuts, against a Grandland.
"So this is my Grandland, what do you think?"
"You know it's got a wet belt, right?"
My partner has no concept of how a car works so I just service and maintain it for her. It's easier that way.
She bought a Focus Ecoboom and after a couple of years didn't want to pay to have the wet belt replaced so she went to a dealer who used that to bid her part-ex right down to peanuts, against a Grandland.
"So this is my Grandland, what do you think?"
"You know it's got a wet belt, right?"
My partner has no concept of how a car works so I just service and maintain it for her. It's easier that way.
Between my wife and I we generally buy a car and sell it when our circumstances change, or when I get the first sniff of a large bill on the horizon - generally 5-10 years ownership.
I had my Exige for 5 years and loved it, only sold as my daughter was on the way, I realised it would never be used with her here and that the house needed new windows.
We sold my wife's 2008 2.0 TSi scirocco in 2018 after 3 years ownership. This followed me hearing the dreaded chain rattle on a cold start, I didn't want to risk it deteriorating further, or pay what would be a substantial bill on a £5k car to fix it properly.
We bought a 2.5 year old M135i to replace the scirocco which we still have 8 years and 80k miles later - I can only see us selling it when our circumstances change or it looks like throwing a large (non-consumable part) bill. Our X5 was bought new 3 years ago, the finance deal comes to an end next year and I'll likely pay it off and run it for the foreseeable as covers all our needs.
I do service the cars (regardless of value) whenever they need/ask for it/to schedule, although never at the main dealer!.
I had my Exige for 5 years and loved it, only sold as my daughter was on the way, I realised it would never be used with her here and that the house needed new windows.
We sold my wife's 2008 2.0 TSi scirocco in 2018 after 3 years ownership. This followed me hearing the dreaded chain rattle on a cold start, I didn't want to risk it deteriorating further, or pay what would be a substantial bill on a £5k car to fix it properly.
We bought a 2.5 year old M135i to replace the scirocco which we still have 8 years and 80k miles later - I can only see us selling it when our circumstances change or it looks like throwing a large (non-consumable part) bill. Our X5 was bought new 3 years ago, the finance deal comes to an end next year and I'll likely pay it off and run it for the foreseeable as covers all our needs.
I do service the cars (regardless of value) whenever they need/ask for it/to schedule, although never at the main dealer!.
My Dad always used to buy ex-demo cars then run them for around 5-7 years.
My Mum is obsessed with low mileage. She’d sooner have a 10 year old car with 20,000 miles than a 2 year old one with 50,000 miles. She doesn’t listen to me. Once she has a car though, she’ll run it for ages, well over 100,000 miles.
Both my Mum and Dad understand the importance of maintaining cars, so would get them serviced annually.
My brother is a bit more relaxed, he’ll buy a 10 year old car and never maintain it, and basically drive it around until it breaks. He’s managed to kill a Peugeot 206, Audi TT, Mazda MX-5 and Alfa GT this way. His latest motor is a C220d estate, let’s see how it gets on with that.
None of us are that bothered about having the latest newest car
My Mum is obsessed with low mileage. She’d sooner have a 10 year old car with 20,000 miles than a 2 year old one with 50,000 miles. She doesn’t listen to me. Once she has a car though, she’ll run it for ages, well over 100,000 miles.
Both my Mum and Dad understand the importance of maintaining cars, so would get them serviced annually.
My brother is a bit more relaxed, he’ll buy a 10 year old car and never maintain it, and basically drive it around until it breaks. He’s managed to kill a Peugeot 206, Audi TT, Mazda MX-5 and Alfa GT this way. His latest motor is a C220d estate, let’s see how it gets on with that.
None of us are that bothered about having the latest newest car
Typically buy cars 2 1/2 yrs old to have a bit of manufacturer warranty before the extended warranty kicks in, this allows for a few niggles to be more easily sorted and drive it until something terminal happens.
Always serviced as per the book, avoid stealers unless warranty affected otherwise a good indie is used.
I always use genuine parts, pattern parts just don't last so you end up fixing it twice, spend more so a false economy.
