Statement of intent

gallygirl

StuartGMC wrote: »

Ouch, yes consider what would have happened in a 15yr old car.... but my accident was in 1992 in a 4yr old Escort and the roof on most vehicles is now much stronger. This may also let you see why I don't yearn for a cabriolet!
.

I thought that was because the wind blew your comb over out of position :rotfl:

StuartGMC

gallygirl wrote: »

I thought that was because the wind blew your comb over out of position :rotfl:

GG - that hurts

It's a grade 1 (what's left) so no comb over and never has been! However, it does mean colleagues find it hard to imagine me headbanging from my teenage years in late 70s through the 80s

....ponders revenge

StuartGMC

Well the problem on the car is related to the same wiring loom area, so it's left with them again today and they'll drop it home to me on Wednesday. I hope, hope, hope that will be the end of the problem and we can simply have a weekend without need to be at the dealer... at least there's been no cost so far on the rectification.

On this occasion I just couldn't help looking into some of the XFs in the showroom, oooooohhhhhh I do want one!!!! However, as my present S-Type has the cream Connolly leather, I think I'd again go for a car with similar next time as the black leather etc doesn't quite look so special. I am trying to convince OH that an XF diesel is a perfectly sensible family car, it turns in some 46.2mpg (S-Type 27.5mpg), has a 16000 mile service interval (10000 on S-Type), has a low CO2 output and hence lower road tax than S-Type.... but she seems to keep on thinking about the purchase price

(and no, I can't afford a new one, even a two-year old would be more than I've ever spent on a replacement car but if MF then it is possible)

Anyway, I have just realised that it is nearly a whole year since I started this thread, so I must make a special effort to give an update after 31 May.

Presently despite credit card payment we are still more than 100% offset thanks to the £2500 of expenses which dropped into my account on Friday. However, they are on the next credit card bill, that stands at about £5500 presently but will be £9000 on Monday as the remaining holiday balance has just been paid :eek:

However, this is all accounted for with the savings etc, but it will hurt to draw the money down ready to pay the cc in full 2days before due in June.

OH will have to have separate holiday insurance, DD and I can use that annual travel insurance which is included free in our buildings & contents insurance but it can't be changed to account for her present ill health and as she has been in hospital it will be about £106 for a single trip for her. That said, insurer can't issue until FCO lifts ban on travel to Mexico....

Car insurance renewal just been advised at £403 too.

Graph for the Funds ISAs has a near vertical rise in the last mponth or so, which is very nice and if this is a genuine trend, it would put our investments back on the growth trend from July 2007. The pound cost averaging and continued purchase of units I think is showing benefit, and now we are only 23% down.

Lunar_Eclipse

StuartGMC wrote: »

On this occasion I just couldn't help looking into some of the XFs in the showroom, oooooohhhhhh I do want one!!!! However, as my present S-Type has the cream Connolly leather, I think I'd again go for a car with similar next time as the black leather etc doesn't quite look so special. I am trying to convince OH that an XF diesel is a perfectly sensible family car, it turns in some 46.2mpg (S-Type 27.5mpg), has a 16000 mile service interval (10000 on S-Type), has a low CO2 output and hence lower road tax than S-Type.... but she seems to keep on thinking about the purchase price

(and no, I can't afford a new one, even a two-year old would be more than I've ever spent on a replacement car but if MF then it is possible) QUOTE]


I like the SK. Although it's hardly the right car for ferrying young children from school to tennis and Brownies.

VW do it for me.:D

gallygirl

Lunar_Eclipse wrote: »

[

I like the SK.

Even I like the SK - and I don't 'do' cars

RosieTiger

Stuart - not too long before the XF will become reality !
Good Luck

StuartGMC

Potential major issue arising impacting the MF date...

Wiring harness problem continues; whilst dealer has now identified three failed/failing wires in the harness and repaired, they can't guarantee no further failures. I understand this as I am a corrosion engineer so vehicle should be back tomorrow, I've agreed to pay half of labour to fix it, but, I'm waiting on quote to have harness replaced. Part alone is £600 then some 13hrs labour so about £1800-2000 I would guess all up :eek:

So, do we keep it and risk another failure and £2k spend (plus she needs service & MOT in July, replacement tyres before hoped for trade-in) and who knows if another issue will arise; on a 6yr old car this is not a good situation.

Have looked online for possible alternative; XF at £33-36k for the new diesel is too much to afford, even the 2.7 older engine needs about £27-28k.. all would be affordable on 2yr models in 2 yrs time when these are about £24k and we have been MF for a year or so. However, I've been looking at options to remove the risk of failure and am considering the Lexus GS300 on a 2006 plate, keep her 3yrs then trade up to the XF. BUT, this will hammer our cash savings..... however, if the wiring fails again we'll still need to pay to get it repaired to either be on the road or simply to trade-in :mad:

Well no decision now, but it just goes to show best laid plans....
Night all, hope all is running smoother for you.

setmefree2

to cars

On the plus side you get to hang out with us guys a bit longer;)......

SmlSave

Poor Stuart, sounds like a different car may be in order especially with a service and MOT coming up

Hope a solution turns up!

StuartGMC

Well I got home and the car hadn't been dropped off... but dealer was able to get a driver from their associated franchise so hopefully the car will be back here by 7pm.

The 3hrs labour is £335 and they've now checked on the quote for the harness if required. It could be one of two variants, the most expensive being £330 then 6hours labour hence £1100 inclusive, but they would do it for £900 and formal quote is on its way. So this is 50% of what it could have been based on yesterday's quick discussion (that part was a body harness), and only incurred if a further problem manifests.

So, I think, rather than a "distressed" purchase in the next week of "anything" it would be sensible to hang on to the S-Type and hope the wiring now remains intact but knowing if it does fail it's a £900 bill to fix. Thus we can remain close to the original plan on the MF date etc but I think I'll start to gather data on alternative cars as a fall-back.

Sorry it's a bit up and down, but keep your fingers crossed for me that all now proceeds smoothly.

To put it in context however, I've just heard my brother has been made redundant which is I think the 4th time (may be 5th) it has happened (he's 42) so I need to call him and find out how he and his OH are right now. It will I am sure have hit hard this time and impacted on confidence; they rarely say much about their finances either but I think they have an interest only mortgage and various investments to pay for it, so I guess this will preclude means tested benefits?

I hope to be back to more normal MFW postings from now on!