Classic 'friendly' MOT stations, West Surrey/East Hampshire
Discussion
uk66fastback said:
Sympathetic in what way? What do you feel one tester may pass while another may fail? Rear lights? Headlamp aim? Rust?
I think he means a place that, unlike Halfords or Kwik fit for example who have targets to meet and unnecessary parts to sell at extortionate prices, wont go for the kill and fail a car for such things as worn brake discs (aren't they all), minor corrosion to brake pipes and other nit picking items, but instead provided the car is safe of course, will give advisories as to what needs doing.Mercky said:
I think he means a place that, unlike Halfords or Kwik fit for example who have targets to meet and unnecessary parts to sell at extortionate prices, wont go for the kill and fail a car for such things as worn brake discs (aren't they all), minor corrosion to brake pipes and other nit picking items, but instead provided the car is safe of course, will give advisories as to what needs doing.
Yes, this. Knowing what the car is in the first place would also be a bonus! I'm not after a hooky MOT, I'm just after somewhere where the testers actually know their stuff, appreciate old machinery, and will try to get a car through the test (legitimately) rather than automatically fail it for, as you say, nit-picking reasons..We (plural) have been using the same garage for 20 years, but it is southern Hampshire and so a long way for an old car 
. PM me if you want details, but I won't post publicly since people, as mentioned, would get the wrong impression, and these are good people, sympathetic to old car foibles, but honest through and through. They'll be doing mine again next month.
. PM me if you want details, but I won't post publicly since people, as mentioned, would get the wrong impression, and these are good people, sympathetic to old car foibles, but honest through and through. They'll be doing mine again next month. I'd rather a MOT tester be stringent. One of my Rileys was serviced annually by a specialist and taken for its MOT at the same time. After a few years the tester, an old chap, retired and his son took over his role. The son was more diligent in seeking out faults, including corrosion, with the result that the first time he tested it, he failed it for extensive rust.
Though it cost me hundreds to remedy, I'm pleased he did as it was obvious after the front wings had been removed and the rust exposed that the car's structural integrity had been compromised and it could have been catastrophic in an accident.
Though it cost me hundreds to remedy, I'm pleased he did as it was obvious after the front wings had been removed and the rust exposed that the car's structural integrity had been compromised and it could have been catastrophic in an accident.
My wife has a 65 Morris Minor, every year I asked our local garage to look at the brakes, drum brakes all round. He always come backs after examination, adjustment and test they are fine, citing that is as good as they get for the era. Someone who only knows modern brakes might agree with me and fail it unnecessarily.
I'd read the request as being for an MOT tester that had an reasonable understanding of older cars. I've had testers want to fail my car because it doesn't have separate indicators, it's was about a year too early for Jaguar to have moved over from using the red rear light to indicate rather than the modern style yellow. Another wanted to fail the car because the horn button in middle of the steering column didn't work, even though the guy on reception had been told it didn't and that there was a switch under the dash which worked it.
Riley Blue said:
Spot on, that's perfect - thank you! 
a8hex said:
I'd read the request as being for an MOT tester that had an reasonable understanding of older cars. I've had testers want to fail my car because it doesn't have separate indicators, it's was about a year too early for Jaguar to have moved over from using the red rear light to indicate rather than the modern style yellow. Another wanted to fail the car because the horn button in middle of the steering column didn't work, even though the guy on reception had been told it didn't and that there was a switch under the dash which worked it.
Yep, this!Strugs said:
DSGbangs said:
I don't think anyone would be foolish enough to post details on a public forum, you may get a pm though..
As per my reply to Mercky, I'm not after a hooky MOT I just want to go somewhere where they might actually give a $h1t about the car and have no hidden agendas..know a decent classic place that would do a mot and understand the classic working of your vehicle, unfortunately they are located in Dorset.
DSGbangs said:
Strugs said:
DSGbangs said:
I don't think anyone would be foolish enough to post details on a public forum, you may get a pm though..
As per my reply to Mercky, I'm not after a hooky MOT I just want to go somewhere where they might actually give a $h1t about the car and have no hidden agendas..know a decent classic place that would do a mot and understand the classic working of your vehicle, unfortunately they are located in Dorset.
Not so sure that a tester should be sympathetic in the sense of stretching the rules. However there are some around that would be helpful in the sense that they appreciate examining older cars and can make useful unbiased assessment of overall well-being. In other words looking at the car beyond the requirements of the test. The senior tester in my local MOT station (east Berkshire) told me that he tests all the classic cars owned by a local celeb millionaire. I pass by the MOT station most days are there are some lovely cars parked in the waiting area.
ChasW said:
Not so sure that a tester should be sympathetic in the sense of stretching the rules. However there are some around that would be helpful in the sense that they appreciate examining older cars and can make useful unbiased assessment of overall well-being. In other words looking at the car beyond the requirements of the test. The senior tester in my local MOT station (east Berkshire) told me that he tests all the classic cars owned by a local celeb millionaire. I pass by the MOT station most days are there are some lovely cars parked in the waiting area.
Would you mind letting me know the MOT station in East Berkshire? I live around there. My really convenient and experienced MOT station has recently shut and I'm looking around for a replacement to deal with my EType.
Surely if it failed that quickly and so had the 'potential' to fail, it should have been FAILED by the MOT tester?
A friend of mine had his 996 failed by a main dealer for corroded brake pipe, which requires engine removal. believe it or not, to do the job properly. I think he thought the dealer was trying to pull the wool over his eyes, somewhat.
So he took it to an indi who he thought might issue him a pass. They failed it as well and said they were worse than a simple failure and were in fact dangerous. It ended up with having them take the engine out and do loads of things - £7k bill.
A friend of mine had his 996 failed by a main dealer for corroded brake pipe, which requires engine removal. believe it or not, to do the job properly. I think he thought the dealer was trying to pull the wool over his eyes, somewhat.
So he took it to an indi who he thought might issue him a pass. They failed it as well and said they were worse than a simple failure and were in fact dangerous. It ended up with having them take the engine out and do loads of things - £7k bill.
Edited by uk66fastback on Monday 14th January 15:48
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