Always serviced as per the book, avoid stealers unless warranty affected otherwise a good indie is used.
I always use genuine parts, pattern parts just don't last so you end up fixing it twice, spend more so a false economy.
My late dad was a man of bangernomics, loved a cheap knockabout that he'd run for pennies then throw away once it went pop. Was a fan of older Nissans and old diesel Peugeots expecially!
Mum and brother don't drive, Wife likes a nice car but not bothered about speed/sportiness (did have an mx5 for years though) She keeps them for a long time, usually around 8/10 years. She's a Volvo loyalist now, has a nice-but-dull XC40...slack AF about maintenance though I usually end up getting the services sorted or they'd never get done.
Mum and brother don't drive, Wife likes a nice car but not bothered about speed/sportiness (did have an mx5 for years though) She keeps them for a long time, usually around 8/10 years. She's a Volvo loyalist now, has a nice-but-dull XC40...slack AF about maintenance though I usually end up getting the services sorted or they'd never get done.
Edited by BadOrangePete on Sunday 3rd August 16:30
Edited by BadOrangePete on Sunday 3rd August 17:02
Back in the 80's, my dad always bought something new (boggo BL and Ford stuff) and traded it in after three years.
My mate's dad use to go down the auction and get all sorts of interesting stuff - a couple of Suds, a couple of Sprints, a Scirocco Mk 2, an Alfetta GT 1.8, a Giulietta etc etc.
That's what I've ended up doing - using the budget for a boring new car to run something a bit more interesting.
My mate's dad use to go down the auction and get all sorts of interesting stuff - a couple of Suds, a couple of Sprints, a Scirocco Mk 2, an Alfetta GT 1.8, a Giulietta etc etc.
That's what I've ended up doing - using the budget for a boring new car to run something a bit more interesting.
Pica-Pica said:
We both buy new and run them until they die. My E36 was 19 years old. I then bought an F30 335d. That is now nearly 9 years old, feels like new. The Skoda Fabia is 12 years old, again almost as new.
^^ This. Cheap motoring in nice cars. Don't bother with extended warranty; use a reliable indy if you can.Wifey comes from an age and mindset where money didn't grow on trees and you only borrowed to buy the roof over your head, i'm of exactly the same mind, she's a bit of a flyer and competent behind the wheel so if its got some poke that's good, ultimately though so long as it starts and gets her about she couldn't give a tuppeny one how old or what badge is fitted and definately not trying to impress anyone, she prefers Toyota/Subaru because more likely to be reliable.
Daughter is a petrol head drives her cars hard but looks after them, often to be found in overalls with one of hers jacked up and her underneath fixing it.
My sister runs old neglected cars, never cleaned and barely maintained, i don't get involved wouldn't know where to start.
I maintain wifey's and my cars, used to look after daughters car too but she thinks i'm old and either does it herself or if too busy at work gets them serviced at an indy, i'm not complaining.
Daughter is a petrol head drives her cars hard but looks after them, often to be found in overalls with one of hers jacked up and her underneath fixing it.
My sister runs old neglected cars, never cleaned and barely maintained, i don't get involved wouldn't know where to start.
I maintain wifey's and my cars, used to look after daughters car too but she thinks i'm old and either does it herself or if too busy at work gets them serviced at an indy, i'm not complaining.
Edited by Smint on Sunday 3rd August 17:06
My dad keeps his cars quite a while. He has owned his 2003 Fabia vRS since it was one year old, and he has owned his Z4 for ten years. He has always bought cars outright. Services and repairs them himself for the most part. He's not bothered about higher mileage cars, his Fabia is on 155k miles, and the Citroen Grand Picasso he bought for my step mum is on 290k miles.
My mum keeps her cars for a few years. She likes Golfs and has had seven and is on her third MK7 Golf in a row. Keeps them maintained, and caught the car cleaning bug from me a few years back so her cars are rarely dirty. She went through a financing stage about ten years ago, but now only buys outright. She used to get twitchy as cars approached 100k miles, but she is currently holding on to her 125k mile GTD.
