The Ultimate Hard and Fast debt clearing mission

N.I.M

Birdie85 wrote: »

Aww crud, my car just failed its MOT 'Only' £175 to sort it out... I'm so looking forward to 2012 when these big spends will be over with and we'll have money in the bank again!

What did it fail on? I think D dispaired of me the night before ours. I was sat in the lounge with can of WD40 and a replacement blade for the rear windscreen wiper making sure it was supple and right for the test. Passed without even an advisory

Birdie85

TBH I was quite pleased that it was so little comparatively, usually it costs about £300! Needs 2 new tyres, a new headlamp and something else that I can't remember. Bet it still rattles when I collect it though!

N.I.M

I'm going to have to put together a list of things people should check before an MOT. Bald tyres and a new headlamp are easy spot and fix beforehand. £175 is a lot to pay for that lot. Bulb should be about 3 quid. Pair of tyres about £70 - £90, bit more if you need specialist ones. Theres a hundred quid missing there.

Dinah93

It cost us £66 per tyre for midrange tyres including fitting but he first thought it was a normal car (not a 4x4 and told me £42. I'd call a few places. Bulb is a few quid in Halfords and they'll fit it for £6.

Birdie85

We're not all as mechanically minded as you NIM. That missing £100 will be the other thing I can't remember, labour and the MOT itself... all plus 20% VAT! I don't have time to be arsing about fixing things myself or sourcing it cheaper, I forgot to MOT it in October when it ran out and need to get my tax disc sorted tonight before heading off tomorrow so time is of the essence.

I know, those who don't know how cars work shouldn't drive them!

N.I.M

Birdie85 wrote: »

We're not all as mechanically minded as you NIM. That missing £100 will be the other thing I can't remember, labour and the MOT itself... all plus 20% VAT! I don't have time to be arsing about fixing things myself or sourcing it cheaper, I forgot to MOT it in October when it ran out and need to get my tax disc sorted tonight before heading off tomorrow so time is of the essence.

I know, those who don't know how cars work shouldn't drive them!

Tell ya what, we'll have another visit to betties and I'll show you how simple the bulbs et al are to do for next year.

Did you know the tyres needed doing?

Dinah93

I'm impressed you haven't turned him into a gibbering heap Birdie. My dad tested me on changing a tyre, topping up all the fluids and replacing a bulb and a battery before my first driving lesson... now I have him. NIM and the AA and think between them I don't need the space in my head taken up with bulb info anymore!

Birdie85

I did my car maintenance class a few years back but it was when I had my Civic which was really awkward to do any work on so never really learned too much as I couldn't get into it to change the oil etc. I know how to change bulbs (just hadn't noticed this one was out, must have just recently gone as I do check my reflection for the lights when I'm parked in front of the windows at work!), top up fluids and change a flat tyre. I'm not surprised I need new tyres, it was mentioned in February at my service that it'd need doing at some point but I kept forgetting about it and never had the cash to get it sorted, if I did have the money to fix my car up as and when I notice things need doing it wouldn't be rattling right now!

Tete_en_l'Air

N.I.M wrote: »

I'm going to have to put together a list of things people should check before an MOT. Bald tyres and a new headlamp are easy spot and fix beforehand.

I think Martin's beat you to it there NIM :money:

My MOT this month too - got away with it last year and had my £500 car savings to spend on a new camera Don't think I'll be so lucky this year though, car creaks something ridiculous on speed bumps and things, I just turn the radio up

archersluck

Bad day for us both birdie! Wish I knew more about cars, come teach me nim! I'm about £100 short, and I don't have a big salary at all so its quite a chunk. I'll study my contract tonight, just find it odd as its so dangerous to come to work ill in this industry.