Car recovery service for kit cars
Discussion
Anyone care to recomend a car recovery service (AA/RAC/Greenflag type of thing) for a kit car.
I am with one of the larger services, and on my way home Friday night, had the clutch cable snap. Looked under the bonnet, saw the problem, (that and I only had the two pedals) and called the company (no names, no pack drill).
They did tell me they were very busy, and it would be over 90 minutes wait, so I sat there, and when they did turn up it was a pick up truck. No attempt to "get me back on the road" or to fix it, just recovery.
When I spoke with them next morning, they asked what car it was, I told them, and they said they knew nothing about them, and so had decided to send me a truck to get me home. Apart from the fact that they never bothered to tell me that I was being recovered, I know what the problem was, and if they had someone capable of fixing a cable, could have got me home at least. I was frankly disappointed by the service, and by their own admission, they know nothing about the make of car, so will not attempt to fix it by the roadside, just recovery.
It made me wonder if my hard earned is better spent on the odd occasions when I do need a tow truck, and not on someone who will never offer me more than a tow home anyway.
Anyone know if any of these services offer a better response?
I am with one of the larger services, and on my way home Friday night, had the clutch cable snap. Looked under the bonnet, saw the problem, (that and I only had the two pedals) and called the company (no names, no pack drill).
They did tell me they were very busy, and it would be over 90 minutes wait, so I sat there, and when they did turn up it was a pick up truck. No attempt to "get me back on the road" or to fix it, just recovery.
When I spoke with them next morning, they asked what car it was, I told them, and they said they knew nothing about them, and so had decided to send me a truck to get me home. Apart from the fact that they never bothered to tell me that I was being recovered, I know what the problem was, and if they had someone capable of fixing a cable, could have got me home at least. I was frankly disappointed by the service, and by their own admission, they know nothing about the make of car, so will not attempt to fix it by the roadside, just recovery.
It made me wonder if my hard earned is better spent on the odd occasions when I do need a tow truck, and not on someone who will never offer me more than a tow home anyway.
Anyone know if any of these services offer a better response?
RAC have come out to me, been very good. Last occasion in the Dax, the accelerator cable had snapped where I had crimped it too hard. The chap who came out had built a Westfield 5 years or so earlier and made a new cable for me witnin about 10 mins. Had all the bits he needed in the van and was very competant. Including wait time about 2 hours.
Prior to that an earth lead broke on the tin top on the way to a party, RAC came out made a new lead in about 20 mins. Total time about 1 hr inc wait time.
I'd recommend them, based on my experience.
Prior to that an earth lead broke on the tin top on the way to a party, RAC came out made a new lead in about 20 mins. Total time about 1 hr inc wait time.
I'd recommend them, based on my experience.
i've been with the RAC for nearly 20 years now, 15 of those years i had a Mini jem kit car, and every time i've broken down they've been most helpful. they've brought fan belts out to me, jury rigged a snapped throttle cable so i could cary on with my journey, and once when the engine let go and needed recoving the width of the country, made sure they brought out a low loader that would take the car without scraping the floor due to low clearance.
i suppose it helps that majority of the running gear is from one car, but then most kit cars are made up from bits of production cars, so shouldn't be a problem to any decent mechanic.
i suppose it helps that majority of the running gear is from one car, but then most kit cars are made up from bits of production cars, so shouldn't be a problem to any decent mechanic.
Thanks for all the thumbs up for the RAC. Unfortunately I guess I just caught them on a bad day.
My main beef was the fact that they did not bother to tell me that they were going to recover, so I could have spent that 90 minutes trying to track down a cable, rather than waiting for "a man that can" (oops, no it was not them.
).
Still thinking of a formal complaint, since they could have communicated better, and even tried first.
My main beef was the fact that they did not bother to tell me that they were going to recover, so I could have spent that 90 minutes trying to track down a cable, rather than waiting for "a man that can" (oops, no it was not them.
). Still thinking of a formal complaint, since they could have communicated better, and even tried first.
I've been with the AA for a while now, and have used them once a year (apart from last year).
I've had no problems with either of my kit cars - and I've had the following problems:
- Throttle cable snapped (made one on the spot after towing me off the roundabout I was stuck on)
- Sump cracked and leaked out all the oil (the 1 litre bottle wasn't enough to get me home )
- Gearbox broke
- Fan belt snapped (on air cooled car) and didn't realise it until it was far too late. Engine got so hot it was self-igniting with ignition off (and battery removed), and spewed smoke into courtyard
(had 2 other incidents, not in kit cars)
The last three required a flatbed to take me home.
