Your fleet running reports

[Carlos]

My son was 17 today and no-one makes a fuss as its so soon after Xmas so I've taken him out for 2 hours driving. It's absolutely exhausting but great dad time which I'm sure will soon get less

He has a 2 hour lesson with an instructor tomorrow so hopefully it will feel less stressful when we go out Friday!

New car to the household is his Seat Ibiza FR which drives great and feels quite sporty with a fruity but insurance friendly 80hp triple

Insurance came out cheaper with my wife on the policy at £1600 which I'm thrilled with for a 17yr old on a new car.

[Beany]

How in the fuck did you manage that?

With a hammer

My best guess is that when I started it I grasped the key too hard and hit the ‘lock’ button without realising. Oopsie.

See, I'm always slightly paranoid that the central locking will go on the fritz for no good reason, so I always drop the drivers side window before closing the door once it's running

[speedingfine]

£1600 is a great price Carlos, didn't think that was possible any more. Is that no driving at night, black box etc?

[PaulJ]

No Black Box for a guess, but he has to finish his ride on time.

[Jobbo]

Excellent Carl - it’s my stepdaughter’s 21st today and she still hasn’t passed her test But the whole ‘too close to Christmas’ thing is always something she has suffered.

£1600 doesn’t sound like a learner only policy which cancels when he passes his test - is that right?

[nuttinnew]

No Black Box for a guess, but he has to finish his ride on time.

[Carlos]

I've insured it as I mentioned previously for a year with me as the policyholder and him as a named driver, also adding Mrs Carlos as a named driver knocked £325 off!

LV bizarrely ask who the NCB is to be allocated to which will give him a good start as long as he passes within the year which I expect him too. He was pretty competent today on his first road outing.

And yes it runs through for a full year even if he passes his test in a month with no loading.

[scotta]

I've insured it as I mentioned previously for a year with me as the policyholder and him as a named driver, also adding Mrs Carlos as a named driver knocked £325 off!

LV bizarrely ask who the NCB is to be allocated to which will give him a good start as long as he passes within the year which I expect him too. He was pretty competent today on his first road outing.

And yes it runs through for a full year even if he passes his test in a month with no loading.

That’s very decent. Usually it shoots up after they pass.

My eldest is 17 in July so I’ll make note!

[Jobbo]

It’s only by luck that it hasn’t worked out badly for my stepdaughter’s insurance due to her not passing her test then going to university. Will soon have 2 years’ NCB built up on cheap learner policies. I will have to consider whether renewing the same type of policy again or doing what Carl has is a good idea in April. If she’s likely to pass her test this year then a proper policy seems far more sensible.

[Sundayjumper]

Wife has gone clothes shopping in the post-Christmas sales.

She asked if I wanted to go with her. I said:

“I would rather crawl over broken glass”

So that’s exactly what I’m doing. It’s a win-win.

[NGRhodes]

Had the Previa back 2 weeks after having new turbo, various valves and gubbins, a full service at just under £2k and someone drove into the side of us tonight. Currently sat in A&E with one of the kids with a neck pain
Sliding door is wrecked and rear bumper ripped off. Rear quarter has a small dint had lots of scratches. Wheel heavily scratched.
Might Polish out....

Anya was fine after a 2nd nights sleep.
Previa has been written off. Not got a settlement amount yet, but awaiting the low-ball initial offer; already collecting screenshots from Autotrader to counter.

Not sure what to get next or how much to spend, petrol/derv, MPV/estate are the options.

[nuttinnew]

I'm glad everyone's ok. An utter ballache with the Previa; these things never happen before they go in the garage, do they?

[mik]

Total PITA. Hope you get something sorted quickly.

[Gavin]

Drove my wife's Mini Cooper today for the first time in ages. Weird having to remember what a clutch is but the engine sounded absolutely awful, like a knocking lowdown in 5th at 55mph ish. I am sure it did not sound like that when we got it but not sure my wife would notice on her short commute as she didn't notice when her Puma ran out of oil, despite a similar noise.

No warning lights, other than tyre pressure and brake warning but one needs air, I suspect a sensor for the other.

Garage is shut till the 8th so will get it booked in. Really hoping it is an engine mount or similar but suspect it may be terminal and not worth an engine rebuild, for me anyway so may start 2024 looking for yet another bastarding car!

