I can't bring myself to type how much I have just paid to have the clutch
sorted on our Multipla.
Oh the pain. It's gonna take some drink to stop that from keeping me awake
tonight.

Anyway, apparently the Poles are flooding into the country, doing everything
cheaper than our boys and everyone is going out of business. So if anyone
knows a Polish car mechanic in East Lancs please pass their details on to
me.

And...

Why is *everything* so fucking expensive to fix these days. I did the clutch
myself on a Cavalier many years ago, I don't remember it being so difficult
and I remember getting a clutch done on an Escort at Charlie Browns (are
they still going?) for £65, yes thats sixty five quid, INCLUDING VAT.

Just how well off are car mechanics?

In article <5b64d7F2rtd99U1 (AT) mid (DOT) individual.net>,
R D S <rsandr (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:
My main dealer charges 120 quid an hour. Don't somehow think that goes
direct to the mechanic...

--
*Everybody lies, but it doesn't matter since nobody listens*

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

R D S wrote:

I needed to undercut the commutator on my starter motor..On a Ford
Prefect, my first car, an hour tops using standard tools.

On my Xantia, it took 5 minutes to *find* the starter motor. Plus it
meant depressurising the fuel rack, removing the inlet manifold and
rack, the injectors, etc etc. Plus time to make a tool that would fit my
torque wrench and reach the manifold bolts. Plus the radio had to be
re-coded, the alarm reset, etc..

Other than a Triumph Herald, the easiest car I worked on was an American
something or other that had enough room under the hood for me to climb
in and sit on the wing from the inside whilst working on the engine..
These days it is hard enough to find room to get an arm in.

Plus, heaven knows how many electronic sensors my current thing has in
the engine bay. I lost count. The Prefect had one - low oil pressure. It
all takes more time to do anything and is all more difficult. The
Prefect, if it had air, fuel, water and a spark, it would go..

--
Sue

In article <eql3i.52442$s22.45491 (AT) fe02 (DOT) news.easynews.com>,
Palindrome <me9 (AT) privacy (DOT) net> wrote:
For about 40,000 miles (if lucky) before needing a full engine re-build.
And probably a de-coke at half that. (If a sidevalve) And had dreadful
fuel consumption considering the dreadful performance. Oil changes every
3000 miles.

Give me modern fuel injected cars any day.

--
*It is wrong to ever split an infinitive *

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

R D S <rsandr (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

Mine doesn't appear to be all that well off - but he only charges £27.50
/ hour.


--
SteveH 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'
www.italiancar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - Hongdou GY200 - Alfa 75 TSpark
Alfa 156 TSpark - B6 Passat 2.0TDI SE - COSOC KOTL
BOTAFOT #87 - BOTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

SteveH wrote:

Perhaps owners of Italians cars get a quantity discount :-)

Chris

--
Please remove prejudice to reply.

"Palindrome" <me9 (AT) privacy (DOT) net> wrote


On my Mercedes you can't even see the engine as its all covered with a big
plastic cover that needs a special tool to remove it.

In article <464df5e9$0$645$5a6aecb4 (AT) news (DOT) aaisp.net.uk>,
Gordon Hudson <hostroute (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:
No it doesn't. A hammer will remove it easily.

--
*I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory*

Dave Plowman dave (AT) davenoise (DOT) co.uk London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"R D S" <rsandr (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote in
news:5b64d7F2rtd99U1 (AT) mid (DOT) individual.net:

I don't know one, but I had to laugh when the Polish boy digging up my
drive for the Gas Board started chatting to me as I was replacing the
alternator/power steering mount on my ZX.
He had bought himself an old Audi which needed a front wing. He went to
Eurocarparts which I often use to get one, and was told it would be £70.
He thought this expensive and phoned his father in Poland who said they
were £20 back home. So he had one posted for £20 - meaning he got the
wing from Poland for £40. Makes you wonder...

--
Tunku

"Caution : traces of irony and other metallic objects may be present in
the above post"

In article <5b64d7F2rtd99U1 (AT) mid (DOT) individual.net>, R D S says...
the clutch FOC (I supplied one).



--
Conor

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright
until you hear them speak.........