My sister keeps cars a few years. She isn't interested in maintaining them, or cleaning them. I don't think she pays attention to mileage... or warning lights.
All of my cars have been bought when they've been ten years old or older and have been bought with about 100k on the clock. I'm not really bothered about mileage as one has over 200k on it. I've considered financing a car a few times, but I rather just own the car outright.
My mum keeps her cars for a few years. She likes Golfs and has had seven and is on her third MK7 Golf in a row. Keeps them maintained, and caught the car cleaning bug from me a few years back so her cars are rarely dirty. She went through a financing stage about ten years ago, but now only buys outright. She used to get twitchy as cars approached 100k miles, but she is currently holding on to her 125k mile GTD.
My sister keeps cars a few years. She isn't interested in maintaining them, or cleaning them. I don't think she pays attention to mileage... or warning lights.
All of my cars have been bought when they've been ten years old or older and have been bought with about 100k on the clock. I'm not really bothered about mileage as one has over 200k on it. I've considered financing a car a few times, but I rather just own the car outright.
Really, I own and maintain both cars in our household.
I buy cars outright, have never financed a new or nearly new car, really don't see the need to take a massive depreciation hit... though obviously I'm glad others do.
So I normally buy cars that are about 12 years old, run them till I want something different, or it's been crashed.
Current car is a 2008 330d, on 176k. Bought for 5k 5 years ago, so depreciation is now probably about £500 a year. Have been looking at slightly newer models (like, 2015) but the car I have now is so brilliant, I really can't see me changing it unless it throws a big (like 2k big) bill my way. Otherwise it gets serviced yearly and new consumables when required.
I buy cars outright, have never financed a new or nearly new car, really don't see the need to take a massive depreciation hit... though obviously I'm glad others do.
So I normally buy cars that are about 12 years old, run them till I want something different, or it's been crashed.
Current car is a 2008 330d, on 176k. Bought for 5k 5 years ago, so depreciation is now probably about £500 a year. Have been looking at slightly newer models (like, 2015) but the car I have now is so brilliant, I really can't see me changing it unless it throws a big (like 2k big) bill my way. Otherwise it gets serviced yearly and new consumables when required.
Both our cars are bought and paid for. We bought one of the last VTEC Honda Accords we could find for my wife. We've had it 8 years now, it gets serviced regularly at an indie. It had 50,000m on it when we found it. It's now on 110,000m and it hasn't thrown up a big bill yet. Wife uses it as a "workhorse" and has no interest in changing it whatsoever. I suspect we will have it for another 8 years.
My Evora I bought 3.5 years ago when it had 23,000m on it. It's now done 70,000m. Get's regularly serviced at a Lotus dealer who I get along with and they treat me very well. Other than chips on the windscreen made from chocolate it doesn't have a mark on it as I've just refreshed the PPF it had on it. I have considered changing it but decided to keep it. I looked at other Evora's in person and some with 20K on them aren't conditionally a patch on mine. So now I just ignore the mileage. It's just a number that's best ignored
My Evora I bought 3.5 years ago when it had 23,000m on it. It's now done 70,000m. Get's regularly serviced at a Lotus dealer who I get along with and they treat me very well. Other than chips on the windscreen made from chocolate it doesn't have a mark on it as I've just refreshed the PPF it had on it. I have considered changing it but decided to keep it. I looked at other Evora's in person and some with 20K on them aren't conditionally a patch on mine. So now I just ignore the mileage. It's just a number that's best ignored
my dad used to be like me - self servicing and would tackle any job up to major engine work.
when he retired he decided he CBA'd anymore, leases cars and uses the dealer for everything. he knows it costs more but he doesn't care. he's largely given up driving but still interested in cars and thinks i drive like a d
head when i'm really just trying to see if he still smiles when i hoon it.
immediate family are therefore fine. mum gave up driving years back and my BIL is a decent mechanic.
extended is the issue.
my OH leases an audi a1. it doesn't get driven much, in fact i've probably put most of the miles on it. it's also covered by a service package and the oil change on these are by time or miles.