I've had no problems with either of my kit cars - and I've had the following problems:
- Throttle cable snapped (made one on the spot after towing me off the roundabout I was stuck on)
- Sump cracked and leaked out all the oil (the 1 litre bottle wasn't enough to get me home
) - Gearbox broke
- Fan belt snapped (on air cooled car) and didn't realise it until it was far too late. Engine got so hot it was self-igniting with ignition off (and battery removed), and spewed smoke into courtyard
(had 2 other incidents, not in kit cars)
The last three required a flatbed to take me home.
I had an issue with the RAC.I hit a rock with my previous Westie(try and miss it and you hit it dead bang on).I advised them of needing a flatbed as the vehicle can't be towed the 20 miles home.They then turned up 2hrs later with a transit.Bloke said they were f88king useless as I had advised on a flatbed.Another 2 hrs past and the guy appeared with a flatbed and got me home.(pitch dark,no jacket as out for a quick blat freezing my arse off)
It also may help next time if you knew what parts make up your car.Changing the cable takes 3 mins.They can't know everything on a kit,so making your repairs quicker.I wouldn't let them touch my car,as a mate who owns a garage will testify.When the family car broke down,he said,don't open the bonnet,just bring it here.
My TVR 's' went to an AA centre for an assessment for the guy who was purchasing it.They cut off the bottom hose jubilee clip for being rusty and then let all the coolant out.Delivered the overheating car back to me and left.If they had just put a new clip next to the old one and then cut it off,would have saved me 5 nights in the garage bleeding air out.Strange they now closed up shop.
It also may help next time if you knew what parts make up your car.Changing the cable takes 3 mins.They can't know everything on a kit,so making your repairs quicker.I wouldn't let them touch my car,as a mate who owns a garage will testify.When the family car broke down,he said,don't open the bonnet,just bring it here.
My TVR 's' went to an AA centre for an assessment for the guy who was purchasing it.They cut off the bottom hose jubilee clip for being rusty and then let all the coolant out.Delivered the overheating car back to me and left.If they had just put a new clip next to the old one and then cut it off,would have saved me 5 nights in the garage bleeding air out.Strange they now closed up shop.
I had a similar problem with my race car once. The first bloke turns up after an hour and agrees that the gearbox IS jammed. A transit turned up after a couple of hours and insists that it will be OK. I politely informed him that if he DID tow my car with the transit and my £4000 Quaife gearbox blew up then he would be getting the bill. Queue another 2 hour wait for the flat bed.
They have recovered the kit car a few times. And a couple of times they have actually tried to fix it.
Generally they take one look at the car, give up and call the recovery man.
None of them have tried to sell me a battery yet, may have something to do with it taking over three hours to replace though!
I am with the RAC.
>> Edited by denisb on Monday 20th February 20:10
They have recovered the kit car a few times. And a couple of times they have actually tried to fix it.
Generally they take one look at the car, give up and call the recovery man.
None of them have tried to sell me a battery yet, may have something to do with it taking over three hours to replace though!
I am with the RAC.
>> Edited by denisb on Monday 20th February 20:10
AA have always worked for me including flatbed recovery of my Ultima twice.
Best was the recovery wagon pulling up and the driver getting out with a huge smile across his face. He then composed himself and apologised considering my predicament. He then went on to explain that it was his first day on the recovery wagon and when they told him he was to recover a bright yellow bubble car he thought they were pulling his plonker.
Steve
Best was the recovery wagon pulling up and the driver getting out with a huge smile across his face. He then composed himself and apologised considering my predicament. He then went on to explain that it was his first day on the recovery wagon and when they told him he was to recover a bright yellow bubble car he thought they were pulling his plonker.
Steve
I had the clutch master cylinder fail on the Marcos.
I told the AA what it was but they still sent a patrol to check.
It was.
They then checked in their book for how to recover a marcos and it actually had it in there, "Marcos LM 500,4 wheel lift".
I thought that was pretty damn good as they only made 35 of em.
The guy who came to recover it with the flatbed had even brought extra long ramps to accomodate the low front.
Can't knock that for service.
I told the AA what it was but they still sent a patrol to check.
It was.
They then checked in their book for how to recover a marcos and it actually had it in there, "Marcos LM 500,4 wheel lift".
I thought that was pretty damn good as they only made 35 of em.
The guy who came to recover it with the flatbed had even brought extra long ramps to accomodate the low front.
Can't knock that for service.
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