How do you get home when you break down.... ?
Discussion
What breakdown recovery companies do you fellas use ? What experiences have you had (e.g. refusal to recover , lengthy recovery times, or no probs at all ) and with what breakdown service ? I'm wondering what service to use now I have the Ultima, what with it's little foibles and all (like no spare wheel, small ground clearance etc.) and whether anyone has had good/bad/ugly experiences with their recovery service ?
I had the AA recover me from work last year after the clutch slave died, just make sure that you make it clear to them that there are ground clearence issues and they will arrange for a specialist sub contracted recovery firm to come and collect you using a flat bed truck that can lower it's rear platform to ground level.
You will end up waiting a while for them to turn up but it's better than loosing the front clip!
You will end up waiting a while for them to turn up but it's better than loosing the front clip!
I was with Green Flag, when my car at the time blew its engine. They were with me within 10 minutes. Took the car straight to the garage in my local town, then rang a friend to collect us from the garage to take us back home.
Currently with Toyota on the recovery side, not sure how well they attend to breakdowns. I hope I'm never in the situation to find out.
My friend was with the AA, when her Range Rover broke down outside my house. It took them about 3 hours to get to us, they were really, really poor.
Currently with Toyota on the recovery side, not sure how well they attend to breakdowns. I hope I'm never in the situation to find out.
My friend was with the AA, when her Range Rover broke down outside my house. It took them about 3 hours to get to us, they were really, really poor.
Have been with the AA for 20 or more years and every one of my cars has come home on recovery more than once each.
Have never had any issues with them.
The Ultima has come home twice with a puncture. They never complained that I had no spare but did on one pickup try to find a local tyre dealer for a replacement tyre.
You will need to ask for a sliding bed recovery truck but both times these have been AA vehicles.
Steve
Have never had any issues with them.
The Ultima has come home twice with a puncture. They never complained that I had no spare but did on one pickup try to find a local tyre dealer for a replacement tyre.
You will need to ask for a sliding bed recovery truck but both times these have been AA vehicles.
Steve
gtrclive said:
The AA recovered my GT40 when I blew the head Gasket....
But I have read that if you don't carry a spare and you get a flat, they wont...
But I have read that if you don't carry a spare and you get a flat, they wont...
The same sort of comment was made at the time of my first puncture but the rider was that if the car is capable of carrying a spare but you don't have one then that is when they, with good reason, are not prepared to help.
Steve
I have mine through the insurance company on another vehicle, but is a "driver policy" therefore covers any car I am driving, its just slightly more expensive than getting cover on a single car and also includes the better half for a modest premium: would recommend this route if you have more than one drive....had not had to use for Ultima, so no comments on their service.......
crafty said:
gtrclive said:
The AA recovered my GT40 when I blew the head Gasket....
But I have read that if you don't carry a spare and you get a flat, they wont...
But I have read that if you don't carry a spare and you get a flat, they wont...
I have heard that if you carry a spare of anything, that will not be the part that breaks!!!
indeed that spare part will not break
GTRene
Thus far I've been lucky with a reliable car. Things that have gone wrong:
1) the power wire for the ignition box had a push in spade on it that I used instead of solder, failed and left me scratching my head for a while after all the fuses checked out
2) bolt that attaches the rear canopy lost, replaced because I had a spare with me
3) took the small brass washer off the accusump solenoid to maintain pressure while adjusting the fuel pressure regulator (ignition switch turned on), searched in the track garage for 30 minutes then fashoined a replacement from a cotter pin
We've talked about this before on this board, what to take with you on a trip in your tool kit. If you have a unique part anywhere on the car get a spare now and wrap it up in the kit. The factory could be very helpful with a spares kit.
Best of all look the car over completely prior to departing or going out on track.
1) the power wire for the ignition box had a push in spade on it that I used instead of solder, failed and left me scratching my head for a while after all the fuses checked out
2) bolt that attaches the rear canopy lost, replaced because I had a spare with me
3) took the small brass washer off the accusump solenoid to maintain pressure while adjusting the fuel pressure regulator (ignition switch turned on), searched in the track garage for 30 minutes then fashoined a replacement from a cotter pin
We've talked about this before on this board, what to take with you on a trip in your tool kit. If you have a unique part anywhere on the car get a spare now and wrap it up in the kit. The factory could be very helpful with a spares kit.
Best of all look the car over completely prior to departing or going out on track.
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