So is this what it feels like to own a used car?
Rosie, for me, is less than a week old, but she’s really almost three years old.
I collected her on Saturday, but on Sunday morning she wouldn’t start. I called the free Roadside Assistance people who said the battery was almost dead. OK, so twenty minutes later, the battery was recharged and Rosie and I went for a little blast, and all was well.
Well, almost.
Rosie’s boot was full of water. No, not the boot space, but the boot lid. The space where the light cluster lives. Not a good place for water.
I managed to drain it out, and called the dealer and said “Oi!” and Rosie is now going back in to have the seals checked and the battery looked at.
I don’t know, maybe I’m unlucky, but Herman was completely flawless for the almost two years we were together, and now I’m having my first issues.
On a positive note, any work done/parts supplied will be free, and if things do go really pear-shaped, I have a 30-day, no quibble replacement policy, but it’s still a bit disappointing.
I am happy, however, that the pre-sale checks yielded a slightly worn tyre, so Rosie was given four new boots. And a free service.
So things are maybe not so bad.
And like her siblings from last year, she puts a big smile on my face when I push the loud pedal 
6 Responses to “Used cars”
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Teething problems, eh? Most ppl don’t really look after their cars, so blocked drain holes etc. on second hand ones are pretty much par for the course in my experience.
I need a new car this year, the Alfa is all well and good and a great drive, but it’s getting old (and I’m getting bored). I wanted a Maserati, but apparently that’s ‘not practical’ for where we live according to ‘her nibbs’. So not sure what to get now
I might even have to get an estate, been looking at Audis a bit, would you recommend one? I wouldn’t mind another Jaguar either, but their estate is a bit crappy and I think I’d be disappointed after the awesome zoomability of my big old XJS.
I’m not overly bothered about ’sporty’, as the TR2 will be back on the road this year and should satisfy my dangerlust (thanks to it’s lack of disc brakes, seatbelts etc. and my lack of self-restraint)
From an Audi perspective …
…with my recent foray into dodgy winter weather, Herman being a bit low-slung and turning into a snow plough at times, and generally liking Rosie’s 4WD, I’d certainly want to give the A4 All Road a test.
Reasonable engine, 4WD, high clearence, snow mode on traction control, and of course it’s an estate.
Not v cheap though.
I don’t have a loud pedal in my car. That said I’m fairly glad I didn’t go for anything ‘nicer’ as we treat the car like a shed (literally, I quite often store wood in it)
My Mini still makes me smile – especially around the lanes near my house. It’s not uber-quick but the handling’s nice and tight and it’s got enough mid-range to trash the Rover-driving pensioners that infest our roads.
Unfortunately it more often makes me curse because so many things go wrong with it. Plan to replace this year. What with is a bone of contention with herself.
If there’s going to be trouble, you might as well make it worth it
Wise words