Is it any wonder people lease/PCP?

strawb_shortcake

I know how to change a tyre but never done it, I can lift a spare tyre but I wouldn't be confident I have enough strength to tighten up the bolts sufficiently. 

I think I may have helped put a wheel back on after my Husband replaced the brakes, but this would have been nearly 20 years ago.

Last time I had a puncture my 16 year old son sorted it out without any trouble. 

Once, I have called the RAC out for a puncture this was due to it being on the drivers side and happened on a busy dual carriageway. It's a service I pay for and would have happily waited until it could be done. 

I have however changed the oil several times on previous cars, changed a water pump and an arm thingy that connected to the gearbox - not sure what its proper name is. 

motorguy

BOWFER said:

motorguy said:

BOWFER said:

motorguy said:

BOWFER said:

dipsomaniac said:

i know people that take cars to garage for new wipers - that is ridiculous.

Undoubtedly the same people who will call roadside services for a puncture.
I agree this level of mechanical ineptitude is ridiculous.

My wife would call roadside services (we've roadside assistance cover on all our cars).  

Why wouldnt she?

Because she should be able to do it herself, there's absolutely no reason why not - it's not a job restricted to men.
It also annoys me to think someone else with a more serious problem could be left waiting for something so relatively trivial.

Jacking a car up and manhandling a large wheel out of the boot of a car, getting the wheel off, lifting another up in to place and getting it on and bolted up takes an awful lot more physical effort than you give credit for.

Add to that putting a woman in a potentially vulnerable situation at the side of a road at night for example is not something i would advocate.

Roadside services will prioritise people based on vulnerability and urgency.  She would be happy to take her place in that queue.

I would much rather she was safe and warm in the car until such times as someone arrives, availing of a service we actually pay for.

It may come as a surprise to you but they do have more than one van, and most sit around doing little until they are called anyway.  The last time i needed them they subbied it out to a local garage who had a low loader.

If she got up in the morning and a tyre was flat, she'd worked from home and i'd sort it when i got home.  If it happened at work, she'd ask someone she works with for help.

For the record in the 25 years or so i've known her, shes had one puncture on the open road and she rang me and i came out and changed it, but she would definitely not attempt it herself.

Fair enough.
Moot point now that spare wheels are largely a thing of the past, but prior to 'tins of gunk' I knew my wife was able to change a spare herself if I was out of range.
It 's not artics she drives, it's not as physical as you make out.
I've seen her carry bags a lot heavier than a spare wheel.

Its a significant physical activity that involves lifting a heavy, large wheel out of the boot of a car.  Its also a physical activity to get a wheel off safely and get that up and in to the boot.  Its then another significant activity to lift the wheel up and align it whilst you try to align the bolts with the holes.  A typical wheel would weigh around 20KG+ which would have to be held up to be aligned with the bolt holes.

I did it recently on our car there the other week when changing wheels over and its not an activity i'd expect her to do even in the (relative) comfort, safety and space of our back yard, even before factoring in attempting to do so at the side of a busy road.

MalMonroe

My car's on PCP and I love it. Two years (almost over) with 0% interest and trouble free motoring 'cos it's not old and has been kept in tip top condition. There's nothing wrong with leasing or hiring if you can get a good deal. I consider I did. I've been paying £55 per month and it ends in August. It came with a 12 month warranty and free 12 months' full breakdown cover (I need the 'from home' version). Both warranty and breakdown cover were extended free of charge for a further six months because of coronavirus. No road tax to pay on the model I have, either.

When the term is over I can either pay the balance and keep the car or swap it for something newer with a different deal or hand it back and walk away. I don't feel like I've been ripped off and I've had a really reliable car for two years. Something that I've never been used to when I've bought my own old bangers. They don't last!

I can't do any mending or mechanicals of vehicles and I don't want to either. Car mechanics couldn't do my job. The RAC can come and rescue me. If and when necessary!

MalMonroe

fred246 said:

I remember taking 2 toddlers outside to change spark plugs with daddy. I spent the rest of the day recovering my socket set which was spread across the garden. I don't think they learnt how to complete the task unsupervised.

My car hasn't got spark plugs. Many don't these days. Thank goodness. But I really don't think toddlers have the capacity to absorb such information! Plus, how did they even reach the engine?!

BOWFER

MalMonroe said:

My car hasn't got spark plugs. Many don't these days. Thank goodness. But I really don't think toddlers have the capacity to absorb such information! Plus, how did they even reach the engine?!

Not sure what this means....
There hasn't been any change of technology resulting in modern petrol cars ditching spark plugs.

Ganga

MalMonroe said:

fred246 said:

I remember taking 2 toddlers outside to change spark plugs with daddy. I spent the rest of the day recovering my socket set which was spread across the garden. I don't think they learnt how to complete the task unsupervised.

My car hasn't got spark plugs. Many don't these days. Thank goodness. But I really don't think toddlers have the capacity to absorb such information! Plus, how did they even reach the engine?!

I remember trying to get a spark plug out of a ford engine ,the type with tapered seats ,seized solid !! and i could not find a toddler for love nor money 

motorguy

BOWFER said:

MalMonroe said:

My car hasn't got spark plugs. Many don't these days. Thank goodness. But I really don't think toddlers have the capacity to absorb such information! Plus, how did they even reach the engine?!

Not sure what this means....
There hasn't been any change of technology resulting in modern petrol cars ditching spark plugs.

Mal didnt mention that his car is a petrol?

"Many" cars are diesels.

BOWFER

motorguy said:

BOWFER said:

MalMonroe said:

My car hasn't got spark plugs. Many don't these days. Thank goodness. But I really don't think toddlers have the capacity to absorb such information! Plus, how did they even reach the engine?!

Not sure what this means....
There hasn't been any change of technology resulting in modern petrol cars ditching spark plugs.

Who mentioned petrol cars?

"Many" cars are diesels.

I thought of that, obviously, but it's a weird way to put it.

Grumpy_chap

motorguy said:

Its a significant physical activity that involves lifting a heavy, large wheel out of the boot of a car.  Its also a physical activity to get a wheel off safely and get that up and in to the boot.  Its then another significant activity to lift the wheel up and align it whilst you try to align the bolts with the holes.  A typical wheel would weigh around 20KG+ which would have to be held up to be aligned with the bolt holes.

I did it recently on our car there the other week when changing wheels over and its not an activity i'd expect her to do even in the (relative) comfort, safety and space of our back yard, even before factoring in attempting to do so at the side of a busy road.

The one, and only, time I had a puncture requiring wheel change at the side of the road, I ended up calling the breakdown service in any case.

I'd got the jack all positioned ready to lift the car, got the spear wheel (spacesaver) out and pumped up the pressure, loosened the first three wheel nuts, but the fourth nut was not budging one iota with the small short wrench provided in the car kit against the over-use of the pneumatic gun in the last garage to do the wheels.  So the phone call had to go in for the breakdown service to attend.

They arrived and promptly refused to fit the spacesaver wheel.  Even though it was brand new with the "new tyre colourful stripes" (is there a name for that) and the sticker all intact, I was informed that he policy was not to fit on old cars (mine was 10yo) unless there was proof the tyre was new because of risk of rubber deterioration with age.  Instead, the car was loaded up and transported to the nearest tyre place open.

dipsomaniac

So many helpless (or can't be arsed) people on this site. Not very MSE😀