MY CAR FAILED ITS MoT BUT I'M HAPPY - WHY? READ ON
By ellie333
@ellie333 (21016)
May 8, 2008 7:54am CST
I have taken my car for its annual Ministry of Transport vehicle test today and it failed. I said I am happy. I am not happy it failed but it failed on shock absobers and emissions, both jobs are being carried out today and will be resolved and the car will have passed later. Ooouch £190 including price of MoT and work intially sounds a lot, but I haven't had to have any work done on the car since its last MoT so when I divided it into weekly cost of running the car it is only £3.53 a week which I think is incredicibly good which is why I am happy. She is a solid car and should keep me going for a few more years yet and I got her at a bargain price initally. So this month money will be tight as Tax also due at the end of the month but it could have been so much worse and the greeat thing about the garage I took it too is that the don't charge for retest either.
My question to you all is when you take your car for its test do you look at anything that needs doing as a major problem or do you break it down like I have and realise you have in fact been lucky. Has a car ever got just so much because once one thing was done other problems started occuring. Please share car repairs stories with me please. Do you use the same garage each year or search for the best MoT deal?
Ellie :D
3 people like this
7 responses
@Candee (530)
• India
9 May 08
I do not have a car of my own. But I must tell you that people who are kinda new to cars like the first time buyers they are quite ignorant of so many factors that we should take into account. Corruption level is so high that you can get away with an improper car emitting pollution!!This amazes me!! And now with the launch of new 100,000 INR Car NANO things will get worse.
I am really apprehensive.
2 people like this
@ellie333 (21016)
•
9 May 08
Hi Candee, In the UK they are very strict with emissions which is a good thing and we have to have strict MoTs every years to make sure the car is safe and roadworthy this then links to a computer system that also shows the authorities that the car also has road tax and insurance so there is no getting away with it. I was pleased as broken done the costs were not too bad. I walk all the time for local shops and school run and have to use car for work as my shift patterns are strange and no public transport at the time of night I leave and I also use for the weekly shop. Some people just jump in to go a few yards, now that I think is crazy! Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
8 May 08
Wow, it sounds like your country is really strict on their car inspections.
I just bought a new (used) car and I don't need it inspected for the first six years, so I haven't taken it in, yet. It was smogged before I bought it and it passed. I live in California in the United States, and we only check emissions and only in certain areas. Out in some of the countryside areas, they don't have to be smogged unless they are being sold.
Generally, before a smog test, I go through and change the wires, plugs, PCV valve, air filter and check all the things relating to smog. The last car I drove always passed. The car I had before that always needed repairs, but none were really expensive.
@ellie333 (21016)
•
8 May 08
Hi, I am in the UK and every year each car has to have a test unless brand new and then it has to every year after the first few years. They check everything to make sure it is roadworthy including wiper blades, emissions, headlight alignment, wheel balance, tyre tread, shocks, brakes the works really, a duff bulb which could easily be replaced but it will fail and in most garages you have to pay again. This is then linked up to a national computer system which then will check whether car is taxed insuranced and MoT'd. You are not allowed to put a Tax Disc on a car without a valid MoT and valid insurance certificate.
I am pleased to hear you have a good reliable vehicle. I have had a few in the past that have been one problem after another, get one thing fixed then something else will go wrong type thing. Thank you for sharing. It is interesting to discover the rules and regulations in other countries. I appreciate your input.
Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
9 May 08
well I never had a car but I usually am happy when I get my money's worth out of anything. Things break down that is a part of life, but sometimes are still worth the money and you got a lot out of it like your car.
2 people like this
@ellie333 (21016)
•
9 May 08
Hi Winterose, Yes I agree. Intially when the garage rung and said it had failed I thought 'oh no' hit me with it but then when they explained and how much approximately it would be I thought it was very fair and so to go ahead. After I put the phone down I broke it down into weekly cost as I had had no work done at all in the last year, not even a blown bulb and thought wow she has been really good this year and well worth it. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@anonymili (3138)
•
9 May 08
I have had my little 206 for nearly 10 years now and apart from a major service 2 years ago costing me £550 as I needed a belt and other things replacing my car has had its regular MOTs and passed every time. A couple of times the garage has rung up and said it needs this and that to pass the MOT and it's been a matter of £5-£20 at the most. I don't see the cost of servicing or MOTs as a chore or something I hate but as something that keeps my car safe for me to drive and not be a risk to me or others lives - I love my car and the independence it gives me. My husband bought a new £20k car last year and said I should get a new one soon too but I don't feel the need to as my car has only done less than 35,000 miles so far and it's running fine. Why spend money on something that isn't necessary? I've used the same garage for the last 5 years as it's halfway between home and work and they're very reliable and my mate who works for the AA recommended them to me, saying they're not like some garages that start adding on extras because you're a woman!
2 people like this
Oh so am I as I need for work and to do a food shop with tomorrow. Ellie :D