i'm away at the moment. her family are there and one morning i get call from her brother asking how to check the oil level on the audi as the service light is on.
i explain its been on since june and has come on due to the time elapsed since the last one, but it's nowhere near it on miles. i agree it does need booking in [as i have been telling her] but i checked the oil, coolant etc. and changed to summer tyres before i left as i knew they would be using it. the car is fine, use it but get it booked in for service.
maybe an hour later i'm told there's no oil or coolant in it. i do a video call and he has no idea how to check the oil. i talk him through it, it's just off max and the oil is clean. there is indeed coolant but i concede that the washer bottle is empty..... i say no probs to use it this weekend but remind them to get it booked in for service.
another hour later and i enquire how their trip is going [excursion to see another family member a few hours away]. i'm told they've taken the train as the brother says its too risky to drive the car if the service light has been on since june, and she agrees.
for what it is worth, i'm a chartered engineer working mainly with large engines my entire career including asset condition monitoring, oil sampling/wear analysis, etc. i also own a garage. she took her the advice of someone who can't read a fking dipstick over mine.
said brother owns a fairly niche car which is actually super simple mechanically [it's american] but he thinks it is akin to a swiss watch. each and every time there is an issue with it i am given the story and told to give him advice. sure i say, send it to the garage and i'll get my guys to look at it.
they do this, usually incurring several hours to do a thorough road test and check through including diagnostics. they send me the report, i tell him the issue and what the cost is to fix [zero parts markup, discounted labour]. he goes silent and i ever hear back. i enquire and it turns out he has ignored our advice as some bellend [it's a bellend's car] on the owner group chat says i'm trying to rip him off. yes, rip off my mr's brother. he goes elsewhere. car never gets fully sorted. i point this out each time i drive it and am given the evils by the mrs.
if i point out the above and refuse to provide advice then i am of course the problem.
that was quite cathartic actually
when he retired he decided he CBA'd anymore, leases cars and uses the dealer for everything. he knows it costs more but he doesn't care. he's largely given up driving but still interested in cars and thinks i drive like a d
head when i'm really just trying to see if he still smiles when i hoon it. immediate family are therefore fine. mum gave up driving years back and my BIL is a decent mechanic.
extended is the issue.
my OH leases an audi a1. it doesn't get driven much, in fact i've probably put most of the miles on it. it's also covered by a service package and the oil change on these are by time or miles.
i'm away at the moment. her family are there and one morning i get call from her brother asking how to check the oil level on the audi as the service light is on.
i explain its been on since june and has come on due to the time elapsed since the last one, but it's nowhere near it on miles. i agree it does need booking in [as i have been telling her] but i checked the oil, coolant etc. and changed to summer tyres before i left as i knew they would be using it. the car is fine, use it but get it booked in for service.
maybe an hour later i'm told there's no oil or coolant in it. i do a video call and he has no idea how to check the oil. i talk him through it, it's just off max and the oil is clean. there is indeed coolant but i concede that the washer bottle is empty..... i say no probs to use it this weekend but remind them to get it booked in for service.
another hour later and i enquire how their trip is going [excursion to see another family member a few hours away]. i'm told they've taken the train as the brother says its too risky to drive the car if the service light has been on since june, and she agrees.
for what it is worth, i'm a chartered engineer working mainly with large engines my entire career including asset condition monitoring, oil sampling/wear analysis, etc. i also own a garage. she took her the advice of someone who can't read a f
king dipstick over mine.said brother owns a fairly niche car which is actually super simple mechanically [it's american] but he thinks it is akin to a swiss watch. each and every time there is an issue with it i am given the story and told to give him advice. sure i say, send it to the garage and i'll get my guys to look at it.
they do this, usually incurring several hours to do a thorough road test and check through including diagnostics. they send me the report, i tell him the issue and what the cost is to fix [zero parts markup, discounted labour]. he goes silent and i ever hear back. i enquire and it turns out he has ignored our advice as some bellend [it's a bellend's car] on the owner group chat says i'm trying to rip him off. yes, rip off my mr's brother. he goes elsewhere. car never gets fully sorted. i point this out each time i drive it and am given the evils by the mrs.
if i point out the above and refuse to provide advice then i am of course the problem.
that was quite cathartic actually
Buy outright a couple of years old and run them till they die / get unreliable. Which with our Volvo V60 could well be a long long time it’s absolutely battered on the outside but mechanically faultless at 135,000.
