cars and stuff
on tuesday my car decided it wasn't going to start. with the small print of my breakdown cover informing me that i wasn't covered within a mile of home i was glad that we had a garage at the end of the road. i popped over at about 9 and they said they'd send a guy over as soon as their boss got back from the bank. at about 11.50 he showed up.
after checking with me that i had petrol in the car (duh!) he opened the bonnet, examined the cambelt (which was fine, thankfully), and then promptly announced he'd be back after lunch!
an hour and a half later i found him stood by the side of the road looking rather quizically at my car which had decided, on his return, to start first time. he mooched off unpaid and i headed in and started browsing autotrader. i don't mind trusting the roy approach to fixing things (turn it off and then turn it back on again) when it comes to computers but cars (open the bonnet and close it up again) ... nah!
the next morning i rather hastily set off for the local vw garage, test drove a newer 'sports' passat, and put down a deposit. it was only when i got back that i realised i'd neglected to do any of the things you're supposed to do when buying a car:
* take it on a representative test drive
- i just essentially went round the block
* check the service history
* haggle and drop their price by at least the 10% they're expecting!
i'm picking it up on monday and intend to at least rectify the second before i hand over my cash. i might have signed for the car and arranged the temporary insurance but they don't have my debit card in their mitts yet. i doubt i'll be able to get them to drop the price now but i might see if i can get some of their insurance pack added on for free.
after checking with me that i had petrol in the car (duh!) he opened the bonnet, examined the cambelt (which was fine, thankfully), and then promptly announced he'd be back after lunch!
an hour and a half later i found him stood by the side of the road looking rather quizically at my car which had decided, on his return, to start first time. he mooched off unpaid and i headed in and started browsing autotrader. i don't mind trusting the roy approach to fixing things (turn it off and then turn it back on again) when it comes to computers but cars (open the bonnet and close it up again) ... nah!
the next morning i rather hastily set off for the local vw garage, test drove a newer 'sports' passat, and put down a deposit. it was only when i got back that i realised i'd neglected to do any of the things you're supposed to do when buying a car:
* take it on a representative test drive
- i just essentially went round the block
* check the service history
* haggle and drop their price by at least the 10% they're expecting!
i'm picking it up on monday and intend to at least rectify the second before i hand over my cash. i might have signed for the car and arranged the temporary insurance but they don't have my debit card in their mitts yet. i doubt i'll be able to get them to drop the price now but i might see if i can get some of their insurance pack added on for free.