[scotta]

Drove my wife's Mini Cooper today for the first time in ages. Weird having to remember what a clutch is but the engine sounded absolutely awful, like a knocking lowdown in 5th at 55mph ish. I am sure it did not sound like that when we got it but not sure my wife would notice on her short commute as she didn't notice when her Puma ran out of oil, despite a similar noise.

No warning lights, other than tyre pressure and brake warning but one needs air, I suspect a sensor for the other.

Garage is shut till the 8th so will get it booked in. Really hoping it is an engine mount or similar but suspect it may be terminal and not worth an engine rebuild, for me anyway so may start 2024 looking for yet another bastarding car!

£250 for a whole new engine.

[Gavin]

Drove my wife's Mini Cooper today for the first time in ages. Weird having to remember what a clutch is but the engine sounded absolutely awful, like a knocking lowdown in 5th at 55mph ish. I am sure it did not sound like that when we got it but not sure my wife would notice on her short commute as she didn't notice when her Puma ran out of oil, despite a similar noise.

No warning lights, other than tyre pressure and brake warning but one needs air, I suspect a sensor for the other.

Garage is shut till the 8th so will get it booked in. Really hoping it is an engine mount or similar but suspect it may be terminal and not worth an engine rebuild, for me anyway so may start 2024 looking for yet another bastarding car!

£250 for a whole new engine.

@scotta how much to fit it though?

That is remarkbly cheap though but not sure I can be bothered with the hassle. More likely to seel spares or repair f it it on the way out, someone will fancy it no doubt.

[scotta]

Drove my wife's Mini Cooper today for the first time in ages. Weird having to remember what a clutch is but the engine sounded absolutely awful, like a knocking lowdown in 5th at 55mph ish. I am sure it did not sound like that when we got it but not sure my wife would notice on her short commute as she didn't notice when her Puma ran out of oil, despite a similar noise.

No warning lights, other than tyre pressure and brake warning but one needs air, I suspect a sensor for the other.

Garage is shut till the 8th so will get it booked in. Really hoping it is an engine mount or similar but suspect it may be terminal and not worth an engine rebuild, for me anyway so may start 2024 looking for yet another bastarding car!

£250 for a whole new engine.

@scotta how much to fit it though?

That is remarkbly cheap though but not sure I can be bothered with the hassle. More likely to seel spares or repair f it it on the way out, someone will fancy it no doubt.

Probably a days labour for a competent garage. The boys had the engine out the race mini in under an hour Bit more work on a road car though as the whole front end needs to come off.

Its more likely to be something like amount however. The top-mounts are filled with fluid which can leak out and makes them useless. its about £95 for a new one.

[Gavin]

£250 for a whole new engine.

@scotta how much to fit it though?

That is remarkbly cheap though but not sure I can be bothered with the hassle. More likely to seel spares or repair f it it on the way out, someone will fancy it no doubt.

Probably a days labour for a competent garage. The boys had the engine out the race mini in under an hour Bit more work on a road car though as the whole front end needs to come off.

Its more likely to be something like amount however. The top-mounts are filled with fluid which can leak out and makes them useless. its about £95 for a new one.

Oh wow, that would be fantastic if that was all it was. My wife really likes the car so if it is something that simple, that would be a win. Cheers Scott

[Sundayjumper]

@gavin - is it definitely an engine kind of knocking ? I don’t think these are known for that kind of problem so do check everything else first.


I never got to the bottom of the clonking on ours. It’s not:

Engine mount
Gearbox mount
Drop links
Outer ball joints

…because I’ve replaced all of them and it’s still slowly getting worse.

Next I’m doing the top mounts & track rods. Basically everything except the wishbone mounts as they’re a PITA and I’m telling myself it might not be those

[scotta]

@gavin - is it definitely an engine kind of knocking ? I don’t think these are known for that kind of problem so do check everything else first.


I never got to the bottom of the clonking on ours. It’s not:

Engine mount
Gearbox mount
Drop links
Outer ball joints

…because I’ve replaced all of them and it’s still slowly getting worse.

Next I’m doing the top mounts & track rods. Basically everything except the wishbone mounts as they’re a PITA and I’m telling myself it might not be those

Its the wishbone mounts...Just get them fucking done then ill send you ours to do