The Abarth comp is a bit of fun and is far easier to park in the works car park so she says I never get to drive it!
Sister is the same run it for 10+ years mum is old skool they can’t possibly get past 80,000 miles and still be reliable lol.
The Abarth comp is a bit of fun and is far easier to park in the works car park so she says I never get to drive it!
Sister is the same run it for 10+ years mum is old skool they can’t possibly get past 80,000 miles and still be reliable lol.
Buy new and they fall into three categories. All expenses from common funds and I mainly look after servicing intervals and dealer visits .Her SL and Jeep are registered in Arizona,the rest in Canada. We think of them as follows but anyone can drive anything as needed.
Her main cars:
Smart ForTwo 2004
Sl 500 2003
Jeep Wrangler 2012
Shared cars:
Cayenne GTS 2022
Somewhat more mine but shares:
Panamera Sport Turlismo 2018
Mine ( she dislikes them but can drive them)
3 x GT3RS 2008,2016,2023
Son is not generally a petrolhead ,had driven most of the cars but has a 40 year old Landrover and a Ducati. However I brought him to the Núrburgring for the first time in September with one of the RS and he got the big. He lives in Europe and is now thinking about a much older Porsche like a 964.
Nothing in plan though if a really small EV comes this side of the Pond it might replace the Smart for urban use.
Her main cars:
Smart ForTwo 2004
Sl 500 2003
Jeep Wrangler 2012
Shared cars:
Cayenne GTS 2022
Somewhat more mine but shares:
Panamera Sport Turlismo 2018
Mine ( she dislikes them but can drive them)
3 x GT3RS 2008,2016,2023
Son is not generally a petrolhead ,had driven most of the cars but has a 40 year old Landrover and a Ducati. However I brought him to the Núrburgring for the first time in September with one of the RS and he got the big. He lives in Europe and is now thinking about a much older Porsche like a 964.
Nothing in plan though if a really small EV comes this side of the Pond it might replace the Smart for urban use.
I got car hire from work. One year then change. Before service time. Anything goes wrong its a torture dealing with idiots and handbooks.
My oh used to love her car when she had one. Cheap indies would maintain for her.
My dads a hero. For daily he finds written off cars, fixes and drives. For weekend fun he finds 35 year old cars and does the work himself. For his businesses same.
My mom gets in car and drives to do shopping. Every time my dad gets in the car he finds something to fix.
I curently drive a car that sorts out all my family needs so very happy
My oh used to love her car when she had one. Cheap indies would maintain for her.
My dads a hero. For daily he finds written off cars, fixes and drives. For weekend fun he finds 35 year old cars and does the work himself. For his businesses same.
My mom gets in car and drives to do shopping. Every time my dad gets in the car he finds something to fix.
I curently drive a car that sorts out all my family needs so very happy
shirt said:
my dad used to be like me - self servicing and would tackle any job up to major engine work.
when he retired he decided he CBA'd anymore, leases cars and uses the dealer for everything. he knows it costs more but he doesn't care. he's largely given up driving but still interested in cars and thinks i drive like a dhead when i'm really just trying to see if he still smiles when i hoon it.
immediate family are therefore fine. mum gave up driving years back and my BIL is a decent mechanic.
extended is the issue.
my OH leases an audi a1. it doesn't get driven much, in fact i've probably put most of the miles on it. it's also covered by a service package and the oil change on these are by time or miles.
i'm away at the moment. her family are there and one morning i get call from her brother asking how to check the oil level on the audi as the service light is on.
