Car preps (or lack of)

[Nurseandy]

Normally I have a camping stove,food,water, blanket in the car. Today however, I took it all out to transport rubbish to the local tip (about 10 miles away). Guess what day I broke down?
Still, during our two hour wait for recovery service (could've walked home in that time) we wandered the verges with Richard maybe's "food for free" in hand so at least it was a learning experience for my teenage daughter.

On another note though, amazing how many people no longer even have the faintest idea of basic car maintenance - changing a tyre or even the wiper fluid. Even a basic knowledge can mean you sorting a bodge rather than waiting for hours. One reason I always have older cars rather than newer ones - simpler and put up with more than newer cars generally

Very true evergog and I've made a point of teaching car maintenace/repair to all three of my teenagers. Whether they choose to use that knowledge or not is up to them.
With regards to myself I run around on a 1970's moto guzzi complete with points & pushrods I have a pretty comprehensive tool kit under the seat. Sadly I was in the works car (with fsh etc) and it was the timing belt that let go, no coming back from that one

[Evergog]

Normally I have a camping stove,food,water, blanket in the car. Today however, I took it all out to transport rubbish to the local tip (about 10 miles away). Guess what day I broke down?
Still, during our two hour wait for recovery service (could've walked home in that time) we wandered the verges with Richard maybe's "food for free" in hand so at least it was a learning experience for my teenage daughter.

On another note though, amazing how many people no longer even have the faintest idea of basic car maintenance - changing a tyre or even the wiper fluid. Even a basic knowledge can mean you sorting a bodge rather than waiting for hours. One reason I always have older cars rather than newer ones - simpler and put up with more than newer cars generally

Very true evergog and I've made a point of teaching car maintenace/repair to all three of my teenagers. Whether they choose to use that knowledge or not is up to them.
With regards to myself I run around on a 1970's moto guzzi complete with points & pushrods I have a pretty comprehensive tool kit under the seat. Sadly I was in the works car (with fsh etc) and it was the timing belt that let go, no coming back from that one

Very true had one go on the motorway at 58k on the clock. Was booked on the week after to have it changed!

[Nurseandy]

same here! Was booked in for 100,000 mile service next week!
Citreon changed their service intervals from 16000 to 20000, a mistake perhaps?
Not too bothered as works car just inconvenient.

[Yorkshire Andy]

same here! Was booked in for 100,000 mile service next week!
Citreon changed their service intervals from 16000 to 20000, a mistake perhaps?
Not too bothered as works car just inconvenient.

Least it's a works car

Like the old fiats the old fire engine was a none interference engine we retimed a club members fiat chinq in a stately homes ground between a few of us we russled up enough tools to do it

Current cars on a cam chain I keep on top of the oil changes to keep it sweet

[jansman]

I Fu##ing hate cars! They are machines,and I have the RAC to deal with mine if needed. Mine are quite new,and well serviced,and frankly,I have never called the RAC! But they are there if needed. And before anyone says anything; how many of you can can slaughter your pig and produce bacon? I CAN. But I don’t fix cars.Someone else does.

Society exists because we specialise in professional occupations.

[Yorkshire Andy]

I Fu##ing hate cars! They are machines,and I have the RAC to deal with mine if needed. Mine are quite new,and well serviced,and frankly,I have never called the RAC! But they are there if needed. And before anyone says anything; how many of you can can slaughter your pig and produce bacon? I CAN. But I don’t fix cars.Someone else does.

Society exists because we specialise in professional occupations.

Dread to think how much I've saved over the years doing my own repairs dealer quoted me £250 for discs and pads Bosch pads £30 pair of qh discs £30 .... One hell of a saving for an hours work one evening .. but I do maintenance at work so although not a qualified mechanic I can wave a spanner about with some authority did a water pump and radiator on a forklift truck last week .. cut a new access door into a wall today to get some plant out the building I'm a surgeon with a Stihl saw now


It did hurt having to pay for tracking 2 weeks ago mind and paying the tyre man to fix a puncture on Wednesday

[Evergog]

I Fu##ing hate cars! They are machines,and I have the RAC to deal with mine if needed. Mine are quite new,and well serviced,and frankly,I have never called the RAC! But they are there if needed. And before anyone says anything; how many of you can can slaughter your pig and produce bacon? I CAN. But I don’t fix cars.Someone else does.

Society exists because we specialise in professional occupations.

Always been a tinkerer, so can turn my hand to the basics and save a bit of money on the way. That said can’t slaughter a pig!

[Nurseandy]

I can manage a rabbit and once helped dress a deer (thankfully the other bloke knew what he was doing) other than that I'll be vegetarian when the apocalypse hits.

[jansman]

My point is that I don’t waste life doing things I know little about- and if I’m honest , that I find boring! Something like a vehicle has to be safe, and I am not competent. If you do anything well, I think you have to like doing it too.

I am rather a good bricklayer and carpenter- but my dad taught me all that as a boy. Perhaps if he had been an engineer or mechanic , I may well fix cars?

[ForgeCorvus]

My point is that I don’t waste life doing things I know little about- and if I’m honest , that I find boring! Something like a vehicle has to be safe, and I am not competent. If you do anything well, I think you have to like doing it too.

I am rather a good bricklayer and carpenter- but my dad taught me all that as a boy. Perhaps if he had been an engineer or mechanic , I may well fix cars?

I know what you mean.
I can open a bonnet, get plastered in oil and grease, smash my knuckles, bump my head, swear a lot and three hours later have a car that, if anything, is probably less fixed then before I started...... Friends still ask me for help with cars because "You're really good with tools", different tools though.
I'm good with knives and axes, but Pinky & Perky are safe from me