i explain its been on since june and has come on due to the time elapsed since the last one, but it's nowhere near it on miles. i agree it does need booking in [as i have been telling her] but i checked the oil, coolant etc. and changed to summer tyres before i left as i knew they would be using it. the car is fine, use it but get it booked in for service.
maybe an hour later i'm told there's no oil or coolant in it. i do a video call and he has no idea how to check the oil. i talk him through it, it's just off max and the oil is clean. there is indeed coolant but i concede that the washer bottle is empty..... i say no probs to use it this weekend but remind them to get it booked in for service.
another hour later and i enquire how their trip is going [excursion to see another family member a few hours away]. i'm told they've taken the train as the brother says its too risky to drive the car if the service light has been on since june, and she agrees.
for what it is worth, i'm a chartered engineer working mainly with large engines my entire career including asset condition monitoring, oil sampling/wear analysis, etc. i also own a garage. she took her the advice of someone who can't read a fking dipstick over mine.
said brother owns a fairly niche car which is actually super simple mechanically [it's american] but he thinks it is akin to a swiss watch. each and every time there is an issue with it i am given the story and told to give him advice. sure i say, send it to the garage and i'll get my guys to look at it.
they do this, usually incurring several hours to do a thorough road test and check through including diagnostics. they send me the report, i tell him the issue and what the cost is to fix [zero parts markup, discounted labour]. he goes silent and i ever hear back. i enquire and it turns out he has ignored our advice as some bellend [it's a bellend's car] on the owner group chat says i'm trying to rip him off. yes, rip off my mr's brother. he goes elsewhere. car never gets fully sorted. i point this out each time i drive it and am given the evils by the mrs.
if i point out the above and refuse to provide advice then i am of course the problem.
that was quite cathartic actually
This must drive you off your nutwhen he retired he decided he CBA'd anymore, leases cars and uses the dealer for everything. he knows it costs more but he doesn't care. he's largely given up driving but still interested in cars and thinks i drive like a d
head when i'm really just trying to see if he still smiles when i hoon it. immediate family are therefore fine. mum gave up driving years back and my BIL is a decent mechanic.
extended is the issue.
my OH leases an audi a1. it doesn't get driven much, in fact i've probably put most of the miles on it. it's also covered by a service package and the oil change on these are by time or miles.
i'm away at the moment. her family are there and one morning i get call from her brother asking how to check the oil level on the audi as the service light is on.
i explain its been on since june and has come on due to the time elapsed since the last one, but it's nowhere near it on miles. i agree it does need booking in [as i have been telling her] but i checked the oil, coolant etc. and changed to summer tyres before i left as i knew they would be using it. the car is fine, use it but get it booked in for service.
maybe an hour later i'm told there's no oil or coolant in it. i do a video call and he has no idea how to check the oil. i talk him through it, it's just off max and the oil is clean. there is indeed coolant but i concede that the washer bottle is empty..... i say no probs to use it this weekend but remind them to get it booked in for service.
another hour later and i enquire how their trip is going [excursion to see another family member a few hours away]. i'm told they've taken the train as the brother says its too risky to drive the car if the service light has been on since june, and she agrees.
for what it is worth, i'm a chartered engineer working mainly with large engines my entire career including asset condition monitoring, oil sampling/wear analysis, etc. i also own a garage. she took her the advice of someone who can't read a f
king dipstick over mine.said brother owns a fairly niche car which is actually super simple mechanically [it's american] but he thinks it is akin to a swiss watch. each and every time there is an issue with it i am given the story and told to give him advice. sure i say, send it to the garage and i'll get my guys to look at it.
they do this, usually incurring several hours to do a thorough road test and check through including diagnostics. they send me the report, i tell him the issue and what the cost is to fix [zero parts markup, discounted labour]. he goes silent and i ever hear back. i enquire and it turns out he has ignored our advice as some bellend [it's a bellend's car] on the owner group chat says i'm trying to rip him off. yes, rip off my mr's brother. he goes elsewhere. car never gets fully sorted. i point this out each time i drive it and am given the evils by the mrs.
if i point out the above and refuse to provide advice then i am of course the problem.
that was quite cathartic actually
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